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The principle of chanting The Lord's Name:
'Many people believe that to undertake
Spirituality one needs to renounce the world. It is earnestly
preached that in the Kaliyug
one need not renounce the world in search of God. The world itself
is not bad (not an obstacle to God-realization), as after all it
is the creation of That Omnipotent Lord Himself. However, the
attachment to the world and its materialism is what makes it the
root cause of bondage and the cycles of birth and death. Further,
one has to move away from objects of attachment like
relationships, wealth, etc., and substitute them with The
Omnipresent Supreme God as the focus of one's attachment.'
The below verse from the Holy Bible and its
implied meaning illustrate the obstacle of attachment:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I
tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of
heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of
God."
Implied Meaning: If one wishes to attain
Absoluteness, that is blend into God or attain Bliss,
one has to detach oneself from all material possessions and
surrender oneself to Him. Only then will one experience Bliss.
Attachment to wealth and other worldly possessions keeps one trapped
in wordily life (the Great Illusion).
Chanting The Lord's Name is a simple spiritual
practice that can be done by anyone, regardless of age, gender,
purity and health, at anytime and anywhere, and while doing any
activity. Hence, it can be easily included into one's daily routine
and facilitates spiritual practice without having to renounce the
world.
[Reference taken from
the Sanatan's
publication, Volume
6: Path of Chanting The Lord's Name (Namasankirtanyoga) and Path of Mantra (Mantrayoga), compiled by H.
H. Dr. Jayant B. Athavale and Dr. (Mrs.) Kunda Athavale.]
Practical Application
Attachment to objects arises out of psychological
emotion (bhavna). The spiritual practice of chanting The Lord's Name
helps overcome one's attachment and shifts one's focus towards God,
by creating a center of Bliss and devotion deep within oneself.
Hence, those desirous of attaining God, should focus on chanting as
much as possible, rather than on renouncing the world.
(Refer to Issue 23,
Clarification of Doubts for details on how chanting helps overcome
negative subconscious impressions.)
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