Seekers often ask advice on whether it is alright for them to accompany saints. In such a situation, a seeker should compare the two actions and priority be given to the better option. If a seeker is not doing any satseva, then it is better for him to accompany a saint or be in His company. However, the seeker who is in the preliminary stage of satseva should bear in mind the rule that satseva is more important than the company of saints (satsang) and should therefore give priority to satseva. This is because otherwise the seeker will merely move around with the saint, not doing any spiritual practice.

    The Sanatan organization had organized ‘haldi-kumkum’ ceremonies on the occasion of ‘Makar-sankranti’ for the propagation of Spirituality. Similarly, from April 9th to 24th, 2005, we can invite ladies for Chaitra-gauri’s* ‘haldi-kumkum’ ceremony and make use of this occasion for spreading Spirituality by giving information about the Sanatan organization to the ladies participating in the ceremony, showing them our VCD on the importance of observance of righteous behavior, self-defense, etc., and even arranging an exhibition of books.

* Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu almanac observed all over Maharashtra (a state in India) when Gauri (Parvati) puja is done

   On April 3, 2005, when I sat for chanting at 7.30am, I felt that some mantriks (practitioners of mantra) had created black energy a foot above the ground thus creating hell (paataal). This hell was blackish, resembling smog. Felt that nowadays when we get up in the morning, our feet touch this ‘hell (paataal)’ and we perform all activities in this hell. It has been observed that seekers’ distress, like experiencing pain in the sole of their feet or feeling of pricking of soles with needles, feet becoming numb, burning sensation in the feet, are on the rise due to this black energy. The tiles in our ashrams are coming out owing to the black energy emanating from hell. I felt as if this is the next phase of war.

– Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, Ponda, Goa.

    Presently, the layer of the black energy in this hell is thin but there is every possibility of the layer getting thick and dense in future. Seekers should therefore, recite the following holy verse before touching the ground after getting up in the morning:

Samudra-vasane devi parvatastana mandale I
Vishnu-patni namastubhyam paad-sparsham Kshamswame II

    Meaning: Oh Mother Earth, the bestower of life, please forgive me for stepping on You with my feet.

    It has been observed that to get rid of trouble from distressing energies, seekers go to various saints. Treatment and remedies for fighting the distressing energies have been published in the periodicals of the Sanatan organization time and again. Many seekers have experienced a decline in their distress due to these remedies.

    Many times saints are not able to realize the distress faced by seekers as these are due to the mantriks from 6th or 7th rung of hell. Some seekers from the Sanatan organization once visited a saint in Satara district (India). One of the seekers among them was having severe trouble from distressing energies. The saint diagnosed, that the seeker was undergoing distress due to the gramdevata (deity of the village) of her native place and that the deity would manifest in her after one month.

    It can be observed from the above that the saint was unable to diagnose the problem correctly as it was created by the mantriks from the 6th and 7th rung of hell. Further, the remedies recommended by the saint were expensive and their effect was temporary. Seekers may therefore, rather than visiting saints for spiritual problems, give self-treatment as published in our periodicals and increase their spiritual practice for combating the problems from distressing energies permanently.

1. Uttarayan Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada, that is, the Brahmakaal on Gudipadwa (early morning 4 to 6 a.m.) is 100% distress free. Therefore, during this period that is full of divine consciousness, seekers should chant “Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram”. If possible, chant this chant as much as possible.

2. During the ten days From Gudipadwa to Ramnavmi (April 9 to April 18), Lord Rama’s principle is most active, hence seekers should chant Lord Rama’s Name (“Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram”) during the two time slots (7.30 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. Indian Standard Time [IST]) and as per their prescribed number of hours for chanting.

3. On Ramnavmi day, (April 18) at the time of Lord Rama’s birth time, that is, at 11.00 a.m. (IST) to 12 Noon, chant Sri Ram’s Name.

4. From the next day onwards (April 19 to April 24), until Hanuman Jayanti, Lord Hanuman’s principle is most active, hence these six days, seekers should chant “Om Hum Hanumate namaha” (Lord Hanuman’s Name).

5. On Hanuman Jayanti, at the time of Lord Hanuman’s birth time, that is, at 6 to 7 a.m. (IST), chant Lord Hanuman’s Name. On this day, there is no need to do the morning half-hour chanting session (7.30 to 8 a.m.--IST).

    All messages are meant for seekers to implement immediately. Please save the messages and discuss with other seekers in your center how it can be practiced.

*If one is not currently doing any spiritual practice, or to complement one's current spiritual practice, one can begin with the simple, but powerful spiritual practice of chanting or constantly remembering God's Name according to one's religion. Chanting also acts as a useful complement to any spiritual path one may be already following. It is a practice recommended for the current times by Holy texts and Saints of all religions.

• Seekers in the initial stages of spiritual practice (less than one year) can repeat The Name of the Lord as per their religion (refer to Issue 3 Clarification of Doubts section for details).

• Seekers who have been doing regular spiritual practice for over a year or so can determine the appropriate chant for them from the experiment given in Issue 124, Message to Seekers section.