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.

    It is necessary for all seekers responsible for satseva to have preliminary knowledge of computers. Some seekers think that they are too old to learn how to use computers. An example for them is that of Shri Shahaji Kumbhar, our seeker from Thane (in India), who learnt how to use computers at the age of 65 and who is doing computer satseva by feeding around 350-400 entries of income/expenditures per day for report preparation.

    Importance of learning how to use computers:

1. To develop the qualities of learning new things, the curiosity to learn more and to persevere to accomplish any given task. Whenever one tries to learn any task, one tries to imbibe it into oneself.

2. In today’s age, computers are used in all fields and it has become unavoidable to know how to use them, as it is the need of the hour.

   Use holy ash to remove distressing energy trouble. It is beneficial to drink water to which a pinch of holy ash is added. Pray before having this water and have it frequently. We can undertake such remedial measures even at home. If a pinch of holy ash is added to the water jug or even the water tank at home, all family members will benefit. Holy ash should be especially put in water on the full moon and new moon days.

    We publish information in our periodicals about the distressing energy trouble faced by seekers for other seekers to know and learn. We generally change the name of the seeker having severe distressing energy trouble, while publishing the same. However if the trouble is not so severe, we publish the real name of the concerned seeker. Some seekers, however, feel that their names should not be published. Seekers should therefore indicate clearly whether their names should be published or not.

    The distressing energy trouble is more severe on the full moon and new moon days. Seekers should therefore do maximum chanting and prayers on these two days.

    As the spiritual emotion of the seekers in Phonda Ashram declined, the divine fragrance of the pouch of His Holiness (H.H.) Dr. Jayant Athavale and the little boxes containing holy ash gradually faded out. Seekers who had distressing energy trouble were keeping these boxes with them as a spiritual remedy, which proved very beneficial to them. However, due to declining spiritual emotion, the seekers did not follow the instructions given regarding the boxes like changing the box every morning and night, keeping it in the wrong places, not carrying it into the toilet with them, etc. By comparison, in Miraj Ashram, the divine fragrance of the holy ash boxes in another pouch of H.H. Dr. Athavale has lasted until today, though three months have since elapsed. This was possible mainly because of the spiritual emotion of the seekers. The seekers of Phonda Ashram, however, could not avail of the spiritual experience of the heavenly scent. O Seekers! Try to enhance spiritual emotion like the seekers of Miraj Ashram, reduce the severity of spiritual trouble and take spiritual experiences of the Lord!

    We prepare a cover of sattvik (spiritually pure) Name-strips of deities in order to ward off the trouble of distressing energies on the premises (Vaastu). Similarly, to avoid trouble during sleep, we should keep Name-strips of deities around our bed. Only the Name-strips of ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ and ‘Om Gan Ganapataye Namaha’ should be used for this purpose.

    Seekers who have problems like leg pains, needle-pricking sensation, numbness, pain in the heels and knees etc. may apply holy ash (vibhuti) on that part of the leg and say the following prayer – “Oh, Saptadevata, mantriks from hell (paataal) are attacking us. Let your weapons hit the center (sthan) of the mantriks and let us be protected from them.”

*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.