Idle and Empty Mind

[mk]

Namonamah,
Meenajee Patkar has in another thread differentiated between an "idle" and an "empty" mind.

(I suppose she is referring to the outer (baahya) mind, but I am not sure).

Idleness is spare processing (thinking) capacity.
Emptiness is spare storage capacity.

When chanting VP, what do we do: store or process? I am asking this question because in many places in JV material (including this forum and the radio) it is stressed that while chanting VP, mind should not be chained to it. From this, it seems that VP is meant to fill the (dangerous) emptiness, and not consume the (immensely useful) processing capacity. Have I understood it properly? ((All this might be routine to all naamdhaaraks, but to me it is something new))

Thanks and regards
Milind Khadilkar

[MEENA PATKAR]

To,
MK,
Namaskar,
You have understood the concept very well .

And also after understanding the concept , you have perfectly differentiated between "idle mind" & "empty mind".
The conclusion you have arrived at,(as follows)

"From this, it seems that VP is meant to fill the (dangerous) emptiness, and not consume the (immensely useful) processing capacity. "

is exactly what I tried to explain.


Thanking you,
Meena
May God bless all.

[dr.nutanpol]

Namaskaar MK and all,

Shri Satguru asks us to fill our mind with positive thoughts and gives the example of glass filled with water. When glass is filled with water the air goes out and similarly when mind is filled with positive thoughts negative thoughts go away from the upper stack of thoughts present in the mind. This is mentioned by Shri Subhash in context with the discussion in other thread in the forum. The upper layer of thoughts are very important in and they shape our life. Because we issue cheque to our divine bank in the s.c. mind with these thoughts and remove paap or punya from our divine bank which has both paap as well as punya. When such cheque is given those particular thoughts get materialised in our life. If we do negative thinking then we invite troublesome conditions, diseases, pain and agony in our life. Hence it is important to do positive thinking continuously as well as stay in the company of people who do positive thinking, do satsang, read books which explain and emphasize this positive thinking process, listen to pravachans etc.

         Secondly when we chant VP the pranayam is done unknowingly and as we all know that with pranayam, more amount of oxygen is supplied to the brain and it's capacity to work, do thinking, analysing, grasping etc all increases. I have seen that one man was having cerebellar function problem, he was not able to walk properly and his speech was affected greatly. Shri Satguru gave him "naam" and within 2-3 years his walk as well as his speech improved remarkably.


  If you think that with continuously chanting of VP, your work gets affected then do not chant ( do not pay attention while you are doing work) and when you are mentally free at that time start chanting VP again.

[mk]

Namonamah,

Earlier I have written:

QUOTE

Meenajee Patkar has in another thread differentiated between an "idle" and an "empty" mind.

(I suppose she is referring to the outer (baahya) mind, but I am not sure).

UNQUOTE

On further thought and reading (rather skimming) through relevant threads on this forum, I feel that "emptiness" could be a characteristic of the outer mind, but "idleness" would rather be a characteristic of the subconscious (inner) mind. Any comments?
Thanks and regards
Milind Khadilkar

[mk]

Namonamah,
Dr. Nutanjee Namaste

Thank you for your concern.

My biggest problem with VP is that it interferes not only with work, but also enjoyment. Listening to music and being involved with it is difficult while chanting VP. Reading a novel and getting engrossed with it is also difficult while chanting VP. Enjoying the company of friends in casual, warm conversation is difficult while chanting VP. Even listening to news, or to the daily JV programme on AIR is not possible while doing VP. What would you advise in each such case?

Thanks and regards,
Milind Khadilkar

[dr.nutanpol]

Namaskaar MK,

   I feel that you are chanting VP with great sincerity and love hence it engrosses your mind totally. In my initial days I have also experienced this with Naam. I must tell you that you are really blessed to experience this and you are having Shri Satguru krupa to have such great experience. With his grace your mind is totally drawn to VP. Please try to make most from this kind of experience.  Remember this phase may not last for longer time if you do not wish to chant VP for longer time and then you may have to struggle to chant VP.

   I wish to tell you some things which you might be knowing already and please do not mind if I tell them again. Chanting of VP is an excellent satkarm and will give you lot of punya and it will help you in your spiritual development. It is not an ordinary thing to be able to chant VP.
One has to do lot of punya in many births to chant naam or VP. That is why Saint Tukaram says that,

   Bahut sukrutanchi jodi mhanuni Vitthale avadi.
 Which means, I have done satkarm in many births therefore I like to chat Vitthal Nam.

   We are interested in many things and hence may feel that, VP is a hindrance in our enjoyment but remember that time is running very fast and unless we engage ourselves in VP and make the habit of chanting we may be entering an old age where it is very difficult to develop any habit and whole attention is drawn to our physical complaints and hence it is almost impossible for mind to concentrate our mind on VP or Nam.

  So do all your duties and chant VP when you are mentally free. Right now you might be finding difficult to chat with your friends, read books and listen music because of vigorous sfuran but if you really feel that VP is coming in the way of enjoying life then this sfuran of VP may not remain so powerful for very long time. So do not have negative thoughts about VP in your mind. Please do not worry very soon you will be able to do both, your normal chores and VP simultaneously but do not leave the habit of chanting VP in free time.