Foreword to 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind'

FOREWORD

There are several ways one can attain God. Japa is one of the simplest of them. Japa is the repetition of the mantra, mystic formula. Japa is an important anga (limb) of yoga. Lord Sri Krishna says in Srimad Bhagavad Gita “Yajnanam japa yajnosmi - among yajnas (religious practices) I am japa yajna.”

According to Swami Sivananda, “In kali yuga (dark age) the practice of japa alone can give eternal peace, bliss and immortality. Repetition of the mantra removes the dirt of the mind things such as lust, anger and greed. The mind, from which the impurities have been removed, acquires the capacity to reflect the highest spiritual truth. There is no yoga greater than japa yoga.” Japa yoga can give all siddhis (powers), bhakti (devotion) and mukti (freedom from the cycle of birth and death). Japa ultimately results in Samadhi, communion with the Lord. Japa must become a habit and must be performed with satvik (divine) bhava (feeling), purity, love and faith.

I understand Ms. Chandrika Shubham has practiced japa meditation for more than fifteen years. Consistent practice by the author herself makes this book important to read. I am sure readers will find this useful and interesting.

My best wishes on the occasion of release of the book ‘Japa Meditation – The Easiest Way to Calm Mind’. I wish all the success in this effort.

Mahendra Joshi

(Practicing Siddha Yoga from 30 years)

U.S.A.

Website - http://www.thekundaliniyoga.org

About the Author of 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind'

Chandrika Shubham is practicing Japa meditation from more than 15 years. She has learnt the art of meditation herself by Grace of God. She has felt the presence of God in the form of books, website, strangers, relatives and nature who has shown her the right path in the time of confusion and crisis. She considers Japa meditation to be the easiest and safest way to God realisation which any one can practice very easily and at any time. She is teaching Japa meditation from the past seven years. She explains the age old deep philosophical teachings in simple, crisp and humorous way. She tries to find out the simple solutions to complicated modern day life problems. She is the author of two books ‘Simple Vastu’ and ‘Saral Vastu’. She is an accomplished Vastushastra consultant and astrologer. Despite being a full time businesswoman, she makes time to teach Yoga in morning and evening. She loves to read, write and blog.

Cover page of 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind'

The cover page of 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind' looks like this. I want to thank Cdr Abhilash Tomy, Vivek S Patwardhan, Ajay Agarwal, Nitin Kumar, Devashish Saini and B K Chowla for praising my book so beautifully.
(This book is available at amazon.in)

The Mistress of Spices

After reading the novel 'The Mistress of Spices' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni I decided to watch movie as well. In most of the cases where movies are based on novels the novels are far better than the movie. Same is in this case. The main attraction of movie is Aishwarya Rai who looks very pretty in sarees. The rest is just fine in the movie.
The author has explained Indian spices and their power amazingly. The description, use and power of spices are well researched. The creative and poetic style of writer keeps me absorbed in novel throughout its length. I must read for those who are interested to know about Indian spices.

No change yet different!

When I visited the society where I used to live earlier near about four years back, my neighbors comments surprised me.
"You have changed so much." Mrs. 'S' said.
"Your face has changed but your laugh is same loud and pleasing to ears." Mrs. 'F' said.
"I will not be able to recognize you if I haven't seen your photo on Facebook." Mrs. 'X' said.
"You are looking very pretty." Mrs. 'K' said.
I thought, "My face haven't changed much though they are experiencing the difference just because of my hairstyle; earlier I used to make plait and now I left my hair loose."

A bunch of flowers

Dear readers these beautiful flowers of Amaltas are for you. I thankyou for reading my posts, liking them and commenting on them. While I was busy with the publishing of my book I missed and forget to tell you that I had written more than 600 posts on my blog. This is my 616th post. I write because dear readers, you are my inspiration, you are my motivation and you are my strength. You made me successful and popular. Thanks for being a part of my blog.

Review of 'Shattered Dreams'

 I have never read a book based on Lord Ram’s life so interesting! Ramayana – The Game of Life is written by Shubha Vilas. ‘Shattered Dreams’ is the second part of this series. The first part is ‘Rise of the Sun Prince’.

‘Shattered Dreams’ is based on Ayodhya Kand and Aranya Kand. It tells that the age old saga has immediate relevance to today’s modern day life. It has uncountable wisdom gems in it which the author discovers making it’s writings more interesting, simple and lucid. Some of the points which I like are as follows:-

1. Unity without loyalty to a common goal is like cement without water to seal bricks.
2. The simplest joys of nature cannot be replaced by the complex creations of man.
3. Clouds receive salty water from ocean and return sweet water as rain. A cow eats grass and returns sweet milk. A coconut tree drinks water and returns nectar. What one receives is a debt that can be absolved by paying through selfless service.
4. Desires are like waves in an ocean. If one hits the shores, rest assured, another is on its way. Spiritual practice transforms one from ceaseless ocean of desires to the still lake of self-satisfaction.
5. When your actions boomerang as reactions, rather than wondering who threw it at you, you should wonder when you threw it.
6. Just like a river does not differentiate between two banks, a pure mind does not differentiate between what is the self’s and what is not; like the river, it is so absorbed in others’ welfare that it finds no time for self-absorption.
7. When the aim of life changes from pleasing the ego to pleasing God, it changes from egocentric to god-centric.
8. A good leader prudently stops an overdose of anger from entering his system like a healthy man consciously avoids overeating.
9. Forgiveness is the fragrance that the sandalwood tree leaves on an axe that cuts it, the stone that grinds it and in the smoke that burns it.
10. One should focus on devotion to duty rather than hankering for appreciation of result.
11. Prayer is not about approaching God for temporary solutions but approaching Him with a permanent commitment.
12. Many have the fortune of knowing what is right, but few have the guts of doing what is right.
13. Lifestyle is not so much about habits as much as it is about mindsets. Imitating habits is easy, but emulating mindsets is difficult.
14. A hero is not one who tries to surpass others, but one who strives to solve the knots in others’ lives at the cost of personal sacrifices.

This book unravels practical facts that go with every age. It tells people to adopt Ramayana in their lives. The author himself is a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker. He teaches to apply teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana and other dharmic traditions in dealing with modern day life situations.

Name in print

"Thanks for reading the manuscript of 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind'. Thanks a lot for suggesting humorous anecdotes here and there which makes it very interesting. As a gesture of thanks I added your name in 'Acknowledgements' of my book." I said and handed a copy of the book to Mrs. 'K'.
Flipping through the pages of book, she checked her name and said, "I am seeing my name in print for the second time. First time it was on my wedding card. I do not know why you gave my name in your book. But any ways Thanks, yaar!"

Japa Meditation is available online

Dear Readers,
You can buy my book 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind' at amazon.in. Grab ur copy now. 
http://www.amazon.in/Japa-Meditation-Easiest-Calm-Mind/dp/9385077163/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424652245&sr=8-1&keywords=japa+meditation+chandrika+shubham

Release of my third book

Today my third book 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind' was released by Mr. Sanjeev Kataria, owner of S. K. Kataria and Sons and Mr. Madan, National Sales Head, S. Chand Group in Delhi World Book Fair 2015. On this occasion Dr. Rajeev Jain, owner of Vayu Publications and Dr. Devashish Saini, owner of Ross Clinics were also present. 

Invitation

Dear Readers,
You are cordially invited on the release of my book 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind' at Delhi World Book Fair on 20.2.15 (Friday) at 4:00 pm at Hall No. 14, Stall No. 7- 8, Near Gate No.7, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Come one come all!
Chandrika Shubham

Mantra

Mantra is a sound, a word or a phrase which is repeated again and again. It is a powerful sound or magic vibration which creates a significant change in attitude and mind set. It helps in focusing one’s energy. Mantra japa is an indirect way to calm mind. After one thought leaves mind and another thought enters, a mantra is slipped between that gap and slowly that gap is increased by increasing the number of mantra. As one experience deeper meditation all worries and doubts evaporate, mind becomes still and feels the oneness with God and experiences supreme peace. Mantra japa is a very powerful tool to enter Samadhi.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Japa Meditation

Japa meditation involves focusing the mind on a certain mantra and shutting out the disturbing external stimuli. It involves the repetition of mantra which is either a single syllable or a magical group of mystic sounds. The repetition, concentration and devotion to a mantra can awaken its energy. A mantra contains the power to God realization. That power has to be grown by repetition, concentration and devotion. One day a middle aged lady told her husband that today I did only 250 grams of japa. She used to live in a village with her husband.  Her husband replied that he did half kilogram of japa. Actually, they used a rosary mala (string) to do japa. And on completion of one rosary (string) they put one grain of whole Bengal gram aside. At the end of the day they both weighed their total japa in terms of grams. They were innocent and innovated their own way of counting of rosary.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham. This book is available at amazon.in)

Selection of place, time and posture for meditation

Meditation happens naturally. As sleep when comes naturally, one falls into it. Similarly meditation comes by itself. While meditating the newcomers should follow certain points in selection of place, time and posture for quick results. Mental attitude, food habits and environment counts a lot. The beginners should select the room in the North – East direction of house and should meditate while facing North. Brahmmuhrata is the best time for concentrating. The spine, neck and head should be aligned straight in a line. Sukhasana, Padmasana, Vrikshasana, Shirashasana are good postures to calm mind. While meditating, one can focus upon various centres within the body. There are seven chakras in the body on which one can concentrate. Most of the spiritual aspirants concentrate on sixth chakra – the space between the eyebrows. The object of focus is visualized in the space between the eyebrows. Some aspirants focus on Fourth chakra – the space in the central channel in the spine between the lungs at heart.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Relationship between mind and breathing

When mind is agitated because of anger or fear then breathing becomes shorter, shallower, fast and irregular. When mind is relaxed and calm then one breathes slowly. Mind and breathing are interrelated. If one of them is controlled then it will regulate the other automatically. For calming mind, a spiritual aspirant can practice bhastrika, kapalabhati, jalandhara bandha, uddiyana bandha, mula bandha, anuloma viloma, suryebedhe, chandrabedhe pranayamas. Pranayam has four steps poorak, antarkumbhak, rechak and bahir kumbhak which should be performed in 1:4:2:2 ratio.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Make mind a good friend

Mind is attracted towards the glittering of materialistic world. Mind wants to seek more and more. It is never satisfied with the sensual pleasures from the external objects. Mind trapped in the pleasure seeking from sensual objects becomes one’s biggest enemy. Mind should be trained to withdraw from sensual objects. Non attachment to sense objects leads to liberation. Thus, one’s own mind becomes one’s friend. 

The best way to make mind a good friend is to forget. Forget the body. Forget the surrounding environment. Forget the family and relatives. Forget the worries. Forget the happiness. Forget everything except absolute the Truth, God or Brahmn. Forgetting is not easy therefore mind should be engaged all the time in God’s name or mantra. Remembering God will help to forget about the pleasures and pains of this materialistic world. On forgetting this world, one attains Supreme Bliss.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

How to concentrate mind?

Concentration is fixing of mind on one object or idea either outside or inside the body. Beginners should start concentrating on an image of deity, Om symbol or flame of a lamp etc. The image should be pleasing and should bring peace and joy to mind. It should neither create boredom nor excitement. Concentration is the first step of meditation and can work wonders.

Everybody has concentration power but its range may vary. One should strengthen mind’s capacity by various ways. A newcomer in the field of meditation must practice concentration exercises to focus the scattered rays of mind on a single point which leads to Self Realisation. There are various exercises using different techniques like focusing mind on sound, breathing, on visual image of deity or symbol. They all have one aim to concentrate mind. Tratak, category concentration, concentration on sound are some of the ways to focus it on one single point. Concentrating on breathing, concentration on sensations, observation of thoughts, emptying the mind, Hatha yoga and pranayama are various methods to control mind.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Meditation - A step by step process

Meditation is as essential for us as breathing, eating and sleeping. It is attained step by step. It is a matter, not of miracle, but of evolution, of growth. To master a language, a person learns alphabets first, then words, sentence formation, tense, modals etc. Mind can be focused without any effort while doing interesting things. Most of the persons find it difficult to concentrate mind on the tedious work. One can improve its power of focusing by concentrating the mind on one chore which one is doing presently. One can further strengthen the power of concentration through practice and patience. The increased focus power helps in clarifying ideas, making complex things simpler, removing confusion and enhancing efficiency and working capacity. With the result, one can accomplish more work in less time. 

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Different ways to control mind

Every body has its own thought world. Daily near about 50,000 thoughts arise in mind. If they are negative then a person feels sad and if negativity continues for some days it leads to depression. Through the practice of japa of mantra, pranayama and yoga along with reading sacred books one can fill mind with pure and positive thoughts and eradicate impure thoughts.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Control Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Mind is monkey

Mind is restless, unsettled, confused, indecisive and uncontrollable. Mind jumps from one thought to another just like a monkey who jumps from one tree to another. The monkey like mind is not satisfied in the present moment. It is constantly distracted with replaying the happenings of past events or planning for the future. Focusing of mind to stay in present can be achieved by practicing meditation.

Meditation is a technique for having full control over mind by constant observation of thoughts entering the mind. It trains mind to work without getting tensed, stressed, tired and aged. It keeps the mind cheerful, peaceful, calm, serene and young as there is increase of grey matter. Most importantly it helps one to be peaceful in turbulent times.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Low cut dresses

Two women passed from the passage in the park wearing low cut dresses. On seeing them Mrs. 'V' commented, "I do not know what these women wants to show. The 50% population have all the same what they have."
I said, "Actually, they are worried about the rest of the 50% population." ;)

Bird house in my balcony!

Earlier in my balcony only pigeons and Indian robin came in my balcony for drinking water and eating grains and bits of food. At that time I used to place a bowl of water and some food for them. After I put bird houses in my balcony many new birds have started coming in my balcony. Some of them are bulbul, parrot, tree pie, Indian myna and crow.

To all bird lovers, my advice is to place nest boxes in the garden, balcony, courtyard and veranda to increase the movement of different species of birds in the environment.

Today my Facebook status is
Rufous treepie is having breakfast in my balcony! :)))

Tomorrow it might be your's! :)

(For buying bird house in Delhi and NCR write a mail to chandrikashubham@gmail.com)

Cover page

These days I am busy in deciding the cover page of my upcoming book on meditation. It has been written it in simple, crisp and witty manner that no one will ever find meditating a boring task. I have decided to go for a silhouette of a meditating human being on its cover page. I am finding it difficult to finalize the color of background.
Dear readers, I need your suggestions what should be the color of the background of a book on meditation? 

Made by My Mother

"Don't wear that blue color sweater, my child." A mother said.
"But Mom, I want to wear this only." The kid said and took the blue colored sweater in hands and started wearing it.
"It's left armhole is shorter than right. It will create discomfort for you while playing."
"Mom, I will adjust. I like this sweater very much because you lovingly knitted it for me. I will tell my all friends that this is 'Made by My Mother'."

My Book on Meditation

Part 1

"Will you read my book on meditation?" I asked my friend.

"Oh, that topic is so boring!" She said.

"Will you read only first chapter of my book?" I requested.

"Fine. I will." 

Part 2

"Did you read the first chapter?" I asked my friend.

"Yes, it is very gripping. I thought it will be very boring but surprisingly I found it very interesting."

"Did you laugh while reading it?"

"Yup, Four - five times."

"Will you like to read the next chapter?"

"Ya, sure."

Speed Vs Slow

Mr. ‘X’ climbed the mountain with the speedy vehicle in which his body can’t cope with the decrease in oxygen level and change in weather. Mr. ‘Y’ climbed mountain on foot so that his body can adjust to the change in weather and oxygen level.

Similarly one should walk slowly on a spiritual path so that one can cope up with the changes easily.

Happy 2015! :)

I always wonder why some people drink on the arrival of New Year? And I always ponder why can't they donate money and help the underprivileged to improve their way of life? And it always pinches me deep that most of the people spend their time in pubs rather than teaching a skill to a poor? This is our society. So, we all together have to improve it.

Happy and prosperous New Year to all of my readers! :)