Ramana Maharshi on the exalted Gayatri mantram

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi on the exalted Gayatri mantram.

Another visitor asked: What should we do to make the mind still?

Sri Bhagavan: First let the mind be caught hold of and brought here; then we shall consider ways and means of stilling it.

Devotee: I meant so say that it is always changing -- even when we our japa.

Maharshi: Japa is meant only for stilling the mind.

Devotee: What Japa is good for it?

Maharshi: Anything suitable, such as Gayatri.

Devotee; Will Gayatri do?

Maharshi: Can anything excel it? Only those who cannot do it look for others. It contains the whole range of truth in it. Chanting will lead to dhyana and it is the means for realizing the Self.

Devotee: Will half an hour a day do for it?

Maharshi: It must be done always or as long as you can.

[Talks No. 322, 7th Jan. 1937]

* * * Gayatri Mantra Japa * * *

Mr. Venkatakrishnayya, a lawyer-devotee, visited Sri Bhagavan ten years before and asked Him what he should do to improve himself.

Sri Bhagavan told one devotee to perform Gayatri Japa.

The young man went away satisfied. When he returned after some years, he asked: Q .: If I meditate on the meaning of the Gayatri mantra, my mind again wanders. What is to be done?

Ramana Maharshi :
Were you told to meditate on the mantra or its meaning? You must think of the one who repeats the mantra.

~ Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi,606

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Q: How should I carry on japa?

Sri Ramana Maharshi :

One should not use the name of God mechanically and superficially without the feeling of devotion.

Q: So mechanical repetition is unproductive?

Sri Ramana Maharshi :

Acute diseases will not be cured merely by repeating the name of the medicine but only by drinking the medicine.

Similarly, the bonds of birth and death will not cease merely by doing many repetitions of mahavakyas such as `I am Siva'. Instead of wandering about repeating `I am the supreme', abide as the supreme yourself.

The misery of birth and death will not cease by vocally repeating countless times `I am that', but only by abiding as that.

~ From Be as you are book

Q: It is said in Aparoksha Anubhuti that hatha yoga is a necessary aid for enquiry into the Self.

Sri Ramana Maharshi :

The hatha yogis claim to keep the body fit so that the enquiry may be conducted without obstacles.

They also say that life must be prolonged so that the enquiry may be carried to a successful end.

Furthermore there are those who use some medicines [kayakalpa] with that end in view.

Their favourite example is that the screen must be perfect before the painting is begun.

Yes, but which is the screen and which the painting ?

According to them the body is the screen and the enquiry
into the Self is the painting.

But is not the body itself a picture on the screen, the Self ?

Q: But hatha yoga is so much spoken of as an aid.

Sri Ramana Maharshi :

Yes. Even great pandits well versed in the vedanta continue the practice of it. Otherwise their minds will not subside. So you may say it is useful for those who cannot otherwise still the mind.

~ From Be as you are book