Anonymous: Pranam Guruji. My problem is related to concentrating mind and relieving physical stress. I am pursuing PhD. I used to be a good learner a year back. But, now a days I face following two problems.
1) Get longer sleep, around 8 hours . (However, I don’t want it more than 6 hours).
2) PhD demands throwing new concept to community. How to think with great concentration on focused things. Please provide me answer for my problems.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Regarding concentration of mind, my article is pasted below for your study and guidance.
Concentration is improved when an aspirant learns Ashtang Yoga Philosophy or starts learning from asan, prannayam, pratyahar and dharnna. Then, as a result, concentration i.e., to do meditation becomes very simple. At this stage, the aspirant can also concentrate on any worldly matter and gets success. So, I would advise you to learn asan and prannayam from a local acharya because I’m away and cannot teach you from here. Book on Brahamcharya –named “Brahamcharya- Dukh Nivarak Divya Manni” is written in Hindi and can be sent on receipt of your confirmation, please. The following books are written in English, based on eternal Vedic philosophy. Study of the same would give you immense knowledge about God, form of karmas (deeds) and break the shackles of blind faith.
The main way/means to improve memory and concentration is to maintain Brahmcharya. In this connection, Patanjali Rishi in his Yog shastra 2/38 states
BRAHAMCHARYAPRATISHTHAYAAM VEERYALABHAHA
Vyas Muni while explaining the sutra states that when the aspirant maintains Brahmcharya, he achieves the benefit of mental and physical power as a result, he attains the best memory. You see, in the ancient times, such students used to remember entire Vedas by heart because at that time, there was no book or printed material but Vedas were taught orally. In this connection, I also paste my answer-
HOW TO ACHIEVE CONCENTRATION
Your question is a question relevant for all aspirants of the world. In Bhagwad Geeta chapter 6, it is stated-
When Yogeshwar Sri Krishna Maharaj asks Arjun to concentrate himself in God by stopping all his chitta vrittis i.e., (faculty which receives knowledge from five senses and passes the same to intellect, is called Chitta and Chitta stores the effect of various karmas to be faced by soul in future at a proper time) which are always attached with worldly materialistic articles, affairs, happening and illusion etc., then in turn Arjun replies vide Bhagwad Geeta shloka 6/34 that Oh! Krishna, the mind (mann) is unstable/fickle/unsteady and always remains indulged in thinking about unlimited matters of the world. It is very strong. Therefore, it is very difficult to control the mind like it is extremely difficult to control air in space. When Krishna heard the answer, in reply, adorable Krishna maharaj said that Oh! Arjun, no doubt, mann is unsteady/fickle and it is very difficult to control but there are two eternal and steadfast ways to control it. One is (Abhyas) practice and second is asceticism (Vairagya). So one must do practice of name jaap, Yajyen, make contact with learned sant to learn the same. No doubt, it is very difficult to do the said practice but according to Vedas, shastras and other holy granths, it is also an eternal truth that it is quite impossible that without said practice no one can control the mann. In this connection, Guru bani also states-
“Jup Tup Sanjam Niyam Na Kamaya,
Sadh Sangat Na Jana Hari Raya,
Kaho Nanak Hum Neech Karma
Sharnna Pade ki Rakho Sarma.”
You can again send your question if more details are required or of the concepts are not clear, please.
(1) Always avoid fatty/junk food.
One should maintain Brahamcharya, should always take pure vegetarian foods, must do daily exercise, should wake up early in the morning for a long walk, must take plenty of boiled water duly cooled, should also do asan, prannayam daily. In addition medical advise is also necessary. I also paste my article for you to follow below”-
GAYATRI MANTRA
Please, start the day by chanting Gayatri mantra in the early morning sitting on suitable asan like Sukhasan, Siddhasan or Padmasan etc. concentrate on the point between two eyebrows which is called “Agyachakra”. The Gayatri mantra should be chanted along with its meaning both times. Also, please try to perform daily hawan even with Gayatri mantra. Then try to study any of my books daily and put up question if any.
After 15 days chant the Gayatri mantra only thrice thereafter do the name jaap of Almighty God-“Om”. The jaap must be done daily by heart and not orally.
The Gayatri mantra is as follows —
OM BHURBHUVAHA SWAHA TATA SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGODEVASYA
DHIMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT
Meaning of Gayatri mantra stating each word is as follows. Its meaning is based on Vedas and Sanskrit grammar. Grammatical hints are in short please.
Om has three Hindi words. Aa, Uu AND Ma. Aa is meant for Aakaar from which three names of God are built, Viraat, Agni, and Vishwadi. From Uu = uukar from which Hirannyagarbha, Vayu and Tejas names occur and Ma = makaar from which Ishwar, Aditya and Praajyan aadi, holy names of God occur. Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 says God is one but His names are several. But here OM the holy name of God is only being explained.
VIRAAT = Viraat word is made from dhatu ‘Rajrideeptau’ i.e., manifest. Therefore Viraat means He who manifests the universe. As God manifests the universe, thus Viraat is the name of God. Rigveda mandal 10, sukta 129 states that like potter makes pot from clay, similarly God creates universe from non-alive matter prakriti. Prakriti is unseen matter. From unseen matter, the whole universe is created in the visible form. Science also says that matter is never destroyed but changes its form. Suppose a paper is burnt, paper changes its form into ashes. Then ashes are crushed and thrown in air. At this moment, the paper changed into ashes becomes invisible but was never destroyed. Similarly the whole universe at the time of final destruction is turned into prakriti i.e., into unseen form.
AGNI = From dhatu, “ANCHU GATI POOJANAYOHO” the word “AGNI is made. Its meaning is: He who is a form of wisdom. “SARVAJAYEN” i.e., Omniscient. That is, knows each and every atom of universe and even beyond universe. He who is to be known, to be gained and is worshipful. So Agni is the name of God.
VISHWA = Vishwa word is made from dhatu, “VISHPRAVESHANE”. Its meaning is He in whom the universe is entering or He who is entering the universe. So being omnipresent, Vishwa is the name of God.
HIRANNYAGARBHA = i.e., ” JYOTIRVAYIHIRANYAM”. Its meaning is, who is the base of all sun, etc., luminous lokas or He who is the living place of all luminous lokas.
VAYU = from dhatu, “VA GATIGANDHANYOHO”, vayu word is made. Its meaning is He who holds, gives life and destroys and is the mightiest amongst all. So the name of God is Vayu.
TEJ = from dhatu, “TIJA NISHANE”, the word Tej is made meaning He who is self made and self-enlightened and gives light to sun, moon, stars etc. God does not take light from anywhere but gives light to sun, moon, stars, etc. so the unbroken, unobstructed/unproduced and eternal form of light is Almighty God and not sun, moon etc. So the name of God is Tej.
ISHWAR = from dhatu, “ISH ASHWERIYE”, the word Ishwar is made. Its meaning is whose knowledge is thoughtful and true and He who has unlimited wealth, fortune and glory etc. Therefore the name of God is Ishwar. Here it is not out of place to mention that soul (man/woman) has limited qualities and are dependent whereas God is independent and has unlimited qualities that is why He is God.
ADITYA = from dhatu, “DO AVAKHANDANE”, Aditya word is made. Its meaning is the one who cannot be broken into pieces and thus cannot be destroyed. So God’s name is Aditya.
PRAJAYEN (PRAGYA) = from dhatu, “JYEN AVABODHANE”, Prajayen word is made meaning whose wisdom is totally without any misunderstanding and thus he who knows every matter and behavior of whole universe without misunderstanding. So God’s name is Prajayen. So here also it is not out of place to mention that illusion can never attack on God and God is totally free from illusion.
BHUHU = “BHUHU ITI VAYEE PRANAHA” i.e., He who is the base of lives of universe, is most beloved, even more than Prann i.e., breath. So Bhuhu is the name of God.
BHUVAHA= “BHUVAHA ITI APANAHA” i.e., He who is totally free from any sorrow, and the soul removes his own all sorrows after coming in contact with Him. So the name of God is Bhuvaha.
SWAHA = i.e., “SWAHA ITI VYANAHE” who is omnipresent in the universe and is holding the same. So the name of God is Swaha.
SAVITUHU = He who creates the universe. So the name of God is Savituhu.
DEVSYA= who gives all pleasure/merriment, so the name of God is Dev.
VARENNYAM = He who is the most supreme and acceptable. God is most supreme and acceptable for worship.
BHARGAHA = the purest entity (though God is formless, but finding no suitable English word of Sanskrit word, “SHUDH SWARUPAM” the word entity has been used.)
TAT = i.e., the God i.e., of the purest entity.
DHIMAHI = i.e., we must hold (sort of meditation) because
YAHA = the God
NAHA = our,
DHIYAHA = mind(i.e., in our minds)
PRACHODYAT = by inspiration (fulfil the mind with wisdom)
MEANING
“We meditate the God who is the base of lives’ of universe, totally free from any sorrow, omnipresent, creates the universe, gives all pleasure/merriment, most supreme and acceptable, purest entity; May the God enlighten our minds with wisdom by His inspiration”.
Here it is not out of place to mention that idea of a (one) Ved mantra is based on ideas of several Ved mantras. So in the above Gayatri mantra, there are three things —-
Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Swaha, Savituhu, Bhargaha, Devsya are some qualities amongst unlimited qualities of God. These are called Stuti i.e., to say about God with His real qualities and not self made etc.
Secondly Dhimahi means meditation i.e., one should always sit in meditation and do hard and pious deeds for which he will have to study Vedas in full, while discharging moral duties towards family and nation.
Third and last is DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT. It is a prayer to God explanation of which is cited above.
How to do havan
Please sit in the morning to perform havan. Havan must be in sunlight then it is more beneficial. Then half a bowl of fresh water with a tablespoon must be with you with small twigs especially of mango tree if possible, havan samagri, ghee, camphor and match box must be there with you. Please sit on sukh asan on four times folded blanket and blanket must be on mat.
Sukh asan i.e., sit on duly folded feet in comfortable position. Then first close your eyes and concentrate between two eyebrows and chant Gayatri mantra three times within heart and not by mouth. Then open your eyes.
Take one spoon of water in right palm. Chant this mantra, OM AMRITO UPASTRANMASI SWAHA and drink the water which you have put in your palm. Then again take the spoon of water in right palm then chant the next mantra, OM AMRITA APIDHANMASI SWAHA, and drink the water. Then again take the water in right palm and chant the mantra, OM SATYAM YASHAH SHRI MAYI SHRI SHRAYTAAM SWAHA, and drink the water. Then wash the right palm while sitting, with the same water kept in bowl.
Then put the twigs into havan kund with one piece of camphor and burn it. During this process chant the Gayatri mantra again and again till such time the fire is lighted sufficiently. Then chant the Gayatri mantra and at the last add the word Swaha and offer ghee with tablespoon, quantity equivalent to 4 to 5 drops. And if you are alone then also offer in fire pinch of havan samagri from your right hand’s finger and thumb avoiding forefinger. So this offering may be of 11 times, 21 times or 51 times as the time suits. It is the simplest way and I have not quoted the complete method of Yajyen. The havan with Ved mantras are always offered as the best worship of God only please. Do havan daily and both times
(2) Your hard practice as quoted above and daily practice of asan, prannayam and meditation would give you physical and mental power to improve your concentration.
S: Pranam Guru ji, Guru ji sometimes looking at the world, I just hope that I should leave every thing and try to find GOD and learn VEDAS. I just want to be free from world and close to Almighty. guide me Guru ji.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you
Vedas tell that worship is based on the following Vedic education (1) science-hard educational study and knowledge of worldly matters.
(2) Form of deeds to know the difference between pious deeds and sins and then to do only pious deeds. In addition Vedas tell to discharge moral duties towards family, society and nation also.
(3) Worship:- totally based on Vedas like daily hawan/yajyen, name jaap of God and practice of Ashtang Yoga Philosophy while discharging all moral duties. I mean to say without doing above quoted pious task and realizing ascetism no one should even think to leave the house or responsibilities under the guidance of learned acharya of Vedas and Ashtang Yoga. As soon as the ascetism is realised then only sanyasi ashram should be adopted.
Your views to learn Vedas are the best views regarding life. I think I’ve told you in previous E-Mail to study some of my Vedic books. Please do the needful and then you should come here at least for 3-4 days for further Vedic knowledge.
