Video details
Mantra and Mala
Life is the Ātmā within all beings, seen through the Self. Humans consume life, yet must understand this act distances them from the supreme. Feeling pain teaches non-violence. To approach God requires immense time and grace; unintentional harm may be forgiven, but intentional killing bars the path. Saints do not boast; true greatness lies in selfless service.
The mala is a constant step toward God, paired with a mantra given by the guru or family. Regular prayer, like the Muslim practice, instills discipline. The greeting of praṇām is a mutual prayer for goodness. There are two mala practices: one uses a 108-bead mala with a Guru Mukhī bead, turned with the thumb and middle finger without crossing that bead. The other is Sumaran, a constant walking remembrance like the breath, without a guru point. The story of Hanuman illustrates that one's chosen divine name, like Rām, becomes an inseparable companion through constant repetition, leading ultimately to merging with divine light.
"One mala means for us one step toward God."
"Your Rām is your mother, your father, your brother, your good friend."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.
The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:
- Yoga in Daily Life - The System
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2000. ISBN 978-3-85052-000-3 - The Hidden Power in Humans - Chakras and Kundalini
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2004. ISBN 978-3-85052-197-0 - Lila Amrit - The Divine Life of Sri Mahaprabhuji
Paramhans Swami Madhavananda. Int. Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship, Vienna, 1998. ISBN 3-85052-104-4
