Tips on chanting using a mala * Please share * 1) One should not traverse the merubead (the 109th bead

tying the ends of the mala together). Upon reaching the merubead, the mala should be turned and used in the opposite direction. Why should this be done? "To forget the act of chanting!" - HH Bhaktaraj Maharaj. Just as from a seeker's point of view, it is important for the central Sushumna channel (of the Kundalini) to be functional rather than the left sided Ida or the right sided Pingala, so also, it is incorrect for a seeker to use the mala in only one direction. The Sushumna channel is between the Ida and Pingala channels and likewise the merubead is between the opposite directional rotations of the mala. 2) The mala should be drawn towards oneself: Observe what one experiences when the mala is pushed away from oneself as against drawing it to oneself. A majority experience distress. The reason being that when drawing the mala towards oneself the vital energy, pranvayu is active while pushing it away the vital energy, samanvayu is active. More Bliss (Anand) is experienced when the pranvayu is active in comparison to the samanvayu. 3) Chanting with the mala is done in the following manners A) The mala should be placed on the middle joint of the middle finger and the beads should be drawn with the thumb towards oneself. The index finger should not touch the mala. B) The mala may also be placed on the ring finger with the tips of the ring finger and thumb touching each other. The mala should then be drawn with the middle finger. (as exhibited in the picture) 4) The mala used for chanting should not be worn. The motive behind this being that since no one can remain sattvik (spiritually pure) throughout the day, if the mala is worn, the sattva component generated in it due to chanting will be destroyed. 5) As far as possible one should use one's own mala. Mostly each one's chanting is different. Hence, if all use the same mala the frequencies developed in it can even prove distressing to some. 6) One should use only one mala. With use, pleasant vibrations develop in it and consequently the charged mala facilitates concentration. - "Path of Chanting the Lord's Name and Path of Mantra", by HH Dr. Jayant Athavale For information on chanting God's Name as spiritual practice, please visit: http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/aboutspiritualresearch/spiritualpractice/chanting Did you find this post helpful? Please share with friends!