Atma Shatakam Or Nirvan Shatakam

Author(s): Shankaracharya
Publisher: B L Institute

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in his Yoga Sutra points to * QgVt2t2 draft of as a way of entry into spirituality. This way 18 by Japa (ver) or constant repetition which is done concomitant with keep ing the meaning (3127 ) alive in one's mind, and then simile taneously generating the necessary changes in one's persona. lity (Thor ). (These normally apply to fantra ( #st), but are rel vant here).
The three aspects of Japa (tr) referred to above are: constant repetition which is done concomitant with keeping the meaning (Artha- 372 )alive in one's raind and then by simultaneously generating the necessary changes in one's personality. (Whawe - Hior). This last is of paramount importar.ce in spiritual growth. How in actial practice, when one tries to do this, one finds it well neigh impossible to keep the mind steady to achieve all the three aspects...... in fact, even
the first two sects rarely seem to merge: one feels oneself
mu tering the words away while the mind is busy with some other antics! So the question arises: Sho ld one, therefore, stop the recitation? A definite "NO" is the answer in the
Indian Tradition, why is this?.
Here a couple of examples are given: When you bathe and apply soap and water to your body in an unmindful way, does it not become somewhat cleanec? So also the impure Atma, by the repetition of the words of the great author. The removal of the Karmic material attached to the Atma is the goal of the entire Jain teachings. In this removal the vibrations/sounds of the words of the Great a thor/speaker play the role of emery paper on the sticky Karuis dust which covers the Atma.