Bhajan as Sadhana
Date: Jan 15, 1972
The scriptures lay down bhajan (group devotional singing), nama smarana (remembering God’s name), and sankirtana (devotional music) as the sadhanas (spiritual practices) of this age. Bhajan is the process of singing your prayers to God, praising His glory and compassion, and pleading that He may fill you with His grace. Dr. Hislop has, as a result of many years of research, declared that prayer has a highly curative effect on the body and mind of man. That is the result of constant bhajan and recital of the Name. Every unit of the organization is enjoined to arrange for nagara sankirtana (moving choirs) to go around the streets in the early hours of the day and do bhajan every evening and morning for this very reason.
But bhajan should not be gone through as a painful necessity; it has to be a thrilling experience, which must leave the participants full of pure energy and elevated enthusiasm. But this does not happen now. Either it is too mechanical or it is a medium for some people to exhibit their talents. The bhajans are sung to parade one’s compositions, and these are sung during the group sittings as if they are rehearsed there. The others are not able to follow; so they allow their minds to wander. Sing familiar bhajans, so that all can share in the ananda. Also, pay attention to the tune, the meaning, the variety, the voice, the ragam, the talam (the tune and the beat), and other fine points of the bhajans. If your voice is not pleasant or sweet, keep quiet; that is the best service you can do.
Do not cause discontent, discord, and disharmony by insisting on singing because you are an office-bearer or something! The bhajans must be sweet to the ear, arousing pictures of the glory and grandeur of Godhead in the minds of the singers and listeners; they must refer to various names and forms of God so that the bhajan sessions might fill everyone with ecstasy. Bhajan is a sadhana for all who share in it; that is why it is prescribed for every unit.
Advice Should Come Out Of Personal Experience
Youth is often found fault with by elders today. They have lost reverence, humility, and piety. They ridicule temples, religious services, and all signs of adoration or devotion directed towards God. They do not learn the art of meditation or sense-control but cater to the most trivial whims, without regard to their harmful effects. All this is due to the hypocrisy of the elders. Those who teach them or preach to them about the rules of morality and religion are patently breaking those very rules, leading atrociously wrong lives. Yet, they admonish, advise, and harangue without the slightest twinge of conscience. This is easily discovered by the sharp-eyed young men and women. How then can they revere the parent or teacher, the elder or leader, the writer or the speaker who sets about the task of ‘educating’ the rising generation? Let advice come out of personal experience; otherwise, keep mum! The very fact that you are happy and contented while having faith in God will induce others to develop faith; that is the best method of preaching.
15-1-1972