Ramdas will tell you something about Japa and Smaran. Japa is the repetition of the Name of God, either with a Mala for counting the number of repetitions or without it. Smaran is keeping the thought of God in our mind. When we think of milk, all its qualities, like whiteness, fluidity and sweetness, flash into our mind. So also when we think of God, our mind must automatically dwell on the attributes of God-Sat-Chit-Ananda. This is called Smaran.
Japa and Smaran are not considered to be two separate things. They must go on simultaneously. They do not go together in the early stages of the Sadhana. So when we do Japa, we must make our mind one-pointed, either by concentrating on the sound of the Name, or on any form of God, within or without. This is called Dhyana. Dhyana can be on the Saguna or Nirguna aspect of God. To reach the Nirguna aspect straightaway in the beginning is very hard! Saguna Dhyana is keeping the thought of any particular form of God in our mind. It may be the form of our Guru, or of our Ishta whom we worship. By constant practice we should make the form steady in our mind. We must bear in mind that the form stands for God, Who is the all-pervading and all-comprehensive Truth. So also, when we chant the Name, we must feel that the Name is of God, the Atman, the Infinite. By meditating on the form of God, and chanting His Name, we can gradually go beyond all names and forms and ultimately reach the Nirguna aspect. Then we realise that God is not only in one place, confined to one form, but that He is all-pervading and that by His power alone all the worlds are moving.
Japa and Smaran must go together. Japa makes the mind steady and prepares it for Dhyana. Through Dhyana we reach the state of Samadhi where we realise our identity with God. In Samadhi, the mind is perfectly still, without any Samkalpas or Vikalpas without any desires, or ideas. We realise that we are not the physical body, the senses, the mind or the intellect, but that we are the immortal, absolute Truth itself. Having gained this experience, we advance to the state of Parabhakti about which Ramdas has talked to you often.
Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
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