When, thus, either the form or the Name comes into the mind constantly, you will attain concentration.

Nama Article 10^th September 2015

Swami Papa Ramdas

You usually start with a picture or an image of the Lord before you, fixing your gaze upon it, take this object as a symbol of the Almighty Truth. After a period, the form to which you are devoted, your Ishta, gets, so to say, stamped on the mind; and then you can mentally concentrate upon that. Side by side, you can also repeat His name by the tongue. When you adopt mere repetition as a means for concentration, you have to assume that the sound of the Name is itself a symbol of God. By gradual practice, the external repetition will lead to an automatic repetition of the Name in the mind. When, thus, either the form or the Name comes into the mind constantly, you will attain concentration.

By this Sadhana you will be able to curb the restless nature of the mind. Without this preparatory process, meditation becomes impossible. Meditation means making the mind dwell upon the attributes of the Lord, as described in the Gita, namely, that He is eternal, all-pervading, almighty, absolute freedom, peace, wisdom, love and bliss.

Then, a stage will be reached when all the waves of mind will cease, and it will be bathed in the stillness of the transcendent Reality within yourself.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare