Shiva: Even now I am advocating non-dualism, as only non-dualism can lead to

realization and liberation. At the same time, non-dualism cannot be practiced that
easily. One cannot move to masters without going to school, similarly one has to go
through dvaita or dualism to attain perfection in non-dualism. In the material world,
everything is related to evolution. What is evolution? It is a process in which
something passes by degrees to a different stage, especially a more advanced or a
matured stage.
Shakti: What one has to practice while pursuing dvaita?
Shiva: There are three stages in dvaita. The first stage is offering flowers, offering
naivedya, etc and this is called s odaaupacra (16 types of offerings). This is the
stage when one reads Scriptures (notUpanisad-s), which deal with standard of living.
This is often called Scriptural dictums or dharma. It sets high moral and ethical
standards of living and several dos and donts to discipline ones life. It is like
learning in schools.
Second stage is where one reduces the rituals and moves on to mantra japa. Both
are practiced concurrently. After finishing pj, mantra japa is practiced. Over a
period of time, he gradually reduces his time on ritualistic worship and spends more
time on his japa. There are different stages in mantra japa. Ones spiritual guru
guides him or her through these stages. The first stage of mantra is doing all the
nysa-s, counting the number of repetitions and finally doing samarpana to the
concerned deity.
Eg- Bala mantra vidhan is well explained here. Its word file is in this same folder.

In the first stage, all the eleven steps are rigorously followed. In the second stage,
several of these parts are dispensed with, according to the instructions of the guru.
Counting of repetitions continues in this stage also.
In the third stage, counting of repetitions is stopped and one is asked to meditate on
the mantra by keeping his or her consciousness in j chakra. Though this is the
point of transformation from ritualistic life to spiritual life, it is not the point of
transformation from dvaita to Advaita. Former is not so important when compared to
the latter, as both realization and liberation happen only in the highest level of
Advaita. Various stages of mantra japa are like different stages of under graduate
and post graduate studies in a university.
Shakti: What is fixing consciousness in j chakra in mantra meditation?
Shiva: As you know j chakra is the most powerful psychic centre which is strongly
connected to the mind. Just above j chakra (approximately an inch), there is a
minor, yet powerful psychic chakra known as manas (mind) chakra, which not only

has direct connection to the mind, but also controls five organs of perception. When
one meditates a mantra at j chakra, it becomes hyperactive which in turn
activates manas chakra, which absorbs the mantra itself. Instead of recitation
through senses, recitation of mantra is taken over by manas chakra and now the
initiated mantra is constantly recited by the mind. This is how one attains the
perpetual mantra japa state.
Shakti: But, how does this help?
Shiva: It helps in two ways. First, when the mantra recitation is taken over by the
mind, by default mind recites the mantra perpetually and the subtle vibrations of
bjkaara-s are absorbed by the mind and these vibrations make the mind calm.
When the mind is calm, breath rate also slows down and when the breath slows
down, it calms the mind further. As I have already told you, only breath and mind can
purify consciousness and look at the way these two are interdependent. This also
goes to prove the concept of interdependency that prevails all over the universe.
Even you and I are interdependent. As you are already aware I am the purest form of
Consciousness. When mind and breath work in slow pace, ones consciousness
correspondingly attains purity.
Shakti: Can you explain this further?
Shiva: Put five dots on a paper. Look at all the five dots. You will not be able to fix
your consciousness on all the five of them. You move your eye balls from one dot to
another. This is known as impure consciousness. Instead of looking all the five dots
at the same time, look only at one dot and you will be able to fix your consciousness
only on that dot and this is known as pure form of consciousness. The purest form of
consciousness is known as bindu, which means a dot. This is the cause of creation.
That is why, I am called bindu.
Shakti: This seems to be a simple practice. You said two ways and you have
revealed one; what about the other?
Shiva: The full potency of any bjkaara can be attained only after repeated
repetitions. The potency of bjkaara-s can be felt not only in purifying the mind, but
also helps one to realize his or her is t adevat {Patajali yoga stra (II.44)
svdhyyd ist adevat samprayogah; meaning by constant repetition of a
mantra, ones ist adevat (devat pertaining to that mantra) is realized.}As you know,
you are always the ist a
devat, as you represent all other gods and goddesses.
Shakti: But there are innumerable mantras for various gods and goddesses. How do
you say that I am the ist adevat?

Shiva: Already Vc Devi-s have said in Lalit Sahasranma (577) that you
are matr k-varna-rpin.You are not only Saguna Brahman but also abda Brahman.
Every sound of the universe originates from you and obviously you are the
universal ist a
devat, as you alone remain in all the mantras. However you manifest
in various physical forms (various forms of gods and goddesses) and their
associated sounds known as mantras. Thus all forms and mantras lead to you and
you in turn lead them to me. Only through you, others can attain me and attaining me
is known as Self-realization. Realizing me is the midpoint of ones spiritual life.
Shakti: How do you correlate between meditating mantras in jcakra and realizing
you?
Shiva: I have already said this. It is simple. Meditate the mantra at jcakra. First
one will feel the vibrations over there. These vibrations will move slightly upwards
and activate manas chakra. The subtle vibrations of the mantras enter into manas
chakra and control the mind and make the mind work on five organs of perception
or jnendriya-s, which are the main source for causing illusion, also known as
my. Now, mind is purified and the organs of perception are also subdued through
manas chakra resulting in the removal of veil of my cast by you. I have already
told you that manas chkara is activated not only by meditating the mantra over there,
but also bringing down the breath rate.
Shakti: How to bring down the breath rate?
Shiva: This is to be practiced. Practice is very important in spiritual path. It is not
about the time taken, but about the quality. When I mean breathing, I always refer to
abdominal breathing. In general breathing rate per minute could be around 12 to 15
per minute. Breathing pattern also depends upon ones dos a or pathogenic factors
such as vta, pitta and kapha. These three dos a
-s should be present more or less in
equal proportions in a gross body. If these dos a
-s are not in harmonious state, one
gets disease. Such diseases also affect the mind (Caraka Sa hit I.48) and such
mental afflictions can be cured through meditation. Minor modifications of these
dosa-s in the gross body can be set right by taking triphala (available both in the
form of powder and tablets) on a daily basis. A perfect harmony of the three dos a
-s
keeps the breath rate at very good levels. The best breathing rate during advanced
meditative stages would be around one breath in three minutes to three breaths per
minute.
Coming back to your question of bringing down the respiratory rate per minute, one
has to learn to hold the breath, both internally and externally apart from slowing
down the pace of exhalation. If one is able to bring down the breathing rate to three
or four per minute consciously, the breathing rate will be reduced automatically. This
in turn will calm down the mind. Now slow respiratory rate coupled with purified mind

leads to your realization. When you are realized, you will unveil your power of my,
leading to my realization.
Shakti: What happens next?
Shiva: Realizing me alone is not the purpose of this life. The moment one realizes
me he or she stops accruing further karmas. However, he or she has to experience
the karmic bag that he or she carries with him/her. When the karmic bag has
insignificant weight, one has to meditate to reach mahnyato get liberated.
Shakti: Please explain the steps to get liberated.
Shiva: Yes, I will, but not now. Before that you must know how we are
commercialized. I am very upset about it. I will show you few places and you will
know what is going on.