CHANT OF GOD NAME

Generally, people tend to believe that the aim of life is to gather as many objects and pleasures as possible that bring comfort to the body. However, it is often seen that those who possess such abundance are not truly happy. In fact, the more one gathers, the more one’s greed grows. As life moves on and the body weakens with age, the ability to enjoy these things also diminishes. Even though material possessions remain, the longing of the mind persists.

Therefore, a wise person should gradually learn not to base their happiness on external things. Whenever something outside is lost, the mind immediately seeks something else in its place. That ‘something’ should be God — because God is eternal, complete, and blissful. When one meditates on such a divine presence, these qualities begin to reflect within the mind. Imagine the sweetness and richness of life for a person whose heart becomes joyful through such divine contemplation.

For practical, worldly people like us, however, one difficulty arises — how to balance spiritual practice with daily responsibilities. It is often assumed that a person devoted to God cannot handle worldly affairs. The lives of saints like Tukaram, who became one with divine consciousness, are a different matter. People like us can consider ourselves progressing well if, after perfectly fulfilling our duties, we manage to dedicate whatever time remains to the remembrance of God.

In truth, even the free time we currently get is not fully spent in God’s remembrance. So, one should firmly resolve to devote at least some fixed time every day, without fail, to chanting God’s name. Everything in life, including our own self, stands between us and that Name — we must be cautious of this, and without getting too caught up in worldly distractions, keep our practice going.

Moreover, it’s beneficial to regularly read books written by saints about God, reflect deeply on their meaning, and think about how those ideas could be applied in our own life. Anyone who walks this path with sincerity will find themselves gradually advancing, and more importantly, will experience true contentment.

Contentment, after all, is the real sign of true happiness.