29th August, 1936

Talk 241.

D.: How to avoid misery?
M.: Has misery a shape? Misery is only unwanted thought. The mind is not strong enough to resist it.

D.: How to gain such strength of mind?
M.: By worship of God.
D.: Meditation of the God of Immanence is hard to understand.
M.: Leave God alone. Hold your Self.
D.: How to do japa ^[?] (repetition of mantras)?
M.: It is of two kinds - gross and subtle. The latter is meditation on it, and it gives strength to the mind.

D.: But the mind does not get steady for meditation.
M.: It is due to lack of strength.
D.: Sandhya is usually done mechanically. Similarly other religious duties. Is it useful? Is it not better to do japa, etc., knowing their meanings?

M.: Um! Um!