From Mischief to Meditation

Once upon a time, there was a baby elephant named Ramu. He led a very happy and carefree life in the south Indian kingdom of Vijayanagara. This kingdom was ruled by the noble King Krishnadevaraya, who’s good deeds had earned him the undying love and respect of his people.

Ramu was very cute and the king’s favourite pet. He even built a small palace for Ramu. The baby elephant had all the luxuries that one could imagine for a human child. Ramu ate like a prince, had his own pond to bathe and play, and his own servants to take care of him. A favourite part of Ramu’s daily routine was a long walk to the Tungabhadra river. There Ramu would bathe and play, spraying the children with water and splashing in the river. The King was very happy seeing his pet’s carefree life.

There was only one problem with Ramu’s life. His only route to the river went through the busy market, where vendors and buyers crowded the lane with their fruits, vegetables, and other items for sale. Unfortunately for them, Ramu’s carefree play included breaking pots, pulling the stalls down and eating everything in sight. This was great fun for Ramu, but the merchants were losing their very livelihood!

Like all of the citizens of Vijayanagara, the merchants greatly respected the king and his love for Ramu — so much that they didn’t want to bother him with this problem. The King had a wise and witty minister named Tenali Rama who helped the king solve various problems that came to him. The frustrated merchants, hesitant to go to the King, quietly went to Tenali for his wise counsel.

Maa Kali and Tenali Rama

Tenali listened with concern to the growing problems caused by the little Ramu, who was actually bigger than five men combined. After consoling the merchants, Tenali said he would need some time to solve their problem. He began by praying and asking his favourite deity, Kali Maa, for the answer. No solution was forthcoming. The problem began haunting his sleep, his meditation and his regular seva activities in the kingdom.

A few days later, Tenali was riding in a horse cart, enjoying the green lush nature that is common in south India. While chatting with his cart driver, he noticed the blinders covering the horse’s vision to the left and right. The blinders help horses to focus on what is in front of them, without being distracted by everything going on around them on the crowded streets. With dawning understanding, Tenali suddenly felt chills in his spine. He sat up very straight, realising that Maa Kali was trying to tell him something.

His intuition had been awakened by the quiet ride through the countryside and by his receptivity to God. Blinders help horses to concentrate on the path in front of them. Tenali realised that concentration was the key to freeing the horse from distractions — concentration is the answer to most problems. Thinking about Ramu, Tenali realised that blinders would not be suitable for the King’s favourite pet. Thinking deeply with his eyes uplifted, he asked, “what would help the naughty Ramu to not get distracted by the bustling crowds and shops in the marketplace?”

In pursuit of an answer, Tenali spoke with Ramu’s mahout (driver). He began to better understand the mischievous Ramu’s likes and dislikes. The mahout told him that sugarcane stalks were Ramu’s favourite snack. Connecting the dots, Tenali suggested that the mahout feed sugarcane to Ramu during his daily trip to the river.

The next morning, on their daily sojourn through the busy marketplace, Ramu was so absorbed in the sugarcane that he stopped bothering the shopkeepers! This solution led to happiness for everyone in the market area as well as for our dearest Ramu and his King. Peace and harmony reigned in the kingdom of Vijayanagara once again.

Like the shopkeepers, aren’t you annoyed by the naughty mind of yours? Whenever we sit to meditate or concentrate, restless thoughts come to harass us. What can we do? What did the yogis from the past do? Did you know that even they had the same problem?

After many years of meditation, they came across a solution — one that would help all people. They discovered the Hong Sau technique of concentration!

Paramhansa Yogananda called the Hong Sau technique the “highest technique of concentration.” In this technique he taught the use of a mantra. Hong and Sau are mentally chanted along with the incoming and outgoing breath. The intent focus on breath and mantra acts like sugarcane on our minds. It gives us something positive to focus on and takes the mind away from those restless thoughts.

The technique is so powerful that it can take us to a very deep state of concentration and relaxation. The same joy that Ramu felt when eating sugarcane can be felt during Hong-Sau practise. Those who do Hong Sau deeply and regularly find that there is a divine sweetness in that calm state, free from all the anxieties, restlessness, and emotions.

If you would like to know more about this technique and how to practice it, please click here – Hong Sau Meditation | Paramhansa Yogananda’s Technique | Basic Meditation Practice

If you already know the practice and have lost your enthusiasm for it, remember the words of Paramhansa Yogananda, “The soul loves to meditate, for in contact with the Spirit lies its greatest joy.”

The technique has led many souls to have the direct experience of God: as stillness, peace and calmness. Once this becomes your experience, the practice itself will become effortlessly simple and exceedingly sweet.

Wishing you all a blessed, fun and joyous time with Hong Sau. Aum Guru.