Repetition as a way to reach God

I thought of this one morning, sitting in the bus on my way to college. That was several months ago. Atlast, I'm taking the time to fully express my thought.

The title is Repetition as a way to reach God. First, let me clarify what I mean by using the term God. I don't mean God in the sense of religion. Reaching God, meaning bringing us closer to God. I argue that a feeling of contentment and peace brings us closest to God. I can't imagine myself as feeling close to God, when I am, say, ruled by prejudice and resentment. So I start with the presumption that when we have a feeling of contentment and peace, that is when we are closest to God.

Repetition can be the means of achieving this sense of peace and contentment. Generally, people who repeat the same actions day after day are perceived as falling into a rut. This may not, however, be the case with all.

Take the case of a bus driver who plies along the same route day after day, transporting people from one place to another. To a casual observer, he is just repeating the same actions, with no scope for growth and improvement. However, the bus driver may find so many changes in his repetitious act. The very first time he drives along that route, he will be unfamiliar with it. Soon, he will know the route fairly well, and as if by intuition, will know the traffic conditions along that route. He may also notice the several landmarks in his route and other repetitious actions performed along that route, say, the opening of a shop at a specific time. As time progresses, he may expend lesser per cent of his conscious mind in monitoring his actions, only reacting to sudden variations with increased conscious effort. That is, the more he drives, the more mechanical his actions become, and the outsider perceives him to have fallen into a rut.

On the contrary, the bus driver would be doing other things alongwith his mechanical (repetitious) act, thus growing and improving. He may be chatting with the people in his bus, listening to the radio or pondering quietly on his pet topic. His work will give him a sense of satisfaction, generating peace and contentment, thus bringing him closer to God.

To the skeptics, I'll put it this way: Why do people take long drives along country roads for no apparent reason? They do it to clear their minds, feel more at peace with themselves. They do it because they feel more in tune with themselves, and with God.

A blacksmith forges iron on his anvil by repeatedly beating it with his hammer. The process is called tempering. To the untrained eye, it will appear as though he his repeating the same blows over and over again. Ask the blacksmith. He will tell you that each and every blow is unique, that the speed and strength of the blow keeps varying. The blacksmith is in-tune with the metal, he has perfected his skills to such an extent that he intuitively knows how much force he needs to employ. Every successful blacksmith would have learnt by breaking many work pieces, till he learnt how to do it right. Repetition enhances their skills. For one who enjoys his work, the work itself will generate contentment. The blacksmith will thus be in a plane in which he is in perfect harmony with himself, and in harmony with God.

A chant or a mantra is repeated several times. All religions have some sort of sacred words that are repeated, either verbally or in writing. The repetition of these words is a type of bhakti, or a staunch devotion to God. The repetition here is a direct way to reach God.

Why repetition? Why should it be a means? In a world where change is the only constant, is there any room for repetition?

.

When we repeat an action, we become better at it. After many repetitions, we will find our attitude towards that action changing. Repetition brings change. Imagine the first time you read your favourite book. Then, when you read it the second time, you would have discovered some new aspect that you missed the first time. The third reading may produce some more changes in your viewpoint of that book. Some movie buffs can watch a movie a lot of times without feeling bored. Why? Each time they watch it, they view it differently. They enjoy the experience.

.

If your mind is always occupied with something new, the mind will respond to the challenge by concentrating more on the task at hand till it is completed. Then, the mind switches to focussing on another new task. There is no room for contentment while working. Work will always be a challenge, fill you with energy or motivate you, will occupy your mind and leave no space for contentment to creep in.

.

Repetitious actions such as gardening, doing the house work or even taking a bath may provide the contentment. This is why people choose an activity they love to relax after a challenging day at work. Even though they thrive on challenge, they need something to relax, feel contended and at peace.