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—Swami Sivananda—
Commentary: The essence of this instruction is—have a particular spot in your room which is used exclusively for prayer and Japa. Do not keep changing this spot. If you do not wish to have this spot inside your room, you can have it somewhere else, say, on the bank of a river or under some tree or a secluded spot—but it should be the same spot every day. There is something about the same place and the same time—certain atmosphere is created in that place and your entire being is oriented towards that particular process i.e., prayer, Japa, etc. If at a particular time everyday you sit in a particular place and do Japa etc., it invokes the same mood in the mind when the time comes. After sitting at a particular place your can chant OM a number of times. Then immediately the whole mood becomes meditative. This is very conducive to the practice of Japa.
The spot you have selected should be used for prayer and Japa only, and not for any other purpose. However, the best meditation room is your heart. You can enter into it wherever you are, at any time you like. Even while you are travelling in a bus or a train, instead of looking out of the window, you can do Japa. Your heart is a little corner where you can meet God Who dwells within. Close your eyes, enter into your secret closet (a small private room) and there be alone with God. Listen to what He has to say. That is the inner sanctuary (sacred place).
--Commentary by Swami Chidananda
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