RAMA KAVACHA

In the beginning there was nothing. Then the chanting of 'Rama naama taraka' was heard. The army of Rama was chanting this in chorus. Who was hearing this? I. Who is this I? It is such and such person lying in such and such location. The ego veiled its magic [Maya] on the mind and with this avidya, the world as I saw it in the waking state was created. The time was 4.00 AM and I was wide awake even before opening the eyes. The mind tried to play the trick of laziness, but I was so fresh that I could not fall asleep even if I wanted to . I thanked God. I thanked my Guru and proceeded with the Nityakarmas.
During the course of the day , I forgot God and was hence drawn into the world. The people were pestering me, talking tome, radiating their selfishness and my peace was disturbed. My mind was in deep distress, and I did not like what was happening. What am I supposed to do? I prayed to Rama to help me and started chanting in the background. I had to keep my silence and chant for two minutes. The chanting took over and was in the foreground. The world was in the background. Though I was in the world, I was untouched. Nothing would disturb this peace or wipe the smile off my face. Such is the power of Rama when he grants his protection.
I was in a bus and people were touching me from all sides. Each contact sent down a pang of evil vibration and I was in great pain. I hated to travel, but God has sent me on his errand. So I asked him to save me and started to chant his name 'upamsu'. He sent his invisible shield and nobody could penetrate it. The loud speakers in the bus started playing some sensuous songs but they could not seep into my ears.
Being educated I was proud of my ignorance. Then I saw the uneducated who humbly accepted their ignorance. When they were in his service, I saw their Bhakti flowing out of their eyes. Though they did not understand it, they had completely submitted themselves. I felt ashamed that my ego was so strong. It was the Rakshasa in me that prevented me from meeting my Deva. Feeling helpless, I prayed to the Lord to increase my Bhakti. Tears flowed down my eyes and the ego melted as the chanting started.
I was aware that I was dreaming. The Apsaras sent by Indra were enticing me. The Raktabeejasuras of my mind were jumping out of my chitta in crores. My sole defense, my buddhi, my Astra was not accessible outside the waking state. But the lord was watching in all the four states and came down in his golden chariot to save the unarmed trapped in this inaccessible plane. I have no voice to sing his glory. The least, I could chant his name.
Every evening I chanted his name instead of watching the idiot box [t.v.]. This is how I came to know that he knows me. He sees me and is with me even when I do not see him and when I am not with him. So every night before falling asleep, I prayed to him not to abandon me when I was not looking. With this prayer, I closed my eyes and in the end, there was nothing.

[June 2007 experience while serving Swami Virajeshwara Hamsa]