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This is a comment on http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=2633 \u2018Curing Depression with Spirituality\u2019, for the depressed 16 round chanters.<\/p>\n
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Chanting 16 rounds Hare Krishna must give result if properly executed.<\/p>\n
We will give here the rules.<\/p>\n
Sri Baladevavidyabhusana\u2019s Govinda Bhasya verdicts to sit straight and motionless as a mountain. We\u2019ll give the full text for complete understanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Svet\u00e2svatara we read as follows (2.8):\u2014<\/p>\n
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Let a wise man hold his body with its three erect parts (chest, neck and head) even, and turn his senses with the mind towards the heart, he will then in the boat of Brahman cross all the torrents which cause fear.<\/p>\n
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(Doubt).\u2014This description of the posture is enjoined by the Sruti\u2013 Revelation. The question arises : Is this posture compulsory in every japa or recitation or is it optional ?<\/p>\n
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(Purvapaksa\u2013 the philosophical opponent).\u2014The recitation of Om is a mental process. No particular bodily postures are absolutely necessary for the due carrying on of any mental process. Therefore, the \u00c2sana (posture) taught in the above \u015aruti is not compulsory.<\/p>\n
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(Siddh\u00e2nta-conclusion).\u2014This view is set aside in the next sutra.<\/p>\n
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S\u00dbTRA 4.1.7.<\/p>\n
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Sambhav\u00e2t – on account of possibility.<\/p>\n
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7. (Let him recite the name of the Lord Hari) in a sitting posture, (for prayer is) possible in that posture only.<\/p>\n
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COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n
The Lord Hari should be meditated upon by the devotee, in a sitting posture. Why? Because meditation is possible only when one is sitting. It is not possible when one is lying down at full length, or is standing or is walking. Meditation is possible only when one is quietly seated. Those who learn to know God should perform meditation (Dhy\u00e2na). Now Dhy\u00e2na can be performed only by him who is in a sitting posture and not in any other state. The next sutra makes it still more clear.<\/p>\n
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S\u00dbTRA 4.1.8.<\/p>\n
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Dhy\u00e2n\u00e2t – because of the concentrated meditation; Cha – and.<\/p>\n
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8. And because meditation is also possible in a sitting posture only,\u2014 Dhy\u00e2na or meditation is thinking on one subject continuously, without the inrush of ideas incongruous with the subject of thought. Such meditation is possible in a sitting posture only, and not while lying down or standing, etc. Therefore, a sitting posture should be adopted both for prayers as well as for meditation.<\/p>\n
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S\u00dbTRA 4.1.9.<\/p>\n
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Achalatvam – motionlessness, steadiness; Cha – and, indeed; Apeksya – referring to.<\/p>\n
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9. And because the Sruti has reference to motionlessness as a condition of Dhy\u00e2na<\/p>\n
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The word Cha in the sutra has the force of indeed only. In the Chh\u00e2ndogya Upanisad, the root Dhy\u00e2ya is employed in the sense of motionlessness. This shows that Dhy\u00e2na has the essential quality of motionlessness. Thus in Chh. Up, 7.6.1, we have the verb Dhy\u00e2yati used in the sense of motionlessness. Dhy\u00e2na Is better than Chitta. The earth is in meditation, as it were, and thus also the sky, the intermediate region, the Heaven, the Water, the Mountains and Divine Men. Therefore, those who among men have obtained greatness here, on earth, seem to have obtained a portion of Dhy\u00e2na. While small and vulgar people are always quarrelling, backbiting and abusing each other, great men seem to have obtained a portion of the gift of Dhy\u00e2na. Meditate on Brahman in Dhy\u00e2na.” From this indicatory mark also, we learn that meditation should be done in a sitting posture. In secular language also we use the word Dhy\u00e2yati in the same sense, as in the sentence Dhy\u00e2yati k\u00e2ntam prositaraman\u00ee the wife thinks deeply or sitting in reverie thinking over her husband gone on a distant journey<\/p>\n
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S\u00dbTRA 4.1.10.<\/p>\n
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Smaranti – it is mentioned in the Smritis; Cha – and.<\/p>\n
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10. And the Smritis also teach the same (that meditation must be performed in a sitting posture).\u2014491.<\/p>\n
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COMMENTARY.<\/p>\n
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Thus in the Gita, 6.11, 13, we have the following : \u2014 In a pure place, established on a fixed seat of his own, neither very much raised nor very low, made of a cloth, a black antelope skin, and kusa grass, one over the other. There, having made the mind one-pointed, with thought and the functions of the senses subdued, steady on his seat, he should practice Yoga for the purification of the self. Holding the body, head, and neck erect, immovably steady, looking fixedly at the point of the nose, with unseeing gaze. The above verses of the G\u00eet\u00e2 also teach that the persons meditating should practice the motionlessness of their bodily limbs and sense-organs. Such a motionlessness cannot take place without the sitting posture. Therefore, the meditation must be performed in a sitting posture. And the above verses specifically mention this posture by using the words Upavisya \u00e2sane, sitting on a seat,etc.<\/p>\n
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(Doubt).\u2014In this form of meditation and prayer, is there any condition of direction, locality and time or is there no such condition ?<\/p>\n
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(Purvapaksa.)\u2014In all Vaidic ritual and up\u00e2san\u00e2 we find particular direction, etc, mentioned. Such as the Sandhy\u00e2 facing east, just before the sunrise on the bank of a river, etc. Since Vaidic rituals lay down these conditions of players, and the Ved\u00e2ntic meditation and prayers being in no way different from the Vaidic Sandhy\u00e2, the conditions of direction, time and locality must apply to it also.<\/p>\n
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(Siddh\u00e2nta).\u2014This view is set aside in the next sutra.<\/p>\n
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S\u00dbTRA IV. 1.11.<\/p>\n
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Yatra – where; Ek\u00e2grat\u00e2 – the concentration of mind; Tatra – there; Aviges\u00e2t – it not being specially mentioned.<\/p>\n
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11. Whenever there takes place one-pointedness of the mind, there let the meditation be performed; because there are no such conditions laid down with regard to this meditation, as there are laid down with regard to the Vaidic Sandhy\u00e2. In whatever direction, place or time there takes place the concentration of the mind, then and there let the man meditate on the Lord Hari Var\u00e2ha Pur\u00e2na also we find:<\/p>\n
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“That place, time and condition one must resort to which are favorable for mental concentration. He should resort to that place only, seize that hour only, place himself in that condition only, see those comforts only, which are favorable to securing serenity of mind. For by time, place, etc., there is no peculiarity said to be wrought in meditation, but all inquiry about time, place, etc is meant for making the mind serene.\u2019\u2019 \u015bvet Up. II. 10. lays down the following rules:\u2014<\/p>\n
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“Let him perform his exercises in a place, level, pure, free from pebbles, fire, and dust, delightful by its sounds, its water and bowers, not painful to the eye, and full of shelters and caves.”<\/p>\n
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The Scriptures, moreover, say that sacred places of pilgrimages are causes of release. True. Places are of great help in concentration, provided there be no distracting elements there; but those very sacred places of pilgrimages become obstructions to meditation, if there are distractions there. Hence the best test of the place is that which the mind finds favorable; and hence the \u015aruti says “Mano’nukule,” where the mind feels favorable.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The other Vedanta commentators repeat these points.<\/p>\n
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Sri Ramanujacarya sribhasya: \u201cMovelessness hence is characteristic of the intensely meditating person also, and such movelessness is to be realised in the sitting posture only.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Nimbarka in his Vedanta-parijata-saurabha (fragrance of the heavenly flower of the Vedanta): \u201cwhile one who is walking or standing still may have his attention diverted owing to his effort for holding the body up and so on, and as such no meditation is possible on their part.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Madhva says in his anubhasya: 7. The contemplatist shall (always) practise meditation<\/p>\n
(only) sitting: for (then only) it is possible. Though he may always contemplate the Lord, still he shall specially meditate on Him in the sitting posture; for then the distraction of mind being minimised, that is possible. 9. And (the absence of mental distraction) depends also upon the body being in a state of rest.<\/p>\n
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For the Brahmandapurana says; \u201cIf the body is at rest, there is rest for the mind also; if the body is in motion, (is restless), the mind too becomes restless.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Varahapurana :<\/p>\n
” He should resort to that place only, seize that hour only, place himself in that condition only, seek those comforts only, which are favourable to securing serenity of mind. For by time, place, etc., there is no peculiarity said to be wrought in meditation, but all enquiry about time, place, etc., is meant for making the mind serene.\u201d<\/p>\n
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One may object that there need be no rules for chanting quoting Madhva, Ramanuja, Nimbarka, since they were not discussing japa, but the govinda bhasya is written after the advent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu so Baladeva must have discussed japa here.<\/p>\n
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Srila Prabhupada also recommended this all.<\/p>\n
\u201cDevotee: Prabhup\u0101da? We know that His divine Grace Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b always sat very erect and it is stated here in the Bhagavad-g\u012bt\u0101 that one should sit erect. Will this aid us in our concentrating on chanting our japa, if we try to concentrate, if we sit erect while chanting?<\/p>\n
Prabhup\u0101da: No, no, it doesn’t require any sitting posture. But if you can sit, it helps you. It helps you. If you can sit straight like this, it will be very nice, it can help, yes, you can concentrate in chanting and hearing. Therefore these things are required. But we are not very much particular about this. But he was brahmac\u0101r\u012b, he could sit like that. That is the sign of brahmac\u0101r\u012b. He was not a false brahmac\u0101r\u012b, but he was real brahmac\u0101r\u012b.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Bhagavad-g\u012bt\u0101 6.46-47<\/p>\n
February 21, 1969, Los Angeles)<\/p>\n
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The Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a mantra may be chanted by anyone, without consideration of the place or how one sits. \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu has openly declared, niyamita\u1e25 smara\u1e47e na k\u0101la\u1e25. In chanting the Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a mah\u0101-mantra there are no particular injunctions regarding one’s sitting place. The injunction niyamita\u1e25 smara\u1e47e na k\u0101la\u1e25 includes de\u015ba, k\u0101la and p\u0101tra\u2014place, time and the individual. Therefore anyone may chant the Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a mantra, without consideration of the time and place. Especially in this age, Kali-yuga, it is very difficult to find a suitable place according to the recommendations of Bhagavad-g\u012bt\u0101. The Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a mah\u0101-mantra, however, may be chanted at any place and any time, and this will bring results very quickly. Yet even while chanting the Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a mantra one may observe regulative principles. Thus while sitting and chanting one may keep his body straight, and this will help one in the chanting process; otherwise one may feel sleepy. (SB 7.15.31 p. )<\/p>\n
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Your third question, What is the explanation of split-personality, actually, there are not two personalities, there is only change of mind. Therefore, the mind has to be fixed up in Krishna, then there is no more extreme change in the mind from one personality to another. There is always only one personality, it is just that if the mind is very disturbed, it may change in extreme way; if such person is devotee; best remedy is to sit down very tightly and chant Hare Krishna very loudly and hear for the a long time until he feels himself one-minded and fixed on Krishna’s Lotus Feet. (Letter\u2014Mayapur 27 February, 1972, 72-02-27)<\/p>\n
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He commented also that he himself was too old for that, but we are younger. We should sit properly. Why grow hunchbacks?<\/p>\n
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Next help. To have the eyes open on a Krishna form. Otherwise how you know you are not sleeping?<\/p>\n
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\u201cNot only should one chant or murmur the mantra, but in front of him he must have the Deity, or physical form of the Lord.\u201d SB 4.8.54 purport<\/p>\n
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\u201c\u2026. Not that one has to close his eyes completely. No…. I have seen in some of the yogic societies, they close the eyes completely, and some of them, about fifty percent of them are snoozing, or sleeping, regularly. Because as soon as you close your eyes, and if you have no subject matter to think, and you have been posted to meditate, you do not know to what to meditate, then the next result is sleeping and nothing more. That is practical. So one has to sleep very hard\u2026. So sometimes meditation goes on in sleeping. No. That is not the process. You cannot close your eyes completely. Then you will invite the queen (nidra-devi-ed). Sleep and she will capture you. Whole process will be like that. Here it is said that in order to keep yourself alive. \u2026\u201d (Bhagavad-g\u012bt\u0101 6.11-21\u2014New York, September 7, 1966)<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt is not so-called meditation, and snoring, (makes snoring sound) meditating. It is not that. I have seen, all these rascals go, yog\u012bs, they prescribe meditation, and meditation means sleeping and snoring, that’s all. It is not that movement. We are sending, inducing, “Come, sell books.” It is no question of meditation. Cheating himself and cheating others. What he will meditate? And he requires so many primary rules and regulations before meditating, not that… In the Bhagavad-g\u012bt\u0101, for meditation it is clearly stated one should not close the eyes. As soon as you close the eyes and meditate, you will sleep. Immediately. \u2026. Not that closing and snoring and “huh\u201d. (Room Conversation-November 2, 1976, V\u1e5bndavana)<\/p>\n
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Sri Ramanujacarya recommends in his commentary on the Bhagavad-gita yoga chapter that the back should have a support \u2013 to help sitting still.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeeping the body, head and neck erect and unshakable, and (keeping them), on account of having a back-rest firm.\u201d (Bg 6.14. Ramanuja-Bhashya)<\/p>\n
Srila Prabhupada also instructed to chant 16 rounds before one puts the spoon in his mouth\u2013 for eating. And before 10 h am. And in one sitting\u2013 all 16 without stop. He told HH Tamala Krishna Maharaja to do his japa before the mangala artrika, and Maharaja was so elated after doing that, he said he would tell everyone in ISKCON to do so.<\/p>\n
Lastly, according to scripture, the meditation on Krishna can be on one position of Krishna lila or on a moving scenery, flow of Krishna lila. Thus we can even put on a film of Krishna and do japa. The sound must be off or at the lowest because the sound of the Maha\u2013mantra must surround us; we have to be in the sound of <\/p>\n
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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare<\/p>\n
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare<\/p>\n
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pronounced more and more beautiful and devotional. We will be moved by the sound of His Name as He orders from, in or as His Name, being non-different from Krishna, the Person.<\/p>\n
I confirmed this all with 2 of our spiritual masters in ISKCON. <\/p>\n
Japa done exactly as scripture ordains must give bhava-emotion, even if it is only rati-abhasa.<\/p>\n
When I saw, during japa, the addition to the Ramayana film, of lava and kusa, I was sobbing. Recently seeing the Baal Krishna, Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman, with japa, also makes my body, especially the right side, regularly shiver.<\/p>\n
And there is always the peace of abiding in Krishna\u2019s name and His lila or service, surrender, being beyond the turmoil of gross and subtle matter.<\/p>\n
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These are some crutches for those in tama-guna, as Srila Prabhupada stated that for them to reach the stage of chanting in suddha nama may take some time. For the muktas there is no need for such rules.<\/p>\n
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Hare Krishna.<\/p>\n
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The 64 rounders experience that 16 rounds is easy and happily to do \u2018in 5 to 6 minutes for 1 round\u2019, as Srila Prabhupada said to be the time taking that, \u2018although in the beginning that may not be possible\u2019.<\/p>\n
Also for those who practice the regular, official, promised 16, this 64 is already done, since<\/p>\n
Srila Prabhupada advised 16 on the beads, 100 off (without) the beads.<\/p>\n
If you have to walk japa, because of drowsiness while sitting or standing (this being the second best)), then do not move the body and the head, and walk as a statue, tree or mountain, as the article above quoted from the Vedanta, so you will not be sleepwalking, and be in peace – the brahma-bhuta or Brahman or brahmajyoti level.<\/p>\n
This is easy if your hand with the beadbag touches the heart; Hari bhakti vilasa advises to keep the hand with the japa mala at or on the heart. According to Kapili deva the antah karana (the mind!) is in the heart, so putting the hand with the beadbag on the chest at the place of the heart will quiet the neurotic mind and body of the kali yuga soul.<\/p>\n
Chant the walk japa with your face towards the Deities because we chant for their hearing. And chant as close as possible to the Deities.<\/p>\n
Then there is the jogging japa, which is on doctor’s advice, then you don’t have to go to the modern torture chambers – fitness and gym temples of Kali. This we learnt from His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada; HH Giriraja Swami showed us once, in 1982, on the juhu beach, Srila Prabhupada’s morning walk japa. This will speed up the japa so you will with even a sluggish jogging chant 16 rounds \u2018within 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 36 minutes\u2019; thus 1 round in 5 to 6 minutes, see up. And you will have a goooood, godly soul in a goooood, godly subtle and gross body.<\/p>\n
Hare Krishna.<\/p>\n
ys.avadhuta raya das<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
“That place, time and condition one must resort to which are favorable for mental concentration. He should resort to that place only, seize that hour only, place himself in that condition only, see those comforts only, which are favorable to securing serenity of mind. For by time, place, etc., there is no peculiarity said to be wrought in meditation, but all inquiry about time, place, etc is meant for making the mind serene.\u2019\u2019 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43162"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117611,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43162\/revisions\/117611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Hare](\"http:\/\/dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads5\/2017-02-20_13-09-29.jpg\")
By Nitai Candra das<\/strong><\/p>\n