Mr. Venkatakrishnayya, a lawyer devotee, visited Sri Bhagavan ten years before and asked Him what he should do to improve himself. Sri Bhagavan told him to perform Gāyatri Japa. The young man went away satisfied. When he returned after some years, he asked:
If I meditate on the meaning of the Gāyatri mantra, my mind again wanders. What is to be done?
M.: Were you told to meditate on the or its meaning? You must think of the one who repeats the mantra.
Again, the same man had seen another reputed Mahatma who told him to say “Om Namah” instead of “OM” because pure “OM” is meant for whereas others can repeat “Om Namah”. When he came here he asked Sri Bhagavan about it. Sri Bhagavan replied casually:
Should not others besides the enquire into the Self and realise it?