Namah Shivay,
I have also passed through this phase. As love for God increases, force of thoughts decreases. As awareness increases, you are no longer dragged in thoughts and incidents. Mantra continues. Initially the force of mantra is not much, and so one easily sidetracks being involved in thoughts completely forgetting mantra. All paths, including Advaita requires God's grace.
Namaste
Amrut
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