Nama Article 12th March 2007

Excerpts from a discourse by Sri Sri Swamiji

In Kali yuga it is not possible for people to do any hard sadhana. It is only out of compassion that this 'Bhagavan Nãma Mantra has been blessed to all.

Once a Vaishnava devotee came visiting Bhagavãn Yogi Ram Surat Kumar.

He asked Bhagavãn, "Are you an Advaiti or a Visishtadwaiti?"

Bhagavãn questioned back, "Who was the founder of Advaita and who was the founder of Visishtadwaita?"

The devotee said, "Adi Sankara and Ramanuja"

Bhagavãn shot back, "Do you mean to say that there was no Advaita before Adi Sankara and no Visishitadwaita before Ramanuja?"(!)

The devotee blinked!

Bhagavãn continued, "Where does Advaita and Visishtadwaita differ?"

He could not answer.

Bhagavãn, "Do you know 'Vadagalai' and 'Thengalai' 'sampradãya (tradition)?"

The man remained silent, as he did not know the answer. It was the same to all the other questions regarding the founders of the above 'sampradãya' and several other questions shot at him by Yogi.

Yogi then said to him, "Advaita and Visishtadwaita are for my Masters like Ramana Maharishi and Papa Ramadas. For you and for this beggar Rama Nãm is enough. Get out!"