When the mind is thus perfectly still through the power of the Name, you attain to a state of self awareness or witness consciousness

Nama Article 28th November 2009

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

When you chant the Beloved's Name, your mind gets enchanted by its sweet music and will take up the refrain. The mind is now inebriated with a strange and rare joy. Whenever it wanders, by the repeated infusion of this joy, it becomes immediately steady and placid.

 

It is the waves of lower desires arising in it that cause the disturbance. When the mind is thus perfectly still through the power of the Name, you attain to a state of self awareness or witness consciousness.

 

In a subtle way, you are made to transcend the relative nature of your life, with which you had identified yourself through ignorance, and come to realize that you are one with a vast, illimitable and eternal Truth or Life.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Mahatma Gandhi won over British rule by the sheer power of Rama Nama and by virtue of truthfulness sans any weapon and got us independence

Nama Article 26th November 2009

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/diary/?action=entry&id=1208963645

 

Ram Nam and Truthfulness

 

At such a time when even the mighty rulers of the princely states of India bowed down to the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi won over them by the sheer power of Rama Nama and by virtue of truthfulness sans any weapon and got us independence.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare  

It is no exaggeration to say that prayers alone are real, all else is unreal.

Nama Article 24th November 2009

 

Mahathma Gandhi

 

Supplication, worship, prayer are no superstition; they are acts more real than the acts of eating, drinking, sitting or walking. It is no exaggeration to say that they alone are real, all else is unreal.

 

Such worship or prayer is no flight of eloquence; it is no lip-homage. It springs from the heart. If, therefore, we achieve that purity of the heart when it is 'emptied of all but love', if we keep all the chords in proper tune, they 'trembling pass in music out of sight'.

 

Prayer needs no speech. It is in itself independent of any sensuous effort. I have not the slightest doubt that prayer is an unfailing means of cleansing the heart of passions. But it must be combined with the utmost humility.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Nama is definitely more significant than ‘Rupa’

Nama Article 23rd November 2009

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/questions.html

 

It is said that the true form of God is unimaginable and for this reason, a few great spiritual masters (like Kabir, Guru Nanak, Shankaradeva etc.) worshipped Nama alone. Is 'Nama' more significant than 'Rupa' (form)?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Yes, Nama is definitely more significant than 'Rupa'.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Even if a man of very condemnable character worships Me with one-pointed devotion, he is to be considered verily good

Nama Article 22nd November 2009

 

अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्।

साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः

 

(Srimad Bhagavad Gita - 9:30)

 

Even if a man of very condemnable character worships Me with one-pointed devotion, with his mind not given to anybody else, he is to be considered verily good, as well behaved, for he has resolved rightly, has virtuous intentions.

 

English Commentary - Swami Sivananda

 

Even if the most sinful worships Him with undivided heart, he too must indeed be deemed righteous for he has made the holy resolution to give up the evil ways of his life. Rogue Ratnakar became Valmiki by his holy resolution. Jagai and Madhai also became righteous devotees. Mary Magdalene a woman of ill-fame, became a pious woman. Sin vanishes when thoughts of God arise in the mind. Chandrayana and Kricchra Vratas (atonements) will remove only certain particular sins but the remembrance of the Lord, thoughts of the Supreme Being, Japa and meditation, and Abheda Brahma Chintana will destroy the sins committed by a person even in hundred crores of Kalpas or ages.

 

By abandoning the evil ways in his external life and by the force of his internal right resolution, he becomes righteous and attains eternal peace.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Drench your senses in the enchanting form of Krishna, His stories, His glory and His Divine Name. The mind is effortlessly controlled!

Nama Article 21st November 2009

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/diary/?action=entry&id=1219023102

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji on Mind control  

 

Human mind is never still.  Like the flowing water it moves steadily and endlessly from one thought to another.

 

The mouth likes to talk, the tongue craves to taste, the eyes long to see, the legs desire to move.  Every sense organ looks outward to seek pleasure.

 

How is mind control achieved? 

 

The water can be controlled by arresting its flow. But this lasts only until the water is forceful enough to gush out.

 

Like wise, the mind flows through the sense organs.  By shutting the doors of these sense organs, the mind can be brought under control, but only momentarily.

 

Is there an easier way?

 

Let the powerful rays of the sun shine on the water.  Drench your senses in the enchanting form of Krishna, His stories, His glory and His Divine Name.

 

The mind is effortlessly controlled!

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

The practice of keeping watch over the mind is a most pleasant one. This can be made easily possible when the mind is tuned to the melody of the Divine Name.

Nama Article 20th November 2009

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

Man's fall from the height of his spiritual glory is due to his being involved in the external, changing and unstable life. Detachment or standing apart from it is the first thing necessary to be freed from the illusion sprung from it.

 

The practice of keeping watch over the mind is a most pleasant one. This can be made easily possible when the mind is tuned to the melody of the Divine Name.

 

It is then not merely a negative inner detachment but a positive experience of supreme bliss and peace. All the latent powers of the Divine are at this stage revealed and you become an all round, manifestation of the Divine. You realize that the witness and the witnessed are one, you and God are one. The screen that separated you from Him, has dissolved, and you look upon all things with an eye of unity because you behold everywhere the forms of your one Eternal Beloved.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

The supreme verdict

Nama Article 19th November 2009

 

http://www.namadwaar.org/diary/?action=entry&id=1195803569

 

The supreme verdict

 

A person has committed an offense.  He runs from pillar to post to get opinion from people around him to know if he is guilty or not. He gets a different opinion from each one. Eventually, in the court of law, the judge himself gives him a clean chit and acquits him.  Is it not a big relief for him?

 

We are all people who have committed such offenses.  But we are lucky to have Srimad Bhagavatam which gives us a great relief.

 

In the sixth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, it is verily Yama Dharma Raja (the Lord of Death) who does 'Nama Siddhanta' (proves the power of the Divine Name).  From his own mouth he states that he shall not touch anyone who reminisces of Lord Narayana in his last breath.

 

Can there be a better verdict?

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

I have seen infinite divine benefits showered on the sincere devotees who chant the Lord's name with love

Nama Article 18th November 2009

 

Paramhansa Yogananda

 

I have seen infinite divine benefits showered on the sincere devotees who chant the Lord's name with love.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

When the mind is completely filled with His spirit, one cannot harbour ill-will or hatred towards anyone

Nama Article 17th November 2009

 

Source: Harijan 28-4-1946 - Mahatma Gandhi

 

When the mind is completely filled with His spirit, one cannot harbour ill-will or hatred towards anyone and, reciprocally, the enemy will shed his enmity and become a friend.

 

It is not my claim that I have succeeded in converting enemies into friends, but in numerous cases it has been my experience that, when the mind is filled with His peace, all hatred ceases.An unbroken succession of world teachers since the beginning of time have borne testimony to the same. I claim to merit for it. I know it is entirely due to God's grace.

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

'Mahaprabhu made lions and tigers sing and dance to the tune of Nama Kirtan. What does this go to show? If you chant the Maha Mantra constantly, the whole world will be at your feet!'       

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Chanting continuously in the mind, without a gap of even a microsecond – that is meditation

Nama Article 16th November 2009

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/questions.html

 

Is both meditation upon self and chanting the name of Krishna/Rama or Ganesha produce the same effect?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Chanting continuously in the mind, without a gap of even a microsecond – that is meditation.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

I CLAIM to be a man of faith and prayer

Nama Article 13th November 2009

 

Prayer : The Food Of My Soul - Mahatma Gandhi

 

I CLAIM to be a man of faith and prayer, and even if I were cut to pieces, I trust God would give me the strength not to deny Him and to assert that He is.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

When this joy is felt during chanting it is a proof that God has answered the devotee

Nama Article 12th November 2009

 

Paramhansa Yogananda

 

Each of these chants should be sung not once but many times, utilizing the cumulative power of repetition, until the singer feels a great joy break through the radio of his heart.

 

When this joy is felt it is a proof that God has answered the devotee, and that his devotion has been properly tuned and the broadcasting of his ardor in chants has been true and deep.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

The only will we have is the freeing will of choosing to chant whenever we find mind wandering

Nama Article 11th November 2009

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/questions.html

 

Free will or freeing will?

 

You have told that "Where there is faith there is no fate" as well as "There is no free will at all". Are they both not contradicting? If there is no free will, is one attaining liberation also pre-determined?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

The only will we have is the freeing will of choosing to chant whenever we find mind wandering. So there is no free will, but only a freeing will of chanting the Mahamantra with faith in its power.

 

So liberation cannot be attained by any amount of will power, but purely by the grace of a Guru or God. So chant and the debate of free will versus destiny will get resolved by itself.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare