The Indian mind has thought it wise to give a firm and absolute authority to the Guru

Nama Article 31st May 2010

 

Source: The Psychology of Yoga, from his notebook of 1911 - Sri Aurobindo

 

For this [reason], among other more important reasons, the Indian mind has thought it wise to give a firm and absolute authority to the Guru

 

As the Indian mind ... advances westward towards inevitable conquest, it must inevitably carry with it Yoga and Vedanta for its banners wherever it goes. But in order that the victory may not be slow, it is necessary that whatever India has to offer should be stated to the West in language that the West can understand... Europe will accept nothing which is not scientific... Undoubtedly, for practical purposes the West is right....

 

Indian knowledge possesses such a scientific basis, but ... expressed only in broad principles, compact aphorisms. The aphoristic method has great advantages. It prevents the mind from getting encrusted in details and fossilizing there. It allows a science to remain elastic and full of ever new potentialities for the discoverer. No doubt, it has disadvantages. It leaves much room for inaccuracy ...

 

For this [reason], among other more important reasons, the Indian mind has thought it wise to give a firm and absolute authority to the Guru and to insist that the disciple shall by precept and practice make his own all that the master has to teach him and so form and train his mind before it is allowed to play freely with his subject.

 

In Europe, the manual replaces the guru; the mind of the learner is rigidly bound by the written rule and detail not by the more adaptable and flexible word of the guru.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

God takes the form of a Guru and appears to the devotee; teaches him the Truth; purifies the mind by his teachings and contact

Nama Article 30th May 2010

 

Source: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

 

God takes the form of a Guru and appears to the devotee; teaches him the Truth; purifies the mind by his teachings and contact

 

Devotee:  What is Guru's Grace? How does it work?

 

Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi.:   Guru is the Self.

 

Devotee:  How does it lead to realisation?

 

Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi.:   Isvaro gururatmeti ... (God is the same as Guru and Self ...). A

person begins with dissatisfaction. Not content with the world he seeks satisfaction of desires by prayers to God; his mind is purified; he longs to know God more than to satisfy his carnal desires. Then God's Grace begins to manifest. God takes the form of a Guru and appears to the devotee; teaches him the Truth; purifies the mind by his teachings and contact; the mind gains strength, is able to turn inward; with meditation it is purified yet further, and eventually remains still without the least ripple. That stillness is the Self.

 

The Guru is both exterior and interior. From the exterior he gives a push to the mind to turn inward; from the interior he pulls the mind towards the Self and helps the mind to achieve quietness. That is Grace. Hence there is no difference between God, Guru and Self.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

One should always meditate the form of Guru and always chant the mantra of Guru

Nama Article 30th May 2010

 Source: SRI GURUGITA - श्रीगुरुगीता

 

अज्ञानमूलहरणं जन्मकर्मनिवारणम् ।

ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपादोदकं पिबेत् ॥

 

गुरोः पादोदकं पीत्वा गुरोरुच्छिष्टभोजनम् ।

गुरुमूर्तेः सदा ध्यानं गुरुमन्त्रं सदा जपेत् ॥

 

Holy water of Guru's feet bestows us the true knowledge and renunciation and destroys the root cause of ignorance and relives us from the cycle of birth and death.

 

One should drink the Holy water of Guru's feet and eat the remnants of food taken by Guru.

 

One should always meditate the form of Guru and always chant the mantra of Guru.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

‘Prarabda’ shudders at the prospect of even approaching a ‘jiva’ who enjoys the Grace of the Guru.

Nama Article 28th May 2010

 

The working of Guru's Grace is like the oil in a lamp. The wick, which is lit without oil in the lamp is quickly burnt out and the light, too, dies out. But if oil is poured into the lamp it not only protects the wick from burning out but also helps the lamp burn continuously.

 

Likewise, one who does not enjoy the Grace of the Guru suffers from his 'prarabda' (the effect of his past merits and demerits). He is like the wick in a lamp bereft of oil. 'Prarabda' shudders at the prospect of even approaching a 'jiva' who enjoys the Grace of the Guru.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

If we surrender ourselves absolutely without any reservation to the Guru, He will save us from all sorrow and show us the way to salvation

Nama Article 28th May 2010

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/articles/gurubhakti_mahaperiyava.html

 

Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati [Maha Periyava] of Kaanchi Kaamakoti Peetam (Sri Mahaswamiji's Jayanti is on May 28th)

 

Guru is God in human form, but who is, however, free from the triple functions of creation, preservation and destruction, which pertain only to the Almighty. If we have absolute faith in him, the Guru will shower us with all for which we go to God. In fact, God is needed only when we cannot find a Guru. Guru-Bhakti is even higher and more efficacious than devotion to the Lord.

 

Sri Vedanta Desika has declared that he does not consider God higher than Guru. According to a verse, when God is angry, the guru protects you; when the guru himself is angry, there is no protector in the world. If we surrender ourselves absolutely without any reservation to the Guru, He will save us from all sorrow and show us the way to salvation. It is due to lack of Guru-Bhakti that the very devotion to God is waning in the hearts of men. "

 Source : GURUGITA - श्रीगुरुगीता

 

हरौ रुष्टे गुरुस्त्राता गुरौ रुष्टे न कश्चन ।

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्रीगुरुं शरणं व्रजेत् ॥

 

Sant Kabir

 

Kabira Te Nar Andh Hai

Jo Guru Kahate Aur

Hari Ruthe Guru Thor Hai

Guru Ruthe Nahi Thor    

 

Kabir says that the people who do not understand Guru are blind. If God is displeased with us then Guru is there for salvation. If he is displeased there can be no salvation.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Guru’s Word is the root of Mantra

Nama Article 27th May 2010

 

Source : GURUGITA - श्रीगुरुगीता 

ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरोः पदम् ।    

मन्त्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरोः कृपा ।।

 

Dhyana Moolam Guru Murti

Puja Moolam Gurur Padam,

Mantra Moolam Gurur Vakyam,

Moksha Moolam Guru Kripa

 

The Guru's form is the root of Meditation;

the Guru's Feet are the root of Worship;

the Guru's Word is the root of Mantra;

the Guru's Grace is the root of Liberation.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

To remain in the Holy Feet of the Guru as a ‘nobody’ (zero); to remain like a doll in his hand. This is the only effort that can be taken by us.

Nama Article 26th May 2010

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Our visit to our Guru brings transformation in us – when he looks at us, a transformation takes place. When he thinks of us, it brings about a change in us. Just sitting in his divine presence brings about a transformation in us.

 

To be in that presence is, in itself, a Grace. Therefore, both 'effort and Grace' are required. Why is effort needed? Effort is needed not for attaining God but to earn His Grace!

 

What is the effort to be taken to attain God's Grace?

 

To remain in the Holy Feet of the Guru as a 'nobody' (zero); to remain like a doll in his hand. This is the only effort that can be taken by us. There is nothing else that we can do.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Likewise, it would suffice if we do not block the Grace that is being sent out.

Nama Article 25th May 2010

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

The common question that arises in everyone is 'What is essential to attain God – Grace or effort?'

 

The answer is 'both!'

 

'Sir! How do you say that both are essential? Should it not be either Grace or effort ? Should we exert constant effort to attain God or can we attain Him through His Grace?'

 

'Both are right!'

 

'Sir! To say that both are right is not acceptable. Please tell us if continued effort from our side or the Grace of the Lord would help us attain Him. How can both be deemed right?'

 

The answer is the same – 'Both are essential.'

 

How? To attain God's Grace one needs effort! There is no doubt that we can attain Him only through His Grace. But we have to exert effort to earn that Grace.

 

Well! What is 'effort'? To go to the 'sannidhi' (divine presence in the place of worship) of God is an effort. Is it not? Even the mere thought of visiting is an effort. Well! One may not even think of going there. Here, not to entertain a thought to the contrary ('I will not go') is an effort, indeed! It is an effort, indeed, to be even without thinking of doing or not doing it. Effort does not actually point to sadhana. In Sanskrit, in Tarka nyaya, an apt illustration is cited. Village houses have a space open to the sky, inside the house. Huge vessels are placed there, when it rains, in order to catch the rain water. If the vessels were placed upside down no amount of rain can fill those vessels.Likewise, it would suffice if we do not block the Grace that is being sent out.

 

The very presence of a Mahan, his look, talk, touch – everything – pours out Grace. A divine Grace comes out from him. Hence, when we come to this divine presence we are constantly receiving Grace.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

A japa even if done once, will never go waste.

Nama Article 24th May 2010

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

A japa even if done once, will never go waste.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Mahamantra can be chanted anytime, anywhere and by anyone. However it gives multi-fold benefits if chanted after initiation from a Guru.

Nama Article 19th May 2010

 

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

 

Does Maha mantra chanting also need initiation from Swamiji or it can be chanted anytime? I want to have Swamiji as my Guru while chanting. Does this need initiation or can the Maha Mantra be chanted without initiation?

  

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Mahamantra can be chanted anytime, anywhere and by anyone. However it gives multi-fold benefits if chanted after initiation from a Guru.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

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'Madhura Smaranam' - My Guru as I see Him – Check this video link http://namadwaar.org/articles/madhurasmaranam/smaranam1.html

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For more Namakirtan articles please visit http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/

Kabir who has become one with the Name of Ram will never die

Nama Article 18th May 2010

 

Sant Kabir

 

बैध मुआ रोगी मुआ, मुआ सकल संसार ।

एक कबीरा ना मुआ, जेहि के राम अधार ॥

 

Every one in the world is bound to die. The diseased will die, the doctor who prescribes medicine to patient will also die.

 

Kabir who has become one with the Name of Ram will never die.

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/2009/10/t-is-by-grace-of-guru-alone-that-one.html

http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/2007/07/thought-for-day-14th-july-2007.html

http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/2009/05/mortal-will-even-die-for-sake-of-his.html

http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/2009/02/repeating-name-purifies-mind-and.html

http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/2009/11/practice-of-keeping-watch-over-mind-is.html

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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