The Lord is attracted only to devotion.

Nama Article 31st May 2013

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

The Lord is attracted only to devotion. Once, on a stormy night all houses were destroyed but for Nãmdev's house which was but a small hut. In the morning he was stunned to find the hut still holding against the storm. He came out only to find Pãnduranga holding his hut with a hand. Is it necessary for the Omnipotent One to come down to the earth to hold the hut with His hands? Could He not have done this from His abode in Vaikunta? But, this was only to show His 'premai' (Love) and 'soulabhya' (easy access) to His Bhakta.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

May these pictures draw many unto Thee, O Lord! But may my name be forgotten

Nama Article 30th May 2013

 

May my name be forgotten

 

There was once a gifted artist who painted truly beautiful I pictures. The people who saw his pictures would be drawn towards them as if by magic. They admired his talent, " What is there in these pictures that when we look at them, we feel blessed and purified. It feels almost as though we are being drawn closer to the heart of God.

 

But oddly, not a single picture bore the artist's signature. His friend asked him the reason one day, "Your pictures are so beautiful and naturally are admired by so many people! But, why is it that not one of these pictures bears your signature?" In answer, the painter took his friend to his studio. There, in a corner of the studio was a wonderful picture of the Lord Sri Krishna and underneath were written these words. "May these pictures draw many unto Thee, O Lord! But may my name be forgotten." 

 

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

 

Chant the Divine Names until you forget your name

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

In gratitude to the Grace bestowed on me by Bhagavaan I intensified my japa and dhyaana. But, I realized that here again Bhagavaan bestowed their ‘phala’ (fruits) on me!

Nama Article 29th May 2013

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

In gratitude to the Grace bestowed on me by Bhagavaan I intensified my japa and dhyaana. But, I realized that here again Bhagavaan bestowed their 'phala' (fruits) on me!

 

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

 

Bhakti is all about showing gratitude. A Guru shows us how to show our gratitude to the Lord. Showing gratitude to the Guru for showing us how to show gratitude to the Lord is Guru Bhakti.

 

You may be the worst sinner, highly undisciplined; you may have committed all kinds of atrocities; yet, if a mahatma declares, "Oh, he is my child", that will suffice for you

 

His simplicity and purity have inspired many young people to follow the path of dharma

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Until such time one finds a suitable Guru the safest way is to chant Hari Naama ceaselessly.

Nama Article 28th May 2013

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

In the name of meditation if one just stares vacantly into space, fixes the vision on a mirror or concentrates on a black dot/electric lamp the mind gets self-hypnotised. One should learn meditation directly from the Guru and adhere to His instructions strictly without any compromise. Until such time one finds a suitable Guru the safest way is to chant Hari Naama ceaselessly.

 

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

 

We may question, 'why can't I meditate on the clock on the wall or on the black dot on the wall?' Sound has power

 

By Chanting and listening to Divine names of the Lord various unwanted thoughts that arise and disturb our mind are erased out and new ones do not crop up.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Singing the Naama of the Lord with Bhakti. Singing and dancing His Praises is the easiest way to earn His Grace.

Nama Article 27th May 2013

 

How does one decide on the path that he has to follow?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Nothing in this world occurs without a reason. So, the reason for our being associated with a Guru is only due to the Lord's Will ('Sankalpam'). Following the path that the Guru adheres to, one can reap the benefits very quickly. This will also bring about oneness with the Guru.

 

What is the easiest way to attain God's Grace?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Singing the Naama of the Lord with Bhakti. Singing and dancing His Praises is the easiest way to earn His Grace.

 

What is the foremost hurdle in attaining God?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Lack of Faith.

 

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

 

Though I preach about different paths, the path I follow is that of Bhakti Marga i.e chanting of Lord's name.

 

Chanting the Name of the Lord is the easiest and surest path as there is no scope for any negative effects

 

Having compassion of the Lord as the foundation, the one which has no rules, the one which can eradicate the force of Kali, Namakirtanam is the only resort. I think again and again about this with in Myself

 

They are for those who don't believe in simple prayers.

 

It is not enough if you have faith in God but you should have faith in yourself; the faith that you would see God

 

Faith is even greater than God.......Unshakable faith and patience are the two coins that one should offer to Guru as offering

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

We attach ourselves to Him who has no attachments to rid ourselves of our attachments.

Nama Article 25th May 2013

 

Source: Discourses by Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati [Maha Periyava] of Kaanchi Kaamakoti Peetam (today is Maha Periyava's Jayanthi)

 

Guru bhakti

 

As one holds fast to steady pillar to prevent from being tossed about, so too should one bind oneself through Bhakti to God, to steady one's mind.

 

The purpose of prayer is not petition for benefits. Such petitioning implies either that God does not know what we want, which will militate against His Omniscience, or that He waits to be asked and delights in praise, which will degrade Him to the level of ordinary man. Why then do we pray? Though Omniscient God is immanent in every creature and knows what is in the heart of every person, yet, if what we wish to say in prayer remains unsaid, it afflicts our heart and so prayer heals that affliction. By prayer, we do not seek to change what God ordains; in fact, we cannot do so. We go to Him to remove our impurities.

 

As Tiruvalluvar said, we attach ourselves to Him who has no attachments to rid ourselves of our attachments.

(பற்றுக பற்றற்றான் பற்றினை அப்பற்றைப்

பற்றுக பற்று விடற்கு. )

 

A devout consciousness that God exists will itself do the miracle of alchemising us into purity of nature. We obtain a spiritual charge into our frame by being in His presence.

 

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

 

Do not move away from a Sadhu or your Guru because he did not/does not speak to you

 

Realization is the result of the Master's (Guru's) grace, more than teachings, lectures, meditations, etc

 

Those who have come within the ambit of the Guru's gracious look will be saved by the Guru and will not get lost.

 

We may question, 'why can't I meditate on the clock on the wall or on the black dot on the wall?' Sound has power

 

By Chanting and listening to Divine names of the Lord various unwanted thoughts that arise and disturb our mind are erased out and new ones do not crop up.

Anything that comes from the perfect cannot be imperfect. That which has come from perfection is also going towards perfection. When we see it en route to perfection, it seems to appear imperfect. That's all.

 

You should not only accept from the bottom of your heart the situation that the Lord keeps you in but also be grateful to Him for that because it is verily the Lord's blessing!

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Therefore, just as we bathe, wear clothes, eat food, etc. whether our mind is involved in it or not, so too, should we do a certain amount of Năma japa, părayana, kirtana, vandanam every day.

Nama Article 24th May 2013

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Bhakti has to be practiced as a 'sadhana' (spiritual practice) to begin with. It is true, indeed, that Năma japa, kirtan, puja performed without involvement of the mind is useless; but how is involvement born? This is not a matter that comes about either on its own or suddenly. That which arises suddenly might disappear just as suddenly.

 

Therefore, just as we bathe, wear clothes, eat food, etc. whether our mind is involved in it or not, so too, should we do a certain amount of Năma japa, părayana, kirtana, vandanam every day. If we practice this ceaselessly we would find that gradually involvement comes about and thus one feels moved ('urukkam') and one-pointedness born.

 

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

 

Mechanical chanting is the only starting point we can attempt. It matures to love by grace.

 

Mechanical chanting is the starting phase. It will soon graduate to mental chanting and soon this mental one-pointed chanting will lead to the source of the chant, which is the truth.

 

Those who chant the Mahamantra even once in this Kali Yuga are assured of 'Moksha' (liberation)

 

Nama Kirtan, whether done knowingly or unknowingly, certainly has to give its effect

 

Nama Chanted unknowingly also wipes out all of one's sins

 

Japa even once uttered has its own good effect, whether the individual is aware or not.

 

The same scriptures also state that one should follow the words of the Guru without any doubts or questions and act accordingly.

 

Is chanting while doing work considered as meaningful chanting ?

 

Don't stop chanting for any reason. The rest of the things will be taken care of automatically.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

One should throw away all doubts and chant aloud, “Rama-Krishna, Rama-Krishna,” daily with out breaking that practice.

Nama Article 23rd May 2013

 

Haripath - Sant Gnyaneshwar

 

जप तप कर्म क्रिया नेम धर्म ।

सर्वाघटी राम भाव शुद्ध ॥ १ ॥

न सोडी हा भावो टाकी रे संदेहो ।

रामकृष्णी टाहो नित्य फोडी ॥ २ ॥

जात वित्त गोत कुळ शीळ मात ।

भजे का त्वरित भावनायुक्‍त ॥ ३ ॥

ज्ञानदेवा ध्यानी रामकृष्ण मनी ।

वैकुंठ भुवनी घर केले ॥ ४ ॥

 

 

The practice of japa, austerity, and rituals is futile without invoking Lord Rama's name which would give true purity of heart.

One must have the heart-felt conviction that God lives in every form and should hold on to that conviction,

One should throw away all doubts and chant aloud, "Rama-Krishna, Rama-Krishna," daily with out breaking that practice.

Do not become conscious of your position, wealth, family lineage, or your virtuous acts;

All these considerations produce only pride. Hasten only to sing Hari's name with great love.

Jnanadev says: Hari pervades my mind and my meditation;

I feel every moment that I'm living in Him.

 

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

 

श्रम एव हि केवलम् - All acts performed are only so much useless labor if it fails to generate love towards the Lord.

Man feels that only the most difficult is the highest, the most difficult way is the best way. This is a very wrong notion

That love, can sprout only by his grace. His grace descends when we chant the Mahamantra.

 

Bhakti is love for the truth. Truth is what that exists here, there everywhere, now and forever.

 

Remember again and again that wealth is always evil (cause for troubles). There is not the slightest trace of happiness in it

 

Accumulate the wealth of the Lord's Name; that wealth does not go anywhere

 

Nothing we earn today would come with us to the final destination but only the Divine Name WILL

 

Lord Rama says, "Any accumulated wealth will dissolve in due time. Any position of power attained will come to an end. All the relations (children, wife) come to an end in death. There is nothing in this world that is permanent."

 

I spent all my energy and all my moments in life acquiring all of these possessions and wealth and now......I cannot get back even one moment

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

By repeatedly reading about Mahatmas one gets motivated to do Japa, Meditation.

Nama Article 22nd May 2013

 

What has one to do to get motivated to do Japa, Meditation?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

By repeatedly reading about Mahatmas one gets motivated to do Japa, Meditation.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

One should worship the Lord daily by offering the flowers which will not wither; By Chanting His Names one can attain salvation.

Nama Article 21st May 2013

 

திருவாய் மொழி -  நம்மாழ்வார்

 

நாடீர் நாள்தோறும்

வாடா மலர்கொண்டு

பாடீர் அவன்நாமம்

வீடே பெறலாமே

 

Thiruvai mozhi - Nammaazhwar

 

One should worship the Lord daily by offering the flowers which will not wither

By Chanting His Names one can attain salvation.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Thus, the end goal of both Bhakti and Jnana is one and the same.

Nama Article 20th May 2013

 

People speak of Bhakti and Jnana as being different. Is it so?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

As the first step in earning Bhakti one should listen to stories (of the Lord), sing the Lord's praises, do japa, serve the Guru, serve the Lord, visit Holy Places, bathe in Holy Rivers, etc. Through these one makes progress in Bhkati. As a result one would experience horripilation, have divine visions externally, tears of joy would trickle down and one has the external vision of the Lord. But one should go further. Divine visions should be experienced internally. Then comes the state of Samadhi. However, to move in and out of Samadhi is not a high state. One should always be in the experience of deep Samadhi state and at the same time be able to move normally in the world. This is verily the state of sahaja Samadhi. This is the Bhakti that is experienced in the highest state ('turiya'). Thus, the end goal of both Bhakti and Jnana is one and the same.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

By the mere Will of God even the lowliest of the low can, in a matter of a second, receive the Grace and become a Jnăni.

Nama Article 19th May 2013

 

It is said that mere Will of God can bestow Knowledge even on an undeserving person in no time. Is this possible?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

This is possible. How can you doubt this? By the mere Will of God even the lowliest of the low can, in a matter of a second, receive the Grace and become a Jnăni. This has happened in many a life of a Bhakta.

 

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

 

Bhagavăn might (without any reason) just bestow liberation on anyone. This is very rare, though.

 

He whom the Self chooses, by him the Self can be gained.

 

You may do crores of japa, dhayna; do anything; but, unless Bhagavăn Wills to take you unto Him no amount of your sadhana will bear fruit.

 

You didn't choose me, but I chose you

 

To want to be happy..........Easiest way

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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