Saturday, May 25, 2024

Should I not chant nama, hold on to my Guru's teachings, and follow the path he has shown?

Source : Madhuramurali English Edition

Sri Swamiji urges us to make best use of the time available. He says 'nalla samayam idhai nazhuva vidaadhe' Once, Sri Swamiji visited a patient enduring terminal stages of cancer. The ward in which he was admitted was full of patients in the end stages of life. Their days had been numbered and conveyed to them.


Sri Swamiji was moved to see them and prayed for each and everyone of them and spoke some sweet and reassuring words to them. They were all very devout and prayerful and held on to Sri Swamiji's words dearly.


As Sri Swamiji walked out, he recited this verse from Srimad Bhagavatam (2.1.4),

देहापत्य-कलत्रादिष्व् आत्म-सैन्येष्व् असत्स्व् अपि

तेषां प्रमत्तो निधनं पश्यन्न् अपि न पश्यति

dehApatyakalatrAdishu

AtmasainyEshvasatsvapi

tEshAm pramattO nidhanam

pashyannapi na pashyati

 

Sri Shuka tells King Parikshit, "Maddened by affection for those that are intimately connected with oneself, viz., one's body, progeny, wife and so on, unreal as they are, one fails to visualize their end, though actually witnessing it."

 

Reminded of this Sri Swamiji kept repeating the words 'pashyannapi na pashyati'. He said after a while, "Just as how Parikshit was blessed, at least the ones inside know that they have only these many days left. They have taken to prayer and they are spending time chanting Nama and in remembrance of God. While we, are living in blissful ignorance. We are shutting off ourselves from embracing the reality that our end is inevitable too. At least, they know they are going to live for a few more weeks. Life is so uncertain, that I do not know if I might have to leave earlier – a sudden, unannounced departure! Should I not chant nama, hold on to my Guru's teachings, and follow the path he has shown?"

 

The time to start is now

The place to start is here

The way to start is by Chanting and making others Chant!


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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