Let the one who cannot do Bhakti go out to do tapas!

Nama Article - 15th September 2007

 

Excerpts from the discourse of our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

There are several ways of worship ('upãsana mãrga'). Bhagavãn accepts only 'sãttvic bhakti' ('satva' is quality of goodness/purity). Bhagavãn likes only that bhakti which is done with 'sãttvic hrudaya' (pure heart). Acquiring Bhakti is rare ('durlabam') indeed. Generally Vedantins would say, 'bhakti' is for those who are not 'adhikarris' (the deserving) for Jnana; one who is unable to leave for the forest with 'vairagya' (renunciation) and do tapas; one who is unable to make the mind one-pointed should take to Bhakti.'

 

But, I do not accept this concept. What I say is, " Let the one who cannot do Bhakti go out to do tapas!" Bhakti is 'rasa roopa' (filled with deep, soft feelings). So, let the one who cannot do Bhakti leave for the forest to perform tapas. 

 

Bhagawan Yogiramsuratkumar says, "Chanting Ram Naam always is Bhakthi."

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

Only due to merits earned in crores of births does Bhagavan Nãma come on our tongue

Nama Article 14th September 2007

 

Excerpts from the discourse of our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Bhagavan Nãma Bodendra Saraswati has written innumerable 'grantãs' (books) in connection with 'Nãma siddhãnta' (the philosophy of the Divine Name). Today, many of them are not to be found. 'Bhagavan Nãma Rasodayam' is the most important of all his 'grantãs'. The learned say that this 'granta' contains the substance of all the other 'grantãs'.

 

'Bhagavan Nãma Rasodayam' consists of 8 'ullãsam', i.e chapters. In the first 'ullãsam' Sri Bodendra conducts an enquiry ('vichãra')

- 'Is merit accrued due to performance of Bhagavan Nãmasankirtan?'

He delves into this. What is the reply coming forth from him?

- 'No one can demur that merit is accrued due to Bhagavan Nãmakirtan'.

All are aware of this. The Shastras admit this - 'sarva Shastra sammadam'

 

What precise 'vichãra' does the Swami conduct and what is the conclusion that he arrives at? It cannot be refuted that merit is accrued due to Bhagavan Nãmakirtan. This has been admitted by all the Shastras. However, he concludes, 'only due to merits earned in crores of births does Bhagavan Nãma come on our tongue.'

 

Now, what is the proof ('pramãna') of any merit earning acts ('punya') to our credit? It is certain that we have done 'punya'. What is the evidence? So many of us have gathered here and are performing Nãmasankirtan! Are we not? We are chanting Bhagavan Nãmakirtan. We know from Bodendra's 'hrudaya' (heart) that the reason for Bhagavan Nãma being uttered by us is only due to 'punya' accrued from meritorious acts performed in crores of 'janma' (birth).

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

Accumulate the wealth of the Lord's Name

Nama Article - 13th September 2007

 

 

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

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

That name denotes all the qualities of God. Constant japa puts off all other thoughts and fixes the mind. That is tapas

Nama Article - 10th September 2007

 

Source: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

 

Talk 401.

 

Mr. Krishnamurti, an Andhra gentleman, asked as follows:- When we make tapas, on what object must we fix our sight? Our mind is fixed on what we utter.

 

Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi .:   What is tapas for?

 

Devotee : For Self-Realisation.

 

Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi .:    Quite so. Tapas depends on the competency of the person. One requires a form to contemplate. But it is not enough. For can anyone keep looking at an image always? So the image must be implemented by japa. Japa helps fixing the mind on the image, in addition to the eyesight. The result of these efforts is concentration of mind, which ends in the goal. He becomes what he thinks. Some are satisfied with the name of the image. Every form must have a name. That name denotes all the qualities of God. Constant japa puts off all other thoughts and fixes the mind. That is tapas. One-pointedness is the tapas wanted.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

What after Vision? Keep Chanting......

Nama Article - 9th September 2007

 

Source: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 

What after Vision? Keep Chanting

 

"At the beginning of spiritual life the devotee should observe such rites as pilgrimage, putting a string of beads around his neck, and so forth. But outward ceremonies gradually drop off as he attains the goal, the vision of God. Then his only activity is the repetition of God's name, and contemplation and meditation on Him."

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

The only solution is 'TO SING THE NAME OF GOVINDA'.......

Nama Article - 8th September 2007

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

It has been said of Kali yuga, 'KALOU KALMASHA CHITHTHAANAM' meaning 'In Kaliyuga all minds are impure'. It makes all the difference in broad daylight when it is only the blind who cannot see. But where total darkness prevails what does it matter if one is blind or not? For, then none can see and so all are as good as blind. Likewise, in Kaliyuga all minds are impure as this is the rule of the day (yuga dharma). Hence, it is neither possible nor practical to reach the Lord through Karma yogam, Dhyana yogam or Jnana yogam."

 

"The only solution is 'GATHIR GOVINDA KIRTANAM' meaning 'TO SING THE NAME OF GOVINDA'. The only marga that everyone can follow is BHAKTHI. The basis of bhakthi is KATHAA SRAVANAM (listening to the glory of the Lord) and NAMA SANKIRTANAM (singing the name of the Lord)."

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

 

Japa imparts to those who practice it a kind of precision, a kind of solidity - an armature

Nama Article - 7th September 2007

 

Source: Nama-Japa in the Yoga of Transformation by Sri Ramkrishna Das

 

Mother (Sri Aurobindo Ashram) has differentiated between those who do Nama-Japa and those who go deep in meditation and concentrate but do not practice Nama-Japa. She has said:"In fact, you can immediately see the difference between those who have a mantra and those who don't. With those who have no mantra, even if they have a strong habit of meditation or concentration, something around them remains hazy and vague. Whereas the Japa imparts to those who practice it a kind of precision, a kind of solidity: an armature. They become galvanized, as it were."

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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