HOW TO RECITE RAMANAMA............. By Mahathma Gandhi

Nama Article - 9th August 2007

 

HOW TO RECITE RAMANAMA

By Mahathma Gandhi

 

Gandhiji, in his discourse, explained the conditions under which alone Ramanama could become an effective remedy. The first condition was that it should come from the heart. What did that mean? People did not mind going to the ends of the earth to find a cure for the physical ailments which were much less important than the mental or spiritual.   "Man's, physical being is after all perishable. It cannot, by its very nature, last for ever.

 

And yet men make a fetish of it while neglecting the immortal spirit within." A man who believed in Ramanama would not make a fetish of the body, but would regard it only as a means of serving God. And for making it into a fit instrument for that purpose, Ramanama was the sovereign means. To install Ramanama in the heart required infinite patience. It might even take ages. But the effort was worthwhile. Even so, success  depended solely on the grace of God.

 

Ramanama could not come from the heart unless one had cultivated the virtues of truth, honesty and purity within and without. Everyday at the evening prayers, they repeated the shlokas describing the man with a steadfast intellect. Everyone of them, said Gandhiji, could become a sthitapragnya - man with steadfast intellect - if he kept his senses under discipline, ate and drank and allowed himself enjoyment and recreation only to sustain life for service. If one had no control over one's thoughts, if one did not mind, for   instance, sleeping in a hole of a room with all doors and windows shut, and breathing foul air or drinking dirty water, his recitation of Ramanama was in vain.

 

That, however, did not mean that one should give up reciting Ramanama on the ground that one had not the requisite purity. For, recitation of Ramanama was also a means for acquiring purity. "In the case of a man who repeats Ramanama from the heart, discipline and self-control will come easy. Observance of the rules of health and hygiene will become his second nature. His life will run an even course. He will never want to hurt any one. To suffer in order to relieve other's suffering will become a part of his being and fill him with an ineffable and perennial joy." Let them, therefore, said Gandhiji, persevere and ceaselessly repeat Ramanama during all their waking hours. Ultimately, it would remain with them even during their sleep and God's grace would then fill them with perfect health of body, mind and spirit.

 

Source: Ramanama

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Chanting His name is done to achieve concentration

Nama Article - 8th August 2007

 

Devotee: Do you believe in attaining union with God by concentration on Him or by just chanting His name?

 

Swami Papa Ramdas : Chanting His name is done to achieve concentration.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

 

Chanting the Name of the Lord is like traveling in the right direction

Nama Article - 7th August 2007

 

One need not worry about their sins, meritorious and virtuous deeds, One can attain Liberation if he Chants the Single Name of the Lord again and again.

 

Just by enquiring the ways to different persons one cannot attain the destination unless he starts traveling towards the direction shown to him. Similarly reading various books and philosophies won't help in attaining the Lord. Chanting the Name of the Lord is like traveling in the right direction.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

 

Medicine for Samsara - The company of holy men, repeating the name of God and singing His glories, and unceasing prayer

Nama Article - 6th August 2007

 

Source: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 

NEIGHBOUR: "Who can know God?"

 

MASTER: "Right. Who can really know Him? But as for us, it is enough to know as much of Him as we need. What need have I of a whole well of water? One jar is more than enough for me. An ant went to a sugar hill. Did it need the entire hill? A grain or two of sugar was more than enough."

 

NEIGHBOUR: "Sir, we are like typhoid patients. How can we be satisfied with one jar of water? We feel like knowing the whole of God."

 

MASTER: "That's true. But there is also medicine for typhoid."

 

NEIGHBOUR: "What is that medicine, sir?"

 

MASTER: "The company of holy men, repeating the name of God and singing His glories, and unceasing prayer. I prayed to the Divine Mother: 'Mother, I don't seek knowledge. Here, take Thy knowledge, take Thy ignorance. Give me only pure love for Thy Lotus Feet.' I didn't ask for anything else.

 

"As is the disease, so must the remedy be. The Lord says in the Gita:

 

'O Arjuna, take refuge in Me. I shall deliver you from all sins.' Take shelter at His feet. He will give you right understanding. He will take entire responsibility for you. Then you will get rid of the typhoid. Can one ever know God with such a mind as this? Can one pour four seers of milk into a one-seer pot? Can we ever know God unless He lets us know Him? Therefore I say, take shelter in God. Let Him do whatever He likes. He is self-willed. What power is there in a man?'

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Japa leads to ajapa

Nama Article - 4th August 2007

 

Source: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

 

Talk 312.

 

Mr. V. K. Cholkar, of Poona : It is said "Know thyself" or see who the "I" in you is. What is the way to do it? Is it by simply repeating the mantra mechanically all along or have you to do it, remembering every moment why you are repeating the mantra?

 

BHAGAWAN RAMANA MAHARISHI : You are always repeating the mantra automatically. If you are not aware of the ajapa (unspoken chant) which is eternally going on, you should take to japa. Japa is made with an effort. The effort is meant to ward off other thoughts. Then the japa becomes mental and internal. Finally, its ajapa and eternal nature will be realised. For it will be found to be going on even without your effort. The effortless state is the state of realisation.

 

Mr. Cholkar again requested instructions from a practical point of view, i.e., suitable to himself.

 

BHAGAWAN RAMANA MAHARISHI : It is not external and therefore need not be sought elsewhere. It is internal and also eternal. It is always realised. But you say you are not aware. It requires constant attention to itself. No other effort is necessary. Your effort is only meant not to allow yourself to be distracted by other thoughts. The person was satisfied.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Which is THE BEST DHARMA?

Nama Article - 3rd August 2007

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Dharmaputra, the very form of Dharma, who is present there beside Bheeshma (who is lying in the bed of arrows) places three questions before the grand old man Bheeshma: "Oh! Sire! You have offered 'upadesa' of innumerable Dharma. A father informs his son of all his possessions but reserves some to be disclosed during the last moment of his life. Is there any subtle Dharma ('sukmamãna Dharma') that you have not yet disclosed to me? Have you reserved it for the last moment?"

 

Dharmaputra then asks, 'Ko Dharmah sarva Dharmanãm?' - which is the best of all Dharma?

 

His first question is, 'Speak to me of that Dharma that is the best of all Dharma; the Dharma following which one can reap the benefits of having followed all Dharma.

 

Secondly, 'Kim japan?' - Whom should I do japa of and what japa should I do?

 

Thirdly, 'Kimekam Deivatam loke?' - Name the God by worshipping whom one reaps the benefit of having worshipped all gods.

The figure 1,00,000 contains within it 10,000, 1000, 10 and 1. Likewise, speak to me of that God within whom all other gods exist. Worshipping this one God, the benefit of having worshipped all gods should be attained. 'kim ekam Deivatam loke'? - do not speak of innumerable gods; speak of just One God ---

 

'Kim ekam'? (which One)

'Ko (Dharmah) sarva Dharmãnãm'? (which Dharma)

'Kim japan'? (what japa)

 

- the questions were three!

 

But, the answer was just one!

Bheeshma provides just one answer to the three questions!

 

एष मे सर्वधर्माणाम् धर्मो अधिकतमो मतः।

यद्भक्त्या पुण्डरीकाक्शं स्तवैरर्चेन्नरः सदा ॥

 

'Yesha me sarvadharmãnãm dharmoadhikatamo mathah

Yadbhaktya Pundariikãksham stavairacchennarah sadã' |

 

-- Bheeshma offered a single answer to the three questions! What was it?

 

"Worship the Lotus eyed Maha Vishnu by Chanting his Divine Names, which is the best Dharma"

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Why Chanting the Name of the Lord is the rarest? Why it is easiest?

Nama Article - 2nd August 2007

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Bhagawan Nama Bodhendra Saraswati Swamigal in Nãma Siddhanta says that he conducted an enquiry into "Why people did not take to Rama Nãma, which was so easy and simple to chant?"

 

He puts forth his findings in the following words, "Since it is so easy and simple, none takes to it!"

 

The reason for this is that everyone desires to do something 'grand' even though none possesses the aptitude. Everybody is aware of his shortcomings yet one desire to proudly declare that he is doing dhyãna, yoga, etc. But the truth is all these people are only deceiving themselves. In present age these paths do not suit us.

 

Well! What about the 'Nãma' (Name of the Lord) that you advocate? Nãma chanting will ultimately take you to the same goal that Self enquiry (Vedanta vichhãra) or Yoga or 'Karmãnushtãna' takes one to. Through Chanting the Divine Name one can attain the highest state.

The Ãzhwãrs, the Nãyanmãrs, Thiagarãja Swami, Pãnduranga Bhaktas, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have all shown that one CAN attain liberation through mere chanting of Nãma. Even today we find Sãdhus who have attained the highest state through mere chanting of Nãma.

 

This is the glory of 'Nãma Sankirtana' -- An absolutely easy, simple path.

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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