Chanting the Mahamantra Vs Atma Vichara?

Nama Article 2nd June 2008

 

Will chanting the Mahamantra give the same results as that yielded by Atma Vichara?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

All roads lead to the same destination called liberation. What is 'Atma Vichara'. Contemplating in order to realize the Self. This may be done, either through Bhakti or Jnaana. In either case, the end result is the same. In the other paths, you take some effort and then wait for God's grace. In Bhakti, you depend only on the grace of God and nothing else. That makes Bhakti an easier way to attain the end-state.

 

Let me give you an illustration for better understanding.

 

A hungry person arrives at a house. The householder welcomes him and feeds him with cooked food, and his hunger is immediately appeased.

 

In the second case, when a hungry person enters a house, he is accorded a welcome and given the stove , rice, vegetables, utensils and other cooking materials required to prepare the food. This person has to prepare it all by himself and then partake of the food.

 

The former instance can be likened to the path of Bhakti, where God take care of you.

 

The latter instance can be likened to the path of Jnaana, where you are required to put in effort in order to attain the goal.

 

In the case of Jnana Marga, the lord shows you the path to attain the goal, while in Bhakti, He verily takes you to the destination.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Is it possible to deceive a saint by flattering him?

Nama Article 4th June 2008

 

Devotee: Is it possible to deceive a saint by flattering him?

 

Swami Papa Ramdas:

 

You can deceive a saint easily. It is not necessary even to flatter him. A saint does not doubt other people.

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Once, a householder came searching for Sridharayãvãl to learn about the expiation ceremony to be performed for a sin that he had committed. But, Ayyãvãl (Sridharayãvãl) sent him away to find somebody else for this. The householder asked him the reason for sending him away thus. Sridharayãvãl explained, "Everything in the world appears to be 'Sivaswaroopa' (very form of Siva). Only if I deem you to be a sinner can I offer any expiation rites for it!" and sent him away.

 

Sri Bhagawan Naama Bodendra Saraswathi Swamigal

 

A single Divine Name is so powerful that one cannot commit as many sins as it can erase even if he were to take a vow to commit only sins.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Drink the nectar of the Divine Name Rama and always sit among righteous company....

Nama Article 30th May 2008

Meerabai's Song

Drink the nectar of the Divine Name Rama, O human! Drink the nectar of the Divine Name Rama!

Leave the bad company, always sit among righteous company (Satsangh). Please Hear and listen to the mention of God.

Wash out the thoughts of Concupiscence, anger, pride, greed and attachment from your mind.

Meera's Lord is the Giridhari (Mountain-Holder), the suave lover. Soak yourself in the dye of His color.

(If we follow the first two steps the last two steps are obvious results!)

Transliteration

râma nâma rasa pîjai manuâm, râma nâma rasa pîjai
taja kusanga satsanga baiTha nita, hari carcâ suNa lîjai
kâma krodha mada lobha moha ko, bahâ citta se dîjai
mîrâ ke prabhu giradhara nâgara, tâhi ke rang bhîjai

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

I Chant the Divine Names and worship Him who is beyond the reach of thought and speech and yet by whose grace all speech is possible

Nama Article 29th May 2008

 

Ashram Bhajnavali - Transalated by Mahathma Ghandhi

 

In the early morning I Chant the Divine Names and worship Him who is beyond the reach of thought and speech and yet by whose grace all speech is possible.

 

I worship Him whom the Vedas describe as neti neti (not this, not this).

 

Him they, the sages, have called God of gods, the unborn, the unfallen, the source of all.

 

प्रातर्भजामि मनसा वचसामगम्यं

    वाचो विभान्ति निखिला यदनुग्रहेण .

यं नेति नेति वचनैर्निगमा अवोचं

    स्तं देवदेवमजमच्युतमाहुरग्र्यम्

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

Modern scientific experiments have confirmed that the japa regulates the reciter's respiration

Nama Article 27th May 2008

 

Modern scientific experiments have confirmed that the japa regulates the reciter's respiration in a way similar to that offered by some of the exercises of pranayamas. It reduces the breathing rate to half its normal average.

 

That means, on an average, one hour's disciplined practice of the japa yoga would augment the life of the sadhaka by about five hundred breaths at least! Japa therefore could also be advised as an important health-exercise.

 

As mentioned earlier, the effects of japa awaken one's inherent virtues that naturally result in an overall improvement in his personality, and amelioration of his physical and mental potentials. These positive effects can be used for noble success in terms of worldly progress as well.

 

It is the willpower and the vision, aroused by the japa that 'transform' the difficult circumstances and obstacles into minor ones in a miraculous manner.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

A person says, ‘I am full of faults; yet, my Guru showers me with affection! I know not the reason!’

Nama Article 26th May 2008

 

The one who has earned the affection of the Guru attains to Vaikuntam (Eternal bliss) that is rare even for the Yogis!

 

A person says, 'I am full of faults; yet, my Guru showers me with affection! I know not the reason!' Such a person, indeed, attains to Vaikuntam.

 

- His Holiness 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

If saints are omnipotent, why do they have to collect money for their expenses?

Nama Article 25th May 2008

 

Devotee: If saints are omnipotent, why do they have to collect money for their expenses?

 

Swami Papa Ramdas: As far as Ramdas is concerned, he lives upon what you all give him. Whether in the Ashram or outside, he is always living on Bhiksha, which you all offer him out of love.

 

One of the three vows taken by Ramdas when he first assumed Sanyas was to live on Bhiksha alone. By Ram's will, he has not to go now from door to door, but is invited by friends. These friends are none but Ram.

There would be no joy in minting money by any miracle. The pleasure you all get in giving and the joy Ramdas gets in receiving, would not then be there.

 

God always keeps the Ashram in want, so that Mataji and Ramdas may be made to leave the Ashram occasionally, visit different places and thereby spread His Name. If Ramdas had tons of money, he may have never thought of leaving the Ashram. Ram knows this and therefore He so arranges that money is always scarce in the Ashram.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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