from the lips of SatGuru...

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Sri Maha Ganapathaye Namaha!

Sri Saraswathaye Namaha!

Sri Padavallabha Narasimha Saraswathi!

Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha!

 

Religion is not reserved for philosophers and

theologicians. It is intended for the ordinary man's /

pilgrim's progress towards God-head. Follow the path

of spritual strength and not that of miracles. Try to

awaken your conscience and lead a purposeful life.

 

For kindling devotion towards God, many ways are shown

in our Shastras. Among them, stasang means the company

of good people -- people who are good in all respects.

They are called by various names,such as mahatmas,

Sadhus, Saints, Godmen. They are persons who have

transcended the dvandas like raga and dvesha (love and

hatred), labh and alabh (gain and loss), sukh and dukh

(pleasure and pain). No event that takes place around

them can disturb their poise. They reveal virtues such

as Saty (truth), Sauch, (purity), Jnana (wisdom), Sama

(silence) and Dama (control of senses). They will

always be immersed in the contemplation of God.

Bhagawan Krishna has declared in Srimad Bhagavatha

-- " My devotees sanctify the whole universe " . By their

thoughts, word and deed they influence and ultimately

change the course of lives of those who associate with

them. Such men are always rare to find. It should be

our watchful endeavor always to shun bad company and

keep good company.

 

Mere book learning leads the aspirant nowhere, whereas

the intuitive knowledge makes him consonant with the

Reality and the dream and the delusion of the

earth-bound life is transcended.

 

Deep meditation leads to intuition and helps to attain

and oceanic calmness of mind. Meditation is the basis

of all attainments. Changes in life are to be

accepted as calmly as changes in the seasons.

 

Nadopasana and Shabdo-pasana washes the mind of fears

and evil thoughts and fill the mind with peace and

tranquillity.

 

The love of relatives and friends is only momentary.

The love of God is perpetual. God is the only friend

of yours both in calamity and adversity.

 

A true student does not care for fame or comfort or

power. He cares only for knowledge and truth. He

purchases truth by giving up everything, for he looks

upon his pursuit as the noblest duty of man.

 

The body is not permanent, it is not pure. Keep the

body pure by taking satvic food. Discipline the mind

by chanting the sacred hymns.

 

Since all cannot do tapas (austerities) the easiest

and most universally acceptable form is

namasankeertana. It opens the door to the province of

bakthi as the songs are dedicated to the glorification

of Lord.

 

Bhojana is for the development of the body so is

bhajan for the development of the soul.

 

It was Ramanam Japa that raised Valmiki into Maha

Rishi. So do nama Sankirtan with gusto and attain

eternal bliss.

 

No outward show is needed to please God.

 

When the devotee takes one stride towards the Lord, He

takes ten toward sthe devotee. Such is His Grace as

experienced by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

 

Satguru is an ocean of peace and mountain of kindness.

His form is love and Shamadamadi Sath Swarupam.

Satguru gives strength to do Sadhana.

 

The world is like a Rose plant which has both flowers

and thorns. Like wise joys and sorrows are intertwined

in worldly life. As man carefully seperates the

flowers from the thorns in the roseplant the Sadguru

leads the devotees. Godwards releasing them from the

bondage of worldly desires and the wickedness who are

akin to thorns.

 

The knowing of Dharma is awakened through the service

of the Guru; The seeker after knowledge should find

God in the Guru.

 

The whole Universe is within the animation of Brahman.

The whole earth is pervaded by the essence of Brahman.

 

Guru is the ultimate manifestation of divinity and as

such without him one cannot afford to get deliverance

from the cycle of terrestrial turmoils.

 

Complete surrender to the Sadguru lessens the burden

and bondage of the devotee with worldly things.

Sadguru speaks to his disciple through the language of

the heart. The Guru is your friend, philosopher and

guide. He is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. Guru is

omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. He is OM. He

is light. He is everything. If God forsakes, one can

take shelter in Guru. If Guru forsakes none can save

him. Physical body is inherited from the father. A

guru gives a Divine birth. That is, he transforms the

disciple into a sublime personality. A person may

loose his health and wealth. Friends and relatives may

leave him. But a Sadguru always remains with the

disciple and protects him from all calamities.

 

Ignorance is the root cause of all our sufferings,

miseries and sorrows in the world. It is due to

ignorance that we believe happiness exists outside us

in the world. Ignorance gives rise to desires which in

turn lead us to act in order to fulfil those desires.

This wonderful combination of Ignorance-Desire-Action

(Avidyaa-Kaama-Karma) is called HRIDAYA GRANTHI (Knot

of the heart) in our scriptures (Mundaka Upanishad).

To cut this Granthi or knot we need the guidance and

grace of a guru who must be a " Srotriya " (well versed

in texts), Brahmanishtha (established in Brahman or

Reality).

 

The one who is devoted to duty, mastering the senses

atains knowledge. The greatest gift is the gift of

knowledge. Through the knowledge and conquest of

Panchekarana (the five fundamental causes) we attain

self realisation.

 

Rarely do we see 'Siddhis' being employed for the

spritual benefit of humanity. Do not hanker after

miracles or the Siddhis which yield them. Divert your

efforts towards obtaining self knowledge - 'Atma

Jnana' - which alone is real and eternal. Has it not

been declared 'Sraddhaavaan Babhate Jnaanam'? Man has

to know his personality.

 

True knowledge makes his life fruitful. It emancipates

man. The fire of true knowledge reduces to ashes the

sins, the pious deeds and the Karmas. Bhakti, Karma,

Jnana are just means to the same end. Each charts out

for us a route towards God. When the highest knowledge

dawns on us, the final release is obtained.

 

The yogi is a Sanyasin as his mind is completely

detached, individuality subdued and his desire utterly

annihilated. This state of actionlessness is the

Blissful state or Brahmavastha.

 

Jaya Guru Datta!

 

 

 

---

Gurorangripadme ManaScenna Lagnam tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim!?

Sarva Kartha, Sarva Dhartha, Sarva Hartha, Mangalam!

Satchidananda, Satchidananda, Satchidananda Mangalam!

Tasmai Sri Guru-murthaye Nama Idam Sri Dakshinamurtaye!

 

Ata Nityo Narayanaha, Brahma Narayanaha, Sivascha Narayanaha, Kalascha

Narayanaha. Disascha Narayanaha, Vidisascha Narayanaha, Urdwamscha Narayanaha,

Adhascha Narayanaha, Antar-bahischa-Narayana.Narayana Eh Vedam Sarvam, Yat

BhootamYacchha Bhavyam.Nish-kalango Niranjano Nirvikalpo Nirakyadhas,suddhho

Deva Eko Narayanaha, Na dwiteeyosthi kaschit,ya evam Vedas Vishnu reva Bhavati,

Sa Vishnureva Bhavathi, Etat yajur veda sirodeeyathe.

 

~*Om * Ayim * Hreem * Sreem * Siva * Rama * Anagha * Dattaya * Namaha*~