Power of Ram Naam and blessings of our Gurujans

Through the grace of our Pujya Gurudev we have been blessed with Ram Naam.  While we read in Amritvani that Parmaatma Sri Ram is all powerful .. omnipotent. We are connected to the source and reservoir of all powers through Ram Naam.

Then why do we have a weak mind?  Why are we not able to use our intellect to take care of our responsibilites and do benevolent actions?

Is it because we do not have total faith in God or do we not yet totally believe what our Gurujans have said? … or is it something else?

Regardless of whether we know the answers to these questions or not, we can at least pay close attention to what Maharajji says,”We have Ram in us but it is lying dormant”  – so  we must wake up this power in us by Jap, Simran, and Dhyan. And with the strength we gain from our practice we can follow the path shown to us with renewed determination and resolve.

Maharajji explains (in USA Open Satsang) that in Amritvani it is mentioned:

Ram-Ram Bhaj Kar Sri Ram

Kariye Nitya Hee Uttam Kaam

(and not …. Kariye Nitya Hee Uttam Kaam,  Ram-Ram Bhaj Kar Sri Ram)

So as he is guiding us, let us keep Ram Naam in the forefront and do the benevolent actions and take care of our duties and responsibilities and be ready to recieve maximum benefit of Ram Kripa.

Once again Maharajji says be patient and never lose hope.

Jai Jai Ram

Reading from Amrit Vaani today and SwamiJi Maharaj’s Pravachan Piyush long ago

Mohak Mantra Ati Madhur,

Ram – Ram Jap Dhyan.

Hotaa Teeno Lok Men,

Ram – Naam Gun – Gaan. …48

Today while reading the above (and nearly every time I read) in Amrit Vaani, it reminds me of reading Pravachan Piyush long-time ago in which I vaguely remember:

Swamiji Maharaj saying,”Ram-Naam teeno lok men gunj raha hai, aur mujhe spashat dikhayee de raha hai ki veh kalyaan kar rahaa hai”

(Swamiji Maharaj meri galation ko kshama kareien)

Aap tau Paramaatmaa se taar milaane ka kam karte hain, hamari bhi taar milayiye taaki hamein bhi jo aap ne kaha hai usska anubhav hove.

Sab Par Ram Kripa aur Sadguru Maharaj Kripa bani rahe.

Ek chhote se sadhak ne pukara – Kripa hui

Ek chotta sa sadhak (kam sadhana karne wala parantu Aayu main bada) sochne laga ki jitna jap Gurujano ne kaha hai utna tau mujh se ho nahin raha – ab kya hoga mera?

Thodi der ke baad usko ek baar Shree Swamiji Maharaj ki Pravachan Piyush main padi hui baat yaad aa gayi jo unhone ek aur sadhal ko kahi thi,  “Mein tumhare ghar aaya tha magar dekha  ghar par taala laga hua tha”.

Parmaatmaa ki kripa hui chhote sadhak par aur uske man main vichaar daal diya ki SwamiJi Maharaj se prarthana kare ki ,”Swami JI Maharaj, aap mere man-mandir main aayen aur andar se taala laga dijiyega, ab hum milkar jap karenge – kyon ki mujh se tau jitna karna chahiye tha utna nahin hua”.

Chotte sadhak ki ankhon main ashru aa gaye aur use aisa laga ki ab aisa hi hoga aur usko sadhana main safalata mil jayegi.  Lagta hai chotte sadhak par Ram Kripa aur Guru Kripa hone lag gayi hai.

Parmaatmaa sab par teri kripa bani rahe, Guru tau bin maange kripa karta rehta hai.  (Kuch aise suna hai)

Baar Baar Sant-Mahatma ke paas jayen

Jahan se hamein paise ki kamaai hoti hai, chaahe naukri se ya vyapaar se, wahan hum baar baar jaate hain.  Hamein jahan se Ram-Naam ki kamaai milne ka mauka mila hai, Sant-Mahatma se wahan hum baar baar kyon nahin jaate.

Sant-Mahatma ke paas baar baar jaayiye aur satsang aur sankirtan kariye, aur iss ka pura laabh uthaiye.   Sab Sant-Mahatma kehte hai aur hamare Pujya Gurujano ne bhi kai bar kaha hai ki Ram Naam se bar kar aur koi kamaai nahin hai.

Hamein paise ki kamaai ke saath saath jahan jaana hai uski bhi kamai karni chaahiye.  Pujya Dr. Vishwa Mitter JI Maharaj kehte hai – Khubh paisa kamayo magar, saath saath utna hi Ram Naam bhi japo – adhik se adhik japo.

Sab par Ram Kripa bani rahe.

Ram Kripa – Kab Hoti Hai

Pujya Dr. Viswamitter Ji Maharaj says we just keep on saying, Paramatma ki kripa hai, but we really don’t mean it. He adds if we really meant it, we will be constantly remembering Ram through Ram Naam Jap, simran, dhyan, etc.

Ram Kripa Kab Hoti Hai? – Ram Kripa tab hoti hai jab ham Ram main mast ho jaaye. It seems that Shree Swami Ji Maharaj has mentioned about in a dhun, “Teri buti ne masti keeti, Ram! Teri Buti ne masti keeti”. In Amritvani, Ram Kripa is mentioned several times with clarity and authority.

Pujya Maharaj JI tells us not to think of Ram Kripa when we are getting more income or some other material gains but think of Ram Kripa when our mind turns toward God. Some sadhaks report of Ram Kripa when our Gurujans appear in our dreams or in our dhyan giving us guidance and encouragement. Others report of Ram Kripa when we get inspiration to do more sadhana or get an insight on how to do serve others while taking care of our present responsibilities.

In Pravachan Piyush, Shree Swami Ji Maharaj has mentioned about appearing in a sadhaks dream and helping remove some obstacles from that sadhak’s life.

Getting back on the spiritual path with determination

When we may not be doing the sadhana as advised by our Gurujans or when we get off our path, we may want to connect with our loving Guru and ask for help or advice.

If we can’t be with Guru Maharaj physically, we can connect in our meditation or mental communication – while doing so we need to pay close attention and truly get Guru Maharaj’s message. Maybe Guru Maharaj is telling us “Vaapas aa jayo marg par” – just to return to our sadhana or spiritual practice. We may notice when we do come back to our spiritual practice of Ram Naam and start changing our behaviors back to positive ones, we may experience happiness and bliss. Again listen carefully to what Guru Maharaj is saying “Anand aa raha hai na vaapas aane ka aur Ram Naam japne ka” – Aren’t you receiving happiness and bliss by coming back to the path and doing Ram Naam jap?.

My beloved sadhaks, it is only with Ram Kripa we get to do the purushaarth of sadhana, as a bhakta thinks, and also mentioned by our loving Gurujans many times. It is with Guru Kripa that we get our connection stronger with Paramatma and we experience happiness and bliss in Ram Naam.

Let us do “adhik se adhik jap”, satsangati, sankirtan, and some swadhaya also to get back on our path with determination not to get off it again. Remember we promised our Guru Maharaj at the time of diksha that we will not do that. May Shree Ram give us all the strength to stay on our given and chosen path.

Two ways for Sadhaks to progress spiritually

One way for us, the sadhaks, to progress on the spiritual path is to remember the truth about ourselves or our essence or our authentic self. That is to remind ourselves again and again that,”Mai satya, nitya, shudh, chaitanaya, shaktimayi atma hoon” as mentioned in the Pravachan-Piyush by Shree Swami Ji Maharaj. It also helps to read the twelve Aatmic Bhavanain from the Bhakti Prakash in order to really understand our essence or the truth about ourselves.

Another way for the sadhaks to progress is to practice letting go of Mai or “I”. In one of story Pujya Maharaj JI tells us in his discourse about two Sant Mahatmas who are great friends …. one of them goes to the other’s home and asks him to open the door.

Mahatma inside – “Who is there?”.

The Mahatma outside – “I am here friend, open the door!”

Mahatma inside – “Kaun Murakh hai jo apne aap ko mai keh raha hai?” (Who is the stupid person who is calling himself “I”?)

Letting go of Mai or “I” is what Pujya Maharaj Ji has told us in one of his discourses, “Apna astitva hi mita do”. The more we let go of the “I” or Mai the lesser we will be concerned with small problems we face in the material life and more we will be inclined to do our sadhana.

This morning Shree Ram, the Param Guru, inspired this mind with the following three thoughts:

1. “Whenever the word “I” keeps coming up – I should think, ” Kaun hai murakh …. Who is the stupid person who is saying “I”?
2. Whenever the mind or intellect says,” Yeh maine kiya hai , ya yeh mai kar raha hoon…. I have done this or I am doing this – immeditately think, “Kaun hain murakh … or who is the stupid person who is saying I have done this or doing this?” (“Lord is the sole doer” – Pujya Maharaj Ji)
3. Same thing goes for “yeh mera hai or this is mine”

Anyone who can practice the above two ways is very likely to grow spiritually with Shree Ram’s Kripa which one can experience by doing “adhik se adhik simran … More and more simran or loving Jap of Ram Naam while keeping its meaning in mind”

Of course, needless to say, the best way for each one of us to progress spiritually is to follow the instructions given by our loving Gurujans.

Last two days – the practice and disappointment in self

Over the last two days the practice of Satsangati by listening to discourses and feeling the presence of Gurujans is going fairly well. The disappointment is in my not exercising self-control in eating habits … not eating on time, and eating in between meals, and also watching TV a little too much (although it is much less than before).

Pujya Maharaj Ji says in his Pravachan not to loose hope. I not only trust that Satsangati along with Jap is going to help with sanyam or self-control, I am already seeing signs of Guru Kripa and Ram Kripa in that matter. In my understanding the seeds of Satsangati and Jap are sown and fruit will be in the form of sanyam or self-control, simran, and whatever else Shree Ram wishes. Together they can help any sadhak’s practice. I pray that all of us have love for Naam and the Naami.

Jai Jai Ram.

This may be of help to Sadhaks – Lessons and inspirations

As Pujya Vishwa Mitter Ji Maharaj (Pujya Maharaj JI) says that Sab Ram Karta Hai – Lord is the sole doer, keeping that in mind Shree Ram made it clear this morning to this child that Satsangati and Sankirtan are very important for every Sadhak. As mentioned by Pujya Maharaj JI in one of his discourses of Naarad Bhakti that to have Sanyam, Sadaachar, Seva, and Simran in our lives we must have Satsangati – or association of Sant Mahatma, Satpurush, Sadguru, etc.

Sadhaks must have faith that the Satsangati and Sankirtan will definitely help us lead a life of self-discipline and self-control over our negative habits and behaviors, in addition to that we will have the opportunity to serve others with nishkam bhav or desiring no fruit of our actions, and last but not least the Simran …. Ram Naam Jap with love, devotion, and feeling of connectedness to Paramatma Shree Ram.

In Bhakti Prakash reading yesterday, a message from Swami Ji Maharaj was crystal clear – that is to simply surrender to Shree Ram and even forget about Sakaam or Nishkam Karma. That is the same thing mentioned in his Gita Saar and also Pujya Maharaj Ji mentions that in one of his discourse … Lord Krishna telling Arjuna that Chhor sab ye Karmyog, Gyanyog, Bhaktiyog, aur sab yog, meri sharan mein aa ja, Arjun tera aur mera ghar ek hai. (Lord Krishna,”Arjun, leave all the paths of yoga such as Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, simply surrender to me and know that your home/abode and my home/abode is one and the same”)

For those of us who can’t be with our Sant Mahatmas in person for any reason, distance or lack of physical health, we can simply remember what Pujya Maharaj Ji told us at the time of diksha that our Gurujans are always protecting us and helping us in our sadhana. So we can simply choose to do Sankirtan and Simran while feeling that our Gurujans are with us, I believe this will help us become better human beings and our sadhana will progress with Ram Kripa and with Guru Kripa.

Please let others Sadahaks know of your understanding, experiences, and thoughts about same or similar subjects. It will also help me if you add a comment below.

Jai Jai Ram.

Ram Kripa today

Today I started the day really frustrated specially after  wasting away almost the whole day yesterday doing negative activities.

With Ram Kripa (Grace), just after I was finishing the morning prayers and meditations I was guided to keep my mind busy while doing some productive service.

To keep the mind busy and preventing it to do something negative,  Shree Swami Satyanand Ji Maharaj says in Pravachan Piyush, “…. Kuchh kiya kar, agar kuchh nahin hain karne ko to kapre phar kar phir unko siya kar”.  He has a very important point that we need to keep our mind busy with some positive activity and he quote someone or uses an old saying – that if we have nothing to do undo the unstitching of some our clothes and stitch them over.

With Ram Kripa today (and always) I have begun writing some more meaningful articles and review the old ones to improve.  I pray to Shree Ram that this work may be service to others.

For discourses, satsangs, and books like Pravachan Piyush, Ramayan, Bhagvad Gita (Spiritual Discourses by Swami Ji Maharaj) click on http://www.shreeramsharnam.org/