What is the difference Mahamantra and Rama Nama?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Rama Nama is in Mahamantra
-----------------------------------
Which one is better - Mahamantra Japa or Mahamantra Kirtan?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Mahamantra Kirtan is Mahamantra Japa.
------------------------------------
What does 'forgiveness' really mean? I am not able to forget the past.
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Forgiveness is actually letting go of other people's trash which we had held close to our heart!
---------------------------------
Even while trying to chant the 'Mahamantra', my mind wanders, and thinks about how others have wronged me. With such a corrupted mind, how can I let go of the past?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
When mind wanders while chanting Mahamantra, understand that it is very natural for a mind to wander as it carries the burden of past tendencies. Allow the mind to wander and when it returns continue chanting. What you resist persists. Do not judge other thoughts as terrible or normal. Instead of fighting the mind, allow it in its way and continue chanting. Soon by the strength of Nama and prayers, mind gets the maturity to let go of unnecessary past.
-------------------------------
You have told that "Where there is faith there is no fate" as well as "There is no free will at all". Are they both not contradicting? If there is no free will, is one attaining liberation
also pre-determined?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
The only will we have is the freeing will of choosing to chant whenever we find mind wandering. So there is no free will, but only a freeing will of chanting the Mahamantra with faith in its power.
So liberation cannot be attained by any amount of will power, but purely by the grace of a Guru or God. So chant and the debate of free will versus destiny will get resolved by itself.
---------------------------------
I chant the Mahamantra daily, but even then, there is no purity in my mind and thought. I can very well realize that the Almighty knows about my thoughts and impurities in my mind. How do I overcome these impurities?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
First of all, expecting results immediately is wrong. Doing so will make you give up your practice very soon. You have to understand that the change will come only slowly.
A person is extremely devoted. At the same time, he has some nasty habits. Can it be said that his Bhakti itself is fraudulent? No. His Bhakti is true; and so are his bad qualities. When cattle devours a newly planted mango sapling, it struggles to live and grow more leaves. But surpassing these struggles, when the plant grows into a tree, then the cattle is no more a threat to the tree.
Likewise, when your devotion is in its initial stages, the ills of the world affect you to a great extent. When you continues to chant, with patience and perseverance, your bhakti becomes strong enough and the ills of the world don't affect you any more.
This will take time. But you can rest assured that your efforts will never go in vain.
----------------------------------
What should be the goal of human life?
1. Should it be to realize God and attain Moksha (Liberation)?
2. Should it be a social service activity like - building an orphanage, hospital etc.?
3. Should it be a challenging act like - becoming a big business person, Scientist, Chief minister etc.?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Liberation (Moksha) is the primary purpose of life. If the rest of them aid in attaining this purpose, they can be performed.
-----------------------------------
Is asking for Liberation selfish as it is going to help him but nobody else?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Once a need is acutely felt, praying for the same humbly at lotus feet of the Lord is the practical way to peace and happiness. Moksha is also included in this. Whether we do 'selfless' or selfish act, all we really chase for is happiness and peace.
---------------------------------
We see many reports of forced conversions. What will be the state of our Sanatana Dharma in India in the near future? What is the duty of every Hindu to protect our Dharma?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
The Vedas say 'Dharmam Chara' – we should 'live' Dharma. Not just talk about
it. If we practice Dharma in its letter and spirit and have unshakeable conviction in
Dharma, conviction begets conviction and we can 'protect' dharma by following it.
Everyone can talk and propagate their conviction, we are doing ours. We propagate and live the Bhagavata Dharma which is the most practical Dharma for today's age - comprising of singing and listening to Lord's Names and glories.
To put it simply, Hindus should take to Bhagavata Dharma (perform Nama Kirtan) and make others do the same, instead of talking about something that will not suit this time at all.
------------------------------
If a person cannot be physically near her Guru, how can she serve Him? Will the service she performs reach Him?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Following the words of the Guru is the greatest service we can do to him. If you chant the Mahamantra, the Guru would certainly be pleased with this 'service'.
-------------------------------
My friend says we should not keep 'Vishnu Puranam' book at home and should not read it. Please advice.
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
How can a 'Purana' which describes the 'Leelas' of Vishnu- the benign and loving protector do any harm to anyone?
-------------------------------
When a child dies suddenly, then what happens to the soul? If the parents pray for the soul, does it help the soul of the child? Is it the bad karma of parents that takes away the life of a child?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Soul has taken a 'shirt' of body. After it sheds one shirt, it takes on another. Prayers are powerful. So, yes! When parents pray for the departed soul, it does help the soul. Each soul works out only its karma.
Bad karma of parents alone does not take the life away from the child. Everyone's journey is clearly charted out by the divine plan using the mechanism of karma.
-------------------------------
How many births do we have and which birth is the human being?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
There is no count to the number of births. Till we surrender to a guru and get liberated, we would have to be born again and again. Human birth is an important milestone in this cycle as we get a real good chance to break out of the cycle only in this birth. So let us understand the significance of this opportunity, chant Mahamantra and pray to Krishna to accept us in His fold forever.
-------------------------------------
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Rama Nama is in Mahamantra
-----------------------------------
Which one is better - Mahamantra Japa or Mahamantra Kirtan?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Mahamantra Kirtan is Mahamantra Japa.
------------------------------------
What does 'forgiveness' really mean? I am not able to forget the past.
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Forgiveness is actually letting go of other people's trash which we had held close to our heart!
---------------------------------
Even while trying to chant the 'Mahamantra', my mind wanders, and thinks about how others have wronged me. With such a corrupted mind, how can I let go of the past?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
When mind wanders while chanting Mahamantra, understand that it is very natural for a mind to wander as it carries the burden of past tendencies. Allow the mind to wander and when it returns continue chanting. What you resist persists. Do not judge other thoughts as terrible or normal. Instead of fighting the mind, allow it in its way and continue chanting. Soon by the strength of Nama and prayers, mind gets the maturity to let go of unnecessary past.
-------------------------------
You have told that "Where there is faith there is no fate" as well as "There is no free will at all". Are they both not contradicting? If there is no free will, is one attaining liberation
also pre-determined?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
The only will we have is the freeing will of choosing to chant whenever we find mind wandering. So there is no free will, but only a freeing will of chanting the Mahamantra with faith in its power.
So liberation cannot be attained by any amount of will power, but purely by the grace of a Guru or God. So chant and the debate of free will versus destiny will get resolved by itself.
---------------------------------
I chant the Mahamantra daily, but even then, there is no purity in my mind and thought. I can very well realize that the Almighty knows about my thoughts and impurities in my mind. How do I overcome these impurities?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
First of all, expecting results immediately is wrong. Doing so will make you give up your practice very soon. You have to understand that the change will come only slowly.
A person is extremely devoted. At the same time, he has some nasty habits. Can it be said that his Bhakti itself is fraudulent? No. His Bhakti is true; and so are his bad qualities. When cattle devours a newly planted mango sapling, it struggles to live and grow more leaves. But surpassing these struggles, when the plant grows into a tree, then the cattle is no more a threat to the tree.
Likewise, when your devotion is in its initial stages, the ills of the world affect you to a great extent. When you continues to chant, with patience and perseverance, your bhakti becomes strong enough and the ills of the world don't affect you any more.
This will take time. But you can rest assured that your efforts will never go in vain.
----------------------------------
What should be the goal of human life?
1. Should it be to realize God and attain Moksha (Liberation)?
2. Should it be a social service activity like - building an orphanage, hospital etc.?
3. Should it be a challenging act like - becoming a big business person, Scientist, Chief minister etc.?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Liberation (Moksha) is the primary purpose of life. If the rest of them aid in attaining this purpose, they can be performed.
-----------------------------------
Is asking for Liberation selfish as it is going to help him but nobody else?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Once a need is acutely felt, praying for the same humbly at lotus feet of the Lord is the practical way to peace and happiness. Moksha is also included in this. Whether we do 'selfless' or selfish act, all we really chase for is happiness and peace.
---------------------------------
We see many reports of forced conversions. What will be the state of our Sanatana Dharma in India in the near future? What is the duty of every Hindu to protect our Dharma?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
The Vedas say 'Dharmam Chara' – we should 'live' Dharma. Not just talk about
it. If we practice Dharma in its letter and spirit and have unshakeable conviction in
Dharma, conviction begets conviction and we can 'protect' dharma by following it.
Everyone can talk and propagate their conviction, we are doing ours. We propagate and live the Bhagavata Dharma which is the most practical Dharma for today's age - comprising of singing and listening to Lord's Names and glories.
To put it simply, Hindus should take to Bhagavata Dharma (perform Nama Kirtan) and make others do the same, instead of talking about something that will not suit this time at all.
------------------------------
If a person cannot be physically near her Guru, how can she serve Him? Will the service she performs reach Him?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Following the words of the Guru is the greatest service we can do to him. If you chant the Mahamantra, the Guru would certainly be pleased with this 'service'.
-------------------------------
My friend says we should not keep 'Vishnu Puranam' book at home and should not read it. Please advice.
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
How can a 'Purana' which describes the 'Leelas' of Vishnu- the benign and loving protector do any harm to anyone?
-------------------------------
When a child dies suddenly, then what happens to the soul? If the parents pray for the soul, does it help the soul of the child? Is it the bad karma of parents that takes away the life of a child?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Soul has taken a 'shirt' of body. After it sheds one shirt, it takes on another. Prayers are powerful. So, yes! When parents pray for the departed soul, it does help the soul. Each soul works out only its karma.
Bad karma of parents alone does not take the life away from the child. Everyone's journey is clearly charted out by the divine plan using the mechanism of karma.
-------------------------------
How many births do we have and which birth is the human being?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
There is no count to the number of births. Till we surrender to a guru and get liberated, we would have to be born again and again. Human birth is an important milestone in this cycle as we get a real good chance to break out of the cycle only in this birth. So let us understand the significance of this opportunity, chant Mahamantra and pray to Krishna to accept us in His fold forever.
-------------------------------------
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