What a great fortune! - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-6 B

What a great fortune! - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-6 B

I wish to ask about the impact of human effort. What is the proportion of human effort and God's will on overall scheme of things? In other words, can human effort change or impact what is destined to happen?
 
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
If you have the penance, then to some extent, you can change the fate. Otherwise, there is absolutely no free will.
--------------------------------------
If a person does not have any children, who will perform his last rites? If someone related to him does the last rites, will his soul get liberated? Who will, for him, do the monthly and yearly rituals?
 
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
If one does not have a male child but has a female child, then getting the holy grass ('dharbai') from the daughter, some one else can do his last rites. His son-in-law or his brother's son can do the last rites, as also someone whom the person might have adopted during his lifetime, or someone that the deceased considered 'abhimana putra'.
The person who does the last rites also should perform all the subsequent rituals.
However, anyone can perform his last rites by chanting the name of Govinda thrice (this is called 'Govinda Kolli'). If this is done, there is no necessity to perform any subsequent rites or rituals.
--------------------------------------
I am not able to concentrate my mind when I sit for meditation or pooja. Some unnecessary thoughts come to my mind and disturb me. How do I get rid of them?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
For a few days, chant the Mahamantra loudly in the mornings and evenings. That will make your mind quiet and bring ‘manolaya’ or calmness of your mind. That will help you get the required concentration to do mediation.
--------------------------------------
In the event of a death in the family, going to the temple is prohibited. Why?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Generally, temples are prohibited for only 13 days, after which you can visit other temples, except for Maha Kshetras.
Generally we offer cooked food for the Lord, while 'Pitrus' (manes) prefer only half-boiled food. Melodious music pleases the Lord while the dead are happy with the sound of wailing. We do not wear wet clothes while we pray to the Lord while the Pitrus should be propitiated wearing wet clothes. God takes only little of what is offered to Him while the Pitrus consume a lot. God likes flowers and 'kolam' (Rangoli) and the dead hate these. God likes celebrations while the Pitrus don’t.
Generally after a death in the family we don't do that which is not liked by the dead. Hence we avoid going to temples.
--------------------------------------
Is there any specific reasons for Tarpanam (rituals for the Pitrus) being performed during Amavasya /Poornima days?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
The gravitational force that the earth exerts is high on these days and hence it is believed that the Pitru Loka (Ancestral world) is closer on these days. That is why special rites for the Pitrus are performed on these days.
-------------------------------------- 
It is rather confusing when you say that Lord Shiva was chanting the Divine Name of Rama. It has been stated in all the scriptures that Lord Shiva existed long before the birth of Lord Rama. Please explain.
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Rama is not merely the name of a character in our Itihasas. It is a Mantra, just like the 'Pranava' Mantra (Om). The great Sage Vashishta chanted this mantra for a very long time.
Hence he named Dasharata's first child with the name of his favourite mantra, knowing well that he is verily Lord Vishnu's incarnation.
The entire cosmos reverberates to the tune of Rama Nama only. In fact, the all-pervading Rama Nama existed even before the Universe was formed. So it is incorrect to believe that the Rama Nama came into existence only via Ramayana.
-------------------------------------- 
During Upanayanam, the child is initiated into Gayatri Mantra and it is said that chanting the Gayatri Mantra is good. If Mahamantra is really powerful and can do good to anyone who chants it, why not give Mahamantra as the Upadesa?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
There are two distinct Dharmas prescribed– the Vaideeka Dharma and the Bhagavata Dharma.
In Ramayana, we see that Rama protected the 'Yagna' (austerities) of the rishis This is Vaideeka Dharma. We also see that Rama blessed Ahalya. This is Bhagavata Dharma.
The most sacred sound in Vaideeka Dharma is 'Om'. 'Rama' is the equivalent in Bhagavata Dharma. While Vaideeka Dharma talks about rituals and rites, Bhagavata Dharma talks about love for God. The former is for a few to follow, while the latter is meant for everyone.
Gayatri Mantra is a very powerful Mantra in the Vaideeka Dharma. Mahamantra is a very powerful Mantra in the Bhagavata Dharma. Thus one cannot substitute the other. They cannot be mixed.
--------------------------------------
What is the difference between 'religious' and 'spiritual'? Can these two words be used interchangeably? Please explain.
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Spirituality and religion are inseparable.
Being religious is to lead a life in the path shown by the holy scriptures of one’s religion. By doing so, attaining that final destination that the religion upholds as the supreme is spirituality.
--------------------------------------
My mind always has lewd thoughts. How do I control it?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Whenever you get such lewd thoughts, watch keenly as to who is getting those thoughts. When you keep on continuing the enquiry, you will find an answer to the ‘I’. Concentrate on this 'I' and meditate on it incessantly.
During the rest of the time, chant the Divine Name 'Hari', 'Hari', 'Hari' constantly. Your thoughts in that direction will reduce considerably.
--------------------------------------
Why is money ruling today's world? Why not pure love?
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:
Pure Love and money never go together. That is the reason.
--------------------------------------   

What a great fortune! - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-6A

The world is very large with crores of jivas (souls). But our life is totally different from that of others. What is the reason for this? It is simply because Lord Krishna has taken us into His fold; taken us as His very own! This is the reason that we have entered a satsang.

What a great fortune!

But can we remain complacent about this? When we see someone without hands we heave a sigh of relief over our own fortune. We think,"What a great Fortune! Ah! We have been blessed with hands. We must safeguard these hands." This is true. But that's not enough. A truly intelligent person will go beyond this and perform good deeds with those hands, won't he?

Similarly, realizing our fortune in having obtained "Sat sang"(Sadguru's association) we must make the best use of it.

So what does 'making best use of satsang' mean?

Let's think about our lives for a minute.

Are we, who are in a satsang, any different from the rest, in spite of the satsang Are we continuing to nurture desire and hatred, remain lethargic and fail to conduct our lives in a dharmic (righteous) way? Instead, how should our life be? Should it not be an exemplary one?

Our life should be an enviable and wondrous one, and not an object of ridicule by others. Others should look at a Satsang person's life and remark:

What a great Fortune!

We may proudly declare that we have come to the fold of a Guru and that we have been in the satsang for long but we should not fail to observe our own progress.

What purpose does mere advancement in age serve if there is no spiritual progress and peace of mind?

Some people begin a work very enthusiastically initially, but after a while just drop it because of the arduous labor involved. A person tries to keep his newly constructed house clean and tidy. But as time passes he becomes indifferent and the house is filled with cobwebs and dust.

Anything obtained newly enjoys great value and attention. But as it grows old it ceases to hold the same degree of attention. One becomes indifferent to it.

Sadly, we do the same with our sadhana (Pracitice) too! How will we benefit if we follow our sadhana scrupulously initially—right after receiving the upadesa (initiation) from the Guru or entering a satsang or listening to/reading about the ways of sadhana from a book—but drop it after some time?

The performance of sadhana should grow in intensity with time. We should not rest until we attain the goal!

Manas (mind) is vacillating by nature. Many a time the indriyas (senses) pull us away from our goal. At such times we should not feel dejected but face and handle the situation very courageously. Whenever the mind wavers we should pray intensely.

Such prayers are always answered!

What I mean here is that when we pray for the removal of an obstacle in the way of our sadhana, it is surely taken care of. We can then find our mind getting one pointed when we sit for Nama japa (Chanting the divine names) or dhyana (Meditation). Bhakti (Devotion) or Jnana (Wisdom) is easily acquired in the mind that has become one pointed.

One desiring spiritual progress should not talk much unnecessarily

!!! Will continue !!!
--------------------------

Force of Mahan's Compassion - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-5

Everyone is aware that the Brahma Sutras, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita are the three grantas (holy texts) that have to be read and followed by those who desire moksha (Liberation). These three holy texts together form what is popularly known as Prastaana traya. Sri Adi Sankara has blessed us with a Vedanta granta titled Viveka Choodamani. The erudite declare that Viveka Choodamani forms the very essence of the Prastaana traya.

In Viveka Choodamani, at the very outset, Sri Sankara says that human birth, desire for Liberation and the company of maha purushas (sages) is attained only due to punya (merits) earned over crores of births. The company of maha purushas can be deemed as satsang, as also Guru sang (the company/association of the Guru). Srimad Bhagavatam, which we always quote as the testimony for anything, also speaks only of the glory of sadhu sang (company of holy men). Therefore, should we not make full use of such 'rare to find' but 'blessed to attain' satsang or Guru? One must certainly attain the fruit of satsang (Holy Company).

What does attainment here mean? And how can we achieve it? We should by all means try to live in the shadow of our Guru's Lotus Feet. If we do so, then we will become perfect very soon, i.e. attain Liberation!

When a just-born child is in a motionless state, the mother yearns for the child to come out of this coma-like state; she thinks it would suffice if only the child would open its eyes. Once this happens, she feels that even if the child were bedridden it would be okay if only he would speak. Once the child begins to speak, she thinks that it would be good if the child could sit. Once the child is able to sit, she hopes that the child would get up and walk. Once it begins to walk, she feels that it would be good if the child could learn to read and write. If this happens would she not desire the child to study well, earn well, earn fame like others, marry, beget children and run a family like others do? Do you see to what level the thought has grown though in the beginning the desire was only for the child to come out of the 'coma-like' state? The mother's desires are justified as they are due to her love for her child.

Mahans' compassion for the jivas (souls: human beings and others) is also similar. When they see innumerable people living without any purpose as per their own whims and fancies, the Mahans yearn, "Will they not utter Hari Nama (the Divine Name of Lord Hari) at least once? Will they not visit a temple at least once and worship the Lord?"

When they see those who do these, they yearn, "Why can't they do more Nama sankirtan (sing/chant the Divine Name and the Lord's Lilas)? Can't they visit the temple daily"

Once the person begins to do Nama sankirtan in this manner and also begins to visit the temple daily, the Mahans yearn, "Will he not do all these with a clean physique (sarira shuddhi)?"

Then they yearn, "Along with physical cleanliness will he not shirk bad company and take up good habits and good company?"

They then yearn, "Will he not give up desires and hatred and do bhakti with a clean mind and heart (shuddha hrudaya)?"

They then yearn, "Will he not work towards attaining the vision of the Lord (Bhagavat darshan)?"

Don't we sympathize with others in their sorrows? That very sympathy will do good to them. Mercy has got force. Likewise, compassion is verily the longing or the aching of the heart felt by Mahans that we should turn over a new leaf and be devoted to God. If the little sympathy felt by us—whose hearts and minds are filled with desires and hatred—has the power to work, then what to speak of the Mahans' compassion?

We will become perfect merely through the compassion of such Mahans. Hence all we have to do is to somehow attain the satsang of such a great Mahan.

!!! Will continue !!!
--------------------------

GOD at our Dwaar (way) - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-4

We saw in the first part of this series that an Upanishad saying goes,

"Maatru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Aachaarya devo bhava, Atithi devo bhava" (Mother is verily God, Father is verily God, Master is verily God, the Guest is verily God), while in Tamil language a similar proverb goes, "Maata, Pita, Guru, Deivam" (Mother, Father, Guru and God).

Earlier, Sri Swamiji had also pointed out that in the hierarchy, an ordinary guest cannot take a place above the Guru, as seemingly indicated by the Sanskrit saying above. Therefore, here the term guest (atithi) must actually denote God Himself.

Please read on…

Once there lived, in holy Pandarpur, a poor couple who had taken up the vow of serving a sadhu or two with few dry chapatis before they took their meal on Dwadasi (the twelfth day of the lunar fortnight). They had been following this practice for years. On one Dwadasi however, a wealthy man arranged for a sumptuous meal for all the sadhus of Pandarpur. Hence not a single sadhu came to this poor couple's doorstep. They stood outside and invited the sadhus who passed by their home. But none paid heed to their call. The couple was in tears, as it seemed that their life-long vow was about to be broken that day. They did not have their meal. They were at a loss to know what to do. Just then, to their joy, a sadhu came to their doorstep and demanded dry chapatis! They invited the sadhu inside and served him with utmost humility and love. After eating the ‘love-stuffed’ chapati, the sadhu showed them his real Form! Lo! Their atithi that day was not a bhakta but the Bhaktavatsala – Lord Panduranga Himself! Indeed it was Bhaktavatsala who had come eagerly to their home!

'Atithi devo bhava'! When we see God in every guest who comes home, God becomes eager to meet us at our home!

There once lived a divine couple at Puri Jagannatha Kshetra (Orissa). Their doors were always wide open to all holy men. Sadhus were offered food in their home. One day, the husband found a leprosy patient at his doorstep and without any hesitation invited him in for food. The wife was naturally aghast at this move and tried her best to stop him; but the man was firm.

"Kalyani! Atithi devo bhava! Have you forgotten this?" he said, softly yet firmly, to his reluctant wife. His next move horrified her all the more! He addressed the guest, "Respected sir! Please take this humble seat and make yourself Comfortable."
He then turned to his wife and ordered, "Kalyani, bring a pot of water." The lady of the house went in and returned with a pot of water. What happened next filled her with greater horror!

The guest sat on their simple wooden chair. Her husband held the dirty feet of the guest that were infected and dripping with pus, and reverentially placed them on a brass plate.
The wife shivered from head to toe as she thought, "Good God! He is going to do Paada puja (washing the feet with water, etc. in an attitude of worship) to this leper. The stench is unbearable! I cannot remain here any longer. This husband of mine will next instruct me to sip the water that washed the disease-stricken dirty feet of this man! I cannot accept it!" Thinking thus, she ran away to the backyard of the house, out of her husband's sight.

The husband, with his heart full of love and with great reverence and compassion, washed the feet of this unique guest. He then took a little of that water from the brass plate with utmost respect, sipped it and sprinkled a little on his head. He then led the guest inside the house and served him food with immense love.

When the guest had partaken of the food, the man fell at his guest's feet and said softly, "Namaste atithi deva."A bright flash of blue light dazzled his eyes! With wonder he looked up and what did he behold? Verily the Lord of the Universe! The very spirit of all Vedas and Shastras! The one rare to attain even through toughest sadhana! The man found himself standing right in front of the smiling Lord Jagannatha Himself!

'Atithi devo bhava'! When we serve the guest who comes to our door as verily God, God comes to our door to enjoy our loving service!

A lady once came to see Yogi Ramsuratkumar. She said to him, "Bhagavan, I am a simple woman. I am not capable of doing great work. Please instruct me with some simple work that is within my capability. I will carry it out sincerely."

Yogi Ramsuratkumar said to her, "Feed every beggar who comes to your door."

The lady was very happy. This was an easy job that she could carry out without difficulty. Days passed and she fed every beggar who came to her door. One night a beggar knocked at her door. She offered him twenty-five paise and closed the door. The beggar accepted the paltry sum without any complaint and left. After a month or two this lady went to Tiruvannamalai to have darshan of Yogi Ramsuratkumar. On seeing her, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, fanning himself with the hand fan that he usually held, said, "Dear lady, which hotel in Chennai offers food for twenty-five paise ?" He went on uttering this over and over again.

The import of Yogiji's words dawned on her like a thunderbolt!

The lady was taken aback and felt ashamed. She fell at the great saint’s feet and sought his forgiveness.

'Atithi devo bhava'! When we serve every guest as verily God it certainly reaches Him and Him only!

Therefore, here guest (atithi) does not refer to an ordinary man but verily God Himself!

!!! Will continue !!!
--------------------------

"Athithi Devo Bhava!" - The Paraodoxical Qualification - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-3C

We find reports from many parts of the world that a person crowning himself a 'Guru' mesmerizes people in large number and harms them. Caught under the spell of mass hypnotism people dance to the tune of this self-anointed Guru. People do not hesitate even to consume poison and die! Such questionable incidents have begun to occur in India too.

On one side innumerable treacherous 'Gurus' have cropped up who play on the innocence and ignorance of the people and on the other side are people who are immersed in ritualism without understanding the real import behind the rituals.

Let us say that a person has been asked to clean a glass so that it can be used to drink water. The person keeps washing the glass with no end in sight to the job given. He goes on scrubbing it. On and on he goes. What was the purpose behind the instruction to clean the glass? — Only to use it to drink water. But what does he do? He does not bring the cleaning to a close so that it can be used to drink water. Similarly, our scriptures speak of various rituals only to purify your mind so that through the purified mind the Lord can be attained.

In the case of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's disciple Advaitacharya we find that caught in the net of rituals he misses out on its real purpose. His Guru comes to his home hungry, seeking food. A Sadguru is verily God. And in this case Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is verily the incarnation of Lord Krishna.

The Lord comes home in the form of the Guru seeking food. What fortune! But caught firmly in the net of rituals he says that he has not yet completed the daily rituals and that it would take some hours to cook and serve him food! Well, WHY HAVE THESE RITUALS BEEN PRESCRIBED? — To purify the mind and attain God.

In this case, Advaitacharya had attained a Sadguru but failed to recognize the blessings.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went on a long tour of India, covering the length and the breadth of the country. Wherever he went he initiated people into the Mahamantra,

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!

Know that it is verily Bhagavata dharma that is supportive to this Kali Yuga. And, what is Bhagavata dharma? To chant

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!

All other paths are impractical in today's world.

What do Mahans speak about when they get together? It will either be about their experiences with the Lord or about the means to be taken up to help people traverse the ocean of life. They are anxious to protect and show the right way to people.

The meeting of Sages Narada and Valmiki resulted in the birth of Ramayana.

The meeting of Sages Narada and Veda Vyasa brought forth Srimad Bhagavatam. In Srimad Bhagavatam, written thousands of years ago, we find the deep anxiety of Mahans (saints).

Srimad Bhagavatam says that in Kali Yuga people will be of low intelligence, lethargic and short lived. What is the way out for these people? Verily the Divine Name of the Lord!

The Mahamantra,

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!

The Divine Name of the Lord ('Bhagavan Nama') has the power to redeem one and all. Was not Ajamila, the worst sinner, redeemed for merely uttering the Divine Name? He had named his youngest son 'Narayana' (the Divine Name of the Lord). He was deeply attached to this son. In the final moment of his life he called out "Narayana!" addressing the son. But it was enough for the deeply compassionate Lord. He saved Ajamila.

Ahalya was redeemed from the curse and made immaculate by the dust of the Holy Feet of Rama. And in today's world Rama still exists in the form of His Divine Name 'R A M A'. ‘Name’ and the 'Named' are one and the same.

They are not different from each other. So will not Rama in the form of the Divine Name 'RAMA' redeem all – even the worst sinner?

!!! Will continue (The Atithi shall visit next week…) !!!
--------------------------

"Athithi Devo Bhava!" - The Paraodoxical Qualification - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-3B

    HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
    HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!

As soon as we take up the Mahamantra for chanting we cannot but remember the great avatara purusha –Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu!

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lived for 48 years only. He spent the first 12 years of his life playing pranks just as Krishna had done in his childhood. For the next 12 years of his life he shut himself up in a room with a few friends and performed Nama sankirtan (chanting the Lord's Names and praises). The next 12 years he visited various holy places. It was during these wanderings that he visited Srirangam in the south. And the last 12 years of his life was spent in solitude inside a cave at Puri.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's disciples Sanatana Goswami and Roop Goswami were busy authoring books. They found no peace till they converted the gushing thoughts into words. It is only through such disciples of Mahaprabhu do we learn the life history of this great avatar.

Mahaprabhu's disciple Nityananda was deeply concerned about the way the world was moving. People were living with false values. There were no genuine Masters to guide them and the innocent and ignorant people were being caught in the net of quack Gurus. His Master, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, had shut himself up in a room with a small circle of close friends and was doing Nama sankirtan. Nityananda desired to bring to the Master’s notice the need for guiding the ignorant who were being led astray with false values. He wished that his Guru would come out of closed doors and take a look at the world. But how can one advise the Guru? How can one instruct the Guru to do this or that? After much thinking he decided to carry out this work slyly.

One day, Nityananda informed Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that a sadhu had invited them for lunch. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the invitation and went to the sadhu’s place along with Nityananada. When they reached the place he found a board bearing the name of the sadhu and the ashram. They went in and were received warmly by the sadhu of the ashram. A personal attendant of the sadhu began to serve them food. Nityananda began to eat happily. He did not seem to be the least concerned about their host or the surroundings.

The sadhu asked them, "What would you like to have? Ganga teerth or Anand (Ganga water or Bliss)?"

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu could not understand the words of the sadhu. He turned to Nityananda and said, "Nitai, I understand the term 'Ganga teerth' but what does he mean by 'Anand'?"

Nityananda said, "Oh, here in this place 'Anand' refers to the company of women. And by 'Ganga teerth' he does not mean the holy Ganga water but wine!”

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was aghast. "What!" he cried out. And taking hold of Nityananda’s hand he rushed out. He ran away from that place as quickly as his legs would carry him. He stopped after he had gone a safe distance away. He was panting heavily and was seething with anger.

Calming him down, Nityananda next led him to his (Mahaprabhu's) disciple Advaitacharya's home. Advaitacharya welcomed them with great joy and offered them a seat. Nityananda said to him, "Our Gurudev is hungry. Please offer him some food." At once Advaitacharya said to him, "Oh, I have not yet performed my daily rites. I have to complete it and then cook food. It will take some time."

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu jumped up from his seat and taking hold of Nityananda's hand walked out of Advaitacharya's home.

The clever Nityananda had driven home the message! Chaitanya Mahaprabhu realized what Nityananda was trying to convey to him. First, he had showed him how the world was being fooled by quack Gurus who claimed to show the path of spirituality. Secondly, in the name of following scriptural injunctions men failed to recognize its end purpose. Advaitacharya was so deeply drowned in the performance of daily rites prescribed by the scriptures that he asked his atithi – his Guru, who is God himself in human form – to wait for hours for offering him food!

!!! Will continue (The Atithi shall visit next week…) !!!
--------------------------

"Athithi Devo Bhava!" - The Paraodoxical Qualification - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-3A

Radhe Krishna All,

Mother is verily god, Father is verily god, Master is verily god, the Guest is verily God is the clarion call of our Upanishads! ("Maatru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Aachaarya devo bhava, Atithi devo bhava" in Sanskrit language terms)

Those who are in the southern states of India , especially Tamil Nadu, would be very familiar with a proverb: "Mata, Pita, Guru, Deivam" – Mother, Father, Master and God!

It is similar to the Vedic injunction but for the last part where God is directly substituted for guest (atithi). Mother – Father – Master – Guest: so goes the hierarchy. See the
beauty of this order!

The journey starts with the mother. It is the mother who shows the child the father.  And the father, in turn, takes the child to the Master (Guru). Then comes the guest.

But guest? Here? Even after the Guru? Seems a tad out of place…doesn't it?
The logical question then would be, "Can an ordinary man who comes home as a
guest be greater than the spiritual Master who offers spiritual knowledge?" A good question indeed.

This certainly needs deeper thought! Intelligence would demand then, "What do we really mean by guest?" It is now obvious that it cannot refer to any person who knocks at the door for food. Most people who often repeat this proverb do not seem to realize the deeper import of this.

It is sad that in modern times a father does not guide the child to a Guru. Why? An average man fears his child visiting temples or satsang (company of holy men). He desires his son to lead a 'normal' (worldly) life. He wishes his son to limit his prayers to worldly ambitions only.

"Oh, yes, let him be devoted to God. But it should be within limits," says the father.
So what about satsang? It is a big 'NO' without doubt!

Now, let us look into the real significance of - 'Mother is verily god, Father is verily god, Master is verily god, the Guest is verily God', in the light of holy company and Guru krupa (Grace).

This is what typically happens: A young man who has no knowledge of even the term 'Guru' visits a Guru on the invitation of his friend. The Sadguru gives him a warm welcome. Very kindly the Guru enquires of this new visitor, "Have you had your lunch, my son? You have come here in the hot sun!"

These kind motherly words of the Guru touch the heart of the young man. He thinks, "Oh, as a loving mother he is concerned about my health."

On his subsequent visits, too, the Guru speaks to him in such tender motherly fashion. He now starts visiting the Guru more often, drawn by the genuine and yet mysterious motherly affection of the Guru.

He looks upon him verily as a mother – Mother is verily god (Maatru devo bhava)!  

Days pass and one day the Guru enquires of this young man, "My son, what do
you do for your living?"…"Oh, you run a business! Well, what sort of a business? Is it doing well? How much do you earn out of your business? Is it adequate to take care of your needs?"

Hearing these words of the Master the young man feels, "Oh, he is like a father!"
It is the father who is concerned about the son's income. These words touch the young man's heart. He begins to frequent the Master's place.

He now looks upon the Guru verily as a father too –  Father is verily god (Pitru devo bhava)!

Days pass. Drawn by the kindly, affectionate treatment of the Master the young man visits him regularly. One day the Guru points out to the young man, "Oh, my son, time is flying. You have lots of relatives and friends. You possess good health. You are intelligent and capable. You earn quite a lot and are leading a comfortable life. But have you thought of the day which everyone has to face? Everybody who has taken birth in this world has to face that day – that final day. And on that day none of these – relatives and friends, good physique, wealth, intelligence – will help you. You will realize this at that final hour. It will then be too late. Should you not give it a thought now?"

The young man now sees that loving parent as the guiding light also – Master is verily god (Aachaarya devo bhava)!

The young man asks at once, "Oh, Gurudev! What should I do? Please show me the way. What is the qualification required to tread on the path that you will show me?"

(The young man thinks, "Oh God! So this is what I have been missing all my life—the way to peace, happiness and abundance...")

The kind Master says, "My son, I will show you the way. To walk on this path one needs only one qualification."

(The Master smiles, happy that this youth is going to be led to a glorious, joyous path of love and fulfillment)

The young man asks anxiously, "What is that qualification, Gurudev?"
(The young man suddenly finds a prayer running in him, "Please, please somehow let me be qualified for this grand path, whatever that qualification may be!")

The Guru says, "Nothing! Nothing at all! Having no qualification whatsoever is the only qualification!"

The Guru smiles at the young man who is dumbfounded!

Wondering if he had heard the Guru right, the young man exclaims, "Gurudev!"
(While he thinks, "Thank God… this qualification I possess in abundance! What a relief!)

The Guru, "Yes, son, incapability is the only qualification required to tread on this path!

The humble realization that you are incapable (of treading any spiritual path) IS THE ONLY QUALIFICATION REQUIRED. If you feel that you are capable of practicing some other path you fail to qualify for this path that I shall show you."

The Master was softly chanting trunadapi suneechena, tarorapi sahishnuna… (humble like the grass, forbearing like the tree)

The young man says humbly, "Gurudev! Please show me the path that you speak of."
(He thinks, "A few months back, I would have fooled myself into thinking that I am qualified for ALL paths! But that delusion is now gone. Is this what is known as 'the grace' of this loving Master? Jai Gurunath Maharaj!")

The Guru,
"HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE,
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!"

This is the way, my son! Chant this Divine Mahamantra that has been advocated by our Scriptures. It is the easiest way to attaining the Supreme Lord. Just chant this always. You can chant this anywhere and at any time." …and then, Bhagavan Sri Krishna smiled broadly at the young man…

!!! Will continue !!!

"Sadguru!" - By Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Part-2

Radhe Krishna All,

"Joy and sorrow in this world are only the fruits of past choices and acts (prarabda)"

Is this now universally accepted tenet enshrined in our Sanatana Dharma. This implies that a present comfortable life is only the result of past punya (merits).

Who or what decides if a particular act is a punya (merit) or a papa (sin)?

The shastras! Only the shastras (scriptures) should be taken as the basis to determine what a merit is and what a sin is.

A question arises now. Why can't I decide this for myself independently? Can I not tell what is right and what is wrong?

Well, the truth is that we cannot be totally free and unbiased in our judgments because our mind is influenced by our own likes and dislikes (raga-dwesha). Our mind cannot, therefore, be held as the basis for judging what punya is? And what Papa is?

Moreover, dharma (righteousness and ethical values), being very subtle and not always obvious, can be known only through shastras.

Don't we say that one is blessed with good parents due to his punya?

Likewise, it is only as a result of one's punya that a person is blessed with good education, job, spouse and children. In the same breath, it is only due to one's paapa that a person is placed in unfavorable situations with regard to his parents, spouse, children or education.

If punya is the basis for a person to attain even worldly comforts, what then to speak of attainment of a Sadguru who is the atma bandhu (soul mate)?

How many meritorious deeds must one have done to attain a Sadguru? One must have, therefore, performed meritorious deeds over crores of births to attain a genuine Mahatma as his Guru.

Today, there are many who call themselves a 'Guru'. These self proclaimed 'Gurus', some of who even label themselves as Avatars (incarnations of God), spread false faiths that have no support in the shastras. They exhibit no discipline, astound the public with occult powers or tricky illusions, wax eloquent on incomprehensible philosophies to create awe in the minds of people and thus take their poor followers for a ride. This is probably the dosha (defect) of Kali Yuga.

One finds that even such imitators having a large following. What is the reason for this? The world consists of more number of sinners than the virtuous. It is only due to the effect of their sins do people go behind such imitators. Just as merit is the cause for attaining a Sadguru, it is verily past sin that is the cause for one to get caught in the nets of such deceitful gurus.

So then who are Mahatmas? How can we identify them? Mahatmas always perform Nama Sankirtan (a sign of true devotion), follow the Sanatana Maarga (path), are very humble, are friendly with all and most important of all, their lives are an open book for everyone to see. They have nothing to hide from people. They are full of compassion, ever pouring forth their Grace. They are verily prema swaroopa (complete form of Divine Love).

All this is possible for them only because they are jivan muktas (those who have attained Self Realization even while living in this world).Hence we attain a Sadguru only due to the effect of punyas earned over crores of births, indeed!

!!! Will Continue !!!
----------------------------