Realisation???.......... Nama Smaranam

[Guest guest]

Srimaan sunderji recommends

 

( There is no remedy more potent than 'Nama-Smarana' in this

age, the name of one's 'Ishta-Devata' or that 'given' (dIkShA) by

the

Guru.)

 

Yes! in this Kali-yuga, that is the best recommendation. However ,

while doing ths sadhana , please remember to avoid the ten nama

apradhas!

 

They are :

 

1)Do not criticize great saints or great bhaktas

 

2) The Lord's material energies are equal t the lord's spiritual

energies - they are not differnt.

 

3) disrespect to Guru

 

4) sruti-sastra-nindanam: to criticize the vedas, purana and other

scriptures .

 

 

(5) to engaze in kutarka vada regarding nama smaranam

 

(6) Avoid interpreting the lord's names in a mundane fashion hout

 

7) Avoid engazing in sinful activities while doing nama smarana

 

(8) observing vrata , doing homa are all good but they are nothing

compared to taking the divine names of the lord.

 

(9) It is nama-aparadha to give instructions on auspicious sri-nama

to those who are faithless or averse to hearing srinama.

 

 

(10)Lastly, while chanting the holy names of the lord , one should

give up notions of 'I' and 'mine' .

 

As you will see, it is not so easy to do this sadhana - this type

of nama smaranam also involves lot of discipline and avoiding

committing the ten nama aparadhas !

 

Let us not take the Lord's name in vain!

 

thank you vkji for that wonderful post on shraddha! may i please

quote Srimad Bhagvat Gita : ( 8-12)

 

:

 

Mayyeva mana adhatsva mayi buddhim niveshaya!

 

Nivasishyasi mayyeva, ata urdhvam na sanshayah!!

 

Oh ArjunA! You concentrate your mind and intelligence on me. After

that you will dwell in me only. There is no doubt in it.

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Hare

[Guest guest]

Yes! in this Kali-yuga, that is the best recommendation. However ,

while doing ths sadhana , please remember to avoid the ten nama

apradhas!

 

praNAms

Hare Krishna

 

While appreciating the efficacy of bhajana & nAma smaraNa in this age of

kali, it should be noted that this is in no way a substitute for vEdic

injuctions....Being born in Vaidika dharma / kula, vaidiks, should not be

tempted to say, since in Kali yuga nAma smaraNa is the easiest path & means

for realization, instead of doing karmAnushTAna (like nitya & naimittika

karma-s) I do *non-stop* nAma japa & please the God....nAma japa is not at

all an alternative for *vEda vihita karma-s*..However, after observing all

these nityAnushtAna-s, if any time left, we can do nAma japa / nAma

saNkIrtana instead of wasting our time in watching TV or reading novels

:-))

 

Hari Hari Hari Bol!!!

bhaskar

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna , Prabhuji !

 

i apologize if i came across as suggesting that one should stop

observing all vaidika rituals including observing vrats (fasts)

and performing other rituals as prescribed in the vedas . ON THE

CONTRARY, there is no 'competition' between the two - one can do

both !yOu are absolutely right ! Observance of religious vows,

etc., should not be given up nonchalantly, imagining that only nama

japa is sufficient.

 

in a recent post, sri Lakshimiji mentioned ABOUT THE GREAT SAINT

Ayyaval of Tiruvisanallur! aS YOU MAY BE AWRE THIS GREAT SAINT WROTE

A GREAT WORK CALLED 'Bhagavan-nama-bhusana.' ( ON NAMA SIDDHANTA)

 

However, as Sunderji rightly obseved and which i readily endorse ,

in these days of Kali, nama japa is the easiest way to liberation.

one cannot stress enough the importance of chanting the divine

names of the Lord. ( divya nama sankirtanam)! But it needs great

discipline and perseverance and one should avoid committing the ten

offences ( this is outlined in Srimad Bhafvatam also on the chapter

on Ajamila , if i recall - professorji, please correct me)

 

What is so great about this Nama siddhanta ?

 

1) This discipline is open to all ireespective of caste , one's

status in life, and regardless of gender .

 

2) it involves no 'injury' to any living being !

 

3)a devotee does not need any ancillary aid ( may be at the most a

japa mala)!

 

4)The results are amazing !Imagine how sri hanuman crossed the

mighty ocean taking the divine name of Sri Rama wheras sri Rama

himself had to build a bridge with the help of the vanara sena (

setu bandanam)

 

5)AND THE BEST PART IS YOU CAN DO IT ANY TIME - no restrictions on

time .

 

6)and you can do nama japa in any place ! of course, While

doing 'purashcharana ' it is best to do it near a river bank!

 

7) Lastly, there are no ritualistic regulations for practicing the

repetition of the Divine Name.

 

All this is outlined in Sri Bodendra's Nama Rasayana !

 

may i please share this verse from Srimad Bhagvat gita ?

 

anta-kāle ca mām eva

 

smaran muktvā kalevaram

 

yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaḿ

 

yāti nāsty atra saḿśayaḥ (8-5)

 

 

And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body, remembering Me

alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.

 

SO,

 

"NAMA EVA SIDDHANTAH - (the name of God leads to the established

goal) proclaimed the propagators of this doctrine!

 

In conclusion,

 

Sri Chaitanya mahaprabhu says ,

 

trinadapi sunichena tarorapi sahishnuna

amanena manadena kirtaniya sada Hari

 

(Be) as humble as a blade of grass, as patient as a

tree. Give respect to all, expect respect from none.

Chant unceasingly the name of the Lord.

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare !

 

AND ALSO REMEMBER , IT IS AN OFFENCE TO CLAIM ONE NAMA OF GOD AS

SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER NAME OF GOD - FOR EXAMPLE , claiming NarAyana is

superior to Siva AND VICE VERSA !

 

Tiruvisanallur Ayyaval was a great sHIVA BHAKTA WHERAS Bhagavannama

Bodhendra propagated devotion to Rama and Govinda! bOTH WERE GREAT

FRIENDS AND TOGETHER THEY propagated the "nama siddhanta"!

 

ariyum aranum onru

 

athai ariyathavan vazhil mannu !

 

( Hari and hara are one ! those who make a distinction between the

two are not smart! )-

 

this is 'unmai' this is 'maimai'

 

this is the truth! this is the superior view!

 

Hari Aum Tat Sat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

advaitin, bhaskar.yr wrote:

>

>> Hare Krishna

>

> While appreciating the efficacy of bhajana & nAma smaraNa in this

age of

> kali, it should be noted that this is in no way a substitute for

vEdic

> injuctions....Being born in Vaidika dharma / kula, vaidiks,

should not be

> tempted to say, since in Kali yuga nAma smaraNa is the easiest

path & means

> for realization, instead of doing karmAnushTAna (like nitya &

naimittika

> karma-s) I do *non-stop* nAma japa & please the God....nAma japa

is not at

> all an alternative for *vEda vihita karma-s*..However, after

observing all

> these nityAnushtAna-s, if any time left, we can do nAma japa / nAma

> saNkIrtana instead of wasting our time in watching TV or reading

novels

> :-))

>

> Hari Hari Hari Bol!!!

> bhaskar

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste Dhayanasarasvati amma,

 

Your are very right, we cannot afford to give up any of the

practices. Or at least we have to hold on to some of the

disciplines even though we know karma khanda is not going

to give kaivalyam. JnAnAt eva kaivalyam.

 

Shankara ahs given the Bhashyas for prastHanathryam. But

has he not contributed the prayers too on all deities

incluiding on rivers and has he not written a Bhashya on

Vishnu Sashranama?

 

I recollect the words of swami Omkarananda from THENi. I

asked him this very question. WHy should still continue all

the vratas , visiting temples and do japa etc and do puja

etc . After Vedanta studies.

 

He answered 'you continue for the sake of others at home

and for the sake of young sters at home, so that they dont

give up looking at you. Because they are not ready to give

up. As it is in todays world its so difficult to inculcate

some spiritual discipline among them"

 

the youngsters consciously or unconsciously follow the

elders. May be atleast at home, we do strive to make sure

that they are taught so that they are also prepared in life

for Vedanta study.

 

If the father does sandhya vandanam, tells his son to do

sandhyavandanam, he is not going to retort back saying when

you dont do why do you ask me to do?"

 

om namo narayanaya

 

Lakshmi Muthuswamy

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you BELOVED Sri Sri LAKSHMJI :

 

You write :

 

( Shankara ahs given the Bhashyas for prastHanathryam. But

has he not contributed the prayers too on all deities

incluiding on rivers and has he not written a Bhashya on

Vishnu Sashranama?)

 

Exactly! why, sri lakshmiji ? there is a reason for that ! Jnana is

useless if it does not culminate in Bhakti just as Bhakti is of no

value unless it culminates in Jnana .

 

 

Lakshmiji, i wish to recall the words of Sri Madhusudana saraswati

 

 

Dvaitam Bandaya Mokshat pRaku Prapte bodhe manushya bhaktagriham

kalpitam Dvaitam Advaitamapi Sundaram ! ( forgive my errors sri

lakshmi-ji)

 

 

Duality is bondage before MOKSHA, and after realization it is

wisdom ! The imaginary duality of BHAKTI is sweeter than even Non-

duality!

 

IN TIS CONTEXT, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECALL THE FOLLOWING VERSE (

LAKSHMI-JI, COULD YOU LET ME KNOW WHO THE AUTHOR IS ? )

 

Ruupam ruupavivarjitasya bhavato dhyaanena yatkalpitam

stutyaa anirvachaniiyataa akhila guro duuriikrtaa yanmayaa |

vyaapitvam cha niraakrtram bhagavato yat tiirtha-yaatraadinaa

kshantavyam jagadiisha tadvikalataa-doshatrayam matkrtam ||)

 

 

 

You are bereft of any form. Yet I imagined a form in the

name of meditating upon You. . You are beyond words. No words can

explain Your nature. Yet I have sung Your glories through words.

You are all-pervading. Yet I undertook pilgrimages to

worship You in specific places!

 

THIS IS STATED IN DATTATREYA'S AVADHOOTA GOITA ALSO !

 

Yes! why should a brahmjnani like Sri ADI SHANKARA BHAGVADA PADA go

on a pilgrimage on pada-yatra ? why should he install the sri chakra

in Sri Kanchi temple ? why should he compose storas praising the

various gods/ godesses ? Loka sangraham ! also, jnana and bhakti are

two faces of the same coin!

 

Yes ! leadership by example - great concept is it not ?

 

karma kanda , upasana kanda , jnana kanda are all needed as a

spiritual discipline !

 

Sri adsi shankara bhagvadapada sings in Sivananda lahari

 

 

 

sadaa mohaaTavyaaM charati yuvatiinaaM kuchagirau

naTatyaashaashaakhaasvaTati jhaTiti svairamabhitaH |

kapaalin.h bhiksho me hR^idayakapimatyantachapalaM

dR^iDhaM bhaktyaa baddhvaa shiva bhavadadhiinaM kuru vibho || 20||

 

Translation

 

It (my mind) roams always in the forest of delusion, it

dances on the physique of young women, it wanders on the

branches of desire rapidly, at will all around. Oh Kapali,

Oh Bhikshu, tie my exceedingly *fickle monkey like heart,*

firmly by devotion. Oh Siva, Oh Vibhu, make it subservient

to you.

 

Yes! WE NEED ALL KINDS OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE FOR CHITTA SHUDHI!

 

 

i am enjoying your series on doshapariharashtakam!

 

love and (((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))

[Guest guest]

Namskaram Saraswati avargalukku,

Thank you ever so much for all your encouraging and enlightening

replies. I enjoy the way you connect and quote from all over scriptures and

literature and other languages too. You are a great source of inspiration.

Its praakriti amsham of the creation which makes creation so

interesteing i.e what we call the Devi amasham. PrakRuti is also called Prkruti

mata in Devi upAsana.

Its the same pRkruti which helps in realisation, saying 'neti neti'

You are such a delgiht to the group.

Emotions as well as jnAnam find their expression through words. The

words reveal the person too. LakshyArtha of the writer.

Sarasvatiji you are so expressive and I love you for that. I am

learning how to express my love too through writing from your good self.

Thanking you

Love and prayers

om namo narayanaya

Lakshmi Muthuswamy

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Bhaskarji,

Hats off to you for your convictions.

Keep it up!

om namo narayanaya

lakshmi Muthuswamy

 

 

 

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