Guru Tattva - Part 7 By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji.

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What is the means used by Hanuman to enjoin Sita, the ‘jiva’, with Rama, the

Bhagavaan? He gives her Rama’s ring. The ring that Hanuman gives to Sita bears

the word ‘Rama’! It means that the Guru initiates her into ‘Taaraka

Mantra’ (Rama) to cross the ocean of samsaara.

 

Sita had already been chanting this Nama and was ever thinking of Rama. Why then

should Hanuman give it (Nama) to her? You might have been doing incessant japa

of a Nama for a long period but, only if the Mantra/Nama is given by the Guru,

will it bear fruit. All these days Sita had been thinking of and chanting Rama

(Nama). Was all this then a waste? No! Why did Hanuman go to Sri Lanka! It was

only the Rama Nama japa performed by Sita that pulled Hanuman unto her and made

him give the Mantra to her.

 

Once this was done war was fought and soon after ‘pattabhisheka’

(coronation) of Rama was done. Sita and Rama were united. Do not give up

chanting of any Nama of Bhagavaan that you have been chanting on your own.

 

This will certainly lead you to a Sadguru who will give ‘upadesa’ of a

Mantra. At such a time, do not tell the Guru, “Why all this ‘upadesa’ for

me? I will do it on my own.†When you get a proper Guru, take ‘upadesa’

from him. Until then keep doing japa.

 

Therefore, what is the easiest way out? Verily Rama Nama! In Gita, Bhagavaan

says,

 

‘Bahu shaakha hyananthaascha buddhayo avyavasaayinaam’ - One who has no set

goal has a wavering mind. His thoughts are multifold.

 

While speaking on Satsang (good association - Sadhu company) we also make

reference of ‘dursang’ (bad company) also. Whose company is to be considered

bad (‘dursangh’)? It is not one who drinks, gambles or visits immoral women,

which is usually taken to be associations to be avoided.

 

You can find undesired company even amongst ‘sadhus’ itself! You may be

doing japa of Rama Nama. Someone might advice you that unless you had knowledge

of the Vedas, you cannot attain God. Another might say that without Sanskrit

knowledge it is verily impossible to attain God. Yet another one might advice

difficult yogaabhyaas like pulling in the breath through one nostril and

breathing it out through the other. Some one else might advice performance of

homas. Some one might question, “Do you know to sing ‘abhangas’? Do you

know Divya prabandam? Do you know Periapuraanam or Devaaram? You have to sing

all these to attain Bhagavaan. You cannot attain Him by merely chanting a simple

Rama Nama!â€

 

Poor man who had been keenly chanting Rama Nama would now feel like learning

these. Each one advices what he knows. If you listen to such people and try your

hands at it, you will only end up in confusion.

 

Do not bother about these. All those who have learnt the Vedas have not seen

Bhagavaan. There are those who have not learnt the Vedas but yet seen Bhagavaan.

Similarly, all those have knowledge of Sanskrit have not seen Bhagavaan. There

are people who do not know Sanskrit, yet have attained Bhagavaan. Therefore, do

not bother about such advices. There is only one quality required to attain

Bhagavaan and that is ‘premai’ (love) in one’s ‘hrudaya’ (heart).

 

All that we need to do for this is just chant the two akshara ‘Ra-Ma’! Nama

Japa! There is no path easier than Nama Japa for the attainment of God.

 

Therefore, what is ‘dur sangha’ (bad company)? Anything that obstructs

chanting of this Rama Nama; even if it is some Bhagavat matter! If someone

coaxes you to go on fast, do some sadhana like yoga, etc. this is should also be

considered as ‘dur sangha’. The reason is that he is trying to disturb your

‘ekagra chitta’ (one pointed mind). A man in a higher level of sadhana would

not bother about these. But, a beginner would feel disturbed by this and might

fall. We should not pay heed to all these.

 

!!! Will Continue !!!

 

Regards