Self-Realisation by Sri Swami Paramananda

[Guest guest]

2.

 

Brahmacharya and Characater Building

 

The vital energy which supports your life, Prana of the Pranas,

which shines in your sparkling eyes, which beams in your shining

cheeks is a great treasure for you. It is the quintessence of blood.

One drop of semen is manufactured out of forty drops of blood. Mark

here how valuable this fluid is! One of the students of Dhanvantari

approached his teacher after his full course of Ayurveda and asked

him " O Bhagavan! Kindly let me know the secret of health now. "

Dhanvantari replied, " This virya (seminal energy) is verily Atman.

The secret of health lies in preservation of this vital force. He

who wastes this energy cannot have physical, mental, moreal and

spiritual development. " Sri Swami Sivanandaji lays very great stress

and emphasis on this vital subject.

 

Hari Nama Kirtan Propaganda

 

Kirtan is singing God's name with Bhava (feeling, Prema (love) and

Sraddha (faith). In Sankirtan, people join together and sing God's

name collectively in a common place. There is accompaniment of

musical instruments such as harmonium, violin, cymbals, mridangam,

etc. Christians sing hymns in churches with piano. This is only

Sankirtan. There are nine modes of Bhakti (Nava Vidha Bhakti).

Kirtan is one of the nine modes. One can realise God through Kirtan

alone. This is the easiest method for the attainment of God-

consciousness. Sri Tukaram, Sri Ram Prasad, Lord Gauranga, Saint

Tyagaraya, Saint Ramadasu, etc., had attained Godhead through Kirtan

and Kirtan alone.

 

There is no Rasayana more effacacious than Sankartan for sofening

the sin-hardened hearts of atheists, sceptics, unbelievers, scoffers

and Sankartan-dyspeptics. Sankirtan can move mountains. Sankirtan

helps man to ascend to realms where reason cannot enter. Nothing is

impossible for it. It was the Sankartan of Mira that converted a

snake into a flower garland, poison into nectar and a bed of nails

into a bed of roses. It was this Sankartan of Prahalada that turned

fire into ice. Sankirtan purifies the surging evil, lower emotions

and fills the mind with sublime, soul-elevating, higher emotions. It

destroyes the mind, 'Manonasa', and brings the thoughtless state.

Kirtan gives you the strength to face the difficulties of life.

Singing the names of the Lord is a mental tonic. A strong habit of

singing the names of the Lord will be formed in six months.Even when

any one is in a dying condition, the hait of singing the name of the

Lord will come to the rescue at the last moment.

 

Contd....