Nama Article- 25-06-08

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Dear Members,

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

If you question, " Is it enough if I do not try to assimilate Rama's qualities

but just surrender to Him? " Well! The answer is simple. " Surrender to him. You

will become one like Him. He will transform you!' Ramavatãra has been so great.

 

When we are in the presence of God or a Mahãtma we are seized with fear. Not

merely out of respect or devotion. Being Jnãnis they possess 'aparoksha jnãna',

'aparoksha drishti'. When we are in His Presence ('sannidãna') the Mahãtma can

very easily read our thoughts. The very thought of all our wrong deeds hurt us

deeply. Their recollection makes us feel small. We cringe with the thought of,

'How can I be in His Presence having committed such sins.' We have no courage to

face it. Gathering up courage when we do somehow manage to go to their Presence

what do the Mahãns do? They pour their grace on us! They do not 'see' our faults

('dosha'). But even if they 'refuse' to see our 'dosha' it is only due to the

greatness of their very Presence ('sannidhi visesha') that we are able to stand

before them. But for this we would hesitate to go to them.

 

But the pronouncement ('theermãnam') of Ramavatãra is - " A man hesitates to go

to the Presence of God due to his flaws. But this sort of a situation should not

arise. When we go to either God's or a Mahãn's Presence, the God or the Mahãn

should tremble on seeing us! They should be amazed at us, " What a Truthful man

('Satyasanda') he is! What a righteous ('dharmãtma') man he is! " God and the

Guru should tremble on seeing us/our virtues! A man should hold himself in such

a position as to create awe in God and the Guru. This is the essence of

Ramayana.

 

Rama was one such 'Satyasanda' and 'dharmãtma'. Out of devotion for Rama and

with the desire to become one like Him, if we read Ramayana, appreciating all

His virtues and exert even a little effort towards this we will, without doubt,

become a Mahãtma. On the other hand if we feel, " Rama's virtues are too great to

be adhered to but I will surrender to Him " , even this would suffice. Either try

to possess His qualities or out of devotion surrender to Him.

 

If you question, " Is it enough if I do not try to assimilate Rama's qualities

but just surrender to Him? " Well! The answer is simple. " Surrender to him. You

will become one like Him. He will transform you!' Ramavatãra has been so great.