A Letter for you!

My Dear Soul Mate,

Radhe Radhe!

It’s been a long time since we had a chat. How are you?

Are you regular with your Bhagavata parayana, nama japa, pooja, and kirtan? Are you maintaining your health to do bhakti? Don’t be careless about your health. The Lord has explained this beautifully in the eleventh canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.

We have taken this body only to attain God. At the time of departure from this body, we should attain the feet of Lord Krishna in complete peace. Till then, this body has to be kept in good condition. We need to keep ourselves free from headache, knee pain, frequent fever, and other such diseases.

This body doesn’t need too much food. At the same time, unnecessary food is harmful. Healthy food is always good. The disturbances caused during meditation can be overcome with a few asanas. The evil effects produced by mantra, graha (planetary positions) and poisonous reptiles can be removed by mantra japa, fasting, and worship of the deities. But mental vasanas like lust, anger, jealousy and avarice will not go away easily. Don’t get disheartened because they haven’t gone away yet. It takes a long time to be rid of these vices.

The Lord tells Uddhava in Srimad Bhagavatam,

pAdhya mAnOpi madbhakthO vishayair ajithEndriya: |prAya: prakalpyA bhakthyA vishyair nApi bhooyathE ||

(Srimad Bhagavatam 11:14:18)

In the beginning, my devotee will struggle to control his senses. Though he is genuinely devoted, he tends to stumble, lose his balance and fall for lust, anger, gold, sin, etc. Later, he himself will regret.

However, he wouldn’t be involved in these vices like how he used to during the time he wasn’t devoted to God, and its intensity is sharply reduced.

To the extent to which he chants the name of the Lord, listens to His stories and remembers His virtues, to that extent he will be able to win over his senses. Even beyond this, he may be often troubled by a few disgusting qualities, due to the strength of the impressions from the previous births, which will shatter his poise.

To come out of these vices, he has to stay near saints who have had the darshan of the Lord and serve them. The vices would then only leave him.

It is not an easy task to cross this ocean of samsara. Do your sadhanas and be patient.

yan nAmAkrithibhir grAhyam panchavarnam apAdhitham |
vyArtthEna api arthavAdhoyam thvayam panditha mAninAm ||yOginOpakva yOgasya yunchatha kAya utthithai: |upacharkair vihanyEtha thathr Ayam vihithO vidhihil |yOgadhAranayA kAmschith upacharkAn vinirdhahEth ||kAmschin mAmAnudhyAyena nAma sankeerthanAdhibhi: |yOgEshwarAnuvrithyA vA hanyAth ashubhathAn shanaihi ||

(Srimad Bhagavatam 11:28:37-40)

I have only written the essence to you. I have written to you as I somehow felt the need to share all this with you. With who else can I share all this? The world will now call a fool, you who are always thinking about the Lord and living for His sake. But don’t worry. After death, they themselves will realize who has been a fool.

Article by Sri Yaamini Zivan 

(Ref: http://godivinity.org/a-letter-for-you/)

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Radhe Radhe

One reason why Satsang (Association with the Noble souls) is so important.

Ram Ram and Radhe Radhe

Great to be back after a brief hiatus from sharing Spiritual Articles and thoughts.
Satsang (association with holy and noble souls) or as i like to call it the association with the conscious community has many benefits.  

To understand one of the most powerful effects of such association, let us look at something really unique in relation to the Redwood trees

The sequoia redwood trees located in California, are some of the biggest trees in the world. The General Sherman is, in fact, noted as THE largest known living single stem tree on Earth! It is 275 ft tall, 25 feet in diameter, and is approximately 2,500 years old.

Something that huge must have an incredible root system that goes down deep in order to stand that tall. Not the case at all. The sequoia redwood trees have a unique root system that is a marvel, compared to their mammoth size.

Their roots are relatively shallow. There is no tap root to anchor them deep into the earth. The roots actually only go down 6-12 feet, and yet, these trees rarely fall over. They withstand strong winds, earthquakes, fires, storms, and prolonged flooding. How can something up to 500 tons, reaching over 350 feet in height, and live for many centuries remain standing with roots only going down about 10 feet?

The interesting thing about the redwood tree is that their root system is intertwined with the other redwood trees, literally holding each other up. The trees grow very close together and are dependent on each other for nutrients, as well. Only redwoods have the strength and ability to support other redwoods.

So, beneath the surface of these humongous, tall, statuesque trees are roots like a army of men who have their arms interlocked, standing and supporting each other. They are preventing the adversaries of life from knocking each other down. They are also making sure there is plenty of nutrients for growth to continue.

Unlike the redwood tree which is only in certain parts of the world, the satsang can be found any time, anywhere that one desires.

Goswami Tulasidas Ji says - SABAHI SULABH SABH DIN SAB DESA.

True Satsang is that powerful interlocking system where independent yet interdependence of like minding conscious community makes a powerful difference in the lives of the  Individuals' concerned and the community, society, nation and world overall as well.

Hence Srimad Bhagavatam Says - SANGHE SHAKTI KALU-YUGE - In this particular age of Kaliyuga (the iron age), the Real Strength is in Unity.  And this is one of the rationale behind congregational chanting of the Divine Names of the Lord in this era.  In my experience, there is nothing more powerful, nothing more healing, and uplifting then when many many individuals get together and  chant the divine names with all their heart in UNISON.  - PARAM VIJAYATE SRI KRISHNA SANKIRTANAM.  

Alas! the Glories of Satsang cannot be enumerated even by the 1000 hooded Serpent Lord Anantashesa.

Ram Ram
Deepak

Fwd: Remember the days when students were punished by having to hold on to their earlobes and to sit and stand....read on

Ram Ram

Radhe Radhe

Hare Krishna

Hope all is well....Ekadasi tomorrow.

How many of us have recollections upon seeing this image (maybe inserted)  

Remember the days the teachers used to ask the students to stand and sit many times holding on to our ears....-(if you do, then you have just accepted that we are getting on a bit age-wise  :)  )

Also - notice how in many Ganesh temples, the devotees are seen to be grabbing their ear lobes and doing crunches as it were....well read on...

In our daily rituals, a Hindu prays to Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed God by crossing their arms and holding the ear lobes between the tips of the fore and middle finger; next they bend their knees and get up–doing this three times. This prayer is called thoppu karanam in tamil. 

The karanam are the 108 key transitional movements that are used in Bharata Natyam and other classical Indian dances. Most of these 108 Karanas have a central, static pose as a base, i.e. the dancer is usually supposed to stop and maintain it for a very brief duration (0.5 sec). Typically the pose of Lord Siva with his leg raised is a popular karanam.

This ritual has been used by teachers in India to punish their students when they were acting up or refused to learn….and this was not restricted to three.

In fact it is also associated with obedience and the joke was when a husband transgressed he would do this in front of his wife asking her to count out loud. 

Now modern science has discovered what our ancients knew–that this exercise is great for memory and brain development.

Science have NOW discovered that how this simple exercise 

• Stimulates neural pathways via acupressure points in the earlobes
• Synchronises the right and left side of the brain to improve function and promote calmness
• Sharpens intelligence in seniors, juniors, mums, dads and kids
• Helps those with autism, Asperger's syndrome, learning difficulties and behavioural problems

There you go...An interesting fact.  For the youngsters who have been  wondering what is it that people are doing pulling on their earlobes in front of Ganesha, there is a reason after all.  

Thank you to my teachers in my school in Fiji who made me do this

Also - please note that it is EKADASI TOMORROW....Pooja at Shree Ram Krishna Temple from 5am to 7am.

 

"If you want peace, then do not look into anybody's faults.  Look into your own faults.  Learn to make whole world your own.  No one is a stranger; the whole world is your own."   

– Holy Mother's last message.

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Till the next time we meet in the name of LORD!
ys Deepak
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
=================

If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:
http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers.

Invitation to view a photo from ozgodivinity's Picasa Web Album - Anitha & Murali house Satsangh 03-08-2013

View Photo If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/APkb3ZpuHe-WJYg16quzz6IPZhVxnv3qvPg-QPnY-4o?feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Reason for Suffering - Intensity of a prayer

Ram Ram
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe

Hope we all had a nice weekend.

Question :Why is human life so painful? Is it because of Kali Yuga or because of our Karma?

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

When a child is ill, the mother gives medicines to it. The child initially refuses to take the medicine owing to its bitterness. For a moment, the mother diverts the attention of the child through some play. Then again, the mother tries to feed the medicine. The mother will continue to do so, without giving up, until the child takes the medicine completely, wouldn’t she?

In the same way, God gives us sufferings to realize that the state that you live in is not your true state. When the sufferings become unbearable, he distracts you by giving you a sigh of relief.

However it continues to trouble you and will not leave you until you realize your true nature which is the Self.

The simplest way towards this goal is by chanting the Mahamantra.

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 “Human birth is meant only for the purpose of attainment of Bhagavãn.”
Let’s say you are on a hijacked aircraft. What are your feelings then? Does anything other than your life matter to you then? Is anything - your wealth, your learning, family and friends of any help to you then? A fervent prayer is on your lips and in your heart. The intensity of your prayer is at its deepest, for, you are in the most precarious situation.
Well! Your life is similar to this. Even as we look around we find the world filled with various kinds of sorrows - diseases both physical and mental, financial problems, strained human relationships even amongst immediate family members, poverty, corruption, disloyalty, dishonesty. Countries wage war with each other. There is distrust between nations. Thus this material world is not of much worth. Anyone of the above can hit you any moment Yearn for freedom from this shackle of life just as you would yearn for safety/freedom while caught in a hijacked aircraft.

The intensity of your prayer should be that of a person on hijacked aircraft who has no other thought but the one thought of getting out of that particular situation.

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Sri Radha Ashtami to be celebrated at Ram Krishna Temple this Wednesday...See Flyer

TIll the next time we meet in the name of LORD!
ys Deepak

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
=================
If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:

http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers.

They Shall Bear Witness

Ram Ram
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe

Hope all is well.  I would like to share with you a very moving incident that happened recently.  Please do read the following narration by the one who experienced this miracle.
Hope this gives us the faith and conviction in the LORD's NAME -  In Rama NAMA, and the power of prayer and the blessings of a Mahaan.  Bear in mind...This is a very very recent event.

A devotee of our Swamiji, HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, in Virudhunagar narrates her tryst with Mahamantra - it was a situation where anyone would lose hope. But she did not!
She held on to the Divine Name, and 'It' had to manifest its power!
An astounding , but true incident that can bring tears to one's eyes - one that goes to show the power of the Divine Name.....

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By M. Gomathy, Virudhunagar

Our family hails from Thoothukkudi. At present we live at Virudunagar. Once, the house of one of our relatives at Thoothukkudi was about to be seized by the court. My husband and I, taking pity on him, decided to help him out and gave him 10 sovereign worth of jewels and 1 ½ lacs in cash, in good faith, without any documentary evidence. The man and his sons promised to return the jewels and cash at the earliest. A friend of this family happened to be present there when we lent our jewels and cash to this family. He was the only witness to this; a few days later this man went abroad with his son.

After a time we contacted the family for the return of the jewels and cash lent to them. But they showed no sign of returning them. Our repeated efforts to get what was due to us went in vain. And, to our utter shock the head of the family to whom we had actually handed the jewels and cash died. The sons were very harsh when we approached them. They snapped, “Ask the man to whom you had lent the jewels and cash. Do you have any documentary evidence to your claim? Come to us only if you have that.”
We did not give up. Time and again we would visit them and demand what they owed us only to be thrown out with abuses. Fifteen years passed in this manner. We did not get back our jewels and cash.

One day, we learnt from a resident of Thoothukkudi that this family had decided to sell their house. We were advised to demand back what was due to us. When we contacted them, they not only denied having taken anything from us but also labeled us liars! People in the neighborhood also supported this family’s demand to show some documentary evidence to our claim. But we had none! We had been chanting the Mahamantra in the Rama Temple at Virudunagar. We also conducted regular weekly bhajans on Monday in our home. We, therefore, said to them, “We chant the Mahamantra in the Rama Temple at our place and also conduct bhajans every Monday at home. If our Rama nama bhajan is powerful, Sri Rama and Haunman themselves will turn out to be our witness.” On hearing this all the people laughed at us. They said that I had lost my sense of balance. They remarked sarcastically, “Oh, will your Rama and Hanuman take a bus or a train and come to Thoothukkudi to give evidence?” Touched to the core, I said, “They will come on my behalf. This is certain!” and I walked out.
I returned to Virudunagar.

It was the second Saturday in the Tamizh month of Purattasi. I lit a lamp in the Rama Temple and chanting Rama Nama went around the main sanctum sanctorum in circumambulation. I saw an elderly man also going around in circumambulation of the sanctum sanctorum. As I sat down, this gentleman came and sat beside me. He asked me, “Do you recognize me? Aren’t you from Thoothukkudi?”
At once I recognized him and said, “Yes, I do.”
He said, “I am Ramachandran who was your neighbour at Thoothukkudi. Are you able to recognize me?”
And, added, “I was traveling to Thoothukkudi from Chennai. By mistake I alighted here at Virudunagar.
As I walked through this way I decided to enter the Temple and have darshan of Sri Rama. And, I have met you also here!”
After a pause he asked me, “Did you get back your jewels and cash?” referring to the jewels and cash that we had lent to one of our relatives at Thoothukkudi.
I told him, “No. I have not. They are demanding documentary evidence; and I have none. They have cheated me.”
On hearing me, he gave me an envelope and asked me to read the paper it contained. To my utter amazement I found that it was a document signed by Lakshmana Pillai, the man to whom we had lent the jewels and cash. It stated that he, Lakshamana Pillai, had taken 10 sovereign gold jewels and 1 ½ lacs in cash from me; the document also stated the reason for taking the loan and contained the date of the loan taken. It further stated that in case his sons failed to return the loan taken his house should be handed over to Gomathy (and that is me)! The wonder did not stop here. The document was signed by two witnesses whose names were Ramachandra murti and Marutirajan!

I felt choked. Tears began to roll down my cheeks. The joy I experienced at that moment is inexplicable. Mr. Ramachandran (for, this is the name of the gentleman who met me at the Temple), himself took me to Thoothukkudi. Showed the documentary evidence to the family who had troubled me for so long and
got back the jewels and cash they owed me!

The power of Rama Nama has, indeed, performed a miracle. Mr. Ramachandran did not know that I lived at Virudunagar. He was not aware that the family at Thoothukkudi had refused to pay pack the loan. Why should he who was on his way to Thoothukkudi alight at Virudunagar by mistake? It certainly was not a mistake. Why should he enter the Rama Temple? It was all the work of the compassionate Sri Rama who I had called as my witness! What is more amazing is the fact that he had with him the documents needed by me!! My case is verily the proof that Rama Nama can work wonders! As a result of Rama Nama, Sri Rama and Hanuman themselves did appear as the witness for both my claims – of the jewels and amount lent and they being my witnesses! What more can be said? Hail Rama Nama! Glory unto Rama Nama! All glories unto the Lord.

Our heartfelt gratitude and namaskar to our Sadguru Sri Muralidhara Swamiji for blessing us with the rarest of gems – the Mahamantra! Our thanks and gratitude to our friend and guide
Mr. Venkateshkumar, who leads the Mahamantra chanting at Virudunagar, for leading us to our Sadguru.
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TIll the next time we meet in the name of LORD!
ys Deepak

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
=================
If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:

http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers.

Happy Deepavali

Ram Ram
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe

Hope all is well.   My hearty Deepavali wishes to all friends.  Sincerely praying at the Feet of our ThakurJi and His Divine Consort - Mata Maha-Laxmi to bless us all with Bhakti and love for the Divine Couple.

Acharyas and Shastras actually say that the Compassion of Sridevi (MataLaxmi) actually by far outdoes the compassion of Thakurji Himself. 

Actually in the Transcendal Loka Sri Vaikutha, it is Sriji herself who is constantly reminding  and pestering the the LORD to bestow HIS DIVINE grace on the Jivas to bring to an end their constant struggle with Birth, Death, old age and disease.

Like a mother, our Laxmi Pirratti is constantly bothered and troubled by our plight.  Subsequently she is constantly reminding Thakurji of our hopelessness.  That is that reason she is often called Karunya-Rupaya.
It is Maha-Laxmi who is the "Source" of the compassion of our Thakurji.  The repository from which our LORD draws the compassion from is very Maha-Laxmi.

There is a very nice message given to us by Ramayana.  We will  notice that whenever and wherever the LORD is with MATA Sita, HE does not Kill Anyone. IT is only when the LORD is NOT with Kishori Mata Sita, then he kills the Asuras.
Shri Rama Killed Tadaka and Subahu before he was wedded.  He killed Khar-Dhushana when he was away from Sitaji.  He kills Ravana when Sitaji was in Ashoka Vatika.  What does this tell us?  It tells us that it is the compassion of Maha-Laxmi herself which keeps us protected from the LORD's Wrath. 

We should always pray to Mata-and Thakurji together. Never alone.  Surpankha wanted only Shri Rama. She was defaced.  Ravana only wanted Mata Sita. He lost his life.  Let us always worship the Divine Lordships together. That is the secret for Happiness.

Deepavali is also special for us because it is the appearance day of our Beloved Swamiji, H H Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, who, symbolic to Deepavali,  took Birth to light the Lamp of Wisdom in the lives of many.

On this note, lets understand the subtle difference between a GURU and a Sadguru with a small story.

Story of 3 Friends:
3 Friends who hailed from the same Village, walking – Came to this beautiful Green Open Field. Huge COMPOUND WALL. From in there came the sweetest music that they ever heard. Beautiful lights. SIGHT AND SOUND was intoxicating. 3 friend were drawn. Never seen anything like that.

1^st friend – Did not wait for a moment. He ran. Like a piece of Iron being pulled by a magnet. Climbed on the wall. He was totally intoxicated with what he saw. HUGE smile. He held his hands high up in the air and was swaying. Experiencing the greatest joy ever. As the other 2 friends were watching him, he jumped inside and was gone.

2^nd Friend. Same. He is about to Jump and before that he turns back and looks at his 3^rd friend who is standing outside, and tells him that greatest joy we have been looking for all our life is here. Don’t delay. Come and jump in

3^rd Friend. I know exactly where it is now. I am so close. But if I go up this wall and jump in this compound – who will tell my family, my friends, and all the people of the world that the greatest joy lies inside these 4 walls. This gentlemen is really compassionate by nature. He wanted the benefit of everyone. He decides that I will go and see what is there. Feel the Joy. Experience the joy and then come back out to share that joy. Having made up his mind, he goes up the wall as well. He sees, feels, experiences that greatest Bliss, the one that he has been searching for all of our life – In money, in power, in Bondage, in Fame, friends and family. That greatest joy was right there in front of him. What did he do? A compassionate person he was, he decides to go back and tell everyone about this greatest joy. I know where the joy is and I can get back anytime I want. People! You have been searching for this great joy all your life: For this happiness in the wrong places – You thought money, power, friends family, fame was going to give you that. But I have found where exactly that joy is. I am going to show you that road that will lead you there. The road that everyone of you can travel with joy, ease, comfort, confidence and reach that ultimate joy. All of you will be able to travel. I personally will travel with you. I will take you up to that compound and make sure you all enter that joy and I will be the last one to enter.

So he does that. Makes sure everyone reaches. He shows his fellow men. Shows them the route to joy.
Mahatmas or great saints may be categorised in 3 groups. They are all Mahatmas and great saints. And we all bow down before them. But there are these group of Mahatmas who strive to attain this Ultimate joy which lies in self-realisation. And when they get there, they do not turn back – they just dive into that joy and relish

The 2^nd type of Mahatma who also realises that Bhagavan, will turn back and tell us that Friends! The focus of life is here. Here is the supreme joy and we should also reach for it. He gives us that choice. You have to come and get it.

And then comes the 3^rd group of Mahatmas. The one that we are really interested in. Those Mahatmas, those great saints who are really the representatives of GOD, after having realised GOD and seeing him face to face, turn back and look at us with immense love and compassion. They decide to come down and live with us at our level and they show us the way that will take us to the ultimate truth, which is GOD-realisation, the ultimate truth, Liberation to reach the feet of GOD, which is the purpose of life. By saying showing us the way, the important thing is that they show us THAT way that which everyone of us can travel on. That sadhana which is for everyone.

If we call the first 2 Categories of Saints as GURUS, the third Category is actually the SAD-GURU. So Sadguru is that compassionate one who will show the path for all. SADGURU is the one who takes even the last one of us to that end Goal.

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Lets recollect a A Deepavali message sent by Swamiji - in 2007

The service that God entrusted upon my shoulders is to make the whole world sing the glory of His Divine Name!
 
The service that God has entrusted upon your shoulders is to lend them to me!
 
Blessings !
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji
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TIll the next time we meet in the name of LORD!
ys Deepak

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
=================
If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:

http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers.