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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.

============================

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.....

=====================================

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.
============================

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
===================================

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.

Bhakta Chokamela

Ram Ram
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe

Hope all is well.   Here is a nice story of a great Bhakta named Chokhamela, who lived a few hundred years ago.   He was born a Cobbler, lived in a slump and was outcasted as an untouchable.  Read how the LORD did a marvellous and inspiring leela with him.

Bhakta Chokamela

Long ago, in the holy Kshetra of Pandarpur(in present day Maharashtra), there lived a great devotee of Lord Sri Panduranga (who was none other than Lord Sri Krishna himself) by name Chokamela. Sri Chokamela’s hailed from a slum and as was customary those days the inhabitants were not permitted to enter the temple. Though Lord Panduranga saw no difference between his devotees based on their birth, colour, race, wealth, region or religion, the selfish world did! To the Lord, the only thing that mattered was the depth of one’s devotion. 5

The friends, relatives and neighbours of Chokamela led lives without any values, orderliness or sense of direction. They ate whatever they wanted; slept whenever/wherever they wished and were addicted to all sorts of bad habits such as alcoholism. Like a beautiful lotus that blooms in a stinking marsh, Chokamela though, led the life of a pure Vaishnava. He would wake early in the morning, have a bath, wear Tulsi maala and Gopi chandan and chant the divine names of the Lord. As he was not permitted to enter the temple of Lord Sri Panduranga, he stood near the compound wall and sang the divine names joyfully.

Constantly, he advised his kith and kin to mend their ways and about how it was very easy to win the grace of God by simply chanting his Divine Names. Though they all mocked at him in the beginning, gradually his purity and goodwill won their hearts and they gave all their vices. Following his example, all of them woke up early in the morning and accompanied him to the temple where they all stood outside the compound wall chanting the lord’s glorious names. Lord Panduranga Himself relished every nama they chanted, much more than the puja offered by the priests. Like Nandanar, the great devotee of Lord Sri Shiva, Chokamela too, had transformed the entire slum. They were all a group of pure-hearted bhagavatas now.

Naturally, this was not liked by the priests of the temple. Though Chokamela and his group did not in any way interfere with the temple proceedings, the priests hurled abuses at them and told them that they had no right to worship to God. As is the nature of any Sadhu, Chokamela too, did not want to argue with the priests or fight with them. He thought if that was the way that Panduranga wanted it, he would stay at home and worship the Lord.

From that day onwards, Chokamela stopped going to the temple. He would stay at home and meditate upon the Lord. He saw all the pujas in his mind’s eye itself. The experience was blissful.

Time came when Panduranga decided to enact his divine play. One night, after the priests had completed the puja and locked the temple, Panduranga came to Chokamela’s humble abode. Chokamela’s joy knew no bounds. He cried thinking of the Lord’s compassion and totally lost himself in the happiness. The Lord told Chokamela that he would fulfill any wish of his. Chokamela immediately replied “Lord! There can be no greater thing to wish for, than your darshan. Now that you have blessed me with that, I beg of you to show me your temple. I have never been inside even once in my lifetime”

In a flash, the Lord took him inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and they talked with each other all night long. The conversation was so fascinating that time flew away and it was morning already. The priests opened the doors of the temple and were shocked to find Chokamela inside the sanctum sanctorum. They cursed him and took him to the King. “This man who hails from the slum has entered the temple. Your majesty should punish him appropriately” they said. Chokamela replied “I did not go there on my own. How could I have gone inside after the door was locked? The Lord himself took me inside”.

Nobody was willing to believe his words and they all alleged that he was a magician. The king, without proper enquiry, punished him by banishing him from Pandarpur. He ordered that Chokamela should not live inside Pandarpur and that none from the town should have any contact with him. Chokamela silently accepted this also as the will of God. He put up a hut on the opposite banks of the river Chandrabhaga and continued with his life as before. He and his wife would fast on Ekadasi day and on Dwadasi day, they had the most special visitor one can ever wish for to have a meal at their abode – the Lord himself. This became a routine affair.

On a particular Dwadasi day, Chokamela was scolding his wife. The priests from the temple who had come to the river witnessed that scene and felt sorry for the poor woman. “ You have lost all your respect and commitment. Is this the way to serve the Lord? You have committed a great sin by spilling curd on his robe, careless woman!” Chokamela screamed.
These words of Chokamela shocked the priest. They told each other “Oh! What is he saying? He is saying that the Lord has come to take food in his place. How can that be? He is definitely mocking at us. The punishment has not taught him a lesson. He has become more arrogant! We should report him to the king again’

Saying so, they went to the temple and opened the doors. What they witnessed was the most unbelievable sight. The robes of the Lord were drenched in curd. They could not believe their own eyes. “Chokamela was right after all. Lord Panduranga had been to his place. Oh! What a blunder we have committed by insulting and ill-treating a true Mahatma. Let us all go and seek his pardon. Only then the Lord will accept us” they all said in one voice and rushed to Sri Chokamela’s hut. They all narrated the happenings and fell at Chokamela’s feet. Chokamela though, was embarrassed by this act of the priests. He said with tears in his eyes ‘Great Priests! I am just a humble servant of Panduranga. Please do not fall at my feet. I am speck of dust!”

The entire town and the king realized the greatness of Sri Chokamela and hailed his bhakti. The Lord had once again enacted a divine play to make the world understand true devotion.

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Born in a 'Karagraha' (prison), Sri Krishna entered the 'Garbagraha' (the sanctum) just for the sake of 'Anugraha'
(showering His grace on us). -- HH SRI MURALIDHARA SWAMIJI

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.

The Path for All

Ram Ram
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe

Hope all is well.  

=================

Some Quotes from HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji -

God is for all. Each and everyone have the right to attain God. 'Bhagavan Nama kirtan' which is the easiest way of attaining that God and performance of 'Bhagavan Nama' japa is universal way; all can say Bhagavan Nama; there is no bar for this; no one can stop it; all are children of God. Therefore, under the conditions prevailing today we can attain God following this great way. Only the one who advocates this 'marga' (of 'Nama sankirtan') to us is verily the highest Guru. Only He can show God to us. He is verily the Avatara Purusha.

Who is an Avatar? It is the objective of the Avatara 'purushas' to give 'upadesa' as befitting the Yuga, time and conditions. So, people should be given 'upadesa' as befitting today's circumstances. And that is the 'upadesa' of Nama kirtan. The path ('marga') of the day is 'Nama kirtan'. It is only to speak on this 'marga' that innumerable Mahans have been coming down in this Kali Yuga.

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- When the scriptures and the sages have shown us the path of Nama kirtan as the simplest means to attain liberation in this Kali yuga, bearing in mind all our limitations, would it not amount to grave injustice if one shows a difficult path to the world?

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- Dhyana Yoga, Karma Yoga and Jnana - All these paths need to be taught, but only Nama Sankirtan can be propagated. That verily shows its simplicity.

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The greatest Maya : The greatest Maya according to me is that everyone knows in their heart of hearts that there is no other go except chanting the Mahamantra, but they are not willing to accept it and follow it openly.

============================

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.

Dharma Vyadha Story from Mahabharata

Ram Ram
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe

Hope we had a great weekend. 

The Vyadha Gita (meaning, teachings of a butcher) is a part of the epic Mahabharata and consists of the teachings imparted by a vyadha (Butcher) to a brahmin sannyasin (monk). It occurs in the Vana Parva section of Mahabharata and is told to Yudhisthira, a Pandava by sage Markandeya.  In the story, an arrogant sannyasin is humbled by a Vyadha, and learns about dharma (righteousness). The vyadha teaches that "no duty is ugly, no duty is impure" and it is only the way in which the work is done, determines its worth. This is one of the popular narrations in the Mahabharata.

Story:
A brahmin sanyasi is meditating when a bird's droppings from the tree falls on him and he is disturbed. He looks at the bird and it falls on the ground.. dead. This adds a lot of ego and arrogance in the Sanyasi because he has realized his innate "powers". He goes to the village looking for alms and comes to a house where he asks for food. The housewife inside is tending to her sick husband and asks the Sanyasi to wait.

This angers the Sanyasi immediately and he thinks "You wretched woman, how dare you make me wait! You do not know my power yet". Suddenly the housewife calls out from inside the house: "Boy, don't be thinking too much of yourself. Here is neither crow nor crane." The Sanyasi is shocked! How did this lady know of the bird?

The lady replies that she did not practice any austerities and by doing her duty with "cheerfulness and wholeheartedness", she became illumined, so she could read his mind.

She then tells him about a dharma-vyadha (the righteous butcher) in the town of Mithila and says that this dharma-vyadha would answer all his questions on dharma.

But the Monk is shocked and thinks "Why should I go to that town and to a Vyadha?" But from what he had just seen in that lady, he gives it a try and goes to Mithila. When he reaches Mithila he found the market and there saw, at a distance, a big fat Vyadha cutting meat with big knives, talking and bargaining with different people.

This Monk now had a doubt that maybe I have come to the wrong place.  This guys is a Vile Materialist and a Butcher.  How can he be spiritual? How can he be realised?  As soon as the Monk was about to leave: Dharma Vyadha said: Wait wait wait!!!  Did that lady send you here?

THe Monk now had a great shock to his System.  He then surrendered to the Dharma Vyadha.
The Brahmin Sanyasi is then taught by the Vyadh (Butcher). His main teachings are:

• No duty is ugly, no duty is impure and it is only the way in which the work is done that determines its worth.
• All work must be done by "dedicating to God"
• By sincere and unattached performance of the alloted duty one can become illumined
• Ahimsa (non-violence) and satya (truth) are two main pillars of dharma through which the highest good of all can be achieved (mind you Vyadh is talking of "Ahimsa" - so, the dharmic Ahimsa is not the Gandhian Ahimsa!)
• A decision on what is true under difficult circumstances should be made by sticking to that course of action which leads to the highest good of beings
• Finally, Not birth but dharma and virtuous conduct makes one a Brahmin.
  

[Commentary by His Grace Shri Ramuji : So lets not divide our life into materialism (karmi) and spirituality (dharmi).  Already we have conflicts within. Lets not divide our mind into “Let me break into a spiritual mode now..or a materialistic mode now.  Every moment if we are leading our life with a right attitude …  And what is a right attitude?  The first three shlokas of the Bhagavat  helps us understand that.  If we lead our life with that whatever we do is spiritual.  If we don’t do that, whatever we do will become very materialistic even if we are sitting in a puja room or temple.  Lets understand that. ]

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Question: Will Nama Kirtan help us fight the malefic effects of planets in our Graha (horoscope)? But is it good to depend on astrology to take decisions in life?

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

Yes. Certainly. One who performs Nama Kirtan depends only on the grace of Krishna. And for the sake of such a devotee, Krishna plays football with all the Grahas (planets).

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.