Nov 28: Thanksgiving Satsang
The thanksgiving satsang on the 28th of November was a great solace for those who couldn’t attend the Bhagavatha Saptaham in Houston. There were about 11 families who joined this week’s telecon satsang.
The satsang started with the Nama Kirtan led by Smt.Yaminiji and Sri.Zivanji, followed by introductions. Then Sri.Ramaniji from Los Angeles lucidly narrated a beautiful story from “Dinam Dinam Thirunalae” which was written in Tamil by our Sri Swamiji.
“Dinam Dinam Thirunalae” – translates to “Every day is a Blessed day” in English. Everyone in this world is seeking only happiness and nobody wants an iota of sorrow in one’s life. So there is always a question as to why there is a combination of joy and sorrow in our lives instead of only happiness. This question can indeed be solved but most of us don’t know how to seek the proper direction.
A person is feeding a dog and after sometime he hits the dog. The dog feels very bad about this. The dog couldn’t do anything about this, as the person fed a sumptuous food and then only hits the dog. Everyday the dog perhaps thinks that he should go to the same person for the bread and since the dog acts only on instincts and not on any rational thinking, it goes to the same place gets the same bread and the beating as well.
It only means that it is an oversimplified example to say that both joy and sorrow go hand in hand and there is no escape from it. But when the question on perpetual happiness comes to our mind, we being human beings have rational thinking, start to think the ways for attaining it. The answer to this comes from Sri.Bhagavan Ramanamaharishi of Thiruvanamalai. The Swami says that the perpetual bliss is not anywhere outside and we don’t have to seek it from anybody. He says that it is within oneself. He substantiates this by saying that when the dirty clothes are washed, the clothes become white in color. This white color is the natural fade of the clothes and once they are washed, the ignorance, which is the dirt in this case is removed and the whiteness predominates. Similarly when the ignorance within oneself is wiped out, the perpetual bliss prevails.
Kunju Swamigal, the disciple devotee of Bhagavan Ramana, was himself a great soul. As he approached Bhagavan, he decided to take as ‘upadesa’ whatever words first fell out of Bhagavan’s lips on seeing him. At the time Kunju Swamigal reached Bhagavan’s place, he was about to feed gruel to four puppies. The gruel was hot and Bhagavan Ramana was trying to keep the restless puppies away from it. On seeing Kunju Swamigal, Bhagavan Ramana said to him, ‘Catch all the four and leave them one by one.’ Kunju Swamigal took the term ‘four’ to mean ‘parayana, japa, dhyana and vichara’. Do parayana of any Holy Text for sometime along with japa, dhyana and vichara. Once japa became strong leave out parayana. Once dhyana became consistent, one may give up japa and once vichara became steady one could give up dhyana.
Smt.Yaminiji and Sri.Zivanji shared their joyful experiences of Srimad Bhagavata Saptaham in Houston. She also mentioned briefly about the Saptaham souvenir.
The satsang came to an end with Nama Kirtan, praying for the welfare of the Mumbai victims who were greatly affected by the terror attacks.
Nov 21: Bhagavan Yogiramsuratkumar
The Satsang on the 21st of November went off in a grand manner. About 10 families participated in the satsang. Zivanji and Yamaniji family from Chicago started the Satsang with 10 minutes of Mahamantra Kirtan.
Then after regular introductions, the Satsang started with a discourse on Yogi Ramsuratkumar by Aravindji of Orlando. The satsang ended with the regular 5 minute Mahamantra Kirtan.
Nov 14: On Bhagavatam
The satsang on November 14th started with Mahamantra Kirtan led by Sri Aravindji and Geethaji from Orlando. This was followed by introductions. Then Ms. Yaminiji of Chicago gave a small talk on the greatness of Bhagavatam. She mentioned that Srimad Bhagavatam is one of the greatest Puranas in our scriptures and the most relevant to our times.
This was followed by an invite to everyone to attend the Bhagavatam sapataham at Houston. Then each of the centers described how they celebrated Sri Swamiji’s Jayanthi on the 8th of November. The satsang closed with Mahamantra Kirtan.
Nov 7: Gopashtami & Nama Mahima
The Satsang on the 7th of November went on in a grand manner. Sri GBji’s family started the Satsang with 10 minutes of Mahamantra Kirtan. A prayer was performed for Sri Manish Bharadwaj on the request from Sri Narayan Daveji.
Then after regular introductions, the Satsang started. The previous day (Thursday) happened to be Gopashtami. This was when the Lord was crowned Govinda by Indra. The incident was briefly narrated. This was followed by a pravachan by Ramyaji of San Jose, California.
The gist of the Pravachan is as below:
Satsang is a place where there is divinity. It is verily the place where God lives. Where does God lives. God says to Narada:
Naham vasami vaikunte na yogi hrudaye ravau
Mad bhaktha: yatra gayanti tatra thishtami narada.The Lord says that He doesn’t live in Vaikunta nor in the hearts of the Yogis. He lives in wherever the glory and the Divine Names of Him are chanted by His devotees. That place is verily satsang.
The Lord of Pandarpur Panduranga, it is said, cannot stay in a place. Whenever His devotees get the musical instruments ready, the Lord immediately rushes there and starts dancing! Such is the greatness of Nama Kirtan. It is said ‘Bhaktya sulabho bhagavan’ – the Lord who is otherwise difficult to perceive, is easily attained through Bhakti.
Everyone has a unique quality. Some sing well. Some are good speakers. Similarly, Bhagavan also has a unique quality. What is that quality? It is ‘compassion’. How is he an ocean of compassion? It is because he grants Moksha the moment one surrenders unto Him. How should the one who has surrendered, spend his time?
Kalakshepo na kartavyaha ksheenam aayu: kshane kshane
Yamasya karunaa naasthi kartavyam hari keerthanamEvery human’s life is dwindling moment by moment. Death will never show compassion or grace on us. So the best way to spend our time is by performing Hari Nama Kirtan.
This path has been advocated by innumerable great Mahans. Sri Adi Sankara, after having propounded the Advaita philosophy finally says, “Bhaja Govindam” – Sing the Name Govinda! Similarly, the great devotee Aandal, throughout her Tiruppaavai speaks about chanting the Divine Names of the Lord. This was the path preached by Bhagavat Ramanuja too.
In the Vedas it has been mentioned that the Kali Yuga is one of the deadliest Yugas. But in Bhagavatam, Sri Shuka tells Parikshit –
Kalair dosha nidhe rajan astihyeko mahaan guna:
Kirtanaaneva krishnasya mukta sanga: param vrajetOh! King! This Kali is no doubt a treasure of sins and mistakes. But it has a glorious quality – one can attain the greatest state of Mukti by merely singing the Divine Name of Krishna!
It is also said –
Yat phalam naasti tapasaa na yogena samadhina
Tatpalam labhate samyak kalau keshava keerthanaatThat results that cannot be got even by meditaion and yogic Samadhi can be easily attained in Kali Yuga by singing the Divine Name of Keshava.
This is the most practical path for this Yuga. Our Swamiji also aptly describes this in His kirtan:
‘Yogamum yaagamum theerthamum deivamum kudikonda naamathai keerthanam paadeere’Oh ! Ye, sing the divine Name of God that houses in itself, the Yoga, Yaga, pilgrimages and the Lord Himself.
It is said that there is an eternal struggle between the devotee and the Lord. The devotee always tries to run away from the Lord and the Lord is determined to take the devotee unto himself. It is the struggle between the ignorance of the devotee and the compassion of the Lord. The compassion of the Lord is so much that , even if we cahnt His Name in mockery or as an insinuation, He grants us Moksha:
‘Sanketyam parihasyam va stopham helanam eva va. Vaikunta naama grahanam …’
goes the verse.
Thus, the Lord sends down Sadhus, who accomplish His mission very easily with the help of Jalra and Japamala that which He had not been able to do in his incarnations adorning weapons!It is said,
‘kalau kalau bhavishyanti naaraayana paraayanah tAmraparni nadi yatra kritamaala payasvini…’The Sadhus will incessantly keep incarnating in the banks of Tamraparni, Kritamala…
in this Kali Yuga.Some people may doubt that if I chant the Nama, will my sins get wiped off. Bhagavan Nama Bodendral says that one should have done merits in millions of years to get the Divine Name of the Lord on his lips!
In an abhang it is beautifully said,
‘bahut sukrataachi yoni manuni vittali aavadi’
One should have done merits in umpteen births to have Vittala Nama on his lips.In Vishnu Sahasranamam, we find that Yudishtira questions about which Dharma is the best dharma amongst all the dharmas that Bhishma talked about. Bhishma speaks of the dharma of Nama Sankeerthaana.
Adi Shankara, in his Vishnu Sahasranama Bashya, cites the reasons why Nama Sankirtana is greater than any other dharma – that is because it is easy to perform, for it has no ‘apeksha’ (anticipation/ expectations) on 6 fronts – himsa, purushantara, desha, kala, dravyantara, niyama. There are absolutely no rules.
The Kali Santarana Upanishad shows us the Nama:
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare HareAs the Mantra apt for this Kali Yuga. As this is verily the Upanishads, the path for spirituality conforms to the Vedas. When we see the Mahamantra, there are three ‘Namas’ – Hare, Rama and Krishna.
Narayana Theertha sings in his tarangam,
Rama Krishna govindeti naama samprayoge…The Rama is Ganga, Krishna is Yamuna… and when we sing the Maha Mantra, is it a confluence of Three rivers – the Triveni Sangamam.
Thus, in Bhagavat Gita, the Lord says, ‘svalpamapi yasya dharmasya traayate mahato bhayaat’ – a very small dharma can allay the greatest of fears. And what is that small dharma- Nama Sankirtan.
In Vishnu Sahasranama, we see how Lord Siva Himself chants the Rama Nama, as it is equivalent to all the thousand Namas.
Sri rama rama rameti rame rame manorame
Sahasra nama tattulyam rama nama varaananeIn conclusion, Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana concludes with the verse:
‘Namasankirtanam yasya sarva papa pranaachanam
Pranaamo dukha samanam tam namaami harim param’
After this wonderful discourse, the forum was open for announcements. Sriramji of Houston summarized the week’s programs of Poornimaji – at Lakshmi Narayan temple, on the radio, and the one at his residence. Then the announcement about the Dallas programs was made.
Then Yamini ji announced about the Akhanda Nama Kirtan at her place on Nov 8th for Swamiji’s date of birth. The Boston satsang on the same day was also announced.
Then the session concluded with Mahamantra Kirtan for 5 minutes.
Bhagavan Ramana: Bhagavan’s culinary
When it comes to Tiruvannamalai Ramana Ashram, Bhagavan Ramana used to spend time in the kitchen helping others in cooking, as well as cooking Himself. One day Bhagawan prepared chutney for Idly. He asked Shri Gurram Subba Rao to taste it. After tasting it, Subba Rao mentioned that it is too salty and cannot be served to others as a side dish. Bhagawan smiled and stirred the whole chutney with his own fingers. He then asked him again to taste it. To Subba Rao’s surprisethe chutney had the right amount of salt. He could not understand what could have happened?
Bhagawan Ramana smiled at him and asked him where did the salt go?
Bhagavan Ramana: Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni
Kavya Kanta Ganapati Muni who had a great regard for Bhagavan and was in Tiruvannamalai for a long time. In later days, he moved to Nimpura, Kharagpur and spent his last days there. On one particular day, Bhagavan Ramana came to know that it was Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni’s last day and since morning Bhagavan neither partook of any food nor allowed anyone else to eat. At about 5.00 PM that day he at last told everyone that Ganapati Muni is no longer in this world. Right after that, the news came from Nimpura that Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni has attained Siddhi.
Bhagavan Ramana: What belongs to me?
Sambasiva Rao was Ramana Paati’s paternal uncle (father’s elder brother) who completely devoted his life to Bhagavan Ramana. Once there was a court case against Ramana Maharshi that he was accused owning a piece of land that actually belongs to Government. When he was asked to justify it, Ramana said that the land under contention does not belong to him, and that even his name Ramana did not belong to Him and hence there was no question of owning anything! The judge came from Madras to Tiruvannamalai to get Bhagavan’s opinion, and Bhagavan only repeated His stand! The judge requested Ramana that he should come and sign the court papers that this property was actually given to them as donation and that it does not belong to him. Ramana refused to come but upon insisting, he said that he can send Mr. Sambasiva Rao on his behalf to sign the court papers!
Later Niranjanananda, brother of Shri Bhagavan who was managing that place praised Shri Sambasiva Rao, that without him signing the papers they all would have been on streets.
