|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

Glories of Association with a Saint

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had several disciples.  Among them,  there was also a young man named Haridasji Maharaj.   He was as such a Muslim,  but due to association with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu he had become engaged in the Divine Name of God.  He had accepted Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Principles).      During that period,  many great princes and kings were ruling the country,  who did not like this.  They too complaint that this man (the disciple) is a muslim.   He has accepted the Hindu dharma.   They thought,  of incrementing him by finding some faults in him,  whereby he could be punished.’

They hired a prostitute and told her ‒‘This man is engaged in worship and devotion of God, if you distract and divert  him, then you will get a very big prize.’     The prostitute said ‒‘Distracting and diverting men from their path,  is an easy play for me.’  Saying so she went to the place where Haridasji was doing Naam Japa in solitude.   She went and sat next to him,   and said ‒‘Maharaj,  I would like to speak to you.’  Haridasji said,  at present I do not have the time.’  Saying so,  he became immersed in worship of the Lord.   In this manner,  he did not give her a chance.  Three days went by,  he used to eat his meals and immediately begin japa ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,  Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.   Hare Ram Hare Ram,  Ram Ram  Hare Hare.’   Thus he remained immersed in Mantra japa.   The prostitute was sitting there,  next to him, for three days,  but he was totally oblivious of her and was relishing the divine name of the Lord.   Now the prostitute also had a change of mind.  She began to think that she has been so heartless and degenerated.  This poor mans is calling out to the Lord with a sincere and true heart,   and she was scheming to distract and divert his mind and take him towards hell.  She thought,  what will be her condition?   Having briefly heard the  Divine Name of the Lord,  associating with a pure saint and beholding him,  she began to cry and said  -  Maharaj !   what will be my state,  please tell me ?’  

When the Maharaj heard this,  he said ‒‘Yes ! Now you may speak,  I have the time.  What were you asking me ?’  She said -  ‘How can I attain salvation ?  I had this wrong ideas in my mind, that I would try to distract you from doing “bhajan”,  to take you towards hell.   I had come here to corrupt you from your divine path.   The king had instructed me to distract and divert you from this path,  offering me a prize in return.   What will be my condition ?’ He said to her  ‘You do Naam Japa,  take the divine Name of the Lord.’  

Then she said -‒‘Now my mind only wants to do worship and remembrance of the Lord,  I will no longer sin in the future,  never again.’  Haridasji gave her a “mala” (string of holy beads) and a “mantra,”  and said -   ‘Now you take this “mala” and sit here,  and become engaged in worship and remembrance of the Lord.'   Making her sit there, while she began ‒ ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,  Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.   Hare Ram Hare Ram,  Ram Ram  Hare Hare.’   Haridasji thought ‒‘If by my staying here the king is suffering,  then let me leave this place,  and let me go elsewhere.’  

to be continued.........

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

बिना  बिचारे  जो  करे  सो पाछे पचछताय,

काज  बिगारे  आपना  जगमें  होत  हँसाय ।

जगमें  होत  हँसाय  चित्तमें  चैन   न   पावे,

राग रंग  सन्मान  ताहिके  मन  नहिं  भावे ।

कह गिरधर कविराय करम  गति टरे न टारे,

खटकत है हिय माँहि करे जो बिना बिचारे ॥

By doing without much thought,  one has to suffer later on,  and that thing also keeps pinching the heart.  If man renounces his selfishness and pride, and does things for the welfare of others,  then his life will be a success.    Give importance to pure tendencies,  in other words, one should perform  every action with much thought.   When people eat food,  they eat food that induces  “rajas”  (passion inducing) and in turn leads to pain, sorrow and disease.   Intentionally,  they indulge in unwholesome foods.   Coming under the sway of the tiny little tongue, they cause much harm to the three and a half hand length body.   If they had “vivek”  (power of discrimination),  then why would they destroy their body ?   Not only that,  but by devouring these forbidden foods,  they are getting ready to go to hell.   

While talking about the glories of the divine name ‘Ram’,  Goswamiji says  ‒‘सुगति’ it is gratifying quality of nectar in the form of emancipation.  Rather, it is the kind that gratifies once and for all.    That eternal gain, after which no other gain remains.  Where no sorrow can ever reach.  The supreme state,  of immense bliss, the relish that comes on doing “japa”  of the divine name “Ram”.  He who becomes gratified by the Divine Name Ram,  he does not thereafter get entangled in worldly pleasures.   It will not be necessary to tell him that, do not sin or do not do injustice.  He will no longer be interested in sins and injustice.   He who has not acquired the relish of the divine name of the Lord,  he is immersed in accumulating money and sense pleasures.   

Gentlemen ! mothers and sisters !  savor the Divine Name of the Lord,  become immersed in it.   Day and night become engaged in it.   On its own sins and injustice will go away.   One will naturally become apathetic towards forbidden conduct.   At present  tarnish is pleasing,  it is not displeasing (like a vice),  now what is the reason for this ?   The inner-senses are dirty (tarnished).  He who is dirty,  likes dirty things.  the flies sit on the sweets until a garbage truck passes by.   If the flies sit on us, then apply some good perfume, and there after the flies will not come;  because they do not like sweet fragrance.   ‘मक्षिका व्रणमिच्छन्ति’‒ they sit on wounds where they can get pus and blood.  In the same way , he whose mind is impure,   he only gravitates and is attracted towards filthy things.  On getting the fragrance of the Lord in the form of His Divine Name,  the mind will not go towards filthy things.   

Gentlemen ! this is a very easy method.  Repeat the Divine Name of the Lord (Naam Japa) and take the support of the Lord’s Lotus Feet.  Just as an ordinary man takes much relish in earning money and in enjoying sense pleasures, in the same way,  the loving devotees of the Lord must take much relish in repeating the Lord’s Divine Name,  satsang, studying the scriptures about the Truth.   This human birth has been attained for this relish.  He who gets relish in repeating the Divine Name of the Lord,  he will do “japa” day and night, then how will he ever get entangled in worldly sense enjoyment?     

to be continued.........

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

Discourse ‒ 4

Nectar Filled Divine Name  ‘Ram’

स्वाद तोष सम सुगति सुधा के ।

कमठ सेष सम  धर  बसुधा  के ॥

                                                   (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा २० । ७)

svaada tosha sama sugati sudhaa ke,  

kamatha sesha sama dhara basudhaa ke

(Manas, Balakand,  20/7)  

They ("Ra" and "Ma") are like the taste and the gratifying quality of nectar in the form of emancipation,  and are the supporters of the globe like the divine Tortoise and the serpent-god Shesha.  

There is no higher state than a being (jeeva) attaining salvation.   Such an elevated state (of liberation),  is called “sugati”.  And “param siddhi” (a state of complete and perfect knowledge) is the same state that one can attain.  ‘स्वाद तोष सम’‒  The divine name “Ram”  is like the taste of “nectar”  and like total gratification.   Just as when one eats food,  one gets great relish.   And after having a meal,  one feels gratified and contented,  in the same way,  this divine name “Ram” is like the taste and the gratifying quality of nectar in the form of emancipation.   Let us say that as if “Ra”  is “madhurima”  sweet and luscious and  “Ma”  is the gratified feeling.  On saying  ‘Ra’ the mouth opens up,  and on saying “Ma” it closes.    On having a meal, the mouth opens, and when one feels gratified,  then the mouth closes.  In this manner,  “Ra” and “Ma”  is like the taste of immortal nectar,  and  of getting gratification from it.  

One can come to know what kind of relish the food has, when  the food is placed on the tongue and as the juices flow, and as the food touches the palate and one gets a taste of the food.      From wherever one gains the “ras”  (relish),  from there itself the sound of “Ra” takes place.   On saying “Ra”  one gets the taste of ambrosia “sudha”  and on saying “Ma”,  one feels gratified.   While saying Ram ,  Ram,  Ram one gains an exceptional relish.   With this Divine Name repetition, one feels gratified for ever.   When one gets relish in the Divine Name,  there remains no need for other relish.   He who gets relish in the Divine Name of God,  their  interest moves away from worldly sense objects.     When one begins to get  relish from the Divine Name of the Lord,  then all other relishes become tasteless.   

Shri  Goswamiji Maharaj  says ‒‘if the divine name ‘Ram’ appeared sweet to me,  thereafter, all other relishes would become tasteless’   There are six relishes of eating and there are nine relishes of poetry.   all of these become tasteless;  because these are all external.   The relish that is gained from objects that come and later perish,  changes into “ni-ras” tastelessness. ‘विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम्’ ‒  All the relishes (interest) that are there in the world,  they are all the kind that takes place due to the affinity of the senses with the sense objects.   In the beginning they appear like nectar,  but the end result is like ‘परिणामे विषमिव’ ‒  poison. In this manner,  by not thinking,  man becomes entangled in sense objects.   Those wise thinkers who are pure in heart,  they first see towards the outcome,  therefore they are not trapped and bound.   

                           

सुचिन्त्य चोक्तं सुविचार्य यत्कृतं

  सुदीर्घकालेऽपि न याति विक्रियाम् ।

Gentlemen ! this point is not for just talking and listening,  it is for understanding,  and it is for putting to use after understanding it.    Man should think -  understand and then do work.   Those who think before doing something,  they do not have to face difficulties afterwards.

to be continued.........

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

Even though in both the fifteen day periods (rising and setting moon) ,  the moonlight radiates equally,  but people believe that in the first fifteen day period the moon increases, and in the other it decreases.   If you measure day and night then you will find out that it is about the same amount of time that the moon radiates. Then what is this “Shukla paksh” (increasing moon)  and “Krushna paksh” (decreasing moon)  ?    In Shukla Paksh the Moon nourishes,  is showers nectar,  by which the fruits on trees grow,   pregnant women’s fetuses grow and they all receive nourishment.   With the moon-light,  the various herbal plants acquire exceptional nectar,  and they are riped by the Sun.   Just as the Sun and the Moon see to the supreme good of this entire world.  In the same way,  the “Ra”  and “Ma”  in God’s Name,  are the kind to provide nourishment in every respect.   

‘जग हित हेतु बिमल बिधु पूषन’‒ this divine name “Ram”   is  clear.    Due to planets such as “Raahu”  and “Ketu”  coming on the path of the Sun and the Moon,  one sees an eclipse,  but there is no eclipse in repeating the Divine Name of the Lord.    The moon increases and decreases,  but Ram only keeps on increasing.    ‘राम कभी फूटत नाहीं’  ...   It is ever pure,  therefore for the benefit of the world,  it is like the pure Moon and Sun.   

The two alphabets,   “Ra”  and “Ma”,  whose glories have been sung by Goswamiji Maharaj,  these glories are understood properly when man does Naam Japa (repeats the Divine Name of the Lord).    God has showered His grace,   He has given us the human body,   He has given us Satsang,  and now become engaged in reciting the Divine Name of the Lord.   In this day and age,  if man does even the slightest bit of Japa,  it is very great.   In Kaliyug,  the prices of everything are increasing,  then is not the price of the Divine Name also increased ?   At present the glories of worship and remembrance of God is much more than all the other Yugas.   

चहुँजुग चहुँ श्रुति नाम प्रभाऊ ।

कलि बिसेषि नहिं आन उपाऊ ॥

                                                    (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा २२ । ८)

chahu juga chahu shruti naama prabhaau,  

kali biseshi nahi aana upaau

(Manas,  Baalkaand,  22/8)   

The glory of the Divine Name is supreme in all the four Yugas and all the fours Vedas,  particularly so in the Kali age,  in which there is no other means of salvation.   

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

Just as those who smoke cigarettes,  form a group of their own,  in the same way,  saints also somewhat form their own group.  Their group is formed on its own.  Those who worship God they too get together and become engaged in devotion.   For generations and ages this tradition has been going on.   Hundreds of years have gone by, since the time that many great Mahatmas were present;  but even today simply based on their name this world is carrying on, repeating the Divine name of God, remembrance of the Lord,  chanting His Holy Name, benevolent activities, charitable work,  virtuous deeds, and activities promoting the supreme good of the world.  It is due to the power  of the oneness with the Divine that this is carrying on.   The divine name of the Lord is a great protector of the devotees of the Lord.  

भगति सुतिय कल करन बिभूषन ।

जग  हित   बिमल   बिधु   पूषन ॥

                         (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा २० । ६)

Bhagati sutiya kala karana bibhooshana

jaga hita hetu bimala bidhu poosahana  

They are beautiful ornaments for the ears of the fair damsel in the form of Bhakti (Devotion) and stand as the spotless sun and moon for the good of the world.  (Manas,  Bala. 20/6)  

‘Ra’ and ‘Ma’‒ these two sounds,  are like those ornaments for each ear of the devoted fair lady.    The hands have ornaments and so do the feet,  then what is the reason that in the above stanza “doha”  only refers to the ornaments for the ears ?   Devotion penetrates the heart of he who hears (with ears) the Divine Name of the Lord “Ram”.  The divine name “Ram”  are the ornaments of the ears.   If you want to invite “love and devotion for the Lord”  then do “japa”,  repeat the divine name “Ram”.    By doing so,   “bhakti”  will come running after you.   She (bhakti,  devotion)  will get  situated within and you will be super blessed.  

‘जग हित हेतु बिमल बिधु पूषन’ ‒ The moon and the Sun ‒ these two are the Lord’s eyes.  Both illuminate day and night.   The world is benefited immensely by both.  

यदादित्यगतं   तेजो   जगद्‌भासयतेऽखिलम् ।

यच्चन्द्रमसि यच्चाग्न्नौ तत्तेजो विद्धि मामकम् ॥

                                            (गीता १५ । १२)

"Yadaadityagatam tejo jagbhaasayate khilam

Yaccandramasi yaccaagnau tattejo vidhi maamakam." (Gita 15:12)

Lord says -

"The light (coming from Me) of the Sun that illumes the whole world, and which is in the moon and in the fire - know that light to be Mine." (Gita 15:12)

It rains due to the sunlight and heat that is radiated by the Sun,  and hence farming takes place.  

‘तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च’‒  The Sun Lord causes the rain to fall.   Due to the rains,  the grains grow,  the grass grows,  the fields grow.  Sun Lord,  aids in drying up the poisons in the fields,  and in ripening the field.   And the moon aids in nourishing the fields.   The farmers keep saying things like, now the moon is going in the direction of “shukla paksh”  (fifteen days of the rising moon after the no moon).  Now the fields will grow.  As the moon showers its nectar,  the budding and growing of flowers and fruits begins.     

The heat of the Sun destroys all the poisons that are present in the atmosphere.  Sometimes when it does not rain,  and   bad season arrives, then people say that darkness has arrived.  But even that darkness is essential,  or else if it rains all the time,  then some poisonous elements are born in the plants.   These poisonous elements are destroyed by the Sun.   Therefore the Sun nourishes and the Moon showers its nectar.   Goswamiji further describes the two types of seasons.

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

The Nature of Saints

Saints do not have pride.   They are most loving to the Lord and they regard everyone as great.    

सीय राममय  सब जग जानी ।

करउँ प्रनाम जोरि जुग पानी ॥

                           (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा ८ । २)

Siya Ramamaya saba jaga jaani,  ।

karau pranaama jori juga paani ॥

(Manas, Baalakand, 8 । 2)

Recognizing the entire creation as full of Sita and Rama  I pay obeisance to them with joined palms.   

However many men that are there,  they are our Ramji,  and however many women that are there,  they are all Sitaji-Maa.   This is their sentiment and feeling.   ‘मैं सेवक सचराचर रूप स्वामि भगवंत’ ‒ they regard all as God,  therefore there is no pride within them.   Such a one, appears dear to God;  because  ‘निज प्रभुमय देखहिं जगत केहि सन करहिं बिरोध’‒  who will they have animosity towards,  when they see God in all of creation.  

During Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s time,  there was a sinner named of Jagaayi-Madhaayi.  Nityanandji was beaten up very badly by him, when Nityanandji repeated the Lord’s Divine Name to him.   Even while being beaten up,  Nityanandji kept saying to the sinner, you repeat the Name of Hari,  repeat Hari.  Even to such a sinner,  God showered His grace.   Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,  made him a devotee.  He made a resolve,  that one should have more mercy on those who are very sinful,  the wealthy and the Pandits; because alerting them, cautioning them and making them aware is very difficult.   And they will not be alerted by other means,  they will simply not listen to things about devotion;  because they are filled with pride.   Chaitanya Mahaprabhu even graced such men by making them repeat the divine Name of the Lord.  He engaged everyone in chanting (kirtan) the divine name of the Lord.

‘जग पालक बिसेषि जन त्राता’‒  such a repeater of the Lord’s Name,  even protects the evil doers, they destroy the pride of the proud,  and engage them in worship of the Lord.  And they even engages ordinary people and draws them towards God.   They engage them all, so that all can become loving devotees of the Lord.  ‘सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः’  ‒ Not just that all become free of disease,  but may all become loving devotees of the Lord -  such are the wishes of the Lord.    In this manner,   beholding a saint too can lead to many virtues.   One gains immensely.  Why is it so ?  In their hearts the sentiment and feeling for God remains constant,  and they want to serve all.   Due to this,   simply their “darshan”, can have an influence.   Simply by remembering them,  and simply their talks can have an impact.   Because their hearts are overflowing with feeling of God and they are ever charged up to serve.   Therefore,  by meeting them (darshan), by listening to their lectures,  by touching them,  by remembering them etc.,   it has an influence on the people,  and it leads to their supreme good  (kalyaan).

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

The next day once again the Seth went in his dhoti (indian outfit) with his water flask.  The same saint was sitting right in the same spot.   Seeing the Seth,   the saint said ‒ ‘Ram - Ram !’   Suddenly the Seth realized,  that all of this was due to the magical powers of this saint.   The saint said to the Seth ‒ ‘Now onwards, you repeat the divine Name of the Lord.  Do not insult or condemn anyone.   Now you may go to your home.’  The Seth,  quietly,  returned to his home.

When one becomes proud,  they begin to condemn others.   The pride of wealth is very bad.   A wealthy man mostly cannot become devoted to God.   It is not that rich people can never be devotees of the Lord.   King Ambrish was a devotee of God.   There were many other wealthy men who had become devotees of God;  but they did not have pride of their wealth.   They did not care about money.   God does not regard pride as being good.   ‒‘अभिमानद्वेषित्वाद्दैन्यप्रियत्वाच्च’   Even a devotee such as Naradji became filled with pride ‘जिता काम अहमिति मन माहीं ।’ (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा १२७ । ५)  What was his state when he developed pride of having attained victory over his passion ?  God does not let the pride remain in His devotees.   

       ताते करहिं कृपानिधि  दूरी ।

सेवक पर ममता अति भूरी ॥

                        (मानस, उत्तरकाण्ड, दोहा ७४ । ७)

Man can fall steeply with pride.   God removes this pride.    All the demoniacal qualities and all the bad qualities and conduct,  they all remain under the shade of pride.    It has come in Mahabharat ‒ Just like, Kaliyug resides under the shade of a Baheda tree,   in the same way,  all demonaic qualities reside under the shade of pride.   One develops pride of riches, and knowledge as well.   When we become “sadhus”  then the change of clothing and appearance also leads to pride,  that I am a Sadhu.   This too inflates the ego.   Oh Brother,   let us blow away  improverishment.  What to speak of one who fills them with riches  !   Those ordinary servants who serve a rich man,  talk among themselves -  ‘due to some fortune, this man acquired money; but he is a foolish man.’  If you ask him, ‘you being so wise and intelligent,  why do you continue to stay here with one who is unwise and obtuse?’   Similarly,  the proud men say to pandits -  ‘so what if you are well-read,  you don’t have the brains,’’   As if all the wisdom is with them and them only.   Everyone else is without any intelligence and foolish.   

It is difficult to find ‘अकलका अधूरा और गाँठका पूरा’.   There are very few men who will think that “now I have acquired a lot of money,  now I do not need any more of it,  but I have less knowledge,  let me gain more knowledge and understand more things.   This conflict remains.   Sometimes one also develops pride of being poor.   Ordinary people say  ‒‘the Seth is a Seth of his wife.  What have we to offer to him?’  this attitude is also very bad.   It is God who saves the man,  or else at every step,  pride arises.   Therefore one must remain ever alert regarding pride.   

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji