|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

Therefore this lady  (Phuli bai) if she went there (to the queens palace), then there would be some satsang.   Poor Phuli bai,  was wearing a short “ghaaghariya” (like a peticoat) which was her rural dress code.   In those very same clothes she went to the queen’s abode.  Seeing her,  all the queens began to laugh thinking what a joker she looks.   Phuli bai in her simple, straight-forward language spoke  ‒

ए गहणो गांठो तन की शोभा, काया काचो भांडो ।

फूली  कहे  थे  बैठी  कँई   राम   भजो   ए   रांडो ॥

You all are sitting here, adorned with beautiful jewellery, why don’t you take the time and repeat the Lord’s Divine Name.  ‘काया काचो भांडो’, Anytime this fragile vessel (body) can break, what will you do ?   Living in this ivory tower,  if you do not do “bhajan” (worship and remembrance of God), then what will you do?  Why don’t you simply sit and chant the Lord’s Name  ‘Ram-Ram’ ? Phulibai,  was not holding back or hesitating,  thinking about how boldly she was speaking!   What she is saying!   This was her simple-straight-forward style of talking.  She was engaged in devotion and worship of God, day and night,  therefore even remembering such a one,  gives peace.   Maharaj ! by remembering her, the sins in the heart can go away.   

What is the reason ? Because she has taken the name of God.  She has taken refuge in Him.    

बड़ सेयां बड़ होत है ज्यूं बामन भुज दण्ड ।

तुलसी बड़े प्रताप ते  दण्ड गयउ ब्रह्माण्ड ॥

Lord Vaaman,  became tiny, and asked Bali for the earth and said ‒‘I will with my feet, take three steps of earth.”  Bali says -  ‘Why are you taking such little space,  take some more.’’ Lord Vaaman said ‒ ‘No, I will only take three steps worth.’  Now he started to take the three steps,  Maharaj ! It turned out to be the longest incarnation of all ! Brahmachari has a pole in his hand.  Lord Vaaman’s pole became as tall as the Lord.  The longest pole is up to the ear.  Now with such a small pole in his hand, and he himself being huge and tall,  then the pole would not even be good enough to be chewed on.   What will you do with such little land?  To that he said ‘सन्तदास लकड़ी बढ़ी  बिन कूंपल बिन पात ।’  Neither the scale came out, nor  the leaves and the pole grew.  Why did it grow ?  ‘बड़ सेयां बड़ होत है’  It was a dry wooden pole, but whose hand was it in ? In the same way,  gentlemen ! you and me, we are ordinary;  but on taking refuge in  God’s lotus feet,  on becoming engaged in taking His divine name,  remembering and meditating on Him,  then  there is a saying in Gujarati language,  ‒‘छोटा सहुथी, सहुथी मोटा थाय, थाय छे हरि भजन करे ।’ (છોટા સહુથી, સહુથી મોટા થાય, થાય છે હરિ ભજન કરે.) He who worships and is devoted to God, he, even though being the smallest of all ‘छोटा सहुथी,’ he becomes the greatest and biggest of all ‘सहुथी मोटा थाय छे’;  why does he become so ?  Because he has taken the support of God.  He has taken the Lord’s divine name.   He has become engaged in God.   Therefore he is not small, he is not ordinary.    (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

In the Eleventh Canto of the Bhagwat,  in the topic regarding the nine Yogeshwars,  it has come that, if someone says to a devotee of the Lord,  that for half a moment if you can leave the remembrance of the Lord, then you will get to be the ruler of three worlds.  To this the devotee says  ‒ even for all the glory, even for half a moment,  I cannot leave God.  Glories are nothing in front of God.  What is this thing ? This is ephemeral, whereas God is the kind to remain constantly.  Therefore,  coming under the spell of some greed, how can he leave the Divine Name of God.  If the Name drops off,  then one has not understood the significance of the divine name.  He was not attentive to the significance of the Lord’s Name.  It means that God does not make a mistake.  How can he make a mistake ‘भूले नाय बने दयानिधि भूले नाय बने ।’ How can he forget.  It is simply not possible to do so.  

He who has become immersed in this relish,  he is fixed on it once and for all.   Just as a fly roams and sit everywhere, and later flies away.   She never sits is one place and most of all, she never sits on burning cinder blocks.  But if someday she does sit there, she never gets up from there.   Thereafter only the smoke will rise, but not her.  In the same way,  as long as the mind is not engaged in God,  in His Divine Name, till then, it will keep getting side-tracked and keep wandering around.  But when he becomes engaged in God, thereafter, Jai Ramji ki….!  thereafter it is all over !   He will not be able to leave.    Until the mind keeps wandering, until the mind is not engaged,  worship and devotion (bhajan) of God has not taken place.  People say -  We have done lots of “bhajan”, we have repeated the divine name’  What have you really done?  So far the divine name has not even started.  Real “bhajan” has not even begun.  After starting,  if it stops,  it is not in your hands.  Think carefully,  if after death,  the divine name of God resonates from the bones, then how can one be released from the divine name?  

In Maarwaad, there was a Phuli bai Jaatni.  She used to repeat the divine name of the Lord.  Her profession was to collect the cow-dung and make them into the shape of cakes.  Someone took away her pile of cow-dung cakes.   She went to the person’s house and said ‒ you have taken my cow-dung cakes.   The other lady said -  I have not taken them.   If I have done so, then what do you have to prove this?   Phuli bai said -  bring the cow-dung cakes close to your ears.  When the other lady brought it close to the ear,  she could hear the inner sound “Ram-Ram-Ram”  The Divine Name was taking place in the cowdung. She was astonished -  and she said -  there is “Ram Ram Ram”  coming from here.   Phuli Bai said -  this is how you can know me.   Such was Phuli bai ! There is so much glories of he who takes the divine name with a true heart.   

‘This old lady doctor was a devotee of God ’‒ hearing so,  the king of Jodhpur, went to where Phuli bai was staying.   When he went there, he saw that Phuli bai was standing in the market and feeding the army men various vegetables.  Seeing this, the king was pleased and he called her and sent her to the queen, so that the queen could also get some satsang.   (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

तुलसी पूरब पाप तें हरि चर्चा न सुहाय ।

कै ऊँघे कै उठ चले  कै  दे  बात  चलाय ॥

When he goes for “satsang”  he feels sleepy,  or he begins to talk about something else,  or he will sit for sometime and walk away; but if he were to stay in satsang for a few days,  then he too will become engaged in satsang.   Thereafter he will not leave satsang.  

I have heard one thing.   There was a man who was free-spirited and joking around all the time.  In his joking,  he would say,  look at this “sadhu” !  He keeps on repeating “Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram”,  thereafter, another brother says -  How does he do it?  Then he once again says -  “Ram-Ram-Ram-Ram-Ram-Ram”,  this is how you do it.   Time and again, on saying so,   he became lodged in this activity.  He began to repeat the Lord’s Divine Name.   Therefore ‒ ‘भायँ कुभायँ अनख आलसहूँ । नाम जपत मंगल दिसि दसहूँ ॥’ in whichever way you can,  simply start repeating the Lord’s Name.  Then see for yourself,  its exceptional and extra-ordinariness.  But gentlemen !  Without repeating the divine name,  you will not know it’s magic.   Just like,  when the sweet is outside of the mouth, one cannot know its sweetness.   Only the one eating the sweet,  will recognize it’s sweetness.   

Hearing the glories of the divine name from  the scriptures, from the saints,  we can gauge its effect.   But its true and real relish will come when you yourself will become engaged,  and if you do get engaged from within,  from the heart;  not superficially,  in other words,  not for outwardly showing to others.  He who does worship and adoration of God only to show to others,  he is a devotee of the people,  not of God.  He who does this,  so that people may consider him to be someone who is  a “Bhajanandi” (devoted to worship and devotion of God), then how can he truly be a devotee of God ?   If he is a devotee of God,  how can he leave the Divine Name from within?  In solitude or in a crowd,  how can he leave the divine name ?  How can he leave the real greed ?  If wealth comes in front of you, if money comes in front of you, or if it is lying in front of you,  then can you leave it  or not ? how can you leave it ? You will take it  !  if if they are lying in the garbage,  then too you will quickly pick it up,  then he who is a lover of God,    how can it be that he will leave the name of God ? How can he tolerate even a single moment of separation from the divine name ?

Naradji Maharaj has written in the Bhakti Sutra ‒‘तदर्पिताखिलाचारिता तद्विस्मरणे परमव्याकुलतेति ।’  He surrenders everything of his to the Lord,  but when even the slightest bit of mistake  pertaining to God and His Divine Name takes place,  then he becomes troubled.  Just like a fish when taken out of water,  begins to squirm and wiggle and jump up and down,  and if she is kept out a bit longer, she dies.  She cannot remain in that squirming condition peacefully.   In the same way ‘तद्विस्मरणे परमव्याकुलतेति’ there is deep and eternal anguish and restlessness when the divine name of the Lord is forgotten.  He is not able to give it up.   He cannot give up the remembrance of God.

  (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

What is the reason you will be unable to leave God  ? Your relationship is with God from time immemorial.  You have no relationship with the world.   Even now  you don’t have a constant relationship with your childhood, youth, old age - isn’t it?   These are all constantly changing.  Many have come and gone.  Many have died.  All are going.  No one will remain with us.   But God remains with us at all times, at every moment.    God has never separated from us.  He cannot separate from us.   It is the “jeev”   (individual soul,  being) that has separated from God.   All beings are loving to God,  all have come (been born) from God.  Therefore God never forgets the embodied soul (jeev) ‒‘सब मम प्रिय सब मम उयजाए ।’

Nothing in this world remains constant.  Whatever you hold on to,  it does not stay with you.   You wish to hold onto favorable times, but it does not stay.   You hold on to money,  it does not stay.   You hold on to the family, it does not stay.   You have faith and reliance on it,  and you are betrayed;  because they cannot stay with you.   What is this ? This is God’s invitation,  It is God’s invocation.  It is God’s calling.   God is calling you,  that where are you getting trapped ?  They are not yours.  You see for yourself that son-grandson,  great grandson,  mother-father,  brother, relatives, friends, family members, how they behave with you?  They will not be by your side ‒

                   संसार साथी सब स्वार्थके हैं,

                      पक्के   विरोधी    परमार्थ   के   हैं ।

                   देगा न कोई दुःख में सहारा,

                      सुन तू किसी की मत बात प्यारा ॥

All relationships in this world are selfish.  They are all opposing spirituality.  None will come to support you in times of suffering.  Do not listen to anyone, my loving friend.  Do not listen to any other talks,  simply repeat the divine name of the Lord.   It is said in the Upanishads ‒ ‘श्रवणायापि बहुभिर्यो न लभ्यः’ Many men do not even get to listen to talks related to God.  Life time goes by,  but they do not get to listen.   Gentlemen !  You all have received a great opportunity.  There is so much grace of God,  showering on you.  You get to hear and read divine talks,  you have faith in saints, you have the sentiments and feelings -  these are not ordinary qualities.  Today you do not see something exceptional in this,  but this is an extraordinary point,  because  ‒

विष्णवे भगवद्भक्तौ प्रसादे हरिनाम्नि च ।

अल्पपुण्यवतां  श्रद्धा  यथावन्नैव जायते ॥

Loving devotees of God,  in devotion and love of God etc.,  those with few virtues do not have faith.  When the inner-senses are free of blemishes (pure),  then one develops faith in saints, God’s devotion, in prasad, and in the divine name of God.  Those who have even the slightest bit of faith and devotion, this is extremely a virtuous point.   They are pure.  Or else,  they would not have faith.   They will argue,  and use sophistry.  they will not last in front of God.  

  (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

Ram Ram

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

Only God is mine.  I am no one else’s and there is no one else who is mine ‒ by having such a feeling of my very own, repeat the Divine Name of the Lord,  then it will make an impression on God.   But when we have a relationship with many,  have an affinity with money-family,  and then repeat the Divine Name,  then doing so is better than to not take the divine name at all.  And  the number of times one takes the divine name,  it will surely be beneficial,  but it will not be as beneficial as when you have a relationship with God, with a true heart and then take the divine name.

‘तुलसी तजि कुसमाजु’ Give up bad company.  What is bad company?  This money is mine, this wealth is mine - this is the bad company.  Those who are greedy for money,  who are indulging in sense pleasures,  association with them is “kusang”  bad company.   Those who are distant from God,  association with them is also “kusang”  (bad company) in a major way.   It is “kusamaaj”,  stay away from that.   Or else Maharaj ! Even the slightest bit of “kusang”  will change your tendencies. It will make you totally distant from God.  People say that doesn’t worship and devotion of God have that much power, that it does not prevent bad company (kusang) from having so much influence ?   That power is not in “kusang” brother,  rather there are various different types of conflicting value systems “sanskaar” within,  there are opposing sacraments for worship and devotion of God.   Those  value systems surface themselves when in bad company, rather they are awakened.   Due to this,  bad company (kusang) has a very great influence and impact.   If you do worship and devotion of God, then all these bad “sanskaars”  (value systems) will be wiped out.  Then ‒‘बिधि बस सुजन कुसंगत परहीं । फनि मनि सम निज गुन अनुसरहीं ॥’ if for some reason,  a gentleman falls into bad company,  then just like a jewel on a snake, it does not become poisonous.  When placed on the poison, it causes bleeding and removal of the poison,  but it does not become poisonous itself.      In the same way,  if you become immersed in “bhajan”  (worship and devotion of God),  then your mind will not be swayed.  The influence of bad company will not affect you.  Because within you, the impressions and value-system of relationship with God is firmly established.   Rather you will make an impression on the bad company.  The worship and devotion will make an impression.   But before you have this power,  remain alert.  Be careful !   Renounce bad company,  and becoming God’s with great joy repeat the divine name of God.  While walking - roaming,  sitting-standing,  at all times repeat the divine name.  If your mind becomes engaged in doing so,  then it will not go stop.   

I have seen a gentleman,  dressed always in white clothes,  who used to repeat the name of the Lord  “Ram Ram  Ram”.  Just like while walking if someone falls behind, and he once again runs to catch up, in the same way,  he used to first do “Ram Ram Ram”  slowly, then he used to pick up immense speed and repeat “Ram Ram..”.   At night too I have seen him repeat the divine name in this manner.  And of course during the day as well.   After sometime sleep used to take over him,  but on waking up,  immediately he started “Ram Ram Ram”.  At all times,  “Ram Ram Ram”.  While eating “Ram Ram Ram”.  While putting a morsel in his mouth “Ram Ram Ram.”  Anytime you see,  he would be repeating the Divine Name of the Lord.    When your tongue becomes engaged like this,  it will not leave.  Then it will not be so easy for you to leave.  It is an exceptional relish, that once you become engaged, then it will be once and for all.   Any talks related to God,  God related Divine Names, God’s divine tales, God’s qualities, God’s radiance and power,  God’s divine secrets -  whatever it is that you have understood of God’s,  you will be unable to leave it.     (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

Just  as when you put a log of wood in fire,  it begins to glow.   Even the blackest of black coal, when put in fire,  begins to glow.   If you put a small piece of a stone in the fire,  that too will glow.   Whatever it may be,  some gravel,  some sand,  it will all begin to glow.  What is this?  It is the  power of the fire.   When even a material thing has so much power, that it makes a log, coal etc. to glow, then what to speak of God’s Divine Name.  It is not matter,  rather it is divine.  This Name,  made Maharaj Chetanya conscious,  that he should pay attention toward the Divine Name ‒‘नाम चेतन कूं, चेत भाई नाम ते चित्त चौथे मिलाई ।’

If there is someone among you all, who repeats the Divine Name,  then I believe that this kind of thing must be happening to you as well.  If you are sleeping, then in your deep slumber,  appears a sound  ….. Ram !  It wakes you up  !  Start reciting the Divine Name of the Lord.  How can you be sleeping?  In this way,  the Divine Name Maharaj Himself wakes one up.   He makes one alert.   God Himself makes one vigilant.   

There was a great saints,  who was detached from  the world.   He used to repeat the Divine Name of the Lord (Naam Japa).   He never took any money from anyone.   He did not keep any money,  not even touch it.   He used to say that many times it has happened that when I am sleeping,  lovingly I am woken up,  just like a mother wakes up her son.  She places her hand under my neck, and immediately lifts me up.   I have no awareness of who makes me sit-up.   In this manner,  Naam Maharaj  makes us remember the Lord.   I am assuming that among you all,  there is someone who is a lover of the Divine Name,  he too may have had similar experiences.  In this, it is not about being a householder or an ascetic,  or a brother or a sister.  Any brother or sister,  if they repeat the Divine Name, they too will have the same happening to them.    Sometimes Lord’s voice can be heard.  When you recite the holy scriptures,  or are reciting the Divine Name,   when you are deeply engaged in devotion and worship of God,  when there is intense longing to repeat the Divine Name,  and at that time if you begin to feel sleepy, then the shutter may suddenly bang shut,  just as if a gust of wind came blowing through,  or someone suddenly makes a low noise,  and you wake up from the slumber.  Suddenly you hear a particular word and you wake up from your sleep.   This is Naam Maharaj,  how is alerting you.  The Lord is making you cautious,  alarming you, that how can you sleep?   Are you repeating the Divine Name of the Lord or are you sleeping ?  God goes through immense troubles and showers His grace on you and  keeps you vigilant,  simply take refuge in Him and see for yourself.   

Tulasidasji Maharaj says ‒ ‘Bigadi janam anek ki,  sudhare ab hi aaju’ ‘बिगरी जनम अनेक की सुधरै अबहीं आजु’ That which was not alright for thousands of years,  can be rectified and improved today itself,  right now,  at this very moment,  there is no delay in this work,  because ‘hoyi ram ki naam japu’  ‘होहि राम करे नाम जपु’ become the Lord’s, in other words,  I am Ramji’s and Ramji is mine -  repeat the divine name,  after establishing an intimate relationship with God.   But in this there is one challenge ‒‘Ek baani karuna nidhaan ki,  so priya jaake gati na aan ki.’  ‘एक बानि करुनानिधान की । सो प्रिय जाकें गति न आन की ॥’  In this world all the family relations that are exist, of them, there is no one that is mine.  Neither the wealth-possessions are mine,  nor this family is mine,  in other words,  there is no dependency on them.  ‘ananya chetaah satatam’,  ‘ananyaaschintayanto maam.’  अनन्यचेताः सततम्’,‘अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो माम्’ ।  (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

In the south,  there is a place named Pandharpur.   Several well-known saints with exceptional speech, such as Naamdevji Maharaj,   Jnandevji Maharaj,   Sopaandevaji Maharaj,   etc.  came from that place.   There was a man named Chokhaamela living in a village called Mangalbeda near Pandharpur. He used to repeat the name of the Lord -  Vithala,  Vithala  Vithala.   There was a building that was being constructed.   Chokhamela sustained his livelihood,  by working as a laborer in the construction of the building.     Unexpectedly the tall building collapsed burying Chokhamela under the concrete.   Along with him, many others also were also buried.  It took a long time to pull the bodies out from under the collapsed building,  and many had deteriorated beyond recognition.    Now how was Chokhamela’s body to be recognized ?  Incidently Namdevaji said to one of the brothers,  bring the bones close to your ear,  if you  hear the sound of the Divine Name, Vithala Vithala Vithala,  those bones will be that of Chokhamela.  That is how he can be recognized.  It is such a surprising thing,  that even after death, the sound of the Divine Name can be heard from the bones.   While repeating the divine name, the devotee becomes one with the Divine Name.  ‒‘चंगा राख तन, मन, प्राण, रहीये नाममें गलतान ।’ All of you,  become deeply engaged in divine name repetition.   Many have become  saints,  on diligently repeating the Divine Name.  

The Lord’s name was coming from the body of Arjuna as well.   One day Arjuna was sleeping,   and in his sleep, the divine name was going on.  Within every pour of his body,  the Divine Name  Krishna Krishna Krishna was going on.   On hearing the name,  Krishna appeared,  and his wives appeared as well.   Naradji also appeared.  Also Shankarji,  Brahmaji,  Devatas,  also arrived.   On hearing the divine name,  Lord Shankar, began to dance.  Even when Arjuna was in deep sleep,  in his every pour was the sound -  Krishna,  Krishna, Krishna.   The  reason being that  he only repeats the name of his beloved one (Ishth), then that name becomes merged with the person,  and it starts to resonate  in his very being.     It has come in Hariramdasji Maharaj’s talks  ‒‘रग-रग आरम्भा, भये अचम्भा छुछुम भेद भणन्दा है ।’ You all read the words of saints.   See in them,  why they begin to be in a state of continuous deep worship and devotion “bhajan”.  It is their “lagan”  their deep longing within.   They are deeply immersed in that alone.   Mind,  intellect, senses, are engaged in the divine name,  the life breath is engaged in divine name.  Divine Name is going one in the entire body. Such great, pure,  divine are their bodies,  that even on remembering it, the individual attains salvation.   They have become name and form, they have become an embodiment of divinity.  Naradji Maharaj  writes in his Bhakti Sutra, that there is no difference between God and His devotees ‒‘तस्मिंस्तज्जने भेदाभावात्’, because they are His,  they have taken refuge in the Lord ‒‘यतस्तदीयाः ।’   (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

I had met a gentleman.   He said that I say Ram Ram and I see a circle of the Divine Name of Ram in all four directions.   In the sky,  in space,  everywhere I see the name Ram Ram.   Close to me,   in all four sides,   in ten different directions I see the Divine Name.   When I see the earth,  then in every element of it,  I see the Divine Name   “Ram Ram” written there.    When someone digs the ground,  then  in every element of the ground,  I see the Divine name written.   My tendencies  have become such that at all times,  at all places, in all spaces,  in all periods,  in all things, and in all individuals the Name Ram is  perfectly  present.    This is such an exceptional point !  So transcendental  !  

Lord Ram conquered Lanka.   He returned to Ayodhya and during his coronation,  many kings gifted various different gifts.    Vibhishan had made a necklace of various precious and expensive jewels that were collected by Ravan.   While making the necklace , his aim was one of gifting it to the Maharajja on his coronation day.   In this manner,  Vibhishan brought the necklace and at the most opportune time,  placed the necklace around the Lord’s neck.   Maharaj  saw that the women are more interested in jewelry than men,  with this in mind  he  gave the necklace to Sitaji.   When Sitaji got the necklace,  she thought,  who could I give this necklace to ?  Maharaj has given to me,  now who is dear to me ?  Hanumanji was sitting next to her.   Both Sita mata and Lord Ram were very fond of Hanumanji.  Lord loved Hanumanji like a son.  And Hanumanji too,  had much devotion  and motherly love  for the lotus feet of Sitaji.   Mother Sitaji called out to Hanumanji,  and he immediately  came to her.  Sitaji,  put the necklace around Hanumanji.  Hanumanji became very pleased,  and began to look at all the precious jewels.   Since mother had given it,  there must be something exceptional in them.    Thinking so,   he broke open the first jewel with his teeth,  but there was no Name of the Lord inside.   He therefore threw it away.  Then he began to break the second gem .   There there were many  jewellers present.   They said ‒‘a monkey should be given a guava !  What will he do with these precious stones?   He his breaking those precious stones with  his teeth and throwing them away.”  Somebody asked  ’why are you breaking them?   what is going on?  what do you see?   Hanumanji said -  I am just checking to see if the Lord’s Name is in it or not ?   If the Lord’s name is not in it ,  what use is  it to me?  Therefore I am breaking open each and seeing,  and if there is no name of Ram,  then I am throwing them away.   Once again when he was asked ‘ Do you not keep anything that does not have the name of Ram?  Hanumanji said “  no  how can I keep something without the Divine Name?”  Then on being asked once again,    “then how do you keep this body?  Thereafter, with his sharp nails,  Hanumanji tore open his chest and showed them .  In every  place in the heart,  every pore Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram was written.  ‒‘चीरके दिखाई त्वचा अंकित तमाम, देखी चाम राम नामकी ।’ Therefore,  those gentlemen who repeat the Divine  of the Lord,  they become  one  (merged) with  the Divine Name.   

   (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

Ram Ram

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

If a married son dies,  then there is aeep pain and hurt within, that a young son, an earning member,  has died.   We must feel even worse than this state,  when we miss taking even one Divine Name and that much time goes wasted.  As the young children will eventually grow up,  and householders can even have more children.  But the time lost,  how can it be recreated.  The loss, the damage is irreversible. Therefore we must remain ever careful,  that our time is not wasted ‒‘जो दिन जाय भजनके लेखे, सो दिन आसी गिणतीमें ’ Only that day truly counts where there has been “bhajan”  and remembrance of God.  The day that slips by without “bhajan” has no value,  it is simply wasted away.   It has been a great loss,  it is nothing but a total  write-off !

As of today,  all the time that has been spent in worldly activities,  that has surely gone away.  From now onwards,  become alert !  Gentleman ! Brothers and Sisters ! In a day, every now and then check on yourself whether you are remembering the Lord’s Name.   In your home,  at various places write the name of the Lord, and remember it.  Place a picture of the Lord with such feelings, that may He be remembered time and again.  With such feelings and sentiments,  also write various Names of the Lord.    Wherever your sight goes most,   there,   you write and place the Name of the Lord.

I have seen homes of such householders.  When you come down the stairs,  the Lord’s Name is right there in front of you. When you climb the stairs,then in front of you is the Lord’s Name.  Wherever you walk around, there the Lord’s Name is written and visible. The  reason the name is written is so that  I may not forget the Lord’s Name.  There is no mistake in the Lord’s Name.    Gentlemen !  Be cautious and aware like this ! This is real work  It is genuine There is immense gains from this  ‒‘भक्ति कठिन करूरी जाण ! ड़समें नफा घणा नहीं हाण ॥’  There is no loss whatoever in this.   There is gains and only gain.   Profit and only profit.   In this manner,  let all your time be meaningful.   Not a single breath should go empty and be wasted ‒‘एक भी श्वास खाली खोय ना खलक बीच ।’

The time that has gone by empty ( without repeating the Lord’s Name),is a great loss.    Shri Daduji Maharaj says ’दादू जैसा नाम था तैसा लीन्हा नाय ।’  I have not repeated the Lord’s Name, to the extent that the Lord’s Name is glorious.   When in his entire life,  what else did he do ?  He only repeated the Name of the Lord.   Yet,  he felt that  the way that the divine name should be taken,  he had not done so to the fullest extent. In other words,  the  extent to which he should have repeated the name of the Lord, with his mouth,  he had not done so.   Now,  ‘देह हलावा हो रहा’  life is departing from this body…. gone… such is his condition,  but he said ’हुंस रही मन माय ‘’  I should have   recited the  Lord’s name,  more and more.  Just as one who is immersed in making money,  is awakened by the greed,   that inspite of having lakhs and crores of rupees,  he is still busy opening up new factories, that let me earn some more…. such is the greed, which keeps on increasing.  This money will remain right here,   and our time will be wasted.   If we become engaged in God, then the greed for His name will become so intense,  just as the saints have prayed that O’  Lord !  our thirst is not quenched by repeating the Lord’s Name with one mouth,  therefore bless us so that we have thousands of mouths , whereby we depart while repeating the Lord’s name.  Such is the case with saints,  whose longing for the Lord’s Name  goes on increasing.   (to be continued....)

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shree Hari ||

Glories of the Divine Name

नाम-महिमा

continued  ..................

There is immense glories of the Divine Name.   That Name can be taken at all times.   While doing work-business,  while getting-up,  sitting down,  while sleeping-waking,  eating-drinking etc.  at all times God’s name can be taken.   Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says -  God has placed His entire power (glories) in His Name, and the exceptional point is that in taking the divine name,   there is no limitation in terms of the Name has to be recited at a particular time and not any other time.  Rather God has given complete freedom to say the Divine Name at any and all times.   One can say the Divine Name in the morning, evening,  afternoon,  or night, at any time ‒

                       नाम्नामकारि बहुधा निजसर्वशक्ति-   

                               स्तत्रार्पितानियमितः स्मरणे न कालः ।

                       एतादृशी तव कृपा भगवन्ममापि

                               दुर्दैवमीदृशमिहाजनि        नानुरागः ॥

Some people say,  that what to do,  it is not in our fate to repeat the Lord’s Name.   Gentlemen !  Take the Lord’s Name right now and have it accounted for,  there is no delay in doing so.   The office is open at all times,  do it whenever.   Whether in the day,  or night,  or morning,  in good times, in bad times, in pleasure, in pain, repeat the Divine Name of the Lord, then right now,  at this very moment, it will be banked and accumulated in your account.    Now do not forget the Divine Name,  be aware of that much.    For this there is one method.  You all pay attention and listen carefully.  In your own mind pay obeisance to the Lord and offer this prayer  ‒‘O’ Lord ! Let me not forget you,  my Lord ! May I never forget You ’‒ Keep repeating this every minute, every half a minute you keep repeating.   From the time you wake up,  till the time you are in deep sleep keep repeating “O’  Lord !  Let me never forget you.”  While saying Ram Ram Ram,  along with it say “ O’  Lord !  Let me not forget.”  

When you are saying Ram Ram Ram,  and while saying so,  if some other thoughts come into mind,  at that time you forget God,  then say to God -  ‒ ‘O’  Lord ! Let me not forget !  O’  Lord !  Let me not forget.  May I keep repeating Your Name and May I not forget You.”   Continue to pray like this to the Lord,  then with Lord’s grace this mistake of forgetting will be wiped out.   “bhajan”  will take place.   Then uninterrupted “Bhajan”  will take place !  ‘ताली लागी नामसे और पड्यो समँदसे सीर’ A passion for the Lord’s Name will come about.  Then there will be no need to make any effort for remembering Him from within.   Naturally,  on its own,  by the Lord’s grace,  “bhajan”  will take place.  But first you make an effort to say the Lord’s Name,  and pray to God.   

In 1960-65 Vikram Samvaat,  I am not exactly sure of the date,  I had read a letter of a saint,  who had given it for his loving devotee.   It was a small card.    He had written for his disciple ‒‘If one Divine Name slips by that much time remains empty,  then yoou must mourn even more that when a married son dies.”   Ram ! Ram ! Ram ! How fantastic is this.

From Book in Hindi “Bhagwanaam”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji