April 20, 2017 archive

Why do we need a spiritual Guru?

‘Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnuh, Gurur-devo Maheshwara’- means the entire essence of Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (Trinity) exist within the spiritual Guru (Sadguru)! In other words, the energy of creation, sustenance and destruction exist in Him. Such Self-realized Guru destroys the sins of the people who take shelter in Him and leads them towards liberation (moksha). He helps them get rid of their bondages and attachments. Slowly directing their interest towards the Supreme Lord, He ensures that they finally attain the ultimate bliss (Sacchidānanda). For these reasons everyone should follow a Spiritual Guru.

  • Bhaktimala Aug ‘02, May ‘04 & Sep ‘06

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Who is a spiritual Guru?

A Self-realized Sadguru is the form of the Self (atma). He lives within you. The word ‘Guru’ is very special. ‘Gu’ means our sins and karmas. ‘Ru’ refers to their destruction. Guru purifies the person who has sought shelter and makes him complete by destroying his sins and blessing him with Self-knowledge. Obtaining Self-knowledge results in ultimate bliss.

Guru plays a very special role in our life. He removes our ignorance and destroys our ego. He is that family member who unhesitatingly shows us what pure love is. He is like a mirror. The mirror can have no merit or sin (punya-pāpa). It merely reflects our actions. It is the same with the Guru. We get from Him whatever we give Him. That is why we should increase our bhakti and love towards Him. He will return the same to us in greater levels.

  • Bhaktimala Aug ‘02, May ‘04 & Sep ‘06

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/who-is-a-spiritual-guru/

Ego is a terrible disease

Ego is a terrible disease. It causes blindness in people who fail to recognize and acknowledge ‘God’. There are many who spend years on intense meditation and yoga but still say, “I, mine, my money, my knowledge, my opinion, my words” and so on. There are many who are in great positions or are extremely wealthy or very highly educated. Undoubtedly they are blessed with power, position, wealth and great worldly knowledge. If they adopt the policy of selfless action that is devoid of any expectations (nishkāma karma) they will definitely end up as liberated souls.

Ego has a companion always in the form of desires. People at times openly declare that they have overcome ego. Without realizing the power of God, they claim to know everything or control everything. All this happens due to ego. Unless we analyze deeply we cannot even recognize the ego in us. This ego needs to be destroyed at the earliest. Unless it is destroyed the real bliss cannot be achieved.

To get rid of ego, sacrifice (tyaga) is essential. For whom should we sacrifice? We should sacrifice for our community, our family and for our country. Only then our mind will become pure and realization will dawn upon us. All this is explained very beautifully in Ganesha Purana.

We refer to ‘I’ to address ourselves. This ‘I’ represents our ego. Cutting of this ego is represented by the cross + . This is also the symbol of Christ. But this symbol existed long before him. It is there in our Puranas. By encouraging healthy thoughts and engaging in social activities also the ego can be destroyed. Don’t be content with just the offering you make. You should offer the ego behind the action to your Sadguru. This is a lesson. You will then be blessed with Self-knowledge.

 

  • Bhaktimala Sep 99 Dec 2002

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/ego-is-a-terrible-disease/

Why are satsang and nāma sankeertana important?

The sense organs are always attracted towards experiences of the outer materialistic world. They are always out to destroy our mind. The mind therefore needs protection. This can be achieved through constant association with Sadguru (satsang) and through nāma sankeertana (chanting divine names).

We need to acquire the permanent or indestructible wealth. Materialistic earnings are not permanent. If a person earns 1 crore rupees in lottery, it ultimately leads him towards sorrows. There will be no happiness at the end. In other words, the influence of that money attracts sorrows. All this is illusion (maya). Every being should try to make attempts to find that which is permanent. The sense organs which are temporary and impermanent attract and run only after those experiences that are impermanent!

The ordinary person who is deeply entangled in this web called worldly bondages can use Nāma sankeertana (chanting divine names) and sadhu sāngatya (association of pious saints) as the 2 wings to soar high. He can transform into a supreme saint (Paramahamsa)! He can even reach a stage wherein he is untouched by any past bad tendencies. Purity of the mind is the fundamental requirement for this. To purify the mind, Guru seva is essential.

There is no need to specifically seek Guru’s blessings. Does anyone have to pray to the Sun to bless him with his light? Can the Sun show a preference towards any particular place? To the Sun, everyone and everyplace is one and the same. Similarly in Guru’s eyes all are equal. But based on the devotees or disciple’s purity and based on the attitude that he reflects towards Guru seva, Guru’s blessings will fall on him.

The disciple’s attitude should be such that ‘whether it is talking or it is arguing, it is only with the Guru’. Even if you have a problem with sandal paste it will still spread its fragrance around you, won’t it? It is unhealthy to argue with people over materialistic transactions. Transactions or dealings with ordinary people cannot benefit you. Learn to increase your association with your Sadguru.

  • Bhaktimala dec 99

 

Satsang or association with great people has the capacity to bring about a change in even the most cruel people. Nama japa (reciting the name of God) or Divya nama sankeertan (bhajan) is a very useful tool towards this. Sadguru is that person who can bring this massive transformation in you. A father can only give you a good birth, but within this birth Sadguru can give you rebirth.

  • Bhaktimala Dec 1996

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/why-are-satsang-and-nama-sankeertana-important/

How to get rid of bad habits? Why is satsang important?

Through holy friendships (satsang) and bhajans it is possible to get rid of bad habits and negative tendencies! Your aim should be to achieve permanent liberation.

Bhajans as well as hymns such as Vishnu and Lalita Sahasranama energize the nādis (subtle energy channels) tremendously. Uninterrupted Nama smarana (bhajans) can grant liberation! When the name of the Lord is chanted even once with complete love, faith and concentration unimaginably supreme results are obtained.  On the other hand chanting the Lord’s names a million times without concentration is a sheer waste. A tape recorder plays His names zillions of times. In what way does it benefit? The omnipresent God knows everything. Learn to be calm. Be peaceful. Atleast for 5-10 minutes a day learn to be calm and to pray silently.

It is very important to have virtuous and worthy friends. Good associations (sat sangatya) have the ability to wash away bad habits and make way for good thoughts! The subtle impressions of our past actions (vāsanas) are not in our control. To overcome desires, rigorous effort is required. Our past tendencies, the desires we entertain and the good friendships we maintain together build our character. Taking the help of good associations that is within our reach, we should first of all make attempts to overcome desires. Then, with the help of our Guru, we can overcome and destroy the bad tendencies that arise from the subtle impressions of past actions.

If you want satsang, just a little effort is enough to get it. This present birth is a great opportunity to complete or bring to an end all the karmas done in the previous births. Karma is a must. It needs to be done. A thorn can be removed only with the aid of another thorn. In the same way, karma can be set off only by karma. Good karma should be done. Sri Krishna Paramatma has declared that through karma yoga it is possible to get liberation.

 

– Bhaktimala Dec 99

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/how-to-get-rid-of-bad-habits-why-is-satsang-important/

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