April 2017 archive

Charity and social service (seva) are important disciplines

Seva (service) should be done physically, mentally or financially. You can even supply groceries or contribute towards it. On any special occasion in the family like a wedding, naming ceremony, house warming, birthday, wedding anniversary etc. along with your personal expenses spend some money towards the old and needy people. Do annadana (giving food as a charity) on that day. You should understand that Swamiji is teaching you the important trait of sacrifice (tyaga). Donations should always be given happily. Complete your Guru runa (debt).

In the ancient times, whenever people donated huge money to build temples, they instructed that their name should be engraved on the floor or on the steps so that all devotees who visited the temple would walk on it. The idea was that their ego should be humbled and thereby destroyed completely.

Quite contrary to this the modern man seeks that for any small donation he makes his name be written on the fans, tube lights, ceiling, walls etc. so that it is advertised. This is so shameful. Our elders say that when the left hand should not know what the right hand has given away! It is to be so secretive. In fact once the donation is made, there should be no thought about it. Even if the thought comes by mistake, you should be ashamed of it.

Of course there are people who donate publicly, so as to encourage others to follow. This is good. If such people wish to have their name engraved then it should be on the floor not the ceiling.

  • Bhaktimala 1993

 

Look around you and help in any small way you can. It can have a great impact. Actually a small help brings great results. Feeding a hungry person is also a great act. Help others in your own small way. Pass on this good quality to others.

After all, what you are now giving belonged to someone else yesterday and it will belong to someone else tomorrow.  You brought nothing with you when you came to the earth. You will take nothing with you when you leave. Even God does not take the abhishekha that is done to him. He leaves it for you to take it as prasada. Everyone should understand this principle.

  • Bhaktimala Jan 06, Oct 98

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/charity-and-social-service-seva-are-important-disciplines/

How does Sadguru help his devotees?

Swamiji is a true friend who blesses you with the required mental strength to handle your difficulties. A doctor can prescribe medicines and sympathize with you but can he share your physical pain? Similarly Swamiji helps you withstand the burdens of your karma. He rescues you and prevents you from drowning in it.

More importantly, Sadguru prevents you from committing the same mistake again and again! He is a good guide. But for all this it requires complete surrender and a prayer to guide you. Only then will He accept responsibility for you. This external show of faith and devotion will not work with him.

Swamiji can directly see your heart and your inner feelings. Based on this he will assess to what degree he should help you. Do continuous Nama japa. It is very difficult to reach that stage of complete surrender.

  • Bhaktimala Sep and Oct 2002

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/how-does-sadguru-help-his-devotees/

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

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/why-do-we-need-a-spiritual-guru/

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/

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