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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
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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
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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/
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