Sri Brahmachaithanya Pravachan – Sept.8

Read Little, Contemplate and Act on it

What is maya? That which exists without God is maya. Everything that is visible and perishable is maya. As long as we practise nama-smarana we are out of the snare of maya; when we forget God and nama, we fall under the influence of maya. The essence of anything is in doing it, not just listening to it or telling about it. Howsoever you describe nirguna, it will not be possible to comprehend nirguna. We should, therefore, visualize and worship saguna. One who says ‘I worship nirguna’, does not really know what nirguna is, because in nirguna there remains no one even to tell this.

One gentleman told me that he had read all books on vedanta. I said to him, ‘Then you must have achieved contentment;’ On this he replied ‘That is the only thing which I have not achieved’! Of what use then has his entire reading been? What can we then get from studying vedanta? Let us practise simple and easy devotion. Surrender yourself single mindedly and completely to God, practise nama-smarana; you will get everything. Unless you practise what you read in sacred books the reading is futile. Do not read merely for the sake of reading; it adversely affects your sadhana, and you start developing pride over your reading. Therefore, read only a little, contemplate and act on it.
If you spend even a small part of the day in the remembrance of God, the entire day will pass in the same mood of awareness of God; extending days into months, months into years, and years forming the life, your whole life will pass in the continuous remembrance of God.

You should not be fond of family life itself, but should be fond of your duties therein. It is holy to do your duties, but you should not get involved in attachment to family life. You should mentally belong only to God. If you earnestly remember God, He will definitely keep you happy and contented. To belong to God is to be happy and contented in life. Have profound faith in God and do only what He likes; that is the essence of paramartha.

No one knows when this body may fall; never say, therefore, ‘I shall practise nama when I am old;’ start right now.

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Sri Brahmachaithanya Pravachan-Sept.5.

Nama is a Magic Lantern

A lady was once busy in the kitchen, wearing her traditional sacred saree. In the meantime, her child woke up and started crying for her to pick him. She told the child to remove his clothes and come to her. The child was in no mood to listen to her. A neighboring lady then undressed the child and it was then embraced by the mother. We also behave in a similar manner with God. Without removing the layers of impurities like desires, passions and ego, we wish to reach God. How can we do so? God is most loving and affectionate, like a mother. He is very eager to meet us, but so long as we do not take away our unholy clothes of desires, passions, ego, etc. God will not accept us.

Saints show us the path to reach God. We shall certainly attain Him, if we faithfully follow the path. You might have read that when both Arjuna and Duryodhana approached Lord Shrikrishna for help in the impending war, Shrikrishna told them, ‘one who wants me personally to be on his side will not get my army and material help.’ Duryodhana opted for the army and material help. Arjuna was really happy that he was getting what he wished for; he was sure that every other help was futile without God Himself, there is no use of thousands of bodies without soul. Philosophers tell us that God is beyond the seven seas; He is lying on Shesha, the king serpent; and it’s extremely difficult for a common man to reach him. Saints, however, have greatly obliged us. They have handed over to us the magic lantern of nama; we have only to put oil in it consisting of the company of saints. We have to take great precaution to keep this lantern burning. I repeatedly tell you the truth that if a morally behaving person remains in nama, he automatically develops love for it. Morality is the foundation of the entire structure of paramartha; the structure cannot stand without this foundation.

You must be very careful regarding three things: Regard other women as your mother; treat others’ wealth and censure both as filth not to be touched; and whatever be the circumstances, do not forsake nama; you will certainly attain love of God.

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Sri Brahmachaithanya Pravachan-Aug.15.

A Contented Mind Signifies Divine Grace

Our body is made of the five primal elements. We should realize which of these is my true self, the true ‘I’. It is clear that ‘I’ is not, unlike these elements, perishable. The real ‘I’ comes from the eternal Cosmic Soul, and therefore this ‘I’ tries to return to the original Reality, to recover the eternal existence, together with its unfailing state of happiness. When we feel devoid of this happiness, we can conclude that there is something wrong somewhere. God created man with a seed of His own potential in him, in order to perfect an imperfect and unhappy world. This could be done if We know what detracts from the innate happiness. When we know that a certain road is infested by highwaymen, we travel with a certain preparedness. One who is a true devotee is undaunted by obstacles; he does not mind trouble, for he works for God. An actor may play the part of a king in a drama, but cannot, in his heart of hearts, forget that he is a hireling. Similarly, we should play our part in the world with full awareness of our true position. We, however, fall a prey to the illusion that material things are lasting, and, getting ensnared into attachment for them, attach unjustified importance to self-pride. Also, we imagine that happiness lies in something that we do not possess, and therefore pine for what is not. We crave for evanescent sensual pleasures, and are pained when we discover their shallowness. He is truly wise who realizes the intrinsic value of things. Pundits and scholars talk about paramartha in bombastic terms and scare the common man into feeling that paramartha is a thing beyond his reach. This feeling is obviously fallacious. Paramartha is, indeed, essential, even indispensable, for every human being. It encompasses all branches of knowledge, just as the many rooms in a house are covered by a single roof. The shastras prescribe rules to be observed, the object being to discipline the mind and body. Add nama to this, and forge a link which puts you directly in touch with God. Remember that man is born, not for perishable worldly objectives but for nothing less than the attainment of the Eternal Reality, and its attribute of pure, permanent bliss, and lasting and unperturbable contentment. To live in nama- smarana is the easiest way to realize that condition. * * * * *

Sri Brahmachaithanya Pravachan-Aug.10.

What is Paramartha in Essence

Everyone who is solicitous about his own interest, I exhort you to listen to what I say. I feel true attachment for whoever is a devotee of Rama; I regard him as a genuine friend. My sole object in life is to guide everyone to what is in his ultimate interest. Life is meaningless if it does not exist for Rama. Once you dedicate yourself to me, I take it upon myself to look after you, to shoulder your worries and anxieties. You may rest contented. Have no worry about the end, for I undertake to see you successfully through. When I say I have taken you unto me, you should feel easy, disburdened, reassured. Trust in me, God will surely give you the cover of His mercy. My followers can depend on me to be by their side, wherever they may happen to be; I give this assurance confidently, in the name of the Lord. Know that I am present in your joy; do not drive me away by harbouring misery in the mind. One who maintains constant awareness of God, sees Him everywhere, and loves nama dearly, the Lord is with him everywhere, all the time. If you do what I have asked you to do, I guarantee that Rama will take you into the folds of His grace. All palpable things must eventually perish, cease to exist in visible form. My own physical body is also subject to this rule of nature; but my last wish, my parting message is, “Never quit nama while you breathe.” Do this, and Rama will undoubtedly shower His grace on you. Remain always contented, free of pleasure, pain, anxiety. I am ever by your side, for I am contentment incarnate. My sole desire, all my effort, is to unite you with Rama. In practice you will have to behave as circumstances demand, but at heart rest in utter surrender to Rama, and be inseparable from nama. This, and this alone, will lead you to contentment. I would exhort you again and again to be detached and discriminating at heart. Be devoted to God, attain to realization of the true nature of the Cosmic Soul, be in ceaseless awareness of it, and be ever attached to nama. I repeatedly assure you that I am ever there to back you up, so never lose courage. * * * * *