Extract
from Rama navami discourse of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Come! Oh devotees! Come!
Take the sweetmeat of Rama Nama
Out of ignorance do not buy and eat other sweets,
they will spoil your health
By mixing the essence of the Vedas
with the milk of Vedic declarations.
Adding the sugar of Subuddhi (virtues)
and the ghee of Nibaddhi (truth)
Removing the dirt of Abaddhamu (falsehood)
Our ancient Rishis have prepared
this most delicious sweet of Rama's Name.
7.4.2006
The birthday of Rama is celebrated in
order to remind us of the ideals for which He stood. We have to ponder over the
ideals set before us by Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Satrughna and also by
Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. Sage Vasishtha declared, Ramo vigrahavan
dharmah (Rama is the embodiment of Dharma). He described the Divine form
of Rama saying, Pumsam Mohana Rupaya (one whose form enchants all).
"Rama,
the beauty and handsomeness that You are endowed with are not limited to Your
physical form alone. Your infinite love and compassion give You this blissful
form. Even men are attracted by the blissful form of Yours.
You are the very
personification of sat-chit-ananda (being-awareness-bliss)."
Thus, Sage Vasishtha extolled the glory and majesty of Rama. It is your good
fortune that you are able to listen to the sacred story of Rama and sing His
glory.
As I told you in the beginning, God
shines effulgently in the universe, and so does the universe in God. The
relationship between God and the universe is intimate and inseparable. The
universe is full of living beings.
Each being is the embodiment of Rama. Do not
confine Rama to a particular name and form. All the beings are His forms. Rama
means the One who delights. He is present in all. Easwara sarva bhutanam (God
is the indweller of all beings). Isavasyam idam jagat (the entire world is
permeated by God).
The world is the very form of God. Sahasra seersha
purusha sahasraksha sahasra pad (God has thousands of heads, eyes and
feet).
11/4/2003
Do not limit Rama or Krishna to a particular name or form.
These names were given to them after their birth. They were not born with these
names. The Bharatiyas have realised the truth that God is the resident of man’s
heart. That is why they are able to withstand all difficulties and sufferings
and lead their lives happily.
Sukhadukhe samekruthwa labhalabhau jayajayau (one
should remain equal-minded in happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and
defeat), says the Gita. Pleasure and pain are part of human life.
Whenever
Bharatiyas have to encounter sorrows and difficulties, they consider them as
the harbingers of happiness. They have attained exalted positions due to such
noble feelings.
30.4.2009
SWAMI SIVANANDA SPEAKS ON SRI RAMA
In Kali Yuga, most of the
illiterate persons are devotional and they are all doing some kind of Tapas,
Japa, prayer and meditation. Hindu ladies are devotional in their very nature.
The Hindu religion is maintained through the devotional nature of Hindu ladies.
Devotion to God is a peculiar characteristic of a Hindu lady. It is only those
who have imbibed western education and have scientific knowledge who have
become confirmed atheists. They have no faith in chanting Mantra. Their fate is
highly deplorable.
Justice Woodroffe has written a most valuable book entitled
"Garland of Letters". There he has treated this subject quite
rationally. The only remedy for them to acquire devotion is Satsanga.
Satsanga
will overhaul their worldly nature, change their materialistic Samskaras and
infuse genuine Bhakti. Hear the famous couplet of Tulasidas:
Bin
Satsang Viveka Na Hoi
Rama Kripa Bin Sulab Na Soi.
The grace of Rama
cannot be obtained without the help of Satsanga and discrimination.
Japa of Rama Mantra is
of three kinds, viz., mental, low or semi-verbal, loud or vocal. The repetition
of low Japa gives a reward a thousand times more than verbal. The mental Japa
gives a reward a crore times more than verbal.
May the blessings of
the bow-holder of Ayodhya ever be upon us all!
Ananda Kutir, 25th
July, 1943
Sivananda
