Dear All,

A talk on Janmashtami is given below. listen and experience the bliss of being with Krishna

Jai Sri Krishna

Love

 

Contemplation on a Bhajan "SAI BHAJAN BINA SUKH SHANTI NAHIN"

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Yesterday, this bhajan was rendered by a devotee in Sai centre.

Let us get deeper into the contemplation of this bhajan.  Even if very few are able to read fully till the end and then contemplation on what they have read, to that extent, the purpose of this particular post is served.

Let us go through the detailed contemplation on this beautiful bhajan, very often sung by our Swami.

BHAKTI YOGA

Beginning our journey from form to reach formless

BHAGWAN BINA KOI APNA NAHIN

SAINATH BINA PARAMATMA NAHIN

When Arjuna shot a question to the lord, O Lord, “of those who love thee as the Lord of love and those who seek thee as nameless, which way leads sure and swift, Love or Knowledge? (CHAPTER 12, B.GITA, 1^ST SHLOKA)

To this, Lord confirms that the sadhaka can take any of the 2 path and reach him, but He also says “yet, hazardous and slow is the path to the unrevealed (pursuing formless, through the path of jnana), difficult for physical man to tread.”

Thus, for the wayward mind to get stilled, for our thoughts to be controlled or rather silenced so that they become pure and disciplined, it is very easy to take up a form of God, our Ishta devata and concentrate on His form in the initial stage, through prayers, through bhajans, through satsangh, through hearing His glory, through reading His books etc. 

Ultimately, it is knowledge of self which has to be acquired to realize God within, as Atman and without, as Brahman and as supreme, as Parameswara, but believe me, when Bhakti ripens, Knowledge flows in, with Lord’s supreme Grace. If Knowledge was to be attained only by reading of scriptures and assimilating them and contemplating on them, how would Sri Ramakrishna have attained self- realization? He could hardly read or write. All His strength was His devotion to Ma Kali

This, without SAINATH, without  making a beginning in spiritual path with  worship of God in form, as Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Sai,and immersed in prema bhakti, (PREMA BHAKTI BINA UDHAR NAHIN) it is very difficult ( though not impossible) to attain the supreme knowledge of PARAMATMA, the realization of supreme universal consciousness.

(The above  line may be understood in correct perspective and not taken as there is no prabrahman , Paramatma without Sainath)

SAI BHAJAN BINA SUKH SHANTI NAHIN

HARI NAAM BINA ANAND NAHIN

PREMA BHAKTI BINA UDHAR NAHIN

The bhajan starts with a call to all sadhakas  for plunging into the path of Bhakti, which is the easiest way to control and purify our thoughts and thereby, our mind as Swami often says “ Mind is a bundle of thoughts”.  Mind, purified, seeks mumukshatva , it craves for Liberation with dedication and concentration, for atmajnana, for realizing one’s self, which, once realized, leaves nothing else to be known!!

These three lines take us to the first 3 types, ne, rather first 3 stages of Navavidha bhakti, as enumerated by Sage Narada which are:-

Shravanam- Listening to Lord’s glory

Kirtanam – Singing His glory

Vishnu smaranam- Chanting His name, dwelling upon His glory 

Can our Lord Sai explain in a more beautiful / profound manner, the fruitation of Namasmarana than this?? He says "Start now with the first step, namely repeating the Name of the Lord, the Universal Indweller. That will lead you on to the further steps. March on until the goal is reached. Keep the outer-faced senses closed to the influences that attract; instead, concentrate on the Name of the Lord, Its Sweetness and Beauty. Develop qualities of Divinity like Universal Love, Absence of Attachment. Then you will be entitled to assert 'Shivo-ham Shivo-ham' or 'I am the Pure Sat-Chit-Ananda Consciousness'. But, with the Lord's Grace, you may not have to assert it at all, because there will be no 'aham' feeling in you then."

GURU BHAKTI YOGA 

GURU SEVA BINA NIRAVANA NAHIN

Let us look at 2 versus from “GURU VACHAKA KOVAI” ( A book in which some verses are given by Sri Ramana and some others by His disciple)

314. For a worthy disciple, the proper worship of the Guru is having the firm outlook of Jnana-Guru-Bodham,through which the disciple sees the whole universe –which is nothing but the forms of ‘I’ and ‘this’, each bound by desire towards the other – as the Form of his Guru. Thus should you know.

320. The right worship of the Lotus-Feet of the Guru, who shines as the vast Supreme Space, is the prevention of the rising and spreading of the dark cloud of the wrong outlook of the ego, who, though behaving as the body, pretends to be Sat-Chit [Existence-Consciousness– i.e. Self].

Blessed are those sadhakas who get realized souls as their GURU in their life time. The Guru, by His realized experience, makes it  very simple, very lucid for the disciple to adapt a path as per the disciple’s aptitude , guides the disciple and then leads the disciple to find the SADGURU within himself, who can only bestow Grace on the disciple and grant him the supreme knowledge of wisdom, knowledge of self.

We are so fortunate to have the supreme Eswara, Lord Sai, to be amongst us, delivering divine discourses from 1940 onwards, given us this beautiful SS Organization with the three wings, so that we can start with any of the path which su9its our aptitude and gradually elevate us to realize our self, no matter how many years or how many births it takes.

JNANA YOGA

JAPA DHAYAN BINA SAMYOG NAHIN

Who else  but our Lord Sai, who is our source and who is our destination, and Ramana maharishi, who attained self-realization through the path of enquiry, through  contemplation and  apparently without the aid of any guru at human level, can explain this line in a better manner?????

I Quote Swami  from divine discourse delivered on 1.5.2008

“Japa Dhyana Bina Samyog Nahin” (You cannot have union with God without performing japa and dhyana). What does yoga mean? It is not merely to sit still with closed eyes. What does meditation mean? It is not remembering God with closed eyes. You should install God in your heart. Do not think that you are different from God. You should become one with God.”

I quote Ramana maharishi  

“Dhyana means fight. As soon as you begin meditation other thoughts will crowd together, gather force and try to sink the single thought to which you try to hold. The good thought must gradually gain strength by repeated practice. After it has grown strong the other thoughts will be put to flight. This is the battle royal always taking place in meditation.

Who so ever meditates upon the Self in whatever bhava (mental image) attains it only in that image. Those peaceful ones who remain quiet without any such bhava attain the noble and 

unqualified state of Kaivalya, the formless state of the Self. “

Thus, can we sum up with the understanding that SAMYOGA is UNION with GOD OR ATTAINING KAIVALYA or REALIZATION OF SELF  OR BECOMING ONE WITH GOD, after reading Bhagwan’s quote and Sri Ramana’s quote??

SELF REALIZATION/ SUPREME KNOWLEDGE/PRAJNANAM 

PRABHU DARAS   BINA PRAGYAN NAHIN

For Prabhu Daras, we need to go  back to the detailed interpretation on “ DARSHAN” as explained in Krishna Krishna Mujhe Darshan do Krishna. 

After reading the same, let us  come back here and go through the literal interpretation of  verse 3 of part 3 of aitaraya Upanishad

“He is Brahman, He is Indra, He is Prajapati; He is all these gods; He is the five great elements—earth, air, akasa, water, light; He is all these small creatures and the others which are mixed; He is the origin—those born of an egg, of a womb, of sweat and of a sprout; He is horses, cows, human beings, elephants—whatever breathes here, whether moving on legs or flying in the air or unmoving. All this is guided by Consciousness, is supported by Consciousness. The basis is Consciousness. Consciousness is Brahman (Prajnanam Brahma)”

Are we not clear now, after reading the deeper meaning of darshan and the verse of upanishad above that true knowledge, true awareness is knowledge of brahman?????

KARMA YOGA (KARMA, AFTER SELF  REALIZATION)

DAYA DHARMA BINA SATKARMA NAHIN

  

We take up service activities with lot of enthusiasm and go about rendering service to our brothers and sisters in this foreign land/ any other country, in various ways.

When I asked a simple question to a sevadal member, “why do you do service?” the reply came- “ God has given us so much, I should give my time and energy and if possible, money to serve the less fortunate one”

Brothers and sisters, who is to judge whom as less fortunate ones?? 

Service to mankind, Manava seva, is a beautiful path given by our lord to remove our ego and to treat all as one, as Madhava.

But the real beauty of service is when we, after going through the Bhakti Marga and then evolving ourselves to the Jnana marga, are literally able to see and feel the same atman existing in us, as existing in one and all and feel the supreme bliss of union with Lord and with everyone who are but Lord.  

We can keep on repeating like parrot, we must see God in all, but then, it is only when we realize the god within us as god within all (As the entire universe and beyond is engulfed by paramatman  who is all pervading and nothing, no human, no animal, nothing is outside the jurisdiction of paramatman), then we can say, with truth , that our ego has been removed and annihilated totally.

Only your conscience will reveal to you whether you have reached this stage or not. And.., when you reach this stage, any seva, rather every act, every breadth, every moment becomes a moment of service, a moment of worship and with this realized level, once you visit and look at an autistic child, a hospital patient, a patient   suffering from serious illness, then you will feel what is meant by LOVE, what is meant by BLISS, what is meant by LOVE filled with BLISS.

JAI SAIRAM.

Upcoming Theme - JNANA VAHINI

Dear All,

Few who attended a spiritual session at home today would be aware that even till the morning, the next theme was "Drig Drsya Viveka" a vedantic treatise.

But divine command from within is to share the precious JNANA VAHINI, which the divine incarnation SAI has given to the world of sincere spiritual seekers. 

Preface to this  invaluable vahini, as given by Late Prof. Kasturji is given below. 

"Dear Reader, 

This is not just another book on the Nature of Jiva and the technique by which the Jiva discovers its Reality. When you turn over the pages, you are actually sitting at the Feet of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Avathar of the Age, come in answer to the prayers of Sadhus and Sadhakas to guide them and grant them Peace and Perfection. 

"Place all your burdens on Me", He says. "Start on the spiritual pilgrimage this very day", He exhorts. "Why fear, when I am here?" He asks. His Grace is Omnipresent; His miraculous powers proclaim His Omnipotence. His wisdom, His analysis of the ills of Humanity and His prescriptions for their cure reveal His Omniscience. 

You have the unique chance of meeting Him, at the Prasanthi Nilayam, and receiving from Him His Blessings for the success of your spiritual pilgrimage. He appreciates your earnestness and faith; and you can continue with greater confidence and courage because He assures victory. He is the Eternal Teacher of the Gita, the Charioteer in your heart.

In the pages of the magazine, published with His Blessings and named after Him as Sanathana Sarathi, He wrote, out of His overwhelming Prema towards humanity caught in the meshes of cynicism and credal fanaticism, this series of articles called Jnana Vahini. 

Month after month, thousands of readers awaited these articles (in the original Telugu as well as in the English translation) and when they received their copy, they perused it diligently and with reverential eagerness. They are now put together in book form, for your guidance and inspiration.

N. Kasturi, Editor, Sanathana Sarathi".

Love.

Next Theme in Blog - BHAJA GOVINDAM

Dear All,

After we completed Rama Katha Rasa Vahini, there are only quotes of masters on DIVINE LOVE for few days now.

The quotes may still continue for few more days before we start with the next theme - BHAJA GOVINDAM.

Sri Shankaracharya  encountered an old teacher who was busy with memorizing the rules of Samskrit grammar in order to teach them to a few small boys.

The old Acharya was shivering and shaking due to the infirmity of age, yet he still carried on teaching. He was teaching the Dhatu Pada of Samskrit grammar.

The sight drew out the poet in Shankaracharya. He spontaneously broke out into song. Not that he began to sing – rather one can say he was ever the Song itself!

The original title of Bhaja Govindam is Moha Mudgara. Moha Mudgara means 'hammer to delusion'. 

Just as in objective fields we only use a hammer when the work to be done is serious so too in a subjective field. 

A casual awareness of the suffering delusion causes and so a casual effort to grow out of such a delusion will not work. We need to 'hammer' the delusion out of ourselves. Though painful initially, this is Peaceful in the long run.

Love.

Krishna Janmashtami

By 

Sri Swami Sivananda

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

This is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth Divine Incarnation. It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight. A twenty-four hour fast is observed on this day, which is broken at midnight.

Temples are decorated for the occasion. Kirtans are sung, bells are rung, the conch is blown, and Sanskrit hymns are recited in praise of Lord Krishna. At Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, special spiritual gatherings are organised at this time. Pilgrims from all over India attend these festive gatherings.

The Lord appeared when the moon entered the house of Vrishabha at the constellation of the star Rohini, on Wednesday, the 8th day of the second fortnight of the month of Sravana, which corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha according to the Barhaspatyamana, in the year of Visvavasu, 5,172 years ago (from 1945), which means 3227 B.C.

.............Sri Krishna is the ocean of bliss. His soul-stirring Lilas, which are the wonder of wonders, are its waves. The honeyed music of His flute attracts the minds of His devotees from all three regions. His unequalled and unsurpassed wealth of beauty amazes the animate and the inanimate beings. He adorns His friends with His incomparable love.

His palms bear the signs of a lotus and discus, the right sole of His feet of a flag, lotus, thunderbolt, an iron goad, barley seed, and the Swastika. His left sole has the rainbow, triangle, water-pot, crescent, sky, fish, and a cow's footprint. His Form is composed of condensed universal consciousness and bliss. His Body pervades the entire cosmos.

Devotion is the only means of attaining Lord Krishna. Bhakti kindles love for the Lord. When love is directed towards Krishna, man is freed from the bondage of the world.

Though Lord Krishna appeared in a human body, He had a divine body not composed of the five elements. He did not take any birth here in the usual sense of the term. He did not die. 

He appeared and disappeared through His Yoga Maya as He has declared in the Gita. This is a secret, known only to His devotees, Yogis and sages.

His enchanting form with flute in hand is worshipped in myriads of homes in India. It is a form to which is poured out devotion and supreme love from the hearts of countless devotees not only in India but also in the West. Millions of spiritual seekers worship Him and repeat His Mantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Lord Krishna was great in knowledge, great in emotion, great in action, all at once. The scriptures have not recorded any life more full, more intense, more sublime and grander than the life of Sri Krishna.

Krishna has played various roles during His stay in the world. He was Arjuna's charioteer. He was an excellent statesman. He was a master musician; he gave lessons even to Narada in the art of playing the veena. The music of His flute thrilled the hearts of the Gopis and everyone else. He was a cowherd in Brindavan and Gokul. He exhibited miraculous powers even as a child. He killed many demons. He revealed His Cosmic Form to His mother, Yasoda. He performed the Rasa Lila, the secret of which can only be understood by devotees like Narada, Gauranga, Radha and the Gopis. He taught the supreme Truth of Yoga, Bhakti and Vedanta to Arjuna and Uddhava. He had mastered every one of the sixty-four fine arts. For all these reasons He is regarded as a full and complete manifestation of God.

Incarnations of God appear for special reasons under special circumstances. Whenever there is much unrighteousness, whenever confusion and disorder set in on account of unrighteousness and baffle the well-ordered progress of mankind, whenever the balance of human society is upset by selfish, ruthless and cruel beings, whenever irreligion and unrighteousness prevail, whenever the foundations of social organisation are undermined, the great Incarnation of God appears in order to re-establish righteousness and to restore peace.

An Incarnation is the descent of God for the ascent of man. A ray from the Cosmic Being in His potential state of manifestation descends on earth with mighty powers to keep up the harmony of the universe. The work done by the Incarnation of God and His teachings produce a benign influence on human beings and help them in their upward divine unfoldment and Self-realisation.

The Incarnation comes to reveal the divine nature of man and makes him rise above the petty materialistic life of passion and egoism. 

The greatest manifestations are called Incarnations proper. Rishis, Munis, prophets, sons of God and messengers of God are minor manifestations.

.........On the holy Krishna Janmashtami, the ladies in South India decorate their houses beautifully, ready to welcome the Lord. They prepare various sweetmeats and offer them to the Lord. Butter was Krishna's favorite, and this is also offered. From the doorway to the inner meditation room of the house the floor is marked with a child's footprints, using some flour mixed with water. This creates the feeling in them that the Lord's own Feet have made the mark. They treat the day as one of very great rejoicing. There is recitation of the Bhagavatam, singing and praying everywhere.

If you cannot read the whole of the Srimad Bhagavatam during these days, at least you should recite the following four most important verses from the book. The leading two verses and the closing verse are the prologue and the epilogue respectively:

"Hear from Me the most secret knowledge coupled with the essential experience and its component parts.

"May you realize by My Grace, the knowledge of Myself and what form, qualities and actions I am endowed with.

1. "Before creation I alone existed. There was nothing, neither existence nor non-existence. I am that which remains after dissolution.

2. "Understand that to be Maya or illusion which is devoid of any purpose, which is not to be found in the Self and which is unreal like light and darkness.

3. "As the primary elements are amalgamated, with one another and also separate from one another at the same time, so I pervade the whole universe and am also separate from it.

4. "The aspirant should, by the method of positive and negative, know that thing which exists always and everywhere.

"Experience this truth through the highest superconscious state so that you will not be disturbed even by illusory objects".

May the blessings of Lord Krishna and Sri Radha be upon you all!

---

Reader from Taiwan, please Introduce yourself.

Dear Friend from Taiwan,

I see an unprecedented number of page views today from reader from Taiwan,

The no of page views for the day is 231 pages as of now and the day is still not over.

I request you to introduce yourself to other blog readers and give your feedback on what posts are you reading today and how do find them.

Loving regards

Sathya

(Author of the blog)

WHAT IS THE NEXT THEME IN THE BLOG?

Dear Readers,

Adi Shankara

After one of the most important treatise on Bhakti / Devotion, Narada Bhakti Sutras got completed with many posts covering all the Sutras, there was a gap for a week and from within, it has come intuitively to take up ATMA BODHA, a beautiful poetical gift given by Adi Sankara to the world of sincere seekers of the ultimate goal in / through the path of Jnana / Knowledge.

ATMA BODHA is a prakarna Grantha, dealing with Knowledge of the Self. It describes the state of realization from different standpoints, using various comparisons from day-to-day experiences. It explicitly conveys Brahman as the only Reality and all other Tattvas in the world have only an apparent Reality. That is the sole subject of this text.

It is written in poetry. There are 68 couplets in the entire text, without any group classification or title for each verse. The poetical meter is similar to the verses of the Bhagavad Gita.

From the Introduction by Swami Chinmayanandaji, we quote:

“Sri Sankaracharya, in the days of his perfect maturity, took up his pen to write ‘Introductory Books’, introducing the theme of Vedanta for the infants in the spiritual world. Atma Bodha is one of them. This is not an original book in as much as there is not a single idea in it which is an entirely original contribution of Sri Sankara. 

Every one of them is culled from the garden of the Upanishads, and strung together on the chord of his poetry.

“Scientific detachment, honest observation, logical conclusions, and heroic decisions alone can help an individual to come away from his own life’s fallacies. Atma Bodha supplies all these requisites and Acharya Shankara has made this scientific treatise a chiselled beauty with a distinct cadence and rhythm of its own.”

Commenting on the exquisite examples given in the book, Swamiji says: “The poet in Shankara revels in these 68 verses. There is no verse here which does not have a simile. Each is a picture, a sure and striking example. These examples are real hammer strokes that nail the elusive ideals of Vedanta onto the immature comprehension of all early students. They are all striking examples, so pregnant with suggestions that to ruminate upon them is in itself a profitable meditation for the new initiates.” 

In the next few posts, we will reproduce / recapitulate important and relevant posts covered earlier under various other theme such as "Creation of Universe" or "Veda and Vedanta" to gain a proper insight into the KNOWLEDGE OF SELF / ATMAN which is what ATMA BODHA is all about.

With such introduction and insight, the posts related to the 68 couplets of Atma Bodha are ready to feast the spiritual hunger of the world of Mumukshus / sincere seeker existing at present / in times to come, even after the author leaves this world.

Love.

Request your Feedback

Dear Readers,

Narada Bhakti Sutra theme posts got concluded yesterday.

There is nothing left out to be learnt about divine love, the Love for God, the Love of God, after going through all the Sutras under the theme which has got over yesterday.

There have been readers from all over the globe reading these posts.

Author requests sincere feedback from readers on their reading and contemplation of this theme posts, even as he waits for the divine command on the next theme to be taken up in the blog.

Any suggestion on the next theme is welcome from the readers.

Love.

Dear All,

On this auspicious day of Sri Rama Navami, let us immerse in the essence of Sri Rama, as given by Swami Sivananda.

Also, each Sai devotee must take up reading of Rama Katha Rasa Vahini which has been given to us by none other than Sri Rama Himself, re-incarnated as Sri Sathya Sai in this Kali Yuga.

Swami, as though writing His own biography of His previous incarnation, has given so many things in this precious book which are nowhere to be found in any other exposition of Ramayana.

The Author used to get into silence for almost the whole day when he used to read  this precious book. One para would take him to utmost silence and intense contemplation on how glorious that era would have been, how blessed mankind would be in that Rama Rajya!!! Glimpses from this book was shared while learning the Bhajan "Parama Dayalo Sai Ram" in Sai Sadan, Muscat.

Sri Rama

By 

Sri Swami Sivananda

Rama was Lord Hari Himself incarnate on earth for the destruction of Ravana. He was well accomplished, beautiful and endowed with royal marks. He was the foremost of those who were skilled in the use of bows and arrows. He was born of the Ikshvaku line. He had his sway all over the world.

He had eyes like lotus-petals and a countenance like the full moon. His arms were long and beautiful. He had broad shoulders. His eyes were red. He had a deep voice. He had proportionate limbs. His gait was slow and majestic. It was like that of a lion. He had four lines on his thumb. He had a pointed nose. He had a high forehead.

His glory and powers were unlimited. He was peerless on earth. He was free from malice. He was gentle and the protector of his people. He always addressed the people in gentle words. He never used harsh words even when anybody addressed him rudely.

He was wise and virtuous. He was effulgent like the sun, in forgiveness like the earth, in intelligence like Brihaspati, in frame like Vasava, in prowess like Indra. He observed ascetic vows and honoured saints. He would forget hundreds of evils done to him but would gratefully remember a single act of kindness, ever shown.

In the leisure of his martial exercises, he had discussions on the Sastras with the wise and the aged people. He always followed the right in every walk of his life and never swerved from his royal duties.

If anybody approached him, he would talk to him first. He was exceedingly powerful but never haughty. He was the upholder of the four castes. He conferred honour upon people. He was worshipped by all. He was well versed in polity and greatly devoted to the Brahmins.

He was a friend of the poor and chastiser of the wicked. He was a cosmic benefactor. He was well versed in religion, social customs and laws. He looked after the welfare of his subjects and the people too loved him immensely. He never indulged in profane and irrelevant talks. 

He had mastery of Yajur Veda, Dhanur Veda, the Vedangas, etc. Whenever people put a question to him he answered them wisely like Brihaspati. He was skilful in the use of arms. He was honoured by the scholars of the Vedas. He was proficient in philosophy and poetry.

He never spoke a lie even in extreme danger or peril. He was brave, candid and modest. He was the source of all good. He always respected his superiors. He was free from idleness. He was ever vigilant. He sought no evil. He had perfect control over anger.

He was ever ready to keep vigilant watch over his own faults. He had aged and pious Brahmins for his guide.

He was an expert rider, a great warrior, a valiant general. He had great skill in all the military manoeuvres. He was unconquered even by the gods. He was free from the evil habit of carping.

Sri Rama is an Avatara of Lord Hari. Lakshmana is an Avatara of Adisesha. Bharata and Satrughna are Avataras of the conch and discus. Sita is an Avatara of Sri Lakshmi.

Sri Rama possessed red eyes and his arms were sinewy. His steps were like those of an elephant. He had long arms, broad shoulders and black, curly hair. He was valiant and glowing with splendour. He was in no way inferior to Indra himself in battle. He was well versed in holy scriptures and equal to Brihaspati in wisdom. He was skilled in every science. He was an object of love and reverence with all people. He had his senses under perfect control. Even his enemies were pleased to see him. He was the terror of the wicked and the protector of the virtuous. He was endowed with keen intelligence. He could never be vanquished by anyone.

He renounced the throne and the pleasures of the senses and the world to fulfil the words of his father.

If Rama had longed for the throne, it was quite easy for him to get it. He was very popular. He was the mightiest of heroes. He destroyed the Rakshasas and bent the tremendous bow of Lord Siva. But he did not show the least physical force. He gladly accepted what was dictated by the cruel and wicked Kaikeyi. 

The throne possessed less fascination for him than the obedience of his father’s behests. He renounced the kingdom and the comforts of a king. He gladly accepted exile. The laudable virtues of Sri Rama cannot be adequately described.

Of all the four brothers Sri Rama was a paragon of virtues. 

He was not only kind and affectionate but generous and considerate of feelings for all around him. He had a splendid physique and winning manners. He had a magnanimous personality. He was extremely noble, generous, chivalrous and fearless. He was very simple and absolutely free from ostentation.

Sri Rama’s life was a life of holy obedience, of stainless purity, of matchless simplicity, laudable contentment, commendable self-sacrifice and remarkable renunciation. He paid equal respect to his mother and his stepmothers and revered his Guru.

Sita once told Rama to seek shelter in a safe place and let the forest dwellers alone as there was much danger there. Rama’s reply revealed his firm determination to adhere to truth, and to his duty as a king to protect those who took shelter under him. Sri Rama said, "O Sita, I may even give up life or you or Lakshmana but can never give up the fulfilment of my word given particularly to helpless Brahmins. Rama speaks but once and never fails to keep up his promise."

Sri Rama was happy in adversity, calm in miseries, intrepid in dangers.

Sri Rama was a mighty hero. He was the hero of heroes. Single-handed, he killed great and renowned warriors like Khara and Dushana. He vanquished the invincible Vali.

He was an ideal king. He ruled the kingdom in a wonderful way. He was just and righteous. He was courageous and kind. He was endowed with a gentle and generous disposition. He was civil and courteous.

His subjects loved him immensely. Not a single man was unhappy during his regime. He often used to say, "I will do anything and everything to please my subjects, and, if necessary I can even abandon my dear wife for their sake.

"That is the reason why his reign was called "Ramarajya." 

There were no dacoits during his regime. All led a virtuous life. Nobody spoke any untruth. Anybody could leave a bag of gold or jewels even in the main street. No one would touch it."

----------------

Jai Sairam.

Further on Anuraag - "Attachment to God "

Dear All,

In today's post, Vyaasa defines Bhakti as "Attachment towards God, through whatever ways one worships God".

Brother Hari, in a talk  reveals that Swami has defined Bhakti in 3 simplest steps that even a normal human being, without the previous background of any literature of Spirituality, without any listening of discourses, without any background whatsoever, can very easily understand, whether he practices it or not.

STEP 1

Devotion is attachment towards God.

Where, we channelize all our stupid attachments towards so many objects, relations etc. in this material world towards God and only God.

STEP 2

Such attachment has only one route - Up and Up

Where, the attachment towards God can not halt and relax, cannot stumble back, cannot go in any other direction but it can only go up and up and up, towards God. 

In real life,  In the path of devotion, we human beings keep swinging from one God, one route, to so many other routes, run to so many other semi Gods / Gurus, take so many halts, start walking backward instead of moving forward towards God, take up so many activities with ego in the name of our Love for God ....... and............

SWAMI / GOD WATCHES US in all these above distractions, AS HE IS OUR PRANA SAKHA, OUR ETERNAL COMPANION, EVEN IN ALL OUR RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM AND SAYS, "YOU CAN LEAVE ME BUT HOW CAN I?!!!!!!

STEP 3

Such an  upward moving attachment to God must be in Total Surrender

Where, the Bhakta surrenders  his very identity at the lotus feet of the Lord. We say, we surrender our thoughts and words and actions etc. Even we say so, we very much retain the identity of "we", our identity as this stupid human being. That "we", our identity, must be surrendered to God, then only we will have nothing to hold on to, except His Lotus feet.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

This small piece of Hari's talk along with author's elaboration which would come from within, was to be taken up in the talk on "Purpose of Bhajan" in Sai centre in Muscat, which was held last month, but due to shortage of time, this was skipped. All His will.

In the 3 simple steps given by Bhagwan, the entire Bhakti treatise of all religions which have come up so far, is contained, in ESSENCE. 

Love.