' Extracts from pravachans of our guruji '

 GURU MAHIMA  

' hymns in praise of guru '

Meaning  

 Every morning we wake up with the sun. But are we really enthusiastic to explore the life. The answer in most cases would be negative. The monotonous work makes us stressed out. We do make an effort to come out of the monotonous life by hanging out with friends and enjoying material pleasure. These things seem to give happiness but do they really give? And then life is back on its track. To experience the life to fullest the only way is spiritual one. Because spirituality is built on the foundation of truth i.e. Supreme Lord Krishna.

 As explained by King Bharat merely by following the regulative principles of scriptures we won't make us attain the supreme  stage. People go to temple, perform rituals, recite slokas, do pujas etc. After doing all do we really obtain happiness? The answer is disappointing because we do these practices as a duty and don't consider them as means by which we can attain Supreme God. We perform these rituals because of the fear that non-performance would annoy the lord.

In the process of following these rituals ,we forget the purpose of these rituals  which is to attain the  supreme lord Krishna .The  general tendency that  is  observed  is there is no god faith but only god fear.

Even  during performance of these rituals ,do we dedicate our 100% to it?  For instance ,it is  generally observed that when  people go to temple,  they pay more attention  what  other people do, how  do they dress up etc. rather than melting in the love of supreme lord who due to his grace onus is standing taking an idol form . Does the purpose of ours going to temple  is solved? Even during recitation of slokhas  mostly it is observed  that people  give more importance  to the  fact  how fast they  can read  and how efficiently  they can recite  compared to others. In this drama we forget to realize that how blessed we are who have got  an opportunity  to sing the praise of the god and words of great bhakthas .Recitation of each slokha  should  lead   us  a divine experience and make us realize the true meaning and depth of it.

Performance of pujas and  yajgnas   has become a trade business. Those are performed in expectation of some returns. Pujas and yajnas are not done to please God but to satisfy our need. But lord is so kind that he grants our desires by forgetting our flaws.

There are also expectations to the cases mentioned above who are indulged in sincere devotion and pure love for God.

How can we achieve a higher state in spirituality when each and every act of ours even spiritual begins and ends in selfishness.

Only a guru can guide a individual regarding the spiritual  practice to be followed , a  practice that suits him the most. A  mother knows best what should be given to the child. Same way we are infant in the world of spirituality and a Guru being our parent guides in the selfless manner only Guru can make us understand the  real meaning and hidden truth  behind all  practices.

A guru is the one who makes us realize the right path in devotion  and removes our darkness.Unless a Guru uplifts us we are under the impression that what we do is right. Our ritual practice and spiritual efforts  begins to bear fruit only when it grows  under the sunlight of Guru.

There was small baby bird inside the egg  which assumed the egg shell to be its entire world .And when the egg was hatched and when baby bird is in nest, it considers the entire world is made up of hay  and when it begins to fly it assumes the entire world is made up leaves, but  when  its wings  were finally grown ,it begins to fly and then realizes how varied the world is!!

Our condition is same like the baby bird , we define God  and spirituality  depending on  our experience and understanding  but the fact is divinity and divine experience is something very different beyond our imagination . This can be realized  only when a Guru teaches us to fly  in the unbound  sky of  divine experiences. 

The remaining  part of  verse would be detailed in next month.

ACHYUTHA PRIYAA

' short stories to regain your faith '

Radhekrishna! In the last issue we saw how the youth did not lose his confidence and faith in Krishna and kept on chanting continuously. His chanting and faith did give him fruitful results.

As the clouds started gathering, the youth' happiness knew no bounds. He started chanting more vigorously. The atmosphere soon became dark and it started raining very heavily! All this happened in just five minutes!!! The youth became very delighted! Tears rolled from his eyes by seeing Bagawan Krishna's boundless grace! Truly it is Krishna karunai!

One can abide anything in this world like the bad deeds of human beings; the sins etc. but one can never bear Krishna Karunai!

The youth became more confident and prayed to Krishna , all this happened just because of your grace. If you can cause a heavy down pour in such kind of weather where it's impossible for the rains to come then making the other things happen is no big task for YOU! Now YOU (Bagawan Krishna) will only take care of rest of the things. What did the youth ask from Krishna ? He had just prayed to Krishna that it should rain heavily on the day of swati nakshatram and the rain water should get collected inside a skull (mandaiOdu); the poison of a snake should get mixed in this water by itself without any external interference. If he succeeds in getting this water his father's life could be saved.

A mother who cooks food in the kitchen; for her bringing the food in the front room and serving it to everyone is not at all a big task. The same way when Bagawan Krishna can make such big miracles happen, for Him doing the other things is not at all a difficult task!

So the youth was chanting continuously and prayed to Krishna to show him the right way. Co-incidentally he just turned around and to his surprise he saw the skull (mandaiOdu). Until that time he didn't even notice it. Just by Krishna's grace he turned around and found the skull. It's a true fact that even if we have everything beside us we never view it. Everything is beside and around us but the biggest blunder we do is search it somewhere else and ultimately lose it!

Bagawan Krishna gives us only those things which we are able to digest! For instance, a cat has been given its food, but it is least bothered about it and wishes for an elephant's food; then this is its foolishness! Even if the cat has its food beside it still it wishes for an elephant's food then it will never be happy and contented! If the cat eats its own food without desiring for the elephant's food it will surely be peaceful and happy! This is what we are also doing! Even if we have everything we are never satisfied because we always desire what others have! Hence we lose peace of mind and are never contented.

When the youth turned around he saw the skull which was upside down with rain water inside it. It could have been straight also! But only because of Krishna Krupai it was upside down so that the rain water can get collected in it! Again the youth thanked Krishna for his unbounded mercy and prayed,  Krishna by Your grace there is a skull filled with rain water. You look after the rest of the things.Again the youth kept on chanting continuously Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna!

We should never think of anything else. Just take life as it comes and leave everything on Krishna . We should always be like a witness to our own life! Krishna will surely lead everything in a right way!

For instance, small children ask for fees from their father! They just ask their parents to give the fees do they ever ask that from where and how their parents are going to get this money? No! And even if the children ask such question what does the father reply,Its none of your business! I'll take care of it! the same way it's none of our business as to how Krishna will lead us. We just have to pray and do sincere chanting. HE will take care of the rest of the things!

What we do is we try to analyze what Bagawan will do? Infact we try to advise Bagawan! Yes! Why should we bother about the world? It is created by Bagawan; He knows what to do and what not! Why should we bother about other people's life! HE will never require anybody's advice! Bagawan is incomparable, above genius, smarter than everyone. HE is the one who has created us! Why should HE keep the nose below these two eyes? HE could have kept it above these eyes! From this itself one can understand HIS power! HE is the Karunasagar. Nobody can design like HIM! Nobody can challenge HIM neither can anyone beat HIM! Hence we should leave everything on HIM and do our duties (karma) sincerely by chanting HIS naama.

The same way the youth was chanting sincerely and waiting for Bagawan Krishna's krupai! At that time a frog came there, the youth didn't get excited, he remained calm kept on chanting Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna!!!!! The frog sat beside the skull (mandaiOdu)! The youth continued chanting. And at that time a snake came behind the frog to kill it! The youth remained calm and was vigorously chanting Krishna ! The snake moved fastly to catch the frog and immediately the frog jumped above the skull! The snake thought it is going to bite the frog and hence it hissed and at that time a drop of its poison fell on the skull (mandaiOdu).

Bagawan Krishna knows what to do, how to do, when to do, why to do! We dont have any rights to ask why HE is doing like this, He could have done like that! If we start asking questions like this then we are mad! Everything happens fro some reason!

When a child takes birth, the parents deposit money on its name in the bank! But do they give the money while it goes to school? No! When it grows up and attains a right age so that it can use the money in a proper manner, the parents give the money!  In the same manner Bagawan also gives us each and everything at a right time when we can utilize it properly!

The youth did his duty sincerely by chanting Bagawan Krishna's naama and got whatever he needed! In few minutes the frog also disappeared and the snake also vanished. The youth did not analyze as to from where this snake had come or from where the frog had come etc. but this is what we keep doing! Even if we have what we desired for we are interested in knowing as to from where this came and where it will be going!

The youth again thanked Bagawan Krishna! Have we ever thanked Bagawan Krishna for showering His unlimited grace? Even at the time of marriage, generally what everyone does is they go and keep the invitation at Bagawans feet and pray to Him that the marriage should take place nicely! But have we ever asked HIM that Krishna you come for the marriage and bless us? We have to thank Bagawan Krishna! It is our duty. Today we are eating food whenever we feel hungry; we are leading a sophisticated life, all because of Bagawan Krishna. But have we ever thanked Him for giving food to us whenever we need it? So many of them die to eat even one time food! Many of them beg for one time food. In other case even if some of them are rich, they are not able to eat food properly due to various diseases. Besides all this today if we are healthy; we are able to eat food properly; this is just Krishna Krupai! So whatever we get whenever we get it's our duty to thank Bagawan Krishna!

Hence the youth thanked Bagawan Krishna and took the skull filled with water and returned home by chanting Krishna . Even at that time he did not leave Krishna Namasankeertanam. He felt Krishna made me win! We should try our level best and Krishna will give the fruitful deeds!

The youth called the doctor. The doctor was sure that the youth won't get the medicine. But the youth said that he had got the medicine which the doctor had asked for! At first the doctor couldn't believe this but when the youth explained to him everything he (the doctor) realized the power of naamasankeertanam. The doctor said to the youth that your chanting and devotion made you win! But the youth did not agree with this and immediately replied, It's not my naamasankeertanam and bhakthi but it is Krishna Krupai! I am able to chant just because of Krishna ! The doctor took the water and made medicine out of it and gave it to the youth' father. By Krishna's grace the youth' father survived and lived for a few years.

All this happened because the youth did not lose his faith. My Bagawan is with me and HE will never leave me. HE knows what is good for me and HE will give me the best. If we have this belief in HIM then we will never lose in life!

Radhekrishna!

HRUDAYAANJALI

' power of divine grace '

Radhekrishna My life completely changed after meeting my Guruji Mahan Brahma Shri Gopalavallidasar. I always felt unsecured and thought that there should be someone who would always guide me in a correct way to lead a peaceful life.

Guruji gave me the confidence and said Lord Krishna is always there with all and chanting His name will protect us from all odds. I experienced this fact by the Grace of Guruji. On November 19^th Guruji was leaving to Chennai. On that day I went to the college as usual and came back soon. I wanted to attend Gurujis sathsangam, so I decided to go to the place where the Sathsangam was arranged by auto. But then my friend said that we would go by bus, as it would be faster to reach that place. I agreed and we were waiting for the bus. The bus was late that day.

I started chanting continuously after boarding the bus, as I wanted to attend the sathsangam. Just after few minutes, when the bus had covered a very less distance we experienced a big jerk and that second nobody could analyze what happened. After a few seconds when I saw around me I was shocked to see that every body were away from their seats and were injured badly. It was just bleeding. I found myself in the same place not even moved a little. Then we realized that it was an accident.

 I was so surprised that all got injured but I did not have even a small scratch. I realized the power of Namajabam. All this happened only because of Gurujis Karunai. I practically saw the greatness of Namajabam. Really I realized that Bagawan Krishna is always with us.

Even after such havoc I reached the place before the Sathsangam was over. Radhekrishna.

  DHIVYA DHARSHAN 

' the feast for your soul '

PUNYA KAAL  

' sathsang programmes '