Shri Brahmachaithanya Pravachan-Dec.15

Living in Nama Gives True Vision of God
Even Lord Shreekrishna had to discard His mortal body. The Cosmic Soul, too, when it appears in a material form, must follow the laws that govern the material world. When appearing as a perceivable entity, a form, attributes, and all other auxiliaries come unavoidably. We, being in the human form, would naturally like to see Him in a similar form, but we should remember that, that was only a role that He then played.
The darshana in a physical form is forgettable, perishable. The darshan that is obtained by a person engaged in ceaseless nama-smarana is not only the true one but one that becomes clearer, brighter, every day. So keep on chanting nama, and you will always have darshan of God. A saguna form cannot last for all time, but nama is the complete symbol of the Ultimate Reality, the true God. Uttering nama is equivalent to having God by one's side. God in the saguna form is affected by certain limitations. Rama and Krishna in their human form could not change the evil mentalities of Ravana and Duryodhana. The saguna manifestation cannot achieve the task of transforming the mentality; it can only be accomplished by nama. In the practical world also we find that the form changes and perishes, but nama abides. Even Rama and Krishna disappeared in form but their names have lived down the ages. In the present degenerate age there is no visible incarnation, but nama is the incarnation, and it is the true saviour.
Lord Shreekrishna, had educated Uddhava, His bosom friend and staunch devotee, about the true nature of the Ultimate Reality. He requested him to go to village Gokula, the scene of His childhood, to pacify the rustic milkmaids, who were apparently pining for Him. Uddhava complied. He explained to the maids that Shreekrishna was not just the infant and the child that had fascinated them, but the very Cosmic Soul; that it was ignorant to pine for the apparent child. The maids burst out laughing, saying, "Shreekrishna has duped you. Actually, we don't miss Him, for He is held captive in our loving hearts." Let us emulate them by love and utter surrender.


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Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-Dec.15

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Kannada-Dec.15

Sri Brahmachaithanya Pravachan-Dec.14

Let God Alone be in Mind During Nama-smarana

In truth, all that God expects of us is pure love coming from the bottom of the heart. Our problem is that we do not possess true love for God at all. We are unable to call Him with ardency. How can the call reach His ears at all? It is association that generates love. We have love for the body because we have had one body or another in a series of lives. If we maintain constant association with nama, we shall evidently feel similar attachment for it too, with consequent reduction in our attachment for the body and for sense-pleasures. What tremendous sacrifices we undertake for the wife and children! Why then should we hesitate to forsake the flimsy desires for sense-pleasures, for the abiding happiness that we get by associating with God?
The passions are not basically worthless. They have been implanted in us by God Himself, so they must be having a useful purpose in life. They are, indeed, necessary on occasions in life; only, they must be under our control and command, instead of our yielding to them submissively.
While we are engaged in nama-smarana, we must vacate the mind of all thoughts, ideas, fancies, memories, etc. and fill it completely with God and God alone. In worldly affairs we cannot altogether avoid their intrusion on the constant awareness of God. But we should not allow them to make a home in the mind. They will then not be harmful.
All the saints unanimously advise us to maintain constant awareness of God, and assure us that thereby we shall come to comprehend the Ultimate Reality. We must ensure that God is never out of mind, even if it means some overlooking of worldly matters. This awareness of God one person may maintain by engaging in worship, another by singing hymn:, and prayers, some by nama-smarana, another by mental worship, and yet another by engaging himself in some art. So let us resolve to maintain constant awareness as our goal, and do other things as only subordinate to it.
Remember that paramartha is nothing but ceaseless nama-smarana and a constant awareness of God. This can be achieved by repeating nama as often as possible.



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Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-Dec.14

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Kannada-Dec.14

Shri Brahmachaithanya Pravachan-Dec.13

God is Truly Served only with Pure Devotion

The body consists of the heart as well as other organs and limbs. Suppose these organs and limbs are all intact, but the heart ceases to function; the body becomes 'dead', ceases to live. On the other hand, suppose the organs and limbs fail while the heart is intact; then the body continues to live, though with reduced efficiency, and there is a possibility of curing it completely with proper treatment. Nama­ corresponds to the heart, while other sadhanas are like the limbs; therefore, no other sadhana can, by itself, suffice for attainment of spiritual liberation. What is love in worldly life, if applied to God, becomes' devotion'; 'greed', if turned to God, becomes intense desire for acquisition of God.
A traveller boarded a train, and found a very comfortable berth; he therefore preferred to keep the berth and to travel from one terminus to the other and back again, instead of alighting at his own destination. How far would that be called wisdom? Are we not doing the same, merely living from birth to death in life after life? Let us now be on the watch for our desired destination, namely, God. Just as a traveller buys fruits and snacks on the way, you may acquire houses and property and amenities of life, but never lose sight of the destination, which is God. So we should beware, and first decide on the sadhana we would adopt.
People often go to hear reading of sacred books or discourses on them, so that others may respect them for their religiosity, or for the sake of avoiding boredom, or for recreation and relaxation. This is certainly to be deprecated. The text of the sermon may be perfectly right, but the commentator's personal views often colour the explanation, and that may unwarrantably and adversely impinge on our resolve. Consciousness of duty and constant awareness of God are the essence of all sacred books.
One can truly serve God only if the devotion is pure, selfless. It is such devotion that saves us, not the grandeur of the temple. Such devotion comes by avoiding idle talk, and this will come about if we dedicate ourselves to nama.


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