IN EVERYDAY LIFE, A VIRTUE ALSO HAS TO BE PRACTISED WITH DISCRIMINATION.

IN EVERYDAY LIFE, A VIRTUE ALSO HAS TO BE PRACTISED WITH DISCRIMINATION.

There was with one gentleman a clever, faithful and hardworking servant of long standing. He did not have to be told to perform any task, and he had a knack of per­forming several tasks bunched together. He was liked by

everyone and he used to look after all the household trans­actions including those relating to money matters. His employer had become old. One day his condition wors­ened, and he was on the point of death. The eldest son called the faithful servant and said to him, 'Go and fetch the doctor immediately.¹ The servant went to the doctor. He gave him the message. He even saw that the doctor was on his way. But he himself returned quite late. When the son asked him the reason for being late, he showed him the material with him which was meant for a fu­neral, and said, "At the very time of going to the doctor I had become aware of the situation. So, to kill two birds with one stone, I brought along this material in the same trip." The son did not know whether to laugh or to cry. After telling this story, ShriMaharaj said, "In everyday affairs, there are restrictions of time and place on the practice of every virtue. If these restrictions are not ob­served, the virtue becomes a vice.
 For attainment of God, however, an excess that may take place in the practice of any means is beneficial, and also necessary."

In Everyday life Excess of even a Virtue is Bad

In Everyday life Excess of even a Virtue is Bad

A young man was very fond of doing athletic exercises. He used to go very regularly to the gymnasium from seven to eight o¹ clock in the morning. In course of time his marriage was fixed, and the auspicious time was de­termined to be at half - past seven in the morning. On the day of the marriage the groom went to the gymnasium as usual. All preparations for the marriage were completed and he was sent for a number of times; but he would not come. He said, This is the time fixed by me for exercise. I will not come until that is past.' "This is how a virtue may be practised to immoderation in everyday life", is what ShriMaharaj said.

To Attain Total Surrender to God is the Goal of life as a Human Being.

To Attain Total Surrender to God is the Goal of life as a Human Being.

Having been born as a human being, what is it that one should aim to attain ? While answering this question ShriMaharaj said, "At present you are a slave of your mind. By your practice of worship of God, the mind should become your slave, and complete mastery over the mind is attained. But even this is not enough. One needs to attain the state of the mind's total subjugation, annihila­tion, utter surrender to God or to the Sadguru."

How to go to Shri Brahmachaithanya Shri Rama Mandir, Chintamani

Chintamani is about 75 kms from Bangalore. There are a lot of Buses from K.S.R.T.C. Bus-stand,Bangalore, to Chintamani. from 5-00 a.m to 10-00 p.m.every day. The devotees coming in private vehicles have to take old Madras Road, upto Hosakote and then have to take a left turn to Chintamani. When in Chintamani it is very easy to locate the Mandir. For those who come by plane, it is only 1 hour 10 mins journey from Airport to Chinthamani. Pre-paid taxis are available from the Air-port.
Address: Sri Brahma Chaitanya Sri Rama Mandir, Sri Rama Mandir Road, N.R. Extension, Chintamani -563125.

Devotees desirous of visiting the Chintamani Mandir, may contact : Shri G.H. Venkatesh Murthy- Ph.09880060440. or  08154-252203.( 2) G.H. Raghunath Ph.09880218777.

A Sadhaka should attach no more importance to worldly affairs than one might attach to a toilet in a Palace.

A Sadhaka  should attach no more importance   to worldly affairs than one might attach to a toilet in  a Palace.

One person asked, "When one tries to conduct worldly affairs fittingly* sincerely, the mind gets engrossed in them, and the objective of attainment of God gets neglected. So, when one is pursuing attainment of God, assigning top importance to it, how much attention ought one to pay to worldly affairs ? In what proportion T ShriMaharaj said, "When one builds a grand palace, even it needs to have a toilet. Bear in mind that the task of attainment of God needs worldly affairs in a like pro­portion. I feel that one ought to spend most of the time of the day in the hall, on carpets or sofas. But it makes me sad that, instead of that, you spend most of your time in the toilet typified by worldly affairs. Doubtless, Shree Samartha (Shree Samarth Ramdas) has said that one should conduct worldly af­fairs ' fittingly ', but it is a mistake that instead of con­ducting worldly affairs fittingly', one conducts them Vig­orously'. The attainment of God should be pursued with vigour, whereby worldly affairs automatically get con­ducted fittingly; this is decidedly what Samartha  wants to say. The conduct of worldly affairs which takes place in remembrance of God is truly in a fitting manner."

When One’s bodily consciousness vanishes censure and praise seem alike.

When One’s bodily consciousness vanishes censure and praise seem alike.

While speaking about how saints put up so facilely with both censure and praise, ShriMaharaj said, "The grandfather is not at home, but his coat hangs from the peg. The children sometimes beat it with a stick, while sometimes someone drapes a garland over it. The grandfather is not wearing the coat, and by itself the coat has no consciousness of pain or pleasure arising out of either of these actions. Likewise, saints have lost the bodily consciousness; whether someone heaps praises on the body or censures it, they are not concerned about either. In a sense, they are not within their bodies, but withGod.^w

How Far is it to God ?

   How Far is it to God ?

A Sadhaka asked, "While one is engaged in practising the means for attainment of God, how does one know what distance remains to be covered on the way to attainment of God?" ShriMaharaj said, "When one sets about practising Namasmarana the mind is obsessed by thoughts of worldly affairs. When it so happens that the mind is obsessed by .Nama when one is discussing or conducting worldly affairs, one may conclude that the distance remaining is short."