SOME SADHAK'S QUESTIONS / DOUBTS CLARIFIED
TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE.
Q1) --
Different people follow different paths --
Some do meditation(dhyana)
Some do Bhakthi thro' Bhajan or Kirthan
Some do idol worship thro' Ritual Pooja
Hata Yoga etc.
How common goal of Brahma Jnana is achieved through
different paths ?
ANS.1) --
There are many paths like
There are many paths like
JNANA YOGA
KARMA YOGA
BHAKTHI YOGA
RAJA YOGA
HATA YOGA etc
Bhagathpatpada Shankaracharya has told --
Which ever path you follow, you can achieve the goal only
through JNANA.
Hence JNANA YOGA is the best.However people find it
difficult to understand & follow Jnana Yoga. If you are
following other paths, then also, by gaining JNANA through
that path only, you achieve the goal.
As per Kripaluji Maharaj, Bhakthi Marg is the BEST.He has
achieved Jnana of highest order through Bhakthi & is
called JAGADGURU. He is like a Super Computer in Jnana.
Combination of Jnana Marg & Bhakthi Marg or Meditation
(Raja Yoga) is the best way.
Q2) --
Thaitreya Upanishad commentary says OM-KARA
Upasana is for Yatis or Sanyasis only & not for samsaris ?
Thaitreya Upanishad commentary says OM-KARA
Upasana is for Yatis or Sanyasis only & not for samsaris ?
ANS.2) --
Reason for this restriction is, due to extreme
dispassion(vyragya), house holder may walk away leaving
family.However other writings do not support this view.
Reason for this restriction is, due to extreme
dispassion(vyragya), house holder may walk away leaving
family.However other writings do not support this view.
For Sadhana Chathustaya--
OMKAR upasana is for nirakara (formless) sakshathkara
of Brahman. In the extensive study I did to write OMKARA
1)VIVEKA
2) VYRAGYA
3) Shataka sampatti (sama,Dama,Uparama,
Titiksha, Shraddha,Samana)
4)MUMUKSHATHVA (urge to get MOKSHA)
are the basic requirements.
In Raja yoga by vivekananda, Astanga yoga of Pathanjali
yoga suthras mental recitation of OM is recommended
for meditation, to control mind.
OMKAR upasana is for nirakara (formless) sakshathkara
nada article, I have not come across anywhere that it is for
sanysis only. I, myself follow naturally Omkar as anahatha
nada successfully. Pl.read omkara nada-sound of pranava
in this blog. Reaching the goal at the earliest is very
important, instead of getting confused.
Q3) --
How to purify Body & MIND ?
ANS.3) --
Body cannot be purified even if you take bath many
times a day it is full of dirt & filth. In higher levels of spirituality
like Avadhutha State they may not take bath for many days.
Others have to take him to their house & give him bath.
He is always in Athmananda & not bothered about care of body or covering his body.
MIND PURIFICATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
This can be achieved by --
1) Surrender to God fully all the time--highest level of BHAKTHI.
animals.
10) Anhilation of Shadvairies--Kama,Krodha,
Mada & Mathsara
Q4) --
In Sadhana we have to do Shravana,Manan
Nidhidyasana my doubt is, in Nama Smarana are above
In Sadhana we have to do Shravana,Manan
Nidhidyasana my doubt is, in Nama Smarana are above
three aspects covered ?
ANS.4) --
ॐ
Please note that, in Nama Smarana also Shravana,Manana,
Nididyasana are covered.
Mental nama smarana is thro' mind which is Manana, feeling
that you are hearing internally, even during mental recitation
is there, which is Shravana, concentration of mind
ie, holding nama smararana continuously in mind is
Nidhidyasana. When you analyse & think they are not
different even though on the face of it, they may look
different !!
different !!
Q5) --
There is a book published by a Maharaj which gives
solutions to worldly problems like sickness, poverty,life span,
snake bite,fame etc. Is it useful to follow the book ?
Ans.5) --
There is a book published by a Maharaj which gives
solutions to worldly problems like sickness, poverty,life span,
snake bite,fame etc. Is it useful to follow the book ?
Ans.5) --
I went through the book, it gives an impression as if there is
a solution for every problem.
Prarabhda Karma cannot be altered, however by spiritual
advancement, it will not have any influence on that person.
Onlookers of the world think he is suffering due to
Prarabhda. However I have a question for you, have you
seen anybody who has overcome death by reciting
Mruthunjaya Japa ?, no there is nobody.But Mruthunjaya
Japa goes on in this world !!
a solution for every problem.
Prarabhda Karma cannot be altered, however by spiritual
advancement, it will not have any influence on that person.
Onlookers of the world think he is suffering due to
Prarabhda. However I have a question for you, have you
seen anybody who has overcome death by reciting
Mruthunjaya Japa ?, no there is nobody.But Mruthunjaya
Japa goes on in this world !!
May be in some cases,it may look, this book has helped
those whose Prarabhda supported their problem.My
personal opinion is that Rama Nama Smarana what you
are doing, covers all the problems, if you are destined
to achieve them or overcome the problems.Surrendering
to God fully, leaving Prarabhda to work itself out is the
best way to live !!
I wish to tell you one of my experiences in my life--
My Late wife had kept some amount (received by selling
her property) & her jewellery in some locker of a Bank in
Mangalore & passed away.
her property) & her jewellery in some locker of a Bank in
Mangalore & passed away.
That time I used to go to that Lakshmi Temple at Ittamadu.
I had told the problem to that old lady of the temple, who
is supposed to have some siddhi(clairvoyance).
She made me to stand in front of the statue holding my hand
near shoulder & told me," you ask the Goddess to show you
& she will show it to you". Next 15 minutes I tried my best
to ask Goddess to show me,surprisingly I could not. I told
the lady," I have surrendered to Goddess fully & I live the
way,how Goddess wants me to live !! hence words are not
coming out of my mouth & I am unable to request Goddess !!"
There is no harm in trying out, but it shows that you are not
'muktha'(free) from MAYA, please note !!
Q6) --
One known person says Dhyan is the only way to God
One known person says Dhyan is the only way to God
but I am doing Rama-Nama Japa as told by Brahma
Chaithanya,pl. clarify.
Ans.6) --
When nama japa becomes steady,ie, when no other thought
comes to mind except one thought of nama & form of guru
or Rama remains steady, mind becomes THAT only--mind
settles in ATHMA which is nothing but DHYANA only.
Please see below what Ramana Maharshi has told--
Following is the narration by a disciple who followed
the conversation between a villager & Ramana Maharshi -
I was curious about this villager and why Bhagavan had
gone out of his way to meet him. So, while the discussion
continued I slipped away and caught up with the villager,
before he left the Ashram. I asked the villager what he
and Bhagavan had talked about. He said that Bhagavan
had asked him why he was standing there so far away.
"I told Bhagavan, 'I am only an ignorant, poor villager.
How am I to approach you who are God incarnate?'"
"What did the Maharshi say then?" I asked.
"He asked me my name, what village I was from, what
work I did and how many children I had, etc."
"Did you ask Him anything?"
"I asked Him how I could be saved and how I could
earn His blessings."
"What did He tell you?"
"He asked me if there was a temple in my village. I told
him there was. He wanted to know the name of the deity
of that temple. I told Him the name. He then said that I
should go on repeating the name of that deity and I would
receive all the blessings needed."
------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 10) --
My brother expired, hence I cannot do Puja rituals for
10 days, but I feel like doing Nama Smarana ?
Ans.10) --
He has aiso told--
Source: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
Talk 413.
A visitor asked: While making nama-japa and after
continuing it for an hour or more I fall into a state like
sleep. On waking up, I recollect that my japa has been
interrupted. So I proceed again.
BHAGAWAN RAMANA MAHARISHI.: "Like sleep."
That is right. It is the natural state. Because you
are now associated with the ego you consider the
natural state to be something which interrupts your
work. You must repeat the experience until you realise
that it is your natural state. You will then find that
japa, etc., is extraneous. Still, it will be going on
automatically. Your present doubt is due to the false
identity. Japa means clinging to one thought to
the exclusion of all other thoughts. That is the
purpose of japa; it leads to dhyana which ends
in Self-Realisation.
Q7) --
That is right. It is the natural state. Because you
are now associated with the ego you consider the
natural state to be something which interrupts your
work. You must repeat the experience until you realise
that it is your natural state. You will then find that
japa, etc., is extraneous. Still, it will be going on
automatically. Your present doubt is due to the false
identity. Japa means clinging to one thought to
the exclusion of all other thoughts. That is the
purpose of japa; it leads to dhyana which ends
in Self-Realisation.
Q7) --
Brahma Chaithanya Paduka was worshipped in
our house,along with Rama-Nama Japa. Is it beneficial
our house,along with Rama-Nama Japa. Is it beneficial
for Spiritual Progress ?
Ans.7) --
ॐ
One Athma is everywhere, you may think it as
Brahma chaithanya,Shankaracharya, Shirdi Sai Baba,
Ramana maharshi, my guru Venkatachala, or Goddess
Mahalakshmi, all other Gods you can call in any name.
It is better to imagine That as your Athma, inside your
body as well as outside as the world you see. This is
the TRUTH & ultimate KNOWLEDGE !
Paduka,Photo,Statue,Kalasha,
only means to achieve the above knowledge !
ATHMA
Q8) --
Our Maharaj says Sadaka's need to know Sadhu
Our Maharaj says Sadaka's need to know Sadhu
Charithamrutha, along with Sadhana, for Spiritual
progress, is it so ?
Ans.8) --
Because sadhu charitamrutha is important in our blog
we have given charitamrutha of --
1) Sadashiva Brahmendra
2) Gajanan Maharaj
3) Kaiwara Thathaiya
4) Gondawale Maharaj
5) My guru's miracles
6) Incidents from Nithyananda's Life
7) -- do --- Akkalkot Maharaj
8) -- do -- Samartha Ramdas
9) -- do -- Shridhara Swamy
10) -- do -- Shirdi Saibaba's life
11) 24 Guru's of Lord Dattatreya
12) super natural powers
13) Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti of Ajmer
14) Puttur Ajja's life story
15) Bhagwan Mahavira's life Story
16) Incidents from Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's Life
17) Bhagwath Pada Sri Shankaracharya & his disciples
18) Incidents from Ramana Maharshi's Life Story
19) Sri Ranga Mahaguru of Mysore
etc.
ATHMA
Q9) --
To solve a problem in life,expecting favourable result
To solve a problem in life,expecting favourable result
in return, is it ok to make a vow to our favourite God like
abhisheka,neivedya(food offering),homa,pradakshina
(eg.,urulu seva) etc.
Ans9) --
In our opinion vow(mangath, harake) to God should not
be made,expecting favorable result in return like
business !. You can do seva like Abhisheka, Puja,
Archana etc. out of Love to God without making vow
(mangath,'HARAKE'), as making vow looks like doing
business with GOD !
God is not interested in your Vow ! Is He in need of
your vows ? He measures purity of your mind, Bhakthi,
level of Ego, Prarabhda karmas, your Sadhana etc.
ATHMA
My brother expired, hence I cannot do Puja rituals for
10 days, but I feel like doing Nama Smarana ?
Ans.10) --
There is no restriction on Nama Japa at any time.
Even when you carry dead body it is customary to recite
Even when you carry dead body it is customary to recite
'GOVINDA' , 'RAM NAM SATHYA HEY' etc.You can do
Nama Japa mentally all the time.
Shastras do not apply to a liberated person. Rahu Kala,
Graha Gati, JATHAKA(horoscope), PANCHANGA(book
following planetary motions & giving auspicious,
inauspicious time etc.) are not applicable to him.
When your SOUL IS BRAHMAN & you are aware
of it, even NAMA JAPA is not required.
To whom you are doing NAMA JAPA ? As per
Shankaracharya & Vedas 'AHAM BRAHMASMI',
'TAT TWAM ASI' etc.,which means 'I AM BRAHMAN',
'THAT THOU ART' etc. are applicable to your soul.
Only to control & concentrate your mind on SOUL, JAPA
is required !! like THAPAS ie.,mind made to rest in soul !!
( UNDER DEVELOPMENT )
