THE VISION, December 2024, Vol 92, Issue 3:
Please click on the bold darker colours to read the article and
on the arrow icon to get back to the contents.
Beloved Readers,
Sadhakas are often reminded by saints and Shastras that no amount of external adjustment can grant real peace and freedom. True spiritual progress depends on realising that our individuality exists only because of the Almighty Lord; this is often termed as surrender. However, surrender does not mean abandoning one’s duties.
To educate the mind, spiritual aspirants should regulate their thoughts by focusing on higher levels of life. Only an undisturbed and balanced mind can find true peace and contentment within. Achieving this surrender requires personal initiative and effort.
Beloved Papa says: “Total surrender means being aware of our complete dependence on Him, coupled with the consciousness that He activates us from within. On the path of self-surrender, we must constantly think of His greatness and glory, uniting with the Lord and experiencing bliss and peace ‘which passeth understanding.’ In this state, the veil of ignorance is lifted. Not only do we behold the Divine within and without, but we also find ourselves absorbed in His ineffable splendour.”
This month’s issue of THE VISION features articles on surrender.
— EDITOR
AS WE SCROLL DOWN...
- ‘Self-Dedication’ — explains Beloved Papa Swami Ramdas, is the substitution of a lower for a higher life, of death for immortality, of bondage for liberation, of sorrow for ever abiding peace and bliss. The light of Truth can shine in the soul and flood the entire being only when knowledge dawns in the mind and love fills the heart.
- ‘Editor Answers’ — how to practise surrender in our daily life by understanding that the ultimate deciding factor is not ‘the finite me,’ but the One who actuates our very existence. Nama chanting with this attitude enables us to accept everything as it is.
- ‘Facets Of Surrender From Beloved Papa’s Life’ — will help us better understand and apply the concept of surrender in our day-to-day lives.
- ‘Seeing His Will Even In Inconveniences’
- ‘Bearing Everything Patiently With A Smile’
- ‘Experiencing His Presence In All Situations’
- ‘God Mysteriously Provides’
- ‘See His Will In Being Slandered’
- ‘Words To Inspire’ — of Beloved Papa remind us that self-dedication cannot be achieved at one stroke. To begin with, we need to devote some definite time to exclusive God-thought by chanting His name, meditating on His greatness, talking to Him and praying to Him.
- 'Dear Children' — the story of the frogs in the pot of curd, shows us that we need to strive hard to get God and when we are completely exhausted in the effort and we lie still in surrender at His feet, He comes to us as our saviour.
- ‘Inspiring Luminaries’ — are different forms of the Guru. Guru is Nirguna — nameless, formless, attributeless. He also assumes forms to save us. We can derive benefit from the company of any number of saints. This month we pay our reverential homage to Sri Gondavalekar Maharaj and Bhagawan Ramana.
- ‘Epistles Of Swami Ramdas’ — makes us aware us that Lord of the Universe is a veritable ocean of kindness and love. He is ever seated in our hearts. To surrender to Him, by a ceaseless remembrance of His name, is to enjoy immortal bliss and peace. He is the sole doer. We are merely instruments.
- ‘In Memoriam’
- ‘Anandashram News’:
- ‘Book In Focus’: THE DIVINE LIFE (Volumes 1 & 2)
- ‘Thought For The Month’
- ‘Download THE VISION’ in PDF format and the Audio Book.
SELF-DEDICATION
By Swami Ramdas
Truth or God demands of us the highest sacrifice. It is a bid for immortality or everlasting life. The personal clingings, the false attachments, narrow ideals and individual desires have all been given up for an existence of infinite vision, imbued with a consciousness of perfect freedom and peace. The notion of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ must be obliterated from the mind to its last vestige. The struggling spirit must find complete contentment, peace and repose in the eternal and tranquil bosom of the Divine Master and Mother of the worlds. A soul fired with a burning zeal and an unconquerable heroism can alone cross the boundary and enter the kingdom of eternal joy and peace. The light of Truth can shine in the soul and flood the entire being only when knowledge dawns in the mind and love fills the heart. Dedication is thus the substitution of a lower for a higher life, of death for immortality, of bondage for liberation, of sorrow for ever abiding peace and bliss. The soul is for ever free from the bonds of the body and mind.
EDITOR ANSWERS
Question: How can we understand surrender and practise it in our daily life?
Answer: Initially, surrender may seem like a lofty concept, very difficult to practice on a daily basis. However, if we are sincere about it, there are 2-3 methods by which we can try to apply it in our day-to-day lives. The first method is to observe individuals who remain balanced at all times, accepting and reconciling themselves to all situations. The second method involves listening to the counsel of evolved ones and observing how things happen in the flow of life. The third method is imposing discipline on ourselves, which helps us restrict or control our outbursts. In the first two methods, there are no major challenges to encounter. However, in the third method, there is a struggle with the mind, which may be a bit difficult.
When we view life’s activities with the understanding that the ultimate deciding factor is not ‘the finite me’ — ‘the limited me’ — but the One who actuates our very existence, we gradually realise that it is the will of that Power that decides the course of our lives. To remember this Actuating Force, we chant the Divine Name. Thus, Nama chanting with this attitude should enable us to accept everything as it is.
FACETS OF SURRENDER FROM BELOVED PAPA’S LIFE
Deeply reflecting on situations in Beloved Papa’s life where he practised surrender can help aspirants better understand and apply the concept of surrender in their daily lives. Here are a few inspiring incidents:
Seeing His Will Even In Inconveniences
Once, Beloved Papa was traveling by train to Rameshwaram with another Sadhu. About six miles before arriving at Rameshwaram, the ticket inspector asked them to get off the train because they did not have tickets. When the Sadhu began grumbling about having to walk the remaining six miles, Papa remarked, “Brother, we cannot travel all the way to Rameshwaram by train. Pilgrimages should be made on foot. But, somehow, Ram was kind enough to bring us this far by train. We only have to walk six miles to reach Rameshwaram. It is Ram’s will that we cover this distance on foot. Be cheerful, brother.”
***
Bearing Everything Patiently With A Smile
On another occasion, Beloved Papa was traveling by train with some Sadhus when a ticket inspector asked them and many others who were travelling without tickets to get off the train. The TC lined them up near a gate. At the front of the line was a young Sannyasi with a tuft of matted hair. Whenever the ticket-clerk had a momentary respite from the collection of tickets, he would turn round and clutching the Jatah of the young Sadhu, who was nearest to him, shake his head violently. The Sadhu was calm. Beloved Papa, who was the second in line, asked him to exchange places with him so that he too could experience the ‘attention’ of the ticket-clerk. But the Sadhu could not be persuaded.
When the ticket collection was over, the TC intended to roughly handle all the Sadhus. As he grasped Papa’s hand firmly, he noticed Papa’s bright and welcoming smile. Surprised, he released his hand, stepped back, and seemed to ponder for a moment. Soon after, he instructed all the Sadhus to leave the station.
This incident might have been His test to see if the Sadhus would maintain their self-control under provocation.
***
Experiencing His Presence In All Situations
In the course of his travels, Beloved Papa reached Ajmer one night. While he was resting at the station along with some other Sadhus, the railway police asked all of them to leave. Knocking about for some time, he saw at last a spot under a tree in a far-off corner of the railway compound. As he had nothing to spread on the floor, he lay himself down on the bare ground. When his nose came in close proximity with the ground he felt the strong smell of urine. He exclaimed, “O Ram, how kind you are; you make your humble slave pass through every kind of experience — all for his good.” He felt that to afford him the benefit of this experience, the Divine Himself appeared as the policeman and brought about this circumstance.
***
God Mysteriously Provides
Once Beloved Papa was prompted to take Bhiksha of foodstuffs although he did not cook; if food was given, he would take, otherwise not. That day, he received some wheat flour, Dal and one Anna for sundries. While walking down the street, a young man invited him to have Bhiksha lunch at his residence, and Papa agreed.
As it was around 10:00 am, Beloved Papa walked for some time and then sat down on the varandah of a shop. Soon, he noticed an old man standing in the hot sun, begging for alms. Papa beckoned the old Bhikshu and after mutual salutations, handed him the bundle of wheat flour, Dal and the Anna piece. The old man stared at Papa with a solemn, uncertain gaze before falling at his feet and saying, “You are none other than God, to whom I have been praying for years. I have been wandering for alms since morning. I managed to get only half an Anna. At home, I have a sickly wife and two children. Returning empty-handed means their starvation. I prayed to God, almost losing hope, when you called me and offered food.”
***
See His Will In Being Slandered
On one occasion, while traveling by train, Papa was seated beside two young men. They stared at Papa and presuming he did not understand English, remarked that he was a ‘veritable impostor and a hoax.’ Instead of feeling annoyed, Beloved Papa was overwhelmed by their comments and expressed his gratitude with folded hands, saying, “O kind friends! It gives Ramdas great pleasure to confess that he fully agrees with your view. It is perfectly true that he is a fraud... But there is one more thing you discover in him: he is mad about God, and every moment he cries out to Him to make him pure and live only for God’s sake.”
A sudden change came over the men. They fell at Papa’s feet and sought his pardon for their ‘thoughtless remarks,’ as they termed them. Thereafter, they became very solicitous and kind, even inquiring if Papa required anything to eat. God places us in all situations to keep us level-headed at all times.
WORDS TO INSPIRE
“Self-dedication or self-surrender is the last stage. You cannot achieve it at one stroke. You have to bring it about gradually. First, devote some definite period of time to the exclusive thought of God. Chant His name. Meditate on His greatness. Talk to Him — as you would to your mother — placing all your doubts and difficulties, weakness and impurities before Him and He will wash you clean. Let the talk, the prayer and the appeals be all sincere and whole-hearted!”
— Swami Ramdas
DEAR CHILDREN
Surrender And You Get God
In a house there was a pot of curds kept in the kitchen. The pot was not covered. Two frogs, one big and the other small, while hopping about, fell into the pot of curds. Both of them struggled for some time to get out, but could not do so. The bigger frog gave up all hopes, kept quiet, and sank to the bottom and died. The smaller frog did not want to give in easily. He struggled and struggled for hours together. He was now completely exhausted and therefore kept quiet for some time. By the frog’s continuous struggles and his constant movements in the curd pot, the curd was churned and butter was formed on its surface. When the frog stopped struggling through exhaustion and became still, the butter gradually formed itself into a lump. This gave a chance for the frog to leap out of the pot.
It is clear from this story that struggle or Sadhana is essential to secure freedom from the toils of worldly life. You should strive hard to get God and when you are completely exhausted in the effort and lie still in surrender at His feet, He comes to you as your saviour.
INSPIRING LUMINARIES
All saints are different forms of the Guru. Guru is Nirguna — nameless, formless, attributeless. He assumes forms to come and save us. He may come in any form. You can get the benefit of the company of any number of saints.
This month we pay our reverential homage to Sri Gondavalekar Maharaj and Bhagawan Ramana.
t Sri Brahmachaitanya Gondavalekar Maharaj:
EPISTLES OF SWAMI RAMDAS
Beloved Mother,
May Sri Ram bless you all.
Sri Ram, the Supreme Lord of the Universe, is a veritable ocean of kindness and love. He is ever seated in our hearts. To surrender to Him, by a ceaseless remembrance of His name and His glory, is to enjoy immortal bliss and peace. He is the sole doer. We are merely instruments. We are the children; He is our Divine Mother. We are His and He is ours, for ever and for ever.
Being born of Him, we are one with Him. We live in Him; He lives in us. He and we mingle indistinguishably; and we are all He, the Supreme, the One Eternal Reality.
Your ever loving child,
IN MEMORIAM
Smt Bharma Anasuya Bai (aged 97), an ardent devotee of the Ashram from Hyderabad, was called by Beloved Papa on the 26th of October 2024. We pray for Beloved Papa’s blessings on the departed soul for eternal rest and peace at His lotus feet.
ANANDASHRAM NEWS
15500-CRORE NAMA JAPA YAGNA FOR WORLD PEACE:
The total Japa received in the fourth round of the 15500-Crore Nama Japa Yagna for World Peace in the month of October 2024 is 220 crores, chanted by 188701 devotees. The grand total of the Japa done so far in this round now stands at 3510 crores.
***
SESSIONS WITH CHILDREN AT ANAND KUTIR IN ANANDASHRAM:
In the month of October 2024, 11 interactive sessions were held with children at Anand Kutir, in which 412 students participated. As the sessions are free from teaching and preaching, they help the children to bring out their own learnings:
- Nitin Raj reflected, “This session felt like an introduction to life itself.”
- Faisaleen Thomas remarked, “I now feel that every person in this world is connected to us in some way and deserves both, to love and to be loved.”
- Ashwanand observed, “When everyone isolates us, it is a sign that something may be lacking in ourselves.”
- Someone highlighted, “I have realised that while acting on my rights, it’s equally important to consider how our actions affect others.”
UPCOMING PROGRAMMES IN DECEMBER 2024:
Beloved Papa has blessed us with a feast of Satsang in the month of December. The details are as follows:
- 5th to 11th December 2024 — Ram Nam & Satsang:Along with Ram Nam there will be:
- Satsang sessions: Discourses by Pujya Swami Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj of Sri Sivanandashram, Rishikesh, from 6th to 11th of December 2024.
- Guruvayur Ekadashi: The 11th of December 2024 is Guruvayur Ekadashi. The term ‘Ekadashi’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Ekadasha’, meaning ‘eleven,’ and refers to the 11 sense faculties — 5 organs of perception (eyes, ears, tongue, nose, and skin), 5 organs of action (hands, feet, speech, excretion and reproduction) and the mind. As everyone knows, becoming aware of His presence, first within and later without, is possible only when senses are under control and turned towards the Indwelling Reality. To give a fillip to their devotion and Sadhana, devotees and Sadhakas observe fasts on Ekadashi days for control of the 11 senses.
- Gita Jayanti: The Gita Jayanti also falls on 11th of December 2024. It was on this day that Lord Krishna delivered the Bhagavad Gita — the Song Celestial — to Arjuna, which serves as a manual for a purposeful, successful and blissful life.
- 80 Lakhs Likitha Japa Yagna: As Pujya Swami Muktanandaji’s 80th Star-birthday happens to be on the 11th of December 2024, devotees, as a part of intensifying their Sadhana, will offer 80 lakhs Likitha Japa at the holy feet of Beloved Papa for the speedy spiritual progress of one and all.
- 15th December 2024 — Mouna Sadhana:The monthly Mouna Sadhana session is scheduled from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- 27th to 31st December 2024 — Year-end Retreat:Beloved Papa Swami Ramdas’ Sannyas Day, the 27th of December 2024, is a momentous occasion for us — his spiritual children — to offer our love and gratitude to Him by intensifying our Sadhana so as to attain the supreme aim of human life in this birth itself.Along with Ram Nam, some of the programmes scheduled for these days would include:
- Satsang Sessions: Beloved Papa said, “To know who you are in reality is the real quest.” In this spirit, He has provided an opportunity to participate in the Satsang talks by Pujya Swami Chidanandaji, the founder of FOWAI (Flame Of Who Am I) Forum — A Spiritual Centre in Mumbai.
- Special Bhajans: Music identified with the Divine will take us to the inner recesses of our mind. To nurture this experience, He has arranged soul-stirring Bhajans by
- Pujya Swami Sivashankaranandaji of Adi Shankara Ashram, Johannesburg, South Africa,
- Yogamitra Dr A Subramanian, a.k.a, Sri Ramakrishnadas, the Founder of Bhakti Yoga Peetham in Bengaluru, and
- Sri Ranga Pai and party from Manipal.
Devotees interested in participating in any of the above programmes, may kindly inform by email (pms.anandashram@gmail.com) or through a WhatsApp message (9037466744) as soon as possible.
BOOK IN FOCUS
‘The Divine Life (2 Volumes)’
A collection of over two hundred essays by Swami Ramdas, presenting luminous ideas and insights gained from his direct intuitive perception of the Truth in its totality.
These inspiring revelations, shared by a Master who has scaled the summit of realisation, illuminate the path for all spiritual seekers.
Available in English and Tamil.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
“God’s will means God’s power. God’s power is the manifested universe. All movement, all change in it, belongs to that Power. To realise this truth is to surrender to the Power or will of God.”
— Swami Ramdas
DOWNLOAD THE VISION
Devotees can download the PDF version or the audio book this issue of THE VISION by clicking on the relevant links.
Comments
Post a Comment