THE VISION, June 2026, Vol 93, Issue 9:
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Beloved Readers,
Modern life has taught us how to move fast, speak continuously, and remain endlessly occupied. Yet, amidst all this movement, one thing is silently disappearing from human life — stillness. The mind today rarely rests. Even when the body is inactive, thoughts continue racing from one concern to another. The result is tension, confusion, anxiety, and exhaustion. Stillness does not mean inactivity or escape from life. It means inner calmness amidst activity. Just as the depths of the ocean remain undisturbed though waves dance on the surface, a still mind remains balanced amidst the ups and downs of life. Such stillness is not weakness; it is strength in its purest form.
All great spiritual masters have pointed toward this truth. Beloved Papa Swami Ramdas taught that the purpose of all Sadhana, prayer, and Nama chanting is to quieten the restless mind and reveal the Divine Presence within. When the mind becomes still, clarity dawns, reactions reduce, and peace naturally arises.
Today’s generation especially needs this understanding. Constant stimulation through screens, competition, comparisons, and pressures have made the mind outward-bound and restless. The solution is not merely better technology or entertainment, but moments of inward quietness. A few minutes of silence, prayer, reflection, or conscious chanting can slowly restore balance to the mind. Stillness also transforms relationships and daily living. A disturbed mind reacts; a still mind responds wisely. A restless mind sees problems everywhere; a quiet mind sees opportunities to grow. In stillness, we begin to listen — not only to others, but also to the deeper wisdom within ourselves.
Ultimately, stillness is not something to be artificially created. It is our natural state, hidden beneath layers of mental noise. When agitation settles, even for a moment, we discover that peace was always within us. In a noisy world, stillness is no longer a luxury — it is a necessity.
This month’s issue of THE VISION gives thrust to this aspect of Stillness.
— EDITOR
AS WE SCROLL DOWN...
- ‘Constant Remembrance Leads to Stillness of Mind’ — Swami Ramdas teaches that liberation is attained through intense devotion, dispassion towards worldly objects and constant remembrance of God. As love determines the direction of the mind, exclusive devotion naturally fixes it on the Divine, leading to inner stillness and God-realisation. Satsang, Bhajan and Ram Nam help awaken this love, and once the sweetness of God-remembrance is tasted, the seeker is drawn ever closer to Him.
- ‘Words of Pujya Mataji Krishnabai’ — reveal that just as seekers are drawn to the Ashram by the indescribable peace they experience here, Mataji herself found profound stillness in Papa’s presence. By chanting Ram Nam, reflecting on the Divine attributes and praying earnestly for concentration, the restless mind was gradually stilled, for only the Divine — whose very nature is absolute Stillness — can grant lasting inner peace.
- ‘Words of Pujya Swami Satchidananda’ — explain that the sweetness of Ram Nam is revealed through faith, perseverance and sustained practice. As the mind repeatedly tastes the joy of the Divine Name, its restlessness subsides and it gradually enters deeper states of stillness. Through God-remembrance and Satsang, the mind is purified and stilled, enabling the seeker to commune with the ever-present Stillness of one’s own Being and remain a peaceful witness amidst life’s activities.
- ‘Editor Answers’ — exhorts that although the ultimate aim of all spiritual disciplines is to realise the Divine Presence in inner Stillness, the restless mind cannot become still all at once. Practices such as reading, writing, prayer and Nama chanting help gather the scattered mind and gently direct it towards a single Divine ideal. As attention becomes concentrated through sustained remembrance, mental agitation subsides and the mind grows calm and serene. Eventually, even the God-thought dissolves naturally into Silence, revealing the Stillness that is the doorway to experiencing the Divine within.
- ‘The Gita Touch in Daily Life’ — through the example of Dr. Srinivas, a skilled cardiologist, illustrates the value of pausing and connecting with the inner Stillness that lies beyond the restless mind. By briefly withdrawing into silent Awareness before acting, he drew clarity, precision and compassion into even the most demanding situations. The accompanying Gita Shloka reminds us that Consciousness is the illuminating Presence behind the mind and senses. When we anchor ourselves in this inner Stillness, our actions become wiser, more effective and guided by a deeper intelligence.
- ‘Stillness’ — a synopsis from the teachings of Swami Ramdas explains that Stillness is not mere outer silence but the natural state of our True Being. All spiritual practices — prayer, Nama Japa, Bhajan, meditation and remembrance of God — are intended to quieten the restless mind and lead it back to this inner Silence. Through constant communion with the Divine, mental agitation gradually subsides, revealing peace, joy and the silent Presence of God within. In this state of Stillness, ego and separateness dissolve, and one experiences unity, universal love and the bliss of oneness with the Divine.
- ‘Gleanings’ — presents the insights of great sages on the nature of Stillness. Ramana Maharshi teaches that true Stillness is the quietening of the ego-mind, revealing the Self as pure Awareness. Swami Rama Tirtha and Nisargadatta Maharaj point to the dissolution of the restless individual self in the silent Reality beyond thought. Anandamayi Ma and Vinoba Bhave emphasise that inner Silence is the living presence of the Divine, expressed through purity, balance and selfless action. Swami Vivekananda highlights Stillness as the source of strength, fearlessness and spiritual power, through which one discovers the Divine centre within and the peace that transcends all agitation.
- ‘Namotsav’ — highlights how Nama chanting can be meaningfully connected with daily life by linking the Nama to the Nami, the Divine Presence within and around us. Through practical examples drawn from everyday experiences, devotees are encouraged to recognise the indwelling Presence that sustains life, to reduce the ego-sense of ‘me’ and ‘mine’ that veils Him, and to perceive the one Divine Reality pervading all creation. Thus, Namotsav transforms chanting from a mere practice into a living awareness of God’s presence in every aspect of life.
- ‘Epistles Of Swami Ramdas’ — reveal that Divine Love finds its deepest expression in silence and inner Stillness. Separation does not diminish love but enriches it, for beneath all apparent distance lies the eternal oneness of existence. Swami Ramdas explains that love, like a wave arising from still water, is a manifestation of the one undivided Truth. It is the source, the journey and the fulfilment of spiritual life — the sole Reality underlying all existence.
- ‘Anandashram News’:
- ‘Thought For The Month’
- ‘Download THE VISION’ in PDF format.
CONSTANT REMEMBRANCE LEADS TO STILLNESS OF MIND
By Swami Ramdas
Constant remembrance of God is necessary. You should have dispassion towards objects of the senses and also constant practice in the repetition of Ram Nam. Otherwise, the mind will be tossed about by desires. Continuous remembrance of God is possible only when your devotion is intense.
Sankara says: “Contact of saints gives detachment, which in turn brings freedom from delusion. Freedom from delusion results in perfect stillness of mind, by which Mukti or liberation in life is attained.”
A wandering mind cannot see God. It must become still. Unless you have a burning aspiration for God, the mind cannot be fixed on Him. Where your love is, there your mind is. Just as a miser constantly thinks of money and money alone, so a Bhakta has Ananya-Bhakti — exclusive devotion for God. When you have intense love for God, everything else is forgotten. Then you will realize God. Therefore you must do Bhajan, have Satsang and remember God. If you taste once the sweetness of God-remembrance, you will never forego Him. You will have the first taste of that experience in Satsang only.
WORDS OF PUJYA MATAJI KRISHNABAI
What do people feel when they first come here, to the Ashram? They feel a sort of peace and stillness of mind that is simply indescribable. They feel so much peace that they are drawn to this place irresistibly and cannot bear the thought of going away from here. When I first came to Papa, I felt the same kind of utter peace within and without.
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When I wanted to concentrate on Papa during my Sadhana days, I would bring to my mind Papa’s Divine attributes — “Papa, Thou art Eternal, Thou art Infinite” and so on — while chanting Ram Nam with my lips. When I found that my mind was still wandering and thoughts kept pressing in, I earnestly prayed to Papa not to allow any thoughts to come into my mind and to let me concentrate on His Eternal Swaroop. Only Papa can give us stillness of the mind because His main quality is absolute stillness and void. When I had prayed like this to Papa, Papa shut my mind to all thoughts coming from outside and made it still.
WORDS OF PUJYA SWAMI SATCHIDANANDA
The sweetness of Ram Nam does not come easily. It comes only after long and intense practice. The nature of the sweetness is such that the mind craves for further enjoyment of the same. So, if Ram Nam is chanted for some time, the mind, losing all its restlessness, enters a state of stillness again. Only when one has enjoyed the sweetness of the Name, one will wish to have it again. Till then one has to go by faith in the words of the Guru. By repeated efforts and regular practice, one can enjoy the sweetness for longer and longer periods until the mind loses itself in the Name.
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The Sadhaka’s effort is to purify the mind and make it still. That stillness and purification comes by God-remembrance. Satsang helps to commune with God and gives us an impetus in our Sadhana.
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You can commune with the “Stillness” at any time anywhere if you crave for it. May you be able to commune with the “Stillness” — your own Being — constantly and be a witness to all the activities.
EDITOR ANSWERS
Question: When we hear that the end and aim of all spiritual discipline is to go deep within, still the mind, and realize His Presence, why do spiritual practices initially ask us to read, write, chant, and engage the mind in activity? How do these go together?
Answer: True. The ultimate aim of all Sadhana is to reveal the inner Stillness in which the Divine Presence is experienced. But the mind, by its very nature, is a continuous flow of thoughts and cannot suddenly become still. Therefore, the first step is not to forcibly stop the mind, but to gently guide it from many thoughts to one thought — the thought of God — through reading, writing, chanting, prayer, and remembrance.
Ordinarily, the mind runs in countless directions, creating restlessness and agitation. But when it is lovingly and repeatedly directed toward one Divine ideal, other thoughts gradually lose their hold. With patience and perseverance, the scattered mind becomes calm, concentrated, and serene. Then comes a stage where even this single God-thought quietens naturally, just as a burning stick used to stir a funeral pyre is itself finally consumed by the fire. In that deep quietness, one begins to witness the mind rather than be carried away by it. That silent awareness is the doorway to Stillness.
THE GITA TOUCH IN DAILY LIFE
Chapter 10, Shloka 22 — Stillness
Dr. Srinivas, a renowned cardiologist, was admired for his quick decision-making in emergency surgeries. Yet, colleagues often noticed that before making the most critical cut or stitch, he would pause — sometimes for just a few seconds — with eyes closed.
One day, a junior doctor asked him, “Sir, in those precious seconds, don’t you fear losing time?” Dr. Srinivas smiled and said, “In that pause, I touch something deeper — a Stillness beyond my racing mind. From there, clarity comes. My mind works, but that silent Awareness guides it.” This quiet practice allowed him to act with remarkable precision and compassion, even under immense pressure. This theme is beautifully expressed in this Shloka:
“I am the Samaveda amongst the Vedas, and Indra amongst the Celestial Gods.
Amongst the senses I am the mind; amongst the living beings I am Consciousness.”
The pause of Dr. Srinivas reflects this truth. Behind the restless activity of the mind lies Consciousness — the still Presence that illuminates and directs. His ability to anchor himself in that inner stillness made his actions both precise and life-saving.
STILLNESS
A Synopsis from the Teachings of Swami Ramdas
Stillness is not mere absence of speech or outer inactivity. It is the natural, silent state of our True Being. Just as the restless river ultimately merges into the still ocean, and the bird returns to its quiet nest after flying about all day, the mind too must return from its endless activity to its original calmness.
According to Beloved Papa Swami Ramdas, silence is the source and resting place of all existence. From silence arises the entire universe with all its movement, noise, and diversity; and into silence everything finally returns. Peace, love, and Truth are all expressions of this inner silence.
Stillness of mind is essential for God-realization. Outer silence alone is not enough; one may sit motionless while the mind continues to race endlessly. True stillness is attained only when the mind becomes calm through communion with God. Prayer, chanting of the Divine Name, Bhajan, meditation, and remembrance of God are all means to quieten the mind and make it serene.
Beloved Papa repeatedly emphasized that all spiritual practices are only aids to reach this state of inner Stillness. The purpose of Nama Japa is not endless repetition, but the eventual cessation of mental agitation. When the mind becomes perfectly still, duality disappears — the devotee and God become one. He repeatedly quotes: “Be still and know that I am God.”
He cautioned that practices producing strain or mechanical blankness are not the ideal path. True stillness is accompanied by joy, peace, and expansion of consciousness. Beloved Papa found the repetition of God’s Name to be the most natural and joyful means of stilling the mind. Constant remembrance of the Divine gradually removes the mind’s restlessness and reveals the Self as pure Spirit — universal, eternal, and all-pervading.
In that stillness: ego disappears, likes and dislikes lose meaning, the sense of separateness dissolves, and one experiences unity amidst diversity. Then life is no longer driven by agitation, fear, or conflict, but flows from inner peace and universal love. The goal of all Sadhana is: not noise, not activity, not endless preparation — but the discovery of the silent Divine Presence within.
GLEANINGS
Ramana Maharshi
Stillness, according to Ramana Maharshi, is not merely silence of speech but the complete quietening of the ego-mind. When thoughts subside, the true Self shines by itself as pure Awareness. He taught that the highest teaching is silent presence itself, for Truth is beyond words. To abide in the stillness of the “I Am” is to discover the eternal peace that is our real nature.
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Swami Rama Tirtha
Swami Rama Tirtha saw stillness as the state in which the restless little self dissolves into the vastness of the Infinite. Like a wave merging into the ocean, the individual mind finds freedom only in inner silence. In that stillness, one experiences boundless joy, fearlessness, and unity with the whole universe.
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Sri Anandamayi Ma
Ma Anandamayi taught that true stillness dawns when the mind ceases running outward and rests naturally in God. The heart then becomes calm, pure, and filled with Divine bliss. She emphasized that Silence is not emptiness but the living presence of the Divine silently shining within all beings.
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Vinoba Bhave
Vinobaji regarded stillness as inner equilibrium amidst action. Real silence, for him, did not mean withdrawal from life but freedom from inner disturbance while serving the world selflessly. When desires and ego lose their grip, the mind becomes quiet, and from that stillness arise clarity, compassion, and right action.
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Nisargadatta Maharaj
Nisargadatta Maharaj pointed seekers toward the silent Awareness behind all thoughts and experiences. He taught that the mind is restless because of identification with the body and personality. By remaining with the simple sense of “I Am,” thoughts gradually lose force, revealing the still, changeless Reality that is beyond birth and death.
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Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda described stillness as the secret of strength and spiritual power. The scattered mind weakens itself through constant agitation, while a calm and concentrated mind becomes capable of extraordinary insight and action. In deep stillness, one touches the Divine centre within and discovers fearlessness, peace, and infinite potential.
NAMOTSAV
Beloved Papa Swami Ramdas assures us that “The Name is the link between the devotee and God.” Yet, chanting does not always seem to connect with the realities of daily life. Namotsav therefore seeks to bridge this gap by weaving real-life examples into every session, helping kindle a living awareness of HIS presence within.
As prompted by Him from within, devotees organised Namotsav sessions in various places:
- Anandashram: From 27th to 29th Dec 2025
- Tiruvannamalai: From 20th & 21st Feb 2026
- Hyderabad: On 5th Apr 2026
- Hanamkonda: On 7th Apr 2026
- Mumbai: On 26th Apr 2026
- Anandashram: On 15th & 16th May 2026, followed by a 3-hour Mouna Sadhana on the 17th of May 2026. (Details will appear in the next issue of THE VISION.)
Guidelines For Effective Nama Chanting
Here are a few examples from daily life that were thoughtfully woven into the chanting sessions during various Namotsav gatherings:
1. The Nami silently dwells within us
A vehicle may look strong and complete from outside, but it cannot move without fuel. In the same way, words written on a page become visible only because of the white background that silently holds them. Though unnoticed, the hidden factor is what makes everything possible.
Similarly, within us too, there is an unseen Presence because of which we feel alive and know that we exist. That inner Beingness is not separate from God. He is the Nami, already present in our own heart. Nama chanting, done with this understanding, gently turns the mind inward and helps us become aware of that indwelling Divine Presence.
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2. The Nami becomes evident when ‘me’ and ‘mine’ fall away
When clouds cover the sun, it appears as though the sun has disappeared, though in truth it is shining all the while. In the same way, when muddy water is treated with cleansing nut powder, the dirt settles and the water becomes clear.
Likewise, the Nami is ever-present within us, but the sense of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ acts like a covering that hides His presence. As this ego-sense gradually settles, the mind becomes quiet and transparent. Then the Nami, who was always present, begins to reveal Himself naturally. Nama chanting with this awareness gently removes this inner covering and helps us experience His presence more clearly.
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3. The Nami pervades the universe
Space is present both inside and outside a house. The walls seem to divide it, but in truth space remains one and undivided. In the same way, a single thread runs through many beads in a garland, quietly holding them all together though it is rarely noticed.
Likewise, the Nami is the one Infinite Presence pervading everything within and without. He is the unseen Reality because of which all beings exist and remain connected. Though forms appear different, the underlying Presence is one. Nama chanting with this understanding gradually expands the mind beyond limited identity and helps us feel His all-pervading presence everywhere.
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Upcoming Namotsav
Anandashram Satsang Samiti, Bangalore has organised a Namotsav and Mouna Sadhana on 13th and 14th of June 2026, in Bangalore. Contact: Sri CY Gopinath, Ph: +91-9886331254.
EPISTLES OF SWAMI RAMDAS
Beloved Ram,
…The grandeur of Divine Love is best realised when it works silently. Separation makes it richer and fuller. It is a mighty wave on the bosom of the infinite stillness of existence. Its glory is the eternal oneness in separation. Wave is only a form of still water; love is only a revelation of the one, undifferentiated, eternal Truth of all existence. Love is the seed; it is the fruit and the flower as well. Love is all — love is the only reality.
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 April 2026 is 210 crores, chanted by 183088 devotees. The grand total of the Japa done so far in this round now stands at 7300 crores.
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MOUNA SADHANA IN ANANDASHRAM:
A day-long Mouna Sadhana is scheduled on the 14th of June 2026. Devotees interested in participating may kindly inform through WhatsApp (+91-9037466744) or by email (pms.anandashram@gmail.com).
HOMAGE TO PUJYA SWAMI SHUDDHANANDAJI:
The month of June reminds us of the Samadhi of our dearest Swami Shuddhanandaji who will always be remembered for his childlike nature, innocence, straightforwardness and simplicity.
Swami Shuddhanandaji, through his very life, taught us that while carrying on with devotional practices and selfless service, one can always lead an innocent and simple life.
While remembering him on the 2nd of June 2026, his Mahasamadhi Day, let us try to emulate these noble qualities that he epitomised.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
“The mind that listens with love to the Divine Name is at once arrested.
It stops its distracting activities and becomes completely still.
Stillness is achieved by regaling the mind with the sweetness of Ram Nam.”
— Swami Ramdas
DOWNLOAD THE VISION
Devotees can download the PDF version of this issue of THE VISION by clicking on the relevant links.
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