Nama-smarana Gives Peace And Bliss

Divine Sounds Are Most Elevating

Bhakti is of nine types: Shravanam (listening), Keertanam (singing), Vishnu-smaranam (contemplating on Vishnu), Pada-sevanam (serving His Lotus Feet), Vandanam (salutation), Archanam (worship), Dasyam (servitude), Sneham (friendship), Atma-nivedanam (self-surrender).

Embodiments of Divine Love!

You hear with your ears. You contemplate on the sound you hear. You also sing. You contemplate on the meaning of the song you sing and at the same time, salute with gratitude the Lord within your heart. Along with this, do Seva and develop your friendship with God. Through this real friendship, you attain God. Love is one, only bodies are different. Nurture this type of love for God and develop permanent friendship with Him.

The Power Of Sound

Sound pervades the entire universe. That is Shabda Brahmam (Brahman in the form of sound). The entire universe emerged from sound. There are many types of sound. There are good sounds and also bad sounds. Sound is the cause of happiness, misery, courage and fear. So, do not ignore sound. Out of all sounds, the Divine sounds are the noblest, most elevating, full of auspiciousness and good qualities. All can enjoy and share good sounds.

There are four types of sounds. The first one is Nishshabdam (silence), that is sound without words. The second is Sushabdam (beneficial sound). The third is Bhayankara Shabdam (fearsome sound), the sound that creates panic. The fourth is Shanti Shabdam (the sound that gives peace). Besides these sounds, there is Deva Shabdam (divine sound) which is most elevating. On the other hand, unholy sounds cause perversion in the mind.

Sounds have the power to change a person. Here is a small example. Surrounded by his students, a village teacher was teaching his students. He said to them, “Dear children, man has the ability to realise God, unlike the birds and animals which only eat, drink and sleep. Humans are unique; they are lofty and noble. The goal of human life is Ananda (bliss), peace and liberation. But bliss and peace cannot be attained through worldly means. Real happiness and permanent Ananda can be had only by contemplation on God. True education is that which gives this knowledge to man. That is called Vidya. Vidya = Vid + Ya. Vid means knowledge, Ya means that which gives. So, what is education? Education is that which gives the knowledge of God. Man should educate himself to attain Atma-sakshatkaram (experience of the Atma).”

The teacher then narrated the story of Prahlada who attained Atma-sakshatkaram. Prahlada’s father Hiranyakashipu hated God. One day, he asked Prahlada, what had he learnt from his teachers. Prahlada said, “I have learnt a great secret”. When his father asked him, what was that, Prahlada said, “Om Namo Narayanaya” (This is called Ashtakshari Mantra having eight syllables). His father chided him, calling him a mad fellow, fool. Prahlada’s father then went to his teachers and told them that they should not spoil him by teaching such Mantras. They should teach only that which is given in the books. But it was through the chanting of this Mantra that Prahlada attained Atma-sakshatkaram. Divine sounds have a sublime effect on man.

Liberation Is Everlasting Bliss

As the village teacher was telling this story to the students, an inspector of schools came there. The inspector told the teacher not to teach the students by telling stories like this. He asked him to teach them only what was given in the textbooks. The teacher then said, “Sir, the spoken word has good effect on students. Sound is, in fact, responsible for feelings of happiness, sorrow, anger, etc”. By way of acting upon what he said, the teacher ordered a small boy to get up and tell the inspector to get out of the classroom immediately. At this, the inspector got very angry. The teacher then said, “You see, how you are angry. Nobody has hit you or beaten you; you got angry just by hearing one sentence.”

Chanting the Divine Name Is Most Beneficial

Repeat the Divine Name of God and through that sound, you can obtain sacred benefits. In olden days, there were no electric street lights. There were only oil lamps in the streets. A God-loving person was appointed to light street lamps in Kashi (Varanasi). When he wiped the glass chimney of the lamp to clean it, he used to repeat the Name of God. (Swami sang the song: "Janaki Jeevana Ram; Karunga Tumhare Kaam" – Oh Rama, the soul of Janaki, I will do Your work only). The lamps he lit shone with great brightness, whereas the lamps in other streets gave only dim light. This shows that God’s Name has the great power to purify and illumine.

Do not pray for attaining mundane things. Pray for spiritual wealth. People pray for job, promotion, children, health, etc. Pray instead for eternal Ananda (bliss). That Ananda is God. Ananda is related to the heart – everlasting, changeless, full of radiant glory. Happiness pertains to head – temporary, ephemeral. Mukti (liberation) is everlasting Ananda.

Once Shankaracharya went with his disciples to Kashi. There, a person was sitting on the bank of the Ganga under a tree, chanting the rules of grammar, saying, “Dukrin Karane Dukrin Karane”. Shankara asked him, “What are you chanting”? He repeated what he was chanting. Shankara asked, “Why are you chanting this”? “To become a Pandit (scholar).” “Why do you want to become a Pandit?” “To serve the king and obtain wealth, position and protection.” Shankara said, “Mad fellow! Chant the Name of God. The rules of grammar will not protect you when your end approaches. There is nobody except God to protect you. This world is transient and full of difficulties. How can you get Ananda here? Seek protection only in the Divine Name of God”. In this Kali-Yuga, keep repeating God’s Name without intermission. Then the small plant of life will grow into a big tree and give a lot of fruits. God is greater than the greatest and subtler than the subtlest.

The Supreme Power of Bhakti

The vibrations arising from the repetition of God’s Name affect your thought waves. Pure thoughts lead to liberation. Mind is like a mad monkey, body is like a water bubble. The bliss of the Indweller of the body is important, not the body. It is possible to attain liberation only by the grace of God. Repeat the Name of God. Do not waste time. Do not waste your life. Time waste is life waste. Do not spend your time, energy and power in improper ways. Experience bliss and help others to experience it.

Two brothers, Shanti Deva and Jnana Deva were travelling in a forest. Shanti Deva was the embodiment of Bhakti (devotion) and Jnana Deva, that of Jnana (knowledge). They were thirsty and came near a deep well. There was no way to get water from the well. Jnana Deva looked around and got the vision that all was one, everything was nothing but God. He transformed himself into a bird, went down into the well and drank the water. Shanti Deva sat beside the well and chanted God’s Name. The water rose up and came near him (within his reach). He had no need to change his form. It is only a Bhakta (devotee) who can forget himself, repeating God’s Name and get His grace.

A magnet attracts only iron; it does not attract gold, silver or any other metal. God is the magnet and devotees are the iron. Other persons may be great scientists, doctors, philosophers, scholars, intellectuals, politicians, etc., but they are like precious metals such as gold and silver. The magnet will not attract them. God attracts only devotees. Devotees are like iron, but they may take on themselves rust and dust of worldly desires. When you remove the rust and dust, God will rest you in liberation. If you have dust, He will give you test. Worldly desires are the dust. The dust causes the rust. Rust makes the iron lose its capacity and strength. You should cleanse your heart by doing Nama-smarana (repetition of God’s Name) daily.

Darshan (vision) releases you from all your sins. Sparshan (touch) releases you from the effects of all your past actions. Sambhashan (conversation) removes all your sorrow. By God’s grace, your heart will become pure. Many people come here from far-away places out of love, spending a lot of money. Fill your heart with love. This will benefit not only you, but your friends and those around you also. There is no peace in the world; there are only pieces. Contemplation on God only will give you peace and protection. Keep repeating God’s Name. Sound spreads everywhere. Good sound comes out of Nama-smarana; it benefits all. When you sing Bhajans with unison of Shruti, Laya and Tala (pitch, rhythm and beat), the sound produced by it casts beneficial effects. Shruti box is the mind, Laya is the words and Tala is the actions. When the mind (thoughts), words and actions are in unison, we get Tripti (fulfilment).

(Bhagawan brought His Discourse to a close with the Bhajan, “Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Shanti Nahin…”)

– Bhagawan’s Discourse in Sai Sruthi, Kodaikanal on 23rd April 1997.