In this edition
- Upcoming Events
- Geetha Vahini
- Rama Navami
- Worldly Pleasures are like a serpent’s grip
- Devotional activities in Chicago and Suburbs
Upcoming Events
- Monday, March 4, 2019
- Maha Shivarathri celebrations
- Time: 07:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Venue: Sant Nirankari, 1S750 Route 59, West Chicago
- Shri Sathya Sai Aradhana Mahotsvam
- Saturday, April 6, 2019: Special service project at FMSC, Schaumburg from 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM
- Wednesday, April 24, 2019: Special Devotional program at Sant Nirankari from 07:30 PM – 10.30 PM
- Saturday, April 27, 2019: Mini Retreat with Prof. Anil Kumar (Swami’s divine discourse translator) at Sant Nirankari from 10:00 AM – 04:30 PM
- Sunday, April 14, 2019
- Ugadi, Vishu and Rama Navami celebrations
- Special Devotional Program by YAs
- Time: 09:30 AM – 01:00 PM
- Venue: River Forest Community Center
- Sunday, April 21, 2019
- Easter Celebrations
- Special Devotional Program
- Time: 09:30 AM – 01:00 PM
- Venue: River Forest Community Center
Geetha Vahini
When the desire to attain the fruit of action is renounced with full intellectual awareness, then, it becomes what Krishna calls, “Buddhiyogam.” The intellect has to be purified and trained. Otherwise, it is impossible to give up attachment to the fruits of action and to continue doing things, as either duty or dedication. Such a purified intellect is named “Yoga Buddhi.” cultivate it and then, through it, liberate yourself from the bondage of karma. Really speaking, you, the true you are above and beyond karma.
You might say that you will desist from karma rather than practise the difficult discipline of renouncing the fruits thereof. But that is impossible. No, Karma is inevitable. One has to do some karma or other. Not for a single moment can one free oneself from karma “nahi kaschith kshanamapi” says Krishna, in the third Chapter of the Geetha.
““Arjuna! Every karya (deed) or karma (activity) has a beginning and an end. But Nishkama Karma (desireless karma) has no such. That is the difference between the two. When karma is done with a view to the gain therefrom, one has to suffer the loss, the pain, and even the punishment. But Nishkama Karma frees you from all these.
“Desire the fruits of karma, and you get born again and again, caught up in that desire. Give up that desire, you are liberated from the flux. The practice of this type of renunciation ends the state of bondage. The main point is to stick to the goal. The goal is karma, not Karmaphala (Fruit of action). Let me tell you that the desire or the fruit of one’s acts is an indication of Rajo Guna (passion), which does not befit you. Perhaps you will prefer to remain inactive. Well, that is an indication of Thamo Guna (dullness, ignorance)! It is even worse than Rajo Guna.” The Lord has laid down four commands: the first one a “do” and the other three “don’ts.” The first is insisting on the cultivation of strength, the rest requiring the avoidance of weakness.
Of course, it is not Arjuna alone that got such advice. The whole of mankind needs it. Arjuna is only the representative “Man.” Students of the Geetha must learn this lesson first: that the Geetha is primarily for every seeker.
Another point to be noted is this: Geetha is addressed to Man, not to birds and beasts or to the gods or devathas. Man performs acts prompted by the desire for the fruits thereof. If the act does not yield fruit, he will not do the act at all. But this rule does not apply to those who take the Geetha in their hands to drink the nectar of the Lord’s Message. Not all do yearn for the nectar. If you do so, it is evident that you aspire for eternal joy, eternal liberation. Then you must give up the desire for the fruit of action, and dedicate everything at the Feet of the Lord.
If you have an eye on the fruits of your actions, you are liable to be affected by worry, anxiety and restlessness. The question may arise: if the fruits have to be given up, how can one manage to live? But why this weakness of heart, this nervousness? He who has assured, “Yoga-kshemam vahamyaham” (I will absolutely take care of your worldly and spiritual needs), will certainly look after that. He will give the wherewithal and the means. After all, you have to consider, “Is a happy life important or is liberation from the circle of life and death more important? Happy living is only of short duration. The joy of liberation is eternal, unshakeable.
On this point many commentators have exercised their intelligence and written differently. Many have said that the giving up of Phala or fruit is advised because there is no right or authority for the doer to desire the fruit.
This is a great blunder. The Lord has said in the Geetha, “refuse the fruit” (maa phaleshu), that is to say: the deed yields results, but the doer should not desire the result, or do it with the result in view. If Krishna’s intention was to say that the doer has no right for the fruit, He would have said, “It is fruitless” na phaleshu, (na, meaning no). So, if you desist from karma, you will be transgressing the Lord’s Command. That will be a serious mistake.
-Excerpts from Geetha Vahini
Rama Navami
The sacred epic Ramayana is verily the Veda descended from heaven to earth. The Veda is classified into four: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharvana Veda. The Rig Veda helps, sustains and protects the yajnas and yagas. In the Ramayana, Rama symbolises Rig Veda. Lakshmana signifies Yajur Veda, which contains mantras chanted during the performance of yajnas and yagas. When Rama was away in the forest, Bharata stayed in Nandigrama singing His divine Name day in and day out. Hence, he symbolises Sama Veda. Satrughna was the one who annihilated the satrus (enemies) and protected the pious. He was obedient to his brothers. He stands for Atharvana Veda. The essence of Atharvana Veda lies in destroying wickedness and fostering sacred feelings and activities. The Ramayana is verily the Veda. The Veda is not different from the Ramayana. True humanness lies in understanding this.
Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna are the four sons of Dasaratha. Merely knowing this will not suffice. One should enquire and understand the inner meaning. Who is Dasaratha? He represents the human body consisting of ten senses (five senses of perception and five senses of action). Strictly speaking, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna are not the sons of Dasaratha and his three wives. We should not think that they were born like mere mortals. They are the chaitanya swarupas (embodiments of divine consciousness) who emerged from the sacrificial fire. They set an ideal to parents, brothers, and sisters in every family and to humanity at large.
Today, due to the impact of Kali age, there is no unity and love among brothers in a family. On the contrary, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna had total unity among themselves. When Lakshmana fell unconscious in the battlefield, Rama was crestfallen. He considered Lakshmana as His very life. He lamented, “If I were to search in the world, I may get a mother like Kausalya and a wife like Sita but not a brother as noble as Lakshmana.” The four brothers had such unity, harmony, and love among themselves.
When Bharata returned from Kekaya kingdom, he came to know from sage Vasishtha that Rama had gone into exile and would not return for fourteen long years. He was disconsolate. He went to the sage, offered his respects and said, “Oh venerable preceptor, I do not want this kingdom, which has caused the exile of my brother Rama. Being the eldest son, only Rama has the right to rule over the Kingdom. Hence, at this very moment I shall go to the forest, fall at the feet of Rama and plead with Him to come and take over the reins of Ayodhya.” In this manner, each of the four brothers was ready to make any sacrifice for the sake of the other.
In order to uphold the plighted word of His father, Rama was ready to go into exile. He donned the clothes made of tree bark and went to the residence of mother Kausalya to seek her permission. Mother Kausalya, being unaware of the sudden turn of events, was eagerly awaiting Rama’s arrival. She was ecstatic thinking of Rama’s coronation and expected Him to come to her in royal garments. She was very much worried to see Rama and Sita in bark clothes. “Rama, is this the type of garment you should wear on the day of your coronation,” she asked.
Rama smilingly replied, “Mother, I have been coronated as the king of Aranya Rajya (kingdom of forest) by My father. I am going to the forest to protect sages and saints who are being put to suffering by the demons. Hence, kindly do not raise any objection to My sacred mission. I have to obey the command of My father.” So saying, He prostrated before His mother and sought her permission to go to the forest.
Hearing the words of Rama, mother Kausalya was overcome with sorrow. She pleaded with Him, “Son, You are talking of obeying only the command of father, what about the command of Your mother? I will not come in the way of Your going to the forest, but let me also accompany You. I cannot live without You even for a minute.” Rama said, “Mother, it is not proper on your part to leave your husband in this old age. At this juncture, you should comfort and console him with soothing words. That is your foremost duty. For a wife, husband is God. He is the only refuge for her.”
– Baba’s Discourses on Rama Navami
Worldly pleasures are like a serpent’s grip
One person came to Me and prayed that he should meet his examination with success and secure a high first class. I told him that there will have to be effort and the result will be according to God’s will. With My blessings he did secure a high first class and came to Me again after passing his examination and asked for My blessings so that he may get a job. He did get a job within a month. He again came to Me after a few months and he wanted to marry a typist girl in his office. I told him that if it is agreeable to his parents, he may do so but they may not like it. He said that even if it meant transgressing the wishes of his parents, he was determined to marry that girl. I told him that he must convince his parents before entering into such an alliance. He brought a lot of pressure on his parents and they finally agreed to the marriage. After the birth of a son his expenses multiplied, his wife gave up the job, and he came to Me desiring a promotion. He had great faith in regard to matters relating to Swami. I gave him My blessings and he got a promotion. He did not turn up thereafter for over five years. They had four children. He came again to Me after five years and said that he was fed up with the family, said that he cannot bear the burden of the family. He said that he wanted a small job in the ashram and said that his family has now got a hold over him like a big serpent. I asked him if the serpent caught him on its own or whether he let the serpent come to him and get hold of him.
Devotional Activities in Chicago and Suburbs
- Every Monday
- Bhajans in Aurora Shirdi Mandir from 07:00 PM – 08:00 PM
- Every Wednesday
- Bhajans in Hoffman Estates from 07:30 PM – 08:30 PM
- Every Friday
- Bhajans in Oak Brook from 08:00 PM – 09:00 PM
- First Saturday of the month
- Bhajans in Glenview from 04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
- Saturday March 9, 2019
- Paduka Puja in Bolingbrook from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday March 23, 2019
- Bhajans in Burr Ridge from 06:30PM – 07:30 PM