Boston Trip -HH Swamiji's Teertha Goshti Pravachanam on 27th August at Westford, MA

Jai Srimannarayana!

Art of Sharing Knowledge

Man has to learn. But who teaches that?  It’s the Guru. Whoever enlightens us with purpose of life is the Guru. Moksha is release of soul from the body.  Whoever teaches us to attain moksha is the real Guru.   Knowledge is very valuable. With knowledge one can add or create value.  Whoever gives the right knowledge which provides divine aspects is the real Guru.

Where from knowledge emanate? 

 Soul is the sole proprietor of knowledge. It has knowledge of its own and no one need to support it.  Something which glows on its own is ‘Pratyak’.  Soul is ‘Pratyak’.  Body is a tool given to you and it’s the place where soul rests.  Knowledge is the property of soul.  Knowledge is present but NOT opened up.   It need to be INSTALLED.  It’s the Guru who elevates the knowledge. 

You need shraddha.  It’s called Ruchi Purwaka Twara.  The eagerness to learn (Twara) and the love and commitment (Ruchi). The love and commitment depending upon how much Shraddha you show, that much of knowledge will be UNLOCKED.

Guru is the Goldsmith and Sastras are his tools.  He uses these tools to decorate your knowledge.  OMkara is the one to open and it’s the one to close.  It’s a tool chest.

The sages who are doing Tapas for 1000s of years there heart melted when they saw Rama, Sita and Lakshmana.  They realized that they are the origin of the universe.  The creator of this universe is just walking like a common man in the forest.  There may be some evil eyes.. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana need to be protected.. The sages did Mangala Harathi.  Is Rama supposed to protect the sages OR the sages protect Rama?  When love is out pouring and overwhelming the rules will reverse.  The protector will become ‘to be protected’.  Rakshya protector of Rashaka.

OM is a combination of three syllables aa, u, Ma.  In Bhagavath Geeta, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says, “Aksharanam Akarosmi”  (I am the ‘aa’ in the letters).  Ma represents the Jeevathma or Me, the soul.  u represents the link or the divine mother and Guru connecting the Jeevathma with Paramathma.  There are 5 bhootas, 5 qualities, 5 indriyas, 5 karma organs, manas, intellectual or buddhi, aham, you,  God, Guru.    Ma is the 25^th syllable representing Me.

aa – Rama the God.

u – Sita the Mother and Guru.

Ma – Lakshmana the Soul

The nature of soul is to be with God and to Serve God.  That’s OMKARA!

He is with Mother. Me to serve him all the time.  Rishis are astonished as they saw OMKARA walking in the forest!

It’s the Guru who reveals, uncovers the knowledge for us to see and experience.  It’s the ACHARYA who gives us the PASSWORD to unlock our KNOWLEDGE.  It’s the Guru who reveals the God, Nature and Omkara. 

It was Bhagawadh Ramanuja who revealed the Ashtakshari Mantra (unlocked the secret).  That’s a great blessing on us.  Remembering Acharya’s grace on us, understand our own nature and serve him.  That’s the ESSENCE of life.

Take the Knowledge.. Share the Knowledge.. Let’s Explore.. Let’s Understand..

Jai Srimannarayana!

Ranga Ranga Vaibhavamga Boston lo Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam.

Jai Srimannarayana!  

Om asmad gurubhyo namaha

Om Daserathayae Vidhmahe -  Sita Vallabhaya Dheemahe - Tanno Rama Prachodayaath

Ranga Ranga Vaibhavamga Boston lo Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam.

By the grace of our Acharya His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji,  Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam is grandly performed and witnessed by a very large greater boston bhakta brundam.  It’s KAMANEEYAM, RAMANEEYAM and SRAVANEEYAM. The bhatha brundam performed the kalyanam, learned its benefits from HH Swamiji , received Swamiji’s mangalasasanams and humbly offered obeisance at the Lotus Feet of Sri Rama Parivar and Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.  

The stage is very well decorated with wonderful deities of Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman.

Around 650 people attended the Kalyanam on a week day evening, that too on a day when many area schools opened!  People sat through the entire Kalyanam process on a week day for several hours with devotion.

The ISSO Swaminarayan Temple turned out to be a perfect venue with superb ambiance, fantastic facilities (including lighting, sound, space, and ability to divide the hall into sections), food arrangements and ample parking.HH Swamiji explained the entire Kalyanam process so beautifully and in greater detail which include Punyaha Vachanam, Pravara, Offering asanam, madhu parkam, yajno:pavi:tha dharana, Gudam Jeerkam mixture,  Mangala Sutra pooja,  Offering sanctified akshatas, prasadam, harathi, sayanotsavam. 

The bhavath bandhus participated in the event enthusiastically and followed the instructions keenly.  The Prjana students chanted few slokas and Smt. Aparna Balaji sang few keerthanas melodiously on divine couple.

Jai Srimannarayana!

Swamiji's visit to Boston - Day 7

Boston - VT Seva Awareness - June 19 2011

Jai Srimannarayana!
We want life to be active and body to be energetic. Help is an activity where a person having something shares with others with compassion. Seva or Service - 'It's not about whether you have it or not - If you do it you feel joy, you feel happy. That's service.'
We are doing service for OUR SAKE. The world we live in is supported by a power called Isha. This controlling power is in me, you and in everything. You enjoy, but remember that some power is giving you that energy. Isha is one and we are several parts of it.
Service makes us feel happy by doing something. Everything in universe if for other's sake. Remove pain from other person. Person with tender heart won't tolerate when other people suffering and joyful when other people are happy. It's even better, if you have a desire to eliminate the sorrow from other person.
Service is for self satisfaction, for self joy, showing gratitude to God. Help is for other's satisfaction. What's needed is Sankalpa. It's up to us to do that. The more you do the rewards follow on their own. Service is rendered by heart, by feeling.
Start sharing things with others without expecting anything in return. Disappointment will follow, if you start expecting from others. Without expectation we always feel happy.
God has given this great opportunity. Serve all beings as service to God.
Jai Srimannarayana!

Swamiji's visit to Boston - Day 6

Boston - Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram Discourse - June 18th 2011

Jai Srimannarayana!
Wherever you are, whatever field you want to create your own mark, learn Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram. It's not a composed poetry. Bheeshma got it from Veda Vyasa. As a bee which goes from flower to flower, collects honey and makes a honey comb, the same way Veda Vyasa collected the mantras from different sages. It's only a compilation not a composition. Each sage was doing tremendous penance to find the ultimate power.
Any emotion when uncontrollable, comes out of some form, which is the expression of our feeling. The first person who spoke, it comes automatically. For the next it's imitation. Imitation also have impact. These mantras are outpouring of their experience.
If the sound is pure and divine it burns many sins as it passes through. The divine sound is like acid water. If you chant the mantra spoken by great sages, it touches and burns the sins of our body.
Even if you don't know the meaning, still it's great. It has its own effect as it's a divine sound.
The pure heart of great people is always serene. That's why Valmiki could not take it when the 'Krouncha' Bird is killed. His pain knew no bounds. He felt as if the arrow hit his own heart. He couldn't control his emotions and some words came out of his mouth. He cursed the hunter though a poem. The words came out in a rhythmic way. The other meaning of the same poem is interpreted as 'Lord Srinivasa, you live long.'
Bheeshma charya got the Sri Vishnu Sahasranama from Veda Vyasa and he segregated and arranged them beautifully. Sri Adi Sankaracharya emphasizes the importance of reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram.
Jai Srimannarayana!

Swamiji's visit to Boston - Day 5

Swamiji's visit to Boston - Day 4

Boston - Personality Development Workshop - Session 3 June 16th 2011

Jai Srimannarayana!
One who belongs to manu is manava. Discriminating capacity is lacking with us. Animals which eat meat lick water, animals which don’t eat meat sip or chew water. Man sips water but eats meat. Few things unique to human beings compared to animals are: dressing, eating cooked food, decorating the dirt (hair, nails etc. which is waste of body and we feel proud of them).
A peacock never decorates but its feathers are so beautiful, so attractive. In spite of our dressing so much we are nowhere close to matching the beauty of a peacock or a tiger for example.
Is this the purpose God has given us life as human beings? Only the man spoils the nature, air, water, cut trees.
We need to know what makes us to be called human beings. If we know, we reap the benefits of human life. The one which we contracted to maximum extent, is suppose to expand and fill the entire universe. Swartha (Swa – Self, Artha – Benefit) is the need of the day. We didn’t really understand what ‘I’ means. I goes through the layers, piece of cloth, skin, blood, flesh, organ, muscles, buddhi. Even animals, trees have the same structure. There is a controller of this universe, which I call ‘Narayana’. The word ‘I’ relates to God. With his power only, we are able to say ‘I’.
‘I’ and ‘You’ goes and relates to the inner power. You call any name, point at any object, it ultimately reaches the one who supports this universe. The power that controls is only ONE. Some objects perish (Kshara), some won't (Akshara or Atma). The one who controls is the supreme lord. That one is very knowledgeable, powerful. He has compassion and divine qualities. He is the unseen power (Deva). Vedas say, 'There is one power called Deva, who is controlling all Kshara and Akshara or Atma'.
In this body, one part cannot hurt other part at micro level. At macro level, all these objects or entities are controlled by one who single power. In universal body you are also a part.
Whenever something happens and if we don't respond then it's equivalent to a paralyzed body part. When you do something it should belong
to the entire universe. Then that will become real Swartha. Go and expand, but don't cross the rules. The body that is given to you is purely personal. Take care of it. Eat well, Sleep well. You are from a family and there is a lineage. You should respect your lienage.
1. Take care of your body
2. Take care of rules of family
3. Follow the rules of society as you are part of it
4. Take care of other species in nature
5. Expand the 'Swa' to God
Expand the 'Swa' to reach all 5 levels above and attach 'Artha' to it.
'Swartha' - THE ACT THAT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE AND GOD.
Able to understand and respond should become man's nature. If we can understand 5 levels and respond, we can lead a fruitful life. Be obsessed with real 'Swartha' then you become real Manava. Such a personality you need to grow. Then you can't hurt anybody. If something goes wrong, rectify it. Encourage good things, rectify mistakes, share the pain and joy of others. Then they become real human beings.
Let God give us that realization! Let God bless us all!
Jai Srimannarayana!

Swamiji's visit to Boston - Day 3

Boston - Personality Development Workshop - Session 2 June 15th 2011

Jai Srimannarayana!
The world is a class room. We are all students. No matter who we are, we always need to learn. There is no end to learning.
A great king Yadu interacted with Avadutha. He is amazed at Avadutha and wanted to know the secret of Avadutha's peace. Avadutha explained many things and Yadu asked 'How did you learn all these things?'. Avadutha mentioned I have 24 Gurus who taught me. They are the Tree, Bee, Moon, Serpent, Ant and so on. The experience, knowledge is important than age.
Avadutha said, 'I enjoyed moon on Poornima day. But day after day moon size diminished. But in spite of that Moon still gives light. Even on a new moon day, we still see little tinge of light'. Possession is evil.. the more you possess and limit it to yourself, you will be thrown out of society. People want to possess, possess more and enjoy more. This is the way people are leading their lives.
When a person passes away, he/she can't take anything. Not even the piece of cloth they are wearing. There is no end to earning and enjoyment. The more you share, God will give you more. Moon taught me this lesson.
I saw a tree, it's very small, started growing. After growth, it gave back leaves, fruits, flowers and wood. A coconut tree after growing big, creates new fruits with full of water and sweet core every few days.
Rama and Sugreeva are sitting on a branch of a tree. Sugreeva asked Rama to explain what happened. Rama cried, Sugreeva consoled and told Rama 'To be Bold'. Rama said he got little emotional and then asked Sugreeva to explain his situation. Sugreeva started telling his story about how Vali snatched his Wife and Kingdom and started crying loudly. The moral is when preaching to others, we act like Vyasa and Parashara, but when it come to us, we are like anyone else.
Rama, in spite of all his problems, never shun his responsibilities and helped others like Sugreeva and Vibheeshana. After Ravana got killed, Rama asked Vibheeshana to perform last rites. Vibheeshana refuses, then Rama tells him if you are not interested, I will do it. Since I accepted you as my brother,
your brother Ravana is my brother too. Are you making friendship or enemity with soul or body? Body is just a component of 5 elements, Earth, Water, Sky, Fire, Wind. Vibheeshana then obliges Rama and performs the last rites of Ravana.
Bharatha serves 'Padukas' of Rama. Lakshamana said to Rama, 'serving your paadas is my kingdom'. When one becomes Rama's brother, his very nature is to renounce the kingdom. Rama was afraid Vibheeshana might do the same. But, Rama was relieved when Vibheeshana accepts to become King of Lanka.
If you think only about your problems, the world will hate you. If you show concern for others, they will take care of your problems. Ravana is killed by his ego, lust, kaama. Rama is only an excuse.
Nammalwar says, if you want to learn something, learn about Rama.
Avadutha then said, 'I learnt lesson from a Bee. It goes from flower to flower, grasps fragrance, takes a little drop and helps flowers in pollination. It collects honey from hundreds of flowers and gives it back to us'.
Are we showing gratitude to the nature? We never thank the nature. Sun, Moon, trees, birds, animals, insects etc. are all helping us survive. Be grateful for whatever you get from any corner of world. Be Thankful! Don't be unhappy ever.
The world is giving beautiful messages. Be able to receive the messages from the teachers around and apply them in all occasions. That's the purpose of human life.
The final personality development session will be tomorrow.
Jai Srimannarayana!

Swamiji's visit to Boston - Day 2

Boston - Personality Development Workshop - Session 1 June 14th 2011

Jai Srimannarayana!

HH Swamiji started with Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam. After the Parayanam HH Swamiji gave an introductory discourse leading to personality development. The discourse is very enlightening. I REQUEST YOU NOT TO MISS THE REMAINING SESSIONS. IF POSSIBLE, BRING FRIENDS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, (GIVE THEM RIDE if needed). IFSOMEONE NEEDS A RIDE FROM WESTFORD, LET ME KNOW.

Some parts of the discourse:

'Kalosmi' - Time is beautiful. Time is divine. We all should respect time. Every moment is precious. Mother is direct form of God. Father is another form of Good. One has to worship their parents. God helps no matter, irrespective of your race, color. All of us are beloved children of God.

In Chandogya Upanishad, God says: 'to support all souls I need to be there..' God exists in every object through soul. Not knowing is not ignorance. That's the real Gyana.

God thought it's not me who need to go and elevate souls. God sent Acharyas to do this job. Fulfilling the desires should not be our goal. There are no limits to our desire.

Rather than giving a person 'fish', teach him how to fish, so that he can survive with that skill. Don't just give, but let them know how to earn. Those great souls, God sent to teach the values are the Acharyas.

Acharyas practice, experience and then teach those experiences to others and make them practice. They are our gurus, mentors. Acharyas talk about knowledge, devotion.

We need people to enlighten us and make us understand the vedic scriptures. A great Acharya 'Parashara Bhattar' born today. He got the essence of Vedas and gave it to the world in a simple manner. Sri Parashara Bhattar followed the school of Bhagavadh Ramanuja and followed the philosophy 'All living creatures are children of God'.

HH Swamiji concluded today's session with a Sloka on Sri Parashara Bhattar.
'Sri Parashara Bhattaryaha Sri Rangesa Purhotha ha
Sri Vatsanka sutha Sriman Sreyase mesthu bhuya se'


Jai Srimannarayana!

Swamiji's visit to Boston - Day 1

JET New England celebrates Goda Kalyanam 2010

Vishnu Sahasranama Parayana at Temple (JET NE)