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18 April 2024 Speaker: HG Parthasarthi Prabhu Theme: Teachings from Ramayana Hare Krishna! Today we will discuss 25 teachings from the life of  Śrī Rāma. We will be having the very first Bhāgavatam class today in new Rohini Temple by the mercy of Guru and Gaurānga. Let’s pray to Śrī Rāma to appear inside our hearts in the form of His holy name. śrīrāma chandra charaṇau manasā smarāmi śrīrāma chandra charaṇau vachasā gṛhṇāmi । śrīrāma chandra charaṇau śirasā namāmi śrīrāma chandra charaṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥ Translation The two feet of Rama, I remember them in my mind, I praise them by my speech, I bow to them by my head I take resort in them (Text 29, Rama Raksha Stotra) lōkābhirāmaṃ raṇaraṅgadhīraṃ rājīvanētraṃ raghuvaṃśanātham । kāruṇyarūpaṃ karuṇākaraṃ taṃ śrīrāmachandraṃ śaraṇyaṃ prapadyē ॥ Translation I take refuge in that Rama who is quite pleasing to the sight, the master of the stage of war, lotus-eyed, lord of the Raghu race and compassion- personified. (Text 32, Rama Raksha Stotra) rāmāya rāmabhadrāya rāmachandrāya vēdhasē । raghunāthāya nāthāya sītāyāḥ patayē namaḥ ॥  Translation I salute that Rama who is benevolent and cool as moon, and who is the lord of Sita and the master guardian of all. (Text 27, Rama Raksha Stotra) We should always remember the Lord. When we chant in the association of devotees, the Lord manifests before us. Theme: The meaning of Rāma Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, there are 4 Rāma in the Hare Krsna mahāmantra. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare - Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare Rāma who are Balrāma, Parashurāma or Śrī Rāma. Śrī Jayadeva Goswāmī also explains in Gita Govinda, kshatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam kesava dhrita-bhrigupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare Translation 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Bhrigupati [Parasurama]! All glories to You! At Kurukshetra You bathe the earth in the rivers of blood from the bodies of the demoniac kshatriyas that You have slain. The sins of the world are washed away by You, and because of You people are relieved from the blazing fire of material existence. (Text 6, Sri Dasavtar Stotra) vitarasi dikshu rane dik-pati-kamaniyam dasa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaniyam kesava dhrita-rama-sarira jaya jagadisa hare Translation 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Ramacandra! All glories to You! In the battle of Lanka You destroy the ten-headed demon Ravana and distribute his heads as a delightful offering to the presiding deities of the ten directions, headed by Indra. This action was long desired by all of them, who were much harassed by this monster. (Text 7, Sri Dasavtar Stotra) vahasi vapushi visade vasanam jaladabham hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham kesava dhrita-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare Translation 0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Balarama, the wielder of the plow! All glories to You! On Your brilliant white body You wear garments the color of a fresh blue rain cloud. These garments are colored like the beautiful dark hue of the River Yamuna, who feels great fear due to the striking of Your plowshare. (Text 8, Sri Dasavtar Stotra) The Lord comes in the form of Rāma, Balarāma, Nityānanda Rāma, Parashurāma, etc to bestow mercy upon all of us. Prabhupāda explains, in Hare Krsna mahāmantra, Hare means Radharani, Krsna means the all attractive Śrī Krsna and Rāma means the source of bliss. When we chant the holy name, we pray Them all to engage us in Their service. This is how we pray and call the Lord. Caitanya Caritāmrta explains the meaning of the name Rāma. ramante yogino ’nante satyānande cid-ātmani iti rāma-padenāsau paraṁ brahmābhidhīyate Translation ‘The Supreme Absolute Truth is called Rāma because the transcendentalists take pleasure in the unlimited true pleasure of spiritual existence.’ (CC Madhya 9.29) The yogīs always try to take pleasure from the name of the Lord since eternity. They try to understand the meaning of the name Rāma. But we can easily understand the meaning of Rāma by the mercy of a spiritual master, vaiśnavas, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad Gītā. Rāma means the source of eternal transcendental bliss. When we chant, we call Rāma to engage us in His service so we can get the transcendental bliss from Him who is the source of bliss. Rāma where R is responsiblity and renunciation, we have renounce something, be it house or other things to take responsibility; A is authorised and authentic, means the name of Rāma is true. People have to accept this fact. The Lord Himself comes to establish this authority; M is margadarshan (guidance). He comes to guide us through His pastimes, words, mercy and His devotees; A is austerity or adversity, we have to do some penances and austerities to get Lord’s mercy. Shaanta-Aakaaram Bhujaga-Shayanam Padma-Naabham Sura-Iisham Vishva-Aadhaaram Gagana-Sadrsham Megha-Varnna Shubha-Anggam| Lakssmii-Kaantam Kamala-Nayanam Yogibhir-Dhyaana-Gamyam Vande Vissnnum Bhava-Bhaya-Haram Sarva-Loka-Eka-Naatham || Translation (Salutations to Sri Vishnu) Who has a Serene Appearance, Who Rests on a Serpent (Adisesha), Who has Lotus on His Navel and Who is the Lord of the Devas, Who Sustains the Universe, Who is Boundless and Infinite like the Sky, Whose Colour is like the Cloud (Bluish) and Who has a Beautiful and Auspicious Body, Who is the Husband of Devi Lakshmi, Whose Eyes are like Lotus and Who is Attainable to the Yogis by Meditation, Salutations to That Vishnu Who Removes the Fear of Worldly Existence and Who is the Lord of All the Lokas. (Vishnu Stuti, Shuklambara Dharam) We can sustain our body, our house or our locality at large but the supreme Lord sustains the universe. Such a Lord is Śrī Rāma. Yesterday was Rāma Navamī, Lakshman Navamī, Bharat Navamī and Shatrughan Navamī. Like the whole Ayodhya vāsīs were happy on their appearance, similarly we should also be happy and say, “Jai Śrī Rāma! Jai Śrī Rāma!” Everything about Him is mentioned in scriptures. We have to have faith on it. Once a sannyāsi vaiśnava said, “Dashratha (Śrī Rāma’s father), whose chariot goes to Dasha means ten directions. Those ten directions are filled with bliss and Kaushalya (Śrī Rāma’s mother), those ten directions are also filled with kushalta means proficience. This both gives birth to total bliss Śrī Rāma. And Ayodhya where they live, is a place which no one can ever defeat. Theme: 25 teachings from Ramayana Now Let’s try and understand the 25 teachings from Rāmayana.
  1. Artha Pravritti is necessary along with Anartha Nivritti, removal of unwanted things, when we aim to progress in spiritual life. If we chant the holy name Rāma, then the evil things won’t effect us. The power we get from chanting safeguard us from those things. Prabhupāda says, we should take Maya or material energy seriously along with Krsna. We need to understand Maya and its effects in order to stay away from it. Even Kaikeyi got effected with bad association of Manthra. Therefore we should always be cognizant of what’s good or what not. We can be aware or cognizant by doing nityam bhāgavata sevayā e., by regular serving the vaiśnavās and hearing Bhāgavatam.
naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā bhagavaty uttama-śloke bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī Translation By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. (ŚB 1.2.18) We should chant everyday in order to defeat Maya. We should only hear the holy name and pastimes of the Lord instead of material gossip to keep the obstacles and  evil things away from us.
  1. Attachment towards devotional service, not towards title. This way evil things always stay away from us. Śrī Rāma was always dedicated towards serving. When Dasharatha asked Him to go to exile, He said that He would have gone if only a servant had asked Him to. This was His attitude towards serving. He was about to get state consecration or coronation but He was never attached to the title. As soon as He got the orders from His father, He accepted and went to the forest. That is why He was an ideal son, husband and a father. Hence, we should be attached towards serving the Lord, spiritual master and vaiśnavas in order to progress in spiritual life and remove unwanted things or anartha nivritti. This will cleanse our heart which is the aim of life. Then we will be able to understand the Lord and His pastimes.
  2. The sages once called Śrī Rāma to kill the demons who were creating obstacles in their devotional services. Hence, our heart gets purified only by chanting the name of Śrī Rāma and our mode of ignorance gets vanished.
  3. We should accept all types of difficulties. If our motive is Krsna conscious, then our desires will be less and we won’t be shocked by what comes next. Like Śrī Rāma had never thought of going to exile but He was always ready to face any austerity or challenge. Similarly, we also need to face the challenges in life. We should make the challenges into chances, adversities into opportunities.
ugram viram maha-vishnum jvalantam sarvato mukham nrisimham bhishanam bhadram mrityur mrityum namamy aham Translation May my head be protected by the moon colored one, who is the greatest among humans. My obeisances unto the ferocious and powerful, the great Visnu, the fiery one, who's faces are on all sides, the fearful one, Nrsimha, who causes the death of even death personified, (or who can overcome death). (Ugram Viram Mahavishnum, Narsimha Kavaca Bica Mantra) Devotees overcome even death and reach the abode of the Lord. So we should turn the challenges into chances then we make gradual progress. We are able to perform activities due to the force of gravity. If gravity would not be there, we were unable to do anything and just would have been flying. So we must face challenges, austerities and difficulties in order to progress.
  1. Rāma means ārāma, who gives us comfort and who makes us understand things. But we want Rāma, not ārāma. If we want comfort, then we won’t get Rāma.
 
  1. We should be alert and vigilant in order to make progress in spiritual life just like the policemen are always alert. Maya attacks every moment so we should be alert every moment. That’s why it’s necessary for us to be alert and vigilant in order to understand the Lord and His pastimes. The one who sleeps, loses. Therefore, we must engage ourselves in devotional services
right from the early morning. Lord Rama was always alert. Laxmana never slept for 14 years as he was always ready for the Lord’s service.
  1. Correct one’s own mistake. If any one points out that we need to correct this or that in ourselves, then we should do that. We should always correct ourselves in order to get us saved from the material entanglement. This is possible through devotee association. Just like when a doctor gives an injection to a child, he thinks that the doctors and parents are his enemy but no, they are curing him. Parents also scold children to reform them. That’s why we should take the criticism from a devotee in a positive way and correct our mistakes which is the base for our spiritual development.
 
  1. One pointed goal should be to please the Lord.
Like Bharat Maharaj, younger brother of Śrī Rāma, who always wanted to serve Lord Rāma. He kept the lotus footwear of Lord Rāma on the throne of Ayodhya and served His footwear. This human life is for pleasing the Lord, spiritual master and vaiśnavās, not for proving or gaining fame. The Lord bestows mercy on them who try to please the Lord by performing devotional services.  
  1. Lord Rāma is the master and we are His servants.
  bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati Translation A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries. (BG 5.29) We should know that we are servants of the Lord to be eternally happy. Bharata maharaj considered  the footwear of Lord Rāma as the king and himself as His servant. We cannot attain devotion by tricks or strength. We need to perform devotional services for that by accepting us as the servants of the Lord.
  1. Bhakti cannot be achieved through cheating propensities. Only showing off does not help. One has to work hard. Like Shurpanakha who disguised herself as a beautiful lady was attacked by Laxmana. So one has to be careful of pretence otherwise we will be trapped. We have to overcome this cheating by hearing and reading the scriptures. As Bhakti cannot be achieved through cheating or strength but it can be achieved through the mercy of the Lord. So when Surpanakha came to cheat, Lakshman slashed her nose as He is adi guru. Similarly, the spiritual master also cuts off the nose of pride as they are the representative of Lakshman, Balarāma or Nityānanda Prabhu.
 
  1. A spiritual master is the representative of Lakshman or Nityānanda Prabhu.
 
  1. Maya makes a trap for us but one has to slash this trap with the sword of knowledge because we must be attracted towards the all attractive Krsna or Rāma, not towards Maya. If one doesn’t keep patience then one will become a patient. We should not only hear but also adhere to such hearing in order to save us from getting trapped.
 
  1. Maya knows our shortcomings. So she will always try to trap us. Sita maiya, Lakshman all were tested. But they weren’t trapped because they had knowledge that we should not be attracted to the material world. Similarly, we should also be knowledgeable so Maya can’t trap us.
 
  1. Always stand for truth. Like Jatayu sacrificed his life for truthfulness. He cut his wings m, sacrificed his life to serve Lord Rāma. He might get failed materially but he won in the eyes of the Lord.
Lord Rāma performed the last rites of Jatayu in gratitude, not even His own father Dashratha because Jatayu sacrificed his life to serve the Lord. So truth is always victorious. And Rāma is the only truth.  
  1. Patience. We should be patient to get the mercy of the Lord.
 
  1. We should be honest. We should not do any pretence or show off as the Lord resides in our hearts so He knows everything.
 
  1. Overcoming obstacles in the path of devotional service. Like Hanuman overcome many obstacles in the service of Śrī Rāma. We should take the shelter of Śrīmati Radharani who is the energy of Krsna to overcome any obstacle. There could be so many impediments on our path of Bhakti but we should pray and remember Radharani that time.
 
  1. Pride always destroys. Ravana was told by Vibhishana, Mandodari but he did not listen to them. It can create a problem for us if we try to make fools understand about the Lord.
 
  1. Everyone should chant the holy name of the Lord. Chanting the holy names of Lord Rāma made the stones Float. Even the squirrel got the Lord’s mercy. So always chant the holy name of the Lord.
 
  1. Pride or attachment can result in loss of mind. Ravana did not leave his pride on the death of his brothers or his own son. Therefore we should be pride free in order to get mercy of the Lord.
 
  1. Hearing about the lord is important to develop love for Krsna. Vibhishan heard about the Lord and developed love for the Lord Rāma. The more we hear about the Lord, the more it cleanses our heart, ceto-darpana-mārjanam.
 
  1. Leaving family, possessions for pleasing the Lord. Like Vibhishana, gopis, Bharat, Bali Maharaj, etc., have left their families for the Lord which is transcendental in the spiritual plane.
  bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra caiṣa trika eka-kālaḥ prapadyamānasya yathāśnataḥ syus tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭiḥ kṣud-apāyo ’nu-ghāsam Translation Devotion, direct experience of the Supreme Lord, and detachment from other things — these three occur simultaneously for one who has taken shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the same way that pleasure, nourishment and relief from hunger come simultaneously and increasingly, with each bite, for a person engaged in eating. (ŚB 11.2.42)  The more we get attached to the Lord, the more we become detached from the material world.
  1. We should take advice from the senior devotees in case of any trouble on the path of devotional service. Like Lord Rāma took advice of Vibhishana to kill Ravana.
 
  1. Kill the demons within by hearing the holy names. There are six enemies of mind i.e., lust, anger, greed, ego, attachment and jealousy. We can only destroy these enemies by the mercy of the vaiśnavas and by hearing from them about the Lord.
 
  1. Light the lamp of knowledge in the heart. Then it’s all bliss everywhere.
  So it’s important to contemplate on Lord Rāma’s teachings and chant nicely. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare - Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare Hare Krishna!    

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