Sadhana
— Swami Ramdas
Nama — Repetition of the Divine Name to remember God.
Dhyana — An endeavour to experience His presence within.
Seva — Dedication of all actions to Him.
Mother Krishnabai, endearingly called Pujya Mataji, said, “Saints compare the Name to the canoe that takes one across the turbulent waters. Dhyana is the helmsman — the power that takes you across — and Seva is the rudder. Any one of these, by itself, cannot propel your boat to the shore, i.e. to the Eternal. All these three have to go together.”
Vision Of Divinity
Beloved Papa’s vision extends beyond the superficialities of existence, urging devotees and aspirants to delve deep into the essence of creation itself. Central to this vision is the recognition of Divinity as the common thread weaving through all forms of life.
In his wisdom, Beloved Papa invites us to embark on a profound journey — one that leads us to the Mysterious Origin of our own existence and that of the world around us. At the heart of this quest lies the fundamental inquiry: Who are we, truly?
To unravel this enigma, we are called upon to transcend the limitations imposed by the body, mind, and intellect. Through a disciplined and systematic process of thought and practice, we rise above the constraints of our human condition. Only then can we step into the realm of the Spirit, where the truth of our immortal, changeless, and blissful nature awaits.
Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri, an ex-Prime Minister of India who was also a value oriented Gandhian, speaking about the Ashram wrote: “Swami Ramdasji and Mother Krishnabai are devoted to Ram Nam and Japa Yagya. They have built around them an atmosphere of purity and love which helps people look within. A few moments of calm thinking and quiet introspections helps people rise above their petty problems of day-to-day life, pause and think of the higher goal they have to pursue and attain.”
Tracing The Origin
In our quest to understand our existence and that of the world around us, we initially attribute our origin to our parents. However, a deeper exploration reveals that they are merely links in a chain of ancestry, unable to be traced back to the Ultimate Source. Thus, our efforts shift towards uncovering the First Cause, the Origin, from which all things, including ourselves, have sprung. This pursuit leads us inward, delving into the depths of consciousness and seeking connection with the universal fabric of Existence. Ultimately, our journey is one of realisation, recognising our interconnectedness with all of creation and finding purpose in the eternal dance of Existence.
God — Our Very Source
God, as described in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, is portrayed as the Eternal Seed from which all beings originate. In Chapter 7, Verse 10, the Lord declares, “Know that I am the Eternal Seed of all beings.” Here, ‘I’ signifies God, who is not only the Source of our life but also the Fundamental Root of our existence. To realise this Immortal Root, one must journey within oneself. This Divine essence is not only the origin of our own being but also serves as the Foundational Root of all Existence, spanning the visible and invisible worlds and encompassing all beings and creatures within them.
God — The Great Provider
God is not merely the Seed of Creation but also the Provider of all aspects of existence. From the coordination of over 200 organs within our body, right from the time when we are in the womb of the mother, to the abundance of resources in the world, everything is bestowed upon us by the Divine. This includes the essentials for life such as air, water, earth, and food, provided by Mother Nature, as well as the comforts and conveniences discovered by society. Both nature and society’s gifts are universal, available to all without discrimination.
Integration with Mother Nature: Anandashram believes in harmonising our life with Mother Nature. This includes conserving natural resources, living in peace with the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and being compassionate towards all creatures.
Cause For Inner And Outer Conflicts
Our lack of awareness of the Universal Reality, including the Source and Provider of all, leads us to react to life’s events and people solely from an individualistic standpoint. This narrow perspective, driven by personal biases, preferences, and attachments, fosters inner and outer conflicts. From notions of right and wrong to material possessions and desires, our individual viewpoints often blind us to the interconnectedness of all beings. To find harmony within and without, we must transcend our limited perspectives and embrace a deeper understanding of the universal truths that unite us all.
Integration with Society
Living a life free from conflict with others is essential for creating harmony and avoiding discord. This involves recognising and respecting the rights of others, fostering an environment of mutual understanding and cooperation. By acknowledging the perspectives and needs of those around us, we can build relationships based on empathy and respect. This approach cultivates an atmosphere of harmony where differences are embraced rather than seen as sources of conflict. Ultimately, by prioritising peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, we contribute to a world where everyone can thrive.
The remedy lies in Integration of the mind with Mantra
Beloved Papa prescribes a triune path of Nama, Seva and Dhyana to help the soul break free from the confines of individualism and attain the bliss of perfect freedom. Nama is chanting the Divine Name to remember Him; Seva is performing actions with the awareness that it is His power that actuates us and it is unto Him that the activities are offered; and Dhyana is endeavouring to feel His presence within. Through these practices, individuals can transcend the egoic limitations and experience spiritual liberation. This becomes expressive in the form of harmony at home, harmony at workplace and harmony with friends.
Part Of The Whole
As we become more aware of these truths, we realise our interconnectedness with the Universe and how everything around us contributes to our well-being. We understand that the Life Force that animates all beings is the same, and that we share the same air, earth, and natural resources. The differences we perceive between individuals are man-made and unreal, as we all share the same basic composition and inherent qualities.
With an enlightened vision, we see that there is no clear cut demarcation separating one person from another or one nation from another. Instead, we recognise ourselves as integral parts of a larger whole, forming a global community or family. This realisation empowers us to live and act as members of a world brotherhood or federation, promoting harmony, cooperation and unity among all people.
The Ever-Widening Circle of Love
Continuing Nama chanting with this awareness leads to the expansion of our circle of love, which reflects in our thoughts, words and deeds. We begin to recognise the importance of infusing love, focus and attention into even our simplest actions such as folding bedsheets or neatly organising newspapers, etc.
As our outer life aligns with these mindful practices and our ceaseless chanting keeps us connected with the Divine within, we gradually experience inner peace and calmness. This tranquillity allows us to transition from vocal chanting to mental chanting, wherein with eyes closed, we chant mentally, feeling the resonance within ourselves. Eventually, the God-thought fills our mind, pushing aside all other thoughts.
Through continuous practice, our mind gains full focus, leading to an awareness of witnessing our own chanting. In this Witness Consciousness, the chanting and thought process may momentarily cease, allowing us to sense the presence of our Core Being. As this awareness deepens, we recognise the same presence in every creation, transcending the sense of separation.
This heightened awareness reflects in our thoughts, words and actions, transforming our life into a constant act of service (Seva). As we dissolve the barriers of ‘me’ and ‘mine,’ our life itself becomes an epitome of service to all beings.
Beloved Papa’s vision extends beyond the superficialities of existence, urging devotees and aspirants to delve deep into the essence of creation itself. Central to this vision is the recognition of Divinity as the common thread weaving through all forms of life.
Beloved Papa’s vision extends beyond the superficialities of existence, urging devotees and aspirants to delve deep into the essence of creation itself. Central to this vision is the recognition of Divinity as the common thread weaving through all forms of life.
Striking Quotes Of Beloved Papa
- The sense of ‘otherness’ sets limits to the Illimitable.
- We have the magnificent book of nature spread out before us — a picture of unsurpassing beauty and charm — the spontaneous and blissful self-expression of the indwelling God. Let us look at it, read in it the glorious presentation and the varied activity of the Beloved. Look on the infinite play of the Infinite One, and by deep absorption into the Beloved — the Universal Being — enjoy immortal joy. This is the goal — all else is ephemeral and not worth striving for.
- The world we live in is a school, in which observation and experience offer us immense possibilities for self-improvement, nay, the world itself is our Guru or God.
- The liberation and peace of the individual is surely based upon his or her contribution towards the collective human happiness and harmony.
- God does not need an intermediary for carrying out His commands. If you think that God can speak through Ramdas, He can speak through you as well, because you cannot accuse God of partiality. Switch on your wire for direct communication within. Why do you deny Him in your own heart?
- Be the light unto yourself and in your own original way manifest the magnificence and power of your enlightened life. Be highly creative and set free the infinite power that is within you.
- Ramdas sees many a struggling aspirant still in the clutches of certain Sadhanas, depending on externals and hugging them with a dogged pertinacity, thus setting up a stumbling block in their progress towards the supreme goal of perfect liberation. The external vision, however glorious, is not the true vision, if it is not based upon the internal. This they do not want to understand.
- For realising the Truth no external paraphernalia is necessary. No garb, no sign, no cult and no creed can help you. The day will come when you have to leave all these behind, and go to meet the Eternal in the perfect nakedness of your Spirit, shedding all make-believe forms, customs and traditions.