'I' and 'mine'...
Don't we hear these words from all?!

In fact at times we hear these words even from mahans who have completely won over the ego!

How do we reconcile this observation?

There is a big difference in us mentioning 'I' and 'mine' and in mahans referring to these in their conversations. This difference is best understood by the following example:

A child in all its innocence while playing with its dad may say with a sweet smile in its lips, 'Father! This house is all mine!' The father too, hearing the lisping words of the infant is very happy and says,'Indeed my darling! It is all yours!' The child's smile grows wider! It does not even know any deep desire for possessing the house or care for the value of the house or the comforts it entails!
As the child grows up, it may become ambitious and greedy and when it is in middle age may approach the father and say,'This house is all mine! It belongs to me'. The father now would certain... more

Oh Krishna! Why have you drowned my mind in the darkness of ignorance?
Is it because you need a dark place to hide after you have stolen butter?

Eyelids close to protect the organ of sight - eyes and allows it to survive.
Tonsils swell to protect the Lungs and allows it to survive.
The white blood cells resist infection and allows the body to survive.

The organ mind, itself wanders all the time, as it knows that to be the only survival technique!
Atma does nothing, as it is ever existent!

In childhood, one yearns for the mother's love and attention. In youth, the mind longs for company. In old age it yearns for solace. But once the mind realizes there is no substance in this world it seeks out a Guru who can give that joy, which is beyond all these.

A child jumps about in joy when clothed in silk attire and bedecked with jewels though it places no value to these. Similarly a Jnăni is happy with the services we render him. He is in no way interested in them but enjoys them only as it makes us happy.

Out of sheer compassion a Mahan who is in out-of-the-world state comes down to this physical plane and speaks to us. While this in itself is due to compassion one cannot expect any other kindness from him. Neither can he understand our (low) state nor can we comprehend his (high) state.

In various ways does the world criticize a Mahan who does not bless worldly prayers. Man should understand that the Mahan is under no obligation to use the tapas ... more

When a child is beautiful or does something wonderful we enjoy and appreciate it. But appreciation of someone else's child can never come even close to the appreciation and adoration of a child that we consider 'mine'. Our adoration and appreciation is truly huge for even a small act by our own child! This is because of the strong idea we hold that the child is 'mine'.

Similarly in Bhakti, only this same idea that the Lord is 'mine' can nurture and nourish bhakti towards the Lord. Without this idea, the devotion still remains within banal limits.

All of us running this race called life. The run is driven by fear of Kaalan - Time. when one reaches the finishing line, he gets liberated. But we have to finish this race before the time limit of our life span! Desires are the obstacles which slow down the race.

Catching hold of the Divine Name  helps the runner to reach the finishing line quickly!

We find in the primary school, a child is taught a little bit of all subjects like Mathematics, Science, languages etc. The basic introduction to all subjects is given in early stages, so that when the student reaches the secondary school, it is easy for a student to pick the stream for pursuing education further. Then after school, the student has to narrow down his subject further.  By now, since he/she is introduced to various subjects, he/she knows what is suited for him/her based on capability, aptitude and interest. When the student gets to doctoral level, the specialization becomes even more focussed within a given field. This is how one attains mastery and expertise.

Similarly, in initial stages of spiritual journey, it is good to know basics of all the paths to realization. True realization dawns when one adopts a path at the right point of time depending on his interest, aptitude and capacity  to progress deeper and deeper in that chosen path unti... more

It is enough if you keep chanting the one Mantra that you feel attached to or that you have been initiated into by your Guru.  If, there happens to be a need to chant two or three different Mantras, allocate specific times or counts for each Mantra everyday and chant them accordingly. If your mind wavers to chant many different Mantras in the short span of time allotted to chant one, it will end up being counter-productive.

Japa Yoga is like getting by heart hard-to-memorize lyrics of a song or a difficult mathematical formula.

Jnana Yoga is akin to intellectually understanding how to solve a difficult mathematical problem.

A son puts in a lot of effort to thrive in business and repeatedly fails. When he appeals to his benign father, the father gladly gives a portion of his wealth to make the son tide over his problems.

If the son had not put in any efforts, and just demands money from the father, the father would not straight away given his wealth to his own son!

Likewise, only when a devotee after clearly realizing that putting any more efforts in realizing the Lord is not going to help, surrenders totally to His lotus feet, the Lord delivers him from transmigratory existence.