By practice alone one cannot achieve concentration of mind. Vairagya (dispassion) should combine with practice as salt does with a dish (to make it tasty).

-Sri Swamiji (13.11.09)

Neetimala – 26

Gradually reducing interest in worldly activities, directing the feelings of love arising in the heart towards God alone, giving up attachments to relations, reflecting on the evil effects of sensual pleasures, studying scriptural texts and association with Satguru (Preceptor) – all these are helpful to develop intense Vairagya.

-Sri Swamiji (12.11.09)

Neetimala – 25

One path is to see everything in this world as one’s own Self. To see even one’s own body as not belonging to one is another path. The truth that these two (paths) are not contradictory is known by the wise.

-Sri Swamiji (11.11.09)

Neetimala – 24

The idol is an inert matter to one till one is blessed with the vision of God. (After the vision the perception changes and every thing appears as the expression of the divine). Until a man understands a language properly all the words in it would appear to him as mere sounds.

-Sri Swamiji (10.11.09)

Neetimala – 23

Cherish Satkarmas (good actions) with the same feelings of love that you have for your daughter. May your good actions increase in number. Then just as you offer your daughter when she is grown up to her groom (at the time of marriage) you surrender with pleasure all the fruits of your actions to God.

-Sri Swamiji (9.11.09)

Neetimala – 22

If it is true that by offering fodder to the cow, wealth to the preceptor and gifts (dakshina) to the Brahmins, you can gain immense merit, would it not be more so if you dedicate all that you do to God Himself? Therefore surrender all your actions to God.

-Sri Swamiji (8.11.09)

Neetimala – 21

There is a method to destroy the old impure Vasanas (tendencies of the mind). We shall reveal that to you. Give up remembrance of the thoughts pertaining to those Vasanas and reflect upon the auspicious stories of the Lord and rejoice.

-Sri Swamiji (7.11.09)

Neetimala – 20

One undertakes pilgrimages to understand holy rivers and holy places and to be happy at the feet of the lord and to gather strength to confront difficulties.

He who knows this is a pilgrim, Sachchidananda, Lord of true bliss eternal.

In devotion, if you want to vie with others, do it with Radha, who gave the water with which she had washed her feet to Lord Krishna. She did it without any fear of incurring any sin thereby.

-Sri Swamiji (6.11.09)

My blessings to you and your family

Kasi – 5-11-09
Swamiji

Nikrista vastausvakhilepi nityam utkrishtata bhavana meva karyam
Tathahi devena samah pratikona sakyate kvapi jagatsu labdhum

However insignificant an object may be one should always look upon it with great reverence. This attitude will help one in image worship as an image equivalent to God is impossible to get anywhere in the world.

-Sri Swamiji (5.11.09)

Neetimala – 18

Yadyasti te prema jagadvidhatari tuccham katham syadiha vastu kinchana
Spristam priyenambarakhandameva hi priyam priyayastu viyogakalikam

If you have real love for the Lord, the creator of this universe, how can you consider any object as mean in this world? Even the handkerchief touched by the lover appears sweet to his beloved during the days of their separation.

-Sri Swamiji (4.11.09)
Neetimala – 17

Vachamagochara maneka gunasvarupam vaghishavishnusura sevita padapitham!
Vamena vigrahavarenyakalatravavantam Varanasipurapatim bhaja visvanatham!!

Today I visited Vishwanath Temple.

-Swamiji

Gangataranga kamaniyajatakalapam gauri nirantara vibhushitavamabhagam
Narayanapriya mananga madapaharam Varanasipurapattim bhaja vishvanatham!

-Sri Swamiji

Samskara masritya janah pravartate nirbandha vakyam phaladayi nasyat
svayam tvanusthana phala pradarshanam samskara mavarjya subham karoti!

Man performs actions in tune with his samskaras (tendencies formed in his mind by his previous life’s actions). Forcing him to act in a different way is of no u
se. On the other hand, if you perform virtuous deeds and show him the good resul
ts arising from them, then his samskaras will be attracted by your noble deeds,
and that will do him good.

-Sri Swamiji (3.11.09)

Neetimala – 16

Tridalam trigunakaram trinetram triyayudham
trijanmapapasamharam ekabilvam shivarpanam!

I am going to Varanasi. My blessings to you and your family.

-Swamiji

Gangaghahartriti vadanti vacha svan snanaputa nabhimanvate no
Bhavasya suddhiryadi nasti ganga gangadharovapi punati naiva!

People say that the Ganges washes away all sins. But even after taking a dip in
the Ganges they do not believe that they have been purified. If there is no sinc
ere faith, neither the Ganges, nor even Lord Shiva, who holds the Ganges on his
head, can purify them.

-Sri Swamiji (2.11.09)

Neetimala – 15

From 3rd to 6th Nov 2009 I will be staying at Kasi and performing Rudra Homa. During these days chant the following mantra and avoid eating garlic, onion and chilly and other spicy foods…..

Om tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pustivardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhananmrityormukshiya ma mritat!

-Swamiji

Anekarehankarisnau Charthakriste hridi prabhuh
Na sphure chanchale dhumre durage darpane yatha!

From a mirror, shaing, enveloped in smoke and kept at a distance, no proper reflection can be had. Similarly, a mind, which lacks in concentration, which is filled with ego and is allured by the temptations of the worldly objects, cannot reflect the Lord.

-Sri Swamiji (1.11.09)

Neetimala – 14