Gurunathar Messages

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 27-04-2006

I would like to mention a question asked here “How should we engage in the spiritual search, while leading a family life?”

I would reply “Continue to live as you are”. I have previously mentioned that making a big change and renouncing life does not lead to the goal of reaching great spiritual heights. Also because we are keenly interested in spiritual progress we should not force others in the family to do the same. Instead we can pray to God that they realize the need to do so. Even so each person’s level of karma shapes his progress. How then should each person conduct himself in a family? He must make the others in the family happy. Does this sound strange or surprising? Making others happy is something we can achieve. Let us not analyze the personal ties and natures of others. The five fingers of the hand are each individual in appearance and are not the same. Still only if the five coordinate with one another can the hand work. Similarly the different members of the family must be united. Let us pray to God for this. And by His grace the family will reach this state. Those who are imperfect will become perfect and will gain the grace of God.

Let us recall how the great Valmiki gave us the Ramayana. In the puranas we read a number of stories of how those who first pretended to the saints ultimately became true saints. An example is the person who sat in the branches of a tree at night, terrified of what he thought was a lion waiting to attack him. He kept throwing Vilva leaves at the lion to see if it moved. In the morning he discovered that it was not a lion but a Shiva Lingam. And hence by the act of dropping Vilva leaves, he attained Mukthi. If, even for a person like him God granted Mukthi, the mercy of God’s grace is limitless and can set right any flaw. We require patience and need to cultivate an attitude of not wanting anything for ourselves. This I proclaim to those assembled here. If you follow these principles and practices you will find success in everything.

[Translation of Gurunathar’s divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri K.V.Narayanan]

31-3-2006 அன்று நடந்த அஸ்வினி நட்சத்திர பூஜையில் குருநாதர் கூறிய கருத்துக்கள்:

பலருக்கும் பெரும் தொகையை அளித்து அன்னம் (சாதம்) மற்றவர்களுக்கு அளித்திட இயலவில்லை என்கின்ற குறையும் உள்ளது. இதற்கு ஓர் நல்லதோர் மார்க்கம் (வழி) யாம் இங்கு கூறுகிறோம். காஞ்சிக்கு புகழளித்த மகானும் (மகா பெரியவா) இதனை முன்பே கூறியிருக்கிறார். நித்யம் (தினந்தோறும்) ஓர் பிடி அரிசியானதை தானத்திற்கென எடுத்து வைக்கவும். அதிகமாக அரிசி சேரும் பொழுது பலர் கூட்டாகவோ தனியாகவோ இதனை அன்னமாக மாற்றி தானம் செய்து வர ஆர்வமும் பூர்த்தியாவதோடு மற்றவர்களின் பசியை ஆற்றிய நலனும் கிட்டக்கூடும்.

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 03/03/06

I shall answer a question that has been asked repeatedly, because I am obliged to do so. “What should those in the spiritual path avoid in their nutritional diet?”
In general some spiritual teachers have advised us to avoid foods like onion and garlic. Avoiding meat is even more important. Our spiritual progress is blocked when we eat other living beings because we have to fulfill their remaining karma. Not only are non-vegetarians responsible for killing the animals, but by enjoying cooked meat they increase their karmic reactions.
This is not advisable. Taking another birth becomes necessary to wipe out this karma. In taking vegetables we should avoid sour food and strong spices. They cause discomfort to those who practice meditation or chant mantras because their digestive ability is reduced. Meat needs additional digestive power and increases the heat in the system. Hence I would say it is better to avoid it. There are no hard and fast rules. Each person should try to adopt these guidelines according to his individual health and convenience.

(Extract from the translation of Gurunathar’s divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri K.V.Narayanan)

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 04-02-2006

I must mention a question that was raised in a humorous vein. It has made me think deeply. Though it was said half jokingly there is much that can be conveyed by way of answer and I would like to share this with all of you. The strange question is “What is the connection between primates (monkey’s etc) and man?”

I would like to answer this unusual question along with the explanation. There are many connecting links between the various kinds of animals and mankind. If we imagine a ladder, plants occupy the lower most rung and a ‘jeevan muktha’ the top most rung. The interesting quality is that plants which are found in the ocean beds and seas revisit the earth on land and vice-versa. Also animals such as turtles and crabs can live on land and water. Then there are birds which fly in the air. In this process of evolution, monkeys come between all the other animals on the one hand, and man on the other.

The physical structure of a monkey is similar to that of man. So are its action and behaviour. The Sanskrit name ‘vanara’ seems to suggest ‘nara’ (man) with a ‘vaal’ (tail) hence vanara. Through this we can make out that ancient thinking was similar to that of modern scientists and biologists. Specifically, the monkey is the link in the cycle of evolution between mankind and animals. Even the monkeys nature, I would like to observe can be similar to that of man. Sometimes monkeys snatch objects which they do not really need for example: excess food. Men seem to imitate them. Monkeys mind is not steady. It gets distracted and jumps from one object to another. So does a Man’s. He must overcome these qualities to become a jeevan mukta. A strong, steady mind and the practice of meditation are necessary for this. Above all this you need God’s grace. By giving this reply I believe I have satisfied everyone.

[Translation of Gurunathar’s divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri K.V. Narayanan]

GURUNATHAR’S DIVINE MESSAGE ASHWINI POOJA 08-01-2006

I have to reply to a question asked earlier. They say “Man has to go through seven births. What is the state he reaches after this?”. Please understand that man goes through countless births. He takes many births starting with spiritually unaware states such as soil to stone, to vegetation ,to insects and animals and is finally born as a human being. Then why do they say that one goes through seven Janmas?
The seven refers to the seven states through which the soul passes. It can also be interpreted as the seven states a person goes through after being born as a human being. The state of being aware, the state of sleep, the state of deep sleep and four other states. We cross through all these. The great ancient Rishis passed through all these seven births. After crossing these we reach a high spiritual state of wisdom. Similarly just as the earth belongs to the solar system, there are seven such solar systems in the universe. We have to be born in each of them. It is only after living through all the seven systems can we attain Mukthi. This is one other view or concept. From this we can envisage the number of births a person needs to take.

{Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan}

GURUNATHAR’S MESSAGE ASHWINIPOOJA 11-12-2005

I intend replying to a question posed by a devotee. He had gone to a siddha purusha and asked him how he should lead his spiritual life. To this the great one replied, “Like a plantain leaf which had been used for eating food and thrown away”. He then disappeared. The scholar could not understand what he wished to convey. This is my interpretation. During normal times when we are carrying out our duties, we should understand with clarity which actions will yield positive results and which will yield negative ones. If there is a surplus of either we cannot achieve our spiritual goal (an end to the cycle of birth and death and ultimately reaching the feet of God). This applies to family members and professionals alike. Let all your actions yield good results. For those who are totally spiritual, whatever has happened to them – good or bad- must be accepted as God’s wish. This is the meaning of the reference to the used plantain leaf. When the wind blows it can carry it to the dustbin or the street or even into the house. We must also be in this state. We must also accept happily whatever happens to us as God given and be grateful for the mercy that He has shown us.
In a spiritual state, situations and places are unimportant. When we lose our attachment, every place becomes God’s place and every situation becomes God given. However during the Kaliyuga, people desire that everything should go the way they wish it to go and they also desire to reach God. They forget that it is God who has given them everything. It is to emphasize this that the great person used the plantain leaf as an example. “If we act after understanding this, several good results will occur”. This is my advice.
{Gururunathar’s divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan}

GURUNATHAR’S MESSAGE ASHWINI POOJA 14-11-2005

On hearing a question, I feel it is my duty today to reply to this: “How should one conduct pooja and worship God?” I would like to emphasize that when you start on your spiritual practice, you have to first surrender totally to the will of God.

Without absolute surrender you cannot participate completely in chanting mantras, praying or meditating. This is something I have learnt personally. When you worship God, first cultivate the state of total surrender-then there will be no disturbance when you chant mantras, nor will there be any obstacles. This is my opinion. In addition, the question of what you should offer as neiveidhyam came up. You can offer with confidence to God whatever you eat. Some might worry about how appropriate the offering is. If it is not appropriate I know God has the power to change it accordingly to suit Him. What you personally hesitate to eat or drink should not be offered to God. The flowers you offer should have a good fragrance. If they lack this they could be sprinkled with rose water and sandalwood paste. Whether you are able to offer neiveidhyam or not, a little water should be offered every day.
(Translation of Gurunathar’s divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri. K.V.Narayanan)

GURUNATHAR’S MESSAGE ASHWINI POOJA 18-10-2005

There was a special question I heard recently and feel I should clarify in this assembly. The followers of Buddha named their religion Buddhism, the followers of Mohammed called themselves Mohammedans, and the followers of Christ called their religion Christianity. Similarly in Bharat it is Hinduism. How has this come about? While others have named their religions after one particular prophet or leader and have followed his teachings, Hindus did not follow this pattern. They followed a number of paths but none of these paths were named after a single guru or saint. This was in ancient times. Later, all these paths were combined under the term “Sanathana Dharmam”. The meaning of this term was ‘the path of righteousness’ or the ‘true path’.
While those of other faiths followed one particular prophet or leader, a Hindu had several saints and seers to guide him. There is a whole line of such great people; but this religion is not based on their names. What I would like to state is that the foundation of the religion is of several philosophies and importance is not given to any particular individual because religion is common to all. This is my reply to the question. Importance is given to spiritual truths and not to those who interpret them. This is because the interpreters are mortal while spiritual truths are eternal.
(Translation of Gurunathar’s divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri. K.V.Narayanan}

GURUNATHAR’S MESSAGE ASHWINI POOJA 24-08-2005

I would like to give a general message. I have earlier spoken of the different paths followed to reach God. There is a question whether we can combine two paths. I feel this is a good question.Gnana margam, Yoga margam and Bhakthi margam are the three paths to reach God. I would like to explain as to how the path of devotion and Raja Yoga may be combined. We have to discover the connection between the human body and the soul. The presence of life in a human being is mainly indicated by his breathing. If he stops breathing, we say he is dead. The connection between the soul and the body is his breath. This explanation is correct in certain aspects. We have to observe this breath. We must inhale slowly and exhale even slower.When we inhale we have to chant a Mantra. When we exhale, the latter part of the mantra must be chanted mentally. Both kinds of breadth give us benefits and help to spread the effect of the mantra all over the body. The inhaling breadth benefits the individual and the exhaling breadth benefits others too. For those assembled here : when you inhale, chant ‘Om’ and when you exhale chant the name of your favorite deity. Through this method the Bhakthi margam is united with states of Yoga. This breadth with its minute vibrations spreads through the nerves and is called life energy or Prana.Gradually the breath moves not only through the mouth and nose, but also moves in and out through the pores of skins as Prana or life energy. Through this we are able to realize the various ‘Koshas’ viz Annamaya Kosha or physical body, Pranamaya Kosha or the Pranic body, Manomaya Kosha or the thought body etc. Finally the Athma is realized or understood in its true state.

(Translation of Gurunathar’s divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri. K.V.Narayanan}

GURUNATHAR’S MESSAGE ASHWINI 28-07-2005

I would like to answer a question: “Why do well educated, intelligent, scholars in their fields sometimes commit major sins? Even the sins which the uneducated are afraid to commit do not deter these privileged people. Then what is education for?” .
It is easy to answer this. Education is of two kinds. Wisdom, discipline and goodness come with the first kind. The second type consists only of information which includes statistical details.
When people write and talk with this knowledge in the absence of true wisdom and intelligence it becomes ‘empty knowledge’. I cannot accept this as true education.There are uneducated people who follow the straight path with discipline and wisdom. Some scholars who are highly educated take to evil ways and use their educational skills with twisted thinking. However,there are some who are educated and good.
While there are some educated people who are evil ,what I would like to stress here is there can be great people amongst the uneducated.

(Translation of Gurunathar’s divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri. K.V.Narayanan)