It is necessary to transform man’s heart into sweet, soft one. Only through chanting the name of the Lord incessantly can you achieve this, not by any other means. There is no need for thinking about the path to be taken in order to chant the name of the Lord, if you repeat the name with all the sacredness, sweetness and divinity. God is all pervasive, omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. There is no place where God does not exist. Therefore you need not wait for a place or a time for chanting the name of the Lord. You can repeat the name wherever you are, and whenever you want. (Sens.SS, p. 31)
Swami is exhorting you to undertake spiritual sadhana. Nagar sankirtan is one of the sadhanas that is prescribed for devotees. No one knows when one’s end approaches. Yama has no consideration of what one is doing, good or bad, at the time of casting his noose. One may leave his mortal coil even when one is doing nagar sankirtan. Hence, one should always be prepared to face Yama by chanting the divine name. You should undertake spiritual practice and earn the divine grace so as to be free from karma phala. One need not feel depressed and resign to one’s fate. One can easily overcome fate with sincere prayers. The story of Mar-kandeya proves this point beyond doubt. Everything depends on God’s grace.
You may undertake any number of spiritual practices, but never forget God’s name even for a moment. Only then will you be protected. Never do anything that will take you away from God. You can achieve anything through prayer. You need not pray loudly; it is enough if you pray mentally. Some people have a mistaken notion that God will not come to their rescue if they do not pray loudly. God resides in your heart. He listens to your prayers. If you aspire to attain His grace, you must contemplate on Him incessantly. Worldly difficulties come and go. One should not attach much importance to them. However, through prayer one can overcome any difficulties. Only God’s grace is true and everlasting. One should strive to attain it.
Chant the name of God day in and day out. That alone will protect you at all times. Just as air is all-pervasive, God is present in you, with you, around you, below you, above you. Hence, you should be in constant communion with divinity. When you develop faith in divinity, you will naturally have unity. Consequently, there will be no scope for enmity. You need not perform any rituals in order to win the grace of God. It is enough if you do namasmarana (chanting the Divine Name) from the depth of your heart. Hari Bhajana bina sukha shanti nahin… (one cannot attain peace and happiness without singing the glory of God). If you incessantly chant the divine name “Rama”, no harm can ever befall you.
Chant Any Name, I Shall Respond
Students, Embodiments of Love! It is because of your good fortune that you all have gathered here today. Do not fritter away this opportunity. Make the best use of your stay here and get the maximum benefit out of it. Remember that God is always with you wherever you are. God is your sole refuge wherever you may be, in a forest, in the sky, in a city or a village, on the top of a mountain or in the middle of deep sea. (Telugu poem)
I am very much aware that you think of Swami always. It does not matter whether you sing the divine name loudly or silently. I see only the feeling behind it. Nothing can come in the way of God and His devotee. Rishis of yore went to the Himalayas to spend their time in contemplation of God. Wherever you are, God listens to your prayers. Do Bhajans sincerely. Swami will certainly listen to you. Never give room for any type of weakness. Be always courageous. When you adhere to Swami’s words, the power of Sai will manifest in you. Chant any name of your choice,Ishvara,Rama,Krishna, etc., but always remember that God is one. I will never force you to chant any particular name. One should not limit God to any particular name or form. You may call Me by any name, I shall respond. (SSS Vol.38, pp. 159-161)
Chanting the name of the Lord, the practice of Namasmarana, is acceptable to all religions! Christians, Buddists, Jains, the Mohammadans, Christians chant the glory of the name of Jesus. For the Sikhs the sacred name is everything. Chanting the name is acceptable to all. It brings about unity of all. It can bring about total harmony. Chant the Lord’s name. Make Him closer to you. This is the easiest way. There is no easier path than this. (Sens.SS, p. 35)
Chant always the five lettered Panchakshari Mantra: ‘God Is’. (Uniq, p. 160)
Chanting of the Divine Name of Shri Rama will destroy mountains of sin. I often tell you Pibare Rama Rasam (drink the nectar of Lord Rama’s Name). Tulsidas prayed to Rama for the nectar of His love. When sugar and water are mixed, syrup is formed. Likewise, when your love becomes one with Divine Love, then it becomes nectar, the experience of which makes you immortal. (SSS Vol.33, p. 47)
To reach the presence of the source of bliss, that is, God, you must tread the footsteps of the great saints and seekers, like Jayadeva,Gauranga,Mira, Ramakrishna and others. Pratcise their teachings, follow their example. The path of dedicated activity, of surrender to the Highest, of Incomparable love towards the Embodiment of Prema – that is the sweetest path, giving joy at every step. Hari Nama (the Name of the Lord) which seekers had on their tongue is described by them as sweeter than all the sweet things put together. (SSS Vol. 6, p. 104)