By Guruji Sai Saileshwara (from spiritual discourse given during Ram Navami 2025)
Ram Navami is a time of deep spiritual reflection and celebration. On the second day of Ram Navami 2025, we delved into profound teachings that help us find our inner happiness. We were reminded of the importance of surrender, self-awareness, and the need to choose what is good over what is pleasurable in the pursuit of long-term happiness.
The Power of Surrender
We are a Soul operating through the body, mind, and intellect. Yesterday’s discourse emphasized the power of surrender. Especially when things don’t work out according to our plan or wishes, we need to surrender. Who should we surrender to? To the divinity that we are – the Atma Rama.
Morning Rituals
Every morning, as we wake from sleep, we emerge from the darkness of ignorance into the light of awareness. This awakening is akin to a lotus blooming or a baby being born. It’s a moment to thank the divine for this new day. Start your day by bowing to yourself. Recognize that you are Soul, Atma Rama, which is like a lotus rising from the dirt to bloom in the light of awareness. The bees take nectar from the lotus, symbolizing the sweetness of life when someone has blossomed into self realisation – like a lotus opens when the sun shines on it.
Choose Shreyas over preyas
For long term happiness that comes from within and is not temporary and dependent on objects, choose shreyas (the good things in life) over preyas (the pleasurable things). This leads to long-term happiness and transformation. Using a sharpened intellect, choose the things which are good for you – they may not necessarily be pleasurable. For example, getting up early so you can perform your sadhana or have a good morning routine, choosing healthy food over unhealthy food, choosing to attend satsang over Netflix. These have long-term benefits and lead to long term happiness, which can only be experienced through a calm mind. If you consistently choose preyas, or what is pleasurable, you will become a slave to your senses and end up nowhere. When your senses run you and not the other way around, it leads to misery and instability.
Atma and Paramatma
Atma, our soul, often hides in the darkness, while Paramatma, the supreme soul, is always present, like the sun. When we are in the dark, we feel miserable and unworthy. However, just as bees are attracted to an open lotus, we too attract positivity when we open ourselves to the light.
The Importance of Scripture
Reading scripture or any spiritual book brings peace. It’s not a waste of time to be in the temple or engage in spiritual practices – this is the choosing of Shreyas. These activities help us reflect on our purpose and connect with our higher self – our Soul Self. Such spiritual literature opens us up to our highest potential.
Meditation and Self-Reflection
Meditate on who you are. Recognize that you are no different from the sun. Paramatma and Atma are the same. When you meditate on your Soul, it will speak to you. Start and end your day with love, as Swami said, “That is the way to God.”
Love as the Main Switch
Love is the main switch that turns on all other switches in life. Vedanta teaches us how to think correctly. When our thoughts are right, we are in awareness. Great thinkers like Lord Rama and Swami manifested their thoughts into reality. That is the power of right thinking. Empty your mind by focusing on what is right and avoiding what is wrong. If you consistently choose what is right, your love switch will be turned on forever.
Mastering the Mind
Master your mind, and you can achieve anything in life. Spirituality shows us how to use our body and master our mind. Reflect each morning on the purpose of your life. Follow the Master, face challenges, and fight to the end.
Mindfulness and Moderation
Practice mindfulness in all aspects of life. Overindulgence in any form is harmful. Listen to your Soul Self, which tells you what is correct. Choose shreyas over preyas, and sometimes, you need to say no.
Grace and Gratitude found in Festivals
Thank Atma every morning. Touch the earth and thank her for another day. Recognize the love between Ram and Sita is within you. Festivals like Ram Navami remind us to visit God and spend time in spiritual reflection. The grace of Ram helps us navigate the samsara of life.
Conclusion
Ram Navami is a time to awaken the love within us and connect with our higher self. By practicing surrender, self-awareness, and mindfulness, we can lead a life of long-term happiness and spiritual fulfilment. If we choose what is good (Shreyas), we gain long-term evolvement and happiness. If we consistently choose what is pleasurable instead, it will lead to enslavement by the senses and we will end up nowhere.
