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TEACHINGS FROM CLOUDBURST OF A THOUSAND SUNS
By Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath

Swadhyaaya/ Shashtra/ Reading of Scriptures:

Glory of (Shastras):

  • Shastra! I don’t know the language which is fitting enough to eulogize Thee, but let me declare it explicitly that I love you dearly. I haven’t been fortunate enough to follow all Thy commands, but with whatever I could follow, I have attained my object, I am immersed in the ocean of bliss! I pledge–as long as I am able to utter a single word, I shall proclaim: ‘Shastra is true, Shastra is firm and resolute; whoever takes refuge with the Shastra, God will clasp him close to His heart.’

  • My Shastra is the vanguard among host of ways of this country. My Shastra is a stream of immortal nectar in the desert of this world. My Shastra is the autumn moon shining in the midst of terrible darkness of the new moon night.

  • God is the protector of the Shastras. No power in the world can crush them. Fire is eternally fire; he who tries to kick it will burn his feet.

  • Men and women! Those who read, with devotion, these texts bestowed by Sri Gurudeva, with the intent of assuaging the sorrows of men and women, and giving them happiness in this world, they surely obtain pleasure and delight.
  • Role of (Shastras):


  • A man takes a dip into the ocean of Brahma with the help of only a single syllable. He stays where the Shastras belong, the role of Shastras is to help one determine the truth and be one-pointed with the great unity.


  • Man cannot lift himself up with a single leap; he can gain peace by steadily walking on the path of Shastras.

  • If it were possible to attain everything through Naam alone, what is the use of Vedas, Upanishad, Samhita, Purana, Tantra etc.? Their purpose is to develop loving devotion to Naam. How can you develop loving devotion to Naam without reading Shastras?

  • As a consequence of sins, human being suffers so many maladies! But these sins too are dispelled by the study of Shastras. Swadhyaaya is among the most powerful ways of doing away with sins. – 650
  • Nature of & Need for (Shastras):

  • Shastras, the scriptural texts, are a manifestation of Saraswati, the goddess of learning and speech. No one can discern their true import without ascetic practice.

  • To know His identity, it is necessary to study the Shastras. Who but the Shastras will tell us about His true nature? But can the Shastras, having emerged out of His breath, succeed in revealing His identity? No, they cannot, except merely providing us with elementary indications.

  • The Shastras are here to increase interest in sadhana (spiritual practice), not for gaining praise of the people.

  • Which remedy must be applied by the four social orders, the mixed castes as also the women? By walking on which path will they gain the supreme self and be blessed? This has been indicated in dharma shastras authored by Manu etc. Whoever treads on this secure, royal path is sure to be competent in finding peace.

  • To make the mind flood with religious feeling, it is necessary to read a religious text daily– a book that will melt the heart. Sitaram reads divine drama daily; and reading, in its wake, brings about great thrill in the body. I derive more pleasure in reading scriptures than in meditation. – 986

  • Result of Forsaking Shastras:

  • Due to the overpowering influence of the Yuga, the word of with the Shastras has fallen into neglect. As a consequence of this callousness to the Shastras, the world is full of distress. It is the duty of those who thirst after supreme bliss to take refuge with the Shastras with exclusive devotion.

  • Forsaking of the path shown by the scriptures has led the people of this country to the present tide of sufferings, torment, disease and sorrow.

  • If one peers into the pages of Indian history, one sees whenever the demons became powerful, the Shastras, Brahmana and Mother Cow were the ones to be assaulted first. In fact, it was when this oppression grew very strong that Thakur came and re-established the varnashram dharma.

  • The mass of men who have gone astray will not be able to gain peace until they adopt the path prescribed by the Shastras. Shastras alone are the streams from which peace can flow.

  • Those who forsake the path of Shastras and adopt self-willed ways have to suffer from scores of diseases and sorrows.

  • Who can offer peace to those who deride the Shastras? It’s not possible for them to gain peace …No! It’s not possible!

  • Walking away from a discourse on a scriptural text brings the sin of brahmahatya. Those who need to get up in the middle of the scriptural recitation need not enter in the first place.

  • Shastras Are True:

  • No! The word of the Shastras can never prove to be false. The sea may breach its beach-limits; mount Meru might begin to stir; the sun, moon and the planets might deviate from their orbits– these things may happen, but the word of Shastras can never prove to be false. Never!

  • Security of (Shastras):

  • The Shastra-prescribed path is the secure and well-guarded royal highway. He, who takes refuge in this path with one-mindedness, reaches the kingdom of that nameless and formless King, with a fearless heart and a smiling face.
  • Listen! The restraint of the Shastras is not a restraint; it is the triumphant sound of the drum announcing freedom from attachment. Bind yourself; yes, bind yourself with the precepts of Shastras. As you succeed in binding yourself in it, you will get more and more bliss. You will surely be happy! This is not something that is hearsay or a bookish fact, it is the great truth concluded from experience of a long life.
  • Choosing (Shastras):


  • Whichever Naam you have practiced happily, continue with same Naam always. The texts that bring tears to your eyes, bristle your hair, are the ones to be read. Find time to read these. Contemplate on the Divine Sport of God. This is Leela Chintan; it is something you can do even while lying down.

  • In whichever texts are inscribed the name, qualities, divine exploits, tales and divine history of your chosen Deity, make these books your regular companions.

  • Whatever you like at a particular time, japa, scriptural study or kirtan, do just that as per your liking. Everything will add up to your (spiritual) bank balance.

    Recommended Texts:


  • The devotees of Ram must read Ramayana, devotees of Devi, Sri Devi Bhagawat; devotees of Shiva, Linga Purana, Shiva Purana etc., in this way everyone must contemplate, listen to, or sing that text which contains the divine descriptions of their Ishta Deva (Favourite Deity). This helps develop one-pointed love in one’s own Ishta.

  • By studying religious texts like Gita, Chandi, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Adhyatma Ramayana, Vishnu Purana etc., both men and women will derive pleasure. By regularly reading these, you will be able to gain knowledge therein.

  • Due to differences of religious authority and the devotees, the swadhyaaya too is different; devotees of Krishna initially undertake the reading of Srimad Bhagawata, devotees of Ram- Ramayana, devotees of Devi- Devi Gita, Chandi, Bhagawati Gita and devotees of Shiva- Shiva Purana, Shiva Gita etc; continue to pursue it until the differences cease, thereafter whichever text one likes, whichever makes the heart melt, that is worthy of being read.

  • A seeker can read 10 principal shrutis, 108 subsidiary shrutis, Vishnu Purana, and lives of saints. Human mind craves for newness, which is why so many texts have been composed.

  • Mahabharata is the life of India, whoever reads Mahabharata is sure to be blessed. Mahabharata specifically explains the fourfold expedient of dharma, artha, kaam and moksha. Texts like Mahabharata are to be heard from the Guru’s lips.

  • Srimad Bhagawat Gita and Uddhava Gita are excellent texts among religious literature. These are beyond compare. I have personally instructed two of my companions whom I hold as dear as my life: ‘If anyone can take refuge with these two texts, with these alone, he can attain everything.’

  • By reading the texts extolling the Divine Sports of one’s Favourite Deity, the devotees must contemplate upon the Favourite Deity as the one endowed with form, formless, gross, subtle and universal. When this contemplation melts the heart and devotional states such as tears, thrilling of body hair, trembling etc. arise, these will lead to samadhi.

  • Read Sri Gita, Sri Vishnu Sahastranaam, Sri Chandi, Sri Maharasayana, Sri Naamamrit Lahari, Sudhar Dhara, Abhay Vaani etc.

  • Bhagawat Gita:

  • Sri Gita is indeed the heart of Sri Bhagawan. How much can we understand it? Only by surrendering to Him, He kindly explains it to us; our duty consists in exclusively surrendering to Him.

  • Genuineness of (Shastras):

  • Texts or Shastras wherein sense-gratification is predominant are to be reckoned as those where the scripture has been distorted. There is a simple benchmark of determining the genuineness of Shastras– the definition which is based on restraint is genuine and that, which does not advocate restraint, is distorted.

  • The fundamental goal of shastras is final emancipation. The statement that has for its end final emancipation alone can be called authentic. Worldly enjoyments, happiness, gain – this is deformed statement.

  • Shastras & Spiritual Progress:

  • The degree to which men hold steadfast to the Shastras is the degree to which they can quickly reach the centre of their being. Until the man reaches his goal, there is only suffering. By taking recourse to Shastras, he can easily come out of the grip of sorrow.

  • I offer crores of salutations to the Shastras. Shastras are the bestower of self-knowledge and knowledge of God to the descendants of the Arya race. He who is devoted to the Shastras, and actively studies them, effortlessly commands dharma, artha, kaam and moksha.

  • The (spiritual) progress of an individual is directly proportional to his devotion to the Shastras.

  • Whoever follows the path of Shastras is bound to find peace –there can be no doubt about this!

  • For he, who walks the path laid down by the Shastras, there can be no obstacle. He is able to win God’s favour without much effort. There can be no fall for someone who has adopted the path of dharma.

  • How Shastras Reveal Themselves To The Seeker:

  • When the anxiety about self-knowledge is awakened, the Shastra is revealed. Study of the holy texts produces ascetic inclinations. One realizes, even the happiness derived from wife and children, brings suffering in the end. Reasoning in this manner, one sets out to perform ascetic practices.

  • Unless and until a man devotes himself to ascetic practice and studies, listens to, and contemplates upon the Shastras, the Shastras do not reveal their true import.

  • It is the ascetics alone who are extremely dear to the Shastra. Shastras impart all their secrets to these people.

  • Shastra and God are not different. Man is able to commit to his heart the meaning of Shastras when he takes to ascetic ways and takes refuge with Shastra with exclusive devotion. It is not possible to obtain peace of mind from shallow and superficial knowledge of the Shastras.

  • Religious and philosophical principles cannot be grasped by mere listening or through mental contemplation. As long as the truth behind the words does not directly manifest, that knowledge is just mouthing of words.

  • Swadhyaaya:

  • When there is progress in swadhyaaya, one gets a vision of one’s favourite deity, that is to say, when the mind is controlled and fully concentrated, in forever chanting japa of pranava or Ishta mantra, or the praise of the favourite deity, progressively as one attains maturity, mastery and an excellent state, the endeavours are crowned with direct realization and vision of God.

  • Swadhyaaya is an everyday duty like food, sleep etc. Without swadhyaaya the twice-born ones cannot firmly hold fast to the goal of life.

  • The meaning of swadhyaaya is to undertake with due understanding mantra japa, recitation of Purush Sukta, Vishnu Sukta, and other suktas and stavas as also sing Hari Kirtan. The practice of studying scriptural texts is also classified as swadhyaaya.

  • It is swadhyaaya, which incessantly points at the ultimate aim of human life. It helps reach the ultimate goal. With the malevolent effects of the present Age, apprenticeship at Guru’s residence, study of Vedas etc. is lost. Nevertheless, there are still few virtuous men who regularly study Gita, Chandi Paath etc.

  • It is through this swadhyaaya that the inertness of the body and the tongue is dispelled. The blemishes of the tongue and sins at large are rid; there is a surge of sattvik sentiment. In every artery and vein, every part of the body, there’s a thrill filled with life inspired from swadhyaaya. The body goes intro rapture, tears of love flow out of the eyes. Due to the new uprising of sattvik bhava, one is transported into a new world of self-realization.

  • The pleasure of the senses is extremely inferior– he who is engaged in swadhyaaya realizes this clearly. Vaak is introverted and moves from vaikhari to madhyama, anahata sound is heard. In the veena of the heart, anahata naad resounds on its own. It is swadhyaaya, which shows the eternal and fearless path to mankind. Swadhyaaya bestows immortality to the race of mortal beings.

  • O Men and women, beloved of Sitaram! Teach your sons and daughters to walk on the path of dharma right from the childhood. You will be happy if you do so, the children will be happy too, they will succeed in making the most of being born a human.

  • Sri Sri Ramananda Priksha Parishad:

  • Sri Sri Thakur has conferred the gems of these books in order to impart knowledge to ignorant men like us. We can read them regularly right from our childhood. It is for this reason he established Sri Sri Ramananda Mahamantra Pariksha Parishad.

  • It is because you love Sitaram and desire the path of happiness; Sitaram is confiding the knowledge of the most excellent path leading to happiness. Through this, boys and girls will be able to build their character, they will acquire the intelligence that’s conducive to dharma, their courage in virtuous acts will amplify, and they will be free from disease. They will gain satsanga (holy fellowship) through sacred books and achieve supreme delight. The children should be moulded right from their childhood.

  • It is the duty of the mother and father to get their children to walk on the path of dharma. With this father, mother, sons and daughters can live happily in this world and the next; those parents who inspire their children to walk on the path of dharma alone are their genuine parents.

  • Sanskrit Learning:

  • If Sanskrit becomes the national language, by following it Indians will be able to seek out the way to be inner-directed; they will be able to find the infinite ocean of earthly happiness that lies within the heart of every being. Right from their childhood, they will be able to exert on the goal of human life, which is to realize God.

  • The chandas are distinguished into two types– praakrut and vikruta. The creation of the world proceeds from vikruta chanda, the outgoing tendency is responsible for vikruta chanda. Praakruta chand takes human life to the supreme path of ultimate happiness.

  • The texts written in languages like English etc. are composed of vikruta chanda. Through their study and unrestrained eating habits, brahmacharya is wanting; thus, all the senses are directed outwards and human beings are forever attracted to external objects like form and taste etc. They perish by seeking the mirage in the desert.

  • Most of the texts written in Sanskrit are bound in genuine harmonious metre; their study enables one to forsake the vikruta chanda and move towards praakruta chanda. Those who recite staves or Chandi Paat etc. loudly, are able to obtain bliss, their body goes into raptures, and hair stands on its ends, tears flow out of their eyes; even if for a brief span of time, they are surely able to experience supreme detachment. The reason for this is the state of uninhibited release, which is made available to the pranas.

  • All the texts related to abhyudaya i.e., welfare of the world, have been composed in Sanskrit. It is not possible to make any progress in enquiry into world’s welfare and final liberation without the knowledge of Sanskrit. The modern, English-educated Indians try to understand the Vedas and other Shastras in English, but that doesn’t make them competent to comprehend the genuine, essential nature of Shastras.

  • The study of Sanskrit will effortlessly consolidate our religious existence. It will achieve the welfare of the world, for no good can be done in this world by those bereft of dharma.

  • Whole world is fraught with distress because of irreligious English education. The Arya women have forgotten devotion to Pati Narayana. The sons have forgotten that father is jagat-pita and mother jagat-mata. They don’t understand these things in their youth, and in the end, they are left with only tears.

  • In our hallowed country, Bharata, in the jewelled-treasure of wisdom, how many priceless gems we have! Alas! We haven’t had the time to assess this! Veda, Upanishad, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Purana and collection of several other Shastras have today fallen into contemptuous indifference. It is this indifference, which has made sorrow, disease, want and sufferings the eternal companions of man.

  • The greedy and lustful men have started teaching English in order to earn money and base pleasures. Forsaking of Sanskrit language has slowly overwhelmed the countrymen with want and unrest. Everyone wants to serve; employment is therefore difficult to get. The western education and its ways, fully given to worldly happiness, is today making us wail wildly like jackals.