Guruji's teachings
Five questions from students, with Guruji's direct replies. They cover mantra audio, Vedic mantras, the guru mantra and his name, and finding a teacher who suits you.
From the teachings of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (Guruji). Original post: "Arrogance, Authority, and the Limits of Questioning: Guruji’s Responses", 25 April 2016, shared on Guruji's blog by Vira Chandra. Originally published at amritananda-natha-saraswati.blogspot.com.
Q: Virajā—the pronunciation was not clear enough to follow, as well as the instructions too. What is the use of such audio?
Guruji: No use. It has to be junked and redone. That was the best I had at that time. Now I have lost my teeth. My words therefore are blurred. I can’t help it.
Q: When you are giving a mantra, it would be nice and lively if you could speak a few words about the mantra (something like the explanation you have given for Namaḥ Śivāya). Otherwise it is very mechanical and me and people like me wouldn’t prefer to stick to it.
Guruji: I agree. Stories make them more interesting. There is no compulsion. You are free not to stick to it.
Q: What is the meaning of Prāṇa Pratiṣṭhā mantra given in the course material?
Guruji: All I know is it invokes life. Vedic mantras cannot be decoded by an ignoramus like me. Go ask a Vedic paṇḍit who understands letter, phoneme, context meanings and is well read in Sāyaṇa and Yāska bhāṣyas for Vedas. There are only four or five such paṇḍits alive now.
Q: Still somehow wondering why should there be your name mentioned in the Guru mantras when we already have so many Gurus in the tradition. Couldn’t understand what makes me uncomfortable regarding this. I shall prefer any name from 1000 names because she is the ultimate GURU. Diplomatic answers like “in your name also her name is there” or “in you she is there” don’t satisfy me...
Guruji: You have a name, called Śrīvaralakṣmī. I have a dīkṣā name given to me by my guru, which is Amṛtānanda. What is wrong if I use my name in the guru mantra where it has to be used? If you have an objection, put your own name there. I won’t complain.
Haven’t you yourself said, unless the name is told, it is difficult to identify the source? Unless the name is given, it is difficult to relate to the source. You are contradicting yourself—once saying name is necessary, and another time name should not be there. I take a strong objection to your aggressive attitude.
Q: The articles were still very dry and difficult to grasp for my brain and heart. Hope you can present in a better understandable way.
Guruji: Sorry madam, I am who I am. I am trying my best to reach out to people in their homes. I can’t change the way I speak. Go find a better teacher who fulfils your expectations and answers all your questions.
I will choose to ignore all your questions henceforth.
From the teachings of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (Guruji). Original post: "Arrogance, Authority, and the Limits of Questioning: Guruji’s Responses", 25 April 2016, https://amritananda-natha-saraswati.blogspot.com/2016/04/q-with-arrogant-woman.html
Kaula practice rests on a bond between a student and a living guru. These replies show Guruji being plain about what he can and cannot do, and about the student's freedom to choose.
The guru mantra honours the teacher through whom the line comes down. Guruji says he uses the name his own guru gave him. That ties the mantra to a chain of teachers, not to one person's ego.
Mantra is the inner side of practice. Stories and meaning can help it come alive, but Guruji says there is no compulsion. Each person works with what fits.
Guruji says he uses the initiation name his guru gave him. He told the student that if she objects, she can put her own name there, and he would not complain.
Guruji agreed that stories make mantras more interesting. He added that there is no compulsion and a student is free not to follow the practice.
Guruji says all he knows is that it invokes life.
He says a Vedic pandit who understands letter, sound and context, and who is well read in the Sayana and Yaska commentaries. He said only four or five such pandits were alive.
Guruji's reply was that he cannot change the way he speaks, and that a student can go and find a teacher who meets her expectations.
Read the original: Arrogance, Authority, and the Limits of Questioning: Guruji’s Responses, on Guruji's blog. Guruji left his body in October 2015. This post was shared on his blog in 2016. This site is an independent practitioner's space and does not speak on behalf of Devipuram.
If something in this teaching landed for you, the best next step is a short private conversation.
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