The Power of God's Name

The Power of God's Name

I once met an Indian monk who had achieved illumination by the sole spiritual practice of hallowing God's name. When I was a college student, I visited Brindavan. There I learned about a holy man who lived in a forest nearby, and I decided to go and see him. A narrow path led me to a small hut in the centre of a clearing. Soon the holy man came out of the hut, sat on a mat which his disciple spread on the ground, and mentioned me to be seated also. There was a tangible atmosphere of saintliness about him. I prostrated before him. Then I asked, 'Revered Sir', how did you attain this state?' 'Nama', he said, giving me to understand that he had achieved perfection through repetition of the Nama, the Lord's name. He said no more, and I sat before him in silence for a while. At last I bowed down to him and left. My heart was filled with peace.

...   Swami Prabhavananda

The Sermon on the Mount according to Vedanta, Pp. 103-104

(Taken from the Vedanta Kesari, April 2011)