Source Text
He built Hanuman temples everywhere but he would also say, “these people think Hanuman is a monkey” and then would laugh. He would ask us, “Who is Hanuman?” We would give all the usual answers…he is a devotee of Ram… The greatest servant of God, etc etc… Then he would say, “Ram ke Swaas” The breath of Ram (God).” For Maharajji, Hanuman is everywhere: the vast presence, the sky of the heart, the space of the heart. And just as the sky surrounds and embraces everything, Hanuman holds the whole universe in his wide heart.
Maharajji gave us the Hanuman Chalisa to provide access for us into the deeper regions of connection with Ram/God. He said “Every line of the Hanuman Chalisa is Mahamantra” and “Reciting the Hanuman Chalisa can change fate.”
The Hanuman Chalisa is a deep lake of spirituality. If we step into its sparkling waters we can find complete happiness and great sustenance.
‘Rama, your form is beyond all speech and conception, unknowable, unspeakable and infinite. The Upanishads describe it as ‘Neti, Neti’ Not that, Not that’.’ Rama is beyond what our minds can conceive, he is God beyond God, the spirit of the heart underpinning all things. He is the supreme Brahman. Tulsidas then describes Valmiki worshiping Rama, ‘your body is all consciousness, bliss and truth, and you have assumed human form for the benefit of the saintly and divine’.
The poet saint Kabir said: If God be within the mosque, then to who does this world belong to? If Rama be within the image, which you find upon your pilgrimage, then who is aware what occurs outside of it? Hari is in the East, Allah is in the West. Look within your heart, for there you will find both Karim and Ram; All the men and women of the world are His living forms. Kabir is the child of Allah and of Ram: He is my Guru, He is my Pir. — Kabir,
‘There is no dharma greater than compassion for all, and no adharma greater than oppressing others. I declare this to be the verdict of all Vedas, Puranas, and the conclusion of all who are wise.’
Dharma is love for all beings and Hanuman is the most beloved of Ram because he lives this. He is the friend of the friendless, serving God in all with the great force of compassion.
I gleaned from them this practice of chanting the Hanuman Chalisa as a way to become aware of the divine love that lives within our hearts and which removes all separateness.
I listened to it non-stop and memorised the entire chant within three days. I have been in love with chanting it everyday since. It is my hope that just a little bit of the rasa (spiritual essence or taste) that I experienced comes through in this work.
The Hanuman Chalisa clears the fog from around us, helping us to realise that what we are seeking is right here and that we have a divine strength and capacity for goodness which is beyond our wildest imagination.
AI Summary
Moving Mountains - A Guide to the Hanuman Chalisa by Hanuman Dass, Dr.Nicholas Sutton, Sheena Randerwala, and Krishna Das presents key insights from the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.
Core Themes:
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Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.
This entry was generated from Readwise highlights. Expand with additional context as appropriate.