Sri Ramakrishna: To feel that one is a free soul is very good. By constantly repeating, “I am free. I am free,” a man verily becomes free. On the other hand, by constantly repeating, “I am bound. I am bound,” he certainly becomes bound to worldliness. . . One should rather say, “I have chanted the name of God. How can I be a sinner? How can I be bound?” GOSPEL, p. 274
Is it that simple? I have chanted the name of God for over 50 years. Am I free? I still am enchanted off and on by Maya and make mistakes. However, I am on the path. On the path to God – to freedom from the false self – the false self that runs after pleasure, after prestige, after wealth. Swamiji met a Sadhu in the Himalayas and asked him what spiritual disciplines do you practice? The sadhu replied, “I fall down and I get up. I fall down and I get up.” That’s me. I do the same. The important fact is that we still continue to get up.
It is interesting that July 4th celebrates, not when we in this country finally gained independence from England, but the day we declared our independence. Making it a reality still had to be accomplished. This totally corresponds to saying, “I have chanted the name of God. How can I be bound?” Chanting the name is a declaration of independence from the false self. Why else would one chant the name? Well, I suppose that if one chants it with the desire for worldly prosperity, it’s a different thing. But ultimately, there is the same effect. It is said that Dhruva took to worship for the sake of kingdom but reached God anyway.
Sri Ramakrishna quotes Chaitanya, who said that even if the results of chanting the name do not happen right away, they must happen sooner or later. He gives the example of a seed that falls on the roof of a house. Eventually, that house will come down, and the seed will reach the ground and germinate.
What tremendous faith it takes to be able to say with utter confidence, “I have chanted the name of God. How can I be a sinner? How can I be bound?” Sri Ramakrishna had this incredible faith, and it is infectious. I can’t say that I believe this 100%. But I have some faith in it. Maybe 50%. Sri Ramakrishna told Mahima, who said “Some unknown force holds the reins and pulls us back.” Sri Ramakrishna said to him, “Why, my dear Sir, let the reins be cut asunder by the sword of His Holy name.” (Condensed Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p.234). How powerful is the name that it can cut the reins (the reins of Maya)! In a song, it is said, “Who could ever have conceived the power Her Name possesses?” (GOSPEL, P.147).
In the Pavitrananda translation of the Chaitanya prayer (second verse), “Various are Thy names revealed by Thee (O Lord) into which Thou hast infused Thy omnipotent powers.” (HYMNS AND PRAYERS, p. 97 - 101) There is infinite power in Thy name. Also in this translation, the first verse says, “Supreme glory be to the singing of the Lord’s name, which cleanses the mirror of the heart and extinguishes the great forest conflagration of worldly existence.” Thus, the Name frees us from Maya.
The Chandi depicts the triumph of the Mother over the demons of Maya. May I have faith that by calling on the Mother – on God -- with one of Her names, She will slay the demons of Maya that beset me. So I must have confidence in what Sri Ramakrishna declared: “I have chanted the name of God. How can I be a sinner? How can I be bound?”