Passage 1

Tap any word for its meaning.

In plain words

Sweeter than sugar, more delicious than the cream of curds, far more delicious than the richest honey, as you say it over and over on the tongue, it grows exceedingly sweet and seems nectar itself; so, every day, keep well in mind, all of you, the name of Rāma.

Embodiments of Prema!

The Rāmāyaṇa is not just a history of Rāma. It is a history that teaches, neatly, about three cities. The first is Mithilā. The second is Ayodhyā. The third is Laṅkā. The Rāma principle is the form that taught and showed the greatness of the three cities and their journeys. Rāma is the embodiment of Dharma. Lakṣmaṇa is the embodiment of śraddhā. Bharata is the embodiment of Bhakti. Śatrughna is the embodiment of strength. Śraddhā is the support of Dharma. Strength is the armour of Bhakti. That is why Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa on one side, and Bharata and Śatrughna on the other, set out on their way and spread through the whole land. Rāma had hardly turned sixteen when, at that very time, Viśvāmitra's coming began. With Viśvāmitra's coming, Rāma's journey began. It began with the slaying of the rākṣasas to guard Viśvāmitra's sacrificial ground; then, on the way to Mithilā, He freed Ahalyā from her curse, broke Śiva's bow, took the hand of Sītā, who is the power of Mahāmāyā, fought with Paraśurāma, entered Ayodhyā, then entered the forest, searched for Sītā, made the journey to Laṅkā, slew Rāvaṇa, and until He came back to Ayodhyā, Śrī Rāma's journey went on without ease or rest.

Today we must recognise what ayana means. The word Rāma is born from the root ram. The word ayana is born from the root i. Rāma means delighting, rejoicing, giving joy, bringing gladness. Moving, going and pulsing: the nature of these three is ayana. Ra means the Ātma. Ma means Manas. Joining the mind to the Ātma is the Rāma principle. That is, spreading the principle called Ānanda through the whole world is Rāma's ayana. Experiencing Ānanda, increasing Ānanda and sharing Ānanda is the Rāma principle. What makes it pervade everything is ayana. Spreading gladness everywhere is the Rāma principle.

Not Rāma alone does this spreading; there is Sītā's ayana too.