28-33 Spiritual Essence (GPP Sahebji 15-10-11) (08-12

Spiritual Essence
Divine Words of G.P.P. Sahebji
- Bhavisha Tailor
On 15 October 2011, Guruvarya Param Pujya Sahebji graced devotees with an explanation of Vachanamrut Gadhada II.27.
This Vachanamrut shows the technique for pleasing the ‘Spiritually Great’. This is of special significance to us as we approach Sant Bhagwant
Sahebji’s Platinum Jubilee – as our collective prayer is, “O Lord! To do your work, in your way, solely to please You…”
The article below is a translation of Sahebji’s ashirvachan, for your reflection and contemplation.
Vachanamrut Gadhada Madhye 27 is titled: “The Great are
Pleased when no Impure Desires Remain”. Truly it is when the Great
are pleased, that the mind’s impurities vanish. In this Vachanamrut,
Shreeji Maharaj says that, “Even if millions worth is wasted, I am not
angered by it, but when one transgresses one’s dharma or if an
arrogant person abuses a poor person or sides with injustice then I
become angered". Whereas, if someone were to insult, abuse or
kick God out, then Maharaj says, “This never ever angers me”.
Here, a poor person does not mean one who does not have
sufficient food to eat, but refers to the bhakt that is meek. The
one with this type of disposition is unassuming; is always humble
before others, and is always performing seva. There are many
arrogant or dominant personalities who will walk all over such
bhakto, will tell them off or push them around – and will display
their ego by doing so. To take the side of injustice means to take
the side of the wrong person. In this Vachanamrut, Maharaj says
that he is angered by the one who takes the side of injustice, and
so we must always side with the bhakt. This will please Maharaj.
Through this Vachanamrut, Maharaj has given us the
understanding not to transgress dharma. If this happens, we
must offer our repentful prayers, live within the codes of conduct
prescribed by God, and carry out devotion with mahatmya1 - the
Mahatmya of God! We have the Supreme Lord, so we are not
weighed down by the burden of our own flaws and shortcomings;
but that does not mean that we act anyhow according to the
whims of our mind, senses and ego. What it means is that we
make our mind, senses and ego act according to God’s way. For
this, Maharaj has given us the codes of conduct in the
'Shikshapatri'. If we do not follow these, Maharaj is not pleased.
Do not hurt the meek. We have so many bhakto with this
disposition! Even if you were to shout at them for no reason, they
will not say anything. One should never hurt such bhakto, who are
mild, humble and always deferentially carrying out seva.
Sometimes mistakes are made. Whoever is doing the work may
make mistakes, but at that time if you shout at them or scold them
1
Absolute unshakable faith and conviction in God as faultless and
divine and the feeling of unparalleled fortune to have attained Him.
28
Êeô»É੥ɭ÷ 2012 - ´ÉºÉÇ 27 - +ÅHí 9
instead of helping them, then Maharaj is not pleased. Instead if
you support them and say ‘don’t worry’, then Maharaj is pleased!
People are always pushing around those who are meek, but why?
Just because they are mild? Because they are humble? If you hurt
such a bhakt, or if you push them around, then Maharaj says, “I
am angered by this”. And if Maharaj is not pleased then we are
creating such great negative destiny for ourselves! Just to wash
out this destiny we would have to take so many births. And so, for
such humble bhakto, in fact for any bhakto – why should you
behave in such a domineering way? Be humble, be accepting. We
have so many such bhakto and sadhako that are mild and humble.
When we direct our gaze at the Mota-Purush, we would
understand that much at least, that he does not like this; or that
Maharaj does not like this. After all, it is to please God and MotaPurush, that all our efforts are directed, as in the bhajan, “Gamtu
taaru mane game evo nishchay dradh thaiye jaiye…” – May
whatever that is to your liking become my liking, and may this
become firm in my life. Also as in the bhajan ‘Rasghan murati’…
‘Pyaara nu je pyaaru te maaru, maaru pyaaru tene nakaru…’ : So
whatever is loved by you O Lord, may I come to love that too – and
whatever I love may I lose my attachment to it. But how does that
attachment go? And what is it that is loved by Him?
It is to believe God and God’s bhakto to be faultless and divine.
And if you have greater mahima2, then it is to follow this up with
their seva in word, thought and deed. But most of all, give up all
amahima, bhav-fer3 and arrogance. That is what is ours, and not
God’s. If we put what is ours aside and keep only that which is
God’s, then God says, “I am pleased”. If you act contrary to this, but
stop yourself and repent, then God will forgive you.
Sadhus especially should not act inappropriately. We are
walking on the path of sadhuta and so we should definitely not
have inappropriate behaviour – meaning we must not want
anything that God does not like. And that itself is our sadhana4.
2
Understanding of greatness and glory.
Negative thought, negative perception and negatively changing one’s
attitude towards someone.
4
Sadhana refers to all spiritual practices and all the efforts we make on
the spiritual path to attain ultimate realisation.
3
That is why we listen to discourses, do dhun, bhajan, aarti,
samaiyas etc. – so that we come to understand what God likes,
and what He does not like, and therefore to keep what God likes
and discard that which He does not like. For countless lifetimes,
we have done only what we like – and lived completely according
to our own whims. This lifetime, we have been given the
opportunity to be free from the grip of our own mind, and live in
the hand of God. If we live a Guru-centred life then we will be
released from the grip of our own mind.
In one of our bhajan’s – ‘Sant Samagam keeje…’…. ‘Man-mukhi
dukhiya, Guru-mukhi sukhiya’. To act according to our own wishes,
as per the dictates of our mind, feels good, but by living according
to the dictates of one’s Guru, will give you God’s prasannata5. Let
us resolve to live our lives such that we attain God’s prasannata.
To walk on the path of the sadhu, is to God’s liking.
Our Himat Swami is such a humble sadhu! From the moment
he wakes up at 5.00 in the morning to eleven o’clock at night, he
continuously offers the bhakti that God likes. He starts early
every morning with adorning Shri Thakorji, does aarti and then
office work. He will be picking up or dropping off haribhakto,
arriving at the airport or coming in by tube. He does mahapuja.
So - what do you think he does not like to rest? But no, he does
what God likes, and puts aside whatever he likes, and living with
that constant bhav6, the sadhuta7 has poured out of him! And
what sadhuta! The youths there have developed so much love
and respect for him and they have come to experience more and
more joy and enthusiasm in following his aagna8. When true
seekers of God are drawn to a sadhu, that is darshan of God’s
prasannata upon that sadhu. The increase in joy and enthusiasm
in following such a sadhu’s aagna is darshan of his sadhuta. We
are able to see all of this in Swami’s life. For years he has
consistently offered devotion in the way that pleases God.
Jayendrabhai is young; he is a youth, but he has taken on so
much responsibility! Kiran, Pankaj, Jayesh and Arvind are all like
this. Everyone has so much affection and respect for Arvindbhai.
From morning till evening, he does so much seva. Sangita-Baki’s
5
When God or Guru is so pleased with you that it culminates in an
outpouring of grace – this is called prasannata.
6
Bhav is a state of being and feeling. It is an internal quality.
7
Sadhuta refers to the qualities of a true sadhu such as humility,
complete selflessness and surrender, with the recognition of God as
the Supreme All-Doer. Because of his sadhuta, the true sadhu will
never act for his own benefit. He is natural, simple and joyfully
immersed in God.
8
Any instruction given by God or Guru, which is always for our spiritual
benefit
husband - Subhash would not give in to anyone. He would not
even come to the mandir. He would say to Baki, ‘you can go if you
like’. But then he developed such a strong bond with Arvind that
if Arvind calls him, he will put all of his work aside and come
running. If Arvind is in Shri Thakorji’s seva, then Subhash will take
Shri Thakorji’s thaal and go up to give it to him. There is such a
transformation in Subhash! How did such sadhuta blossom in
Arvind? It blossomed because he put his own likings aside and
according to his Guru’s word acted as per God’s liking. What does
God like? He likes seva of the mandir. Arvind performs seva of the
mandir from morning to evening, and maintains it so beautifully.
Jayesh does all the office work; he does Shri Thakorji’s seva,
looks after all the correspondence and manages all the external
contacts. On top of that, when we are there, he arranges the
entire travel itinerary, makes all the bookings, and in this way
offers his devotion. The youths have great affection for Jayesh
too. Wherever there is a shibir, the youths will say, ‘please bring
Jayeshbhai with you’. This makes you think, how come these
youths have so much love for Jayesh? The reason is his sadhuta.
By putting aside one’s own likings, and living a Guru-centered life
with the constant awareness to act as per God’s liking, one
becomes the blessed of God; and so Jayesh’s ‘Jayesh-ness’ and
Arvind’s ‘Arvind-ness’ decreases and instead is increasingly filled
with God’s light, such that bhakto and youths are drawn to them.
Every morning, from 6.00am to 7.00am Jayesh does dhun
over the phone with the youths. When we are there, Jayesh goes
to sleep at around 1.00 or 2.00am every night – but regardless of
this, he will get up for 6.00am to do dhun with the youths. It is
hard work, but it is to God’s liking. If by this, these youths are
progressing, and the joy and enthusiasm in their devotion is
increasing, then to do this is my offering of devotion! It is with
this understanding that all of these sadhaks are forging ahead,
and have attained the virtues of a sadhu, and thus God’s
prasannata. When is God’s prasannata attained? It is when you
put aside your own wishes and start to act according to God’s
wishes, and your Guru’s word. Their spiritual practice is not
totally complete but however much they have lived according to
God’s liking, that much they have pleased God.
Minesh’s brother-in-law – Sunil Desai, originally from
Nadiad, was not a satsangee and was not in the least bit
interested in satsang. But he was so impressed with Arvind, that
now he will do the airport runs – will pick up or drop off
haribhakto. At the mandir he will wash the dishes and do all
types of seva – he will push himself to his physical limits and do
seva according to Arvind’s word, just to please God. Here and
Êeô»É੥ɭ÷ 2012 - ´ÉºÉÇ 27 - +ÅHí 9
29
abroad, there are many such youths that have joined with such
sadhus, and are now offering their devotion. Why? Because
these Santo have left all of their likes, wishes and desires behind
and according to their Guru’s word have only done what God
likes. Such sadhus become like magnets for the true seeker.
What discourse could Arvind be doing? But whatever he says,
everyone enjoys. Whatever he speaks becomes discourse,
because he is one whom God is pleased with; and so he becomes
an instrument of God. Jayesh, Swami, Kiran, Pankaj have become
instruments of God. Here too, Dilipbhai, Rameshbhai Zha, Raju
Dey, Sandip, Paresh and others are Santo that are offering devotion
in a way that pleases God; they are all instruments of God.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan says I have no partiality, there is no
sense of mine – and yours; there is no differentiation between
devotees that have come today or those that have been here for
years doing seva. Whoever lives according to my given
principles, I cannot help but shower with utmost grace. I cannot
help but give them spiritual powers and greatness. But for this,
one has to live the principles and have the constant inclination
for dhun-bhajan and prayer. By living one’s life according to the
Guru’s aagna, by putting aside one’s own likings, and acting as
per God’s liking, and perceiving all devotees to be faultless and
divine, God’s prasannata is attained.
In this Vachanamrut, Maharaj gives examples about
‘paroksh’. According to puranic Hindu scriptures, Jay and Vijay
would guard the doorway to God’s abode. When santo – ShukSanak came for God’s darshan, God must have been resting – so
Jay- Vijay should have politely told them to please take a seat and
kindly wait, and they could have darshan a little later. But
instead, Jay – Vijay shouted at Shuk – Sanak and santo. They were
deeply hurt by this. Even though Jay - Vijay were at the abode of
God, because of their behaviour they had to take human birth on
earth. Even though they were in the presence of God, and were
in God’s seva, they were not able to recognize those who were
closely associated to God; rather they shouted at them and so
they were distanced from God.
Prahladji, on the other hand, lived with evil-minded people.
His father, as well as his whole family was evil-minded; but
Prahladji lived in the aagna of a Saint like Naradji, and so God
protected him. God incarnated as Nrusinha and destroyed the
family, making Prahladji king. On the other hand, Jay – Vijay were
living in God’s abode and fell from there, whereas Prahladji was
living amongst evil and yet rose to God’s abode; that was the
difference. By hurting those associated with God, created distance
from God; whereas attaining the prasannata of a sadhu in whom
30
Êeô»É੥ɭ÷ 2012 - ´ÉºÉÇ 27 - +ÅHí 9
God resides, brought closeness to God. Maharaj says if you were to
create damage worth millions I would not have any problem with
that, but if you were to hurt a bhakt, I would not like that at all.
Whoever sets foot on the campus of Brahmajyoti is no
ordinary person, each one is a jewel, worthy of being a crown on
one’s head. Let us very firmly resolve never to fall into their bhavfer or abhav. If you want to progress spiritually, then you should
wish only for that which God and Mota-Purush are pleased with,
and keep the constant desire to act in that manner. Where you
are not able to do this, then you must draw strength by chanting
Swaminarayan…. Swaminarayan… Swaminarayan. Mota-Purush
are pleased then, when no harmful inclinations remain, meaning,
when you do not think ill of anyone, and do not wish ill of anyone.
‘Harmful’, here refers to negative or evil attitudes. But if you act as
per God’s liking, then these will not remain.
If you act arrogantly before the meek, then in the future you
will even hurt the Mota-Purush – shout at the Mota-Purush. The
Mota-Purush is so humble that he will not say anything back to
you; but your progress will come to an abrupt stop. There are
those that have come into satsang very recently and progressed
so quickly, whereas if we have been doing satsang for years but
have not progressed, then we need to introspect and analyse
why we have not gone forward. Such young boys and girls are
living with this understanding and are in the process of changing
their lives; whereas we have been on this path for years, but only
if we understand the foundational principles will we change.
We want to put aside that which pleases us, and instead to do
as God pleases. God does not like us seeing, speaking of or
listening to anything bad, negative or wicked about anyone. If we
abstain from this, then God is pleased. God likes us to study, to
play, to live in harmony, to follow our parents instructions, and so
we must do this. He does not like us to watch T.V., quarrel, gossip,
speak ill, and so we must put this aside. This principle has been
established in the minds of young boys and girls, and they are
living their lives holding onto this principle, so imagine what
great works they will bring to realisation when they grow up!
They have understood from now, not to speak ill, gossip or
malign anyone; and if they steer clear of this, they will make such
immense spiritual progress! Maharaj says that we have been
granted the true path to live life; if you want to change then you
have to hold onto the principle that I have given you. If you live
with this principle in your life then I cannot help but be pleased
with you, without you asking!
Ravan, Kansa and Shishupal were filled with evil and
negativity. Many times you go to someone and they will be
speaking so negatively, then you should know that Ravan, Kansa,
Shishupal has manifested in them. God is not pleased when you
associate with those that are negatively inclined. Those who
have a negative mental attitude, do not see good in anyone, do
not speak positively of anyone and are not able to see the good
in anyone - God will never be pleased with. By keeping the
company of those that are negatively inclined, the negativity
that is within you, receives nourishment. You too will become
like Ravan and Kansa. If you become negative, then the birth that
you have taken with the goal of pleasing God will be wasted, and
you will be thrown millions of miles away from Him. So you must
take care that this does not happen. If you live in a way that
pleases God, if you act as per His liking, if you perform the seva of
God and His bhakto, if you do dhun-bhajan and prayer regularly,
if you think, speak of and listen to the virtues of God and his
bhakto; and regardless of whatever happens, if you hold on to
the belief that God is the All-Doer, then the negativity and evil
within you will decrease, and you will come to enjoy the peace,
joy and fulfillment of God, in this very lifetime.
God has given us the independence and free will, to either
move closer to Him within this very lifetime, or move millions of
miles away from Him. It is in your hands. It all depends on who
you stay with, who you believe, who you worship. If you become
angry with bhakto, then ultimately you will also become angry
with God; therefore you should not keep negative-mindedness.
If we hurt even the smallest devotee of God, or quarrel with
Santo, then ultimately we will do the same with God and thereby
waste this lifetime.
God lives within everyone’s soul. God is omniscient, He is allknowing, and therefore He sees everything of ours and knows
everything about us. If we hurt someone, then we are hurting
the God that resides within them. So we should bow down to
them, give them what they want, and we will be forgiven. When
we bow down to someone, we are not bowing down to the
person but to the God that resides within them. God resides in
all life-forms, and we should bow down with that sentiment.
Bhagatji Maharaj bowed down to a dog that had a tilakchandlo painted on its forehead. Bhagatji Maharaj was not
bowing down to the dog, but because the dog had a tilakchandlo, he thought that this makes the dog a satsangee, and
therefore my Lord is seated within him. If my Lord is seated
within him, then I should bow to him – it was with this sentiment
that he offered prostrations. Similarly when we bow down to
everyone, it is with the sentiment that our Lord is seated within
them. But if we quarrel or shout at them and hurt the Lord within
them, then we should bow down to them and ask for
forgiveness, then God will forgive.
God has given Upasana the highest status. Upasana means to
sit by God. What is the way to sit by God? It is the path of Akshar
Purushottam. God is eternally divine, He has form and is
manifest through human form. In the same way that we have a
human body, God too takes on a human body and is with us
through the Sadhu. Akshar Purushottam Upasana means that
God is present amongst us through the Sadhu that has attained
the Akshar-roop state. You have to recognize the Godliness
within that Sadhu and form a bond of inseparable loving
association with him. If you believe everyone associated to him
to be faultless and divine and maintain the belief that he is the
All-Doer, then you will have a seat next to God immediately!
There are many renunciants who fall into the trap of ego; they
then treat the Mota-Purush and bhakto with contempt, negatively
change their attitudes towards them, and fall into activities that
God is not pleased with. Your renunciation should be to please
God; if you fast it should be to please God; whatever you do, you
should do it to please God. But if in the process you negatively
change your attitude towards bhakto, or fall into bhav-fer of
bhakto, then even at the cost of moderating your renunciation –
you must see the virtues in bhakto. It was for this that God
brought Gunatit to the forefront, and gave his recognition.
Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj created Upasana mandirs –
because if you have the path of Upasana, then you will gain the
path of liberation. The path of liberation is open for you only when
you come to recognize God, when you join with God and when
you understand and accept God and his bhakto to be eternally
faultless and divine. Then no matter how much renunciation you
have, but if you do not have this, then it is like a string of zeros
without the one at the front. It is useless. In this, Upasana is
symbolic of the number ‘one’, God is symbolic of the number ‘one’
– and only if you have this, does everything else follow.
There are many renunciants who wear wooden slippers, don
coarse jute clothing, and practice severe renunciation. But
Maharaj has said that none of this is of any use for your liberation.
For this, you must have Upasana. As people come to have greater
and greater understanding of the work that Shastriji Maharaj and
Yogiji Maharaj have done for Upasana, the more and more they
will come to join this path. To attain the bliss of devotion to God,
in such a leisurely, joyful manner, Upasana is the best path. That
Upasana is the Upasana of Akshar Purushottam. If you were to
close your eyes and just think, when we came what knowledge
did we have? What renunciation did we have? What detachment
Êeô»É੥ɭ÷ 2012 - ´ÉºÉÇ 27 - +ÅHí 9
31
did we have? What goals did we have? What were our
inclinations? What hunger did we have to attain God? Even
though we had none of this, we became renunciants. Why?
Because of the grace of a divine being like Yogiji Maharaj on us,
our body and soul separated. Yogiji Maharaj used to say, ‘If the
divine mythical swan puts its beak in milk, the water will separate
out of the milk. Similarly, when the grace of such a Mota-Purush
was showered on us, the soul and body simply separated.
It is only with the grace of the Mota-Purush, with the love of
such a Mota-Purush, and by joining with such a Mota-Purush,
that the soul can be liberated. By Mota-Purush, it is meant the
Sadhu that holds God within him. When you attain such a Sadhu
who is at one with God, when you recognize such a sadhu, when
you develop love for such a Sadhu – and then His grace falls upon
you, then the path of liberation is open for you. The path of
liberation is not opened with severe renunciation alone.
Without meeting such a Sadhu, without taking his shelter and
without his grace, there is no liberation. With severe
renunciation, you may gain praise and recognition in society, but
that praise or recognition has no connection with liberation.
Akshar Purushottam Upasana says that, it is only by
recognizing such a Sadhu that one can attain liberation. And
Maharaj makes this very clear in this Vachanamrut. You cannot
have devotion where there is severe renunciation. There are
many who practice extremely strict codes of conduct, but even
they can become so bound to them, that God is left to one side;
whereas, if you keep God, then all the rest will come
automatically. With extreme renunciation or extreme
compassion, you will sidestep God. But we want to hold on to
God and practice renunciation; hold on to God and practice
compassion. We must make sure that God is not left to the side.
Do everything with the aim of gaining Maharaj’s prasannata. If
God is pleased then dharma will be upheld; if God is pleased
then you will stay within your moral boundaries, and you will be
able to offer devotion. God is not pleased simply by renunciation
and detachment. If you practice extreme renunciation you will
overlook God and the Sadhu. That is why Maharaj stressed the
importance of Upasana and made mandirs, even at the expense
of moderating renunciation. If you take the side of Upasana even
a little bit, at the expense of moderating your renunciation, the
liberation of your soul is absolutely guaranteed.
You should do whatever you can, however little, and use your
skills and talents for God. Put aside the attitude that we do not
take anything, nor do we give anything. Rather you should keep
the attitude to want to do everything for God, and keep nothing
32
Êeô»É੥ɭ÷ 2012 - ´ÉºÉÇ 27 - +ÅHí 9
for yourself. In England, our Shantimama does such wonderful
gardening seva. He takes such care, as the flowers will be offered
to Shri Thakorji. Chanda, Sunita, Nilesh, Hiral, together create
such beautiful flower arrangements to offer Shri Thakorji; this is
devotion! In this way, we should keep doing something or other
for God. Our Mahendrabhai and Ritaben from Southend-on-Sea
never, ever come to the mandir empty-handed. They will always
make something and bring it for Shri Thakorji. For householders,
this is devotion. Renunciants may not have anything to offer, but
they can take a flower from the garden and offer it to Shri
Thakorji, can’t they! The sentiment that I want to do something
for my Lord, will give you God’s prasannata. You may bring
something worth hundreds of thousands of rupees, or something
worth one dollar – it does not matter. What matters is to convey
your love and offer it at the Lord’s lotus feet. You should have the
attitude that your life is for your Lord, not for yourself; what can I
not do for my Lord? This is the attitude you should maintain.
These young girls are filling rangoli; they are offering seva
from morning till evening. They may not be filling rangoli at
home, but they are doing it at the mandir; this is devotion! They
are using their skills for God, and all the bhakto who come to the
mandir and see the rangoli will be pleased! That is darshan of
their devotion. In this way, you should keep doing something or
the other for God.
Maharaj says that, one cannot offer devotion by passively
sitting back. Those that do this will be engaging in negative talk.
The reason being, the Ravana, Kansa and Shishupal within them
have not been killed, and so they stay alive from within. For
those that do seva, the inclinations of their internal Ravana,
Kansa or Shishupal start to decrease. Surrender your life to
pleasing God – this will not happen by simply sitting back
passively. That is why we come to the mandir – to please God;
and so use your skills and talents to do this.
After the soul leaves the body, regardless of how strong you
are, how handsome you are, whether you are a prince or
whether you are so loved by everyone – once the soul leaves,
the body falls. People burn it. They will not hold on to it for even
a minute. Once the soul departs, the body has no value
whatsoever. Similarly, if your Upasana is destroyed then there
is no value of your devotion, renunciation or compassion. It
goes to zero. If you sidestep God, sidestep the Sadhu, or sidestep
bhakto, then your spiritual practice becomes zero. God, God’s
Sadhu and His bhakto are the important ones in our life. They are
great, they are divine and they are faultless. They teach us
Upasana. When our affection for them increases, our inclination
to perform their seva increases, and when our joy and
enthusiasm to do whatever we can for them increases, then
know that we are well on the path of God’s prasannata.
Shreeji Maharaj created six mandirs during his time. For the
Akshar Purushottam Upasana, for dual Upasana, he installed the
symbolic murtis of Laxmi-Narayan, Nar-Narayan and RadhaKrushna. To make people recognize His own supremacy while He
was manifest, was difficult – but Gunatit made us understand
this and without a shadow of doubt established Shreeji Maharaj
as supreme in our hearts. Bhagatji recognized who Gunatit was,
and Shastrji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj created outstanding
Upasana mandirs through which Upasana was spread.
Shastriji Maharaj left his physical bodily existence at the age
of 84 years; Yogiji Maharaj at the age of 80 years and Kakaji at the
age of 68 years. Gunatit swaroops will leave their physical bodies
but the murtis of Akshar Purushottam are eternal and forever.
They will inspire humankind with the understanding of Upasana,
that God is manifest through the Akshar-roop sadhu, and so cling
to him. The path of liberation is thus opened for whoever joins
with a Sadhu who is Akshar-roop. To keep this eternal truth alive,
mandirs were created.
I am so pleased that our sadhaks and bhakto have such
great mahima, love and respect for Shri Thakorji. In all our
mandirs, their presence in the morning and evening aarti,
shows their devotion to Shri Thakorji and is darshan of their
faith that He is manifest. That is truly such a great thing. There
are many who are the worshippers of ‘pragat’ i.e. of God who is
manifest through a physical human form – but they will not
look towards the murtis at all! They will say, there is no need for
darshan because we have God in pragat form through the
Sadhu!’. But that Sadhu will only be around for 5 – 15 – 20 years,
then he will leave his physical existence and then what? The
Sadhu that is pragat is a form of that murti, is an extension. If
God is established in our hearts as Supreme, then we will believe
100% that He is manifest through Ashvinbhai, Shantibhai,
Ratibhai etc., and at the same time we will have exactly the same
love and faith towards the murtis. You must keep this thirst for
God’s aarti, dhun and darshan.
Us sadhaks must remain alert that we do not become too laid
back, do not become lazy, and do not overlook our bhakti.
Previously one had to remain so alert, because it was only if you
did discourses, spoke of mahima etc. that people would come
for darshan, and give seva, and the mandirs would be entirely
dependent on this. It was from this seva that the mandir stoves
would be lit daily. Whereas today, there are no problems, there is
ample food and drink and we can easily sit back. Even if you were
to sit back the whole day without doing anything, God would not
be displeased, but He would not be pleased either. No matter
how many conveniences you now have; no matter how much
comfort – or luxury – but you have to maintain that ‘I am God’s
humble servant, I am a sadhu, I am a sevak, and my duty to God
as a sadhak – is to use my entire being to please God’. If the
sadhak and the bhakt keep this kind of alertness and awareness,
then they will attain something. They will be able to feel the joy
of their attainment. They will make their birth worthwhile and
will feel the joy of this in their hearts.
Those whose Upasana is firm, meaning they have
unshakable, inseparable loving association with the Satpurush
of God, and an unparalleled desire to please him, will never fall
from the path of dharma. They may face diversions, but they will
be routed back on track. Sometimes due to time, place and
circumstance, one may commit a wrong action, but will regret
this and repent so deeply from within, that everything will be
shaken off, and he will be back on the path to please the
Satpurush. If one falls into negatively changing one’s attitudes
towards others, negative talk, quarreling, bickering but then
feels so bad for doing this – and thinks God is not pleased – how
could I have fallen into this? If one feels uneasiness because of
this, but then does dhun…. Swaminarayan….. Swaminarayan…
then the negative destiny one has created for oneself is washed
away and they come back on track.
If ever, those who have inseparable loving association with
the Satpurush of God – were to fall from the path of dharma,
they will still always come back on track. If one has intense
renunciation or compassion, but does not have inseparable
loving association with the Satpurush, then he or she will
ultimately fall into negative action, and will distance themselves
from the kind of action that God is pleased with. It is precisely for
this reason that Shastriji Maharaj established and spread
Upasana. No matter how weak a Sadhu but if he is on the path of
Upasana and has a hunger to please the Satpurush, then he will
realize the Ekantik state. Otherwise if one does not have
inseparable loving association for the Satpurush, then he will act
negatively. He will not take up any opportunity to please God. So
we should be alert not to engage in their company. We must
keep the alertness not to be like them, nor engage in the
company of such people. To stay within one’s dharma and offer
devotion, is the principle of God. If you immerse yourself in God
and his bhakto, then God will be pleased.
Sahajanand Swami Maharaj ni Jai.
Êeô»É੥ɭ÷ 2012 - ´ÉºÉÇ 27 - +ÅHí 9
33