31 July 2009
30 July 2009
29 July 2009
28 July 2009
27 July 2009
26 July 2009
Discourse - Jagatjanani Shri Mata Ji
A farmer ploughs his field, sows seeds and only then does he reap a harvest. It is the same with satsang. Firstly, one has to listen to satsang and then think about what the Master wants us to know. Even the worst sinner can have wealth, wife and children. One should find Spiritual Knowledge and then practise day and night. How much trouble did Hiranyakashyap give to Prahlad! He was also a human being, the son of a king. His father used to tell him that he was a mighty king and all were under his command, so how could he be devoted to anyone else ? But Prahlad did not take any notice. He was firm in his path. With that faith, he left his father and totally devoted himself to the Almighty. And he was tormented for his faith. He was trampled by an elephant, stung by a snake, thrown from mountains but he remained firm in his faith. He believed that his father also had been created by God. When a man develops such strong belief then that indestructible Power manifests for him in the form of a human being.
Troubles in life come to everyone. Read the story of the Pandavas. Even though Lord Krishna himself was present, there was total destruction. During the time of Lord Rama too, many great warriors were killed. Everyone has to leave this body. Those, who remember Holy Name and meditate on Divine Light are very fortunate. There is disturbance today all around. Who is creating these disturbances? Man. When will such disastrous conditions come to an end? Only when individuals are peaceful can peace be established in a society. Only remembrance of God and the bliss of satsang can give peace to mankind.
It is written that even his father abandoned Ravana when he started doing heinous things. But Ravana did not refrain, indeed he went on doing wicked deeds, he became obstinate. One day, without any provocation, he kidnapped the wife of Lord Rama. He kidnapped Sita because his end was near. He even disguised himself as an ascetic in order to kidnap her. So it is said that when one's end is approaching, his intelligence fails him.
As he was dying, Ravana told Laxman, “One should not postpone good work until tomorrow as tomorrow never comes. I wanted to build a ladder to heaven and make sea water sweet. I kept on postponing these projects but I didn't hesitate to kidnap Sita, which was such a wicked and unrighteous thing to do.” So one should postpone doing wrong but do religious and noble actions right now. Many people say, “I have received the Holy Name but I have a lot of domestic problems. I have to take care of my children, so I am not able to devote time to meditation.” But one day we shall have to leave this world and then the house will remain as it is and our children will be left behind. Those whom we consider ours, are in fact not ours. So, while doing our household chores, we should remember Holy Name and add to our spiritual wealth. A person makes so many plans but leaves this world all of a sudden.
The uniqueness of satsang and the Guru Darbar is that here we are inspired time and again to remember the Holy Name of God. This can only be done in this human lifetime. When we migrate into other species we cannot remember the Name and we cannot meditate. All other species are ‘ bhog yoni' , in which one can suffer or enjoy pleasure according to past karmas earned during human births but in these bodies we cannot remember Holy Name or do meditation. The spiritual capital earned by remembering the Name is possible only during the human life span after acquiring Knowledge from the true Spiritual Master. You are very lucky to have been given Knowledge by the grace of the Master. So you must remember the Holy Name and meditate day and night as much as possible. You may get possessions, wife and kids again in any other species but you may not get a human life again and again. The human being is the only form in which one can remember the Name and meditate as well as experience worldly pleasures and pain.
It is written that even his father abandoned Ravana when he started doing heinous things. But Ravana did not refrain, indeed he went on doing wicked deeds, he became obstinate. One day, without any provocation, he kidnapped the wife of Lord Rama. He kidnapped Sita because his end was near. He even disguised himself as an ascetic in order to kidnap her. So it is said that when one's end is approaching, his intelligence fails him.
As he was dying, Ravana told Laxman, “One should not postpone good work until tomorrow as tomorrow never comes. I wanted to build a ladder to heaven and make sea water sweet. I kept on postponing these projects but I didn't hesitate to kidnap Sita, which was such a wicked and unrighteous thing to do.” So one should postpone doing wrong but do religious and noble actions right now. Many people say, “I have received the Holy Name but I have a lot of domestic problems. I have to take care of my children, so I am not able to devote time to meditation.” But one day we shall have to leave this world and then the house will remain as it is and our children will be left behind. Those whom we consider ours, are in fact not ours. So, while doing our household chores, we should remember Holy Name and add to our spiritual wealth. A person makes so many plans but leaves this world all of a sudden.
The uniqueness of satsang and the Guru Darbar is that here we are inspired time and again to remember the Holy Name of God. This can only be done in this human lifetime. When we migrate into other species we cannot remember the Name and we cannot meditate. All other species are ‘ bhog yoni' , in which one can suffer or enjoy pleasure according to past karmas earned during human births but in these bodies we cannot remember Holy Name or do meditation. The spiritual capital earned by remembering the Name is possible only during the human life span after acquiring Knowledge from the true Spiritual Master. You are very lucky to have been given Knowledge by the grace of the Master. So you must remember the Holy Name and meditate day and night as much as possible. You may get possessions, wife and kids again in any other species but you may not get a human life again and again. The human being is the only form in which one can remember the Name and meditate as well as experience worldly pleasures and pain.
There are both very poor and very rich people in this Darbar. But the love within poor devotees is such that it entraps you and moves you to tears – this is the spirituality in them. Sudama was very poor but when he visited Lord Krishna, then see how the Lord wept. Lord Krishna was so pleased with Sudama's love that tears poured from his eyes. In our Guru Darbar too, there are many such devotees who have so much love and faith that they are always busy serving.
When the spirit of Guru Maharaj Ji is pleased, then the disciple goes into the transcendental state. No one knows when or how he will be pleased but then the disciple is redeemed totally. The Master is like a boatman who takes you from this shore to the other. The Master has also been compared to a potter. A potter makes vessels of various designs, his wheel goes on moving. But when the Master makes a disciple according to his own design in all respects, the salvation of the disciple is accomplished.
How does one go into samadhi? This happens by the grace of the Master and one who has come into his shelter is redeemed. But the mind is a clever thief, a real enemy which can destroy you. Mind is also within and intelligence is also within. But a disciple must use his consciousness to stick to the Master. We live in one family, comprising of sisters, father, mother and brothers and we respect and love them all differently. The Court of the Master, the Guru Darbar is where salvation is granted, where the key to eradicating all miseries is given. Even kings and queens served in the Guru Darbar. There was a devotee, Peepa, who put aside his kingdom and became a saint. There would have been many other kings alive at that time, but only the devotees Peepa and his wife are mentioned in scriptures. Many devotees, during difficult and miserable times in their lives, remember the Holy Name and say that their troubles and miseries vanish. Who does this? The true feeling of the devotee, the Almighty Power within him does all this, but one has to have faith for this. Salvation lies in faith, everything depends on faith. If one has faith, love, then he has everything.
It is said that Shishupal abused Lord Krishna 100 times, while Arjuna could not see even one demerit in the Lord. How will you recognize him if he comes before you? How will you know that this is the Power? What yardstick do you have? Great Powers are recognized by Spiritual Knowledge. This is not ordinary Knowledge, it is beyond language. They who believe in the words of Guru Maharaj Ji, who have reverence and love, get everything. St. Kabir has said that “ na kuchha dekha gyan dhyan men, na kuchh dekha pothi men, Kahat Kabir suno bhai sadho, jo dekha do roti men ”: they see nothing in this Knowledge. All they think about is food.
Hunger bewilders a man. Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, “Excess of anything is not good. Too much sleep is not good, overeating is not good, starvation is also not good. One should eat normally so that the mind does not go here and there”. The Master has filled your heart with Knowledge. If you have conscience and intellect, then see within that the Master has made available to you householders that rarest of Knowledge which even great yogis could not acquire. But attachment and ego keep us away from Knowledge. It is like when clouds cover the sun, then its brightness is dimmed. Similarly, mental doubts and turbulence obscure the Knowledge. The Master inspires through satsang and opens the source of the Knowledge. Then it is up to the disciple to apply his intelligence to reach the goal. So we should understand the grace of the Master and remember the Holy Name of God as much as possible for our salvation.
When the spirit of Guru Maharaj Ji is pleased, then the disciple goes into the transcendental state. No one knows when or how he will be pleased but then the disciple is redeemed totally. The Master is like a boatman who takes you from this shore to the other. The Master has also been compared to a potter. A potter makes vessels of various designs, his wheel goes on moving. But when the Master makes a disciple according to his own design in all respects, the salvation of the disciple is accomplished.
How does one go into samadhi? This happens by the grace of the Master and one who has come into his shelter is redeemed. But the mind is a clever thief, a real enemy which can destroy you. Mind is also within and intelligence is also within. But a disciple must use his consciousness to stick to the Master. We live in one family, comprising of sisters, father, mother and brothers and we respect and love them all differently. The Court of the Master, the Guru Darbar is where salvation is granted, where the key to eradicating all miseries is given. Even kings and queens served in the Guru Darbar. There was a devotee, Peepa, who put aside his kingdom and became a saint. There would have been many other kings alive at that time, but only the devotees Peepa and his wife are mentioned in scriptures. Many devotees, during difficult and miserable times in their lives, remember the Holy Name and say that their troubles and miseries vanish. Who does this? The true feeling of the devotee, the Almighty Power within him does all this, but one has to have faith for this. Salvation lies in faith, everything depends on faith. If one has faith, love, then he has everything.
It is said that Shishupal abused Lord Krishna 100 times, while Arjuna could not see even one demerit in the Lord. How will you recognize him if he comes before you? How will you know that this is the Power? What yardstick do you have? Great Powers are recognized by Spiritual Knowledge. This is not ordinary Knowledge, it is beyond language. They who believe in the words of Guru Maharaj Ji, who have reverence and love, get everything. St. Kabir has said that “ na kuchha dekha gyan dhyan men, na kuchh dekha pothi men, Kahat Kabir suno bhai sadho, jo dekha do roti men ”: they see nothing in this Knowledge. All they think about is food.
Hunger bewilders a man. Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, “Excess of anything is not good. Too much sleep is not good, overeating is not good, starvation is also not good. One should eat normally so that the mind does not go here and there”. The Master has filled your heart with Knowledge. If you have conscience and intellect, then see within that the Master has made available to you householders that rarest of Knowledge which even great yogis could not acquire. But attachment and ego keep us away from Knowledge. It is like when clouds cover the sun, then its brightness is dimmed. Similarly, mental doubts and turbulence obscure the Knowledge. The Master inspires through satsang and opens the source of the Knowledge. Then it is up to the disciple to apply his intelligence to reach the goal. So we should understand the grace of the Master and remember the Holy Name of God as much as possible for our salvation.
25 July 2009
24 July 2009
23 July 2009
22 July 2009
21 July 2009
20 July 2009
19 July 2009
Param Sant Sadgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj
You may have read in the Ramayana, “ Rakapati shodash ugahin, taragan samuday. Sakal girinha dav laiye, Ravi bin ran na jay .” There are numerous stars in the sky – nobody has been able to count them all. We have to accept that they are countless. They all twinkle at night. The moon also gives light at night. Lamps and electricity also give light at night. Yet even all these together cannot eradicate the darkness of night and they grow dim once the sun rises. Similarly, a person can do chanting, austeries, recitations, ritual ceremonies, yagya etc. but without the Spiritual Master he cannot know the Divine Light within his heart. The first three types of light can be seen by all animals and birds. The fourth light, which is within everyone, can only be seen by a human being and that too only if he has acquired Spiritual Knowledge by the grace of the living Master. Most so-called saints, Mandaleshwars and Jagat Gurus can't show True Light. Though it is within every one of them as well they don't experience it.
One day, a monk from a certain organization came to my satsang. After my discourse was over, he asked for some time to speak. I said, “Please say whatever you wish. This is the court of Truth, there is no place for untruth here and everyone is ready to accept the truth.” The mahatma said, “First you must do rituals ( Karmakand ), then worship ( Upasana ). Only then will you get Knowledge. Knowledge is not acquired by shouting ‘Light! Light!' Six out of eighteen chapters in the Bhagavad Gita pertain to Upasana Kand (worshipping) and six chapters pertain to Knowledge. Without doing these, none can see the Light. So, people should not believe what he said about Light. You may remember and sing whatever name of God you like, as all names belong to Him. Then, by doing so, in some birth if not in this one, your mind will be concentrated”. He tried his level best to convince the audience but nobody paid any heed.
After this, I said, “Even though you have renounced the world, you are cheating others. If the fourth Light cannot be seen, why do all the scriptures talk about it? And if it can never be seen then what is the use of reciting the scriptures? To put it quite simply, I have to say only this: that the highest action of the human being is to experience the inner Divine Light after acquiring Spiritual Knowledge from the true Spiritual Master. The Master alone can reveal that fourth Light. Only when you meditate after experiencing the Divine Light, can you truly perform Upasana . The Gayatri Mantra says we should meditate upon the fourth Light. Merely repeating the Gayatri Mantra will not result in any benefit. “Bare bhagya manush tan pawa. Sur durlabh sadgranthan gava.” Only if a soul is really lucky does it get a human birth. It is written in all religious scriptures that even deities rarely get a human birth. Now, while you are human beings, if you do not do what humans are meant to be doing, then how will you do it in any of the other 8,400,000 species? ‘Saints' of today are telling us to perform rituals and say prayers and only then will you get Knowledge. But they do not know which actions should be done and have simply made religion and meditation their profession for filling their stomachs.
After this, I said, “Even though you have renounced the world, you are cheating others. If the fourth Light cannot be seen, why do all the scriptures talk about it? And if it can never be seen then what is the use of reciting the scriptures? To put it quite simply, I have to say only this: that the highest action of the human being is to experience the inner Divine Light after acquiring Spiritual Knowledge from the true Spiritual Master. The Master alone can reveal that fourth Light. Only when you meditate after experiencing the Divine Light, can you truly perform Upasana . The Gayatri Mantra says we should meditate upon the fourth Light. Merely repeating the Gayatri Mantra will not result in any benefit. “Bare bhagya manush tan pawa. Sur durlabh sadgranthan gava.” Only if a soul is really lucky does it get a human birth. It is written in all religious scriptures that even deities rarely get a human birth. Now, while you are human beings, if you do not do what humans are meant to be doing, then how will you do it in any of the other 8,400,000 species? ‘Saints' of today are telling us to perform rituals and say prayers and only then will you get Knowledge. But they do not know which actions should be done and have simply made religion and meditation their profession for filling their stomachs.
St.Tulsidas says that worshipping is not possible in Kaliyuga and so the ‘Name' is the only support. “Kaliyug kewal nam adhara. Sumari sumari Nar utarahin para.”
We recently held a magnificent procession during Kumbha Mela. I was riding on an elephant. There were loudspeakers on trucks and mahatmas sang devotional songs. Right in the front was a rikshaw from where it was announced that an incarnation of the Lord is here; come and see him and know from him the same Divine Light which Lord Krishna showed to his close devotee Arjuna and know the Name which can be remembered even during sleep. Men and women flocked from all sides. When the gathering reached the Clock Tower it encountered the carriage of a renowned saint. When he saw me he got abashed and lowered his gaze. That time our mahatma Satyanand was announcing, “Do not waste your human body! Know the true form of devotion. The Supreme Light, the Divine Light, true devotion can be shown by the Spiritual Master. When a saint will not manifest the true Light and the True Name, then will dogs, pigs and donkeys reveal it?” Sitting in the carriage of the renowned saint were two people – one on each side holding a lighted lamp. Everyone needs light at night, but it seems these people were not able to see even during the daytime! This is the condition of “saviours of religion” - they do not have the Knowledge of the Divine which is within our heart and so they beguile people with external lights. It is written in the Ramayana, “Param prakash roop din rati' Nahin chahiye kachhu diya ghrit bati.” The ultimate light, the Divine Light is self-effulgent and shines constantly day and night. It does not need lamp, oil or wick.
I feel pity for the people of India because there cannot be any salvation from these blind, so-called gurus. Do not waste your human lifetime following these ignorant gurus. The world is suffering due to ignorance of the true knowledge. Big saints, mandaleshwar and jagatgurus (‘world-teachers') preach irreligion as true religion and they are driving their disciples towards darkness. None of the scriptures advocate such things. Indeed, it is written, “Bhakti swatantra sakal sukh khani. Binu satsang na pawahin prani.” Devotion is independent of worldly things and is the mine of all happiness, but it is inaccessible without satsang. Devotion is incomparable and even Knowledge is dependent upon devotion. You tell me which scripture advocates that shaving your head, wearing saffron robes, or growing long hair and daubing your forehead with ash is indispensable for devotion. Devotion is experienced after acquiring Spiritual Knowledge from the living Master and remembering the Holy Name of God.
When God incarnates in human form, people do not recognize him. If God were to incarnate in the form of a lion, or an elephant, you would be afraid. Therefore God incarnates in a beautiful, attractive form so that devotees can easily focus their minds on him. Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Dattatreya etc. all came in human form and relieved devotees of their miseries. Suppose Lord Rama were to come to you, how would you recognize him? If people couldn't recognise Lord Shri Rama when he lived among them in Treta Yuga how will you recognize him today? Who will tell you about His form, His sweet voice, His enchanting gaze so that you will believe him? God's problem is, in which form should He come to you so that you can recognize Him? How did the saints become great? Because all of them remembered God's Name and meditated upon His Divine Light. People are engrossed in illusory things and have forgotten God and hence suffer from various worldly problems. A devotee wants to meet God but worldly illusions keep him away.
It is well known that the soul is indestructible. So the souls of all creatures, whether living on earth or in water or in the sky, are indestructible. Moreover, new souls are not made, all of them have existed since time immemorial. It is also written that there is such a thing as salvation. Souls worthy of salvation achieved it and the remainder are bound to the cycle of birth and death. Those who did noble works got heaven. So, where have the liberated souls gone? Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, “Light has merged in Light”. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “There is no difference between Me and the gyani ”. So, we should also search for the true Master and acquire Spiritual Knowledge from him.
We recently held a magnificent procession during Kumbha Mela. I was riding on an elephant. There were loudspeakers on trucks and mahatmas sang devotional songs. Right in the front was a rikshaw from where it was announced that an incarnation of the Lord is here; come and see him and know from him the same Divine Light which Lord Krishna showed to his close devotee Arjuna and know the Name which can be remembered even during sleep. Men and women flocked from all sides. When the gathering reached the Clock Tower it encountered the carriage of a renowned saint. When he saw me he got abashed and lowered his gaze. That time our mahatma Satyanand was announcing, “Do not waste your human body! Know the true form of devotion. The Supreme Light, the Divine Light, true devotion can be shown by the Spiritual Master. When a saint will not manifest the true Light and the True Name, then will dogs, pigs and donkeys reveal it?” Sitting in the carriage of the renowned saint were two people – one on each side holding a lighted lamp. Everyone needs light at night, but it seems these people were not able to see even during the daytime! This is the condition of “saviours of religion” - they do not have the Knowledge of the Divine which is within our heart and so they beguile people with external lights. It is written in the Ramayana, “Param prakash roop din rati' Nahin chahiye kachhu diya ghrit bati.” The ultimate light, the Divine Light is self-effulgent and shines constantly day and night. It does not need lamp, oil or wick.
I feel pity for the people of India because there cannot be any salvation from these blind, so-called gurus. Do not waste your human lifetime following these ignorant gurus. The world is suffering due to ignorance of the true knowledge. Big saints, mandaleshwar and jagatgurus (‘world-teachers') preach irreligion as true religion and they are driving their disciples towards darkness. None of the scriptures advocate such things. Indeed, it is written, “Bhakti swatantra sakal sukh khani. Binu satsang na pawahin prani.” Devotion is independent of worldly things and is the mine of all happiness, but it is inaccessible without satsang. Devotion is incomparable and even Knowledge is dependent upon devotion. You tell me which scripture advocates that shaving your head, wearing saffron robes, or growing long hair and daubing your forehead with ash is indispensable for devotion. Devotion is experienced after acquiring Spiritual Knowledge from the living Master and remembering the Holy Name of God.
When God incarnates in human form, people do not recognize him. If God were to incarnate in the form of a lion, or an elephant, you would be afraid. Therefore God incarnates in a beautiful, attractive form so that devotees can easily focus their minds on him. Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Dattatreya etc. all came in human form and relieved devotees of their miseries. Suppose Lord Rama were to come to you, how would you recognize him? If people couldn't recognise Lord Shri Rama when he lived among them in Treta Yuga how will you recognize him today? Who will tell you about His form, His sweet voice, His enchanting gaze so that you will believe him? God's problem is, in which form should He come to you so that you can recognize Him? How did the saints become great? Because all of them remembered God's Name and meditated upon His Divine Light. People are engrossed in illusory things and have forgotten God and hence suffer from various worldly problems. A devotee wants to meet God but worldly illusions keep him away.
It is well known that the soul is indestructible. So the souls of all creatures, whether living on earth or in water or in the sky, are indestructible. Moreover, new souls are not made, all of them have existed since time immemorial. It is also written that there is such a thing as salvation. Souls worthy of salvation achieved it and the remainder are bound to the cycle of birth and death. Those who did noble works got heaven. So, where have the liberated souls gone? Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, “Light has merged in Light”. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “There is no difference between Me and the gyani ”. So, we should also search for the true Master and acquire Spiritual Knowledge from him.
18 July 2009
17 July 2009
16 July 2009
15 July 2009
14 July 2009
12 July 2009
REDEMPTION FROM ATTACHMENT ONLY THROUGH SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj delivering discourse to the devotees
St. Tulsidas Ji wrote in the Ramcharitmanasa, “Jar Chetan gun doshmay, vishwa kinha kartar. Sant Hans gun gahahin paya, parihari vari vikar.” He says that you will find both positive qualities and negative qualities in both the living and the non-living world but, “ Sant Hans gun gahahi paya ”, that when a man has the motivation and attitude of Hans, the swan, then he develops the ability to adopt the positive characteristics and discard the negative. The scriptures say that if you place a mixture of water and milk in front of a swan it will extract the milk from the water and drink it. Hans, the swan, swims in the ‘Mansarovar Lake' and ignores negative things and accepts only positive things. Manasrovar is a metaphor the sages used to describe the state of spiritual attainment. That ‘Manasrovar' is the thousand petals lotus, which is also known as sahasrar , where the Hans-like ‘ surati ' (attention) dwells.
St. Tulsidas Ji wrote in the Ramcharitmanasa, “Jar Chetan gun doshmay, vishwa kinha kartar. Sant Hans gun gahahin paya, parihari vari vikar.” He says that you will find both positive qualities and negative qualities in both the living and the non-living world but, “ Sant Hans gun gahahi paya ”, that when a man has the motivation and attitude of Hans, the swan, then he develops the ability to adopt the positive characteristics and discard the negative. The scriptures say that if you place a mixture of water and milk in front of a swan it will extract the milk from the water and drink it. Hans, the swan, swims in the ‘Mansarovar Lake' and ignores negative things and accepts only positive things. Manasrovar is a metaphor the sages used to describe the state of spiritual attainment. That ‘Manasrovar' is the thousand petals lotus, which is also known as sahasrar , where the Hans-like ‘ surati ' (attention) dwells.
St.Tulsidas also says, “ Kabahun man rang turang charhe. Kabahun man sochat hai dhan ko. ” Sometimes, suddenly a feeling of renunciation overcomes a person and sometimes feelings of attachment and attachment is like a disease. There is a beautiful example of this in Ramcharitmanasa .
Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman were living in the Dandakaranya Forest. Suddenly a golden deer came into view. Now, can a deer be made of gold? But the skin of that deer was pure gold. When Sita saw it, a feeling of attachment came into her mind and she said, “Lord, I want the skin of this deer.” What did this feeling of attachment do? It gave birth to separation. Who was that deer? He was in fact Maricha, the maternal uncle of Ravana. Ravana had ordered him to use his magic powers to become a golden deer to lure Rama away. Maricha asked, “Why don't you do it?” Then Ravana became very angry so Maricha said, “It will be better for me to die at the hands of Lord Shri Rama than be killed by you”.
Maricha then turned himself into a golden deer and went to the forest. Lord Shri Ram shot an arrow which hit him so hard, it is said that Maricha was hurled into the sea and became the island of Mauritius. People there also recite Ramcharitmanasa . So, the feeling of attachment cropped up in Sita after seeing the golden deer. Then Ravana, disguised as a saddhu, kidnapped Mother Sita and this attachment resulted in her separation from Rama. Otherwise, Ravana didn't have the capacity to kidnap Sita, who was the incarnation of Shakti (Power) herself.
Our saints tried to explain that when our mind wanders in the world, then it will result in separation. The mind of man alone is the cause of entrapment as well as of redemption. If it becomes concentrated by spiritual practice then you will be benefited spiritually, you will be transformed. Such transformation is not possible by any other means.
Once there was a rich man. A servant used to give him milk to drink every night, but that servant was dishonest. He used to mix water in the milk. The rich man was suspicious so he hired another servant to keep a watch on the first one to see whether he diluted the milk or not. Now, there were two servants. The second servant asked the first servant for his share, so the first one said, “From today, add more water in the milk”. The businessman observed that the milk had become even thinner since he'd hired the second servant, so he engaged a third servant, but he was just as dishonest and the three of them added even more water. The businessman thought he did not get any relief even after engaging the third servant. So he hired one more servant thinking that this one would set the problem right, but he simply told the others to dilute the milk even more. The three others complained that now their master would be drinking nothing but water, so the fourth servant said, “Don't do anything. We'll all drink the milk. Don't worry, I'll fix everything in the morning.”
The next morning the rich man woke up and complained to his servant, “You did not give me any milk last night”. The fourth cunning servant said respectfully, “Look at your moustache in the mirror, because it still has cream sticking to it.” After the rich man had gone to sleep, the fourth servant had put some cream on his moustache. In other words, the government goes on installing one anti-corruption department after another but the remedy is not achieved.
Corruption exists not only in India but in every country. Somewhere it is more and somewhere it is little less. Our saints say that negativity can be removed only through spiritual awakening. You know the story of the dreadful criminal, Angulimal, who used to cut off the fingers of his victims to make a necklace for himself. Once Lord Buddha asked him why he committed this sin. He brought about a transformation within Angulimal through Spiritual Knowledge and that same Angulimal abandoned his evil actions and became a disciple of Lord Buddha. He, who had waivered from the righteous path and had engaged in sinful activities, became a beacon for society. Our saints said, “ Ram kripa nasahin sab roga. ” If God's grace showers on a man, his heart gets transformed in the true sense and all his mental diseases are eradicated.
Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman were living in the Dandakaranya Forest. Suddenly a golden deer came into view. Now, can a deer be made of gold? But the skin of that deer was pure gold. When Sita saw it, a feeling of attachment came into her mind and she said, “Lord, I want the skin of this deer.” What did this feeling of attachment do? It gave birth to separation. Who was that deer? He was in fact Maricha, the maternal uncle of Ravana. Ravana had ordered him to use his magic powers to become a golden deer to lure Rama away. Maricha asked, “Why don't you do it?” Then Ravana became very angry so Maricha said, “It will be better for me to die at the hands of Lord Shri Rama than be killed by you”.
Maricha then turned himself into a golden deer and went to the forest. Lord Shri Ram shot an arrow which hit him so hard, it is said that Maricha was hurled into the sea and became the island of Mauritius. People there also recite Ramcharitmanasa . So, the feeling of attachment cropped up in Sita after seeing the golden deer. Then Ravana, disguised as a saddhu, kidnapped Mother Sita and this attachment resulted in her separation from Rama. Otherwise, Ravana didn't have the capacity to kidnap Sita, who was the incarnation of Shakti (Power) herself.
Our saints tried to explain that when our mind wanders in the world, then it will result in separation. The mind of man alone is the cause of entrapment as well as of redemption. If it becomes concentrated by spiritual practice then you will be benefited spiritually, you will be transformed. Such transformation is not possible by any other means.
Once there was a rich man. A servant used to give him milk to drink every night, but that servant was dishonest. He used to mix water in the milk. The rich man was suspicious so he hired another servant to keep a watch on the first one to see whether he diluted the milk or not. Now, there were two servants. The second servant asked the first servant for his share, so the first one said, “From today, add more water in the milk”. The businessman observed that the milk had become even thinner since he'd hired the second servant, so he engaged a third servant, but he was just as dishonest and the three of them added even more water. The businessman thought he did not get any relief even after engaging the third servant. So he hired one more servant thinking that this one would set the problem right, but he simply told the others to dilute the milk even more. The three others complained that now their master would be drinking nothing but water, so the fourth servant said, “Don't do anything. We'll all drink the milk. Don't worry, I'll fix everything in the morning.”
The next morning the rich man woke up and complained to his servant, “You did not give me any milk last night”. The fourth cunning servant said respectfully, “Look at your moustache in the mirror, because it still has cream sticking to it.” After the rich man had gone to sleep, the fourth servant had put some cream on his moustache. In other words, the government goes on installing one anti-corruption department after another but the remedy is not achieved.
Corruption exists not only in India but in every country. Somewhere it is more and somewhere it is little less. Our saints say that negativity can be removed only through spiritual awakening. You know the story of the dreadful criminal, Angulimal, who used to cut off the fingers of his victims to make a necklace for himself. Once Lord Buddha asked him why he committed this sin. He brought about a transformation within Angulimal through Spiritual Knowledge and that same Angulimal abandoned his evil actions and became a disciple of Lord Buddha. He, who had waivered from the righteous path and had engaged in sinful activities, became a beacon for society. Our saints said, “ Ram kripa nasahin sab roga. ” If God's grace showers on a man, his heart gets transformed in the true sense and all his mental diseases are eradicated.
We should have faith in the words of true Divine Personalities. Our great ones say that we don't have to change the sky, the earth, air, trees or water to transform society. They are witnesses to all the Ages - Satyuga, Treta and Dwapar. If we want society to be transformed, if we want to change the Age then we have to transform the unstable human mind. When this is transformed, only then will time change. Our Great Masters talk about inner transformation and whenever inner transformation took place, then Power manifested there. So our saints and sages prayed, “ Sarve bhavantu sukhinah .” “Let all be happy”. They wished for the well-being of the entire world. They also said, “ Siya Ram may sab jag jani. ” The Power of Sita and Rama is omnipresent. ‘ Karahun pranam jori jug pani .' Our saints saluted that Power within everyone.
Once Guru Dronacharya gave a wooden stick to each of his students, the five Pandava brothers and asked them to go and break them, but no one should see them doing so. In the morning, four of the Pandavas returned after breaking their stick. Guru Dronacharya Ji asked Arjuna, “Son, did you break your stick?” He replied, “Master, I could not break the stick because of the condition imposed by you that I should break the stick at a place where no one was seeing me. But God could see me. My eyes were also seeing. So, Master, I could not find a place where no one was seeing me.” Guru Dronacharya Ji embraced Arjuna and said, “Son, that is exactly what I wanted to teach you! ”
Our saints awakened inner consciousness through spiritual awakening. They said, “ Man ev manushyanam karanam bandh mokshayo. ” Mind alone shackles us or redeems us. If the mind of a man gets engrossed in illusory things then it becomes the cause of bondage but if the same mind gets connected to God, then it becomes instrumental in his salvation.
St. Kabir said, “Mala pherat yug gaya, paya na man ka pher. Kar ka manka dar de, man ka manka pher” . It means, “You have been counting the beads in a rosary since time immemorial but your mind could not be diverted from illusory things. So, throw away the rosary and turn the inner rosary of your mind.” But, what is the rosary of the mind which is continuously turning? No one knows this. A teacher can teach the literal meaning of this verse but what is the rosary of the mind which should be concentrated upon? To teach the true and real meaning of this, the great Master comes on this earth from time to time. It is written in the Ramcharitmanasa, “ Jab-jab hoy dharma ki hani, Barhahi asur adham abhimani. Tab tab Prabhu dhari manuj sharira, Harahin kripanidhi sajjan peera. ” Whenever religion decays, and wickedness increases, then God incarnates in human form to free the righteous from their miseries. So our motto is, “May spirituality triumph, may evil be destroyed, let there be love and goodwill among all creatures and let the whole world be redeemed.”
One saint wrote, “ Tera mera manuwa kaise ek hoi re, Mai kehta hun jagat rahiyo, tu jata hai soi re. Tera mera manuwa kaise ek hoi re, Mai kahta hun ankho dekhi tu kahta hai kagaj lekhi, Mai kahta hun jagat rahiyo tu jata hai soi re.” How can your mind and my mind be one? I say, “Stay awake, but you keep on sleeping. How can your mind and mine be one? I describe what I have experienced but you describe what is written.” The great Masters always talked about spiritual experience, while we talk about what is written on paper. This is the difference between a spiritual person and a worldly person. Spiritual people always talk with reference to personal experience. They say, “Man, know thyself! Awaken from the slumber of attachment to illusory things.” On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna, who had been spiritually asleep, was awakened. He was depressed, but when Lord Krishna imparted to him the practical knowledge of spirituality, his attachment to illusory things was wiped out. So, we should also acquire Spiritual Knowledge from the living Master and be saved from worldly illusion.
Once Guru Dronacharya gave a wooden stick to each of his students, the five Pandava brothers and asked them to go and break them, but no one should see them doing so. In the morning, four of the Pandavas returned after breaking their stick. Guru Dronacharya Ji asked Arjuna, “Son, did you break your stick?” He replied, “Master, I could not break the stick because of the condition imposed by you that I should break the stick at a place where no one was seeing me. But God could see me. My eyes were also seeing. So, Master, I could not find a place where no one was seeing me.” Guru Dronacharya Ji embraced Arjuna and said, “Son, that is exactly what I wanted to teach you! ”
Our saints awakened inner consciousness through spiritual awakening. They said, “ Man ev manushyanam karanam bandh mokshayo. ” Mind alone shackles us or redeems us. If the mind of a man gets engrossed in illusory things then it becomes the cause of bondage but if the same mind gets connected to God, then it becomes instrumental in his salvation.
St. Kabir said, “Mala pherat yug gaya, paya na man ka pher. Kar ka manka dar de, man ka manka pher” . It means, “You have been counting the beads in a rosary since time immemorial but your mind could not be diverted from illusory things. So, throw away the rosary and turn the inner rosary of your mind.” But, what is the rosary of the mind which is continuously turning? No one knows this. A teacher can teach the literal meaning of this verse but what is the rosary of the mind which should be concentrated upon? To teach the true and real meaning of this, the great Master comes on this earth from time to time. It is written in the Ramcharitmanasa, “ Jab-jab hoy dharma ki hani, Barhahi asur adham abhimani. Tab tab Prabhu dhari manuj sharira, Harahin kripanidhi sajjan peera. ” Whenever religion decays, and wickedness increases, then God incarnates in human form to free the righteous from their miseries. So our motto is, “May spirituality triumph, may evil be destroyed, let there be love and goodwill among all creatures and let the whole world be redeemed.”
One saint wrote, “ Tera mera manuwa kaise ek hoi re, Mai kehta hun jagat rahiyo, tu jata hai soi re. Tera mera manuwa kaise ek hoi re, Mai kahta hun ankho dekhi tu kahta hai kagaj lekhi, Mai kahta hun jagat rahiyo tu jata hai soi re.” How can your mind and my mind be one? I say, “Stay awake, but you keep on sleeping. How can your mind and mine be one? I describe what I have experienced but you describe what is written.” The great Masters always talked about spiritual experience, while we talk about what is written on paper. This is the difference between a spiritual person and a worldly person. Spiritual people always talk with reference to personal experience. They say, “Man, know thyself! Awaken from the slumber of attachment to illusory things.” On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna, who had been spiritually asleep, was awakened. He was depressed, but when Lord Krishna imparted to him the practical knowledge of spirituality, his attachment to illusory things was wiped out. So, we should also acquire Spiritual Knowledge from the living Master and be saved from worldly illusion.
11 July 2009
10 July 2009
08 July 2009
07 July 2009
06 July 2009
“You have a jewel in your hand but you do not understand its value. In the same way, you cannot cross the worldly ocean. You know that a man is mortal but still you seem to be unaware of death and you want to live for ever. Death is always hovering over you but you are not serious about it. What comes from reading the Vedas if you do not know their true meaning, which is known only through meditation on the Knowledge acquired from the Spiritual Master? A person cannot call himself realised if he doesn't have this Spiritual Knowledge. Mind is becoming dirtier by the dross of sanskaras without Spiritual Knowledge. Devotion is the way to clean it.”
05 July 2009
04 July 2009
MUSS
Bare bhagya manush tan pawa, sur durlabh sadgranthan gawa. Sadhan dham moksha kar dwara. Pay na jehi parlok sanwara.
There are many priceless jewels in the world, of which the ‘Kohinoor' diamond is considered to be the costliest. The British stole it from India . They split it in two parts and put it in the crowns of their queen and king. But that diamond is not edible. It is a stone which glows at night. Neither hunger and thirst is satiated by it nor disease or sickness is cured by it, but still a lot of people are deployed to guard it. Even so, many kings and queens who thought they owned it left this world ultimately leaving it behind. Lord Krishna also possessed a very costly jewel but he too left this world leaving it behind. Many kings and emperors, from Satyuga onwards, who had unmeasurable wealth, jewels and the like in their treasuries left this mortal world empty-handed. Now, the question arises that, if we have to leave everything behind and depart from this world empty-handed, why should we be tempted by these things? In fact, the only priceless jewel is this human body itself; this is the touchstone and you can accumulate as much gold, diamonds and jewels as you like only while you are in this body.
02 July 2009
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