Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi, Somvar, Vikram Samvat 2068
There is No Delay in Attaining Spiritual Enlightenment
(continued) None of you who are assembled here can at all accept that you are the "vilest", worst of worst sinners in the world. Out of humbleness, like saint Tulasidasa, you may declare that you are more crooked, more vile and more voluptuous than anyone else. "mo sam kaun kutil khal kaami" As it does not appeal to you that there is no delay in spiritual enlightenment, so must you be feeling convinced that you are not the vilest of all sinners. How can you or anyone else accept that you are the vilest sinner when you listen to divine discourses, chant the divine Name, offer adoration to God, offer morning and evening prayer, recite the Gayatri verse and remain engaged in such other divine activities? If indeed you feel that you are the vilest sinner, you will have a burning sensation which will lead you to immediate spiritual enlightenment. The reason is that the burning sensation has a great power to destroy sins.
Listener - Maharajji, the impressions of the past are such that we have a firm belief that spiritual enlightenment is possible only by worshipping God, by chanting His Name and by spiritual practice. The study of books also supports the same belief.
Swamiji - I have also studied books. Whatever I say is also quoted from books. Is there any mention that spiritual enlightenment takes any time in the two verses that I have recited? As it is true in the Discipline of Knowledge, so is it true in the Discipline of Devotion. The Lord declares -
Api chetsuduraachaaro bhajate maamananyabhaak |
Saadhureva sa mantavyah samyaagvyavasito hi saha || (Gita 9/30)
Even if the vilest sinner worships Me with exclusive devotion, he should be considered a saint, for he has rightly resolved."
In both the verses (4/36 and 9/30) the terms "api chet" (even if) have been used. It means that you are not the vilest sinner; but even if you are, you will attain spiritual enlightenment. But if you are not, there is no question of your not attaining spiritual enlightenment. Now the question arises why the Lord declares that he should be considered a saint "saadhureva sa mantavyah". The answer is that he does not possess the virtues of the saint such as lack of ill-will for all beings "adveshtaa sarva bhootaanaam" etc., then too he should be considered a saint. As knowledge (wisdom, knowing) is important in the Discipline of Knowledge, so is assumption (acceptance, conviction) important in the Discipline of Devotion.
Acceptance (assumption) fundamentally is not at all different from knowledge (knowing) and it is in no way less effective than knowledge.
To accept the essential element (truth) is itself called to know. The influence that acceptance has, is not any less than knowing. Just as a child accepts (assumes) a woman to be his mother without knowledge and verification. "yo maamjamanaadin cha veti lokamaheshvaram" (Gita 10/3) In the first half of this verse, "He knows Me" as unborn and beginningless, the Great Lord of the worlds" (Gita 10/3) the term "knows (vetti) stands for acceptance (assumptions) rather than knowledge, because how will a person know that God is beginningless? He will have to assume it. Similarly in "janma karama cha me divyamevam yo vetti tattvatah" (Gita 4/9) "He thus knows My divine birth and action in their true nature" (Gita 4/9), the term "knows" stands for "assumes". The reason is that only he who was born earlier than God can know His divine birth and action (creation, preservation and dissolution etc.). So here the expression "knows in true nature" stands for "a firm assumption." (an acceptance). Similarly the term "jnaatvaa" (knowing or having known) in the following verse also stands for "having assumed" - (to be continued)
From book "Ease of God Realization" in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji.
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If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
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FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISITDate : 24th September, 2011 – Bhagwat Praapti ki Sugamta