I am a Yogi, I am a seeker of knowledge (jigyasu), I am a devotee
(bhakt), I am an aspirant (sadhak) - this is not the gross body of the
aspirant, rather it is the inner disposition "bhaav sharir". The gross
body does not become a Yogi, a seeker of truth, a devotee. If an
aspirant develops the sentiment from the very beginning that he is not a
worldly person, but he is an aspirant, then this spiritual practice
will move forward very quickly. Just as during the boy's wedding when
he becomes a "groom," then his walk suddenly changes, because in his
sense of self (ego) this point gets etched that "I am the groom". In
the same way, in an aspirant's ego the following point should become
fixed that "I am an aspirant." If instead his ego has the feeling that
"I am of this world" (sansaari), then worldly activities will be
undertaken well, but the spiritual practices will not go great. That
which gets imprinted in the ego, becomes very easy to do. Therefore,
it is extremely essential for an aspirant to change his ego. He who does
not do his spiritual disciplines while becoming a servant, a seeker,
or a devotee, his efforts are not wasted, but the accomplishments are
not in the present. Therefore spiritual practices must be done
accepting yourself as - I am a sadhak, I am a karmayogi, I am a
jnanayogi, or I am a bhaktiyogi.
A name for Karmayog is serving. Therefore, an aspirant of Karmayog must
bring the point "I am a servant" into his sense of self (ego). When "I
am a servant" is in the self-image (ego), then the point that my work is
to serve, and my work is not to want anything. For all aspirants,
this is the main point that I do not want to take anything from the
world. I do not want to be selfish, or an enjoyer of pleasures. I am
not a sadhak to gain worldly pleasures. He who wants pleasures is not a
servant. Whatever type of aspirant it may be, he will first and the
foremost have to bid farewell to pleasures. A sadhak's work is to do his
spiritual practice, not to enjoy pleasures. He who is an enjoyer of
pleasures (bhogi), he cannot be a sadhak. An enjoyer of pleasures
(bhogi) is a "rogi" (ill person), not a "yogi" (equaminity). A bhogi
will have to undergo suffering. He can never be saved from suffering.
A servant is one who serves at all times. Even if he is eating, it is
serving, performing his daily purification (defecation-bath etc) routine
then too it is serving, washing clothes, then too it is serving,
trading-conducting business then too it is serving. Whatever work he
does, he does it with the sentiments of serving. However, this will
happen when the sentiments within him are that "I am only a servant". If
his predominant sentiment is that – "I am a man" or "I am a Brahmin" or
"I am a Vaisya" or "I am a householder", or "I am an ascetic (sadhu)'
etc. and thereafter he has the sentiment that "I am a servant" then
his karmayog will not be that great. In karmayog, the first and
foremost sentiment should be that "I am a servant" and then other
sentiments such as I am a man etc. Similarly, with "I am a bhakt
(devotee)" and "I am a seeker of truth" or "I am a sadhak" these
sentiments should be foremost. Just as in a Brahmin the feeling that "I
am a Brahmin" is ever present and awakened, similarly, in an aspirant –
"I am a sadhak" this should be the vigilance at all times. By this
being so, the sentiments of being a man or being this body will be
wiped out. When the sentiments are "I am a man", it is the human body
of the five elements, and when it is "I am a sadhak (servant, enquirer
of truth, or devotee) - it is an inner dispositions. When the inner
sentiments are predominant, spiritual practices take place
continuously.
(to be continued)
From "Satsang Muktahaar" in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji
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If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT Date : 3rd February, 2012 "SADHAKUPYOGI AMOOLYA BAATE"
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