|| Shri Hari ||

The Nature of 'Bhajan'

(Devotion and Worship)

continued.....

We must carefully read these words and contemplate on them.  He who attains this human body,  and does not do spiritual practices, they say -   “This is the age of Kali” (Kaliyug).  These are bad times.  At such a time,  there is sin and sin only that is being propagated everywhere;  Truth, non-violence, and abiding in one’s dharma (righteousness), prayer, worship and devotion (bhajan), all of these, simply cannot take place.   This time of Kali is extremely grave,  everyone’s intellect is engaged in non-righteousness. What to do,  time is such.  When everything in the environment has degraded, then what can man do?   If we go according to the times,  then spiritual practices do not take place.  However, we must think about this, are we truly going along according to the times?  Never !  Whenever cold arrives,  we buy new warm clothes, we  arrange for  heater or fire,  we keep the house closed and stay inside. 

Is this not going along with  the season?  Similarly in summer months, and during rainy season we are extra careful and make the proper arrangements for a good transition.   That is, we stay away from things that are unfavorable to the body.   And we try to acquire the things that are suitable to the body.  In the same say,  we must make an effort toward spirituality and be saved from the age of Kali.  Just as on not protecting the body, the body is destroyed,  similarly on not protecting our spiritual life, we will be compelled to remain totally deprived of that gain.  

         Therefore it is false to blame the times;  because for spiritual progress,  the age of Kali is considered excellent.   Because in this age,  we get value of prayer and worship of the Lord.   Very easily one gets liberation, which is not possible in other “yugs”.  Shri Tulasidasji says ‒

कलिजुग सम जुग आन नहिं जौं नर कर बिस्वास ।

गाइ राम गुन गन बिमल भव तर बिनहिं प्रयास ॥

      Therefore, it is a mistake to blame “the age of Kali”  in which one can cross over this ocean of life, without any effort.  

to be continued......

From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

The Nature of 'Bhajan'

(Devotion and Worship)

continued.....

The scriptures have said -   

न सुखं देवराजस्य      न सुखं चक्रवर्तिनः ।

यत् सुखं वितरागस्य मुनेरेकान्तशीलिनः ॥

 A Rajasthani poet said something very beautiful -  

न सुख काजी पण्डिताँ न सुख भूप भयाँ ।

सुख सहजाँ ही आवसी तृष्णा-रोग गयाँ ॥

        

The third point that is said is  ‘इमं लोकं प्राप्य’ । Here by the words ‘इमं लोकम्’ it becomes clear that with regards to this human body;  God says that after attaining this human body you must only engage in prayer and worship of Me  because -  

एहि तन कर फल बिषय न भाई । स्वर्गउ  स्वल्प अंत   दुखदाई ॥

नर तनु पाइ   बिषयँ   मन  देहीं । पलटि सुधा ते सठ   बिष   लेहीं ॥

ताहि कबहुँ  भल   कहइ  न कोई । गुंजा  ग्रहइ   परस     मनि  खोई ॥

O’ Brothers !  the reason for attaining this human body is not sense pleasures.  What to speak of all the pleasures of this world, but even the pleasures of heaven is also very little and in the end it is the kind to lead to suffering.  Therefore after acquiring this human body, the people who are engaging their minds in worldly pleasures,   those foolish men,  take poison instead of nectar.  

        Therefore after attaining this human body,  one must only engage in prayer and worship of the Lord, because other types of work can take place in various other types of bodies, but the opportunity for prayer, devotion and worship (Bhajan) of the Lord, “bhajan” is only possible in this human body.  

In the bodies of demi-gods (devtas), there is a glut of sense enjoyments, and due to there being no eligibility for “bhajan”, they cannot do “bhajan”, and in hell, one is only undergoing the fruits of their past sins.   They are not eligible to do “new”  actions "karmas”,  nor do they have knowledge of what is duty or non-duty.  In this manner,  in the various 8.4 million forms of births,  there is no knowledge whatsoever of duty and non-duty and they do not have the various tools for doing spiritual practices, nor are they eligible for them.  Eligibility,  knowledge, and tools -  all these three, are only in this human birth.   Sometimes you may
see devotion to the Lord in animals and birds,  but it is more of an exception only.    

Shri Tulasidasji says -  

साधन धाम मोच्छ कर द्वारा ।

पाइ न जेहिं परलोक सँवारा ॥

सो परत्र दुख पावइ सिर धुनी धुनी पछिताइ ।

कालहि कर्महि ईस्वरहि    मिथ्या दोस लगाइ ॥

This body is a vehicle to perform one’s spiritual practice and it is a gateway to liberation.   Even on attaining this body,  if one does not claim his future, he will be have to suffer thereafter,  he will profusely regret,  and not regarding it as his fault,  he will falsely blame the times, “karmas” actions and the Lord.  

to be continued......

From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari |

The Nature of 'Bhajan'

(Devotion and Worship)

continued.....

It is with the illusory and enchantress power only that man experiences that on acquisition of money in its various forms through material possessions etc, he will become very happy.   Such wishes and aspirations have been heard of since time immemorial;   but till today we have not met such a worldly person, who has said that he is totally happy.   Rather,  you hear more people say that we are more unhappy than we were previously.    It is said ‒

Ekasya Dukhasya na yaavadantam

gacchamyaham paaramivaarnavasya ।

Taavad davideeyam sampasthitam me
chidreshvanarthaa bahuleebhavanti ॥

       ‘ Like that, there is no end to sorrow, until the crossing of the ocean, and then in the midst of it all, another sorrow creeps in;  It is so, as where there is lack of something, there exists with certainty meaninglessness and futility. “

       When one experiences that something is missing or lacking, then to fulfill that void one makes an effort,  however,  often the desired thing is not acquired.

 Due to some good associations, if one does acquire the thing, then various new world of voids creep in,  which were never previously even possible.   Therefore Lord Krishna says -  

ये हि संस्पर्शजा भोगा दुःखयोनय एव ते ।

आद्यन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय   न तेषु रमते बुधः ॥

                                                              (गीता ५/२२)

Ye hi samsparshajaa bhogaa duhkhayonaya eva te |

Aadyantavantah kounteya na teshu ramate budhah ||

(Gita 5/22)

'Oh Son of Kunti! The pleasure derived from the conjugation of the senses and the sensual objects are bound by a beginning and an end and are the real reason for all the miseries. Therefore, a wise man would not entertain such acts.'

     After giving some thought to this, one comes to see that no creature in this world is completely happy and satisfied in his current situation;  as he is constantly hankering and striving for even more happiness and pleasure.  

to be continued......

From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

The Nature of 'Bhajan'

(Devotion and Worship)

continued.....

One needs to pay close attention to this, that only those things can give us pleasure, which we are lacking in,  and which we like and want.  The stronger the want of a particular thing or being,  that much pleasure is encountered in meeting or getting that thing.   Even though one does not have a thing,  but if one does not experience a void (a lack) of that thing,  i.e.  there is no squirming for it, then even on attaining that thing,  it cannot give pleasure.   Therefore,  to acquire money and other possessions, first it is extremely essential for one to feel a lack of money and possessions.    This is the unhappy state that one experiences, prior to acquiring a thing.  Second set of pain is when we do not get that money and the things as per our wishes.   And even if we get it,  if someone else gets more than us,  then it brings about new suffering  within.  This is the third set of pain.   And after getting it, the constant fear and threat of it being taken away from us, which is the cause of much worry.   This is pain number four.   And also after acquiring and deteriorating of that  thing,  one experiences a lot of suffering.   The suffering that is experienced at that time, is pain number five.  

Shri Patanjali has said -  

परिणामतापसंस्कारदुःखैर्गुणवृत्ति-विरोधाच्च दुःखमेव सर्वं विवेकिनः ।

Parinaamataapasanskaaradukhairgunavrutti-

Virodhaacch dukhameva sarvam vivekinah |

The following three types of sufferings are present in all -  

1) Where the end outcome is pain,

2) The suffering due to heat, and

3)  Suffering due to various life changing events.   

For a person with ‘vivek’ (power of discrimination),  everything (fruits of actions) is only a form of suffering,  due to the above three types of suffering being present in all and there being conflict among the three modes of nature.

to be continued......

From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

The Nature of 'Bhajan'

(Devotion and Worship)

God says -   

  ‘Anityamasukham lokamimam praapya bhajasva maam’.  

‘अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं
प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ।’      

‒ From these words of the Lord,  we must immediately become engaged in ‘bhajan’ (devotion, worship, prayer, adoration, remembrance) of the Lord.    In this verse, the Lord shares the following,  ‘anityam, asukham imama lokam praapya maam bhajaswa.’   

The meaning of ‘anityam’ (temporary) is that one should not delay.  Who knows -  whether the next breath arrives or not.  How is one to know?  If right now the life breath stops, then nothing can be done.   Whatever things you have thought about,  will all remain as-is.   Everything will become dirt,  because,  body is fleeting, it will not remain steady even for a single moment.  Every moment it is going away with great speed and it is going towards death, which no one desires.    That very same death is nearing every moment.   Every hour 900 life breaths are going away, in 24 hours, 21600 life breaths are going away.  Simply pay attention towards this point.   The breaths are getting used up and what are you earning?  What are you so pleased about  ?

Chahso sahas ikees dam jaawat hai din raat ।

eto toto taahi ghar kaaheki kusalaat ॥

 The second word ‒‘Asukham’   which means ‘in this world, there is no pleasure’.   This world is devoid of happiness.    Not only this point,  God says -   

Dukhaalayamashaashvatam  

‘दुःखालयमशाश्वतम्’

Meaning:  It is an abode of sorrow.   

It is such a surprising thing, that even though the world is an abode of sorrow,  we are searching for pleasure in it  !  Just like some man is searching for his “dhoti” and other clothes, in an educational institution.  Just like another is asking for the price of sweets in a pharmacy,  in the same way,  we are searching for pleasure in the abode of sorrow.   In this world,  the things that are regarded as a source of pleasure are -  money,  wife, son, house, and sense pleasures.   If you think about all of these and see, then in fact there is no pleasure at all,  before and after there is sorrow and only sorrow.   

to be continued......

From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Need to Improve One's Nature

continued......

The good work that a man does,  in turn he buys, comforts, rest-relaxation,  name-fame etc.   The moment he does good work,  he immediately becomes filled with pride.  All evils live in the shade of this pride, as pride is the root of all demoniac traits.    Just as in Mahabharat it has come that Kaliyug lives under the shade of 'bahede', similarly Kaliyug lives under the shade of this pride.    All the evil qualities and conduct live under the shade of pride.  This pride turns to naught all the good that has been done. And nowadays this pride is being bought through charitable acts etc.

  By devotion, chanting of the Lord's  name, service in the name of God, there will be renunciation of pride, and our nature will improve. This is not difficult. By firmly deciding to renounce pride, pride will be given up. Otherwise it is very difficult. Each day we will chant the name of the Lord three lakh times and engage in all other spiritual activities, but we refuse to relinquish our hold on pride !   We will become a ‘sadhu’ (ascetic,  renunciate),  we will renounce everything,  but ‘I am a renunciate’,  this pride of renunciation remains as it is.   It is said that — --

Ahankaar raakshas mahaan dukhadaayi sab bhaanti |

Jo chute is dushtase  soi paavai shaanti ||

Meaning:  This pride is a horrible devil and is painful in every way. Only he who is free from this scoundrel can get peace.

Therefore, Gentlemen !   Purify your nature and make it gentle. Whatever flaws (bad qualities, bad conduct) you see,  wipe out these flaws.  Then the effect of worship and devotion (bhajan), and remembrance of God (smaran) will be significant.   The evils of selfishness and pride that are sitting hand in hand; they do not let the effect of ‘bhajan’ penetrate,  it does not let a ‘sadhak’ become detached.  Therefore selfishness and pride are obstacles to our spiritual progress. Thus, there is great need to improve our nature and to make it pure and gentle.

Narayan ! Narayan !! Narayan !!!

From 'Taatvik Pravachan' in Hindi and 'Let us Know the Truth' in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji

  

to be continued......

From "Taatvik Pravachan" in Hindi and "Let us Know the Truth" in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Need to Improve One's Nature

continued......

In the present day, there is a great need to improve one’s nature, and give up selfishness.  It is due to this selfishness that many types of sins are taking place, such as falsehood, lying, cheating, dishonesty, deception, fraud, treachery and betrayal etc.  There is no end to this.  

Therefore, there is tremendous need for selfless men,  just as one provides food to the hungry or water to the thirsty. The country is starving (of lack of selfless men). Therefore any man who gives up even the slightest bit of selfishness and does good to others can become an outstanding man in no time.

How to provide comfort to others? How to see to other’s welfare? How to ensure their rights? By holding on to these sentiments, by following a uniform pattern of behavior for one's self and others, selfishness is given up easily, and there is improvement in one’s nature.  However, he who does good to others for self advantage or self appreciation does not really improve his nature. Hence, we should bring comfort to others and serve others in such a way that they and others do not even realize what we are doing for them.  

  

to be continued......

From "Taatvik Pravachan" in Hindi and "Let us Know the Truth" in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Freedom from Sorrow

continued.....

Questioner -  If a person get on someone’s case to cause displeasure and sorrow, then isn’t he the cause of the sorrow or is he not?   

Swamiji -   He has taken entry into ignorance.  The pain that was to come, that alone will come.   He who gives pain and suffering to others, will incur many sins and he will have to suffer enormously.  Whereas, the recipient of that pain and sorrow is experience it due to his past sinful acts (praarabdh).    When the Almighty Lord, the eternal well-wisher is alive and present, can anyone give pain and sorrow ?   I had shared this story previously  -   

On the outskirts of a town, in a forest, an ascetic was sitting, immersed in remembrance of the Lord.  A few thieves were running with stolen money and the police were after them.  Realizing that they were being followed and would be beaten if caught,  they left the money with the ascetic and went into hiding.  Seeing the money with the Babaji (ascetic),  the police began to beat him.  Babaji said -  'Baddhu tu jaane che'   'O’ Lord,  you know everything'    It means that to my knowledge I have not given pain and sorrow to anyone and still I am receiving a beating, then I don’t know what action is this the fruit off?   O’ Lord !    You only know,  I do not know about this.  Even though he was getting a beating without having caused any harm to anyone, then too he did not blame anyone.   That is,  the one getting a beating, has to have the fortitude.  Someone else cannot give us pain and sorrow,  we are experiencing pain and suffering due to our own stupidity (ignorance).   

I am sharing one more point,  he who gives pain and sorrow,  he cannot make us unhappy,  in fact he can bestow happiness !  I have seen this happen.   Someone tries to do something undesirable to us,  but instead it turns out to be desirable.    This is my experience.  

Questioner -  Maharajji!  pleasure and pain are only assumed, as such they are not there !  

Swamiji -  Absolutely !  they are assumed, therefore they can go away,  or else how would they go away?  Real never ceases to be.   If there is existence of pleasure and pain, then it can never go away.   Therefore there is no pleasure and pain,  it is only assumed.
The assumption has to be given up.

Question -  Why we are unable to leave what we have assumed,  such as pleasure and pain ?  

Swamiji -   Why do you not leave it?   You say, it does not go away, I say that you yourself do not let it go !  If you stop holding on to it, then how can it give you pain and sorrow?   It cannot give you.  But that sinful one, who has the intention of giving someone sorrow will surely become a sinner, in this there is no doubt.  Now I am sharing with you one very big mistake.  Instead of finding a solution which can get rid of our sorrow,  we make an effort towards changing the situation, that is entirely unfruitful. A  poor, person becoming  wealthy,  a diseased person becoming healthy,   a dishonorable becoming honorable, a criticizer becoming a praiser,  this is the business of changing the situation and circumstances, which will be entirely useless, because this is useless pride.

'aham karomiti vruthaabhimaanah'  

You cannot change the situations and circumstances.  Therefore I am sharing a very important point,  that without changing the situation, whatever situation has come your way (presented itself in front of you),   make proper use of it.   Now, how to make proper use of these situations and circumstances,  in which you get a high fever,  you suffer a loss,   you are disgraced,   you are criticized ?   When a thorn is removed, you feel pain, but there is much gain in removing a thorn.   In the same way  if you are dishonored,  if you suffer losses, then with this  our sins are destroyed -  this point you may hear in many places,  but one exceptional point is that, unfavorable situations are a means to the spiritual practices for one’s salvation.  Through fortitude, the sins are automatically destroyed.  Living through that unfavorableness, the sins will be destroyed, even though not wanting these unfavorable situations, and crying etc.   However if you make proper use of these unfavorable situations, then surely  you will attain salvation.   The proper use of favorable  situations is to give happiness to others.   The proper use of unfavorable situations is, not to desire and expect favorable situations.   It is wrong to become and enjoyer in favorable situations, and it is wrong to desire pleasure in unfavorable situations.  It is the work of 'satsang' to remove our mistakes.   With satsang these errors will be wiped out.   

In my mind, I feel very pleased with respect to this point,  that man has received this immense opportunity,  whereby he can attain his benediction and rise above pleasure and pain. Therefore, man must not waste away his time, getting trapped in base sense enjoyments.   So far, no one has received all the sense pleasures of his choice.  So far, no one has landed all the sense-enjoyments he desired.  Everything does not happen according to one’s wishes.   One person said in a discourse that even for Lord Ram’s father things did not happen according to his wishes.  Now how will you be able to make that happen?   

Questioner -   When someone gives you pain and suffering then a desire arises to take revenge,   what is one to do?  

Swamiji -  It is a mistake to have the feeling of wanting to take revenge.  That person is making us experience the fruit of our past actions and purifying us,  he is doing us a favor.    If you want to take revenge then serve him with your body, mind, speech, wealth, knowledge, intellect,  abilities, position (post), and rights.  Make him happy.  

Questioner -  Maharajji!  Yes, it is good to make proper use of circumstances,  however,  if an unfavorable situation comes our way,  if we suffer losses,   then we have to take retribution!  

Swamiji -   I do not object to that !  Take retribution,   earn money,  utilize it properly,  be careful that no contrary situation arises.  But it is not in your hand that you will be able to get rid of the unfavorable circumstances.   I do not object to making an effort,  for fulfilling your duty.  But it is not in your hands that you will be able to make your situation favorable.  Lord says -  

‘कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन’ (गीता २/४७) ‘   

Karmamyevaadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachan | (Gita 2/47)

Your right is to work only, but never to its fruit (Gita 2/47).   

The fruit of your actions, is not up to you.   But your dutiful work must be done with great enthusiasm and dedication, it must be done properly.   You must never falter in you duty.   But to give sorrow to someone,  to put someone down,  such notion is very wrong.   With this, one will have to undergo immense suffering.  You cannot escape it !  

Narayan!  Narayan !!  Narayan !!!

  

continued......

From "Nitya Yog ki Praapti" in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Freedom from Sorrow

continued.....

In deep trance (samadhi) state, the Yogi’s intellect is able to grasp the Truth -  

'Rutambharaa tatra pragyaa'  (Yogadarshan 1/48).    

Through power of thought and discrimination one can gain such an intellect.   Sometimes there is a flood, sometimes there is fire,  sometimes favorable and other times unfavorable situations,  but no situation reaches a man  who is standing on top of a hill.  He is only observing the pleasure and pain, but not becoming happy and sad.   This is called rising above the pleasure and pain and you and me, and all of us we can be in this state.  

Actions (karma) are of three kind -  'shukla'  (virtuous actions),  'krushna'  (sinful actions) and 'mishshrit'  (combined).   Ordinary people perform  actions of these three kinds,  but  the 'yogi' who renounces his actions, he does not become the experiencer  or enjoyer of any actions -  

‘कर्माशुक्लाकृष्णं योगिनस्त्रिविधमितरेषाम्’ (योगदर्शन ४/७),

'Karmaashuklaakrishnam yoginastrividhmitareshaam' (Yogadarshan 4/7),

‘न तु सन्न्यासिनां क्वचित् (गीता १८/१२)

'na ta sansyaasinaam kvachit (Gita 18/12).    

No worldly pleasure or pain reach him whatsoever.  When they do not reach at all,  then how can he become pleased or displeased ?     Circumstances are according to one’s actions (karmas).   As are the actions, so are the situations that come in front of the person, but they do not cause him to be happy or sad.  

There is a story in Srimad Bhagavat.  In childhood, Naradji Maharaj’s mother died.  When a child’s mother dies,  he becomes very sad, but Naradji did not become sad,  rather he viewed this as God’s auspicious ordinance.  Naradji was inclined towards God, and mother was a hindrance in his devotion and worship of God.   Therefore when the mother died, that hindrance in the pursuit of prayer and worship of the Lord was removed.   Thus Naradji was pleased.   The point is that situations and circumstances do not make a man unhappy.    It is out of foolishness that he becomes unhappy.   All can rise above pleasure and pain.  In this there is no doubt.  

There are two things that happen out of foolishness and ignorance.  One, we think  'paro dadaateeti' - others are giving us pain (sorrow) and secondly we think,  'aham karomeeti',  that the pleasure (happiness) is due to my own efforts.  If there is pleasure (happiness) due to our own efforts, then no one would be unhappy.   He who gives sorrow to others can never be happy - this is a rule.   

continued......

From "Nitya Yog ki Praapti" in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Freedom from Sorrow

continued.....

I go as far as to say that situations do not have the time to give pleasure and pain !  Poor thing !  The situations are busy on their path,  they do not even touch us,  then how can it give us pleasure and pain?   Therefore, a man can be ever joyful,  ever blissful with 'satsang,' (association with truth),  with holy thoughts,  with good feelings and sentiments;  as situations and circumstances cannot give one sorrow.  You are grabbing hold of sorrow and becoming unhappy.   When we get favorable situations, we become happy,  and when we get unfavorable situations, we find them unpleasurable, this is a blunder.   In reality,   situations are passing away.   Just like day and night,  these favorable and unfavorable situations will keep coming.   Just as after day, comes night, and after night, comes day.   In the same way, after pleasure comes pain, and after pain comes pleasure and so on.

Talks pertaining to one’s salvation are open to all.    Human body is only for one’s salvation,  not for sense enjoyment.   

'yahin tana kar phal bishaya na bhaayi.'  

(Manas 7/44/1).     

Pleasure and pain are of two kinds.  People seeing that we have money,  possessions,  glories, son, grandson, house, and various favorable things, consider us to be very happy.  On seeing that we don’t have these things - no food to eat,   clothes to wear,  a house to live in,  then people perceive that we are very unhappy.   Thus,  the name of various favorable, pleasure giving things is called happiness,  and the name of various unfavorable things is called unhappiness.   The feeling of joy in one’s heart is called happiness and the feeling of envy is called unhappiness.   Of these,  the pleasure and pain resulting from objects is circumstantial, and the pleasure and pain of the heart is out of foolishness.   It is man’s main responsibility to get rid of this foolishness.   

Just as when you do not know a language, then you can learn the language to get rid of that ignorance,  in the same way, pleasure and pain are not in us -  this skill can be learned by every man.  It is for this knowledge that human body has been attained.  Therefore on being born a human,  we are not to become pleased and displeased, rather we are to rise above both pleasure and pain.    What does it mean to rise above pleasure and pain?    Where no pleasure can reach, nor any pain can reach.   A verse has come in the Patanjali Yoga Darshan of Vyas -  

Pragyaapraasaadmaaruhayaashochyah sochato janaan |

bhoomishthaaniva shailstah sarvaanpraagyonupashyati ||  

(Patanjali Yoga Darshan 1/47 ka)  

It means,  a man who stands on top of a mountain, can see the men in the plains below,  and,  a man standing in the palace, sees both the suffering and not suffering.

continued......

From "Nitya Yog ki Praapti" in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji