|| Shri Hari ||

Why does the Jeev Return?

continued...

Some people say that this affection, the sense of mine-ness does not leave me.   If your intentions are genuine and honest, then God will make them leave. Call out to God,  O'  Lord !  I do not want to accept these things as mine,  then God will say,  very well !  and that sense of mine-ness (mamta) will go away.   However, this will take place only if there is a genuine intention and longing from the heart to be free of this sense of mine-ness (mamta).    If you do not want to leave, then it will not leave even when death comes.   You will have to become a ghost-a phantom.   Wearing the same clothes,  they come to the same houses.  Many people have seen them.   Even after becoming a ghost, a spirit, the sense of mine-ness will not leave.   Therefore the things in this world that you have developed affection and sense of mine-ness for,  they become the main cause for returning to this world.   This itself is a grave mistake.   

This entire world is God's, but we have assumed it to be ours – this is dishonesty.   It is not sincerity.  Brother – sisters,  mothers !  minimally at least accept that all the things and beings that you regard as your own, they are all belonging to God, then it will all become an offering (prasaad) of God.   Thereafter become joyful, that I am receiving the Lord's prasaad.  Who can be more fortunate than me?   If the thing goes away, then the Lord's thing has gone away.  Absolutely do not accept it as your thing.  Yes !  most certainly take good care of it.  Now tell me,  will there not be joy even at death.    Kabirdasji says -

Sab jag darape maran se mere maran aanand |

Kab mariye kab bhetiye,  puran paramaanand ||

'There is joy on my death,  because we will meet our dear and loving Lord.'  We will go to our home.  The Lord is our home, our country, our family.   He is ours, and We are his very own part (ansh).   We are of the same 'jaati'  (class) as the Lord.   We are His relative.   You and me, we are all  God's. This country is not our country -

In aangani – ye hey sakhi, hum khelan aaye |

Kayi khelyaa kayi khel si,  kayi khel sidhaaye ||

This is a stage for acting out the play.  All we have to do is act and play.  By regarding the play things as our own,  is itself a mistake.

You all tell me that there is lack of peace,  there is sorrow,  there is vexation  - what to do?   Brothers !  the dishonesty that you have committed, by accepting the things that belonged to God as your own,  you will have to suffer the pain from it.  It is due to regarding these things as your own that you are not peaceful.   Wherever you leave the sense of 'mine-ness'  (apnaapan), peace immediately follows.

Nirmamoha nirahankaarah sa shaantimadhigacchyati ||  

(Gita 2/71)

   (continued....)

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Why does the Jeev Return?

continued...

Brothers and sisters,  have mercy !  Now admit that all the things that are yours, belong to God.   Admit from the heart, that O' Lord,  everything here, is Yours.  Jewellry, clothes, food, house,  etc. it is all a gift.  Now, Have the feeling that wherever God wills He may keep these things.   Thereafter,  why will we return?  We have no sense of mine-ness with anything.  No one whatsoever is ours.    In this manner, please turn everything over to God.   In reality, everything is God's only.  We have assumed it to be our own.  We have to only give up that belief, that assumption.   Maharaj Raghu,  performed a Vishwajeet Yagya, to conquer the world, and later give everything away as charity.  This is Vishwajeet yagya.  Gentlemen !  You and me, we can all do Vishwajeet yagya.    From the heart we can turn everything over to God.   Even this body is to be not regarded as ours.   If from the heart we accept that nothing whatsoever is ours,  then Vishwajeet yagya would be accomplished, and you will not need to go anywhere for it.      

People say that it is due to God's divine potency, His illusory powers  (maya) that we have become entranced.   We have not become enchanted by God's divine potency, rather we have conceded God's divine and illusory power as ours, therefore we have become enchanted.   God's divine potency does not enchant anyone.  God's divine potency, showers it grace, and provides the means to ensure that everyone's activities takes place properly.    But you take possession and ownership of the things that are received. You grant them to be your own.    Gentlemen !  these are not yours at all, they never were, and they will also not remain yours.    Even at present constantly they are separating from you.

Pay attention,  the number of days that you and I have lived, regarding these things as our own, that many days we have separated from them.  If somethings are to stay with us for fifty years, and ten years have passed, then will it stay with us for fifty years now?  Now it will stay with us for only forty years.   Therefore separation is most certainly taking place constantly.  The objects that you assume to be your own,  those things are every moment separating from us.   It was separate before,  later on it will be separated from us, and at present too it is separating from us.   The objects never say that 'that you are mine and I am yours'.  It is you that says -  'that this is mine'.  Therefore you have to return back here.   The house never said that you are mine.  The objects did not say that you are mine, and truthfully speaking, as long as you are alive till then the family says mine-mine.   The moment the life breath leaves, they will burn you ashes, simply wipe you off -

Swaans thakaam sab aas karai, swaas gayaa ab kaadho re kaadho |

Dharati ko dhan bataaya diyo, ab naakh saneti mein baandho re gaadho||

Ados-pados ke aap khade sab. Koyu na kahavat raakho re thaadho |

Thet masaan pounchaay diyo ab, rah gayi jaan chalyo gayo laado ||

Then too you say -  this is mine !  this is mine !  what is yours?  Even the body will remain right here.    Brothers and sisters, have mercy,  with a true heart please acknowledge and say that all this belongs to God     

   (continued....)

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Why does the Jeev Return?

continued...

We have only assumed a sense of mine-ness with the objects and things.  As such there is no sense of mine,  it is only believed to be so.   There is sense of mine-ness with God, most certainly there is,  we have only forgotten it.   Though being our very own, we have forgotten Him.  We have become disinclined towards Him, and the world never became ours, can never become ours.  We have only acknowledge and assumed it to be ours,  therefore we have to return back here.   If you did not assume it to be your very own, then you would not return here. People have come here from various villages and cities. Once the satsang is over, who will come here?   Only those people who have forgotten something over here,   will return here. Those who have not left anything behind, why would they return here?   

If you acknowledge the things of the world as your very own,  then those things will not remain with you,  yet the assumed relationship with them that you have established,  will not be released until you let go of it. If you leave it, then, while this body is still alive, the sense of mine will leave.  Just as someone becomes a 'sadhu,' and thereafter, he has no feeling of mine-ness with the family and family life.  Now if all the family members, the wife, son, brother, etc,  all of them die, then too the sadhu does not worry.   If he worries,  then he is not yet a real sadhu, he is still holding on to the family.    A genuine sadhu is he who even if the entire family perishes, then too he has no worries.  Because he is firm in his conviction that I do not belong to them, and they are not mine.

 No worries or fear remains, when you regard all things in the world as God's and then do His work.   

Tumhi nibedit bhojan karahin |

Prabhu prasaad path bhushan dharahin ||  

(Manas,  Ayodhyaa.   129/2)

It is not just meals that we are eating,  it is the 'Prasaad'  from the offering of food to the Lord. If you wear jewellery or clothes, or whatever it be,  then regard it as a gift from the Lord and then wear it.   There is great significance of 'prasaad' (that which is partaken by the Lord).    The inner senses are purified.   Sense of mine-ness and attachments all will go away.    If you offer a few sweets to the Lord, it becomes extremely pure.    Even a millionaire will want to partake in the 'prasaad'  given with your hands and will be very pleased. Are the millionaires starved of sweets?   Not at all! They are partaking in God's 'prasaad'.  Because, it has become  the Lord's holy and purified offering.  Why?   The reason is that now you no longer have any attachment or sense of mine-ness in it.   Even if you are distributing it,  then too it is not yours, it belongs to God.

   (continued....)

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Why does the Jeev Return?

continued...

Jeev must acknowledge that this world belongs to the Lord,  it is the Lord's family,  it is the Lord's money,  it is the Lord's house.   We are only doing the Lord's work.  Live like the book-keeper.  Do not become the master (owner).   Whatever work you do, have the feeling that O' Lord,  I am doing Your work.  What is ours over here?  The family is Yours, the house is Yours, the money is Yours,  the land is Yours.   This is the absolute truth,  because when we were born,  we have come nude, without anything.   Not even a piece of thread was in our possession,  and when death comes, then this dead body will also remain right here.  Even the dead body we will not be able to take with us, then can we take the wealth-possession, grandeur-family with us?

We did not bring with us, we cannot take with us and while living here too, we cannot make all of these according to our mind and wishes. It is your direct and evident experience that your son and daughter do not obey you, your wife does not listen to you, your family members do not listen to you.  Then it is proven that you cannot make these thing according to your wishes, and you cannot keep them as long as you wish.  To change their nature or their color, is not up to you.   Then too you keep saying – 'my things'.  How are they 'Mine', tell me?   Therefore what you will have to acknowledge is that all these are not mine, they have been given by God, and they belong to God.

Just as we have been given this building for the purpose of satsang,  but now if I claim ownership of it saying that -  the floor covers are mine, the microphone is mine, because I am the one sitting on the podium, I have spoken from the microphone.  All this is dishonesty,  isn't it? In the same way,   God has given us wealth, possessions, grandeur, family etc for serving them.   Provide from them well and give them happiness.    But instead you became the master, owner of these.   Will landlord hold over them, remain forever?  Will we be able to stay with them?  Will we be able to change them according to our wishes?   Will we have any hold and control whatsoever over them?  Not at all.  Then too we call them as 'ours.'

   (continued....)

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Why does the Jeev Return?

continued......

If this 'jeev'  is attached, or has fondness or passionate feelings towards any thing or place,  then whatever form of birth the ‘jeev’ gets, he will have to return to that place after death.   Birds, animals, sparrows, mice etc.   they go to the same house  in which there was attraction and attachment in the previous birth.  

Kaaranam gunasangosya sadasadhyonijanmasu |   

(Gita 13/21)

Attachment, fondness, passionate feelings and association with  the modes becomes the cause of its birth, in good and evil bodies.  Those who have fondness for inert things, they will have to return to this world.   Those that are not infatuated and attached to inert things and have love and devotion for God, they attain God.   It is so remarkable that, those who remember God, even at the very last moment, will surely attain Him, without any doubt.   Even if it is on the very last breath, then too, they will attain salvation -

Antakaale cha maameva smaran muktwaa kalevaram |

Yah prayaati sa madbhaavam yaati naastyatra sanshayah ||

(Gita 8/5)

He who departing from the body thinks of Me alone even at the time of death, attains Me, there is no doubt about it. (Gita 8/5)

Even at the last moment, 'jeev' can realize God, because 'jeev' has a very close relationship with God due to being an 'ansh'  (inseparable element, part, fraction) of God.  Therefore the moment that 'jeev' turns (becomes inclined) towards God, he attains God.  There is no doubt in this.  Then why does the 'jeev' return?  In this the main reason is that by having the feeling of mine-ness (apnaapan) with the worldly things,  'jeev' becomes powerless and has to return here. This 'jeev's' mind gravitates and gets attracted towards this world, then God gives thejeev the same kind of opportunity that it desires,  i.e. gives jeev a birth.   Therefore it is best that the jeev remains detached, even while living here. One must not get trapped, by having a sense of mine-ness and attachment.    (continued....)

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Why does the Jeev Return?

continued......

I have heard a tale, that one day, Shri Guru Nanakji Maharaj was going somewhere.   Accompanying him were two to four of his disciples. They were passing through a village's store house of grains.  There were many piles of various grains, such as wheat,  millet, beans,  etc.   At that time, a goat came and from the pile of beans, he began to eat.   The owner of the grains was sitting there.   He caught hold of the goat by the ear, and began to beat him with a stick.  After much beating,  he managed to get the goat to release the grain from his mouth.  Watching this incident,  Shri Guru Nanakji Maharajbegan to laugh.    The disciples with him,  were astonished, and asked him -  'Maharaj !  the goat is being beaten, and you are laughing.   Every action of a saint is with a certain purpose.

  

The disciples said,  'please share with us why you are laughing?'   At that time, Nanakji Maharaj said -  See !  the one beating the goat, that miserly one,  is the son of this goat, and in previous birth, this goat was the father of this miser. It was his nature to sit in the shop.   The shop was inside and there was a veranda outside, in which he used to sit.   Hence regularly at night, this goat comes and sits here.   It does not know this, but it only likes this place. He had undergone many austerities and prayers, to get a son. The money earned all belongs to the goat,  but now in his possession he does not even have a few beans.    Every time he comes to eat, he gets beaten up and the beans are taken out of his mouth.  Then too people continue to hoard.'  (continued....)

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Why does the Jeev Return?

In the Srimad Bhagavad Gita,  the Lord says that this Jeev (embodied soul) is verily a part of Me only -

Mamaivaansho jeevaloke jeevabhootah sanaatanah |  

(Gita 15/7)

Meaning: An ‘ansh’, a ray of My consciousness, an inseparable part of Me only,  comes to this worldly plane and becomes an embodied soul (jeev).  

And -

yadgatvaa na nivartante taddhaam parama mama |

(Gita 15/6)

Meaning: My eternal abode is such, that on going there one does not need to ever return.

Then this 'jeev'  (embodied soul) must go to the abode of the Lord.   Just as a child goes to the father's home, in the same way, the 'jeev' must go to the abode of the Lord.   This 'jeev'  (embodied soul), why does it return back to the world?

Now pay attention and listen very carefully to the answer to this question.  Just as you, me, we all have come here for satsang (association with truth, with good company), and when the time is up, we will leave from here.  But if before going back, we forget our floor spread over here, or leave behind one of our things, then we will want to return to collect it.  In the same way, whatever things that the jeev (embodied soul) develops attachment and sense of mine-ness with in this world,  whether it be a house, a family, a property, some money, whatever it may be, one has to return back to this earthly plane, due to the sense of mine-ness with it.   Whatever things you have regarded as your very own (sense of mine-ness), you will have to return to them.   This body will not remain forever,  thus taking on another body,  one will have to return.   Now,  whatever form of birth one takes,  it will have to come near those same things.  (continued....)

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

How to be Free of Sense of Me and Mine? 

continued.....

The point is that charity takes place when there is a needy person (eligible recipient), at proper time and place,  and you do not establish a relationship with him.  If there is expectation of something in return, then the charity becomes "Rajas daan" (charity based on mode of passion), due to relationship with it -  

"yuttu pratyupakaaraartham .... taddaanam raajasam smrutam"  ||  (Gita 17/21).  

Because it is the nature of "rajogun" (attraction, mode of passion) to establish a relation -  

"Rajo raagaatmakam viddhi"  (Gita 14/7).  

On there being no relation with charity "saatvik daan" (i.e. charity based on mode of purity),  it does not remain charity, rather it is renunciation (sacrifice).

Just as, when there is no relation with the charity, similarly, let there be no relation with divine name recitation-meditation, serving others etc.  By serving someone, if we think that we have done some great work, then it is a mistake.  This is because he has entitlement over what we have.  If we have strength, then, that strength is collective strength.  Do we have any individual strength at all,  other than the collective strength?  Knowledge, education, intelligence, abilities, condition etc. and all that has been attained by us has been attained from the collective mass, from all.  Therefore if you put to use those things that have been acquired from others in the service of others then what favors have you done?   Taking his things and utilizing it to serve him is honesty.  If you establish a relation with that thing, then a sense of me (mein pan) will come.  On there being a sense of me, a "sense of mine-ness"  (merapan) will also come, as well as, "it is for me" (mere liye).  

Neither is this "me" nor is it "mine".  That which is ‘this’, it cannot be ‘me’ and that which is ‘me’ it cannot be ‘this’.  The body is ‘this’, the mind is ‘this’, the intellect is ‘this’, the life breath is ‘this’, even the sense of mine is ‘this’; thus,  how can all of these be ‘me’ (the Self) ? The assumed affinity with the body and the world which is the relationship of me-mine is the main cause of birth and death, therefore one should very quickly wipe out that relationship.

Narayana !  Narayana !  Narayana !  

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

|| Shri Hari ||

How to be Free of Sense of Me and Mine? 

continued.....

Understand this point properly that how is this body for us?   You meditate, you do worship and adoration of the Lord, you do charity and virtuous deeds, you serve, but all these will be beneficial when the sentiments are that all these are not mine, then why do these deeds in the first place?   Do these because you have taken from others. This body too we have taken from others.  Food and water too we have taken from others.  Air too we have received from others.  The road we walk on that too has been constructed by someone else.  The shade under a tree too has been given to us from someone else.  The house too has been received from others.   That which is received from others has to be put in the service of others, by which debts will be paid off. All old debts have to be paid off and new debts should not be initiated.  

This will be useful to us,  he should listen to what we say,  he should agree with us -  as long as such desires remain, till then new debts will continue to be added on.   How will the inert be of any use to you?   You are sentient (consciousness). Then what are we to do?   To break free of the inert body either serve the world,  or serve God, or don't do anything for your Self.

It has come in the Gita  -

Daatvyamiti yadaanam deeyatenupakaarine |

deshe kaale cha paatre cha tadwaanam saatvikam smrutam ||

(Gita 17/20)

"A gift, charity which is made, to one from whom no return is expected, with the feeling, that it is one's duty to give, and which is given at a proper place and time and to a worthy person, that gift is held to be Sattvika (good and pure).

 In the explanation of this verse only God and Vyasji Maharaj knows in entirety.  I am not that highly learned, but it is my notion that by time, place and eligible recipient, it means on attaining proper time, place and proper recipient. (praapti sati).   ‘Anupkaari’ does not mean not to give charity to those who have done you good.    But rather it means, when you give to a person who has done good, then do not regard it as a gift (charity).  ‘Anupkaari’ means -  he who has previously not done any good, he never does any good to you and in the future too there is not the least bit of expectation of him doing any good, such giving with a disinterested spirit,  where there is no expectation of some return is ‘sattvik charity'.  

 continued.......

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

|| Shri Hari ||

How to be Free of Sense of Me and Mine? 

continued.....

The body merely has it's oneness with the world. The body is made up of the very same five elements that this world is made off.

Chitti jal paawak gagan sameera |

panch  rachit ati adham sareeraa  ||

(Manas 4/11/2)  

 

This body has been received for serving the world.  It is not for our self.  What benefit will the body bring about for us?  What use will this body be for us?  Do not consider this body as yours and for you, rather consider it as belonging to the world and for the benefit of the world.  Thinking so, utilize it for serving this world.  This alone will be of use.   

You may have doubt that with this body we do divine name recitation, meditation, contemplation on God, serving others, then isn't this body being used for our work only?  As such, this body does not come of any use to us;  as no object or action can reach our Self.  By doing Divine Name recitation, meditation, etc. the discrimination opens up (develops) and the in the inner faculties the importance of the world is wiped out.   On complete awakening of discrimination (vivek), relationship with the world is cut-off.  On severing relationship with the world, one experiences That ever-attained Paramatma.  Because the experience of the ever-attained Paramatma cannot take place through inert body-world, rather it takes place on detaching from the world.  Cutting off the relationship with the body and world takes place through "vivek" discrimination,  not through actions.  Therefore the body is not of use to us, only severing affinity with the body is of use to us!   

If we consider the body as being for us, then an affinity, a relationship will be established with the body.  When we contemplate and think about God, then we engage our mind - intellect in That.  Does mind - intellect belong to nature or do they belong to you?   They belong to Nature.  Nature is "par" (belonging to another) and you are "Swa" (Self, one's own).  Therefore with mind-intellect, you will have to become dependent in thinking and contemplating on Paramatma.  In reaching a state of "samadhi"  (deep trance),  you will have to take the support of the inert.  However, renouncing the inert,  it will be possible to be situated in the sentient (chinmay).  By taking the support of the inert, by understanding the inert to be a requirement, an essential need, how will it be renounced?   If salvation is only on cutting off the assumed affinity with this body and the other inert things, then what use will this body etc. be for us?    

 

 continued.......

From "Kalyaankari Pravachan"  in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji