|| Shri Hari ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

continued....

Even though the Lord was a very close friend of Arjuna,  then too the Lord never gave the message of the Gita to him. However, at the time of war, when the weapons were ready to be used on both sides  -  

Pravruitte shastrasampaate dhanurudyamya paandavah”  

(Gita 1/20).

During that time, the Lord shared the gospel of Gita with Arjuna !  Was this an opportune time of peace and quiet for sharing the Gita?   The answer to this is that previously Arjuna had not become  restless in this manner,  or  taken refuge in the Lord.     On the battlefield, when he saw, that both parties had his kith and kin,  then a dilemma crept in as to whether to fight or not?   Will we win in battle or will the Kauravas win?   Is my supreme good in fighting the war or is it in not fighting?  He took refuge in the Lord and prayed-  

Kaarpanya dosho pahataswabhaavah

prucchaami tvaam dharmasamoodhchetaah |

Yacchreyah syaannischintam broohi tanme

Shishyasteham shaadhi maam tvaam prapannam ||     

(Gita 2/7)   

“My nature is overwhelmed with the vice of faint-heartedness and my mind is confused with regard to my duty.  I entreat you,  to please tell me what is decidedly for my eternal good.  I am your disciple.  Do instruct me,  who have taken refuge in you.”  (Gita 2/7)   

Thus, in the beginning of the Gita,  Arjuna takes refuge in God and asks about his supreme good, his salvation and in the end God tells Arjuna to take refuge in Him -  

“Maamekum sharanam vraj”  (Gita 18/66)  

Arjuna first told the Lord that “I have taken refuge in You,   please advice me”,   but immediately thereafter he says “I will not fight”  saying so Arjuna became quite -  

“Na yotsya iti govindamuktvaa tushnim babhoova ha”  

(Gita 2/9).

 

Lord did not think this to be proper, but He did not say anything.   Due to being extremely compassionate, the Lord began to deliver His message.   

    (continued....)

 

From book in hindi “Jit Dekhu Titi Tu” by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

continued....

Gita cannot be known where there is pride of scholarliness. Such cases have also come before me.   There was a good doctor, who knew the deep meanings of Ramayana.   On Gita Jayanti day,  I shared some points from Gitaji, so he became interested in Gitaji.  He said that whenever I listen to anyone reciting a verse,  I am able to remember it (rote memorize it); I therefore would like to know the deeper meaning of Gita.  I said to him to memorize the twelfth chapter,  and come back,  at which time I will explain its proper meaning.   After a few days he returned saying, that 'I am making a significant effort in trying to memorize the Gita, but I cannot remember the Gita !'   As I understand, the reason for this inability to memorize is  that he had pride within that he is very knowledgeable and  that he is able to very quickly memorize the verses !  Pride is a great obstacle in the path of spirituality.    He who being free of pride,   with a simple-straightforwardness takes refuge in Gitaji,   he begins to understand the feelings and sentiments of Gita.   I have seen that those who have taken refuge in God,  experience such exceptional feelings, that it occasionally appears even in the literary works and scriptures.

  Therefore taking refuge in God is a main point that has been emphasized in Gita.

Gita begins with “Sharanagati”  (taking refuge) and ends with “Sharanagati".  Lord Krishna and Arjuna were together all the time.  In Srimad Bhagavat,  Arjuna says  -  

Shayyaasanaatanvikathnbhojanaadi - shvaikyaad vayasya rutvaaniti vipralabdhah |

sakhyuh sakheva pitruvattnayasya sarvam sehe mahaan mahitayaa kumater dham me ||  

(Srimad Bhagwat 1/15/19)  

“While sleeping, sitting, wandering, chit-chatting,  and eating with Lord Krishna,  I developed such spontaneity with him, that I often called him “O’  friend!  you are my very own!”   Saying so I used to even attack him.  But with dignity and greatness, the great Lord,  used to tolerate all those scorns and contempt from my limited intellect,  just like a friend tolerates all the insults and scorning of his friend,  and a father does the same for his son.”   (continued....)

From book in hindi “Jit Dekhu Titi Tu” by Swami Ramsukhdasji

=================================

|| Shri Hari ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

In Gita, God has elaborated on various disciplines to attain Him.   There is no method, solution, that is left out by which man can attain His salvation.  The talks that can be shared by various mouths,  have been conveyed by Lord’s own mouth !  Thus Shridhar Swami a translator and commentator of Gitaji,  has written -  

Sheshaasheshamukhavyaakhyaachaaturyam tvekavaktratah |

Dadhaanmadbhutam vande paramaanandamaadhavam ||  

I pray to that exceptional, eternally blissful Lord Shri Krishna, who cleverly takes in with one mouth the discourses shared by  “Sheshnaag”  through his various mouths.     

Gita is a fathomless ocean of knowledge.   On studying it,   various new sentiments and feelings arise and they continue to manifest.   Yes !  if someone tries to understand Gita based on their intellect, their deep knowledge and study, then they will be unable to understand Gitaji.  If they take refuge in Gita and the Gita orator, and then try to study Gita, then the essence of Gita will automatically come to them on its own.   

Gita is a holy text which is out of the Lord’s grace.    Gita showers Her grace and after gracing, reveals Herself on Her own to those who take refuge in this holy text.  I have seen such people, who had no knowledge of Sanskrit,  but they were able to translate the meaning !  Even though they may not know the language,  the principles of Gitaji,  the feelings and sentiments come into their mind.   Approximately 60-65 years back, there was an accountant in Calcutta.  He did not know how to write pure hindi.  One day he said,  I wish to memorize the Gita;  but it is not financially feasible for me to pay a teacher.  I said to him,  you prostrate in front of God,  take refuge in Him,  and start to read the Gita.   He went home,  kept the Lord’s picture in front of him,  lit a candle and some incense,  offered some flowers and saying “Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum”  began to read the Gita.   In due time, he memorized the Gita.  I heard him recite the eighteen chapters with  all the other attendees.  There was very few flaws in his recitation. (to be cintinued)

Ram Ram 

From book in hindi “Jit Dekhu Titi Tu” by Swami Ramsukhdasji

|| Shri Hari ||

Way to Eradicate Anger

continued...

Please give up this idea that "I have anger in me".  Considering yourself to be angry based on past event is pointless.  Anger is against one's spiritual discipline. It is an obstacle to one's spiritual progress.  When anger comes, at that moment man's power of discrimination is destroyed.  As soon as anger comes -

krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ

smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati

(Gita 2/63)

Your memory is destroyed !  Everything is forgotten,  such as - I am God's; I worship Him and am devoted to Him; I associate with holy company / Truth; I am a spiritual aspirant,  – all this is forgotten.  When we forget the main purpose of this birth which is to engage in worship and remembrance of God and realize Him, what a major loss one suffers !  

sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ

That which is written in the Gitaji is very true.  There are two points

(1) There is no anger in us and

(2) Anger destroys man  

Therefore in fact, we must not get angry. 

Desire, anger, greed, attachment, lust, envy, conflict and all the other flaws that appear; they do not stay.  Understand them to be temporary, the kind that come and go.  Inquire on their nature.  They do not have an independent existence.  Understand this third point.  How is there no anger in us?  Then see – -  do you get angry with everyone?  Do you get angry at all times?  Does the anger remain at all times?  Is there nothing else in me besides anger?  See!  these points that are being shared,  I have acquired them from great saints and souls.  You will definitely be benefited by them. That is the truth.  You do it and see for yourself.

It is said that -  

"Ishvar ansh jeev avinashi chetan amal sahaj sukh raashi"  

We are a part of God, we are divinity, immortal, conscious, untainted and blissful by nature. We are indestructible, therefore we have to detach from the flaws.     "Amal," - there are no flaws in us.   Have faith in Goswamiji's words.  

Lord Krishna’s words say -   

"Mamaivaansho jeevaloke",  

(Gita 15:7)

If it is in the father, than it will be in the son!  There is no flaw in God.

“Krodhopi shatru prathamah

naraanaam dehasthito dehvinaashnaai."  

There  is great loss, destruction from anger, for you as well as the other.

"Namostute krodhdevaay swaashraya jwaaline visham,"

O' God of anger, I bow to you. Wherever you go, first you burn off that place.  How ungrateful!  Others you burn later on, first it burns you.  

"Jis haandi mein khaave usi ko phode."  

You break the plate that you eat in.   So vicious!  That wood in which there is fire, that itself you burn.  Therefore Brother, you must leave this anger!   First it burns us and then the other, like fire.  Anger even burn blood, it destroys it.

See, there is a very good point.  When anger comes understand that it is not in you, then where did it come from?  Then there was some tendencies from the past therefore it has come, but now it is gone.  It has not come, just some impressions of the past were there on the mind-intellect, but it is gone now.  Do not consider it to have come, know it as it is on its way out.  Just like a dirty pipe when cleaned smells awful. As such it is not the bad smell that is coming, with cleaning the odor is going away.    Gentlemen you will observe that you get angry less frequently,  doe not remain for long period, if far less forceful than before.   This is the experience that all should experience.  From this it is proven that anger is not coming, rather it is on its way out.   In the present everyone is flawless.

Narayan !  Narayan !!  Narayan !!!  

From lecture in hindi on "Krodh Naash kaa upaaya" on Feb 04, 1996 at 3 p.m. by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shri Hari ||

Way to Eradicate Anger

A question came up that, we are unable to leave sins and unable to  accept that everything is Paramatma's (God's).  We want, but we simply cannot.  We see faults in our selves, and further more we continue to incur sins, what should we do? 

I am telling you a point.  Grab hold of this point, become established (fixed) in it, experience it, and see for yourself.  This is useful talk for everyone, listen carefully.  What is faults/vices/sins ?  Gitaji says -

  

‘त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः’ (गीता १६ । २१)

"trividham narkasya dvaaram naakashnamaatmanah |  

kaamh krodhastathaa lobhastsmaadetattrayam tyajet ||

(Gita 16/21).

There are three types of sins that will lead to one's downfall -  lust, anger and greed.  These three are the gates to hell.  Therefore they must be given up.   

So we think that we get angry, let us think about how to give up this anger.  How to gain victory over it?  Even though we do not want, then too it comes, it comes on suddenly.  It troubles us a lot.  How to give that up?  We are unable to bare it.

Therefore it is my sincere prayer to all of you that first inquire on whether you want to give up this anger.  Let us inquire on this bad habit.  When one flaw is entirely given up, then other flaws will also diminish significantly, and will go away.  Therefore let us think about anger.   We see anger in ourselves and in others and others also get angry.  Now how to get rid of this anger, ?  Become firm on this point and remain so.  There is no anger in us, and there is no anger in others.  Accept this with a firm conviction.  If I ask you all, whether you are angry right now, you will say not right now.  Therefore anger is not in you, it has come.  This is the truth, isn't it?   Is there any doubt about it, if so ask?  This is a very beneficial topic.  When one believes that there is anger in them, then that itself will be the cause of him getting angry.  Then why are you accepting such things?  You say that I have become angry many times.   Therefore you are taking the anger from the past, and accumulating it within yourself.  This is a mistake !  You say, for years I have been seeing myself, there is anger within me.  This sentiment, that there is anger in me, that sentiment itself is preventing me from eradicating the anger.

Time and again anger comes, and other times, you remain free of anger.  Are you most of the times staying angry or are you free of anger most of the times?  It is my belief that most of you will agree that most of the time you are free of anger.  Only for a short time you become one with anger.   In your entire life has the anger remained continuously for 24 hours?  It is our experience that most of the times we are free of anger.   Therefore there is no anger in us.   Anger comes and goes.  By saying that there is anger in us, we are inviting anger. This is the main inertness of anger.   Be very attentive to this point.   Therefore there is no anger in us - hold on to this with a firm conviction.  

to be continued........ 

From lecture in hindi on "Krodh Naash kaa upaaya" on Feb 04, 1996 at 3 p.m. by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shri Hari ||

Benediction from a Firm Resolve

There is a saying - "If one does not have to go to a particular village, why ask for the directions to go there?"  If we have a firm resolve, a firm determination, the fortitude that - "We will not do, as per our own wishes" then that act that we wish to do, cannot take place.  Just like when we firmly make up our mind, "I will not watch a movie at all or I will not take anything that is addictive, then, that firm resolve, that decisive "No" means "No!"  

From today on wards, I do not want to drink tea, then, there is no tea drinking thereafter at all. That desire is over.  From now on I will not lie, then why will there be lies that are spoken? Lies simply cannot come out of your mouth.  Similarly, with acquiring good qualities and conduct and renouncing bad qualities and conduct, if there is a firm resolve, the sentiments can develop very quickly and soon with virtually no effort it becomes part of your conduct. 

There is one very useful point, that we must firmly keep the resolves and promises we make to ourselves.  In other words, in all relations whatever decisions we arrive at, follow through with them.  By doing so your thoughts become concrete and the resolve is firm.  In the same way, if you say something, then endeavor to do that only.  We must make every effort to follow through after making an assertion.  Even if we have to die, we will follow through.  In small tasks if we attempt to develop a nature that remains firm and determinate, then our nature will improve.  When our nature improves, when best of thoughts come to mind, they will be supported.  This nurturing sentiments and the practice of follow through are very easy and very good.  

When people enter the armed forces, they have their names enlisted and they feel they are "Army" men. On having these sentiments their mind automatically is seeking ways to find out what an army man should do.  Having such quest, they are given the appropriate knowledge, which they absorb and retain within themselves.  

to be continued........ 

From book in hindi "Ek Saadhe, Sab Sadhe" by Swami Ramsukhdasji