Prasang A Day

Sometimes, why does everyone - good and bad - suffer? “…when there is the predominance of favourable kãl, it diminishes the power of the impure karmas of the jivas. Yet, when a terrible famine strikes, everyone suffers; or when there is a horrendous war, hundreds of thousands of people are killed at once. In these cases were everyone’s favourable karmas suddenly exhausted at the same time? Instead, it is the intense power of unfavourable kãl that overcomes the force of the favourable karmas of the jivas. So, when the influence of intense kãl prevails, karmas have no influence; due to the influence of kãl, karmas that should have resulted in happiness lead to misery, and karmas that should have resulted in longevity lead to death. In this manner, when the influence of a strong kãl is prevalent, everything occurs due to kãl. So it is mentioned in the scriptures.” [Vartãl-6]

A brave devotee “… When a person with such bravery in his heart conceives some desirous thought other than that of God, then as he is a brave devotee, intense contemplation arises within, thus dispelling all such desirous thoughts. Thereby, he continuously engages his vrutti on the form of God.” [Gadhadã II-36]

How can a hypocrite be recognized? Then Nãjã Bhakta asked, “How can one recognise a person who, when he speaks, shows that he has faith in God like that of a devotee, yet does not truly have the total refuge of God?” Shriji Mahãrãj replied, “Only after staying together and working together can one recognise the strength or weakness of the faith of a devotee of God. One who has little faith would become agitated and find a path out of the Satsang fellowship. He would seek solitude where he could engage in worship to his capacity, but he would not be able to tolerate the pressures of living with the fellowship of devotees. Thus, refuge of God is of three levels: highest, medium, and lowest. Due to this, there are three levels of devotees.” [Vartãl-5.8,9]

Automatic vairagya “… In the same way, one with deep affection for God immediately becomes angry on any object that acts as an obstruction in that affection, and he immediately shuns that object. Therefore, one who has deep affection for God automatically develops vairãgya as well as discretion.” [Gadhadã III-14]

Not controlling one's indriyas, the cause of misery “A person who has not controlled his indriyas by vairãgya and swadharma remains miserable, despite staying in the company of God and His Bhakta.  [Gadhadã III-8]

One's innate nature can be eradicated 'For a person to eradicate one's innate nature is indeed difficult. In spite of this, if one has realised Satsang to be the fulfiller of one's self-interest, then it is not difficult to do so. For example, the members of Dãdã Khãchar's family have an interest in keeping Me here, so they do not retain any nature which I do not like. In this way, one's innate nature can be eradicated due to self-interest…' [Gadhadã III-24]

Why do the intelligent sometimes fall from Satsang and yet the unintelligent remain? Thereafter Ayodhyãprasãdji asked, 'Suppose, on the one hand, there is one who is very intelligent, whose insight into the scriptures is also exceptional. On the other hand, there is one who is not so intelligent and who has a limited understanding of the scriptures. Nevertheless, the one who is very intelligent falls from the Satsang fellowship, whereas the one who is not intelligent remains firm in Satsang. What is the reason for this?' Shriji Mahãrãj answered, 'There are two types of people in this world: godly and demonic. Of these, those who are demonic will fall from Satsang, despite being exceptionally intelligent; whereas those who are godly will never fall from Satsang, even though they may not be intelligent. For example, if one sows a seed of chilli or the seed of a neem tree or the seed of a shingadiyo vachhnãg plant, and one waters them daily with sweet water, the chillies will still turn out to be pungent; the neem tree, bitter; and the shingadiyo vachhnãg plant, poisonous. Why? Because the very seeds themselves are such. On the other hand, if one sows sugarcane, the juice of the sugarcane will still be sweet despite treating it with compost from the leaves of a neem tree and watering it with bitter water. In the same manner, godly people will always adhere to the path of God, and demonic people will always turn away from the path of God.' [Gadhadã III-14]

The Unforgettable Gnan “If one has completely understood the essence of this discourse, then regardless of whether one is reborn in a base or elevated life form due to one’s prãrabdha karmas, still, like Vrutrãsur, one will not forget this gnãn. Also, when Bharatji was reborn as a deer, he retained gnãn from his previous life. Such is the profound greatness of this gnãn. In fact, it is even narrated continuously in the assemblies of sages such as Nãrad, the Sanakãdik, and Brahmã and other demigods.” [Gadhadã II-13]

Not Noticing Faults in Someone who Serves his Self-interests “In fact, it is a usual custom in this world that an intelligent person will not notice a fault in someone who serves the person’s major self-interests…' [Gadhadã II-17]

Even the Great Behave as the Servants of God “… Despite being aksharrup, they behave as the servants of Purushottam Bhagwãn, who transcends Akshar…” [Gadhadã II-18]