Prasang A Day

A Means to Liberation '… Therefore, those who wish to strive for liberation should eradicate attachment to the vishays…'   [Gadhadã II-1]

Happiness due to Faith 'Also, if a person has faith, i.e., he believes, 'Whatever such a great Sant and God say is the truth; there is no doubt in it,' and with such a belief, he does as God and His Sant instruct him to do, then such a person remains happy…'   [Loyã-10]

Attributes of One Free form Infatuation 'When attachment to the vishays is eradicated, a person no longer makes distinctions between pleasant and unpleasant vishays - an ugly woman appears the same as a beautiful woman. In the same manner, he sees everything - animals, wood, dung, stones and gold - to be the same; he is not infatuated on seeing a pleasant object. This is how he views the panchvishays; no distinctions between pleasantness and unpleasantness remain in his mind. One who behaves like this is known to be free of infatuation…'   [Gadhadã II-1]

Aim to Attain God's Abode 'Therefore, keeping this thought in mind, all of you should resolve, 'Now we want to reach only the abode of God; we do not want to be tempted by the vain pleasures of the panchvishays along the way.' So, please keep such a firm resolve. Because what I have told all of you is My principle, please imbibe it firmly in your lives.'   [Panchãlã-1]

The Power of God '… In the same way, Purushottam Nãrãyan is the all-doer, the cause of all, the controller of all; He is extremely attractive, extremely radiant, and extremely powerful; also, He possesses the kartum, akartum and anyathã-kartum powers. If He wishes, He can eclipse all of the muktas of Akshardhãm by His own divine light and prevail alone. Also, if He wishes, He can accept the bhakti of the muktas and reside with them. He can eclipse even Akshar, in the form of the Akshardhãm in which He dwells, and preside alone independently. If He chooses, He is capable of supporting the countless muktas by His own power, without even needing Akshardhãm…'   [Loyã-13]

Scriptures that Should be and Should not be Heard Then Shriji Mahãrãj asked another question: 'Which scriptures should be heard and studied, and which scriptures should not be heard or studied?' Once again Shriji Mahãrãj replied, 'Scriptures which do not promote God possessing a form and do not describe God's avatãrs, but instead discuss pure Vedãnta and propound a single, formless entity, should never be studied or heard, even if they have been written by someone very intelligent. Also, even though they may be merely devotional songs like those composed by Ranchhod Bhakta, if they describe God's form, they should be sung and heard. Such scriptures should also be studied and heard.'   [Loyã-6]

What Causes Infatuation? 'Therefore, the panchvishays are the cause of infatuation. Moreover, there are three grades of those vishays - superior, average and inferior. Of these, if a person who has obtained superior vishays encounters someone who obstructs him from them, then that person becomes angry on the latter. From that anger, infatuation develops.'   [Gadhadã II-1]

Eradicating the Vishays '… In the same manner, the vishays that have already accumulated in the antahkaran through the indriyas should be eradicated by thinking of oneself as the ãtmã. One should think, 'I am the ãtmã, and the indriyas and the antahkaran have absolutely no relations with me.' With such resolute thinking, by beholding God's form in that chaitanya and through the bliss of one's ãtmã, one should remain fulfilled…'   [Gadhadã II-2]

Constituents of Bhakti 'Now, what constitutes bhakti? It is when one becomes brahmarup and performs the bhakti of the manifest form of God…'   [Loyã-7]

Being and Not Being Conceited Thereupon Swayamprakãshãnand Swãmi asked a question: 'When is conceit appropriate, and when is it not appropriate? When is humility appropriate, and when is it not appropriate?' Shriji Mahãrãj replied, 'It is appropriate to be conceited before one who spites Satsang, or speaks derogatorily of God or His great Sant. If a person does speak derogatorily, one should retaliate with words as sharp as an arrow, but in no way should one become humble before a non-believer. In such situations, that is appropriate. On the other hand, it is not appropriate to be conceited before God or His Sant. Before them, putting conceit aside, behaving as a servant of servants and becoming humble is the only appropriate behaviour.'   [Panchãlã-5]