Prasang A Day

Sole Means to Liberation “The sole cause behind the jiva attaining liberation, transcending mãyã and becoming brahmaswarup is its engagement in the gnãn, meditation, devotional songs, spiritual discourses, etc., of the manifest form of Vãsudev Bhagwãn, who is Purushottam. It is due to these that the jiva transgresses mãyã, attains an extremely elevated state, and also attains God’s Akshardhãm…” [Gadhadã II-32]

Why is India the Best? “… Of these, Bharat-khand is the best because although the other eight have a greater extent of worldly pleasures to indulge in, one cannot attain liberation there – endeavours for liberation are only possible in Bharat-khand. For this reason, there is no place in the 14 realms equal to Bharat-khand.” [Bhugol-Khagol 1]

Shriji Maharaj's Spiritual Status “In addition, only the contemplation of God remains within My heart, and although I outwardly meet and mingle with devotees of God, it is solely for the benefit of their jivas. Indeed, the day when I feel that I have developed affection for something other than the devotees of God, I will consider Myself as having been dislodged from My spiritual status. However, I am confident that that would never happen…” [Gadhadã II-33]

I am always Cautious “In addition, a thought also remains within My heart that I am the ãtmã, distinct from the body; I am not like this body. Also, My mind is always cautious, lest a portion of mãyã in the form of rajogun, tamogun, etc., infiltrate My ãtmã! In fact, I am constantly vigilant of that.” [Gadhadã II-55]

My Inherent Nature “I am of the opinion that even if I try to develop affection for anyone other than God and His ekãntik bhaktas, I cannot do so. I also feel that My inclination is similar to that of Jadbharat, Shukdev, Dattãtreya and Rushabhdev Bhagwãn. As a result, I also prefer to stay only in forests, mountains and jungles; I do not like to stay in large towns or cities. Such is My inherent nature. Despite this, I stay in the midst of thousands of people for the sake of God and His devotees. Nevertheless, I remain just as detached here as I would if I were living in the forests. But I do not stay amidst thousands of people out of any self-interest; it is for the sake of God and His devotees that I stay in the midst of people. In fact, no matter how much pravrutti I may have to engage Myself in for the sake of the devotees of God, I still consider it to be nivrutti.” [Gadhadã III-21]

Not Desiring Anything but the Manifest Form of God Thereafter Shuk Muni asked, “One devotee of God is such that his faith in God is perfect, and disturbances such as lust, anger, avarice, infatuation, etc., do not arise in his heart. A second devotee is such that his faith in God is perfect, but swabhãvs such as lust, anger, avarice, infatuation, etc., do cause a disturbance within. When these two types of devotees leave their bodies, do they attain the same level of bliss in the abode of God, or do they attain different levels of bliss?” Shriji Maharaj replied, 'If a devotee of God whose faith is perfect and who is not disturbed by lust, anger, avarice, etc., desires anything other than the manifest form of Shri Krishna Bhagwan, then, even if he is a great renunciant and has firm vairagya and intense atma-realisation, he will attain a lower level of bliss. As for the other devotee, even though he also has perfect faith in God, when lust, anger, avarice, infatuation etc., cause disturbances within, he feels remorse within his heart. But, except for the manifest form of Shri Krishna Bhagwan, he wishes for no other object. Then, even if he has only a slight amount of atma-relaisation and vairagya, such a devotee still attains profound bliss in the abode of God after leaving his body...' [Gadhadã III-5]

Faith in God coupled with Knowledge of His greatness is Spiritual Progress “… Then, as a person develops faith coupled with the knowledge of God’s greatness, his jivãtmã progresses and becomes like the full moon of Punam. Thereafter, his indriyas and antahkaran are no longer capable of dislodging him from his faith. Regardless of the type of action God performs, he does not perceive any fault in God. In addition, one who has faith in God coupled with the knowledge of His greatness becomes a fearless devotee.” [Vartãl-12]

The Glory of Sadhus “All of you, however, are the best type of devotees. In fact, sãdhus such as yourselves who observe niyams are of a totally different category. For that reason, whoever feeds you sincerely will earn the merits of performing millions of sacrifices and will ultimately attain liberation. Whoever touches your feet will be freed of their sins committed in millions of past lives. Anyone who kindly offers you clothes will also attain ultimate liberation. Whichever rivers and lakes into which you dip your feet become like places of pilgrimage, and any tree that you have sat under or eaten fruits of will also definitely benefit. If someone devoutly does your darshan, or if someone devoutly bows before you, then all of his sins are destroyed. Moreover, whomever you talk to about God and whomever you inspire to observe the niyams related to dharma will attain liberation. In fact, all of the actions of sãdhus like yourselves who observe niyams are redemptive. This is because you have the firm refuge of the manifest form of Shri Narnãrãyan Rishi. That Shri Narnãrãyan Rishi is always present in your assembly. This is the answer to those two points.” [Jetalpur-4]

One Should Not Infer Death for God “Those who infer death upon Shri Narnãrãyan will themselves have to undergo countless births. The suffering of passing through the cycle of 8.4 million different life forms3 and the torments of Yampuri are indeed endless. Conversely, those who realise Shri Narnãrãyan to be beyond aging and death will be released from their karmas and the consequent cycle of births and deaths in the 8.4 million life forms. Therefore, all satsangis and sãdhus of our Uddhav Sampradãy should not infer death upon the forms of God – those that have occurred in the past, the current one or those that will occur in the future. This principle should be noted by all.” [Amdãvãd-4]

God Tests His Devotees through Hardships “When a devotee of God experiences hardships of any kind, it should be known that the source of those miseries is not kãl, karma or mãyã. In actual fact, it is God Himself who inspires hardships to befall upon His devotees in order to test their patience. Then, just as a man hides behind a curtain and watches, God hides in the heart of His devotee and from there He observes the devotee’s patience. Besides, who are kãl, karma and mãyã that they could hurt a devotee of God? So, realising it to be God’s wish, a devotee of God should remain cheerful.” [Gadhadã II-62]