If a person chases evil sense-enjoyments, he will become an evil soul. If one lives an average life exercising self-restraint, at one moment and slipping the next, he is an ordinary person. However, if a person reposes in God, within, the greatest of the great, and fills his heart with divine love and divine knowledge; if he is engaged in the yoga of selfless action, he will become a great soul.
The Lord says:
‘However, great souls, O Partha (Arjun), who take refuge in My divine nature, worship Me with a single mind (with the mind devoted to nothing else), knowing Me as the eternal and imperishable source of beings!’
People who take refuge in their divine nature, are imbued with traits of the Eternal Consciousness, the Supreme Self. Even if for some reason they go to lower life-forms, such traits are not destroyed. King Bharata, after whom this country was named Bharat, departed from the world thinking of a deer and consequently had to be born as a deer in his next life. However, he retained his samaskaras of bhakti of his previous birth even in his life as a deer. Once I went to Ujhani (Uttar Pradesh). There I found a dog that kept a fast on Tuesdays!
‘An eternal portion of Me has become a living soul in the world of life.’
There are many sadhakas, who having gone astray are found in the bodies of deers and dogs. A millionaire in the previous birth will not necessarily be born as a millionaire in the next. A doctor in the previous birth cannot be born as a doctor in the next life; he has to study medical science to become a doctor. But a sadhaka will regain to the spiritual heights of his or her previous life, right from birth.
Ashtavakra started talking about Brahmajnana while still in his mother’s womb. The queen of Ayodhya used to keep a mare by the name of Shyama for providing services to the Kanak Bhavan temple located in Ayodhya. What incredible wisdom that mare’s life exuded! As the mare had grown old, it was decided to turn her out of the temple. This resulted in the mare giving up fodder and water. She didn’t want to leave. At the queen’s insistence, the temple authorities booked with the railways to send her by the goods-cum-animal train. The mare was tied with strong cords and seated in the railway bogie. The strong will of the mare created such circumstances that the guard forgot to connect that particular bogie to the train. The mare was brought back to Kanak Bhavan temple. Everybody was surprised at how the strong will of the mare brought about such a divine miracle!
The sadhana a human being does in this life bears fruit in the next, even if the human being is reborn as a deer, a dog or a mare. A person who takes recourse to Yoga of wisdom (Buddhiyoga) and endeavours for God-realization can attain the goal in the same life. If for some reason the task remains incomplete because of some mistake, sin or base thinking, one goes to a lower form of life, but continues to be endowed with the spiritual traits and strong will power even in the current birth, as is evident from the incidents described above. Therefore, as far as possible, don’t allow small negativities to become bad habits. Though conscious effort cultivate the finest traits of remembering God, maintaining equanimity in pleasure and pain and rendering selfless service.
The following is a real incident that took place in Karah village (Gwaior). There lived a renowned maharaj by the name, Shri Babaji. He had a dog with its tail cut off. Babaji called him Banda Bhagat. Like other sadhus living in the Ashram, Banda Bhagat paid obeisance to Babaji every morning by throwing himself prostrate at his feet. A farmer used to bring rotis and milk for Babaji everyday. Babaji would eat the rotis with chilly and spices, and give the milk to Banda Bhagat. This went on for quite a few months. Finally, one day the farmer blurted out “Babaji! I don’t bring the milk for this dog, I bring it for you.”
Maharajji said, “It does not matter. He is also not an ordinary dog. So what if Banda Bhagat drinks the milk! Assume I have drunk it.”
The disciple said, “If you don’t want to have the milk yourself, why don’t you give it to the other sadhus?”
Banda Bhagat was listening to the conversation. Next day, when the farmer came with the rotis and the milk, Shri Babaji as usual kept the rotis for himself and placed the milk before Banda Bhagat. Banda Bhagat simply left the place. Babaji followed Banda Bhagat around with the milk but Banda Bhagat stubbornly refused to drink the milk. Within a few days the farmer started to face many troubles and calamities. Without any apparent reason, one of his buffaloes died. After a few more days, another one died and trouble started in his house. The farmer came to Babaji and wailed, “Babaji! From the day Banda Bhagat became displeased with me, my fortune has become displeased with me. There is massive trouble in my family. Just as nature punishes one for harassing a saint, similarly. I am in a wretched condition because of insulting Banda Bhagat.”
Shri Babaji said, “Brother! What can I do now? You have wronged Banda Bhagat. Seek forgiveness from his alone.”
The farmer came with milk the next day and placing it before Banda Bhagat said with folded hands, “O great devotee! You are a devotee of God’s devotee. Don’t look at my vices. Have mercy on me! Because of my foolishness, I insulted you. This has brought all kinds of trouble in my home. My house is fraught with in-fighting and lack of peace and nothing seems good. Two of my buffaloes have died, this will ruin me. After all, I am a servant to the saints, Banda Bhagat! Kindly bless me!”
Banda Bhagat raised his eyes and looked at him and started relishing the milk. Following this, prosperity returned to that farmer’s house. Days and nights passed. Time elapsed. One day Banda Bhagat came to Babaji and lovingly started wagging his cut tail and rubbed his back against the ground indicating he wanted to take leave forever. Babaji said, “Do you want to go? Okay, go.”
Banda Bhagat lay down on the ground outside the Ashram. Looking at the Sun, he left his body. Babaji made a Samadhi for Banda Bhagat’s body and gave the customary feast in his death.
In whatever life-form the devotee goes, the traits of devotions to the All-merciful Lord present in his inner being remain intact in him. God’s divine nature protects the devotee. Bhakti save one even in lower forms of life. Thus those who imbibe the wisdom of satsang and inculcat Godly traits in their inner being, amass wealth of a very high value. It is difficult for a pauper to become a millionaire on the strength of his hard work and manual labor but if he is adopted by a millionaire, he becomes a millionaire instantly. Similarly, coming to satsang means sitting in God’s lap. The merit obtained by getting darshan and attending satsang of devotees of God never goes in vain. Meditation and bhakti never go in vain.
The Lord says:
‘However, great souls, O Partha (Arjun), who take refuge in My divine nature, worship Me with a single mind (with the mind devoted to nothing else), knowing Me as the eternal and imperishable source of beings!’
People who take refuge in their divine nature, are imbued with traits of the Eternal Consciousness, the Supreme Self. Even if for some reason they go to lower life-forms, such traits are not destroyed. King Bharata, after whom this country was named Bharat, departed from the world thinking of a deer and consequently had to be born as a deer in his next life. However, he retained his samaskaras of bhakti of his previous birth even in his life as a deer. Once I went to Ujhani (Uttar Pradesh). There I found a dog that kept a fast on Tuesdays!
‘An eternal portion of Me has become a living soul in the world of life.’
There are many sadhakas, who having gone astray are found in the bodies of deers and dogs. A millionaire in the previous birth will not necessarily be born as a millionaire in the next. A doctor in the previous birth cannot be born as a doctor in the next life; he has to study medical science to become a doctor. But a sadhaka will regain to the spiritual heights of his or her previous life, right from birth.
Ashtavakra started talking about Brahmajnana while still in his mother’s womb. The queen of Ayodhya used to keep a mare by the name of Shyama for providing services to the Kanak Bhavan temple located in Ayodhya. What incredible wisdom that mare’s life exuded! As the mare had grown old, it was decided to turn her out of the temple. This resulted in the mare giving up fodder and water. She didn’t want to leave. At the queen’s insistence, the temple authorities booked with the railways to send her by the goods-cum-animal train. The mare was tied with strong cords and seated in the railway bogie. The strong will of the mare created such circumstances that the guard forgot to connect that particular bogie to the train. The mare was brought back to Kanak Bhavan temple. Everybody was surprised at how the strong will of the mare brought about such a divine miracle!
The sadhana a human being does in this life bears fruit in the next, even if the human being is reborn as a deer, a dog or a mare. A person who takes recourse to Yoga of wisdom (Buddhiyoga) and endeavours for God-realization can attain the goal in the same life. If for some reason the task remains incomplete because of some mistake, sin or base thinking, one goes to a lower form of life, but continues to be endowed with the spiritual traits and strong will power even in the current birth, as is evident from the incidents described above. Therefore, as far as possible, don’t allow small negativities to become bad habits. Though conscious effort cultivate the finest traits of remembering God, maintaining equanimity in pleasure and pain and rendering selfless service.
The following is a real incident that took place in Karah village (Gwaior). There lived a renowned maharaj by the name, Shri Babaji. He had a dog with its tail cut off. Babaji called him Banda Bhagat. Like other sadhus living in the Ashram, Banda Bhagat paid obeisance to Babaji every morning by throwing himself prostrate at his feet. A farmer used to bring rotis and milk for Babaji everyday. Babaji would eat the rotis with chilly and spices, and give the milk to Banda Bhagat. This went on for quite a few months. Finally, one day the farmer blurted out “Babaji! I don’t bring the milk for this dog, I bring it for you.”
Maharajji said, “It does not matter. He is also not an ordinary dog. So what if Banda Bhagat drinks the milk! Assume I have drunk it.”
The disciple said, “If you don’t want to have the milk yourself, why don’t you give it to the other sadhus?”
Banda Bhagat was listening to the conversation. Next day, when the farmer came with the rotis and the milk, Shri Babaji as usual kept the rotis for himself and placed the milk before Banda Bhagat. Banda Bhagat simply left the place. Babaji followed Banda Bhagat around with the milk but Banda Bhagat stubbornly refused to drink the milk. Within a few days the farmer started to face many troubles and calamities. Without any apparent reason, one of his buffaloes died. After a few more days, another one died and trouble started in his house. The farmer came to Babaji and wailed, “Babaji! From the day Banda Bhagat became displeased with me, my fortune has become displeased with me. There is massive trouble in my family. Just as nature punishes one for harassing a saint, similarly. I am in a wretched condition because of insulting Banda Bhagat.”
Shri Babaji said, “Brother! What can I do now? You have wronged Banda Bhagat. Seek forgiveness from his alone.”
The farmer came with milk the next day and placing it before Banda Bhagat said with folded hands, “O great devotee! You are a devotee of God’s devotee. Don’t look at my vices. Have mercy on me! Because of my foolishness, I insulted you. This has brought all kinds of trouble in my home. My house is fraught with in-fighting and lack of peace and nothing seems good. Two of my buffaloes have died, this will ruin me. After all, I am a servant to the saints, Banda Bhagat! Kindly bless me!”
Banda Bhagat raised his eyes and looked at him and started relishing the milk. Following this, prosperity returned to that farmer’s house. Days and nights passed. Time elapsed. One day Banda Bhagat came to Babaji and lovingly started wagging his cut tail and rubbed his back against the ground indicating he wanted to take leave forever. Babaji said, “Do you want to go? Okay, go.”
Banda Bhagat lay down on the ground outside the Ashram. Looking at the Sun, he left his body. Babaji made a Samadhi for Banda Bhagat’s body and gave the customary feast in his death.
In whatever life-form the devotee goes, the traits of devotions to the All-merciful Lord present in his inner being remain intact in him. God’s divine nature protects the devotee. Bhakti save one even in lower forms of life. Thus those who imbibe the wisdom of satsang and inculcat Godly traits in their inner being, amass wealth of a very high value. It is difficult for a pauper to become a millionaire on the strength of his hard work and manual labor but if he is adopted by a millionaire, he becomes a millionaire instantly. Similarly, coming to satsang means sitting in God’s lap. The merit obtained by getting darshan and attending satsang of devotees of God never goes in vain. Meditation and bhakti never go in vain.
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