Lest you of no use to the Lord

The perspective only of those great Sadguru who have attained God’s essential nature of Existence Consciousness Bliss Absolute destroys our false beliefs. Otherwise the scriptures and the social system and customs lay all kinds of traps for us. We get out of one only to fall into another. Like a spider’s cobweb, there are a number of webs wife, son, business, society that enmesh man.

The son will say, ‘’papa! Your duty to look after your children. I’ m still very to look after your children. I m still very young. Let me study and be settled; only then should you go for spiritual sadhana.’’ The Father has your father? It is your dour to care for your aging parents. Each member of the family tries to fool the others in order to serve his own selfish interests.

The politician will ask, ‘You must work for me.’ Everybody will use you and abandon you when you are no longer of use to him. Only when you come by the Sadguru, he will tell you, ‘You think you served others but he alone is really useful to others, who fist accomplishes his own task.’

Otherwise he will give no real help to those whom he wants to help. Buddha could serve others because he had first accomplished his own task. Kabirji accomplished task; so did I. That why I’ m able to give real help to others. Had I not been alert to accomplish own task and had strayed into the pursuit of degrees or titles or of becoming ‘something,’ I’ not have been useful to others in the real sense. During Bhandaras, when tribals take home the distributed items, the happiness on their faces gives me the satisfaction of being of use to them.

When I come in your midst, I can get you queue up with gifts in hand for my ‘Darshan.’ I can extract money on one pretext or other. In that case, I am of use to you; therefore I save you from all wastage of time and money and try my best to elevate you spiritually.

One serves the society with the body; one serves the Lord with the mind; but it is only through solitude, worship of the Lord and the yoga of wisdom that one serves oneself.

We may assist our fellow beings or the society with physical body we should not exhaust ourselves so much that we are of no use to the Lord. Our mind can serve the Lord only if the body is given some rest and the mind is calm and composed. With such mind alone you can love The Lord and that is only service you can render to Him.

Do serve the society give food to the hungry; quench the thirst of the thirsty; give education to the uneducated; teach good sense to the imprudent. In sum, trying to ensure present and long term wellbeing of your fellow beings is serving the society. This does mean that I should serve the drunkard by giving him liquor and non vegetarian food or the lustful by making arrangements for his gratification. Serve others within the bounds of righteousness. Suppose you’ ve resolved to give away five thousand rupees in charity on occasion of Diwali and you spend the money on buying movie tickets among the railway porters seeking to make them happy. Have wasted your money and they have wasted their time and energy. Their minds and the society have become depraved. You have not served them. One should give charity at an appropriate time, at an appropriate place and to an appropriate person. You should aim at the donee’s wellbeing, at elevating him, not at his pleasure. If along with wellbeing and elevation, he gets some pleasure, there is no harm but pleasure should not be at the cost wellbThe perspective only of those great Sadguru who have attained God’s essential nature of Existence Consciousness Bliss Absolute destroys our false beliefs. Otherwise the scriptures and the social system and customs lay all kinds of traps for us. We get out of one only to fall into another. Like a spider’s cobweb, there are a number of webs wife, son, business, society that enmesh man.

The son will say, ‘’papa! Your duty to look after your children. I’ m still very to look after your children. I m still very young. Let me study and be settled; only then should you go for spiritual sadhana.’’ The Father has your father? It is your dour to care for your aging parents. Each member of the family tries to fool the others in order to serve his own selfish interests.

The politician will ask, ‘You must work for me.’ Everybody will use you and abandon you when you are no longer of use to him. Only when you come by the Sadguru, he will tell you,

‘You think you served others but he alone is really useful to others, who fist accomplishes his own task.’

Otherwise he will give no real help to those whom he wants to help. Buddha could serve others because he had first accomplished his own task. Kabirji accomplished task; so did I. That why I’ m able to give real help to others. Had I not been alert to accomplish own task and had strayed into the pursuit of degrees or titles or of becoming ‘something,’ I’ not have been useful to others in the real sense. During Bhandaras, when tribals take home the distributed items, the happiness on their faces gives me the satisfaction of being of use to them.

When I come in your midst, I can get you queue up with gifts in hand for my ‘Darshan.’ I can extract money on one pretext or other. In that case, I am of use to you; therefore I save you from all wastage of time and money and try my best to elevate you spiritually.

One serves the society with the body; one serves the Lord with the mind; but it is only through solitude, worship of the Lord and the yoga of wisdom that one serves oneself.

We may assist our fellow beings or the society with physical body we should not exhaust ourselves so much that we are of no use to the Lord. Our mind can serve the Lord only if the body is given some rest and the mind is calm and composed. With such mind alone you can love The Lord and that is only service you can render to Him.

Do serve the society give food to the hungry; quench the thirst of the thirsty; give education to the uneducated; teach good sense to the imprudent. In sum, trying to ensure present and long term wellbeing of your fellow beings is serving the society. This does mean that I should serve the drunkard by giving him liquor and non vegetarian food or the lustful by making arrangements for his gratification. Serve others within the bounds of righteousness. Suppose you’ ve resolved to give away five thousand rupees in charity on occasion of Diwali and you spend the money on buying movie tickets among the railway porters seeking to make them happy. Have wasted your money and they have wasted their time and energy. Their minds and the society have become depraved. You have not served them. One should give charity at an appropriate time, at an appropriate place and to an appropriate person. You should aim at the donee’s wellbeing, at elevating him, not at his pleasure. If along with wellbeing and elevation, he gets some pleasure, there is no harm but pleasure should not be at the cost of wellbeingeing

So we should serve the society, parents, spouse and other fellow being with the body. We should love the Lord consid erring Him as our own. Thus we’ve served True Self with a pure intellect. The intellect may be Sattvic at times and Rajasic or Tamasic at others but there is something that remains unchanged and witnesses all the changes in the intellect

Knowing that something is the yoga of wisdom and that serving oneself. Then there is ever new joy, ever new insight, ever new bliss. Then we do not have to hanker after outside pleasure. Lord Indra says, ‘It is great good fortune to come by a Self Realized Sadguru. The pleasures of damsels dancing, demigods singing and the celestial musicians playing the instruments are readily available to me But a kind glance of one who has realized his True Self and has accomplished his own task gives new joy. As the Moon gives ever new sweetness, there waves in the heart of a Self Realized saint ever new sweetness many times of it and also ever new Divine Knowledge and ever new Divine Love. The Moon nourishes the medicnal herbs but the words of such saint and their glances nourish our True Self.’

Putrada Ekadashi

Yudhishthira asked, ‘’what is the name of the Ekadashi that falls in the bright half of the month of Shravana? O Madhusudana, please favour me and be scribe it to me.’’

Lord Sri Krishna said, ‘’O king! Listen attentively to this ancient tale. At the beginning of the Dwapara Yuga, a king named Mahijit ruled over Mahismatipur. But he was not happy with his royal life, as he had no son. Worried about his advancing age, the king expressed his anguish before the assembly of subjects in these words,

’O my beloved people! In this life of mine, I have committed no sin. I have not put any unjustly earned money into my treasury. I have never taken money from a Brahmin or deity. I have looked after the people like my own children and have conquered Iands righteously. I have punished the wicked even if they were dear to me as my friend or son. I have always honoured respectable persons and have never hated anybody. Please contemplate and find out the reason why a son is not born to me.

The Brahmins, along with the subjects and priests, desiring the wellbeing of the king, went into a dense forest in search of the hermitages of Sages. Finally they chanced upon the excellent sage Lomasha

Lomashaji had imbibed the esoteric meaning of Dharma, was proficient in all sacred texts, had lived a long life and was magnanimous. This great omniscient Sage was named Lomasha as he had hair all over his body. Interestingly with the passage of a kalpa (a day in life of Lord Brahma, equal to 4.32 billion human years), one hair of body would fall off. Was effulgent and lustrous as Lord Brahma Himself

Everyone was very glad to see him. The excellent sage asked them, ‘’what bring here. I shall certainly do what is good for you.’’

The people said, ‘’O excellent among Brahmins! King Mahijit who rules over Mahishmatipur has no son. We are his subjects, whom he has looked after like his own children. We cannot just bear his grief of being without son and hence have come here with the firm determination to practice penance. O excellent among Brahmin! By virtue of the good fortune of king Mahijit we have been blessed with your holy Darshan, which in itself is enough to accomplish all tasks. O sage! Please tell us the means to accomplish our objective of helping the king have a son.’’

Maharshi Lomasha sat down in meditation for while. He took a cursory overview of the King’s previous births and then said, ‘’in his previous birth, your king was a poor Vaishya who fleeced people. Engaged in trade, he roamed from village to village. One day scorching noon of the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Jyeshtha, when the Sun had reached the centre of the sky, he saw a pond on the outskirts of a village. As he approached it order to satisfy his thirst, a cow with her calf also came to the pond. Oppressed by thirst and heat, the cow started drinking water from the pond. The Vaishya drove cow away and drank water himself. Due to that sinful act, in his present life the king is without a son. The religious merits from his other previous births have endowed him with this trouble-free kingdom.’’

The people said, ‘’O sage! We have learnt from the puranas sins can be washed away by the merits of virtuous deeds. Therefore please prescribe us the virtuous deed through which this sin of the king can be atoned.’’

Lomasha said, ‘’O men! Observe a fast Putrada Ekadashi, which falls in the bright half of the month of Shravana. This will give the desired results.’’

The people then bowed before the Sage and went back to the city. They me ticulously observed a fast on Putrada Ekadashi as per the prescribed procedure. They kept awake throughout the night and gave The merits of this religious observance the king. Soon the queen conceived. In dut course of time she gave birth to a lustrous son.

One who listens to the importance of this pious observance is delivered from sins, bestowed with happiness in this world and attains to heaven after death.’’

1. He was a great Muni practicing terrible penance and a great man of sacrifice. He was such a donor that he offered even his body. Indra made his formidable weapon, the thunderbolt, with his bones. The thunderbolt, with his bones. Who was that ascetic whose penance defeated the entire demon force

2. He was a great founder of Hindu Swaraj. A protector of Dharma and the nation he was, the pride of mother India. A mighty commander who fought for independence and self esteem, Who was that brave warrior, a worshipper of Mother Bhavani?

3. He gave the clarion call to the nation for freedom in the Iand of Rajasthan. Never did he bow his head before the Mughal emperors. A descendent of Rana Sanga, self-esteem. Who was that great patriot whose immortal story is imprinted in the valley called Haldi Ghaati?

4. The tales of valour of these Great Heroes will forever be sung. They have attained God Realization, the most heroic of heroic of heroic feats. After attaining Self- realization, nothing more remains to be accomplished. Attachment cant cannot delude him and desires do not arise in His mind. He was blessed with the grace and knowledge of the absolute Guru and thus He became ‘Asharam’, the master from Asumal. What is that Supreme State, these Great Heroes

Attained? Answers of ‘Self study’ Rp lssue: 221

(1) Sadguru (2) God-Contemplation(3) Senses(4) Desire(5)Gurumukh(6)Ekadashi (7) patience (8) Wellbeing

A Simple way to attain selfBliss

Sri Samarth Ramdas swami has sung swami has sung the glories of Self-Realized Guru in a very peculiar manner:

’O My Sadgurudev! You are an ocean of happiness, free from all sorrows! Bliss is your very nature! Are pure Consciousness all forms, including Lord Brahma the Cosmic Form, Come to end. You are unfathomable and are capable of destroying the evils of Kaliyuga. You are capable of doing anything, not doing anything and of undoing anything. There is nothing which is possible for you. Your glories are endless and are mystifying even to Lord Brahma. In spite of being eternal, infinite and unfathomable, you have taken this human form to bestow your mercy on the living souls. You are the God in human form ever available on earth. Glory be you!

‘You are an ocean of mercy, full of compassion for all beings! O Gurudev! All glories to you! Sincerely the aarti as you are like my parental home to me.’

‘O my Sadgurudev! You are our mother. A girl finds solace to come back to her mother’ s place when she is meted out harsh treatment at her in laws’ place. But she doesn’t find absolute bliss there as has attachment for the parents. But O Gurudev! When one comes to you, one attains absolute and bliss free from all attachment. You are a mother without any material attachment. And your words are so powerful that just by listening to them one attains God Realization. This state cannot be described by words as words have their limitations. One attains Supreme Bliss and becomes silent. His condition is like a dumb man who is eating gur for the first time and cannot express the joy he is getting. In this way, due to the mercy of the Sadguru attains Self Bliss. Sri Samarth Ramdas swami says that one only thing required on the part of a disciple is sincerity and by unwavering faith and love for the Guru with the conviction that he is embodiment of the Supreme Being, he attains the bliss of God Realization.

The basement and middle floors were sunk in the water in the water. But obeying Guru’s command, Devarao had bought the top floor ticket. He safely watched from above. In the meanwhile, help arrive and he was rescued. Not only does Gurudev take care of the afterlife of his disciples, he takes care of his disciples in ther worldly life as well. If one obeys his commands, one is saved from all troubles. The disciple should put his abilities to right use; should not give importance to hankerings for worldly things; and should never be proud of wealth and power. In addition to this, a little bit of obedience to the commands of Sadguru with unwavering faith takes the disciple across the ocean of Samsara.

A Simple way to attain selfBliss

Sri Samarth Ramdas swami has sung swami has sung the glories of Self-Realized Guru in a very peculiar manner:

’O My Sadgurudev! You are an ocean of happiness, free from all sorrows! Bliss is your very nature! Are pure Consciousness all forms, including Lord Brahma the Cosmic Form, Come to end. You are unfathomable and are capable of destroying the evils of Kaliyuga. You are capable of doing anything, not doing anything and of undoing anything. There is nothing which is possible for you. Your glories are endless and are mystifying even to Lord Brahma. In spite of being eternal, infinite and unfathomable, you have taken this human form to bestow your mercy on the living souls. You are the God in human form ever available on earth. Glory be you!

‘You are an ocean of mercy, full of compassion for all beings! O Gurudev! All glories to you! Sincerely the aarti as you are like my parental home to me.’

‘O my Sadgurudev! You are our mother. A girl finds solace to come back to her mother’ s place when she is meted out harsh treatment at her in laws’ place. But she doesn’t find absolute bliss there as has attachment for the parents. But O Gurudev! When one comes to you, one attains absolute and bliss free from all attachment. You are a mother without any material attachment. And your words are so powerful that just by listening to them one attains God Realization. This state cannot be described by words as words have their limitations. One attains Supreme Bliss and becomes silent. His condition is like a dumb man who is eating gur for the first time and cannot express the joy he is getting. In this way, due to the mercy of the Sadguru attains Self Bliss. Sri Samarth Ramdas swami says that one only thing required on the part of a disciple is sincerity and by unwavering faith and love for the Guru with the conviction that he is embodiment of the Supreme Being, he attains the bliss of God Realization.

The basement and middle floors were sunk in the water in the water. But obeying Guru’s command, Devarao had bought the top floor ticket. He safely watched from above. In the meanwhile, help arrive and he was rescued. Not only does Gurudev take care of the afterlife of his disciples, he takes care of his disciples in ther worldly life as well. If one obeys his commands, one is saved from all troubles. The disciple should put his abilities to right use; should not give importance to hankerings for worldly things; and should never be proud of wealth and power. In addition to this, a little bit of obedience to the commands of Sadguru with unwavering faith takes the disciple across the ocean of Samsara.

By virtue of Rishi Prasad Seva…

Earlier I was working for a small company and after some time I opened a firm in partnership, which in loss. My financial condition became so bad that I did not have the money to pay rent. I used to be tense and worried.

A sadhaka brother took me to Bapuji’s satsang. After listening to satsang I became so full of bliss that I forgot all my tensions. Realizing that God’s name is the only support and protector of jiva, I took Mantra Diksha from bapuji and stared practiong japa. Leaving the partnership business I started my own business. Slowly and slowly I started getting work and my condition went on improving. One of co disciples suggested’ Rishi prasad’ Seve as menas to hap pines and peace. I took the resolve immedi ately and stared the seva. After that I made continuous progress in my life.

My financial distress was completely gone. I had no child till ten years of my mar riage. My wife started making the members of Rishi Prasad and as a result she birth to a girl child.

By the grace of Bapuji today I have everything. Presently I run ‘Rishi Prasad Seva Mandal’ and myself to be fortunate that I got the chance of serving people by way of Rishi Prasad Seva I feel very happy when tell about Bapuji to others. Thousands of salutations at the feet of Sadgurudev!

By virtue of Rishi Prasad Seva…

Earlier I was working for a small company and after some time I opened a firm in partnership, which in loss. My financial condition became so bad that I did not have the money to pay rent. I used to be tense and worried.

A sadhaka brother took me to Bapuji’s satsang. After listening to satsang I became so full of bliss that I forgot all my tensions. Realizing that God’s name is the only support and protector of jiva, I took Mantra Diksha from bapuji and stared practiong japa. Leaving the partnership business I started my own business. Slowly and slowly I started getting work and my condition went on improving. One of co disciples suggested’ Rishi prasad’ Seve as menas to hap pines and peace. I took the resolve immedi ately and stared the seva. After that I made continuous progress in my life.

My financial distress was completely gone. I had no child till ten years of my mar riage. My wife started making the members of Rishi Prasad and as a result she birth to a girl child.

By the grace of Bapuji today I have everything. Presently I run ‘Rishi Prasad Seva Mandal’ and myself to be fortunate that I got the chance of serving people by way of Rishi Prasad Seva I feel very happy when tell about Bapuji to others. Thousands of salutations at the feet of Sadgurudev!

Anadmayi Maa sent me to Bapuji

the feet of Sadguru! I got Mantra Diksha sitting near the feet of Anadmayi Maa. I the good fortune of being in Maa’s company for two and a half years. Then Maa left this world and Salutation got abs orbed into the Supreme Brahman. When I met Maa for the last time then Maa said, ‘’Dear daughter! Keep the God always in mind and keep on increasing Sadhana’’ After she left, I became very sad and used to cry remembering her. In the year 1989 Maa came in my dream and said, Daughter! You go into the tutelage of Bapuji. Rest of your Sadhana will be completed there See me in Bapu. I and Bapu are not different.’’ Then I took diksha from Bapuj!. After I had various spiritual experiences. I got from the company and satsang of Bapuji bliss of the same kind as I used to get siting near Anadmayi Maa’s holy feet.

I had 100 disciples whom I had given Mantra Diksha but after I had Bapuji’s Darshan, I felt th bapuji is one saint who can do good to all and give dirve direction to all. He ca uplift all spiritually. I took all my disciples to Bapuji and got them initiated by him. I and my disciples got by bapuji Bapuji bestowing Mantra Diksha us. Really those people are fortunate who reach the feet of Bapuji. I will remain indebted to Bapuji for my whole life. I have full faith that Bapuji will complete my whole Sadhana which was left half way after Maa passed away. Bowing in the feet of Bapuji with faith and total surrender I salute him.