“ JE KARNI KARANGE—KHONA TA KUCH NAHI—KYONKI SAADA ETHE HAI HI KUCH NAHI---PAR MIL SAB KUCH JANA HAI”.
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SATSANG OF BABA JI-- 5TH JULY09
DERA BEAS
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We need to understand the very purpose of life. Whatever we do has some objective in life. We have to know what is our destination and what is required to be done to reach that goal.
All of us have been sincere seekers of spirituality in life. In pursuance of that objective we listen to Satsangs, go to places of worship, read religious books, visit holy shrines and pilgrimages. All these devotional actions deserve " Mubarak". But they fall short of Bhakti. These acts have their own spheres of influence. Bhakti of this type cannot give “Deliverance”-- Mukti.
In Satsangs we are advised what is real Bhakti that can lead to Mukti—liberation of the soul from bondage of bodies. Unless we do the Bhakti that is emphasized in Satsangs, we can not derive full benefit from Satsangs. Gurbani says—“mere madho jeeyo Satsangat mel har dhiyea”--- the stress is on the word "dhiyana---" means that Satsangs are meant to create the condition that should lead to concentrated attention and meditation on the Lord.
We visit places of worship/Satsangs that create an environment of Bhakti. For the same reason, we educate our children in good schools so that they might get right environment for mental and physical development. However we treat visits to holy places as a routine affair--"Kaarvai pana"--and miss their real intent and purpose. Instead we use them as places for meeting our relatives and friends.
We read shabds and verses of our religious scriptures but we do not follow what is written in them. We memorize them but never pursue the path defined in these sacred books that are the narration of the spiritual experience of the Past Saints and how one can attain Mukti. If a player continues to read books of a game, learn by heart the rules and regulations of that game but never plays that sport, how can he ever give a worthwhile performance. Similarly, if a driver keeps on reading literature of automobile technology and has no experience of driving a car, you will never like to have a ride with him in a car.
The journeys made to the places of pilgrimages are reminders of the pattern of the life style of Saints who achieved God hood. Their lives are meant to inspire us to cast our lives in similar moulds. Until their inspiration creates a yearning within ourselves for devotion to the Lord, we remain spiritually dry.
Net result is that we continue to cling the ritualism of 'kaarvai pana' and achieve nothing. Admittedly they have their domain of influence-- but there is much more beyond them. This is just like being in class one and not qualifying for next class. Class one is a must and thereafter we must take the next step to class two and so on, but we continue to repeat A, B, C, taught to us in class one throughout our lives and make no progress. Is that enough for the golden opportunity of this precious human life?
Don't we realize that we have strayed away from the prime objective of life?
Our Vedas and Shastras are a description of Gyan Marg. Gyan Marg mentions that Bhakti marg be followed for Mukti or redemption of soul. Good karmas also cannot deliver Mukti. Gurbani says--" Tapo Raj and Rajjon Narak". By intense 'tapsya' (penances) one may take birth as Kings and Emperors but in arrogance of their power they overindulge in the sensual pleasures that drag them back to the Gates of Hell.
All of us have been associated with some religion or the other before coming to Sant Mat. What were we seeking from this Path? We came here as a seeker of spirituality to meet the Lord and attain Mukti. We were blessed with the technique of realization of Nam from within. Master had seen certain potential capabilities within us and that is why he reposed his faith in us. If we have certain expectations from the Master, He too expects that we must fulfil our part of the job for which he placed His trust in us. If we continue to evade our responsibility,then what do we expect from Him? To believe that He has to do His part of the job and we can stay away from our responsibility is not likely to lead us anywhere. This is the path of 'KARNI'-- of action.
Let us not be under some delusion that we can attain Mukti in four lives. If in this life we are not able to attain liberation, what is the guarntee that we will not squander away our next life or are born in lower life forms.
When Hazur was asked a question about the life of His father--as His father was the son of a Guru (Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji) and also the father of another Guru, (Hazur Maharaj Ji), He very candidly said that Saints have to take birth in some family--but it is the SANGAT that is their real family. The apex relationship on which He placed SANGAT must be respected by us.
For forty years Hazur stressed that we must devote our time to Bhajan Simran and he went to the extent of saying—“Mann lagge ya na lagge”-- whether your mind is attentive or not, we must devote our time for Nam Bhakti. We often complain that after so many years on path no spiritual progress has been achieved. Nothing in life can be bargained unless time and attention is devoted for that work. No relationship can be sustained without giving time and attention. If somebody from whom we can gain something in life ,or who we expect will help us for our own benefit - visits our home , we warmly welcome him with open arms and spend hours pleasing him. Ironically, we fail to give any time for the Lord Almighty, who seeks a mere 10% out of our daily time. A worldly guest,(who in all possibilities may not help us in any way), is given preference over the Lord. This is a reflection of our thoughtlessness as we are not able to discriminate between what is good for us or otherwise.
“Sab kuch apna bus ram praya”---
(Do we believe that all belongs to us except the Lord ?)
Vadde Maharaj Ji used to say--"Sukh le ke ayo ya dukh le ke ayo, per aayo ta sahi." whether in pain or pleasure, you must sit for bhajan simran.
We do not come to Satsangs to sleep under the breezy comfort of ceiling fans. We are so much lost in our own world that many times we are not able to recall even the Shabd that is taken in Satsangs. Nobody is marking our annual attendance in Satsangs. Are we trying to show off our superlative virtues to others by making multiple journeys to Beas?
Truth cannot be changed or altered. It has been and will be the same through the ages. Saints come in this world at different times to speak about the same truth so that with the changed environment in the world they can emphasize its different aspects to the people in the current times. It is the same way like a book,when it is read at the age of 5-7 years our understanding is limited. If the same book is re read at the age of 15- 20 years, one gets a better understanding and a few years later it will reflect a much different understanding. It is not that the book has changed but our understanding of life has undergone a dramatic transformation.
Today in the age of Computers a vast reservoir of knowledge is instantly available. But there is a great difference between knowledge (Gyan) and understanding(Sojhi). Understanding(Sojhi) is a function of our self introspection within. It is due lack of understanding that we are so miserable in recent times inspite of so much knowledge available at our command.
Sewa cannot substitute Nam Bhakti. Sewa is meant for development of sense of service and humility and is not to be used as a tool for weilding authority. Hazur in one of the Satsangs had mentioned that perhaps He erred in denying sevadars an opportunity to realize what seva is. They came straight away from the seats of power and He let them to occupy “table and chairs” in the Dera. We ask what is ‘hukam’ for us. There is only ONE HUKAM and that was given on the day of initiation. If that HUKAM is complied then all others Hukams are automatically fulfilled. Unfortunately we continue to pursue other easier methods like folding hands, touching feet, doing sewa etc and neglect Bhajan Simran that is the primary requirement of the Master and the soul.
We need to do what is expected of us, but simultaneously, we need His Grace. Our efforts alone cannot provide us Mukti unless He showers His mercy and grace. Our devotion is just a prayer to Him to take us in His fold. And it is guaranteed that He will look after us both materially and spiritually, if we sincerely devote our time to Him. Nothing will be lacking—“koi kami nahi rahegyee.” “ JE KARNI KARANGE—KHONA TA KUCH NAHI—KYONKI SAADA ETHE HAI HI KUCH NAHI---PAR MIL SAB KUCH JANA HAI”.If we do what is expected of us we have nothing to lose—because we own nothing here—yet we will get all ( the Almighty).
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