SATSANG OF BABA JI-- 5TH JULY09
DERA BEAS
(MEMORY RECALL AS UNDERSTOOD)
We need to
understand the very purpose of life. Whatever we do has some objective in life.
We have to know what our destination is 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 he
can 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 molds. 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 to the ritualism of 'kaarvai pana' and achieve
nothing. Admittedly they have their domain of influence-- but there is much more
beyond them. This is akin to staying in class one or kindergarten 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 fulfill 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 guarantee 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 societal 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 ?)
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 obeyed, 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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