Friday 19 December 2014

Identity of The Devotee and His Relation With God

On the devotees and erudites assembled here to quench their thirst for the fragrant pollen of the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna

In the Vagabata it has been written, "Vakti priya Madhavah", It means that Sri Vagaban may be pleased much by Vakti (piety), He is not pleased with any material object. The person who has devotion for all religious matters, is a real devotee. A real devotee has nothing of his own, everything of his own is made over to Him. Practically, a devotee who has committed himself to God's care is a beloved of God almighty, God himself has said this in the Gita 'A devotee is unattached with anything, he is free from vanity, he feels equally happy when others are happy; he is equally sad when others are sad he is forbearing, ever contended; self possessed, self controlled and cocksure and he has surrendered his mind and intelligence to me. Such type of devotee is very dear to me'. A devotee of Lord Krishma has never any fall in life. "No vaktah Pranashyati" many a sage and devotee, having their birth in this holy land of India, have written various books on religion and spiritualism. They have also composed various pleasure songs on the amorous sports of the Lord and thereby it is through these remedies they have given the world the where-abouts of the Nector. On the other hand, some sages, through difficult methods of prayer and worship in the deep forests, have brought to light different theories about God and his amorous pastimes.

Our sage Ramdas Kathiababa (54th Acaraya of Nimbarka Sampridaya) was one of such monks, When he had died, the image of the Divine Couple made of stone that had been being worshiped by the vaktas(devotee) in the old temple, was seen to be shedding tears. The image of Radharani in particular, shed tears profusely and continuously for days together. Out Swami Santadas Katiababaji, who had been formerly a lawyer in Calcutta High court and later on became a great saint of India, himself was an eye witness of the incident. He, himself saw that water had been trickling down the eyes of Radharani. Actually, she had been then weeping whenever death occurs to any member of our family, viz husband, wife, son, daughter or any other relative we weep and shed tears; it is quite natural. But for the death of a sage or great main continuous shedding of tears from the stone eyes of an image, is a rare and miraculous affair, such incidents never occur regularly and hence it is said, "God is of the devotee". Actually, at times some great souls take their birth in the world who are predestined to proclaim to the world the glory of Radha Krishna who exist every where, even in stone also. however, after thirteen days of the demise of Ramdasji, His Vandara (religious rituals after death) was done. It was strange that on and form the very date the tricking of water from Radharani's eye was also stopped. It means that for thirteen days water continuously fell from Her eyes. As a result, Radharani became blind. An artisan was then summoned from Jaipur for changing the damaged eyes of Radhrani by new ones. This incident did not happen two or three centuries ago, it occurred only about 100 years ago Like Ramdasji there are some other great souls who can change the laws of the Lord, if they so wish. A devotee who has completely surrendered himself to the supreme Soul and thereby has made him very dear to God, can make and impossible task possible. He can make a childless have a child and can make even a stone image perform the amorous games of the Lord based on his three primeval qualities of Sattva, Raja and Tama.

In the connection we ought to bear it in mind that form whatever source we have learnt or what ever things we have in this world, be it form any source, are all the gifts of the Lord. We are farther required to remember that we have come to this world all alone; we will go back form it all alone-so in the middle stage why should there be any tumult? Neither we have come here with anything. We will have to leave everything here it-self, at the time of our return from this world. A little bit of intelligent thinking is enough to reveal the truth that at the time of our birth here, we were not accompanied by anything-everything here we have got from Him, So what is the wisdom in keeping His things with us? Actually real wisdom lies in keeping His things with Him only. Through such surrender we can make ourselves free from all desires and passions etc. Being freed from all passions, we can then get Heavenly grace and eternal peace. The highest and ultimate satisfaction of human life lies in getting touch with the feet of the Lord. We have come here to get access to the feet of the Lord. Various devotees have repeatedly written all their religious and spiritual experiences in this regard in their books for us in simple languages. For example in books like Santadas Upadeshamrita, Tamkrishna Upadeshamrita, or the advice of any other sage, or the Veda - Vedanantas and scriptural Text books of other schools of thought, the same ideal has been told to us repeatedly in various ways. I therefore, like to emphasize that the only utility of this rare human life lies in our devotion to God. I take my seat inside a temple and go on ringing the bell. I offer costly and full plates of food to the deity - this does not means worshiping -- worshiping means service to jeeva. Vivekananda used to say, "he worships the Isvara(God) who loves the jeeevas". He (God) live inside each and every soul. All the Jeevas in the world are but His own manifestations; service to the members of one's family, viz parents, wife, children, neighbours including the blind, the lame, the beggars and other helpless creatures and extension of welfare service to all is also a kind of service to God. Remembering His existence in all, if any one can go on serving all equally or can maintain equal relation with all and continue his devotion to God, it comes to be known as "Seva - Puja" (Service and worship). It is always said, "He prayeth best who loveth best" but we must remember that the world we live in is a place of hard reality. Here various undesirable impediments may try to engulf us, for example - some of us may wish to lead an honest life and like to do honest works; but the environment around us has so deteriorated that under stress of circumstances we seldom find any outlet for executing our noble wishes. In the world today, this picture is same every where. This social decadence will continue because it has now become a social custom. Anyway, these are to be met and solved by exercising one's own intellect and wisdom. On the whole it stands that in all situations, we must be able to visualize Vagaban Sri Hari in all places at all time. Irrespective their identity as wife - children, parents or whoever he may be, whether they are my favoured persons or enemies, it does not matter - I am only to think that God is existing in all of them. In our material life we should give up the evil habits like greed, envy, quarrels, enmity, passion, malice and dislike for religions matters etc. In Chapter XII of the Gita, Vagaban Sri Krishna has advised Arjuna to shun all these vicious works because these are the products of animality - these are not human works. He, therefore, has said, "Odveshta Sarva - bhutanang" He is one, He is without a second. He gets Himself manifested in different forms and holds different sports and pastimes in this world. Wife, children parents, brothers and sisters, whoever they may be, they are the projection of the endless forms of the Lord. Reflection on the universality of love and other erotic expressions and feeling of the existence of God in all are the essence of our "Universal Love" and through this we can get the real love, Known as "Para Vakti" in our mind.


It is worth remembrance that Vakti is of two kinds, one is Sadhan Vakti and the other is Para Vakti. The super expression or the highest pitch of vakti is knows as Para vakti. The ultimate aim of Para Vakti is projected in the lives of the Vraja Gopies and the sages and monks of India. Our first Sadhan Vakti starts with our endevaours for rendering service to Him through the mediums of Photo or Vigrahas. This is called "Sadhan Vakti". As soon as this Vakti reaches its transcendental point, it is termed as Para - Vakti. Whenever this Vakti is dawned in the devotee's mind, the vices like anger against any one, enmity, hatred, shame, fear etc. remain no more traceable in him. At this stage there remains no distinction between right and wrong or between holy and unholy things. The Sadhak then lives in a supernal state of mind. He then has no longing for anything material, no more he entertains any desire, wish, greed and infatuation. He then becomes free from all material passions and losses attraction for all material objects for enjoyment or possession; the Sadhak is then lost in meditation based on Para Vakti for One indivisible God. Various facts about these worship and prayers are explained in details in the Srimad Vagbad Gita. These books on the code of conduct along with the messages and advice of the great souls should be read regularly by all of us. This will enable us to visualize our self identity in our mirror like soul. This will also bring to focus all our works either good or bad, clearly before us.

In a certain village a poor man once requested the zaminder(land-lord) of the village (who was then going to the market) to buy him a mirror from the market. He added that as he had been a poor man, he was unable to go the market. Hearing his difficulties, the zaminder agreed to bring him a mirror at the time of his return. But in the shop he happened to buy a copy of the Srimad Vagbadgita. Going home back, he gave the book to the poor man saying, "Take your mirror." The poor man looked at the Gita and said, "I didn't ask you to bring the Srimad Vagbadgita Gita. I requested you for a mirror." the Zamindar replied," You don't follow. This Gita is our life mirror. In our life whatever joy or sorrow, whatever worries and smarting pains or weal and woe etc we are likely to face, you can see them all through this mirror i.e. Gita".


As a matter of fact we are Hindus and we belong to sanatana Dharma. The blood of the sages and monks are flowing through our veins. We have been born in this sacred land India. So, it is not worthy of us to get this precious life of ours compounded with passion and material desires. We should resist ourselves from doing anything that may make us mentally perturbed. Instead of making our sense organs multidimensional, we should move according to scriptural directions and tread the paths shown to us by the sages and monks. If we move in obedience to their advice, we will surely get our real welfare and auspiciousness. There is no room to have any doubt about it. In that case you may of course ask the question that if you keep yourself engaged in meditation and service to God all the time, how would you then manage your service and business etc? You need not worry, there is provision the get time for running our service and business etc. and our dedication to God for leading an honest life based on spiritualism. If we do have firmness in our religious practices and if we are sincere in our faith and duty, we will see that God has arranged every thing ready for as at right time. He has always been keeping close touch with us. So by performing honest works all the time and by constant practice of right thoughts, if we sincerely pray to Him for his kind blessing, all our problems will of course be solved. Actually, in spite of our knowledge, conscience and intelligence etc. we fail to keep unstained faith on God, we cannot believe Him completely. Failing to have complete reliance on Him, we very often forget Him. Whenever we happen to forget him, immediately we fall into greater worldly troubles, sorrows and sufferings and many sundry confusions. The sages have, therefore advised us not to lose faith on God. Keeping patience and sincere faith on Him, if we try again and again, we will find all our problems solved very soon. The sages have visualized this aspect of faith on God through meditation and demonstrated it through their conducts. So the usefulness of faith on God is a fact; it can never be false. Let us all, therefore, be guided by the directions of the saints and monks. Soon we will realize how these directions and guidance are bringing blessings and welfare to us. We should not indulge any doubt about it. Keep faith and reliance on God and see how He protects you every moment. Mind that religion protects the religionist, Well, I have already made a long speech about my topic hence allow me to stop here today. Extending my blessing and affection to all present in this religious meeting. I stop my theistic narration.

"Sarve Vabanty Sukhino

Sarve Santu Niramaya

Sarve Vadrani Pashyantu

Ma kashehid dukshavan bhavet."

Let you all be happy, be free from all diseases. Always visualize the excellent objects - never become unhappy. Communicating this supreme blessing of the great souls and my own good wishes to you all I do stop my religious talks here for today.


OM SHANTI OM SHANTI OM SHANTI
 
Swami Rash Behari Das Kathia Babaji Saint and Abbot of Nimbarka Monastery
Collected from a speech delivered in Dharmasava

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