Searching Questions And Fulfilling Answers

Each person struggles through

live. For some the trials are

overpowering, for others a bored

status quo prevails,and

for a minority mountains are

pounded to dust in

the search for meaning and joy.

Within the invisible depths of

each soul there is a yearning.

A need to know ‘Why?’.

‘Why do we live?’,

‘Why do we experience problems?’,

‘Why are we travellers on the

journey of life?’.

In the search for answers to

their uncertainties many turn to

the God-realised Saint.

To a disciple, the guru is the doorway to redemption. However, on the path to realisation would be aspirant has to endure the trials and tribulations of life. Who can he turn to for help? Except to he whom he calls Bapa...

Surendrasinh (Devotee) : Is there such a thing that gives us everlasting ecstasy?

Swamishri : When we look at the lives of great devotees, when have they ever lost their happiness? When were Narsinh Mehta, Mirabai, or Dada Khachar ever depressed? Worldly problems come and go, but why should they affect us? Wherever we go we do bhajan and remain cheerful.
Look at Ambalalbhai of Anand, he’s so old and yet he’s full of life. He always sings the bhajan: ‘Yogi tara gavama gungan...' with such enthusiasm, so strong in his atma. Then there is C.T. Patel, wherever he goes he talks about the greatness of God and His Saint. Not forgetting Pathubha of Khakra, Dr. Bajadia of Amdavad, Upendrabhai in Canada...now here’s a man whose kidneys have both failed. He spends much of his time undergoing dialysis, yet he puts his suffering down to ‘God’s wish’. He remains so carefree and does bhajan all day. He never questions, ‘Why me? What will happen?’ When we see him, even we get such doubts, but not him. The world labels such devotees as mad! But one who has such joys will never experience misery. Even if his body becomes weak he remains strong at heart. One who has bhakti and mahima, is always joyful and happy.
Those other things - drugs - have vicious side effects, and the ecstasy only lasts a few hours after which one is left feeling miserable. Today, however, nobody wants the ecstasy of God.

But don’t such devotees have trouble living in society as a householder?

Swamishri : Others do, not them. They are naturally withdrawn from society - in fact we have to encourage them to engage in worldly activities. There are also those, however, who keeping a cautious mind participate in society, and at the same time enjoy God’s bliss. In London, there is C.P. Patel, forever jolly and then there’s Virchand Modi...

(25 December 1991, Gondal)