This Week In History(4) - 22 to 28 January

|| 22 January ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-43
Shriji Maharaj distinguishes between two types of devotees, “One who maintains a desire for those four types of liberation after becoming a devotee of God is known as a ‘sakam devotee’. In contrast, one who has no desires regarding the four types of liberation and who only desires to serve God is known as a ‘nishkam devotee’.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-20
Shriji Maharaj says, “A self-controlled person is awake to that to which all other beings are asleep, and that to which all other beings are awake, a self-controlled person is asleep.”

|| 23 January ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-44
Shriji Maharaj describes the characteristics of a devotees with total affection for God, “A devotee with such total affection for God never has any thoughts other than those of God. The extent to which he harbours desires other than those of God is the extent to which he lacks in his affection. If, whether knowingly or unknowingly, some thought other than remembering God’s form were to arise in a person who has true affection for God, it would be as distressful for him as someone throwing a handful of pebbles and sand into a sumptuous meal he is eating; or as painful as being branded on his forehead by a red-hot branding iron. One who feels this way should be known to have love for God. So now, if all of you examine your hearts, you will realise how much love you have for God.”

Vachanamrut Vartal-11
Shriji Maharaj warns against being egotistic, “One should never keep egotism of any sort before God or His devotee. Why? Because egotism is the cause of anger, matsar, jealousy and slander. In fact, even the bhakti of an egotist is said to be demonic. Moreover, if a person oppresses a devotee of God, then even if he himself is a devotee, he should be known to be a demon.”

|| 24 January ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-45
Using sound logic, Shriji Maharaj explains that God does indeed possess a definite form, “Purushottam Bhagwan eternally possesses a form, and that form is extremely luminous. His perfect, all-pervasive antaryami form – Brahmai, characterised by eternal existence, consciousness and bliss – is actually the divine light of Purushottam Bhagwan, but He Himself possesses a definite form. The Shrutis also mention: ‘That God looked towards maya.’ Now if God sees, does that mean that He has only a pair of eyes and nothing else? In reality, He does have hands and feet. This proves that He possesses a form.”

|| 25 January ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-46
Explaining the difference between Chidakash and normal akash, Shriji Maharaj says, “Chidakash is extremely luminous and eternal. It is neither created nor destroyed. Whenever there is any mention of the creation and destruction of akash, it is with reference to the akash that has evolved from tamogun, and which is full of darkness. This akash can be assimilated, but the all-supporting Chidakash is never assimilated.”

Vachanamrut Vartal-12
Describing the cause of decline from satsang, Shriji Maharaj says, “Some minor flaw in oneself will not really harm the jiva very much; but if one somehow doubts the divine actions and incidents of God, or if one somehow develops dislike for God, then that jiva instantly falls from the path of liberation. Just as when the roots of a tree are cut, the tree automatically becomes dry, similarly, a jiva who in any way perceives faults in God can never stay without falling from the Satsang fellowship.”

|| 26 January ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-47
Shriji Maharaj says, “A devotee in whom firmness in observing Bhagvat dharma is predominant loving engages himself in sincerely performing the menial service of God and His devotees while abiding by the disciplines related to the dharma of his caste and ashram, i.e. non-violence, brahmacharya, etc. Such a devotee also enjoys building mandirs and cultivating gardens for God. He enjoys offering different varieties of delicacies to God and also enjoys hand-plastering and sweeping the mandirs of God and the residential halls of sadhus. In addition, he offers bhakti to God by listening to discourses, singing devotional songs, etc., without any form of pretence. Moreover, such a devotee who is firm in observing dharma intensely enjoys listening to and reading scriptures expounding bhagvat dharma.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-46
Shriji Maharaj explains the reason why people do not attain the abode of God, “One who bears an aversion towards God or His Sant will certainly not attain the abode of God. On the other hand, even if a person has committed the five grave sins, if he has not perceived a flaw in God or His Sant, then his sins will be burned, and he will dwell in the abode of God. Therefore, to perceive flaws in God and His Bhakta is a graver sin than committing the five grave sins.”

|| 27 January ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-48
Shriji Maharaj instructs, “One should request from God: ‘May I never encounter the company of these four types of people.’ One should also pray: ‘O Maharaj! Please protect me from the inner enemies of lust, anger, avarice, infatuation, egotism, jealousy, the belief that I am the body, etc. Forever bestow upon me the company of your devotees.’ One should daily pray to God in this manner and always be wary of such kusangis and one’s inner enemies.”

|| 28 January ||