This Week In History(51) -

|| 17 December ||

|| 18 December ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-19
Shriji Maharaj says, “In this Satsang fellowship, those devotees seeking their own ultimate liberation cannot fulfil that aim by atma-realisation alone; nor can they fulfil that aim by lovingly offering the nine types of bhakti alone; nor can they fulfil that aim by vairagya alone; nor can they fulfil that aim by swadharma alone. Thus, all four virtues, i.e., atma-realisation, bhakti, vairagya and swadharma should be perfected since all are dependent upon each other.”

|| 19 December ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-20
Shriji Maharaj reveals how a devotee can overcome all deficiencies, “For a person who has attained satsang, realisation of his jivatma does, indeed, lie in his own hands. In fact, when has he attempted to see his own self and failed to see it? Having become dependent to and made helpless by maya, that jiva draws within and enters the dream and deep sleep states, but never does it draw within of its own accord to see its own self. On the other hand, one who contemplates on the greatness of God and draws within oneself sees one’s own self as extremely pure and luminous. In the midst of that luminance, one beholds the form of the manifest Purushottam Bhagwan and experiences bliss in the manner of Narad and the Sanakadik. Therefore, all deficiencies which do remain in a devotee are due to his own lethargy.”

"Vachanamrut Gadhada I-21
Shriji Maharaj describes two forms of Aksharbrahma, “Akshar has two forms. One, which is formless and pure chaitanya, is known as Chidakash or Brahmamahol. In its other form, that Akshar remains in the service of Purushottam Narayan. A devotee who has reached Akshardham attains qualities similar to those of Akshar and forever remains in the service of God. Furthermore, Shri Krishna Purushottam Narayan is forever seated in that Akshardham. The countless millions of muktas, who have attained qualities similar to those of Akshar, reside in that Akshardham, and all of them behave as servants of Purushottam. Purushottam Narayan Himself is the master of them all and the Lord of the lords of countless millions of brahmands.”

|| 20 December ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-22
Shriji Maharaj emphasizes the need to constantly remember God to attain peace of mind, “If one does not remember God while singing to the accompaniment of a mrudang, sarangi, sarod, tal or other instruments, then that singing is as good as not having been sung at all. Besides, there are many people in this world who sing and play instruments without remembering God; but they do not attain peace of mind. Therefore, whichever activity one performs – whether it be singing devotional songs, reciting God’s holy name, chanting the ‘Narayan’ dhunya, etc. – one should only perform that activity while remembering the form of God.”

|| 21 December ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-23
A person who at times worships God with a concentrated mind and, at other times, indulges in worldly thoughts does not develop such an elevated spiritual state. Consider, for example, a pot that is filled with water and emptied somewhere. If another pot of water is subsequently emptied at the same place on the following day or the day after that, a pool of water will not collect there. Why? Because the water poured on the first day dries up on that very day, and the water poured on the second day also dries up on that same day. On the other hand, if a trickle of water were to flow continuously, a large pool of water would soon be formed. Therefore, while eating, drinking, walking, engaging in any activity whatsoever – whether it be pure or impure – in fact, at all times, one should constantly keep one’s vrutti on God. While maintaining one’s vrutti constantly on God in this manner, one attains that abiding elevated spiritual state.”

|| 22 December ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-24
Shriji Maharaj states, “The extent to which one has understood the greatness of God determines the intensity of both the divine light experienced in the heart and the divine sound of pranav that is heard. Furthermore, the extent of one’s faith and understanding of the greatness of God determines the extent to which vicious thoughts are curbed. Thus, when one develops absolute faith in God and thoroughly understands His greatness, all of one’s vicious thoughts are eliminated.”

|| 23 December ||

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-25
Shriji Maharaj says, “A satsangi should never falter in observing God’s injunctions. Why? Because God will be pleased with him if he behaves accordingly.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-19
Shriji Maharaj writes a letter to al His devotees, in which he reveals, “One should offer upasana only to God and not to any deity; if one does, then that is a grave sin, and thereby, one’s vow of fidelity is lost and one’s bhakti becomes like that of a prostitute. So, one should offer bhakti to God in the manner of Sita and Rukmini. One should meditate only on that God and not on any deity.”