{T..he Magic Box Photographie}*
Fearless, Everlasting Gaze *.°. ❤.°.*
“I remain naturally in a state in which even if I wished to engross my mind in the most charming sounds, the most charming touch, the most charming smells, the most charming tastes and the most charming sights of this world, I could not do so; I remain absolutely dejected towards them. In fact, all of the attractive vishays and the repulsive vishays are the same to Me. Also, a king and a beggar are the same to Me. Further, to rule all the realms and to beg for food carrying a broken begging bowl are the same to Me. Even sitting with honour on an elephant and walking on foot are the same to Me. Whether someone honours Me with sandalwood paste, flowers, fine clothes and ornaments, or throws dirt on Me – all are the same to Me. Whether someone praises Me or insults Me – both are the same to Me. Gold, silver, diamonds and refuse are all the same to Me. Moreover, I look upon all devotees of God as being equal; i.e., I do not differentiate one as being superior and another as being inferior.
“I have intense vairãgya in My antahkaran, yet I am not burdened by it. I do not feel burdened like a person who carries a heavy rock on his head or ties a purse full of money and gold coins around his waist. My strict observance of swadharma does not burden Me, nor does the realisation that I am Brahma burden Me. When I superficially praise some object or criticise another, I do so purposefully. Whenever I forcefully engage My indriyas’ vruttis towards objects, they remain there very reluctantly; as soon as I relax that force, they withdraw immediately. It is like throwing a stone into the air – it goes as high as it can depending on the force of the throw, but ultimately it falls back to earth. Or consider a weak bull – it can stand only as long as a man forcefully supports it. But as soon as he withdraws the support, it slumps onto the ground. Further, imagine a very strong man who is able to crack a betel nut between his teeth. But, after sucking ten or twenty very sour lemons, he would have great difficulty chewing even roasted chanã. In this manner, it is only when I forcefully engage My vruttis in the vishays that they remain engaged in them.
“....So what is the cause of My behaving like this? Well, it is because My indriyas’ vruttis constantly remain inverted towards My hrudayãkãsh. In that hrudayãkãsh, I see extremely luminous divine light. Just as during the monsoon season, clouds cover the entire sky, similarly, only that light pervades My heart.
“...Amidst that divine light I see the extremely luminous form of God. ...“Realise that the form amidst the divine light is this Mahãrãj visible before you.”
— Mahãrãj (Purna Purushottam, Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan), Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II-13, 27 August 1821 (Shrāvan vadi Amās, Samvat 1878)
“First, I shall speak to you about My inclination. Thereafter, all of you can describe your personal thoughts as to how you feel liberation can be attained, and you can also explain how you think you should behave in order for God to be pleased with you in this realm and beyond.”
“If it appears to Me that I have a liking for something, I would only be happy after I had discarded it. Should I recall in My mind any object or any person other than devotees of God, then I would feel comfortable only after I have totally distanced Myself from that object or person. Also, in My heart, in no way do I experience an aversion towards a devotee of God. Even though I am insistently offered the panchvishays without actually wishing for them Myself, I still do not have any desire for them. In fact, I push them away with my feet. In fact, I swear by the lives of these paramhansas that from the day I was born to this very day, I have never harboured an improper thought regarding women or wealth, either in the waking state or in the dream state. Thus, I am eternally innocent and one who perceives any flaws in Me will himself suffer from vicious thoughts both in the waking and dream states. Moreever, he will suffer greatly at the time of his death as well.
“In addition, only contemplation of God remains within My heart, and although I outwardly meet and mingle with the devotees of God, it is solely for the benefit of their jivas. Indeed, the day when I feel that I have affection for something other than the devotees of God, I will consider Myself dislodged from My spiritual status. However, I am confident that that would never happen. Thus, I have described My inclination to you.”
“If a person firmly observes the vow of non-lust, then he is never far from God – whether he is in this realm or beyond. Moreover, My affection for such a person never diminishes. In fact, the very reason that I have stayed here is because of these devotees’ firm resolve to observe the vow of non-lust. If a person strictly observes that vow, then even if I were a thousand miles away from him, I would still be close to him. Conversely, if a person is slack in his observance of the vow of non-lust, then even if he is beside Me, he is as good as a hundred thousand miles away. In fact, I do not like to be served by such a person. It is only because this Mulji Brahmachãri is extremely staunch in his observance of the vow of non-lust that I very much like his service. If, however, someone else serves Me, I am not as pleased.
“Furthermore, in all of the discourses that I deliver, I always strongly propagate observance of the vow of non-lust. Indeed, I have been solidly reinforcing it since the day I was born.
“Therefore, only those who observe this vow are dear to Me; they and I will always by very close, both in this realm and beyond.”
— Nirdosh Bhaktavatsal Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II-33, 3 September 1823 (Shrãvan vadi 13, Samvat 1880)
“... I am the creator, sustainer and destroyer of all of the brahmānds. In those countless brahmānds, it is by My divine light that countless Shivs, countless Brahmās, countless Kailāses, countless Vaikunths, Golok, Brahmapur, as well as countless millions of other realms are radiant.
“...What am I like? Well, if I were to shake the earth with the toe of My foot, the worlds of countless brahmānds would begin to shake. It is also by My light that the sun, the moon, the stars, etc., are radiant. So, if one develops the conviction of My form in this manner, one’s mind becomes fixed on Me - God - and would never stray anywhere else. Moreover, I will grant My supreme abode (Akshardhām) to all who come to My refuge and understand this.”
— Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, Vachanãmrut Amdãvãd 7, 30 March 1826 (Fāgun vadi 7, Samvat 1882)
“Also, I am always trying to keep the vrutti of people’s minds fixed on God. Why? Because I know everything about the past, the present and the future. In fact, while sitting here, I know everything that happens; even when I was in My mother’s womb, I knew everything; and even before I came into My mother’s womb, I knew everything. This is because I am God.”
— Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, Vachanãmrut Jetalpur 5, 14 April 1826 (Approximately four-and-a-half hours after sunset on Chaitra sudi 7, Samvat 1882)
Fearless, Everlasting Gaze *.°. ❤.°.*
“I remain naturally in a state in which even if I wished to engross my mind in the most charming sounds, the most charming touch, the most charming smells, the most charming tastes and the most charming sights of this world, I could not do so; I remain absolutely dejected towards them. In fact, all of the attractive vishays and the repulsive vishays are the same to Me. Also, a king and a beggar are the same to Me. Further, to rule all the realms and to beg for food carrying a broken begging bowl are the same to Me. Even sitting with honour on an elephant and walking on foot are the same to Me. Whether someone honours Me with sandalwood paste, flowers, fine clothes and ornaments, or throws dirt on Me – all are the same to Me. Whether someone praises Me or insults Me – both are the same to Me. Gold, silver, diamonds and refuse are all the same to Me. Moreover, I look upon all devotees of God as being equal; i.e., I do not differentiate one as being superior and another as being inferior.
“I have intense vairãgya in My antahkaran, yet I am not burdened by it. I do not feel burdened like a person who carries a heavy rock on his head or ties a purse full of money and gold coins around his waist. My strict observance of swadharma does not burden Me, nor does the realisation that I am Brahma burden Me. When I superficially praise some object or criticise another, I do so purposefully. Whenever I forcefully engage My indriyas’ vruttis towards objects, they remain there very reluctantly; as soon as I relax that force, they withdraw immediately. It is like throwing a stone into the air – it goes as high as it can depending on the force of the throw, but ultimately it falls back to earth. Or consider a weak bull – it can stand only as long as a man forcefully supports it. But as soon as he withdraws the support, it slumps onto the ground. Further, imagine a very strong man who is able to crack a betel nut between his teeth. But, after sucking ten or twenty very sour lemons, he would have great difficulty chewing even roasted chanã. In this manner, it is only when I forcefully engage My vruttis in the vishays that they remain engaged in them.
“....So what is the cause of My behaving like this? Well, it is because My indriyas’ vruttis constantly remain inverted towards My hrudayãkãsh. In that hrudayãkãsh, I see extremely luminous divine light. Just as during the monsoon season, clouds cover the entire sky, similarly, only that light pervades My heart.
“...Amidst that divine light I see the extremely luminous form of God. ...“Realise that the form amidst the divine light is this Mahãrãj visible before you.”
— Mahãrãj (Purna Purushottam, Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan), Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II-13, 27 August 1821 (Shrāvan vadi Amās, Samvat 1878)
“First, I shall speak to you about My inclination. Thereafter, all of you can describe your personal thoughts as to how you feel liberation can be attained, and you can also explain how you think you should behave in order for God to be pleased with you in this realm and beyond.”
“If it appears to Me that I have a liking for something, I would only be happy after I had discarded it. Should I recall in My mind any object or any person other than devotees of God, then I would feel comfortable only after I have totally distanced Myself from that object or person. Also, in My heart, in no way do I experience an aversion towards a devotee of God. Even though I am insistently offered the panchvishays without actually wishing for them Myself, I still do not have any desire for them. In fact, I push them away with my feet. In fact, I swear by the lives of these paramhansas that from the day I was born to this very day, I have never harboured an improper thought regarding women or wealth, either in the waking state or in the dream state. Thus, I am eternally innocent and one who perceives any flaws in Me will himself suffer from vicious thoughts both in the waking and dream states. Moreever, he will suffer greatly at the time of his death as well.
“In addition, only contemplation of God remains within My heart, and although I outwardly meet and mingle with the devotees of God, it is solely for the benefit of their jivas. Indeed, the day when I feel that I have affection for something other than the devotees of God, I will consider Myself dislodged from My spiritual status. However, I am confident that that would never happen. Thus, I have described My inclination to you.”
“If a person firmly observes the vow of non-lust, then he is never far from God – whether he is in this realm or beyond. Moreover, My affection for such a person never diminishes. In fact, the very reason that I have stayed here is because of these devotees’ firm resolve to observe the vow of non-lust. If a person strictly observes that vow, then even if I were a thousand miles away from him, I would still be close to him. Conversely, if a person is slack in his observance of the vow of non-lust, then even if he is beside Me, he is as good as a hundred thousand miles away. In fact, I do not like to be served by such a person. It is only because this Mulji Brahmachãri is extremely staunch in his observance of the vow of non-lust that I very much like his service. If, however, someone else serves Me, I am not as pleased.
“Furthermore, in all of the discourses that I deliver, I always strongly propagate observance of the vow of non-lust. Indeed, I have been solidly reinforcing it since the day I was born.
“Therefore, only those who observe this vow are dear to Me; they and I will always by very close, both in this realm and beyond.”
— Nirdosh Bhaktavatsal Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II-33, 3 September 1823 (Shrãvan vadi 13, Samvat 1880)
“... I am the creator, sustainer and destroyer of all of the brahmānds. In those countless brahmānds, it is by My divine light that countless Shivs, countless Brahmās, countless Kailāses, countless Vaikunths, Golok, Brahmapur, as well as countless millions of other realms are radiant.
“...What am I like? Well, if I were to shake the earth with the toe of My foot, the worlds of countless brahmānds would begin to shake. It is also by My light that the sun, the moon, the stars, etc., are radiant. So, if one develops the conviction of My form in this manner, one’s mind becomes fixed on Me - God - and would never stray anywhere else. Moreover, I will grant My supreme abode (Akshardhām) to all who come to My refuge and understand this.”
— Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, Vachanãmrut Amdãvãd 7, 30 March 1826 (Fāgun vadi 7, Samvat 1882)
“Also, I am always trying to keep the vrutti of people’s minds fixed on God. Why? Because I know everything about the past, the present and the future. In fact, while sitting here, I know everything that happens; even when I was in My mother’s womb, I knew everything; and even before I came into My mother’s womb, I knew everything. This is because I am God.”
— Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, Vachanãmrut Jetalpur 5, 14 April 1826 (Approximately four-and-a-half hours after sunset on Chaitra sudi 7, Samvat 1882)