Tav Ruday ♥ regardless of..

“Please listen as I reveal to you the way in which My faith in God remains firm.” He then

began, “Regardless of how much pain or pleasure comes My way, and regardless of

whether wealth or poverty comes My way, in those circumstances, first I realise the

immense greatness of God. It is this realisation that allows Me, on seeing the riches and

royal opulence of the great kings of this world, to not associate even the slightest amount

of significance to them in My heart. Indeed, I believe that for Me, there is nothing greater

than God; and so My mind is firmly attached to His holy feet. In fact, My love for God is so

firm that even kãl, karma and mãyã are incapable of destroying that love. Even if My own

mind attempts to destroy that love for God, it cannot be destroyed. In fact, My resolve is

such that regardless of the extent of happiness or misery that may happen to come My

way, that love is not destroyed.

 

 

“Also, the natural inclination of My mind is such that I do not at all prefer to live in cities, in

mansions or in royal palaces. On the contrary, I very much prefer to stay where there are

forests, mountains, rivers, trees, or in some secluded place. I feel that it would be nice to

sit alone in some secluded place and meditate upon God. This is what I prefer at all times.

In fact, before I had had the darshan of Rãmãnand Swãmi, I had already decided with

Muktãnand Swãmi, ‘After you arrange for Me to have the darshan of Rãmãnand Swãmi,

the two of us will retire to the forest and constantly engage ourselves in the meditation of

God, and never shall we return to stay amongst people.’ Such was the resolution of My

mind then; even now, I feel exactly the same.

 

“In addition, the profound affection that I have for God and His devotees is so strong that

even kãl, karma and mãyã are incapable of eradicating that affection. In fact, even if My

own mind attempted to eradicate it, it would definitely not be eradicated from My heart.

Such is the intense love I have for God and His devotees.

 

“Many times I have become disheartened and felt like leaving this Satsang, but I have re-

-mained here on seeing the fellowship of devotees; I could in no way abandon them and

leave. In fact, I would be unable to stay where I do not find such devotees of God, even if

someone were to try by a million means to keep Me there. Regardless of how well one

may serve Me, I simply cannot get along with one who is not a devotee of God. In this

way, I have attached My mind with profound love to God & His devotees; & other than

that God, I have no liking for anything else. If that is so, why should love for God not

remain? Indeed, when I am engaged in spiritual discourses, devotional songs, etc.,

related to God, I experience such ecstasy that I feel as if I shall become mad due to it. In

fact, whatever composure remains is solely for the benefit of the devotees; but in My

mind, that very same ecstasy always remains; although outwardly, I behave in

accordance with the etiquette of society.

 

“It is that very God who is the sole controller of this body. If He wishes, He may oblige

the body with an honourable ride on an elephant; or if He wishes, He may have it

thrown in prison; or if He so wishes, He may even place some serious illness in the

body. Despite this, one should never pray before God in the following manner: ‘Mahãrãj!

Please relieve me of my misery.’ Why? Because we want this body to behave in

accordance with the wishes of God; after all, God’s wish is our wish. We do not want

our preferences to differ from the preferences of God even in the slightest way.

Moreover, since we have offered our body, mind and wealth to God, then now, only the

will of God is our prãrabdha; besides that, there is no other prãrabdha for us. Therefore,

regardless of whatever pain or pleasure we may encounter by the wish of God, we

should not become disturbed in any way; we should be pleased with whatever pleases

God.

 

“Thus, God Himself protects the dharma, gnãn, vairãgya and bhakti of a devotee who

has such intense love for God. Occasionally, though, due to the prevalence of adverse

circumstances, it may outwardly appear that such a devotee is transgressing dharma,

gnãn, etc., but inwardly, there is no transgression at all.”

 

In this manner, by citing His own example, Shriji Mahãrãj described the understanding

of an extremely staunch devotee of God, and how he should develop firm love for God.

 

- Bhaktavatsal Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, Vachanãmrut Gadhadã III-13

 

Done