A DIVINE MESSAGE
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2015 Sharad Poornima
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Philosophy
Oneness of God |
Philosophy
Is God Omnipresent? |
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Kripalu Leelamritam
Enchanting Street Sankirtan |
Kid's Story
Nature of saint versus wicked |
Philosophy
सीता राम दोनों एक, दो हैं नाम । चाहे सीता भजो चाहे भजो राम ।।
sītā rāma donoṃ eka, do haiṃ nāma । cāhe sītā bhejo cāhe bhejo rāma ।।
sītā rāma donoṃ eka, do haiṃ nāma । cāhe sītā bhejo cāhe bhejo rāma ।।
Vedas say that God is the creator of this sansaar and He is also destroyer. The cycle of manifestation and dissolution of the sansaar goes on and on. Just as a spider spins a web from its mouth and swallows it back, God too creates and annihilates and then recreates it again. This process is called creation (सृष्टि) and pralay / annihilation (प्रलय).
At the time of annihilation, God the entire creation folds back into His being, and is revealed as-it-was-before at the time of creation. There are only three entities in the world
1. Sentient entities
All living beings (jeev) can be divided into two categories, mobile and immobile. Birds, animals, humans Etc are mobile beings. Whereas trees are immobile. Unarguable, trees have life, as a seed germinates, grows into a full grown tree and blooms, then ages and finally dies. Likewise, we get a body in the mother's womb, then take birth, then go through the various stages of life-youth, middle-age, old age, and then finally die.
Now even science has proven that plants and trees are living beings. In many parts of the world, music is played in the fields so that the plants can be happy and produce more yield.
God is the source of all of this creation.
2. Insentient entities
Earth, water, fire, air and space are examples of insentient entities. They are manifestations of one of God's insentient cosmic power called Maya.
At the time of creation the following elements emerge from God in this order - space, air, fire, water, and Earth and at the time of dissolution they merge back into him in the reverse order. Earth Merges back into water, water into fire, fire into air, air into space, space into ahankar(“Cosmic Ego”), ahankar into mahan, mahan into prakriti (or nature) and finally prakriti into God.
3. God
He permeates each and every particle of this universe, Sentient and in-sentient. God also resides inside of every jeev.
In other words, this sansaar is a combination of all three entities. At the time of pralaya the other two entities merge back into their own cause. This happens by God's will. Even though God cannot be seen, yet He does all these amazing things. We know that there are many galaxies, and in each Galaxy that millions of suns. Astronomers and scientists have not been able to determine the size of this creation, yet God creates and then folds it back into his divine being.
God makes these miraculous things possible by His power satya sankalp. This power makes whatever he wishes for come true. He does not need to say or do anything. All he has to do is think, and it happens. This is how the creation came into existence.
After the maha pralaya, the causelessly gracious God took pity on the jeev lying unconscious inside of Him. He decided to start the creation again
At the time of annihilation, God the entire creation folds back into His being, and is revealed as-it-was-before at the time of creation. There are only three entities in the world
1. Sentient entities
All living beings (jeev) can be divided into two categories, mobile and immobile. Birds, animals, humans Etc are mobile beings. Whereas trees are immobile. Unarguable, trees have life, as a seed germinates, grows into a full grown tree and blooms, then ages and finally dies. Likewise, we get a body in the mother's womb, then take birth, then go through the various stages of life-youth, middle-age, old age, and then finally die.
Now even science has proven that plants and trees are living beings. In many parts of the world, music is played in the fields so that the plants can be happy and produce more yield.
God is the source of all of this creation.
2. Insentient entities
Earth, water, fire, air and space are examples of insentient entities. They are manifestations of one of God's insentient cosmic power called Maya.
At the time of creation the following elements emerge from God in this order - space, air, fire, water, and Earth and at the time of dissolution they merge back into him in the reverse order. Earth Merges back into water, water into fire, fire into air, air into space, space into ahankar(“Cosmic Ego”), ahankar into mahan, mahan into prakriti (or nature) and finally prakriti into God.
3. God
He permeates each and every particle of this universe, Sentient and in-sentient. God also resides inside of every jeev.
In other words, this sansaar is a combination of all three entities. At the time of pralaya the other two entities merge back into their own cause. This happens by God's will. Even though God cannot be seen, yet He does all these amazing things. We know that there are many galaxies, and in each Galaxy that millions of suns. Astronomers and scientists have not been able to determine the size of this creation, yet God creates and then folds it back into his divine being.
God makes these miraculous things possible by His power satya sankalp. This power makes whatever he wishes for come true. He does not need to say or do anything. All he has to do is think, and it happens. This is how the creation came into existence.
After the maha pralaya, the causelessly gracious God took pity on the jeev lying unconscious inside of Him. He decided to start the creation again
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सोऽकामयत । बहुस्यां प्रजायेयेति । स तपोऽतप्यत ।
स तपस्तप्त्वा । इदꣳसर्वमसृजत । यदिदं किञ्च । तत्सृष्ट्वा । तदेवानुप्राविशत् । तदनु प्रविश्य । सच्च त्यच्चाभवत् । निरुक्तं चानिरुक्तं च । निलयनं चानिलयनं च । विज्ञानं चाविज्ञानं च । सत्यं चानृतं च सत्यमभवत् । यदिदं किञ्च । तत्सत्यमित्याचक्षते । तदप्येष श्लोको भवति ॥ तैत्. उ 1 |
so'kāmayata । bahusyāṃ prajāyeyeti । sa tapo'tapyata ।
sa tapastaptvā । idaꣳsarvamasṛjata । yadidaṃ kiñca । tatsṛṣṭvā । tadevānuprāviśat । tadanu praviśya । sacca tyaccābhavat । niruktaṃ cāniruktaṃ ca । nilayanaṃ cānilayanaṃ ca । vijñānaṃ cāvijñānaṃ ca । satyaṃ cānṛtaṃ ca satyamabhavat । yadidaṃ kiñca । tatsatyamityācakṣate । tadapyeṣa śloko bhavati ॥ tait. u 1 |
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इममेवात्मानं द्वेधा पातयत्तत: पतिश्च पत्नी चाभवताम्।
बृह० 1.4.3 |
imamevātmānaṃ dvedhā pātayattata: patiśca patnī cābhavatām।
bṛha 1.4.3 |
God Creates the world so the souls can strive towards attaining their ultimate goal but before bringing forth all the souls in the world, the Brahma-Supreme God Lord manifests himself into two forms - husband and wife. That same Supreme Lord appears on Earth from time to time. In treta yuga the same Supreme God appeared on the earth in two different forms as an Ram, the oldest son of King Dashrath, and Sita as daughter to King Janak. In order to bless the jeev they performed various pastimes like getting married to each other. The naive ones consider Ram and Sita to be two different personalities, but knowledgeable ones know that Ram and Sita are one and the same in two different forms.
Hence, the outcome of worshipping only Ram or only Sita or both is the same Divine bliss.
Hence, the outcome of worshipping only Ram or only Sita or both is the same Divine bliss.
Philosophy
Question
If God is Omnipresent, then why is it said that He lives in His Divine abodes of Golok, Saket Lok and Vaikunth Lok?
If God is Omnipresent, then why is it said that He lives in His Divine abodes of Golok, Saket Lok and Vaikunth Lok?
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एको देवः सर्वभूतेषु गूढः सर्वव्यापी सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा।
श्वेतश्वतरोपनिषत् 6.11 |
eko devaḥ sarvabhūteṣu gūḍhaḥ sarvavyāpī sarvabhūtāntarātmā।
śvetaśvataropaniṣat 6.11 |
Shvetashvatropanishad asserts God is Omnipresent. The same hymn says, sarva bhootantratma. This means at all times He lives inside each jiva. Also, He live in His divine abode Golok.
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न तत्र सूर्योभाति न चन्द्र तारकं नेमा विद्युतोन्भान्ति कुतोSयमग्निः |
मुंडकोपनिषत् 2.2.10 |
na tatra sūryobhāti na candra tārakaṃ nemā vidyutonbhānti kutoSyamagniḥ |
muṃḍakopaniṣat 2.2.10 |
"No material person or object including the material Sun and Moon can gain entry into His abode".
The same point is stated in various other scriptures including - Subalopanishat 6.7, Gopaltapniopanishat 27, Narsinghtapniopanishat 8.3, Skandopanishat 14, Tripuratapniyopnishat 1.4, Pingalopanishat 1.30, Bhagavat Mahapuran 2.2.10, Bhagavat 2.2.17, Bhagavat 4.12.36 and in Gita 15.6.
All scriptures categorically state the same message; God is present in each and every particle of the uncountable brahmand (see Lok) in His creation and also resides in His divine abodes. God does not need to physically go from one place to another. He only does so to perform divine leelas. He once appeared from a stone pillar in the palace of a powerful demon Hiranyakashipu, only to prove that He is omnipresent and all-pervasive.
It is said that Brahma Ji once went to visit Krishna in His divine abode Golok and requested Him to descend on earth.
The question arises that if God is Omnipresent, then He should not have to go anywhere. Why then, did Brahma Ji beg Him to descend on earth?
The answer to this question is provided in our scriptures. Our scriptures assert that God is known to have contradictory powers for e.g.,
If that is to be believed, then the question arises, how is it possible for God to have contrasting powers?
Again, the answer to this is provided by our scriptures. Our scriptures state that God is the possessor of a very special super power (Para Shakti), with the help of which He performs all these contradictory actions.
The same point is stated in various other scriptures including - Subalopanishat 6.7, Gopaltapniopanishat 27, Narsinghtapniopanishat 8.3, Skandopanishat 14, Tripuratapniyopnishat 1.4, Pingalopanishat 1.30, Bhagavat Mahapuran 2.2.10, Bhagavat 2.2.17, Bhagavat 4.12.36 and in Gita 15.6.
All scriptures categorically state the same message; God is present in each and every particle of the uncountable brahmand (see Lok) in His creation and also resides in His divine abodes. God does not need to physically go from one place to another. He only does so to perform divine leelas. He once appeared from a stone pillar in the palace of a powerful demon Hiranyakashipu, only to prove that He is omnipresent and all-pervasive.
It is said that Brahma Ji once went to visit Krishna in His divine abode Golok and requested Him to descend on earth.
The question arises that if God is Omnipresent, then He should not have to go anywhere. Why then, did Brahma Ji beg Him to descend on earth?
The answer to this question is provided in our scriptures. Our scriptures assert that God is known to have contradictory powers for e.g.,
- He is formless but also has a form;
- He has no attributes, but has innumerable attributes;
- He has no eyes and ears, yet He can see and hear.
If that is to be believed, then the question arises, how is it possible for God to have contrasting powers?
Again, the answer to this is provided by our scriptures. Our scriptures state that God is the possessor of a very special super power (Para Shakti), with the help of which He performs all these contradictory actions.
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कर्तुमकर्तुमन्यता कर्तुं समर्थः ।
विष्णु पुराण 6.7.61 |
kartumakartumanyatā kartuṃ samarthaḥ ।
viṣṇu purāṇa 6.7.61 |
Para Shakti is so unusual that it defies natural laws. For example, God performs miracles without putting in any effort to do so. He creates this entire universe from nothing and every aspect of this universe is so amazing. From a miniscule sperm and ova, a human body is created. The make-up and constitution of living beings, their anatomy and physiology, their respiratory system, reproductive system, circulatory system, digestive system, all work in unison. This is nothing less than a miracle of God. The creator or the tools cannot be seen anywhere yet everything appears to happen systematically.
We are a fraction of God and contradiction is seen even in our bodies. For example, we do not experience pain when we clip our nails, yet we experience significant pain if by mistake we cut even a small piece of flesh under our nails. Similarly, our hairs grow from the scalp, which is a living and breathing part of our body, while the hair is lifeless. How can a lifeless entity originate from a living entity? If our body exhibits such contradictory features, then why should it surprise us to know that God exhibits such contradictions?
Shankaracharya Ji Maharaj stated that God is satya-sankalp which means whatever He decides comes true instantly.
We are a fraction of God and contradiction is seen even in our bodies. For example, we do not experience pain when we clip our nails, yet we experience significant pain if by mistake we cut even a small piece of flesh under our nails. Similarly, our hairs grow from the scalp, which is a living and breathing part of our body, while the hair is lifeless. How can a lifeless entity originate from a living entity? If our body exhibits such contradictory features, then why should it surprise us to know that God exhibits such contradictions?
Shankaracharya Ji Maharaj stated that God is satya-sankalp which means whatever He decides comes true instantly.
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सोऽकामयत । तैत्ति
स ईक्षत । ऐतरेयोपनिषत् स इक्षाण चक्रे । प्रश्नोपनिषत् तदैक्षत् । छांदोग्योपनिषत् स ऐक्षत् । बृह्दारण्योपनिषत् |
so'kāmayata । taitti
sa īkṣata । aitareyopaniṣat sa ikṣāṇa cakre । praśnopaniṣat tadaikṣat । chāṃdogyopaniṣat sa aikṣat । bṛhdāraṇyopaniṣat |
He resolved and the Sansaar-The World was created
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तस्माद्वा एतस्मादात्मन आकाशः संभूतः । आकाशाद्वायुः । वायोरग्निः ।अग्नेरापः ।अद्भ्यः पृथिवी ।
पृथिव्यांओषधयः । ओषधीभ्योऽन्नम्। अन्नात्। पुरुषः । स वा एष पुरुषोऽन्नरसमयः ॥ तैत्ति |
tasmādvā etasmādātmana ākāśaḥ saṃbhūtaḥ । ākāśādvāyuḥ । vāyoragniḥ ।agnerāpaḥ ।adbhyaḥ pṛthivī ।
pṛthivyā oṣadhayaḥ । oṣadhībhyo'nnam। annāt। puruṣaḥ । sa vā eṣa puruṣo'nnarasamayaḥ ॥ taittirīya upaniśada |
He resolved and space (‘’Aakash”) was created. Air (“Vayu”) was created from space. Fire (“Agni”) was created from air. Water (“Jal”) was created from fire. Earth (“Prithvi”) was created from water. Medicines were created from the earth and from there came the grains.
When so great are His powers then, it should be no surprise for us to know that God lives in Golok; He is present in every particle of the world and He also lives in the heart of every living being. He is all-pervasive.
Do not ever doubt any of these statements and do not waste time seeking answers to these either. Just believe in our scriptures, and do your Sadhana regularly. Once you become God-realized you will not only understand this concept but also experience it.
When so great are His powers then, it should be no surprise for us to know that God lives in Golok; He is present in every particle of the world and He also lives in the heart of every living being. He is all-pervasive.
Do not ever doubt any of these statements and do not waste time seeking answers to these either. Just believe in our scriptures, and do your Sadhana regularly. Once you become God-realized you will not only understand this concept but also experience it.
Kripalu Leelamritam
In his younger days, Shri Maharaj Ji used to lead the morning keertan with a group of devotees chanting and dancing through the streets. One morning, during the daily satsang, Shri Maharaj Ji started singing a
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श्रीकृष्णचन्द्र मनिहार बने, गोपाल गलिन बेचें चुरियाँ ।
कोइ लाल बनी, कोइ पियरि बनी, कोइ बुँदनवार बनि चुरियाँ । |
śrīkṛṣṇacandra manihāra bane, gopāla galina beceṃ curiyām̐ ।
koi lāla banī, koi piyari banī, koi bum̐danavāra bani curiyām̐ । |
"Shri Krishna has become a bangle seller and is selling red, yellow and polka dot bangles."
During the street-kirtan Shri Maharaj Ji went in ecstasy and started to dance. Everybody was enchanted by that scene. At the same time an extremely beautiful, dark complexioned young bangle seller came in their midst and started urging devotees to buy her bangles. In her basket she had red, yellow and spotted bangles. Everybody was so busy enjoying Shri Maharaj Ji’s ecstatic dance that the bangle seller’s insistence seemed like an interruption to them. Nobody bought bangles from her.
At that time, Shri Maharaj Ji was staying at the house of Dr. Irania in Mathura. the evening, during a casual conversation a devotee brought the topic of the bangle seller. Shri Maharaj Ji asked, “What did the bangle seller look like?” As the devotees described her looks and clothing they realized that her description was befitting the description of the bangle seller in Shri Maharaj Ji’s keertan. And the bangles too were exactly as described in Shri Maharaj Ji's composition.
Shri Maharaj Ji said, all of you are extremely unfortunate. Had you paid attention to my words, you would have realized that Shri Krishna Himself was selling the bangles dressed like a girl. If you had bought those bangles you would have become His bride for eternity. But you could not recognize who was so willing to grace you.
Moral
Alas but true, unless our mind is cleansed of all material attachments even if God descends on earth we cannot recognize His divinity and thus cannot benefit from His association. So focus all of your resources exclusively on cleansing of the mind.
During the street-kirtan Shri Maharaj Ji went in ecstasy and started to dance. Everybody was enchanted by that scene. At the same time an extremely beautiful, dark complexioned young bangle seller came in their midst and started urging devotees to buy her bangles. In her basket she had red, yellow and spotted bangles. Everybody was so busy enjoying Shri Maharaj Ji’s ecstatic dance that the bangle seller’s insistence seemed like an interruption to them. Nobody bought bangles from her.
At that time, Shri Maharaj Ji was staying at the house of Dr. Irania in Mathura. the evening, during a casual conversation a devotee brought the topic of the bangle seller. Shri Maharaj Ji asked, “What did the bangle seller look like?” As the devotees described her looks and clothing they realized that her description was befitting the description of the bangle seller in Shri Maharaj Ji’s keertan. And the bangles too were exactly as described in Shri Maharaj Ji's composition.
Shri Maharaj Ji said, all of you are extremely unfortunate. Had you paid attention to my words, you would have realized that Shri Krishna Himself was selling the bangles dressed like a girl. If you had bought those bangles you would have become His bride for eternity. But you could not recognize who was so willing to grace you.
Moral
Alas but true, unless our mind is cleansed of all material attachments even if God descends on earth we cannot recognize His divinity and thus cannot benefit from His association. So focus all of your resources exclusively on cleansing of the mind.
Kid's Story
In the rich spiritual history of India, Jaidev is acknowledged as a great saint and devotee of Shri Radha Krishna. He has composed many devotional songs elaborating the highest form of divine bliss called the Madhurya bhav.
Once, as Jaidev was travelling through the forests, he was held captive by robbers. Jaidev placed all his possessions in front of the robbers. The robbers took away all that he had and also left him incapacitated by cutting off his arms and legs and left him to die. But since the time of death is pre-determined and it was not yet his time to die, Jaidev survived the assault
Several years later, as the king of Bengal, Raja Lakshman Sen (AD 1175-1200) was passing through the same forest; he saw Jaidev and immediately recognized the divinity in him. He accepted Jaidev as his Guru and requested him to come and live in his kingdom. It is obvious that the king must have performed some great pious deeds in his previous lifetimes to recognize a saint by seeing him just once and also accepting him as his Guru.
As his Guru, Jaidev instructed the king to serve the saints and offer them food every day. The king followed his Guru’s wish and started feeding sadhus and saints as instructed.
One day, the four robbers, disguised as saintly holy men (sadhus), came to partake in the king’s feast. Jaidev immediately recognized them. Recognizing their greed for money, Jaidev asked the king to look after them and bid them farewell with gifts and gold. His decision was prompted by the desire to grant them enough wealth so they do not have to rob anyone ever again. Everyone in the kingdom was surprised at Jaidev’s behavior.
When Jaidev was asked why he wanted to give gold to these saintly people (robber in disguise), he did not reveal anything about the character of these four robbers. When the robbers were asked if they knew anything about Jaidev, the robbers said that Jaidev was once caught red handed stealing precious jewels from king's palace. Hence the king ordered him to be killed. These saintly people, out of mercy for Jaidev, pleaded that he should not be killed; instead he should be left unattended with his hands and legs amputated.
Upon saying this, by some supernatural force, the ground split open and swallowed those four robbers. The king asked Jaidev why they were killed in such a manner. Jaidev replied per his nature he treated them with love and compassion, however, their intellect was so sinful and corrupt, that they could not develop faith in his goodness. And due to committing a spiritual transgression against a saint, they were killed by Kaal himself.
Moral
We perceive others as per our own intellect. Hence we fail to see the love and compassion of a true saint.
Therefore, it is important that we develop devotion. Without devotion, doubts and negativity persist, which result in our downfall causing us to attain hellish abodes and lower forms of life.
Once, as Jaidev was travelling through the forests, he was held captive by robbers. Jaidev placed all his possessions in front of the robbers. The robbers took away all that he had and also left him incapacitated by cutting off his arms and legs and left him to die. But since the time of death is pre-determined and it was not yet his time to die, Jaidev survived the assault
Several years later, as the king of Bengal, Raja Lakshman Sen (AD 1175-1200) was passing through the same forest; he saw Jaidev and immediately recognized the divinity in him. He accepted Jaidev as his Guru and requested him to come and live in his kingdom. It is obvious that the king must have performed some great pious deeds in his previous lifetimes to recognize a saint by seeing him just once and also accepting him as his Guru.
As his Guru, Jaidev instructed the king to serve the saints and offer them food every day. The king followed his Guru’s wish and started feeding sadhus and saints as instructed.
One day, the four robbers, disguised as saintly holy men (sadhus), came to partake in the king’s feast. Jaidev immediately recognized them. Recognizing their greed for money, Jaidev asked the king to look after them and bid them farewell with gifts and gold. His decision was prompted by the desire to grant them enough wealth so they do not have to rob anyone ever again. Everyone in the kingdom was surprised at Jaidev’s behavior.
When Jaidev was asked why he wanted to give gold to these saintly people (robber in disguise), he did not reveal anything about the character of these four robbers. When the robbers were asked if they knew anything about Jaidev, the robbers said that Jaidev was once caught red handed stealing precious jewels from king's palace. Hence the king ordered him to be killed. These saintly people, out of mercy for Jaidev, pleaded that he should not be killed; instead he should be left unattended with his hands and legs amputated.
Upon saying this, by some supernatural force, the ground split open and swallowed those four robbers. The king asked Jaidev why they were killed in such a manner. Jaidev replied per his nature he treated them with love and compassion, however, their intellect was so sinful and corrupt, that they could not develop faith in his goodness. And due to committing a spiritual transgression against a saint, they were killed by Kaal himself.
Moral
We perceive others as per our own intellect. Hence we fail to see the love and compassion of a true saint.
Therefore, it is important that we develop devotion. Without devotion, doubts and negativity persist, which result in our downfall causing us to attain hellish abodes and lower forms of life.
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संशयात्मा विनश्यति
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saṃśayātmā vinaśyati
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"a doubting mind causes destruction". Upon losing the human form, the next human form is granted only after millions of births. And in that lifetime, if we meet a true saint and sincerely follow all his instructions, then alone can we attain the highest goal of human life.
Love and compassion of saints is incomprehensible by human intellect.
Love and compassion of saints is incomprehensible by human intellect.
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