What is "Yogakshem"?
God Himself keeps a record of all of our past deeds. He is just and also our well-wisher. Based on His own judgment God blesses in two ways. He gives fruits of our
In other words, God puts His children in situations which typically are termed as favorable state and unfavorable state. Since God is the only well-wisher, and has no ulterior motive, a real devotee considers both the situations as grace of God.
- good deeds and puts us in favorable conditions (good fortune)
- bad deeds of the past lives and puts us in challenging situations (bad fortune)
In other words, God puts His children in situations which typically are termed as favorable state and unfavorable state. Since God is the only well-wisher, and has no ulterior motive, a real devotee considers both the situations as grace of God.
सुख में भी राधे राधे, दुख में भी राधे
Sukha mēṁ bhī rādhē rādhē, dukha mēṁ bhī rādhē
Sukha mēṁ bhī rādhē rādhē, dukha mēṁ bhī rādhē
"In happiness or distress, never forget Radha Rani."
Even illness or poverty is also divine blessing in disguise. When a devotee undergoes a very hard time, he should feel, ‘it is the outcome of some bad deed of mine, performed in the past either in this life or many other past lives. My Guru is helping me graciously by erasing those bad impressions of my past lives".
This kind of thinking makes one feel good even in bad time, since it helps remembering God in a very positive way. Remember, one has to undergo the fruit of each and every deed of past or present without exception. Yet, remembrance of a divine personality makes one forget about the existing pain. In addition, one attains tremendous strength to undergo the miserable situation by the grace of God. Hence, only the thoughtless ones blame God or Guru for their miserable moments.
This is my own wonderful experience at the time of my sickness. Although all the painful side-effects were happening in my body, yet all thru my illnesses I experienced that their intensity was so little that I did not feel them like the other patients. Sometimes I literally felt, someone is caressing me on my head, or fixing my blanket etc. That touch was so soothing that it is impossible to forget the bliss of that experience. Guru can reduce the pain of his devotees and He was obviously reducing my pain or discomfort.
This is the real meaning of Yogachhem vahaamyaham (Guru/God takes away the pain) we should not misinterpret.
This is a spiritual law
Even illness or poverty is also divine blessing in disguise. When a devotee undergoes a very hard time, he should feel, ‘it is the outcome of some bad deed of mine, performed in the past either in this life or many other past lives. My Guru is helping me graciously by erasing those bad impressions of my past lives".
This kind of thinking makes one feel good even in bad time, since it helps remembering God in a very positive way. Remember, one has to undergo the fruit of each and every deed of past or present without exception. Yet, remembrance of a divine personality makes one forget about the existing pain. In addition, one attains tremendous strength to undergo the miserable situation by the grace of God. Hence, only the thoughtless ones blame God or Guru for their miserable moments.
This is my own wonderful experience at the time of my sickness. Although all the painful side-effects were happening in my body, yet all thru my illnesses I experienced that their intensity was so little that I did not feel them like the other patients. Sometimes I literally felt, someone is caressing me on my head, or fixing my blanket etc. That touch was so soothing that it is impossible to forget the bliss of that experience. Guru can reduce the pain of his devotees and He was obviously reducing my pain or discomfort.
This is the real meaning of Yogachhem vahaamyaham (Guru/God takes away the pain) we should not misinterpret.
This is a spiritual law
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You might ask, when Guru and God take away or reduce the pain then why do they give pain and suffering in the first place?
कर्म प्रधान विश्व रचि राखा ।
जो जस करइ सो तस फल चाखा ॥ Karma pradhāna viśva raci rākhā. Jō jasa kara'i sō tasā phala cākhā. "No saint or divine personality can intervene". In the words of saint Kabeer Das :
करता था सो क्यों किया, अब करी क्यों पछिताय ।
बोया पेड़ बबूल का, आम कहाँ से खाय ॥ Karatā thā sō kyōṁ kiyā, aba karī kyōṁ pachitāya. Bōyā pēṛa babūla kā, āma kahām̐ sē khāya? |
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"When you had the choice to perform the (bad) action or not, you chose to perform it. Why now are you regretting it? While it was time to sow you chose to sow acacia tree (a tree with huge thorns) then how do you now expect to get mangoes to eat?"
For the surrendered devotees, by His grace, He reduces the pain "I" (the soul) experiences. This is all He can do. The statement 'Guru yogakshem vahan karte hain' (Guru bears your burden) means that He gives you the strength to go through tough times. This is His immense grace. One should repeatedly think of this grace and balihaar jana chahiye (one should sacrifice oneself).
Whenever you are in troubled times, think of this grace, over and over again. This is the best remedy to tackle every pain.
For the surrendered devotees, by His grace, He reduces the pain "I" (the soul) experiences. This is all He can do. The statement 'Guru yogakshem vahan karte hain' (Guru bears your burden) means that He gives you the strength to go through tough times. This is His immense grace. One should repeatedly think of this grace and balihaar jana chahiye (one should sacrifice oneself).
Whenever you are in troubled times, think of this grace, over and over again. This is the best remedy to tackle every pain.
