Do sadhana or do seva?
Question
Whenever an opportunity to donate for JKP Philanthropic programs arises a doubt lingers in the minds: is this necessary? According to Maharaj ji's philosophy, the sole goal of a spiritual aspirant is loving remembrance of God and Guru at all times. According to him:
If this is the sole aim then why should any of us (as an aspiring devotee) financially support the charitable works of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishad (JKP) or render physical seva in JKP philanthropy programs? Why not simply lovingly remember God all the time? Doing both seems like a contradiction and waste of time.
Whenever an opportunity to donate for JKP Philanthropic programs arises a doubt lingers in the minds: is this necessary? According to Maharaj ji's philosophy, the sole goal of a spiritual aspirant is loving remembrance of God and Guru at all times. According to him:
- Practice devotion to God and Guru (Sadhana karu sadhana karu sadhana karu pyare).
- There is no greater service than obeying the instructions of the Guru.
- One must constantly remember God (Man karu sumiran Radhe rani ke charan)
If this is the sole aim then why should any of us (as an aspiring devotee) financially support the charitable works of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishad (JKP) or render physical seva in JKP philanthropy programs? Why not simply lovingly remember God all the time? Doing both seems like a contradiction and waste of time.
Answer:
We are proud of ourselves for being logical and analytical, hence let us use logic to understand the answer to this question.
Seva is a Sanskrit word, which means “to render service to someone with the aim of pleasing them”. In the material world we serve our parents, spouse, children, and friends with the objective of pleasing them with our service. The same holds true in the divine realm.
Saint Tulsidas Ji Maharaj asserts,
We are proud of ourselves for being logical and analytical, hence let us use logic to understand the answer to this question.
Seva is a Sanskrit word, which means “to render service to someone with the aim of pleasing them”. In the material world we serve our parents, spouse, children, and friends with the objective of pleasing them with our service. The same holds true in the divine realm.
Saint Tulsidas Ji Maharaj asserts,
आज्ञा पालन सम नहीं सुसाहिब सेवा
ājñā pālana sama nahīṃ susāhiba sevā
ājñā pālana sama nahīṃ susāhiba sevā
“There is no greater service than following the instructions of the Guru”.
In Bhagavat Gita Shri Krishna asserts the same,
In Bhagavat Gita Shri Krishna asserts the same,
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया । उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्तवदर्शिनः।।
गी. 3.34
Tadvid'dhi praṇipātēna paripraśnēna sēvayā. Upadēkṣyanti tē jñānaṁ jñāninastattavadarśinaḥ.
Gita 3.34
“Seek such a saint (see Saint or Imposter) who has complete knowledge of the scriptures and is God realized too. Bow down respectfully to the lotus feet of such a saint; humbly seek answers to your questions to gain knowledge; and serve Him selflessly. With His grace you will attain the knowledge of the path that will lead you to Me”.
On the basis of earnestness of the devotee in serving the master, the service can be classified into 4 categories:
On the basis of earnestness of the devotee in serving the master, the service can be classified into 4 categories:
- The seeker who does not follow the instructions of the Guru is deplorable
वह शिष्य शिष्य नहीं गोविंद राधे। जो गुरु आज्ञा न माने बता दें।।
vaha śiṣya śiṣya nahīṃ goviṃda rādhe। jo guru ājñā na māne batā deṃ।।
vaha śiṣya śiṣya nahīṃ goviṃda rādhe। jo guru ājñā na māne batā deṃ।।
- Rendering seva begrudgingly, upon being explicitly asked by the Guru is considered the lowest class of seva also referred to as tamasi seva (तामसी सेवा)
अधम है शिष्य जो गोविंद राधे । आज्ञा माने बेमनी ते बता दे ॥.
adhama hai śiṣya jo goviṃda rādhe । ājñā māne bemanī te batā de ॥.
adhama hai śiṣya jo goviṃda rādhe । ājñā māne bemanī te batā de ॥.
- Rendering seva willingly and joyously upon receiving just a subtle hint from the Guru. This form of seva is superior to the previous seva, still is not considered the highest form of seva.
मध्यम शिष्य वह गोविंद राधे । जो माने आज्ञा हर्ष से बता दे ॥
madhyama śiṣya vaha goviṃda rādhe । jo māne ājñā harṣa se batā de ॥
madhyama śiṣya vaha goviṃda rādhe । jo māne ājñā harṣa se batā de ॥
उत्तम शिष्य वह गोविंद राधे।
जो बिना आज्ञा करे सेवा बता दे।। uttama śiṣya vaha goviṃda rādhe। jo binā ājñā kare sevā batā de।। Highly evolved devotees are fully surrendered to their Guru and hence intuitively understand the desire of the Guru and act accordingly.
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JKP Presidents keep up and expand the Philanthropy programs started by Shri Maharaj Ji
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Prior to God realization no-one can see God or know His wishes let alone serve him. During this stage, one must perform seva towards the Guru, believing and accepting the Guru to be God himself, and with the sole objective of pleasing the Guru (see Who is a True Guru).
गुरु बिन भवनिधि तरई कि कोई । जो बिरंचि शंकर सम होई ॥ रामचरित मानस
guru bin bhavanidhi taree ki koee . jo biranchi shankar sam hoee . raamacharit maanas
guru bin bhavanidhi taree ki koee . jo biranchi shankar sam hoee . raamacharit maanas
Guru is like the Master sailor who steers the boat of our life and takes us across the ocean of Maya.
"Even the most competent people, endowed with the knowledge equivalent to Lord Brahma (creator) and Lord Shankar (destroyer) cannot traverse the ocean of Maya without the grace of a genuine spiritual master".
Guru is like the master sailor who steers the boat of our life and takes us across the ocean of Maya to reach the ultimate aim of life.
Our revered Guru Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj advises us to remember God with each and every breath, while continuing to perform our daily physical duties. This may seem like a difficult thing to do but as Arjun proved it in the battlefield of Mahabharata, it is not impossible. He performed the most arduous job of fighting a battle with the Kauravas while his mind was totally absorbed in Lord Krishna. Which other task can be more stressful than that? This proves that anyone can focus on God while performing our regular daily chores.
While we drive a car our mind wanders around thinking of multiple things. A mother might think about her infant while she is at her work, a cow constantly thinks of it’s calf while grazing in the meadow. This proves that anyone can focus on God while performing our regular daily chores, if we choose to.
Though thinking about God does require constant practice. We have to diligently practice to remember God at regular intervals throughout the day.
Saint Tulasidas Ji says:
Guru is like the master sailor who steers the boat of our life and takes us across the ocean of Maya to reach the ultimate aim of life.
Our revered Guru Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj advises us to remember God with each and every breath, while continuing to perform our daily physical duties. This may seem like a difficult thing to do but as Arjun proved it in the battlefield of Mahabharata, it is not impossible. He performed the most arduous job of fighting a battle with the Kauravas while his mind was totally absorbed in Lord Krishna. Which other task can be more stressful than that? This proves that anyone can focus on God while performing our regular daily chores.
While we drive a car our mind wanders around thinking of multiple things. A mother might think about her infant while she is at her work, a cow constantly thinks of it’s calf while grazing in the meadow. This proves that anyone can focus on God while performing our regular daily chores, if we choose to.
Though thinking about God does require constant practice. We have to diligently practice to remember God at regular intervals throughout the day.
Saint Tulasidas Ji says:
कर ते कर्म करहु विधि नाना । मन राखहु जहाँ कृपा निधाना ॥
kara te karma karahu vidhi nānā । mana rākhahu jahām̐ kṛpā nidhānā ॥
kara te karma karahu vidhi nānā । mana rākhahu jahām̐ kṛpā nidhānā ॥
"Physically perform your duties but keep your mind absorbed in God".
Shri Maharaj Ji also suggests the same. While our action-oriented organs called karmendriyan (कर्मेन्द्रियाँ) and sensory organs called gyanendriyan (ज्ञानेन्द्रियाँ) are engaged in performing material duties, our mind could be absorbed in loving remembrance of God.
Remember - every moment that we do not spend in remembrance of God, we are committing a sin. (see Scriptures say so! Are we sinners?). The material world that we live in, has no trace of spiritual happiness yet the mind inexorably wanders in the material realm and remains under constant attack by the vices of Maya like anger, passion, greed, avarice and false ego. But when we physically perform material chores while remaining mentally engaged with God, we attain bliss and our mind gets purified. Pure mind is the only condition for God-realization.
The beauty of loving remembrance of God is that it poses no obstacles in performing household tasks. Such kind of action is known as Karm Yog.
Shri Maharaj Ji also suggests the same. While our action-oriented organs called karmendriyan (कर्मेन्द्रियाँ) and sensory organs called gyanendriyan (ज्ञानेन्द्रियाँ) are engaged in performing material duties, our mind could be absorbed in loving remembrance of God.
Remember - every moment that we do not spend in remembrance of God, we are committing a sin. (see Scriptures say so! Are we sinners?). The material world that we live in, has no trace of spiritual happiness yet the mind inexorably wanders in the material realm and remains under constant attack by the vices of Maya like anger, passion, greed, avarice and false ego. But when we physically perform material chores while remaining mentally engaged with God, we attain bliss and our mind gets purified. Pure mind is the only condition for God-realization.
The beauty of loving remembrance of God is that it poses no obstacles in performing household tasks. Such kind of action is known as Karm Yog.
मन यार में तन कार में ॥ गु. गो.
mana yāra meṃ tana kāra meṃ ॥ gu.go.
mana yāra meṃ tana kāra meṃ ॥ gu.go.
Greed and desire for more, leads people to commit heinous crimes
“Think of God while physically doing any work."
Shri Maharaj Ji asserts, “there is no greater devotional practice than seva.” Seva or service, can be financial, physical or mental. Initially, it may seem daunting to think about God for even an hour, so mental service is out of question. Hence, Shri Maharaj Ji inspires us to render financial seva as this is an effective way of detaching the mind from the material world. In this era (Kaliyug) money can buy all physical comforts and luxury. That’s why we are attached to money. In the daily news you can find scored of cases of how greed and desire for more led people to commit heinous crimes including murders of close family members. Money is also the cause of separation, divorce, and lifelong enmity.
It is for this reason that the great devotees like Dhruv, Prahlad, Ambarish, Buddha etc. renounced their royal wealth to realize God. Now the times have changed.
Shri Maharaj Ji asserts, “there is no greater devotional practice than seva.” Seva or service, can be financial, physical or mental. Initially, it may seem daunting to think about God for even an hour, so mental service is out of question. Hence, Shri Maharaj Ji inspires us to render financial seva as this is an effective way of detaching the mind from the material world. In this era (Kaliyug) money can buy all physical comforts and luxury. That’s why we are attached to money. In the daily news you can find scored of cases of how greed and desire for more led people to commit heinous crimes including murders of close family members. Money is also the cause of separation, divorce, and lifelong enmity.
It is for this reason that the great devotees like Dhruv, Prahlad, Ambarish, Buddha etc. renounced their royal wealth to realize God. Now the times have changed.
As material desires decrease the aspirants naturally becomes benevolent
In Kaliyug we are in love with money. To reduce our attachment to money Guru inspires us to start by making small financial commitments. Those commitments prompt us to curb our material desires and divert those funds towards financial seva. Then Guru encourages us to increase the amount of donation therefore the seeker further curbs the material desires and so on. Eventually, the seeker loses has no material desires and spends only for fulfilling the basic needs and donates the rest. Thereby, he would become a recluse even though he lives in a family.
So the purpose of monetary sevas is to detach mind from the world.
Furthermore, if we have money in excess than for our basic needs, we devise ways to spend it. Thoughts of "What should I buy" and "from where should I buy it" pervade our mind. These materialistic thoughts undo all of the benefits received from doing sadhana bhakti.Due to constant contemplation of material objects we get attached to those objects.Now everything in this sansaar-the World is perishable so we will grieve at the loss of our material possessions someday. But, if we possess a limited number of things we greatly reduce the risk of grievances or sorrow. With our mind attached to God, who is eternal and everlasting bliss, there is no chance of grievances but only, eternal bliss and everlasting happiness
However, in the modern materialistic instant-gratification seeking society, attachment to material possessions is extremely high, hence implementing this philosophy to renounce the world like saints did in ancient times is inconceivable. Therefore, Shri Maharaj Ji executes the above philosophy in a very interesting and smart way, to reduce the worldly attachments of his devotees. He established JKP Hospitals, JKP Education and other JKP Philanthropy programs to give an avenue to the aspirants to make financial contributions to reduce their material attractions.
So the purpose of monetary sevas is to detach mind from the world.
Furthermore, if we have money in excess than for our basic needs, we devise ways to spend it. Thoughts of "What should I buy" and "from where should I buy it" pervade our mind. These materialistic thoughts undo all of the benefits received from doing sadhana bhakti.Due to constant contemplation of material objects we get attached to those objects.Now everything in this sansaar-the World is perishable so we will grieve at the loss of our material possessions someday. But, if we possess a limited number of things we greatly reduce the risk of grievances or sorrow. With our mind attached to God, who is eternal and everlasting bliss, there is no chance of grievances but only, eternal bliss and everlasting happiness
However, in the modern materialistic instant-gratification seeking society, attachment to material possessions is extremely high, hence implementing this philosophy to renounce the world like saints did in ancient times is inconceivable. Therefore, Shri Maharaj Ji executes the above philosophy in a very interesting and smart way, to reduce the worldly attachments of his devotees. He established JKP Hospitals, JKP Education and other JKP Philanthropy programs to give an avenue to the aspirants to make financial contributions to reduce their material attractions.
Each penny spent for a spiritual cause helps the devotee advance towards God realization.
In a nutshell
So circling back from where we began, being a logical, analytical and a wise person, we have to make better choices to get the best out of what we possess (body,mind and wealth) and gain peace and true happiness in this world and thereafter. So make great choices intellectually to grow spiritually !
- Each penny donated to a spiritual cause helps the devotee advance towards God realization. While each moment spent in remembrance of God purifies our mind. Also without renouncing the worldly attachments, we cannot love God. So, it is wise to spend each and every moment of life in the sweet remembrance of God and surrender everything in divine service.
- Take shelter at the lotus feet of a spiritual master, who must be well-versed in scriptures and must be a God realized soul.
- Follow all His instructions as each of them are stepping stones towards God realization
- Never hesitate to submit anything to him however big or small it might be. He takes material wealth and turns it into divine wealth.
So circling back from where we began, being a logical, analytical and a wise person, we have to make better choices to get the best out of what we possess (body,mind and wealth) and gain peace and true happiness in this world and thereafter. So make great choices intellectually to grow spiritually !
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सौ बातन की बात इक, धरु मुरलीधर ध्यान।
बढ़वहु सेवा-वासना , यह सब ज्ञानन ज्ञान।। भक्ति शतक-74
The panacea is to only remember Shri Krishna and increase the desire for Seva. This is the essence of all knowledge and is needed to attain divine bliss.
- Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Maharaj
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