12.1 In the Samvat year 1878, on Shrãvan vad 6 [19th August 1821], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting in front of the mandir of Shree Vãsudev-Nãrãyan on the veranda outside the west-facing rooms of Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. A sabhã of paramhans, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
12.2 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “I wish to talk to you, so please listen. In the talk I am about to deliver, I shall describe only one spiritual activity for attaining kalyãn, but it is so powerful that all other spiritual activities are incorporated within it. It is as follows:
12.3 “The jeev, which resides in the body, feels, ‘Kãm, krodh, and other vicious natures are attached to my jeev’. In this way, depending on which of the vicious natures is predominant in a person, he believes his jeev to be full of that nature due to his association with it. However, not a single one of these vicious natures lies within the jeev; the jeev has merely believed itself to possess them out of its own foolishness.
12.4 “Therefore, a person who wishes to attain Akshardhãm should make an effort, but he should not relax or lose courage. Also, he should think, ‘Just as the four antah-karans, the ten indriyas, and the five prãns reside in this body, similarly, I am the jeevãtmã, and I also reside in this body. However, I am greater than all of them, and I am their controller’. But, he should not think, ‘I am insignificant, whereas the antah-karans and indriyas are strong’. For example, if a king were to possess little or no intelligence, then even the members of his own family would not obey his orders. When the people in the village hear about this, no one in the village would obey his orders. Also, when the people throughout the kingdom hear about this, no one in the kingdom would obey his orders. As a result, the king would become depressed and powerless. He would sit idly and would not attempt to enforce his rule over anyone.
12.5 “In this analogy, the king symbolises the jeev, the members of the household symbolise the antah-karans, and the people of the village and kingdom symbolise the indriyas. So, if the jeev becomes discouraged and relaxes its authority, then when it wishes to use its power over the antah-karans and adjust them towards Bhagvãn, the antah-karans will not follow. Also, if it wishes to control the indriyas, even the indriyas will not comply. Then, even though the jeev is the king of the kingdom (body), it becomes helpless like a beggar. When a king becomes discouraged, his subjects who live in his kingdom assume power and do not allow him to use his authority at all. Likewise, in the kingdom (body) of the jeev, the vicious natures – who are not the king – take control. Then, they do not allow the jeev to have any power.
12.6 “Therefore, a person who aspires to attain kalyãn should never become timid, and should employ whatever measures are necessary to force the indriyas and antah-karans to accept his authority – like a king who studies books about the art of ruling and then uses authority over his kingdom, but is not suppressed by his subjects. However, if the king did not know the art of ruling, the people would not obey his orders. Instead, they would become unhappy, or he himself would behave miserably because no one would obey his rule. In this way, not knowing the art of ruling results in two unfortunate consequences. Similarly, if the jeev were to attempt to rule the kingdom (body) without understanding the art of ruling, then it would never become happy.”
12.7 Then, Muktãnand Swãmi asked Shreeji Mahãrãj, “How should a person, who wishes to attain kalyãn, learn the art of ruling?”
12.8 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “The art of ruling should be learnt in the following way: First of all, a person should thoroughly realise the greatness of Bhagvãn. Then, he should conquer his mind by performing dhyãn on Bhagvãn’s murti. He should conquer his ears by listening to talks related to Bhagvãn, but he should not allow worldly talks to be heard by the ears. In the same way, the skin should only be allowed to touch Bhagvãn and the bhaktas of Bhagvãn. The eyes should only be allowed to do darshan of Bhagvãn and His bhaktas. The tongue should forever sing the praises of Bhagvãn and taste only the prasãd of Bhagvãn. The nose should only be allowed to smell the fragrance of flowers and other objects that have been blessed by Bhagvãn. None of the indriyas should be allowed to follow the unrighteous path. When a person behaves in this way, no one can overthrow his authority in the kingdom (body).
12.9 “Only a person who makes an effort in this way and totally discards timidity is said to be walking on the path of kalyãn. This is an extremely great method for overcoming his svabhãvs. If this method of personal effort is practiced vigilantly, then all spiritual activities for attaining kalyãn are incorporated within the one activity. Therefore, personal effort itself is the greatest of all spiritual activities for attaining kalyãn.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II || 12 || 145 ||