20.1 In the Samvat year 1878, on Posh vad 14 [22nd January 1822], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting in front of the mandir of Shree Vãsudev-Nãrãyan in Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was wearing a white khes and had covered Himself with a white chofãl, above which He Had wrapped a rajãi made of chhint. He had also tied a white pãgh around His head. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him. Some of the paramhans were singing kirtans to the accompaniment of a mrudang.
20.2 Then, addressing the paramhans, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “At my residence today, I asked a question to Somlã Khãchar and the other bhaktas who stay with me. I would like all the paramhans to get together and answer that question.”
20.3 The paramhans requested, “Mahãrãj, may we please hear that question.”
20.4 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “A person who masters samãdhi attains a spiritual state that is beyond mãyã. He also has firm bond with the svarup of Bhagvãn. Therefore, the person’s mental ability, as well as the strength of his body and indriyas, should increase. This is because the twenty-four tattvas, which have been produced from Mãyã, have a form that is both jad and chaitanya; they cannot be said to be only jad, nor can they be said to be only chaitanya. Also, the strength in each of the elements cannot be said to be equal. There is a greater degree of awareness in the antah-karans than there is in the indriyas. Likewise, there is a greater degree of awareness in the jeev – the drashtã of the indriyas and antah-karans – than there is in the antah-karans.
20.5 “When the jeev experiences samãdhi, it abandons its role as the drashtã of the indriyas and antah-karans; and like Brahm, that jeev becomes chaitanya, and its bond with the svarup of Bhagvãn is maintained. Now, regarding those who have mastered samãdhi, some people think, ‘Whoever experiences samãdhi, loses even the knowledge he had previously’. So, do the mental ability and the strength of the body and indriyas of a person who has mastered samãdhi increase or not? That is the question.”
20.6 The paramhans then answered according to their intellect, but no one was able to give an adequate answer to Shreeji Mahãrãj’s question.
20.7 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “I will answer. The answer to the question is that Brahm, who is the witness, enters the brahmãnd – which is composed of the twenty-four tattvas, and which was produced from Mãyã – and makes it chaitanya. This gives it the power to perform all activities. The nature of that Brahm is such that when it enters an object that is as jad as wood or stone, that object becomes an object that can move. When the jeev becomes one with that Brahm through samãdhi, then that jeev can also be said to be brahm-rup. As a result, its gnãn also increases.
20.8 “With regards to the strength of the indriyas, a person who practices yog, coupled with tap, nivrutti dharma, and vairãgya, attains siddh-dashã like that of Shukji. On the other hand, there may be a person whose tap, observance of nivrutti dharma, and vairãgya are at an ordinary level, and who follows the path of pravrutti in the form of dharma, arth, and kãm. In his case, although he may experience samãdhi, only his gnãn will increase, but the strength of his indriyas does not increase and he does not attain siddh-dashã. In fact, even though a person may possess gnãn like Janak Rãjã, those who follow the path of pravrutti do not attain siddh-dashã like Nãrad, the Sanakãdik, and Shukji. On the other hand, a person who has attained siddh-dashã can travel to all places in this lok and beyond. However, for those who follow the path of pravrutti, like Janak Rãjã, only their gnãn increases; but it does not decrease.
20.9 “In fact, what happens is described by Shree Krishna Bhagvãn in the Geetã in the shlok:
20.10 “Therefore, the gnãn of a person who experiences samãdhi still increases even though he behaves distinctly from the body, indriyas, and antah-karans. Even after he returns to the indriyas and antah-karans, the gnãn obtained during samãdhi is still not destroyed. As for a person who takes up tap, nivrutti dharma, and vairãgya – after abandoning the path of pravrutti – just as his gnãn has increased, the strength of his indriyas and antah-karans will increase as well. Also, he will attain siddh-dashã like Nãrad, the Sanakãdik, and Shukji.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II || 20 || 153 ||