51.1 In the Samvat year 1880, on the night of Chaitra vad 9 [22nd April 1824], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on a mattress with a large, cylindrical pillow that had been placed on a decorated bedstead on the veranda outside the south-facing rooms of Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
51.2 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj asked the paramhans, “Often, when the jeev enters sushupti, it experiences profound peace, whereas at other times, even when it enters sushupti, its restlessness does not subside. What is the reason for this? That is my question.”
51.3 The senior paramhans attempted to answer the question, but were unable to give a precise answer.
51.4 So, Shreeji Mahãrãj explained, “That is due to the increase of the force of rajo-gun. So, even during the state of sushupti, the disturbance of rajo-gun joins with tamo-gun. As a result, a person experiences a feeling of restlessness even within sushupti. Therefore, as long as the influence of the gun remains within a person, he will never experience happiness; he only becomes happy when he behaves as the ãtmã.”
51.5 Then, Muktãnand Swãmi asked, “What are the characteristics of someone who behaves as the ãtmã?”
51.6 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “No one is said to be as powerful as Shiv and Brahmã. In fact, they are the gurus of even Nãrad; it is difficult for others to behave as they do – as brahm-svarup. Having said that, when the eight factors of desh, kãl, kriyã, sang, dhyãn, mantra, dikshã, and shãstra became unpleasant, the harmful influence caused great distress in the hearts of even Shiv and Brahmã. Therefore, regardless of how nirgun a person may be, or even if he behaves as the ãtmã, if he encounters unpleasant circumstances, he will most certainly experience distress within. So, no one can ever become happy by disobeying the disciplines laid down by the great sant.
51.7 “For this reason, all tyãgis should abide by the dharma of tyãgis, all grahasthas should abide by the dharma of grahasthas, and all women should abide by the dharma of women. Even in this, a person will not become happy if he behaves less than what is prescribed; nor will he become happy by behaving beyond what is prescribed. After all, the dharma prescribed in shãstras has been written exactly as Bhagvãn has narrated; therefore, there can be no discrepancy in it. Moreover, they are prescribed in such a way that they are easy to observe. Therefore, if a person observes too much or too little, he will certainly become unhappy.
51.8 “So, only a person who follows the commands of a sat-purush can be said to be under the influence of pleasant circumstances. To deviate from those commands is the very definition of unpleasant circumstances. Therefore, only a person who follows the commands of a sat-purush is behaving as the ãtmã.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II || 51 || 184 ||