1.1 In the Samvat year 1876, on the night of Mãgshar sud 4 [20th November, 1819], Shreeji Mahãrãj had come to the residential hall of the sãdhus, in Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. A sabhã of sãdhus, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
1.2 Shreeji Mahãrãj then asked, “What is the most difficult of all spiritual activities?”
1.3 The brahm-chãris, sãdhus, and grahasthas, answered according to their understanding, but no one could give a satisfactory reply.
1.4 Shreeji Mahãrãj then said, “Allow me to answer. There is no spiritual activity more difficult than to continuously engage the mind on the svarup of Bhagvãn. The shãstras state that there is no greater achievement for a person whose mind’s vrutti is constantly focused on the murti of Bhagvãn. This is because the murti of Bhagvãn is like a chintãmani. Just as a person who possesses a chintãmani attains whatever he desires, a person whose mind’s vrutti is constantly focused on the murti of Bhagvãn can instantly see, if he so wishes, the svarups of jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Brahm. He can also see Vaikunth, Golok, Brahm-Mahol, and other dhãms of Bhagvãn. Therefore, there is no spiritual activity more difficult, nor is there any greater achievement, than to continuously engage the mind’s vrutti on the murti of Bhagvãn.”
1.5 Then, Sheth Govardhan-Bhãi asked Shreeji Mahãrãj, “What is the nature of Bhagvãn’s mãyã?”
1.6 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “Mãyã is anything that obstructs a bhakta of Bhagvãn, while he is performing dhyãn of Bhagvãn’s murti.”
1.7 Then, Muktãnand Swãmi enquired, “When a bhakta leaves his physical body, which is composed of the five bhuts, and goes to Akshardhãm, what type of body does he attain?”
1.8 Shreeji Mahãrãj answered, “A bhakta who has sought refuge in the Dharma-Kul will attain a brahmay body by the wish of Bhagvãn. When such bhaktas leave their body and go to Akshardhãm, some go by sitting on Garud, some go by sitting on a rath, and others go by sitting on a vimãn. This is how they reach the dhãm of Bhagvãn. Those who have mastered yog-samãdhi, can actually witness these events.”
1.9 Then, Harji Thakkar asked Shreeji Mahãrãj, “Some have been practising satsang for quite some time, yet they do not have the intense love for satsang as they do for their own body and their relatives. What is the reason for this?”
1.10 Shreeji Mahãrãj explained, “Such a person has not fully realised the greatness of Bhagvãn. When a sant, by whose association the greatness of Bhagvãn can be fully realised, talks to him about his svabhãv, the person is not able to change his behaviour. Instead, he develops hatred towards the sant that has advised him. It is due to this sinful act that he does not develop intense love for satsang. After all, sins committed elsewhere, are washed away by association with a sant. But sins committed against a sant, are washed away only by the grace of the sant himself, not by any other means. The shãstras also state:
anya-kshetre krutam pãpam tirth-kshetre vina-shyati
tirth-kshetre krutam pãpam vajra-lepo bhavi-shyati
Sins committed elsewhere are destroyed at a place of pilgrimage,
but sins committed at a place of pilgrimage are as though etched in iron.
1.11 “Therefore, if a person does not have hatred towards the sant, he develops intense love for satsang.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã I || 1 || 1 ||