17.1 In the Samvat year 1876, on Mãgshar vad 5 [6th December, 1819], Shreeji Mahãrãj was sitting in a west-facing room of Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã, while the kathã was being read. He was wearing a white khes, and had covered Himself with a chãdar. He had tied a white pãgh around His head, with a tassel of yellow flowers inserted into the pãgh, and He was wearing a garland of yellow flowers. He was in a very pleasant mood.
17.2 At that time, Shreeji Mahãrãj called for Muktãnand Swãmi, Gopãlãnand Swãmi and some other sãdhus. Addressing them, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “A small element of negative influence still remains in our satsang, which I wish to eliminate today. I want to conduct this matter in a way that includes all satsangis, paramhans, sãnkhya-yogis, and karma-yogis.
17.3 “Now, what is this negative influence in satsang? Well, it is those who speak discouragingly about satsang. That is the negative influence in satsang. What do they say? They say, ‘Who can follow Bhagvãn’s ãgnã thoroughly? Who can possibly follow the vartmãns perfectly? No one. Therefore, we should follow only as much as we can. After all, Bhagvãn is adham-udhãran, and so He will grant kalyãn to us as well’.
17.4 “They also say, ‘Attempting to see Bhagvãn’s svarup in the heart is not possible by a person’s own efforts. It is only seen by those whom Bhagvãn helps out of compassion’. With such proud words, they discourage others from practicing dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, bhakti, and other spiritual activities that please Bhagvãn.
17.5 “Therefore, from this day onwards, no one in our satsang should ever utter such discouraging words. Instead, always speak with courage. Those who do speak such words should be known as napunsak. In fact, on days when a person speaks such discouraging words, he should keep an upvãs.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã I || 17 || 17 ||