60.1 In the Samvat year 1876, on Fãgan vad 1 [29th February, 1820], Shreeji Mahãrãj was sitting in the residential hall of the paramhans in Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was wearing a white khes and had covered Himself with a white chãdar. He had also tied a white pãgh around His head, which was decorated with tassels of white flowers. Garlands of white flowers were hanging around His neck. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
60.2 Shreeji Mahãrãj then said, “Of all spiritual activities, the activity of eradicating worldly desires, is the greatest. A person can do this by bearing in mind his craving for the vishays – shabda, sparsh, rup, ras, and gandh – and by thinking, ‘Is my desire for Bhagvãn equal to my desires for the world? Is it greater? Or is it less?’ A person should examine himself in this way. For example, if a person’s ears are drawn to worldly talks just as much as they are drawn to talks related to Bhagvãn, then he should realise, ‘My desire for Bhagvãn is equal to my desire for the world’. He should examine all the other vishays in this way.
60.3 “While examining himself in this way, if a person gradually decreases his worldly desires and increases his desire for Bhagvãn, he begins to develop an understanding where he views all vishays equally. After such calmness has developed, honours and insults will appear to be the same to him. Moreover, pleasant and unpleasant types of touch will appear to be the same; attractive sights and unattractive sights will appear to be the same; a girl, a young lady and an old woman will appear to be the same; gold and rubbish will appear to be the same as well. Similarly, pleasant and unpleasant tastes and smells will also appear to be the same. When a person can instinctively behave in this way, it should be known that his worldly desires have been overcome.
60.4 “In fact, to behave above the influence of worldly desires, is the dharma of a person who is ekãntik. But, if some desires do remain, then even in a person is able to attain samãdhi and control his nãdi and prãns, those desires will draw him back out of samãdhi. Therefore, only a person who overcomes worldly desires is an ekãntik bhakta.”
60.5 Muktãnand Swãmi then asked, “What are the means to eradicate worldly desires?”
60.6 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “Firstly, a person requires firm ãtmã-nishthã. Secondly, he should realise the insignificance of the five vishays. Thirdly, he should realise the profound greatness of Bhagvãn, and think, ‘Bhagvãn is the master of all dhãms – Vaikunth, Golok, Brahm-Mahol. So, having attained that Bhagvãn, why should I have affection for the pleasures of the vishays, which are useless?’ A person should think of Bhagvãn’s greatness in this way.
60.7 “He also thinks, ‘If I become unworthy of going to the dhãm of Bhagvãn, due to some deficiency remaining while worshipping Bhagvãn, and He were to place me in Indra-Lok or Brahm-Lok, there is still a million-fold more bliss there, in comparison to this world’. With such a thought, a person should become free of all desires for the insignificant pleasures of the world. So, by realising Bhagvãn’s greatness in this way, he becomes free of worldly desires. Then, he feels, ‘I never did have any desires. It was all like some kind of illusion. In reality, I have always been free of desires’. This is what a person experiences.
60.8 “This ekãntik dharma can only be attained by following the ãgnã of a sant who is free of worldly desires, and who has love for Bhagvãn. It cannot be attained merely by reading shãstras. Even if a person were to attempt to repeat those talks exactly, having merely heard them, he would not be able to do so properly. Therefore, a person can attain ekãntik dharma only from someone who has already attained the state of ekãntik dharma.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã I || 60 || 60 ||