13.1 In the Samvat year 1884, on Ashãdh vad 9 [17th July 1827], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on the veranda outside the east-facing rooms of Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. Garlands of mogrã flowers were hanging around His neck, and tassels decorated His pãgh. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him. Some of the munis were singing kirtans to the accompaniment of a dukad and sarodã.
13.2 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Please stop singing the kirtans, and let us talk about Bhagvãn.” Shreeji Mahãrãj asked a question to the muni-mandal: “A jeev’s body is dependent upon the karmas performed in past lives. That is why it is not always so stable. For example, sometimes a person remains healthy, and sometimes he becomes ill; sometimes he functions independently, and sometimes he becomes dependent, where he may or may not be able to stay where he chooses; and sometimes he may be able to stay in the company of bhaktas, but sometimes he may even be separated from them and be forced to live alone. All of this is due to the influence of karma or kãl. In such circumstance, a person’s determination in observing niyams becomes unsteady.
13.3 “Further, if a ruler like the British detains a person; or if a person’s mind and indriyas – which are also like the British rulers – keep him under their control, then it is uncertain whether he will stay in the company of sãdhus or follow the niyams of satsang. Having said this, the shãstras have specifically stated: ‘If a person perfectly possesses all four of the qualities of dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, and bhakti, then he can be called an ekãntik bhakta, and such a person attains ultimate kalyãn’. Also, it seems unlikely that the physical conditions will remain stable under the influence of Kãl and karma. Therefore, how can a bhakta of Bhagvãn maintain his ekãntik state? That is the question.”
13.4 Then, Gopãlãnand Swãmi, Chaitanyãnand Swãmi, Nityãnand Swãmi, Muktãnand Swãmi, Brahmãnand Swãmi, Shuk Muni, and other senior sãdhus answered according to whatever they felt was correct but were unable to answer the question satisfactorily.
13.5 Shreeji Mahãrãj then said in reply, “Please listen as I reveal to you the way in which my belief of Bhagvãn remains firms.” He then began, “Regardless of how much pain or pleasure comes my way, and regardless of whether wealth or poverty comes my way, in those circumstances, first I realise the immense greatness of Bhagvãn. On seeing the riches and royal wealth of the great kings of this world, it is this understanding that allows me to not associate even the slightest amount of significance to them in my heart. I believe that for me, there is nothing greater than Bhagvãn; and so my mind is firmly attached to His holy feet. In fact, my love for Bhagvãn is so firm that even Kãl, karma, and Mãyã are incapable of destroying that love. Even if my own mind attempts to destroy that love for Bhagvãn, it cannot be destroyed. In fact, my love is such that regardless of the extent of happiness or misery that may happen to come my way, the love is not destroyed.
13.6 “Also, the natural inclination of my mind is such that I do not at all prefer to live in cities, in mansions or in royal palaces. On the contrary, I very much prefer to stay where there are forests, mountains, rivers, trees, or in some secluded place. I feel that it would be nice to sit alone in some secluded place and perform dhyãn upon Bhagvãn. That is what I prefer at all times. In fact, before I had the darshan of Rãmãnand Swãmi, I had already decided with Muktãnand Swãmi, ‘After you arrange for me to have the darshan of Rãmãnand Swãmi, the two of us will retire to the forest and constantly engage ourselves in the dhyãn of Bhagvãn, and never shall we return to stay amongst people’. Such was the determination in my mind then; even now, I feel exactly the same.
13.7 “In addition, the profound love that I have for Bhagvãn and His bhaktas is so strong that even Kãl, karma, and Mãyã are incapable of eradicating that love. In fact, even if my own mind attempted to eradicate it, it would definitely not be eradicated from my heart. Such is the intense love I have for Bhagvãn and His bhaktas.
13.8 “Many times I have become disheartened and felt like leaving this satsang, but I have remained here on seeing the bhaktas; I could in no way abandon them and leave. In fact, I would be unable to stay where I do not find such bhaktas of Bhagvãn, even if someone were to try by a million methods to keep me there. Regardless of how well a person may serve me, I simply cannot get along with someone who is not a bhakta of Bhagvãn. In this way, I have attached my mind with profound love to Bhagvãn and His bhaktas; and other than that Bhagvãn, I have no liking for anything else. If that is so, why should love for Bhagvãn not remain? When I am engaged in kathãs or kirtans related to Bhagvãn, I experience such happiness that I feel as if I shall become mad due to it. In fact, whatever calmness remains is solely for the benefit of the bhaktas; but in the mind, the very same happiness always remains; although outwardly, I behave in accordance with the customs of society.
13.9 “It is that very Bhagvãn who is the sole controller of this body. If He wishes, He may seat him on an elephant; or if He wishes, He may have it thrown in prison; or if He so wishes, He may even place some serious illness in the body. Despite this, a person should never pray before Bhagvãn in the following way: ‘Mahãrãj! Please relieve me of my misery’. This is because we want this body to behave in accordance with the wishes of Bhagvãn; after all, Bhagvãn’s wish is our wish. We do not want our preferences to differ from the preferences of Bhagvãn even in the slightest way. Moreover, since we have offered our body, mind, and wealth to Bhagvãn, then only the wish of Bhagvãn is our prãrabdha; besides that, there is no other prãrabdha for us. Therefore, regardless of whatever pain or pleasure we may encounter by the wish of Bhagvãn, we should not become disturbed in any way; we should be pleased with whatever pleases Bhagvãn.
13.10 “Therefore, Bhagvãn Himself protects the dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, and bhakti of a bhakta who has such intense love for Bhagvãn. Occasionally, due to the prevalence of unpleasant circumstances, it may outwardly appear that such a bhakta is disobeying dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, and bhakti, but inwardly, there is no disobedience at all.”
13.11 In this way, by quoting His own example, Shreeji Mahãrãj described the understanding of an extremely firm bhakta of Bhagvãn, and how he should develop firm love for Bhagvãn.
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã III || 13 || 247 ||