34.1 In the Samvat year 1885, on Chaitra sud 3 [6th April 1829], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting in the mandir of Shree Gopinãthji in Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. A sabhã of paramhans, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
34.2 Then, Shuk Muni asked Shreeji Mahãrãj, “There appear to be two means by which desires for only Bhagvãn remain, and desires for any worldly object do not remain. One is love for Bhagvãn, and other is vairãgya coupled with gnãn. These are the two means. For a person who does not practise these two means firmly, but who does have nishchay in Bhagvãn and the belief of Bhagvãn, is there a third means by which he can maintain desires only for Bhagvãn and not for anything else?”
34.3 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said in reply, “That is a good question because it is true that only by those two means do desires only for Bhagvãn remain, and desires for any worldly object do not remain. If a person does not practice those two means, then his desires for objects other than Bhagvãn will not be eradicated. As a result, he remains unhappy in life. But, since he has nishchay in Bhagvãn, he will be granted kalyãn by Bhagvãn after death.
34.4 “However, just like those two means, there is also a third means for eradicating desires for objects other than Bhagvãn. What is it? Well, it is to vigilantly observe the prescribed niyams. What are those niyams? Some are svadharma niyams, that are related to the duties of a person’s varna and ashram. Just as there are niyams for an ãtmã-nivedi sãdhu and a brahm-chãri, similarly, even though a person is not an ãtmã-nivedi, he should still follow the niyams of not seeing women and not listening to talks about them. In this way, he should strictly and attentively observe the niyams related to abandoning the panch-vishays. Also, he should physically serve Bhagvãn and His bhaktas, and he should listen to kathãs related to Bhagvãn. In this way, if he observes niyams in the form of engaging in the nine types of bhakti, then his mind will also begin to think about good thoughts. So, if a person behaves according to these two niyams, then as a result, even if he does not have vairãgya or love for Bhagvãn, they will develop; he will become extremely powerful; impure desires for objects will be eradicated; and only desires for Bhagvãn will flourish day by day.”
34.5 Again, Shuk Muni asked, “Mahãrãj, it seems krodh arises when a person’s desire for a certain object or his sense of ‘my-ness’ for something is violated by someone. When a desire, such as a craving, is not satisfied, then that desire results in krodh. So, it can be said that such a person has developed a svabhãv in which krodh can arise. Is it possible that krodh will not arise even in such situations?”
34.6 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “A great sant, due to Bhagvãn’s ãgnã or by his own wish after understanding Bhagvãn’s greatness according to the shãstras, may have made a firm decision to keep countless people within the niyams of dharma, and to lead them onto the path of Bhagvãn. This sant may express anger on a person who disobeys the niyam of dharma and follows adharma. If the sant does not express anger and does not lecture that person in order to teach him to remain within the niyams of dharma, then that person will continue to disobey those niyams and will not progress. Therefore, anger expressed for this reason is beneficial; there is nothing unsuitable about it. This is because thousands of people have taken refuge of the great sant who has chosen to take this path. So, how can they possibly not be slightly lectured?
34.7 “However, anger will not arise if a person avoids the very cause of that anger. Obviously, anger will not arise, if a person is travelling alone in the jungle; but how can a great sant do that? After all, he has understood from the shãstras the great rewards involved in guiding countless people towards Bhagvãn by talks, in order that they attain kalyãn. Similarly, he has also understood the importance of observing Bhagvãn’s ãgnã. Therefore, even though he may express anger, he still does not abandon his decision to lead people to kalyãn.
34.8 A person who has developed attachment with a great sant, has understood that his personal interest of attaining kalyãn can be fulfilled by the sant. Also, he believes, ‘I can only attain kalyãn through this sant’. Then, even though he may have the svabhãv of krodh, he will never express that krodh on that great sant. In fact, he will surely abandon his svabhãv. So, krodh can also be eradicated in this way.
34.9 “On the other hand, a person who becomes angry on a sant over the exchange of some worthless objects has simply not understood the greatness of the sant, or the true path of a sant. If he had understood it, then he would not become angry over such worthless objects. Even if such a person is intelligent and understanding, if he does become angry on a sant for worthless objects, then his intellect should be considered to be like that of a king’s minister – skilled only in worldly affairs. He does not possess the intellect of sant.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã || 34 || 268 ||