35.1 In the Samvat year 1885, on Chaitra sud 9 [12th 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 sãdhus, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
35.2 Then, Shuk Muni asked, “Mahãrãj, how can we recognise that a person has such a firm refuge of Bhagvãn and His bhaktas that it will not falter in any way – regardless of the extent of suffering he may have to face; regardless of any physical happiness or distress; and regardless of whether he faces honour or insult, or even unpleasant circumstances? Please also describe what type of thoughts such a person has in mind, as well as how he behaves physically?”
35.3 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said in reply, “If a bhakta realises that only Bhagvãn is great, but he does not believe anything else to be greater than Bhagvãn; and if he also believes that everything except Bhagvãn is worthless; and if he does not become disturbed or annoyed when Bhagvãn or His sant attempts to forcefully alter his svabhãv or when they do not allow him to behave according to his svabhãv; and if he can abandon his svabhãv, no matter how embedded it may be, and follow the ãgnã of Bhagvãn and His sant in a simple way – then that bhakta’s acceptance of the refuge of Bhagvãn will not falter, regardless of how difficult the circumstances may be.”
35.4 Shuk Muni then queried, “Such a person must become disturbed, because when someone’s svabhãv is forcefully altered, he naturally becomes disturbed. So, are there differences in the types of disturbances that are experienced or not?”
35.5 Shreeji Mahãrãj explained, “If a person is disturbed when his nature is forcefully altered, and if he then finds avgun within himself rather than with Bhagvãn or His sant, then he is good. However, instead of finding faults with himself, if a person perceives avgun in Bhagvãn and His sant, then his future is uncertain, and there is no stability in his refuge of Bhagvãn.”
35.6 Again, Shuk Muni asked, “If Bhagvãn or His sant have never attempted to twist a person’s nature, how can he realise in his own mind, ‘If they do attempt to do so at some time in the future, I will become disturbed’. After all, how can a person be sure of something that he has not experienced?”
35.7 Hearing this, Shreeji Mahãrãj explained, “A person should think about the thoughts that occur in his mind. For example, ‘In the mind, besides the thoughts of Bhagvãn, there are also thoughts related to the panch-vishays. Of these, for which objects do I have powerful desires and for which do I have strong cravings?’ If a person thinks in this way, he can realise himself as he truly is; otherwise, he cannot. During the thinking of those thoughts, he should also realise, ‘I have very strong desires for this object, and I am striving to attain it. However, when a sant attempts to have me abandon it, I will become disturbed’. In this way, he becomes clear about his own self. If his svabhãv is stubborn, and Bhagvãn or His sant do not attempt to alter it, then he will survive in satsang. However, if they do attempt to alter it, then he will definitely fall. Ultimately, he will become extremely disturbed and will fall from satsang.”
35.8 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “The shãstras claim that to insult a sant is the greatest of all sins. What is the reason for this? Well, it is because Shree Krishna Bhagvãn Himself resides in the heart of that sant. Therefore, when a person insults a sant, he insults Bhagvãn as well. After all, when a person insults a sant, Bhagvãn, who resides within his heart, is hurt. In such a case, the sin of insulting Bhagvãn is an even greater sin. Therefore, it is said that to insult the sant is the greatest of all sins.
35.9 “Having said that though, Kans, Shishupãl, Putnã, and other demons insulted Bhagvãn, yet Bhagvãn still granted them kalyãn like that of a bhakta. This is because even though it was out of hatred, those demons did think about Bhagvãn. So, Bhagvãn felt, ‘Those demons thought of me, and therefore associated with me, even though it was out of hatred. So, I should grant them kalyãn’. These cases should be taken as examples of Bhagvãn’s compassion. A person should also realise, ‘If Bhagvãn granted them kalyãn even though they sought the refuge of Bhagvãn through hatred, why would Bhagvãn not grant kalyãn to a bhakta who seeks His refuge by offering bhakti and who pleases Him by that bhakti? Of course, He will’.
35.10 “The intention of those who have written the shãstras is to inspire people towards the bhakti of Bhagvãn by showing Bhagvãn’s great compassion; their intention was not to allow people to behave against Bhagvãn’s wishes like the demons. Therefore, a person who spites Bhagvãn by keeping hatred towards Him and who behaves against His wishes should definitely be considered to be a demon – because that is the way of demons. However, a person should behave only in a way that will please Bhagvãn; he should engage in bhakti and please Him and His bhaktas. That is the way of the bhaktas of Bhagvãn.”
35.11 Shuk Muni then asked further, “Mahãrãj, what are the characteristics of a sant who is such that by insulting him, Bhagvãn residing within his heart is also insulted, and by performing his sevã, Bhagvãn’s sevã is also performed?”
35.12 Shreeji Mahãrãj thought for a while and then answered out of compassion: “First of all, the most important characteristic is that he never believes Bhagvãn to be nirãkãr. He understands Bhagvãn to eternally sãkãr. No matter how many of the Purãns, Upanishads, Veds, or other shãstras he may hear – if ever he comes across the idea of Bhagvãn being nirãkãr, he thinks, ‘Either I have not understood the true meaning of the shãstras, or there may be other purpose behind such words; but Bhagvãn is always sãkãr’. If he does not understand Bhagvãn be sãkãr, then his upãsanã cannot be considered to be firm. Also, if Bhagvãn is nirãkãr, then He could not be called the all-doer – just as ãkãsh cannot be called the doer; and nor could He be said to reside in one location. Therefore, Bhagvãn is eternally sãkãr. In addition, He is the creator, sustainer, and destroyer of countless brahmãnds; He is forever present in His Akshardhãm; He is the lord of all; and He is pratyaksha here before your eyes. The sant mentioned above always has this understanding; but this understanding of his is never shaken in any way or under any circumstances.
35.13 “Secondly, he engages himself in the ekãntik bhakti of Bhagvãn. Moreover, when he sees someone else engaged in kathãs, singing kirtans, and chanting the holy name of Bhagvãn, he becomes extremely pleased in his mind.
35.14 “Thirdly, when he stays amongst bhaktas, he does not allow any of his svabhãvs to interfere. In fact, he will abandon his svabhãvs, but he will not leave the company of the bhaktas of Bhagvãn. If a sant happens to criticise his svabhãvs, he does not have hatred towards the sant. Instead, he finds faults with his own svabhãvs, but he never becomes upset or even thinks of departing from the company of the bhaktas of Bhagvãn. In this way, he remains within the company of bhaktas.
35.15 “Fourthly, when he comes across any precious item, such as an expensive piece of clothing, some delicious food, or clean water, ‘It would be nice to give this to a bhakta of Bhagvãn’. He would give away the items to him and be happy.
35.16 “Fifth, the bhaktas in whose company he is staying do not feel, ‘He has beeen staying with us for so many years, yet we have not been able to truly understand him; and who knows what he is really like? It is difficult to judge him’. He would not be like that. Instead, he would be such that everyone would know him outwardly and inwardly, and they would feel, ‘He is definitely like this’. He would be of such an honest nature.
35.17 “Sixth, even if he is of a quiet nature, he would not like the company of kusangis; and if he does happen to come across them, he would become angry. In this way, he has a natural dislike for the company of those who are vimukhs.
35.18 “Therefore, it should be known that Bhagvãn Himself resides in the heart of a sant who possesses these six qualities. By insulting such a sant, a person commits a sin equivalent to insulting Bhagvãn; and if he performs sevã of such a sant, he earns rewards equivalent to performing sevã of Bhagvãn.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã || 35 || 269 ||