Loyã-3 One with Faith in God Coupled with the Knowledge of His Greatness 1 On the night of Kãrtik vadi 13, Samvat 1877 [3 December 1820], Shriji Mahãrãj was sitting on a large, decorated cot in Surã Khãchar’s darbãr in Loyã. He was wearing a white dagli made of chhint and a white, cotton-padded survãl. He had also tied a white feto around his head and had covered himself with a white blanket. At that time, an assembly of munis as well as satsangis from various places had gathered before him. 2 Thereupon Bhagvadãnand Swãmi and Shivãnand Swãmi asked Shriji Mahãrãj, “What are the characteristics of a person who has faith in God and his Sant coupled with the knowledge of their greatness?” 3 Shriji Mahãrãj replied, “What would a person who has faith in God and his Sant coupled with the knowledge of their greatness not do for the sake of God and his Sant? For them, he would renounce his family, renounce any fear of public ridicule, renounce a kingdom, renounce pleasures, renounce wealth, renounce his wife, and in the case of a woman, she would renounce her husband.” 4 Then Shriji Mahãrãj narrated the stories of the following devotees: Rajput Galuji of the village Dadusar; Kushalkuvarbãi of Dharmapur; Parvatbhãi; Rãjbãi; Jivubãi; Lãdubãi; Motã Rãmbãi; Dãdã Khãchar; Mãnchã Bhakta; Mulji Brahmachãri; Lãdhibãi and Mãtãji of Bhuj; Muktãnand Swãmi; Sãmat Patel, an Ãhir from the Vãlãk region; Mulji and Krishnaji of the village Mãnkuvã; the two Kãthi devotees of the village Gundãli in the Vãlãk region; and other satsangis. Mahãrãj described in detail whatever they had done for the sake of God and his Sant. 5 Then he added, “One who has faith in God coupled with knowledge of his greatness never disobeys the words of God; he does as God says.” Having said this, he revealed, “What was my nature like? Well, I was such a renunciant that I could stay in one place only as long as the time interval between the morning and evening milking of cows, not any longer. I had intense vairãgya. Moreover, I had deep affection for Rãmãnand Swãmi. Thus, when Swãmi sent a message from the city of Bhuj via Mayãrãm Bhatt, saying, ‘If you desire to stay in the Satsang fellowship, you will have to stay by embracing its pillar,’ I literally embraced a pillar. Seeing this, Mayãrãm Bhatt said, ‘You should live according to Muktãnand Swãmi’s commands.’ Thus, before I had the darshan of Rãmãnand Swãmi, I stayed under Muktãnand Swãmi for nine months. So, one who has the previously mentioned faith in God and his Sant can also be known by this characteristic.” Shriji Mahãrãj then narrated the stories of Sundarji Suthãr and Dosã Vãniyã. 6 After mentioning that one who has such faith in God and his Sant has constant enthusiasm, Shriji Mahãrãj narrated the story of Rãnã Rãjgar. 7 Next, Shriji Mahãrãj narrated the story of Prahlãd: “Prahlãd said to Nrusinhji, ‘Mahãrãj, I am not afraid of this terrifying form of yours. Moreover, I do not consider your protection of me as true protection. Rather, when you save me from my enemy’s troops in the form of the indriyas, I shall consider that to be true protection.’ Therefore, a devotee of God would not be elated if God were to protect him physically; and he would not be disappointed if he were not protected. Instead, he would remain carefree and continue to worship God. 8 “Moreover, he would intensely realize the greatness of God and his Sant.” Then Shriji Mahãrãj narrated the story of the old lady from the village Kathlãl. 9 Continuing, he said, “Even if such a devotee were to die painfully, or if a tiger were to devour him, or if a snake were to bite him, or if a weapon were to strike him, or if he were to drown in water, or if he were to die in any other horrific way, still, a person having faith in God and his Sant coupled with the knowledge of their greatness would believe, ‘A devotee of God never suffers from an adverse outcome; he will certainly attain the abode of God. On the other hand, even if a non-believer were to die naturally and were to be cremated in a funeral pyre with sandalwood and full obituary rites, he will certainly go to Yampuri.’ He would understand the difference between the two extremely clearly. 10 “So, a person who develops such firm convictions in his heart should be known as having faith in God and his Sant coupled with the knowledge of their greatness. A person with such faith will definitely reach Brahmamahol; he would not reside in any other lower abode.” H Vachanãmrut Loyã-3 H 111H
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 08:21:54 +0000