This Week In History(15) -9 to 15 April

Vachanamrut Gadhada I-72
The title of this Vachanamrut is “Faith Coupled with the Knowledge of God’s Greatness”.
In it Shriji Maharaj says, “If a devotee of God has faith in God coupled with the knowledge of His greatness and also thoroughly realises the greatness of the sadhus and satsangis, then even if that devotee’s karmas as well as kãl happen to be unfavourable, both kãl and karma combined are incapable of harming him due to the extreme force of his bhakti. On the other hand, a person lacking faith in God and His Sant does not benefit in any way, even if God wishes to do good for that person.”

Vachanamrut – Ashali
This is the only Vachanamrut narrated by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in Ashlali, a small village near Amdavad.
During this discourse, Shriji Maharaj says, “There are three types of devotees; they can be recognised by their characteristics: He who worships God with the intention of earning powers to create the world is known as ‘aishvaryãrthi’. He is the lowest type of devotee. He who worships God only to experience the ãtmã is known as a ‘kaivalyãrthi’. He is of an intermediate level. However, he who has a constant and singular resolve for the service of the manifest form of Purushottam Bhagwãn is known as a ‘bhagwat-nishthãrthi’. He is the best devotee of all. Because all of us have the conviction of the incarnate form of Shri Nar-Nãrãyan, we are all undoubtedly the best.”

Vachanamrut Jetalpur-1
A total five Vachanamruts have been narrated by Shriji Maharaj in Jetalpur, a village near Amdavad.
In this Vachanamrut Shriji Maharaj says, “When the jiva comes into contact with the manifest form of Shri Purushottam Bhagwãn – who is beyond mãyã and who is the destroyer of mãyã and all karmas – or the Sant who has attained that God, then by accepting their refuge, the jiva can transcend mãyã.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada III-35
Explaining how to introspect and implement improvements in one’s life, Shriji Maharaj says, “One should reflect upon the thoughts that occur in one’s mind. For example, ‘In my mind, besides the thoughts of God, there are also thoughts related to the panchvishays; of these, for which objects do I have powerful desires and for which do I have strong cravings?’ If a person contemplates in this manner, he can realise himself as he truly is; otherwise, he cannot. During that contemplation, he should also realise, ‘I have very strong desires for this object, and I am striving to attain it. But, when the Sant attempts to have me forsake it, I will become disturbed.’ In this way, he becomes clear about his own self. If his nature is stubborn, and God or the Sant do not attempt to alter it, then he will survive in the Satsang fellowship; however, if they do attempt to alter it, then he will definitely fall. Ultimately, then, he will become extremely disturbed and will fall from Satsang.”

Vachanamrut Jetalpur-4
Shriji Maharaj describes the importance of constantly remembering God as the means for attaining moksha, “In this realm, the jiva attains liberation only by the following means: faith in the manifest form of God, His darshan and His constant remembrance. After all, it is said in the Shrimad Bhãgvat that even those who insulted God, namely Kansa, Shishupãl, Dantvakra, etc., attained liberation since all of them had constant remembrance of God. Thus, liberation is attained by constantly remembering God. And since all of you possess such remembrance, your liberation is assured.”

Vachanamrut Jetalpur-5
At the beginning of this discourse, Shriji Maharaj boldly declares, “There is nothing greater than worshipping God. Why? Because everything happens according to the will of God.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-50
In his concluding remarks of this Vachanamrut, Shriji Maharaj explains his personal principle, “I do not wish to leave any trace of the world in the hearts of whosoever keeps my company. Why? Because I get along only with those whose resolve is similar to mine. But if one has desires for worldly pleasures, then even if I try to develop affection for that person, I cannot do so. Thus, only those devotees of God who are free of worldly desires are dear to me. What I have just told you is my personal principle.”