This Week In History(32) -6 to 12 August

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-6
Describing the nature of the chitt (mind), Shriji Maharaj says, “The chitt of all people is like honey, or like water saturated with gur, sugar or sakar. If, for example, a fly or an ant were to fall into that honey or water saturated with gur, sugar or sakar, it would become stuck in it. Even if a person were to touch the honey or saturated water, it would stick to the person’s finger as well. The nature of the chitt is similar to this; it sticks to whatever object it recalls. In fact, the chitt even attaches itself to things that are utterly insignificant, such as stones, or rubbish, or dog excrement – things in which there is not even the slightest pleasure. If it recalls such useless things, it will then also contemplate upon them. Such is its sticky nature.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-59
Shriji Maharaj reveals who gets an opportunity to serve God and his Sadhu, “Only those who have accumulated a great number of merits from performing good deeds receive the opportunity to serve God’s Sant, but those who have a few merits do not.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada III-4
Shriji Maharaj talks about the jiva, and how it pervades and animates the body, “In the heart, there is a transformation of the five mahabhuts into a disc of flesh, within which the jiva resides. The jiva clings to this disc of flesh like a torch made of rags that is set alight after being immersed in oil. Also, just as fire pervades an iron nail, similarly, the jiva actually resides in the disc of flesh, and by consciousness pervades the entire body. Therefore, regardless of where pain is felt in the body, it is the jiva itself that feels the pain; so, in fact, the jiva cannot be said to be separate from the pleasures and pains of the body.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-25
Shriji Maharaj explains how worldly desires can be eradicated, “If one becomes addicted to serving God and His Sant to the extent that one would not be able to stay for even a moment without serving them, then all of the impure desires in one’s antahkaran will be destroyed.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-7
Elaborating on how one’s base nature may be overcome, even if one lacks detachment, Shriji Maharaj says, “If a person lacks vairagya, but intensely serves a great Sant, and obediently perseveres in his observance of the injunctions of God, then God will look upon him with an eye of compassion, and feel, ‘This poor fellow lacks vairagya, and lust, anger, etc., are harassing him very much. So now, may all those vicious natures be eradicated.’ As a result, they will be eradicated immediately. In comparison, if he were to endeavour in other ways, those swabhavs may be eradicated, but after a great deal of time and effort – either in this life or in later lives. If such vicious natures are eradicated instantly, then it should be known that they have been eradicated by the grace of God.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-8
Shriji Maharaj instructs all to observe the Ekadashi fast by narrating the story of its origin, “One should observe the Ekadashi fast because of the following story: Once, God was sleeping with his ten indriyas and mind – the eleventh indriya – drawn inwards. At that time, Mur Danav, the son of Nadijangh, came to do battle with God. But then, a young woman was created from the divine light of God’s eleven indriyas. Seeing her, Mur Danav proposed to her, ‘Please marry me.’ The young woman replied, ‘I have taken a vow that I will only marry the person who defeats me in a duel.’ Thus, a duel between Mur Danav and the young woman ensued, in which the young woman severed Mur Danav’s head with a sword. God was pleased with her and said, ‘Ask for a boon.’ The young woman requested, ‘On my day of observance, no one should eat grains. Furthermore, since I was born from the divine light of your eleven indriyas, my name is Ekadashi. Since I am an ascetic, on my day of observance, no one should indulge in any of the vishays related to the eleven indriyas, which includes the mind.’ Hearing Ekadashi’s wish, God granted her that boon. This is the story as it is narrated in the Purans.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-31
Shriji Maharaj reveals that one can attain atma-realization by constantly remembering God, “The jiva, however, has been associated with the body, the indriyas and the vishays. As a result of this improper association, the jiva has become one with the body, indriyas, etc. After forsaking their association, the jiva realises, ‘My self is Brahma, which is transcendental and free from maya.’ If one associates with Brahma through continuous contemplation in this manner, the jiva acquires the virtues of that Brahma. However, it is a great fault of the jiva that even after hearing this fact, it cannot maintain constant remembrance.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-32
The attachment to family is difficult to overcome. Shriji Maharaj describes the nature of this bondage and shows how to transcend it, “In worldly life, the affection one has for family members is like that of a cactus plant or the branch of a banyan or pipal tree. That is, if they are cut and transplanted elsewhere, they would once again grow into trees. In comparison, once a mango tree or a neem tree is cut, it does not take root again. The affection that one has for those other than the members of one’s family is like that of the mango tree or the neem tree. Again, the affection one has for the members of one’s family is like the cactus plant and banyan tree in that if they have been cut down, they unfailingly do grow again, even while lying in the soil.
“For this reason, the affection that a person harbours for his family is only uprooted when he realises his true form to be the jivãtmã, distinct from the three bodies of sthul, sukshma and kãran; when, discarding all vanity of gender, caste and ashram, he beholds God’s form within it; and when he becomes eager to engage only in the worship of God. Only then will the affection that he harbours for his family be completely cut. Besides this, though, there are no other means to do so.”

Vachanamrut Gadhada II-9
In the opening paragraph of this Vachanamrut, Shriji Maharaj is described as wearing a surval, dagli, reto and shelu. Also, since it is the day before Raksha Bandhan, he has rakhdis tied on his wrist. [photos from Vach. Handbook]