Sadhguru Shri Gopalanand Swami's discourses, chapter one, discourse number 119. Swaminarayan Hare Swaminarayan Hare. Swami has said that, one should have the correct knowledge of Purushottam Purushottam God. Supreme being. Bhagvãn. He is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, divine, always taking birth on earth for Tap to open in glossary → Akshar Akshar 1) Imperishable. In his personal form, Akshar serves Bhagvãn in Akshardhãm, and takes birth on earth as His ideal bhakta (sat-purush). Both forms are human in appearance. In his impersonal form, Akshar is the dhãm of Bhagvãn called Akshardhãm. In his all- pervading anvay form, Akshar is called Chidãkãsh. Tap to open in glossary → Akshar Akshar 1) Imperishable. In his personal form, Akshar serves Bhagvãn in Akshardhãm, and takes birth on earth as His ideal bhakta (sat-purush). Both forms are human in appearance. In his impersonal form, Akshar is the dhãm of Bhagvãn called Akshardhãm. In his all- pervading anvay form, Akshar is called Chidãkãsh. Tap to open in glossary → as well as of Purush Purush 1) An akshar-mukta selected by Akshar-Brahm to ‘impregnate’ Prakruti for the creation process, from which countless pairs of Pradhãn and Purush are formed for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. 2) Purush half of the Pradhãn-Purush pair, ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. 3) Taken to be masculine in nature, Purush is the controller of Prakruti, and is also distinct from her. He is indivisible, without a beginning, and without an end. He is self-luminous, omniscient, imperishable, satya, kshetragna, and the cause of all the activities that possess a form. He also has a divya body. 4) Also called Mahã-Purush, Mul-Purush or Akshar- Purush. Tap to open in glossary → and of devotion to Shreeji Maharaj with dharma dharma 1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion, Tap to open in glossary → And if one lacks knowledge of worldly affairs, one still gets confused. Thus, he spoke at length using Mava Bhakta Bhakta Devotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn. Tap to open in glossary → What is it? If one lacks knowledge of worldly affairs—even if one has all the knowledge of God, but lacks knowledge of worldly affairs—one still gets confused. Is that all, or is there more to the discourse? What is it? Akshar Akshar 1) Imperishable. In his personal form, Akshar serves Bhagvãn in Akshardhãm, and takes birth on earth as His ideal bhakta (sat-purush). Both forms are human in appearance. In his impersonal form, Akshar is the dhãm of Bhagvãn called Akshardhãm. In his all- pervading anvay form, Akshar is called Chidãkãsh. Tap to open in glossary → Akshar-mukta Akshar-mukta 1) A jeev which has qualities similar to those of Akshar. Used to describe the spiritual state of akshar-muktas. The highest level of faith or spiritual status is to become akshar-rup and worship Bhagvãn. [Loyã – 12]. 2) Is also sometimes used to describe things that have attained qualities similar to Akshar through his contact, [Gadhadã II – 13] attained ultimate kalyãn, and resides forever in Akshardhãm with a divya body. Tap to open in glossary → Purush Purush 1) An akshar-mukta selected by Akshar-Brahm to ‘impregnate’ Prakruti for the creation process, from which countless pairs of Pradhãn and Purush are formed for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. 2) Purush half of the Pradhãn-Purush pair, ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. 3) Taken to be masculine in nature, Purush is the controller of Prakruti, and is also distinct from her. He is indivisible, without a beginning, and without an end. He is self-luminous, omniscient, imperishable, satya, kshetragna, and the cause of all the activities that possess a form. He also has a divya body. 4) Also called Mahã-Purush, Mul-Purush or Akshar- Purush. Tap to open in glossary → dharma dharma 1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion, Tap to open in glossary → That is, the one whom we want to attain, the means to attain Him, the things around Him, all of that was mentioned. Purushottam Purushottam God. Supreme being. Bhagvãn. He is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, divine, always taking birth on earth for Tap to open in glossary → Akshar Akshar 1) Imperishable. In his personal form, Akshar serves Bhagvãn in Akshardhãm, and takes birth on earth as His ideal bhakta (sat-purush). Both forms are human in appearance. In his impersonal form, Akshar is the dhãm of Bhagvãn called Akshardhãm. In his all- pervading anvay form, Akshar is called Chidãkãsh. Tap to open in glossary → Akshar Akshar 1) Imperishable. In his personal form, Akshar serves Bhagvãn in Akshardhãm, and takes birth on earth as His ideal bhakta (sat-purush). Both forms are human in appearance. In his impersonal form, Akshar is the dhãm of Bhagvãn called Akshardhãm. In his all- pervading anvay form, Akshar is called Chidãkãsh. Tap to open in glossary → Purush Purush 1) An akshar-mukta selected by Akshar-Brahm to ‘impregnate’ Prakruti for the creation process, from which countless pairs of Pradhãn and Purush are formed for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. 2) Purush half of the Pradhãn-Purush pair, ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. 3) Taken to be masculine in nature, Purush is the controller of Prakruti, and is also distinct from her. He is indivisible, without a beginning, and without an end. He is self-luminous, omniscient, imperishable, satya, kshetragna, and the cause of all the activities that possess a form. He also has a divya body. 4) Also called Mahã-Purush, Mul-Purush or Akshar- Purush. Tap to open in glossary → dharma dharma 1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion, Tap to open in glossary → bhakti bhakti Devotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti: Tap to open in glossary → If one does not know that, what happens if one lacks knowledge of God? If we do not have complete knowledge of the one we want to attain, and someone takes us to another exit, we would not mind. Or, "Don't go there, come here. It is very good here." So, we also need to recognize Him. We also need to recognize all those who are around Him. Those of His level, those senior, junior, lower, upper—all of them must also be known. Otherwise, one might get lost. Instead of one, there could be a mix-up of persons. One might want to go somewhere and end up somewhere else. So, knowledge of Him is very necessary. And knowledge of the means to attain Him is necessary. We recognized Him, "Brother, He is like this, like that," but if we do not know which path to take, how do we go? And if one does not know how to manage worldly affairs, it also causes obstacles. If one does not know how to manage worldly affairs, where does the loss go? In spirituality. The loss goes to spirituality. Ultimately, the problem arises there. So that, what does it mean to know how to manage worldly affairs? That "this person has learned to manage worldly affairs very well." What does it mean to know how to manage worldly affairs? Swami-ji? To understand discretion. Discretion is a different thing, as you said. What does it mean to know how to manage worldly affairs, brother? If one has learned to avoid whatever comes in the way of this path, then one has learned to manage worldly affairs. To know how to progress. In one's path, one must also know how to earn a proper livelihood, otherwise, worldly affairs mean earning a livelihood. If one cannot even earn a livelihood, how can one worship God? So, some skill to earn a livelihood is needed, right? In today's language, that is called progress. If one does not even know how to earn a livelihood, one gets confused, it is said. If there is no livelihood, then what? What does one do? One must also know how to maintain status in society. One must also know how to maintain relationships. Then that is called worldly affairs. To maintain relationships, to keep them with good people and not with bad people. If one maintains relationships with bad people, then trouble comes. You said that if one lacks knowledge of worldly affairs, one still gets confused. Trouble comes; if one is connected with someone or other, trouble comes from there. So, relationships with good people, respect and status in society, knowing how to earn a proper livelihood—that is first. That is called worldly affairs. If one does not even know how to earn a livelihood, but knows all other big talks, then? Does one get confused? If one does not know how to manage relationships properly—meaning one cannot even maintain harmony in one's own home, and the son goes one way, the wife goes another way, and the husband goes yet another way—then one gets confused and cannot worship God. When all these things are proper, Gunatitanand Swami says that one can worship God. Otherwise, one cannot worship God. This is all worldly affairs. And if one does not know that, its effect is felt on the path of God. All of these—so in making goals, not just one goal, but many goals should be made, it is said. Make one main goal and other subordinate, helping goals. Suppose one has made a goal that, "I want to turn 500 malas." And in turning 500 malas, if one loses one's job, then? One made a goal to turn 500 malas, but if the job is lost or the business sinks, what is the use of 500 malas? If the business sinks and one struggles for food, then will the mala turn? Then the mala will not turn. So, one must know how to earn a livelihood, and one must know how to maintain relationships with others. If one does not maintain relationships, then those people will come and create obstacles. That, "Give me my share." So, if one knows all of this, then one reaches God completely, all the way. If one does not recognize the people around God, then they will connect all of them to themselves, not to God. The people around God are all good, but still, they have their own service done first and God's later. Everyone has that tendency. So, one must recognize everyone. Everyone's limitations and plus points. And one also has to take benefit from them, right? To take benefit from them, and what should be the insistence so that their disadvantage does not affect us? First, one has to overcome one's own weaknesses. So, to save oneself from that, everyone needs all this knowledge, a little bit of it. What is called worldly affairs for sadhus? That's it, for sadhus, if they have to earn a livelihood, do they know how? Today, I must know the devotional songs in my room. And they must know how to make rotis. Our Tyag Swami was making rotis yesterday, so when I went there, I said, "It seems you have studied geography." If they had studied geometry, then it would be either square or rectangular. And gradually it becomes round. And having studied geography, if they sit straight to prepare the food offering, then either the map of India is made or that of America. Of England, of everything, right? We would not make Pakistan's at all. So, all of that is called worldly affairs. One must know how to speak discourses and sing kirtans, know kitchen work, know how to sit with others and talk a bit when a devotee comes. A couple of divine actions of God—all of that is called worldly affairs. That, "I will only do this and nothing else." Then that is not called worldly affairs. One should keep a little bit of everything with everyone. One must know how to build relationships with good people. One must know how to disconnect from bad people. That is worldly affairs, isn't it? Otherwise, bad people will come in our way and wish to keep us within boundaries. Whenever we are in difficulty, they will keep us within boundaries. One must know how to disconnect from them, and that is worldly affairs. If one does not know how to disconnect from them, then where does the loss go? One cannot connect with the good. One cannot connect with the good, and the loss comes to one's own liberation. Where else does the loss come? If one cannot connect with the good, still the loss comes to one's own liberation. All of that is called worldly affairs. And Purushottam Purushottam God. Supreme being. Bhagvãn. He is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, divine, always taking birth on earth for Tap to open in glossary → Whatever work we have taken up, what is the reason if it is not successful? AI translation of the Gujarati transcript above, produced in the same pass that transcribed the audio, one English segment per Gujarati segment. Devotional and technical terms with no precise English equivalent (kirtan, satsang, vasana, samskara, and similar) are kept as their plain transliteration rather than force-translated. Not human-proofread., AI-translated, unverified · Source details