Gadhadã I 34

Love Is The MãyãMãyã1) Power of Bhagvãn used as the fundamental 'substance' of creation. It is composed of the three gun, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in its dormant state (before the time of creation) – it houses all jeevs and ishvars, and all the tattvas. It is inspired by, controlled by, and dependent on Bhagvãn. The jeevs and ishvars must go beyond Mãyã (eradicate it within themselves) in order to attain Akshardhãm. Everything in the world is produced from the products of Mãyã. Also called Prakruti. 2) Third of the five eternal entities (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Brahm, and Parbrahm).Tap to open in glossary → Of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → / Do Not Disobey The ÃgnãÃgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary → Of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →

In the SamvatSamvatThe calendar established by Indian emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain following his victory 56 BCE. It is a lunar calendar based on ancient Hindu tradition. The Vikram Samvat calendar is 56.7 years ahead of the solar Gregorian calendar. The calendar most commonly used is the Kãrtiki Samvat, which begins on the first day of Kãrtik. However, the Vachanãmrut is written using the Ashãdhi Samvat, which begins on the first day of Ãshãdh.Tap to open in glossary → year 1876, on the morning of PoshPoshSeventh month of the Ãshãdhi Samvat year, normally falling between December and January.Tap to open in glossary → vadvadDark half of a Hindu lunar month in which the moon is in its waning phase. The days falling between the day after Punam up to and including Amãs. Also called krishna paksh.Tap to open in glossary → 11 [11th January, 1820], Shreeji Mahãrãj was sitting facing south on a decorated bedstead on the veranda outside the west-facing rooms of Dãdã KhãcharDãdã KhãcharA devotee in whose residential darbar in Gadhada Swaminarayan Bhagwan stayed for extended periods; the great majority of the Vachanamrut's Gadhada-section discourses (Gadhada I, II, and III) were given there, as the text itself repeatedly records ("in Dada Khachar's darbar in Gadhada").Tap to open in glossary →’s darbãrdarbãrCourt of residence belonging to a king or ruler, traditionally with a central courtyard surrounded by rooms with balconies.Tap to open in glossary → in Gadhadã. He was wearing a white kheskhesPiece of cloth that can be worn as a shawl to cover the upper body, or worn as a dhoti to cover the lower body.Tap to open in glossary → and had covered Himself with a white chofãlchofãlA thick shawl, made of cotton.Tap to open in glossary →. He had also tied a white pãghpãghTurban. Long, thin piece of cloth tied around the head.Tap to open in glossary → around His head, and was wearing garlands of flowers. Tassels of flowers and silken threads were hanging from His pãghpãghTurban. Long, thin piece of cloth tied around the head.Tap to open in glossary →, and bunches of flowers had been placed above both of His ears. A sabhãsabhãAssembly. A group of satsangis listening to kathã or singing kirtans.Tap to open in glossary → of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him. Some of the munis were singing kirtans to the accompaniment of musical instruments.

Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Please stop the kirtans, and begin a question-answer discussion.”

Then, Brahmãnand SwãmiBrahmãnand SwãmiOne of the five principal paramhansas who recorded Swaminarayan Bhagwan's discourses word for word, compiling them into the Vachanamrut.Tap to open in glossary → asked, “BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → is the cause of all bliss, and He is greater than everything, yet the jeevjeev1) That which is living. Infinite in number. Individual, embodied ãtmã still bound by Mãyã and consequently undergoing the cycle of births and deaths. The jeev is not separate the three bodies (sthul, sukshma, and kãran) and the three mental states (jãgrat, svapna, and sushupti), whereas the ãtmã is distinct from everything. 2) First of the five eternal entities (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Akshar, and Parbrahm). 3) Sometimes used to mean the same as ãtmã.Tap to open in glossary →’s vruttivruttiConcentration. Focus. The jeev’s vrutti can be thought of as the jeev’s focus of attention. The jeev can experience the physical world (Virãt-Purush) through the indriyas. Similarly the jeev can think about, or have a desire about the world through the antah-karans. When the jeev’s attention is focused on a physical object through the indriyas, it can be said that the vruttis of the indriyas are focused on that object. Similarly, when the jeev’s attention is focused on an object via the antah-karans, it can be said that the vruttis of the antah-karans are focused on that object. Also, like the focus of attention, the vrutti can be focused on many things at once with different levels of intensity. Also, just as the jeev can focus its vrutti outwards, it can also focus it inwards on itself or on Paramãtmã residing within.Tap to open in glossary → does not become attached to Him. Instead, its vruttivruttiConcentration. Focus. The jeev’s vrutti can be thought of as the jeev’s focus of attention. The jeev can experience the physical world (Virãt-Purush) through the indriyas. Similarly the jeev can think about, or have a desire about the world through the antah-karans. When the jeev’s attention is focused on a physical object through the indriyas, it can be said that the vruttis of the indriyas are focused on that object. Similarly, when the jeev’s attention is focused on an object via the antah-karans, it can be said that the vruttis of the antah-karans are focused on that object. Also, like the focus of attention, the vrutti can be focused on many things at once with different levels of intensity. Also, just as the jeev can focus its vrutti outwards, it can also focus it inwards on itself or on Paramãtmã residing within.Tap to open in glossary → becomes attached to worldly objects that are worthless and perishable. What is the reason for this?”

Muktãnand SwãmiMuktãnand SwãmiOne of the five principal paramhansas -- along with Gopalanand Swami, Nityanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami, and Shukanand Swami -- who recorded Swaminarayan Bhagwan's discourses word for word, compiling them into the Vachanamrut. Originally a shishya of Ramanand Swami; Nilkanth Brahmachari first met him at Lojpur.Tap to open in glossary → attempted to give an answer, but was unable to do so adequately.

So Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Please listen as I answer that question. Since the day BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → created this world, He has set it in motion in such a way that he will not have to make an effort again. In fact, He has devised it in such a way that procreation occurs automatically. Men naturally develop affection for women, women naturally develop affection for men, and both naturally develop affection for their children. That is BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →’s mãyãmãyã1) Power of Bhagvãn used as the fundamental 'substance' of creation. It is composed of the three gun, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in its dormant state (before the time of creation) – it houses all jeevs and ishvars, and all the tattvas. It is inspired by, controlled by, and dependent on Bhagvãn. The jeevs and ishvars must go beyond Mãyã (eradicate it within themselves) in order to attain Akshardhãm. Everything in the world is produced from the products of Mãyã. Also called Prakruti. 2) Third of the five eternal entities (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Brahm, and Parbrahm).Tap to open in glossary → in the form of affection.

“The vruttivruttiConcentration. Focus. The jeev’s vrutti can be thought of as the jeev’s focus of attention. The jeev can experience the physical world (Virãt-Purush) through the indriyas. Similarly the jeev can think about, or have a desire about the world through the antah-karans. When the jeev’s attention is focused on a physical object through the indriyas, it can be said that the vruttis of the indriyas are focused on that object. Similarly, when the jeev’s attention is focused on an object via the antah-karans, it can be said that the vruttis of the antah-karans are focused on that object. Also, like the focus of attention, the vrutti can be focused on many things at once with different levels of intensity. Also, just as the jeev can focus its vrutti outwards, it can also focus it inwards on itself or on Paramãtmã residing within.Tap to open in glossary → of a person who is not swept away by the flow of that mãyãmãyã1) Power of Bhagvãn used as the fundamental 'substance' of creation. It is composed of the three gun, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in its dormant state (before the time of creation) – it houses all jeevs and ishvars, and all the tattvas. It is inspired by, controlled by, and dependent on Bhagvãn. The jeevs and ishvars must go beyond Mãyã (eradicate it within themselves) in order to attain Akshardhãm. Everything in the world is produced from the products of Mãyã. Also called Prakruti. 2) Third of the five eternal entities (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Brahm, and Parbrahm).Tap to open in glossary →, remains focused on the svarupsvarupA physical form.Tap to open in glossary → of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →. So, a bhaktabhaktaDevotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary → of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → develops vairãgyavairãgyaDetachment. A hatred or strong dislike for the world and its mãyik pleasures (the panch-vishays). Remaining detached from the body and the brahmãnd, and from all things that are the products of Prakruti. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma.Tap to open in glossary → by maintaining a dislike for worldly objects. Furthermore, knowing BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → to be absolutely blissful, he keeps his vruttivruttiConcentration. Focus. The jeev’s vrutti can be thought of as the jeev’s focus of attention. The jeev can experience the physical world (Virãt-Purush) through the indriyas. Similarly the jeev can think about, or have a desire about the world through the antah-karans. When the jeev’s attention is focused on a physical object through the indriyas, it can be said that the vruttis of the indriyas are focused on that object. Similarly, when the jeev’s attention is focused on an object via the antah-karans, it can be said that the vruttis of the antah-karans are focused on that object. Also, like the focus of attention, the vrutti can be focused on many things at once with different levels of intensity. Also, just as the jeev can focus its vrutti outwards, it can also focus it inwards on itself or on Paramãtmã residing within.Tap to open in glossary → focused on BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →. However, if a person does not develop vairãgyavairãgyaDetachment. A hatred or strong dislike for the world and its mãyik pleasures (the panch-vishays). Remaining detached from the body and the brahmãnd, and from all things that are the products of Prakruti. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma.Tap to open in glossary → towards worldly objects and becomes distanced from the svarupsvarupA physical form.Tap to open in glossary → of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →, then even great muktas, such as ShivShivThe dev of destruction. Part of the trimurti. He lives in Kailas with his wife Pãrvati.Tap to open in glossary →, BrahmãBrahmãThe dev responsible for the creation of the brahmãnd and the life-forms within it. Part of the trinity of devs, along with Vishnu (the sustainer) and Shiv (the destroyer), responsible for the control of one brahmãnd.Tap to open in glossary →, and NãradNãradAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a travelling rushi. Nãrad showed that bhakti is the best way of attaining moksh. He was also a great bhakta of Bhagvãn and has guided many souls on the path of kalyãn by travelling all over the brahmãnd.Tap to open in glossary →, would be swept away by those worldly objects. For this reason, if a person abandons BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → and keeps the company of worldly objects, then his vruttivruttiConcentration. Focus. The jeev’s vrutti can be thought of as the jeev’s focus of attention. The jeev can experience the physical world (Virãt-Purush) through the indriyas. Similarly the jeev can think about, or have a desire about the world through the antah-karans. When the jeev’s attention is focused on a physical object through the indriyas, it can be said that the vruttis of the indriyas are focused on that object. Similarly, when the jeev’s attention is focused on an object via the antah-karans, it can be said that the vruttis of the antah-karans are focused on that object. Also, like the focus of attention, the vrutti can be focused on many things at once with different levels of intensity. Also, just as the jeev can focus its vrutti outwards, it can also focus it inwards on itself or on Paramãtmã residing within.Tap to open in glossary → will most certainly become attached to those worldly objects. Therefore, a bhaktabhaktaDevotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary → of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → should not keep affection for anything other than BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →.”

Shreeji Mahãrãj then said, “Now, it is Muktãnand SwãmiMuktãnand SwãmiOne of the five principal paramhansas -- along with Gopalanand Swami, Nityanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami, and Shukanand Swami -- who recorded Swaminarayan Bhagwan's discourses word for word, compiling them into the Vachanamrut. Originally a shishya of Ramanand Swami; Nilkanth Brahmachari first met him at Lojpur.Tap to open in glossary →’s turn to ask a question, so please ask.”

Muktãnand SwãmiMuktãnand SwãmiOne of the five principal paramhansas -- along with Gopalanand Swami, Nityanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami, and Shukanand Swami -- who recorded Swaminarayan Bhagwan's discourses word for word, compiling them into the Vachanamrut. Originally a shishya of Ramanand Swami; Nilkanth Brahmachari first met him at Lojpur.Tap to open in glossary → then asked, “It is extremely difficult for a person to attain BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →. Moreover, there is no greater benefit and no greater bliss than attaining BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →. Then, why do people abandon such immense bliss and struggle painfully for worthless objects? That is the question.”

Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Here, I shall answer that. A person suffers when he ignores the ãgnããgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary → of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → and beings to stray away from them. On the other hand, if he acts according to those ãgnããgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary →, he will experience the true bliss of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →. So, a person suffers only to the extent that he disobeys the ãgnããgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary → of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →. Therefore, tyãgis should live according to the ãgnããgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary → that have been prescribed for tyãgityãgiA person who has abandoned the world and worldly life.Tap to open in glossary →, and grahasthas should live according to the ãgnããgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary → that have been prescribed for grahasthas.

“A person suffers to the extent that he lapses in following these ãgnããgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary →. Only when a tyãgityãgiA person who has abandoned the world and worldly life.Tap to open in glossary → follows the eight types of tyãgtyãgTo abandon.Tap to open in glossary → of women, is his vow of brahm-chãryabrahm-chãryaFirst of the four stages of life, when a person fulfils his ãshram duty as a student and celibate. At the end of brahm- chãrya ashram, a person either gets married and enters grahastha ãshram, or becomes a tyãgi and enters sannyãs ãshram.Tap to open in glossary → considered complete. He suffers to the extent that he deviates from this. Brahm-chãryaBrahm-chãryaFirst of the four stages of life, when a person fulfils his ãshram duty as a student and celibate. At the end of brahm- chãrya ashram, a person either gets married and enters grahastha ãshram, or becomes a tyãgi and enters sannyãs ãshram.Tap to open in glossary → has also been prescribed for grahasthas. For them, brahm-chãryabrahm-chãryaFirst of the four stages of life, when a person fulfils his ãshram duty as a student and celibate. At the end of brahm- chãrya ashram, a person either gets married and enters grahastha ãshram, or becomes a tyãgi and enters sannyãs ãshram.Tap to open in glossary → constitutes shunning all women except their wives, abstinence from sexual relations with his wife on days of religious occasions, and engaging in sexual relations only during appropriate times. Whoever deviates from these and other niyams that have been prescribed for tyãgis and grahasthas, will suffer accordingly.

“Therefore, the happiness and misery experienced by a vimukh is determined by his own karmas. As for a bhaktabhaktaDevotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary → of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →, whatever misery he suffers is due to the negligence in following BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →’s ãgnããgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary → for the sake of worthless objects. Whatever happiness he does experience, is a result of following the ãgnããgnãA command.Tap to open in glossary → of BhagvãnBhagvãnGod. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary →.” || End of VachanãmrutVachanãmrutAmrut in the form of words. A collection of 273 spiritual talks delivered by Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn, that were carefully noted and collated by His senior sãdhus in His presence, and were authenticated by Him. Central philosophical shãstra of the Swãminãrãyan Sampradãy that summarises the essence of all Hindu shãstras.Tap to open in glossary → Gadhadã I || 34 || 34 ||