Gadhadã II 33

The Vow Of Nishkãm

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 1880, on ShrãvanShrãvanSecond month of the Ãshãdhi Samvat year, normally falling between July and August.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 → 13 [18th September 1823], Swãmi ShreeShree1) Name of Lakshmi. 2) Used before the names of Bhagvãn and devs to signify their high status.Tap to open in glossary → Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on a mattress with a large, cylindrical pillow that had been placed on a decorated bedstead in 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 dressed entirely in white clothes. 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.

Then, addressing all the sãdhus and bhaktas, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “First, I shall talk about my strengths. After that, all of you can describe your personal thoughts on how you feel kalyãnkalyãn1) Liberation. Freedom from the cycle of births and deaths. 2) To take birth as a higher life-form, or to take birth in a higher lok.Tap to open in glossary → can be attained, and you can also explain how you think you should behave in order for 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 pleased with you in this loklokPlace. Region. World.Tap to open in glossary → and other loks.”

Having said this, Shreeji Mahãrãj began to describe His own strength, saying, “If it appears to me that I have a liking for something, I would only be happy after I have discarded it. Should I recall in my mind any object or any person other than bhaktas 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 I would feel comfortable only after I have totally distanced myself from that object or person. Also, in my heart, in no way do I ever experience a dislike towards 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 →. Even though I am forcefully offered the panchpanchFive.Tap to open in glossary →-vishays without actually wishing for them myself, I still do not have any desire for them; I push them away. In fact, I take oath on the lives of these paramhansparamhans1) Supreme swan. A male sãdhu of the highest order,Tap to open in glossary → that from the day I was born to this very day, I have never had an improper thought regarding women or wealth, either in the jãgratjãgratAwake. One of the three mental states. The jãgrat state is the result of the sustenance state of Virãt-Purush. It is full of sattva-gun and is located in the region of the eyes. In the jãgrat state, the jeevãtmã is known as vishva, and is conscious of its sthul body. [Sãrangpur – 6].Tap to open in glossary → state or in the svapnasvapnaDream. One of the three mental states. The svapna state is the result of the creation state of Hiranyagarbh. It is full of rajo-gun and is located in the region of the throat. In the svapna state, the jeevãtmã is known as taijas, and is conscious of its sukshma body. [Sãrangpur – 6].Tap to open in glossary → state. Therefore, I am eternally flawless. A person who perceives any avgun in me will himself suffer from vicious thoughts both in the jãgratjãgratAwake. One of the three mental states. The jãgrat state is the result of the sustenance state of Virãt-Purush. It is full of sattva-gun and is located in the region of the eyes. In the jãgrat state, the jeevãtmã is known as vishva, and is conscious of its sthul body. [Sãrangpur – 6].Tap to open in glossary → and svapnasvapnaDream. One of the three mental states. The svapna state is the result of the creation state of Hiranyagarbh. It is full of rajo-gun and is located in the region of the throat. In the svapna state, the jeevãtmã is known as taijas, and is conscious of its sukshma body. [Sãrangpur – 6].Tap to open in glossary → state. Moreover, he will suffer greatly at the time of his death as well.

“In addition, only the thought 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 → remains within my heart, and although I outwardly meet and associate with bhaktas 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 →, it is solely for the benefit of their jeevs. Indeed, the day when I feel that I have developed love for something other than the bhaktas 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 →, I will consider myself as having been displaced from my spiritual status. However, I am confident that that would never happen. Therefore, I have described my strength to you. Now, all of you can describe your own personal strengths.”

Hearing this, all the sãdhus and bhaktas each described their strengths, which were their beliefs as to how 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 → would be pleased upon them if they were to abide by that strength in this loklokPlace. Region. World.Tap to open in glossary → and other loks. Of them, some described how they possess 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 → of everything except 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 →; others mentioned their quality of ãtmã-nishthããtmã-nishthãKnowledge of the jeev. The belief that a person is an ãtmã, which is imperishable and eternal.Tap to open in glossary →; some spoke of their love for 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 some mentioned their observance of dharmadharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary →. In this way, many different strengths were mentioned. However, no one mentioned the strength that Shreeji Mahãrãj had in mind.

So, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “If a person firmly observes the vow of nishkãm, then he is never far from 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 → – whether he is in this loklokPlace. Region. World.Tap to open in glossary → or other loks. Moreover, my love for such a person never diminishes. In fact, the very reason that I have stayed here is because of the determination of the bhaktas to observe the vow of nishkãm. If a person strictly observes that vow, then even if I were a thousand miles away from him, I would still be close to him. Conversely, if a person is slack in his observance of the vow of nishkãm, then even if he is beside me, he is as good as a hundred thousand miles away. Also, I only like the service offered by a bhaktabhaktaDevotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary → who is nishkãminishkãmiWithout lust.Tap to open in glossary →. It is only because this Mulji Brahm-ChãriBrahm-Chãri1) A brãhman who has been initiated as a tyãgi into the Swãminãrãyan sampradãy. Such brahm-chãris were given special priestly authority, such as personal sevaks to the murtis within mandirs, and as the performers of other religious ceremonies. 2) A person who observes brahm-chãrya; leads a life of celibacy. 3) A person who is in the first stage of life, brahm-chãrya ãshram.Tap to open in glossary → is extremely strict in his observance of the vow of nishkãm that I like his sevã very much. However, if someone else does sevã, I am not as pleased.

“Furthermore, in all the talks that I deliver, I always strongly promote the observance of the vow of nishkãm. I have been firmly reinforcing this since the day I was born.

“When a sabhãsabhãAssembly. A group of satsangis listening to kathã or singing kirtans.Tap to open in glossary → has gathered, if a manmanMind. One of the four antah-karans, with the function of (pronounced mun) generating thoughts and desires, and governing all of the indriyas.Tap to open in glossary → or woman looks at someone else with kãmkãm1) Lust. Passion. Desire. [Gadhadã I – 73] 2) One of the four purushãrths, allowing for the fulfilment of a person's personal and social desires.Tap to open in glossary →, then no matter how hard they may try to conceal it, it never escapes my attention. At that time, I become extremely displeased upon that person, and even my face turns red. It hurts me deeply, but feeling obliged, I cannot say much. Furthermore, being a sãdhusãdhuMale person who has abandoned worldly duties and has chosen a strict life of religious activities under strict vows of poverty, brahm-chãrya, and obedience. A tyãgi.Tap to open in glossary →, I keep my feelings within my heart. However, if I were to adopt the ways of a king, I would punish that person severely.

“That is why I have already instructed all the senior paramhansparamhans1) Supreme swan. A male sãdhu of the highest order,Tap to open in glossary → and senior women that if any male or female bhaktabhaktaDevotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary → in satsangsatsang1) True company. The practice of associating with Bhagvãn’s sant, other satsangis, the ãtmã, and the sacred shãstras, and also observing vartmãns and niyams. 2) Also refers to the sampradãy, which is the presence of good company.Tap to open in glossary → commits a breach in his or her observance of the vow of nishkãm, then please do not inform me of it. This is because I am deeply saddened when I hear such things – just as a childless couple would feel saddened if their newly born son were to suddenly die. In fact, at such times, I feel like abandoning this satsangsatsang1) True company. The practice of associating with Bhagvãn’s sant, other satsangis, the ãtmã, and the sacred shãstras, and also observing vartmãns and niyams. 2) Also refers to the sampradãy, which is the presence of good company.Tap to open in glossary → and leaving. Therefore, only those who observe this vow of nishkãm are dear to me; they and I will always be very close, both in his loklokPlace. Region. World.Tap to open in glossary → and other loks.”

Then, Harji Thakkar asked, “By what means can a person’s observance of the vow of nishkãm become extremely firm?”

Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “There is a way, and it comprises of three components. Just as many components make up a bull-cart – the driver, the pair of bulls, the wheels, the yoke, the supporting assembly, and the wooden frame – similarly, many components are required to be able to firmly observe the vow of nishkãm. Of these, there are three that are absolutely fundamental.

“The first is to conquer the mind by constantly thinking, ‘I am the ãtmããtmã1) The pure jeev, which is distinct from the three bodies and three mental states, and distinct from the indriyas, the antah-karans, worldly desires, or any other traces of Mãyã. It is imperishable and eternal, does not undergo births or deaths, and it leaves a physical body after that body dies and assumes another physical body. Infinite in number. 2) That which pervades, inspires, and controls.Tap to open in glossary →, not the body’. Also, the mind should be continuously kept engaged in the nine types of bhaktibhaktiDevotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti:Tap to open in glossary →. It should not be left unoccupied for even a moment. For example, if a manmanMind. One of the four antah-karans, with the function of (pronounced mun) generating thoughts and desires, and governing all of the indriyas.Tap to open in glossary → conquers a ghost, but does not assign it some work to do, the ghost would turn onto the manmanMind. One of the four antah-karans, with the function of (pronounced mun) generating thoughts and desires, and governing all of the indriyas.Tap to open in glossary → himself. In this sense, the mind is just like a ghost; when it is not engaged in the bhaktibhaktiDevotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti: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 →, it begins to think of evil thoughts. This can be compared to the ghost getting ready to devour the manmanMind. One of the four antah-karans, with the function of (pronounced mun) generating thoughts and desires, and governing all of the indriyas.Tap to open in glossary →. For this reason, the mind should continuously be kept occupied in kathãs and kirtans related to 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 →. This can be known as having conquered the mind.

“The second component is to keep the prãns under control. ShreeShree1) Name of Lakshmi. 2) Used before the names of Bhagvãn and devs to signify their high status.Tap to open in glossary → KrishnaKrishna1) An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a cowherd. This is considered to be a greater avatãr than the others, as Shree Krishna possessed all of the powers of Bhagvãn, whereas other avatãrs possessed less power. Shree Krishna conveyed the message of love and humanity to the world. Also, He recited the epic poem, the Bhagvad Geetã, to Arjun in which He stated: ‘Whenever dharma declines and adharma increases, I shall incarnate myself as a human to save the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, and to establish dharma. I come into being from yug to yug’. 2) In the Vachanãmrut, Shreeji Mahãrãj also uses the name “Shree Krishna” to describe Bhagvãn Purushottam Nãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → 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 → has said in the Bhagvad GeetãBhagvad GeetãSong of Bhagvãn. One of the most popular Hindu shãstras. It comprises of a dialogue between Arjun and Shree Krishna, at the beginning of the battle between the feuding cousins, the Pãndavs and the Kauravs. TheTap to open in glossary →, ‘A person’s diet and activity should be kept regulated; he should not keep a strong yearning for food’. A person who behaves in this way is said to have kept his prãns under control. If this is not done, he will feel an intense yearning for food in his mind. Consequently, his tongue will crave after the countless types of tastes. As a result, any other indriyasindriyasA sense, through which a person can ‘know’ and ‘perform actions’. There are ten indriyas in total - the five gnãn- indriyas (cognitive senses) and the five karma-indriyas (conative senses), with the mind often taken to be the eleventh indriya. They engage themselves in their respective vishays and have the complete knowledge of that vishay. The sense organs are not to be confused with the indriyas (the senses). The sense organs are part of the physical body, whereas the indriyas (senses) are distinct from the physical body.  five gnãn-indriyas: hearing (ears/shrotra), touch (skin/tvak), sight (eyes/chakshu), taste (tongue/rasnã) and smell (grahn)  five karma-indriyas: speech (voice/vãk), handling (hands/pãni), walking (feet/pãd), excretion (anus/pãyu) and procreation (genitals/upastha)Tap to open in glossary → that he may have conquered will also become free. Therefore, a person should control his prãns by controlling his diet.

“The third component requires a person to control his body by physically keeping it within the niyams prescribed in satsangsatsang1) True company. The practice of associating with Bhagvãn’s sant, other satsangis, the ãtmã, and the sacred shãstras, and also observing vartmãns and niyams. 2) Also refers to the sampradãy, which is the presence of good company.Tap to open in glossary → for each individual.

“So,by strictly observing these three components in this way, a person’s observance of the vow of nishkãm becomes extremely firm. However, a person should not consider this to be very difficult to practice; it is not at all difficult for someone who is, after all, a sãdhusãdhuMale person who has abandoned worldly duties and has chosen a strict life of religious activities under strict vows of poverty, brahm-chãrya, and obedience. A tyãgi.Tap to open in glossary →. The enemies, such as kãmkãm1) Lust. Passion. Desire. [Gadhadã I – 73] 2) One of the four purushãrths, allowing for the fulfilment of a person's personal and social desires.Tap to open in glossary →, krodhkrodhAnger. [Loyã – 1]Tap to open in glossary →, and lobhlobhGreed. Craving for wealth.Tap to open in glossary → prevail strongly even in a sãdhusãdhuMale person who has abandoned worldly duties and has chosen a strict life of religious activities under strict vows of poverty, brahm-chãrya, and obedience. A tyãgi.Tap to open in glossary →, but to please 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 →, he would still abandon them; only then can he be called a true sãdhusãdhuMale person who has abandoned worldly duties and has chosen a strict life of religious activities under strict vows of poverty, brahm-chãrya, and obedience. A tyãgi.Tap to open in glossary →.

“After all, what is impossible to achieve with this human body? That which is practiced regularly can definitely be achieved. For example, due to the daily drawing of water from a well, the constant rubbing of even a soft rope can cause a groove in the very hard piece of rock that lies on the edge of that well. Similarly, for a person who is a sãdhusãdhuMale person who has abandoned worldly duties and has chosen a strict life of religious activities under strict vows of poverty, brahm-chãrya, and obedience. A tyãgi.Tap to open in glossary → and who continuously persists in his efforts for eradicating his svabhãvs, how long can those svabhãvs remain? They most certainly will be destroyed. Therefore, a person who wishes to observe the vow of nishkãm should intensely employ the method that comprises of the three components I have just described.” || 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 II || 33 || 166 ||