Overcoming Difficulties When Performing 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 →
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 1881, 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 → 4 [13th August 1824], 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 decorated bedstead in the eastern 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 tied a white pãghpãghTurban. Long, thin piece of cloth tied around the head.Tap to open in glossary → around His head. He had also covered Himself with a thin, white cloth. A sabhãsabhãAssembly. A group of satsangis listening to kathã or singing kirtans.Tap to open in glossary → of paramhansparamhans1) Supreme swan. A male sãdhu of the highest order,Tap to open in glossary →, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj requested, “Please begin a question-answer discussion.”
Then, 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 → asked, “Mahãrãj, life is full of difficulties. Amidst all these difficulties, what understanding should 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 → develop in order to remain happy at heart?”
Shreeji Mahãrãj began, “To answer that, I shall tell you about my own experience.” He then explained, “By keeping the following three forms of awareness, I am not obstructed by any disturbances: constant awareness of 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 →, which is distinct from the body; the awareness of the perishable nature of all worldly objects; and the awareness 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 →’s greatness. By keeping these three forms of awareness, no difficulties obstruct me in any way.
“However, if a person does encounter some difficulties, then due to the nature of the chittchittConsciousness. One of the four antah-karans, with the functions of contemplating or pondering and especially focusing. Mental impressions and experiences are recorded and recalled from it. The entire world inherently resides in a subtle form within it, and it is itself unchanging, luminous, pure, full of pure sattva-gun and passive.Tap to open in glossary →, it may appear that there is some disturbance. However, the effect of that disturbance does not penetrate into the chaitanyachaitanyaConsciousness. The substance of the ãtmã. A higher consciousness that is beyond the physical world, which is jad and mãyik. It is indestructible.Tap to open in glossary →. This can be realised by the fact that a person never experiences disturbances that are occurring externally when he is dreaming. On the other hand, if a disturbance has penetrated into the chaitanyachaitanyaConsciousness. The substance of the ãtmã. A higher consciousness that is beyond the physical world, which is jad and mãyik. It is indestructible.Tap to open in glossary →, it is experienced in all three mental states (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 →, 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 →, and sushuptisushuptiUnconscious. Deep sleep. One of the three mental states. The sushupti state is the result of the destruction state of ishvar. It is full of tamo-gun and is located in the region of the heart. In the sushupti state, the jeevãtmã is known as prãgna, and is conscious of its kãran body. [Sãrangpur – 6].Tap to open in glossary →). Therefore, because I do not experience any disturbances in my dreams, it can be assumed that no disturbances have affected my chaitanyachaitanyaConsciousness. The substance of the ãtmã. A higher consciousness that is beyond the physical world, which is jad and mãyik. It is indestructible.Tap to open in glossary → in any way.
“Having said this, if 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 → encounters some sort of distressing hardship, it is not as if I do not realise it; I very much do feel it in my heart. Only a vimukh like Raghunãth-DãsDãsA servant.Tap to open in glossary → would not feel it. When Rãmãnand SwãmiRãmãnand SwãmiThe guru who gave the young Nilkanth Brahmachari bhagvati diksha at Piplana in Samvat 1857, naming Him Sahajanand Swami and Narayan Muni. Recognizing Him as gifted with every quality of a true sant, Ramanand Swami handed over leadership of the Sampraday to Him before passing away in Samvat 1858.Tap to open in glossary → left his body, all the satsangis began to cry, but Raghunãth-DãsDãsA servant.Tap to open in glossary → was not at all upset. Instead, he wandered around, laughing and talking to others. Therefore, only an outcast or a vimukh would not feel hurt when 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 → encounters some sort of misery; but 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 → would definitely become distressed by the suffering of other bhaktas.”
Continuing, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “The shãstras state that if 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 → is being killed or harassed by someone, then a person who stands in defence of that 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 → – and in doing so dies or becomes wounded himself – is totally freed from the five great sins. Such is the glory of defending 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 →. However, if a person is hurt by the words of 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 → – as if he has been shot in the heart by some arrows – and if a grudge develops from that hatred to such an extent that it is not resolved as long as he lives, then such a person is like an outcast. Even if such a person possesses qualities such as dharmadharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary → and tyãgtyãgTo abandon.Tap to open in glossary →, or performs taptapPhysical strictness. Penance. Enduring harsh weather (pronounced tup) conditions.Tap to open in glossary →, it is all worthless. In fact, even if he performs a million other activities, his 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 → will not attain 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 →.
“In society, if a woman has equal love for her husband as she does for another 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 →, then she is looked upon as being immoral – like a prostitute. Similarly, if a person in this world believes, ‘As far as I am concerned, all sãdhus are equal. Who is good and who is bad?’, then even if he is considered to be a satsangisatsangiA person who practises satsang.Tap to open in glossary →, he should be known to be a vimukh. In addition, in case a person feels, ‘If I say something inappropriate, my own friends will criticise me,’ he listens as someone speaks unkindly of 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 → in order to preserve his respect. He should also be known to be a vimukh, even though he may be considered to be a satsangisatsangiA person who practises satsang.Tap to open in glossary →.
“Therefore, a person should be absolutely loyal to 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 → – just as he is loyal to his relatives and his mother and father. If ever some sort of difficulty does happen to arise with 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 →, only a person who does not develop a grudge, but settles the difference and reunites with that bhaktabhaktaDevotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary → – like a line drawn in water – can be called a true 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 →.”
Having said this, Shreeji Mahãrãj finally added, “I am very compassionate – like Dattãtrey, Jadbharat, 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 →, and Shukji. In fact, once while I was travelling in the east, I came across a group of tyãgis. They ordered me: ‘Go and pick some green spinach’. I replied, ‘I will not pick it, because it too contains a 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 →’. Hearing this, one of them drew a sword and threatened me. Nevertheless, I did not pick the spinach. This is the extent of my compassionate nature. However, if a person looks angrily at 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 →, then even if that person is a relative of mine, I feel like tearing his eyes out; and if he should hurt 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 → with his hands, I feel like cutting his hands off. Such is the hatred I experience; and in those cases, I do not show any compassion. Only a person who has such loyalty 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 → can be called a complete 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 →.” || 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 || 60 || 193 ||