Worldly Desires Become Old
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 1884, 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 → 10 [17th August 1827], Shreeji Mahãrãj was sitting on the veranda outside the east-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 dressed entirely in white clothes. Garlands of flowers were hanging around His neck, and tassels of flowers were hanging from His pãghpãghTurban. Long, thin piece of cloth tied around the head.Tap to open in glossary →. 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, Shreeji Mahãrãj’s nephew, RaghuvirjiRaghuvirjiAdopted by Swaminarayan Bhagwan from His younger brother Ichharamji; became the first Acharya of the Laxmi-Narayan Dev Gadi at Vadtal -- the Vadtal Gadi lineage this platform's own content follows.Tap to open in glossary →, asked a question: “Why does 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 condition during 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 not remain the same as it is during 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?”
Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “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 → behaves 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 exactly as it does 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. After all, the same types of worldly desire, which appear while awake, spring forth in dreams as well.”
Then, Nirlobhãnand Swãmi asked, “Mahãrãj, many times, objects that have never been seen or heard 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, spring forth in dreams. What may be the reason for this?”
Shreeji Mahãrãj explained, “If objects that have never been previously seen or heard appear 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, it is due to embedded desires created by karmas performed in past lives.”
Then, Akhandãnand Swãmi asked, “Mahãrãj, for a person who becomes 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 →, how long does the force of karmas performed in past lives remain?”
Shreeji Mahãrãj answered, “When that person comes into contact with a sat-purushsat-purushA true sant. A sant who guides a person on the path of Bhagvãn. A guru for a mumukshu. Through whom Bhagvãn remains ever-manifest, passing on His divine energy and experience, love and guidance to all beings on earth. They ensure that the gateway to liberation and Bhagvãn is forever open for all seekers. Surrendering to a sat-purush, and striving to obey his ãgnã, is the root of all spiritual activities. Also called sant, bhakta, ekãntik bhakta, ekãntik sant, param-bhãgvat, param-ekãntik sant, and sadguru.Tap to open in glossary →, the embedded desires created by his past karmas gradually wear away as he consistently associates with him. Eventually, he reaches a stage where the desires that give rise to births and deaths no longer remain. For example, grains of rice that are three to four years old can be eaten; but if they are sown, they would not grow. In the same way, when the embedded desires generated by the previously performed karmas degenerate, they do not lead to further births and deaths.
“However, a person may ask, ‘How does a person recognise whether those embedded desires have degenerated or not?’ Well, consider the analogy of a contest between two men armed with shields and swords. As long as both can withstand each other, the strength of both appears to be equal. But, the moment a person draws back, he is said to have been defeated. Similarly, 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 →, as long as thoughts 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 → and the thoughts related to the vishays appear to be equal, he should realise his worldly desires to be more powerful. However, when thoughts 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 → displace those related to the vishays, he should realise that his worldly desires have reduced.”
Shreeji Mahãrãj then asked the paramhansparamhans1) Supreme swan. A male sãdhu of the highest order,Tap to open in glossary → a question: “How can a bhaktabhaktaDevotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary →, who no longer identifies himself with the body and who has developed hatred for the panchpanchFive.Tap to open in glossary →-vishays, be recognised by other bhaktas?”
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 → replied, “Mahãrãj, we are incapable of answering your question. Please be compassionate and answer it yourself.”
So, Shreeji Mahãrãj then said, “Whether he is a grahasthagrahasthaHouseholder. A person who is married. A person who is in the second stage of life, the grahastha ãshram.Tap to open in glossary → or a tyãgityãgiA person who has abandoned the world and worldly life.Tap to open in glossary →, 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 → who no longer believes himself to be the body and whose attachment for the panchpanchFive.Tap to open in glossary →-vishays has been eradicated, may be required to behave as if he is the body depending 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 →’s instructions to him; he may also have to indulge in the panchpanchFive.Tap to open in glossary →-vishays if necessary. For example, a frail bull can be made to stand with the support of a stick and by people holding it by its horn and tail. But, it will remain standing only as long as someone holds it up; the moment it is released, it will fall to the ground. Similarly, a person who is free of worldly desires engages in activities only to the extent of the instructions given by 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 another example, take a person with a bow and arrow in hand. The bow bends as the person pulls back the string; when he releases the arrow, the bow becomes slack again. In the same way, a person free of worldly desires engages himself in activities only to the extent 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 wish, but never does he do anything which disobeys that. On the other hand, when a person with worldly desires engages in activities, he is unable to detach himself from those activities of his own accord; he is unable to do so even when 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 → instructs him. These are the characteristics of a person free of worldly desires and a person with worldly desires.” || 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 III || 18 || 252 ||