Raj-Bãi’s Question
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 1885, on KãrtikKãrtikFifth month of the Ãshãdhi Samvat year, normally falling between October and November.Tap to open in glossary → sudsudBright half of a Hindu lunar month in which the moon is in its waxing phase. The days between Amãs up to and including Punam. Also called shukla paksh.Tap to open in glossary → 10 [16th November 1828], 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 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 dressed entirely in white clothes. 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 spoke out of compassion: “BhaktiBhaktiDevotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti:Tap to open in glossary →, upãsanãupãsanã1) Literally means ‘sitting near’. It is the philosophical understanding of the nature of Bhagvãn – What is He like? How do we worship Him? This allows a bhakta to become closer to Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary →, sevã, shraddhãshraddhãThe quality that incorporates determination, faith, trust, hope, patience, and persistence.Tap to open in glossary →, firmness in observing dharmadharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary →, and other spiritual activities 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 → should all be performed without having desires for any rewards. This fact is mentioned in the sacred shãstras, and it is true; but, a person should certainly have the following desire: ‘May 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 → become pleased with me through these activities’. That desire should be kept. On the other hand, if a person does not keep such a desire and acts without any specific purpose, then he should be known to possess tamo-guntamo-gunQuality of darkness. One of the three gun of Mãyã (Prakruti) characterised by unconsciousness and ignorance. When tamo-gun prevails, no thoughts arise in the antah-karan, and a person experiences a feeling of emptiness. Also, when tamo-gun is predominant, the rewards of any karmas performed by a jeev are experienced during the state of sushupti. The products of tamo-gun include laziness, sleep, anger, and greed. [Kãriyãni – 1] [Gadhadã II – 43].Tap to open in glossary →. Therefore, a person should develop the qualities of bhaktibhaktiDevotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti:Tap to open in glossary →, upãsanãupãsanã1) Literally means ‘sitting near’. It is the philosophical understanding of the nature of Bhagvãn – What is He like? How do we worship Him? This allows a bhakta to become closer to Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary →, sevã, shraddhãshraddhãThe quality that incorporates determination, faith, trust, hope, patience, and persistence.Tap to open in glossary →, and dharmadharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary → with the desire for rewards in the form of the happiness 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 →. If a person has any desire other than that, he will attain only rewards such as the four types of muktimuktiTo become free. Kalyãn. Moksh. Those who are bhaktas of Bhagvãn do not desire any of the four types of mukti: to reside in the dhãm of Bhagvãn; to stay near Bhagvãn; to assume a svarup similar to Bhagvãn; and to attain powers similar to Bhagvãn. A nishkãm bhakta of Bhagvãn does not wish for any of these. Instead, he only wishes for Bhagvãn’s sevã. [Gadhadã I – 43].Tap to open in glossary →.
“Furthermore, it is not the case that 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 happiness is bestowed only on those who offer bhaktibhaktiDevotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti:Tap to open in glossary → with various items and not upon the poor. Someone may be poor, but if he offers water, leaves, fruits, and flowers 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 → with shraddhãshraddhãThe quality that incorporates determination, faith, trust, hope, patience, and persistence.Tap to open in glossary →, that is enough to please Him. This is because 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 extremely great. Just as a king rewards someone who composes even a verse in his praise with a village, similarly, 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 → also becomes pleased instantly.”
Continuing, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Who 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 →? If some prolonged illness were to overtake a person’s body; or if he receives neither food to eat nor any clothes to wear; or regardless of the extent of pain or pleasure that come his way, if he still does not fall back even slightly from the worship of 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 →, niyams, dharmadharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary →, or shraddhãshraddhãThe quality that incorporates determination, faith, trust, hope, patience, and persistence.Tap to open in glossary →, but progresses with time, then he is called a true bhaktabhaktaDevotee of Bhagvãn. A follower of Bhagvãn.Tap to open in glossary →.”
Then, Rãj-Bãi had a question asked to Shreeji Mahãrãj, “Which gungun1) Good quality or trait. (pronounced goon) 2) Principle quality of Prakruti or Mãyã. There are three in total: sattva-gun (goodness and awareness), rajo- gun (passion and desires), and tamo-gun (darkness, ignorance, and laziness). All beings are affected by the influence of one or a combination of these three gun of Mãyã until they become gunãtit. The gun bring out different types of moods in a person: a person in sattva-gun is calm, and peaceful; a person in rajo-gunTap to open in glossary → pleases you, and which avgun displeases you?”
Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “The following are the avgun of speech: If someone wishes to behave in some special way, then he should notify me only once by saying: ‘Mahãrãj, if you agree, then I shall behave like this’. I do not like it when a person repeatedly asks, ‘Mahãrãj, why are you not telling me whether I should behave like this or behave like that?’ I do not like a person who, despite knowing me as his ishta- devdevA demi-god who is given powers and responsibilities in the universe, and who lives in a higher lok. Devs are bhaktas of Bhagvãn and follow His ãgnã.Tap to open in glossary →, repeatedly questions my words. I do not like a person who interrupts me while I am speaking to someone. Regarding the performance of religious actions, such as performing dhyãndhyãnMeditation. The seventh step of ashtãng-yog, which involves sustaining a concentrated state where the mind is clear and calm.Tap to open in glossary → upon 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 →, observance of dharmadharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary →, offering bhaktibhaktiDevotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti:Tap to open in glossary →, I do not like a person who throws the burden of such actions 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 → by thinking, ‘Only if 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 → wishes are these possible’. Also, I do not like a person who thinks, ‘I shall do this; and I shall do that’, and then relies only on his own strength and not on the strength 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 extremely dislike a person who speaks inconsistently and rudely. I do not like a person who feels a sense of shame or laziness when it comes to talking 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 →, listening to kathãs, or singing kirtans, and yet feels no shame or laziness in performing worldly activities. Also, I do not like a person who boasts of his tyãgtyãgTo abandon.Tap to open in glossary → or bhaktibhaktiDevotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti:Tap to open in glossary →, or of anything else. I do not like a person who sits behind everyone else during a sabhãsabhãAssembly. A group of satsangis listening to kathã or singing kirtans.Tap to open in glossary → instead of sitting as suits his own status. Moreover, when seniors are seated in a sabhãsabhãAssembly. A group of satsangis listening to kathã or singing kirtans.Tap to open in glossary →, I do not like a person who forcibly pushes them aside to take his own place at the front of the sabhãsabhãAssembly. A group of satsangis listening to kathã or singing kirtans.Tap to open in glossary →.
“In addition, I am pleased with female bhaktas who behave morally by covering their own bodies and who keep their gaze cast downwards when they walk, instead of keeping a wandering gaze. Many times, instead of doing my darshandarshanSeeing. To see with admiration and devotion. To see Bhagvãn, a sat-purush, and murtis, with inner or outer vision, with the intention of receiving their grace and blessings. By doing darshan properly a bhakta develops affection for Bhagvãn, and Bhagvãn develops affection for that bhakta. [Sãrangpur – 2].Tap to open in glossary → with a fixed gaze, someone may abandon that darshandarshanSeeing. To see with admiration and devotion. To see Bhagvãn, a sat-purush, and murtis, with inner or outer vision, with the intention of receiving their grace and blessings. By doing darshan properly a bhakta develops affection for Bhagvãn, and Bhagvãn develops affection for that bhakta. [Sãrangpur – 2].Tap to open in glossary → and look repeatedly in the direction of an approaching 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, or a dog walking by, or cattle walking by, or in the direction of some noise. On such a person, I feel so much disgust that I feel, ‘What can I do? If I had not become 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 would beat him in some way!’ But, that is not possible since beating someone is extremely inappropriate for 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 also do not like a person who conceals the truth – who does not reveal the disturbing thoughts that arise in his mind to an appropriate person. Also, these three things are extremely harmful: mãnmãnPride. When a person wants someone else to acknowledge them as superior.Tap to open in glossary →, krodhkrodhAnger. [Loyã – 1]Tap to open in glossary →, and being so suppressed by others that what is in the mind cannot be revealed. Also, if bhaktas become disrespectful because they view each other as equals and do not maintain respect for one another, that is also extremely inappropriate.” || 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 || 25 || 259 ||