Gadhadã III 37 · Vachanamrut · Swaminarayan Scriptures

The Happiness Of Bhagvãn Is Never Forgotten

In the Samvat year 1885, on Vaishãkh sud 3 [6th May 1829], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on a square cushion on the veranda outside the north-facing rooms of Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. A sabhã of paramhans, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.

Then, addressing all the sãdhus and bhaktas, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Once a person has thoroughly attained the gnãn of Bhagvãn, then even if the factors of desh, kãl, kriyã, and sang become unpleasant for him, his gnãn does not diminish in the least. For example, take the analogy of a great king or a millionaire. If he happens to lose his status due to his prãrabdha and becomes poor, and because of that if he has only cheap food to eat, such as low-quality grains, or spinach, or moss, or berries, or boiled pipal fruit, then he would certainly eat it; but he would also recall the expensive foods that he formerly obtained and ate. In his mind he would think, ‘I used to eat all those delicious foods in the past, whereas now I eat such common food’. In this way, whenever he eats, he would recall this. However, if a person has been eating such common food from the beginning, and if he becomes even poorer, then he continues to eat the same type of food as before. So, what does he have to recall? Nothing.

“So, once a person has thoroughly known the bliss of Bhagvãn and the bliss of worshipping Bhagvãn in his own mind, then even if he can no longer remain within satsang and has to leave, he will experience happiness and misery according to his prãrabdha while remembering that bliss; he will not forget it. But, what is there to recall for someone who has not known that bliss of Bhagvãn and who has not experienced it? Nothing. Such a person is like an animal.”

Continuing, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Now, I shall narrate to you the gnãn of the murti of Bhagvãn. No dev, human or anything created from Prakruti, possesses a murti like Bhagvãn. In addition, Kãl devours everything except Bhagvãn; Kãl’s powers are incapable of affecting Bhagvãn. This is what Bhagvãn is like. In fact, only Bhagvãn is like Bhagvãn; no one else can even compare to Him. Also, a bhakta in the dhãm of Bhagvãn who has attained characteristics similar to Bhagvãn also possesses a svarup similar to that of Bhagvãn. Nevertheless, that bhakta is still a mukta, and Bhagvãn is Purushottam. Bhagvãn is supreme amongst everyone and is worthy to be worshipped by everyone. He is also their master. However, no one can understand the greatness of that Bhagvãn. He has a divya murti, is nirgun, and is worthy of performing dhyãn upon. In fact, that murti of Bhagvãn is such that a person who performs dhyãn upon Him becomes nirgun himself.

“Moreover, while staying in one place, in His dhãm, Bhagvãn resides by way of His anvay form as the antaryãmi and the giver of the deserved rewards of karmas to all the jeevs in countless brahmãnds. He is the very life of all jeevs; and without Him, those jeevs are not capable of doing anything or indulging in anything.

“In addition, that Bhagvãn is the master of all yogic powers. Just as a person who has attained yogic powers can obtain any object with his own hands, even in Brahm-Lok, while sitting here, similarly, Bhagvãn performs all activities while staying in one place only using His yogic powers. Also, for example, the fire that is latent within wood and stone is different from the wood and stone themselves. Similarly, Bhagvãn dwells within all jeevs, but His svarup is different from the svarup of the jeevs.

“That Bhagvãn Himself, possessing countless divya powers, becomes like a human for the purpose of granting kalyãn to the jeevs. If a person develops the gnãn of that svarup of Bhagvãn in this way, then if he has offered bhakti to that Bhagvãn and has fully experienced the bliss of that gnãn and bhakti as it really is at least once in his jeev, he will never forget it. In fact, regardless of whatever happiness or distress comes his way, he does not forget the experience of that bliss of Bhagvãn’s svarup, just as the king in a state of poverty does not forget the happiness of his past.

“I tell you this because currently all of you are present in satsang; but, due to unpleasant circumstances or unpleasant prãrabdha, if a person no longer remains in satsang, then if he has understood this fact, his jeev can still attain kalyãn. Also, if a person has such a belief, he will never feel, ‘I will not attain kalyãn’. After all, to continuously remain in satsang is indeed extremely difficult. In fact, to physically behave as described is also rare. However, if a person someday happens to leave satsang, then even if he cannot physically behave like this at that time, his jeev will still benefit greatly if he has understood this fact. That is why I have delivered this talk.” || End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã || 37 || 271 ||