The rise and fall of a spiritual aspirant
Chapter-53
When we find fault with a Saint ?
On the ninth day of the second fortnight of the month of Magh of Samvat 1876, Shriji Maharaj was seated on a cot in the Verandah facing west near the temple of Shri Vasudev Narayan in the Durbar of Shri Dada Khachar at Gadhada. He had put on white trousers and a white cotton padded jersey over it. A rich silken cloth of blue colour wowen with silver fabrics was tied over his waist. An equally rich blue silk cloth with silver and golden fabrics was wrapped over his head. Nosegays of white flowers were suspended from his turban. He was profusely Garlanded. Saints and the devotees from the various places were assambled in the front of him.
Then in address, Shriji Maharaj said, "You may ask me some questions." Where upon Muktanand Swami asked, "What is the reason that in his Satsang, some devotees develop well spiritually, while some tend towards spiritual regress ?"
Replying to the question Shriji Maharaj said, "One who develops deep attachment towards a Brahinanised saint flourishes in this holy Satsang, whereas one who behaves acrimoniously towards such a saint spells his spiritual retreat. The devotee having deep attachment towards the
Brahmimised saint developes deep devotion and flourishes abundantly. Therefore a devotee should take the utmort care that he does not develop a reproachful attitude towards such a saint. He should always hail him with all divinity and respect."
However, if one observes that a saint has committed breach of any of the five fundamental vows, he should reprimand him but for no other ordinary faults should a saint be looked upon with contempt since excepting such faults, that saint may be possessing many other attributes, which should not be ignored. If however, such redemptive attributes possessed by such a saint are ignored and ignominy flung upon him, such a devotee would suffer from such spiritual deterioration that Dharm, Gyan, Vairagya and Bhakti the redemptive attributes that he may be possessing would vanish. Therefore care should be taken that one should not indulge in falsely, maligning such a saint unless he is deficient in the fundamental code of conduct. If the devotee remains careful
to this extent he would flourish in his holy Satsang day by day.
Thus Ends Vachanamrit : Gadhada First - 53.
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