The Cause of disturbance in mind
Chapter-18
The Company and its effect
Follow God but do not immitate.
On the sixth day of the second fortnight of the month of Margsirsh, 1876
Swami Shri Sahajanandji Maharaj, early in the down was seated on a wooden
cot on the verandah facing west in the Durbar of Shri Dada Khachar at
Gadhada. He had put on all white clothes.
Then he called all the Paramhams and Satsangis and thoughtfully musing
for sometime, he softly said,'Listen to this.' So saying he further added,'I my
depth feel that I should not reveal the secret which I desire to reveal before
you. However, since you are all atteched to me, I should tell you this secret.
One who behaves in accordance with the principles, I sall now pronounce, will
be released from the bondage of Maya. One who does not so behave, he even
inspite of his knowledge of the four Vedas, six Darshans Shastras, eighteen
Purans and Mahabharat and Ramayan etc, not be redeemed. Now I shall tell
you this secret principle. If there is abundance of all enchanting objects before
one, it does not create bondage, unless one is attached to them. However, if the
mind is slightly drawn towards them, as for me, I would immediatly discard
them. such is my nature. I therefore have been probing inwardly to determine
which factors disturb a devotee inwardly ? Then I thought of Manas, Buddhi,
Chitta and Ahamkar, but was convinced that this Antahkaran is not the cause
of any disturbance to the devotee. The Antahkaran is full with the knowledge of
God and with the spiritual vigour of Atmanishtha. However, due to these two
forces, the Antahkaran sometimes indulges in an indifference that nothing more
remains to be done since proximity to God has been attained. That much is the
fault of the Antahkaran. The greater fault, however, lies with our five cognitive
organs. When a man enjoys sumptous meals, the ingridients of such food get
assimilated with his body and are then likely to react adversely on Antahkaran.
As a man enjoys Bhang and then under the influence of its intoxication,
infringes the rules of moral behaviour throwing into oblivion his devotional
fervour, similarly the seductive objects seduce the respective sense-organs.
Through ears, when a man hears such talks as would pollute his heart, he
degrades himself. As he hears obscene talk from a debauched man or women,
or from a man transgressing the rules of the Vedas and indulging in revelry,
or from a slayer of man, his heart is viciously influenced like that of an addict
to Bhang, and that destroys from his heart the influence of devotion and
discourages the observance of moral code of Bhajan, Smaran and Vartaman.
Similarly, touch also imparts its vicious or virtuous effects according to the
persons contacted. The touch of a vicious person intoxicates a man beyond any
sanity, as does the effect of wine. Again, the sight of a demoralised person
turns virtues into irredeemable vices. Smell as it comes from a flower or sandal
paste in the hands of a holy person or a scoundrel has either a soothing or a
lecherous effect according to its source. As such, since the contact of a heretic
creates an adverse effect, the contact of God or his realised saint creats a
sublime effect upon the person who comes in such contact even if the Buddhi
is vitiated such purificatory contact restores purity to it. The words they utter
and the truth they impart produce a cathartic effect. If, however, the rules of
Dharm prohibit such proximity and touch of the saint, the dust of their feet
should be smeared which also purifies ones Buddhi. Food offered to God or his
saint when taken, reclaims one to a spiritual sapience. But the rules of the
Varnashram Dharm should be observed under which if graced food offerd by
a saint to him is not acceptable, sugar cubes so graced by him should be
accepted. Fragrance of the flowers offered to him or the sandal paste applied
to him works also as a purificatory agent. Therefore, one who without any
discrimination enjoys Panchvishayas, even if he be as great as Sanaks, is sure
to be degraded. However, then how can the ordinary egocentric person
withstand such vitiating influence? Therefore lack of such discrimination will
drive a man into complete wildness beyond any reconciliation. If, however, one
with due discrimination enjoys purified Panchvishayas as prescribed by the
scriptures, he will become so purified at heart as to retain the divine
reminiscences of God within. However, if he enjoys Panchvishayas, without
any discrimination, his mind will surely be polluted. Therefore, the pollution
comes not from Antahkaran but from without when the Indriyas fly and disturb
the devotional fervour of a devotee. The Jiva is contaminated in bad company
and elated in good company. When he is amidst the company of dancing girls,
their abscene dance on the tune of enchanting musical instruments, their
offering wine to each other and exposing their seductive bodies, all in a
luxurious villa with a varity of mirrors fixed on the walls and luminious
chandelliers suspended from the roofs, such a contaminated atmosphere pollutes
ones heart whereas if he visits a yogi addressing a spiritual assembly in a
simple hut in seclusion, and discussions regarding Dharm, Gyan, Vairagya and
Bhakti are going on, his heart will become purified in such holy company.
Therefore, if one applies ones mind and probes throughly, one would realise the
impact of good or bad company, but one with an obscure understanding can not
realise this. The moral of this talk is to be grasped only by a devotee of God
who has taken refuse in him. Therefore all the Paramhams and the devotees
who have taken a vow of observing perfect celibacy, are cautioned not to
develop any contact with such vicious people. A man, however, demoralised he
may be in his preinitiation days, should be explained the rules of Dharma
before being initiated in this holy Sampraday, but once he is accepted he
should behave according to the rules of conduct as prescribed for him, and if
he violates those, he should be driven out immidiately, be he a male or a
female. If he is not so driven out, he will bring in any miseries. Just as a
finger which is bitten by a serpent is immediately be cut off for survival and
the safety and a rotten limb is immediately operated upon, similiarly such a
contaminated soul should be banished from the Satsang. I implore you to obey
this order of mine implicitly, and if you do so I shall feel fulfilled as if you
have all carried out my mission, shall bless you all and shall always remain
pleased with you, and shall command you all for admission to the divine abode
of God. If, however, you do not act in accordance with this wish of mine, we
shall be poles apart and you will be consigned to the region of evil spirits to
suffer tortures. What ever fruits that you are likly to get as a result of your
devotion, you will get, but after a long time, and even at that time your soul
shall be released only, when you will obey this Vital order.'
Again, One who tries to behave as I behave, will invite trouble Lord
Narnarayan manifests within me fully and I am the eternally released soul but
have not obtained such release by the way of listning to the preaching of someone.
I see before me my Manas, Buddhi, Chitta and Ahmkar and have
a strong hold over Antahkaran just like a lion holding tight a lamb. The others, who try to follow me, and feel that they can remain immune
from the influence of the Panchvishayas even after enjoying them, in fact, they in all vanity wishing for a sky flower. Even Narad and
Sanaks could not so remain immune. Then how can others derive such assurance? So many souls are released and so many will still be released
but none can be released under such misconceived notions. Therefore, you should all up-hold sacredly this holy injuncition. As for me, I
display the feeling of affection for you all accept the various sumptuous meals which are offered by you, sit on high seats, accept and use
rich dresses, ornaments and the garlands of the flowers-all this I do but not for the self enjoyment, but for your emancipation only. If
even inwardly a feeling runs in my heart to enjoy them for my personal comforts and happiness, I swear in the holy name of Shri Ramanand
Swami. Therefore, nobody should ever try to behave as I do. you should all enjoy only purified Panchvishayas consistent with your devotion.
The principle enunciated here is easy to be put into practice in life. You should all therefore try to circulate this vital talk amongst
all the members of this holy Satsang," So saying he said, "Jai Salchitanand' and left for his residence.
Thus Ends Vachanamrit : Gadhada First - 18.
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