Reminiscences

Money tainted by Some one else's Wish for it corrupts one's Attitude

One doctor had a hobby of solving crossword puzzles to earn money given in prizes. He once mentioned this to ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj expressed disapproval of earn­ing money in this manner. When asked why, ShriMaharaj said, "Let us assume that the prize money for a cross­word puzzle is one hundred rupees, and the fee to be paid by each participant is one rupee. Each one who has paid the fee has his greed clinging to those one hundred ru­pees. All that greed is transmitted to you with the re­maining ninety - nine rupees. How is it possible that the money so tainted by greed will fail to affect your atti­tude? This is why someone who earns money except by dint of his own labour lacks contentment."

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-July31

Reminiscences

It is foolishness  to say ‘God does not bring good Fortune”

A man had married for the second time after his first wife died. When he met ShriMaharaj the day before Ganeshchaturthi* he said, 'At our home we do not follow the practice of installing annually the idol of Lord Ganesh, as He does not bring us good luck.' ShriMaharaj asked him, 'What makes you feel that He does not bring you good fortune?' He explained that on some earlier oc­casion, the idol of Lord Ganesh was installed and some-

one died soon afterwards. Since then the family had discontinued the practice of installing the idol of Lord Ganesh. Upon this ShriMaharaj said, 'God not being beneficial is an utterly incompatible thing. Saying that God does not bring good fortune is as ridiculous as, or even more so than, saying that one placed one's hand on ice and that it got burnt. Your first wife died. Thereafter you entered into a second marriage without imagining that a wife does not bring good fortune to you. It is foolish to say that God has been angry if someone dies. By all means do install this year the idol of Lord Ganesh in your home so as to  get rid of this belief.'

* Ganesh Chaturihi  : the fourth day of the light half of Bhadrapada, the sixth month in the Hindu calendar. In Maharashtra, and some other parts of India, the day is the beginning of the ten-day Ganesh Festival.

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-July30

Reminiscences

‘Self-Earned Wealth  too is a result of the Grace of Rama’

A couple was visiting ShriMaharaj. The husband said, 'Maharaj, I am well settled, and I have a very good monthly income.' ShriMaharaj said to him, 'Whatever one obtains is by the will of Rama. We are mere figureheads. No matter how much wealth comes your way, do not cease remembering Rama.' After this he turned to the wife and said, 'Do you wish to ask about anything ?' The woman moved forward and made two or three attempts to speak, but her eyes were filled with tears, and words failed her. Then ShriMaharaj said to her in a reassuring voice, 'Does .your husband beat you ?' On hearing this she began nobbing freely. ShriMaharaj said to the husband, 'Remember, your prosperity is not because of your capa­bilities but because of the luck that appertains to this girl. Remember for all time that she has entered your home as the goddess Lakshmi* herself. If you so much as lay a finger on her hereafter, the wrath of Laxmi will be upon you. And if that happens, all your wealth will go away. Do not come weeping to me when you have reached such a miserable state.' ShriMaharaj said this in a voice of warning. To the lady he said, 'My child, whatever prob­lem existed has been fully taken care of. Now you can continue to practice chanting of Nama and live a happy domestic life.'

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-July29

Reminiscences

One believes that the Food  one eats is of one’s own earning, but in reality even that is the Fruit of God’s Grace.

ShriMaharaj said to one, 'Do partake of Rama's Prasad today before you leave.' He said, 'I cannot do so, for it is an observance of mine not to eat during the four monsoon months food of another person's earning. ShriMaharaj asked him, 'What notion do you carry when you eat at home every day ?' He replied, 'I feel that I am eating food earned by me.' Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "If it is with this notion that you eat at home every day, then it is far better to eat food of another. It is very harmful to have a notion in one's mind that one eats from one's own earn­ings, and that there is no element of the grace of God in it. A Sadhaka must bear the notion that whatever food he consumes every day is only because of His grace and wish. It is for this notion to develop that such observances are to be followed. There is another aim of this obser­vance: if food from a house with evil ways were to be consumed, there is a possibility that it may defile one's mental attitude; this observance is proper in order to avoid such a risk. The food here is owed entirely to Rama's grace, and because of that it is exceedingly holy. Your observance will not be broken if you were to partake of it." The gentleman then partook of prasad before he left.

Reminiscences

A Sadhaka should cast off such Feelings as Envy, Hate, Enmity.

There was a devoted disciple of ShriMaharaj. A trivial cause had resulted in hostility developing between him and his brother-in-law. ShriMaharaj did not like it and sO, one day, he said to the disciple, " Have you seen a puppet show ? Supposing the puppets were to decide not to dance, the whole show will be spoiled. Likewise, we are puppets in God's theatre. If we, through our own think­ing or stubbornness, were to decide not to dance in accor­dance with His wish, His whole show will be spoiled; besides, it will militate against our interest. Your inner mind has repeatedly been urging you to talk with the person towards whom you bear hostility, and cleanse your mind, for you have now surrendered to Rama. It is not proper that you ignore the inner voice and retain feelings of hostility. You must not have feelings of hostility towards anyone." He took the suggestion of ShriMaharaj to heart and went, of his own accord, to meet his brother-in-law. An open- hearted talk ensued between them. As it chanced, only eight days later the brother-in-law suffered a heart attack and died.

Reminiscences

 A Husband and Wife should adjust with each other and lead Domestic life in Contentment

A couple was well - educated, so they would often ar­gue on equal footing. Occasionally, argument led to alter­cation between them, and the dispute ended in mutual exasperation. Some days passed tolerably well, but one day a dispute ran wild. The husband lost his temper and slapped the wife. The lady could not stand it. The same night she left by train for her parental home. After this some days passed, and then she learned that the hus­band was down with typhoid. She felt natural anxiety, but could not take a decision about what to do. So she went to ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj said, "If one wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle goes one way and the other goes another way, the vehicle cannot run. It is obvious that there is difference between man and woman; it is neces­sary for nature's course to proceed well. The qualities of bravery and generosity in a man, and those of forbearance and unswerving submissiveness in a woman, are natural. Accepting defeat in clashes in domestic life be­comes forbearance; besides, doing so will show large -heartedness. This world is nothing but a big play staged by God. It is one's duty to perform in the best possible manner whatever part falls to one's lot. Even if one gets a lowly part, one should play it in the best possible man­ner; then one gets as much credit as for playing an impor­tant part. You alone can claim the honour of motherhood by bearing a son, your husband can never have it. So give up the idea of insisting on equality of rights. In being loved and cherished by one another lies true happiness and fulfilment," When the woman asked, *What shall I do now ?' ShriMaharaj said, "Take the first train and go to your husband. Tend to him as if nothing untoward had intervened. Bow to him in homage once every morning. He will recover." Accordingly the woman went to her hus­band, and began conducting herself as she had been told. After some days the husband's fever abated. One morn­ing, as she bowed to him, he began to sob. The lady was alarmed. He said, 'I am all right. But I realize that I behaved like a beast with you, and I am suffering from a frightful remorse. You rushed for my sake without mind­ing my behaviour with you. I promise you that I will not commit such a mistake again,'

A son was born to them after some time, and the couple visited ShriMaharaj with him.

Shree Gurpournami Pravachan (Kannada)

ಶ್ರೀ ಗುರುಪೌರ್ಣಮಿಯಂದು  ಮಾಡಿದ ಪ್ರವಚನ 

Reminiscences

The Sadguru’s beneficence can work Miracles inscrutable to Human Logic, Knowledge, and Capacity

Shri. Nanacharya, the caretaker of Rama's temple at Jalna, fell ill. He began to suffer from persistent low fe­ver. ShriMaharaj, when he learnt of this, called him over. A well - known physician was brought to examine him. The physician declared that the second stage of tubercu­losis was about to begin, but with timely medication and rest, he would recover. ShriMaharaj said to Nanacharya, "People say that you are ill. So, to improve your health, go to Karhad and stay in our temple of Rama. Live on food begged as a madhukari* and observe upasana** the rest of the day. Keep me posted every month with the change in your health." Nanacharya went to Karhad and began spending his days as instructed. His health began to improve, and after eight months it was fully restored to normalcy. Nanacharya returned. The physician was invited to partake of Prasad, and Nanacharya's seat was placed next to his. The physician did not, at first, even recognize him. After the meal, he was asked thoroughly to examine him, and finding his health faultless, the phy­sician said, 'If he recovered it is only because of the grace of God. Medical science has no answer here.' About how he recovered, Nanacharya said, "I used to obtain food by seeking alms in Karhad. I used to divide the food thus obtained into three portions : one for God, one for the cow, and the remainder for myself. I used to sustain my-self by eating only that. The food I used to eat tasted like nectar. As I continued, I began to get better and better. I almost wish I should fall ill again, so that I might again have the food of that nectar-like taste. There is no doubt that I owe that taste, as well as my recovery from the  disease, to ShriMaharaja's beneficence."

* Madhukari (*f!$3jff) : Food begged by students, sadhakas, etc., and

religious act. ** Upasana (MHWl): Spiritual or religious discipline.

Reminiscences

The True Death anniversary is that day on which the bodily consciousness dies down.

ShriMaharaj once said, "We observe the death anni­versary of a saint on the day when he casts off the mortal body. That is not right. His true death anniversary is the day on which his bodily consciousness ends for all time. It is because we do not know that day that we treat the day of the death of his body as his death anniversary

Reminiscences

“My man should be full of Selfless Love”

ShriMaharaj always used to say, "The house of the perfumer is recognizable some houses ahead and beyond. Likewise, a man who is mine should be so filled with selfless love that he should be easily remembered by people. This is my expectation from him who claims to be mine."

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-July23

गोंदावलेकर श्री ब्रह्मचैतन्य महाराज यांची प्रवचन 

Reminiscences

“In Which Different Places Am I Present ?”

A Sadhaka asked, 'In which different places does your presence predominantly occur ?' To this ShriMaharaj said, "There is no doubt that I am in Gondavale. I am in the worldly affairs of him who conducts them in remembrance of me. I am within the heart of him who lives in content­ment. I am in the temples consecrated by me. I am at those places where there is Maruti's idol. I am there where Aarati is performed every day and where Namasmarana takes place. I am wherever there is selfless love. I am there where food is freely distributed. In brief, wherever there is Namasmarana I linger like a faithful dog."

Sri Maharaja's pravachan in Kannada - july 22.

ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚೈತನ್ಯ ಮಹಾರಾಜರ ಪ್ರವಚನ 

pravachan - july 22. Marathi

श्री ब्रह्मचैतन्य महाराज यांची प्रवचन 

reminiscences

                                 “Simply Be and Stay Put as Mine”

Someone asked, 'Maharaj, you had to labour much for gaining self-knowledge. When one realizes this, one feels that self-knowledge is beyond reach of us, common per­sons, and the heart despairs and flags.' On listening to this ShriMaharaj said, "Who says that God can be at­tained only by labouring, and not without it ? Someone may be poor in his early years. He becomes rich after labouring a great deal. Later his son inherits that wealth without any effort. Likewise, why should he who says he is mine be despondent ? You should simply be and stay put as mine, and sincerely observe the practice of Namasmarana, and then God will be attained automati­cally without much effort."

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-July21

श्री माहाराज यांची प्रवचन 

Reminiscences

One should conduct worldly affairs, but the real urge ought to be for God

To worldly - minded persons, ShriMaharaj used to say, 'Conduct worldly affairs mindfully.' A woman asked, 'If one conducts worldly affairs mindfully, how can the mmd dwell upon God ? And if one wants the mind to dwell upon God, how can one conduct worldly affairs mindfully?' ShriMaharaj said, "The pre-eminence of human life is in­herent in the human mind. There is such a great capacity in the human mind that it can simultaneously perform a number of tasks without error and with equal attentive-ness. In a village, the source of water may be at some distance. Daughters-in-law from different households go there to fetch water. Each has at least two or three ves­sels of different sizes, to fill and carry back. These girls fill the vessels at the stream, pile them up on the head one on top of the other, and begin to walk home. The path is often thorny. The girls have part of the mind fixed on balancing the vessels, a second part is directed towards avoiding the pebbles and thorns on the path, a third one is occupied in discussing the mother-in-law's foibles and talking freely amongst friends, and a fourth is involved with the baby sleeping in the cradle at home. All these four things are being done with the same degree of rapt-ness. Then they set about cooking for the morning. The cooking continues, but simultaneously an equal attention revolves around the baby in the cradle. Doing this does not in any way spoil the cooking. Just as this is feasible, so also one can engage the mind in worldly affairs, and also raptly dwell upon God. Then not only the business of life will get done, but also attainment of God will be ac­complished side by side, with ease."

Reminiscences

At ten o'clock one morning ShriMaharaj began to dig up the land behind the temple, with a pickaxe. While digging, he said, 'If this land were to be brought under cultivation, it will provide for usal* for breakfast for those in the temple.' Seeing ShriMaharaj himself digging up the land, many persons gathered around, and each began to help in some way or other. Wamanrao Jnyaneshwari held an umbrella over the head of ShriMaharaj. Pres­ently, Vishwanath, who had been to the fields, returned. Seeing ShriMaharaj himself toiling, he ran up and snatched away the pickaxe from the hands of ShriMaharaj. He said, 'Maharaj, why should you wield a pickaxe while I am here?' When ShriMaharaj returned to the temple after a short while, he said, "This is the difference be­tween the path of knowledge and the path of love. Intelli­gence held an umbrella over my head, while love snatched the pickaxe from my hands. In the path of intelligence, vairagya** must be absolutely unshakable. If it gets slack­ened, one faces ridicule to no end, and may reach a stage where one has gained progress neither in worldly affairs nor in the attainment of God. The path of love is practi­cable for all. To be born into a family of untainted moral character, to have been favoured by a sadguru by initia­tion and by inspiring you with love for Nama, and to practise Nama with loving devotion under these fortunate circumstances, you will not even notice when you will get' vairagya: You may apparently be absorbed in worldly affairs and yet, in reality, have attained complete liberation. This is the glory of the path of love. The love lor God and unification with Him are accomplished very quickly by it."

» usal (3*3) : a dish consisting of pulse boiled, well spiced, and fried up, with coriander, etc.

** Vairagya   {&OT) : abstention from all desire and pursuit except

Reminiscences

The Company of a Person is pleasing in proportion to his being bereft of Desires

A bonny baby crawled up to ShriMaharaj. Looking at it with loving admiration, he said, "There are desires in ungerminated form present in this baby, but it is not charged with desires at this moment. It does not yet have a consciousness of its own self, and therefore it has no volition or misgivings. Because of their absence, the response of its mind is wholesome; so everyone loves it, wants to pick it up. Thus, in spite of the presence of desires in a nascent form in it, one over and again desires a baby's company. If this is so, then why should it appear beyond the bounds of possibility if one were to say that the company of a person who, by the grace of God, has his desires completely eliminated, is joyful?"

Reminiscences

The Tumult of Thoughts and Fancies arising during Namasmarana is a sign of a 'Quit notice having reached the Six enemies of the Soul'
There was a well - to - do woman who practised chanting of Nama. She received a good monthly income from the rents for her property. She once asked ShriMaharaj, "When we perform a task relating to worldly affairs, our minds think about other things associated with that task. But when we set about chanting Nama,

the mind does not think about the things associated with Nama. A tumult of other thoughts unrelated with Nama arises in the mind. Chanting of Nama does not get genuine attention; it becomes merely a mechanical act. Consequently, Nama is not chanted with adequate zest, and one soon gets tired of it. Constant compulsion is generally needed to keep the mind occupied with Nama. What can be done in this situation ?" Upon this ShriMaharaj first praised her for her sincerity, and added, "He who practises Namasmarana is definitely fortunate. Not any Tom, Dick, and Harry will undertake the practice of Namasmarana. It is only he whose stock of past deeds is good and who has been accepted by the guru, whether in this birth or an earlier one, will under­take the practice of'Namasmarana. When one sets about chanting Nama, the six enemies of the soul * that tenant the body may be deemed to have received a 'quit' notice. These tenants realize that if this body sets about chanting Nama, they will have to vacate the premises sooner or later. You have been seeing how difficult it is in practice to evict a tenant who has a proper receipt for the rent. Even if the owner wants the premises for himself, on filing a suit, most often the verdict is in favour of the tenant. If this is one's experience in practice, then how is it possible that these six tenants, who hold rent -receipts given by us over several births, will meekly va­cate the premises ? When the notice reaches them, all the six tenants rise in mutiny to dissuade one from the chant­ing of Nama, so that they do not have to vacate the pre­mises. When one is performing the tasks relating to worldly affairs, they have no such fear, so they are quiet.

When all the six tenants get disturbed, naturally they raise a storm of protest. The remedy is that when a tu­mult of thoughts arises, one should treat it as a sign that all the six tenants have received the 'quit' notice, and are frightened at heart. With this realization our mind will gather courage. One should vigorously persist in chant­ing Nama. Later, in course of chanting Nama, the storm of thoughts naturally subsides, and the passions have to vacate the premises one day or another. As soon as they vacate the 'premises', God, Who is present just next to one'sSelf, becomes apparent. There is the realization of God within oneself, and one's task has been accomplished."

* ( Shadripoo y^Ky} : the six enemies of the soul, viz., lust, anger, covetousness, love or affection, pride, envy.

Reminiscences

One should ask Rama only for contentedness; That includes Everything.

A woman practising as a Sadhaka once came to see ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj said to her, "We make all this fuss so that God may be propitiated. Suppose He is pleased, and he stipulates that you ask of Him in only two words whatever you want, what will be your plea?" She said, "My plea will be, 'Bestow love for Your Nama'." ShriMaharaj said, "But these are five words; the stipulation is that the plea should be in only two words." The woman was nonplussed. ShriMaharaj smiled and said, "The plea should only say, 'Bestow contentedness'. One does not obtain contentedness without having obtained love for Nama, awareness of God, total surren­der, the experience of God. Therefore, when contented-ness is asked for, He can bestow it only after bestowing all these things."

Reminiscences

There is Nothing  of greater importance than meeting the Sadguru

ShriMaharaj once said to Bapusaheb Sathaye, "Bapusaheb, tell me what the main events in your life are." Bapusaheb narrated to ShriMaharaj all outstand­ing events up to his old age. After his narration ended, ShriMaharaj said to him, "In all these little and big events, is there no place for the fact that you happened to meet me?" It was then that Bapusaheb realized his mistake.

Reminiscences

One should attribute all doer-ship to Rama

The wife of a newly - married, devout young man once fell ill with typhoid. When he met ShriMaharaj and re­ported the matter, ShriMaharaj said, "Rama will cure her. You need not worry." Upon this he said, "Say ' I will cure her,; it is only then that I will be satisfied." On hear­ing this, ShriMaharaj said, "You are asking me to utter words with which I have not defiled my tongue in my entire life. Have no doubt that Rama will cure her."

reminiscences

Consider that which is ultimately beneficial as truly conductive to happiness

A young man who was considering marriage to some girl asked Shri Maharaj, "Will my family life be a happy one if I marry this girl?" ShriMaharaj replied, "All my life I have been saying that family life is basically never conducive to happiness. How then can I say that your family life will be a happy one? But it is for sure that if you were to marry this girl, your family life will be of help in attainment of God.

reminiscences

The Joy of Feeding someone to His fill and seeing him contented is Indescribable.

While ShriMaharaj was once travelling in Karnataka, along with him was a doctor from Bombay. One day, in one of the towns, they had an occasion to partake of snacks at ten or twelve different houses. On being urged to eat more at yet another house, the doctor lost his patience, and he said, "Do you mean to overfeed us and burst our tummies? Enough of this urging to eat more!" When ShriMaharaj heard of this incident, he said, "Doctor, if these people invited us, it was not from a practical stand­point that we are in want of food, or to show off that they have more than enough. They invited us only out of love. It was with the intention that they may experience the joy resulting from what we eat or what we accept, that they urged us to eat more. To be able to experience the joy of giving away of food, that is, for one to feel joy when someone else has eaten, is nothing but grace of God. You haven't enjoyed, in all your life, an occasion to give away food. It is because you do not know what joy it brings that you lost your temper for a bit of urging to eat more."