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