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."