Reminiscences

Turn a problem of everyday life into an opportunityFor pursuit of attainment of God.

Once a large number of persons had gathered at Gondavale, when it rained unexpectedly for about half an hour. A problem arose as to where all the people could get a dry place to sleep.Then Sri Maharaj said, 'There is a very simple way out of this predicament. Each one should go to bed only after finding out whether or not the next person has slept. Let the entire night be spent in chanting Nama and singing bhajans, so that one will not even realize when it dawns. The joy of chanting Nama can be enjoyed to heart's content. To sleep at night is a daily event. If an opportunity arises some night to keep a vigil in honour of God, why not treat it as a favour of God ?"

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-Aug.4

Reminiscences

One should conduct worldly affairs mindfully,as a Duty but not let the mind be absorbed in them.

"One should conduct worldly affairs mindfully and from a sense of duty, but the mind should not be absorbed in them." After listening to ShriMaharaj saying this, a devo­tee asked, "How can but one mind perform a dual role at a given time?" Upon this Shri Maharaj said, "Although a person has but one mind, more than two aspects of it are functioning at the same time. A newly- married person thinks of his wife while at work in the office. Even when you are in Gondavale and are participating in the events here, your remembering of your children and the house­hold continues. Then, why should it appear impossible to teach the same mind to remember God while conducting worldly affairs, with an equal degree of raptness ? This requires practice. The practice consists in continually ut­tering the name of God while conducting the tasks con­nected with worldly affairs."

Shri Maharaja's Pravachan in MARATHI-Aug.3

Reminiscences

One can always find privacy for Namasmarana if a

Yearning Exists.

A person complained to ShriMaharaj, 'I greatly desire to practise Namasmarana, but the place where I live is in a chawl and is very small. Besides, there are always visitors and guests. Because of this I can never find privacy for chanting Nama'.. ShriMaharaj said, "The excuse you have given is not quite genuine.I can understand it if you were to say that you do not love God enough, or that you do not have a real yearning to meet God; and that is In fact correct," Because he did not clearly understand what.ShriMaharaj had in mind, he said, 'No, that is not my difficulty.' Upon this ShriMaharaj said to him, 'Who live with you in the house ?' The gentleman said, "There are four of us: myself, my wife and two children. My wife is carrying again. Besides occasional guests, our place of residence being in a chawl, there is never any peace or privacy." Upon hearing this ShriMaharaj said, "Do not think that I am finding fault; but since you have children,  you certainly had privacy. You found it in the face of all these odds. What this means is that a person finds a way around any number of difficulties for a thing for which he has a sincere liking." ShriMaharaj further asked him, "Will you practise Namasmarana earnestly if I were to find for you a time with privacy amidst all this bustle?" He promised to do so. Then ShriMaharaj said, "You return home by about seven o'clock in the evening. Rest for a while after returning home, and then recite the Rama-raksha. All should go to bed by nine o'clock after a light meal. One may not be able to fall asleep for the first few days, but later you will form the habit. While going to bed, remember Rama, and entreat Him, 'I want to chant Nama, so please wake me up at three o'clock in the morning.' If you resolve thus while going to bed, you will wake up exactly at three o'clock. You should then get up, have a wash, and set about chanting Nama, sitting in the bed. Chant Nama earnestly till five o'clock, and then go to bed again, getting up at about six or half past six. For one doing this, not only will privacy be available, but also the practice will remain unknown to others.

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-August 2

Reminiscences

A considerable number of persons used to assemble at Gondavale now and again for one celebration or another. Just as there used to be many good persons amongst them, there also used to be persons who were not morally so good. Because of this reason, when the celebration ended some things from the temple used to be found missing. Those who had to look after the upkeep of the temple used to feel sad about this. After one such celebration this matter came to be mentioned to ShriMaharaj. He said to those who took care of the place, "When a daugh­ter is visiting the home of her parents after a long inter­val, she behaves in an unreserved manner. She is allowed to handle any of her mother's belongings. If there is a new sari and she insists on first wearing it, the mother gladly agrees to it. In doing so there is only one intention in her mind, and that is that whatever few days she will spend at her maternal home may be spent in happiness. The mother takes all care to see that the daughter's heart is in no way displeased. When she returns to her husband's home she takes with her a few things like pick­les and ready spices, with her mother's permission, more or less as her right. The mother gladly gives her permission to take these things with her so that she may not                                                               have to go to the trouble of preparing them when she returns to her husband's home. I too feel likewise about the things which disappear from here. You feel sad be­cause you do not know who has taken them; but why should someone who knows who has taken them be sad ? I never feel sad about it. But the same rule is not appli cable in the case of those who stay here to serve. They are like my daughters - in - law. It is improper if a daughtn in - law takes the same liberty as that taken by a daughter. Therefore, those who stay here must be extremely careful. When it is time for the mother of the house to depart from this world, because the daughter-in-law  belongs to the family, she calls her near, and saying, 'From now on you are the mistress of the house', she hands over to her the complete control of the house. What this means is that the daughter-in-law becomes the mistress of whatever the mother of the house owns. If you feel that the-ownership of whatever I have should fall to you, you will have to act like a daughter-in-law. One has to decide for oneself whether one wants to be the daughter or the daughter-in-law."