Reminiscences

How a Kirthan ought to be performed

A lady performed kirtan* as an amateur, not as a pro­fessional. After one such performance ShriMaharaj said to her, "You do not perform kirtan for earning money or public recognition but as one of the nine kinds of worship. That saves it from being just a kind of religious concert, which in no way serves to attain God. One should always remember Narada's stance that he performed kirtan for the sake of God. One should constantly assess how much of the subject matter of the first half of the kirtan, which is of the nature of a sermon on the text, has become part of ones own nature. Remember, the listeners are influ­enced only to the extent to which something has become a part of the preacher's nature."

Another such performer of kirtans, but as a profession, visited ShriMaharaj, and said, 'Maharaj, I face the audi­ence during kirtan. Naturally I notice what effect what­ever I am telling them has on them. How can I disengage my mind from them and turn it on God?' ShriMaharaj answered.' "Sir, it is not incorrect that one's mind is on what is the effect of whatever one is saying, on listeners' minds. But one should take the mind off it and give it to God, whereby the kirtan will be rendered as worship unto God. One should keep one's mind on the idol of God. One should practice listening to the subject matter of one*s assertions. When one listens to one's own kirtan one re­flects upon it well. Besides, it is highly effective with the audience. This is just how saints perform kirtan."

* Kirtan fafafa) A prose - cum - musical opera about God or a saint. ... 

Reminiscences

The Verses of 'Manaache shloka' are unfailing, like Rama's arrow

There was a retired engineer who had diabetes. The ,„,„. of sugar in his blood had risen up. As a remedy for this, every Sunday and Thursday he used to take meals only after taking injections of insulin. He used to take the (injections himself. He met ShriMaharaj and told him about his ailment. Upon this ShriMaharaj said, 'The two hun­dred and five verses of Manache Shloka*  by Samartha Ramadasa are like two hundred and five injections for the mind. Hereafter, learn one shloka by heart at the time of taking each injection, and reflect upon it till the time for the next injection. Take up the next shloka at the time of the next injection. At the rate of two injec­tions per week, you will have learned one hundred and four shlokas in a year. When two years have passed thus, all the shlokas from Manache Shloka will have been as­similated. When your mind receives the injections in the form of the verses, the sugar in the form of love of worldly things will be automatically under control. This will be of great help in attaining God.'

* Manache Shloka _ { *M% *$fai )   a set of two hundred and five verses or stanzas written by Saint Ramadas in the form of advice to the

Reminiscences

Only by chanting Nama  can one discharge one’s obligations to God.

One gentleman was very poor in his youth. Later he became highly successful in life. When he had once come to meet ShriMaharaj, he said, 'Maharaj, I know it is not merely ability by which I have prospered beyond all ex­pectations. There is no doubt that my present prosperity is due to grace of God. What can I now do that I may be discharged from His obligations?' Shri Maharaj was very pleased to hear this question, and said to him, "To be discharged in the true sense from the obligations of some­one is to give him something that he does not have. There is not much sense in giving him something which he al­ready has. As the ownership of everything one sees is basically God's, to give Him any of those things is like giving Him something that is already His own. There is only one thing that He does not have. And that is, that He cannot love Himself. When one loves Him sincerely, it is like giving Him something that He does not possess. To be able to love God sincerely, one should unreservedly surrender oneself to Him. To acquire such a surrendering attitude one must feel that one is a mere nobody. Such a feeling is aroused by namasmarana. So one should prac­tice chanting of Nama sincerely."

Reminiscences

LET US NOT FORGET THAT JUST AS GOD IS KIND HE IS  JUST TOO

There was a person who used to accept bribes. He was suspended from service on a charge of having taken a bribe in one case. He had not taken a bribe in that par­ticular case, as a matter of fact. He met ShriMaharaj and said,’The charge of my having taken a bribe in this case is not at all true. If I am penalized in this case, then I will shout out in public that there is no justice at God's door, that religious practices and the Nama of Rama are a hoax, ShriMaharaj said, "When the Diwali festival approaches, the womenfolk of the house start preparing different deli­cacies. One 'samples' them as they are prepared. One also takes the usual meals. Later, when Diwali actually ar­rives, one eats the snacks to one's content. After the four days of Diwali have thus passed, one gets indigestion. Then, on the fifth day, one eats a light meal of rice and buttermilk. But the accumulated indigestion continues, worsens, and one begins to vomit and gets diarrhea. Then one starts telling people, 'God alone knows why I am suf­fering so, although I only ate rice and buttermilk yester­day.' Will such a plea be justified? Swear by God that your conduct till today has been blameless; then I assure you not one hair of yours will be harmed. Are you pre­pared to do this? If not, then why do you merely blame God? " Having said this much, ShriMaharaj added, 'God is surely kind, but let us not forget that He is also strictly just.'

Reminiscences

As a way of the world, the relatives of ShriMaharaj were ordinary worldly- minded persons. Of these, a middle-aged man once approached with a request that a piece of land belonging to ShriMaharaj be sold to him at a spe­cially concessional price. The following conversation en­sued :

The man : I want that piece of land.

ShriMaharaj: I need that piece of land for my own use. How can I part with it?

The man: I need it for my betterment and prosperity. Please do not forget that I am a relative of yours. If you do not feel kindly towards me, how can you be termed a

saint?

ShriMaharaj: I have never said that I am a saint, andme. I wonder how you do not feel that a relative should prosper.

ShriMaharaj:  I do not consider that that family is ad­vanced which possesses a large property. That family is really I cannot help it if others call me one, 'accuse' me of being one. I am still not free from matters of my interest.

The man : You talk like an ordinary, worldly man. Well, in any case, you should respect my desire.

ShriMaharj : Well, it is in the hands of Shri Rama to do so, not in mine. So beseech him.

The man: You say all this because you don't feel for advanced which is devoted to the worship of Rama.

The man : I have been told by all people that you are kind, generous, large-hearted. It seems people entertain a mistaken notion about you.

ShriMaharaj : I cannot help what you feel about me. However, you may try supplicating Shri Rama; He may help you.

After this ShriMaharaj fed him to his fill and sent him back. One of those who were watching this incident said, 'Maharaj, how is it that you remained so calm while that man upbraided you and spoke abusively?' Upon this Shri Maharj answered, 'When a person suffering from a foul mouth odour comes to you for discussing important business, you do not avoid speaking with him, you only cover your nose with a handkerchief. I did the same thing here. Because of the mind being sullied by greed, he was talking indiscriminately. But that was no reason for me to spoil my attitude. If we behave thus in this world there will rarely be an occasion to repent about. If one main­tains awareness of God, these things can be easily accomplished.

Reminiscences

A Devotee once queried," Sir, you often say that Nama eliminates Desire. Will you kindly elucidate how?" Shri Maharaj replied, "Darkness has no independent ex­istence. It comes only when light is gone, when the sun

Disappears. Now Nama is reminding oneself, in effect, that God exists, and you, the body, is only a shadow of Him. God is knowledge, and ignorance cannot exist where  .there is God. Therefore, Desire ceases to exist where there is God in the form of his Name.

Desire can exist in different stages. In the lowest, the body tries to execute it immediately; in the next, it is subject to thought and discrimination, which control its translation into action; and in the next, last stage, persis­tence in nama,  completely occupies the mind, and there is no room in the mind to be penetrated by desire. Persis­tence in Name takes one up these steps almost unknow­ingly, without being noticed.

Reminiscences

 Exertions made for the sake of those visiting Gondavale never go

In Vain

As the following of ShriMaharaj was large there al­ways used to be a large assemblage around him. Those rendering voluntary service at Gondavale were required to spend much effort in providing for them. Addressing them, ShriMaharaj once said, "Two travellers once set out on a night - long train journey for some work. Of  the two, one could barely get access to a compartment; as it was extremely crowded he had to travel standing the entire night. The season being sultry, off and on he would be overcome by suffocation. The other traveler had purchased a first class ticket, and traveled sleeping comfortably Both reached the destination in the morning, and went to the town for their respective assignments. The mission of the first traveler was accomplished far better  than expected, and the second one had to return empty-handed. Now which one can be said to have had a better journey ? Therefore, even if you are greatly burdened here, rest assured that the ultimate mission, which is, being graced by Rama, will be accomplished in a fine manner in your case."