Reminiscences

The Body's Final Arbiter is Death

A man built a new house and went to live there. He took a tenant so that he may have company. After some time, the tenant began to behave as if it were his own house. Because of this arrogance of his, the landlord felt very much vexed. So he brought the entire affair to ShriMaharaj's notice. ShriMaharaj said, "It is not correct for him to act like an owner when he happens to be a tenant. He is committing a big mistake. By all means take legal action against him. But if one also is commit­ting the same mistake oneself, then one does not have the right to be angry with him. Death has a claim upon everyone's body. Death alone is the true master. But, one acts as if one is oneself the master of one's body. Must not God be getting angry as one gets angry with the tenant ? So, keeping in mind always that the ownership of the body is that of Death, one should remain absorbed in nama. Doing so will convince us that God is the master of all. Then, the body being merely on hire, one will not be sorry when leaving it." On hearing this, the man was truly satisfied.

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Reminiscences

An Extrovert mind is like a telescope held reversed

A. sadhaka asked, "Is there the necessity of a guru in attainment of God ?" ShriMaharaj said, "Yes, there is such a nocessity. But which guru is the one that you are referring to ? Lord Dattatreya took twenty - four Gurus.

Ultimately He became His own Guru. We ourselves come in the way of our attainment of God. The sadguru does nothing but teach one to become one's own guru. He turns the mind's attention inwards by getting one to practise namasmarana. He teaches one how to notice one's own faults, by keeping one's faculty of discrimination active. If one holds a telescope in reverse, then a near object appears far away and small. Extroversion is like looking with the telescope reversed. Because of this, God, who is in reality very near, appears to be far away and unattainable."

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-Aug 11

Reminiscences

One has no right to get angry  with even  an able- bodied Beggar.

There was a person who was disposed to be generous.

He would not turn away anyone empty - handed. But he had the fault that he used to become uncontrollably an­gry on seeing an able-bodied beggar. He asked ShriMaharaj what could be done about it. ShriMaharaj said, "That an able-bodied person seeks alms is not the reason for your reactions getting out of control. What you are angry about is that you feel that he ought to earn his livelihood by working, and he is not doing so. If you realize that this dereliction of duty is also committed by yourself, the feeling of anger will immediately subside. As one has got the human form by the grace of God, one's true duty is to attain Rama by practisingNamasmarana. One does not do it at all. So what a great dereliction of duty it is on one's part ! If God were to look at us from this point of view, how angry ought He to get ? But He does not. So one does not get the right to be angry with the beggar. Besides, it is not as if all the money you earn is the result of your own efforts. So, when someone seeks alms, you should not deny but give him something, with a sentiment that God has given you an opportunity to give in charity. One certainly ought not to speak badly to him. One should give only so much as one would not care to remember. Giving away forms a habit. It results in one's totally giving oneself up to God."

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Kannada-Aug.10

Reminiscences

" I feel parental affection for him whom I call my own"

A person asked, 'Maharaj, you strive so strenuously and continuously for our welfare, but we feel no gratitude for it. How is it that even then your fondness for us does not diminish ?' ShriMaharaj said, "A winning, bonny baby of seven or eight months kicks its mother while it is feed­ing at her breast. In truth, a child ought not to kick its mother. But when it kicks the mother, the mother feels an even greater rush of love for the baby . Even if he whom I have called my own may not be aware of it, I feel like that mother."

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-Aug.9