Sri Maharaj's Pravachan.Oct 15

Humility is the Gateway to God
Nama-smarana should be completely without pride, in utter submission to God. One has to be specially cautious in this regard, because it is most likely that a seeker may well develop a self-righteous pride of sadhana, rendering sadhana fruitless. When going to a saint, we should completely vacate the mind of all thoughts except that of God and love for Him. On the other hand, we carry with us loving ideas about prapancha, and self-righteous pride; the saint's guidance then becomes blurred and illegible, like over-writing.
We think of ways to obtain a thing only after first feeling that we want it. Similarly, we should first feel the need for God. Then we look for ways to attain Him. This calls for mental effort; for instance, the effort to suppress anger calls for more courage and control on the mind than giving vent to it. But the resultant bliss makes it all worthwhile. We should be very cautious in our behaviour and talk, to avoid the undesirable.
Utter surrender needs neither money nor learning; we only need to give up pride. God can be easily attained by one with a spirit of humility. One who thinks nothing of oneself, even if his real worth is high, will find it easier to attain God. What is wanted is a determined mind. We should have open dealings, open-hearted talk, and think or do nothing that we would be ashamed for God to see. Our whole behaviour should tend to generate increasing desire to seek God, to yearn for Him. For this to come about, we should always keep the mind immersed in nama. We may be worldly to all appearances, though in the heart of hearts we should belong to God. This attitude to life will help very much in spiritual pursuit.
A person enticed by pleasures and convenience of the body is evidently oblivious of God. But one who vigilantly maintains constant awareness of the presence of God has no regard for worldly greatness. Hankering after money and popular applause leads one away from God. We must not fall into their snare. In worldly life we cannot help coming in contact with them. One who yearns for the love of God should realize their strength and weakness and employ them with proper regard to them, so as to escape their pitfalls. You can attain Rama only by surrendering to Him completely.
* * * * *

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-Oct.15

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Kannada-Oct.15

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan-Oct 14

One who Endears Himself to God is Loved by allSome people feel that God should endow them with some special capacities to enable them to do some public good. But why desire that the good should happen through a particular individual? Does it not mean that the 'body-am-I' feeling is fully operating in the particular individual? God may so endow persons who can wield such capacities. What is the wisdom of handing a sword to a young person who has neither the requisite capacity nor discretion? You feel that people should respectfully listen to what you preach, although you have no proper control over anger, perhaps, or other mental reactions. First master your own mind, and then think of giving guidance to others. Do you want to be popular among your brethren? Then first endear yourself to the King of Kings. People may seem to be in dire need of being improved, but do not rush headlong into the task. Remember you have enough evil in you if you see evil in others, and so you have a need first to improve yourself; you will thereby cease to see faults in others.
Little girls play at home-making with dolls and a wendy-house. They feed the dolls and lull them to sleep. In the heart of hearts, they know that the dolls are lifeless. Why don't you similarly imagine that God and you converse with each other? As your sentiment deepens, you will find that God and the conversation assume reality. Relate yourself to God in some way or other. Since our entire life is in His hands, the individual happenings must be so.
We often perform 'sattvic' acts, but bear pride for them. Sattvic actions are certainly highly commendable, but it is highly harmful to feel pride for them. Indeed, even bad actions are preferable, because there is a possibility of regret and repentance being felt for them some time or other. But where is the chance for removal of pride for sattvic acts? Suppose a man helps a friend or relative, and the obligee later says, 'After all, he helped me because he could afford to, so it is hardly any special goodness on his part,' and the obliging man feels hurt; does it not indicate a latent pride in him? Why should he feel hurt, instead of feeling that it is God's favour that he had the capacity, the opportunity, to make himself useful? So it is best to ascribe everything to God.
* * * * *

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-Oct.14

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Kannada-Oct.14

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-Oct.13