GOD- CONSCIOUSNESS
Even after attaining God-knowledge, some fail to imbibe God-consciousness. Our hearts cannot be purified, nor our lives transformed, unless we translate God-knowledge into practice. Selfless service, God-remembrance and congregation, enlighten our mind, strengthen our faith and sublimate our life. we become God-conscious only when we lead an enlightened and righteous life, and develop unwavering faith in God, who, in turn, protects us.
God-consciousness has the potential to solve all our tangles and troubles. It can clear all hurdles when we feel helpless and bewildered. Farmers and those who grow plants in their homes know that on removal of weeds around the plants, the roots become a bit shaky and the plants become lush green. Like-wise, God enacts such dramas to weed out the shortcomings and slackness that might have crept in the propagation of Truth. Our life terrifying incidents do not terrify the devotees, who lead a life full of joy and rapture. Such incidents have happened in the past and shall happen in future, as well. Whenever and wherever the message of Truth is given, it generally arouses opposition. Vested interests indulge in nefarious activities. They often distort the religion and oppose the message of Truth.
VALUE THE MESSAGE
The True Master is immortal. This is true not of his body but of his message. The body decays and perishes. The message is, however, eternal and immutable. It is the ghee (butter Oil) and not its container that is valuable. Yet, even the container has to be guarded to preserve the ghee. Likewise the luminous message of the True Master elicits all reverence even for his body. But it is the message that is entitled to all primacy, not his body. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to acknowledge the importance of the word of the True Master and act up to it.
PRACTISE SPIRITUAL VALUES
Devotion commences after divine enlightenment. But the ecstasy of devotion emanates from selfless service, God-remembrance and congregation. Certain persons, even after divine enlightenment fail to experience bliss or transformation. This is because they don’t actually practise spiritual values.
An analogy, we apply for a job and are selected and even receive an appointment letter. All this would not, however, entitle us to draw any salary. It is only after we start serving and doing the job that we would get salary and service benefits. This is true of welfare activities as well. Enlightenment is just a bald appointment letter. By itself it cannot prove fruitful. It would prove fruitful only by regular practice of selfless service, God-remembrance and congregation. Only then would devotion confer bliss on us and make us genuine devotees.
SELFLESS SERVICE
We are inspired to render selfless service, simply because it benefits the person who renders it. A seasoned person once advised a farmer that his fallow land could make him prosperous, if properly ploughed and sown. This was, no doubt, a benevolent gesture on his part. The beneficiary of this advice would, of course, be the farmer. Likewise, benevolent saints, knowing as they do the benefit accruing from selfless service, advise us to serve selflessly. Divine enlightenment has already safeguarded the next world for us. Selfless service is essential for ensuring our material happiness in this world.
SELF-SURRENDER
A True devotee of the master maintains the spirit of humility, self-surrender and service. He is never inflated with egoism. Nor does he claim to be a doer or indulge in tall-talk. He always believes that God’s will must prevail, and admits his helplessness. Human power is, in fact, limited and is often of no avail. It is well-known, on the other hand, that humility and love impart us immense strength and success. A proud person, however powerful, ultimately, falls headlong. History abounds with instances of arrogant persons who clashed with saints. They were, however, laid low, by divine dispensation. On the other hand, all the hurdles confronting the devotees, who took refuge in God, vanished, forthwith. The people helped and supported such devotees in full measure. This is also fully illustrated by the careers of ancient sages. A devotee is always protected from the hostile world, provided he takes shelter of God and the True Master, in a spirit of self-surrender. The devotee, therefore, obeys the True Master and does not act arbitrarily. He should march ahead under the guidance of the True Master. A devotee always banks on God and the True Master and dedicates his all to Him. Complete dedication relieves him of all anxieties. He is not bothered about his poor security and scanty financial resources.
He rises above such mundane considerations. Dedicating his all to God, he does not mind even losing his life in devotion to God and service of His devotees. He believes that his life is God’ gift, which is guarded by God. Hence, he is never perplexed or frightened. The devotees are generally persecuted and tormented by the people in various ways, but they remain serene and stead fast. They do not threaten others, nor feel threatened themselves. We should never think that such and such person is very powerful and may cause us harm. For, the omnipotent God always stands by us. Who then dare harm us? Our physical frame can be destroyed any moment, by disease, accident or any other cause. We need not, therefore, be upset and disown God or the Mission. This would be sheer cowardice. We have always to seek sustenance from the assembly of saints and maintain our morale. No obstacle can then block our way. God Himself would guard us, when we entrust ourselves to His care and protection completely.
GUARDIANS OF IDEALS
The devotees should not forget that one, who has attained divine enlightenment and is conscious of the injunctions of the True Master, owes enhanced responsibility. He is, as it were, the guardian of the divine ideals. In case, an unlettered person violates some law, he may possibly be awarded a lighter punishment, or even forgiven. But the one, who knows the law and breaks it, cannot escape rigorous punishment. An ignorant or unregenerate person, who wrong someone, is not so blameworthy. However, if a realised person wishes ill of and injures a fellow being, he must suffer. Hence, you must never bear malice towards anyone nor raise an accusing finger at anyone. The more you love the more peaceful you will be and the cleaner will be your image.
BE HUMBLE AND GOOD
The first principle and ornament of the devotee is humility the sense of regarding oneself as inferior and humble. Here one who serves and bows before all and adopts a humble approach, is the real Pradhan (Head). He is so unlike the worldly Pradhans, some of whom achieve top positions by brute force or by cunning. Such prominent positions are not, however, enduring. After some six months or a year, they face their doom. The Pradhan of the devotees, however, always rules the hearts.
We must invariably maintain and sustain the spirit of service and humility and spread the missionary message dauntlessly, without any anxiety the body, but the word of the True Master.
The guiding principle of devotees is not to wrong or malign anyone, nor to fling mud at anyone or let anyone down but do good and be good. We have to trust the True Master and do our duty. Such values sustain our Mission. We must practice humanism. We must not act like beasts. We have to diffuse the message of Truth in every nook and corner. For, the whole mankind constitutes our family. Such a noble spirit must be stimulated all around. It is a benevolent act of universal brotherhood.
CONTENTED
Pain and pleasure constitute a recurring cycle. They are inevitable adjuncts of life. Nobody is free from pain and pleasure. The hinge on one’s state of mind. Human mind is as prone to advent or exit of pain and pleasure as his body. Pain and pleasure are infact the pair of a carriage-wheels. All the great ones of the world had to face sufferings- financial, physical or mental and other afflictions. History speaks of numerous such incidents. Saints do not, however, take suffering at its face value. They calmly accept every situation as a divine decree. They regard suffering as an instrument of faith fortification and steadfastness. They are never upset nor perplexed by suffering. The world takes suffering, as an agonising experience, not to be endured calmly even for a moment. Man clamours even because of a little suffering, and is bewildered. Conversely, a little happiness puffs him up with delight. This is not the way of a devotee. He regards even suffering as an aid in attaining his goal. He is always in a state of bliss. He does not forget God even in blooming prosperity, but expresses gratitude to Him for His graciousness. He prays to Him to teach him how to utilise his bounties in the service of mankind.
The devotee feels contented with his lot as a divine dispensation. Such a spirit makes him capable of submitting to the divine will. Everyone of us should cultivate such an attitude. The touchstone of a devotee’s life is to treat pain and pleasure alike and surrender to the divine will.
BE HELPFUL AND HARM NONE
The acid test of a noble and great man is how helpful and loving he is towards the oppressed. For instance, even Lord Rama appreciated the love and devotion of Bhilini and partook of the berries already tasted by her. The devout persons treat the high and low alike out of love. Only the vicious and selfish people practicea discrimination and foster social evils like untouchability by posing themselves as leaders. We must avoid such a style and spirit. Like devotees, we should regard and respect everyone equally.
The world has always been peopled by two types of persons, saints and satans. Conflict is not the style of saints. Conflict and confrontation would degrade them to the level of evil-doers. The devotees and saints do not harm or harass anybody, with all the powers at there never misuse their powers. Ours is a humanistic mission, marching on the saintly track. We should not, therefore, harm anyone.
In fact, nobody can monopolise power in perpetuity. All powers are fleeting. They come and go like a whirlwind. This divine gift (of powers), however, is not utilized by mindless man, for human welfare.
REVERENCE FOR ALL
The reverence and regards extended by Lord Krishna to sudama (his childhood friend and fellow disciple) on his visit, is an ever glowing torch of devotion. Such a conduct, evokes admiration from everyone and will continue to do so. If Lord Krishna had been egoistic and arrogant, he would not have entertained Sudama as he did. Sudama was extremely poor and Lord Krishna was a king. But we have it on record, that Lord Krishna welcomed his poor friend Sudama reverently and embraced him. He even washed his feet with his tears. This is a clear proof of Lord Krishna’s intense love and devotion for his friend. There could hardly be a better illustration of sincere devotion. such a spirit of devotion is characteristic of devotees and must be imbibed by us. We must adopt a style of life and surrender ourselves to God’s will. We have to treat everybody with reverence, regard and love. We must humbly treat every possession as a girl of God. In case we do not develop such a spirit, we are hardly entitled to be called devotees, regardless of our status and resources.
RENUNCIATION
Renunciation of attachment to mammon is the key to happiness. This does not mean, however, that money must be thrown away or shunned. It is, actually, utilisation of money with the spirit of renunciation, which enhances our happiness.
Once a passenger alighted from a railway train. He had a lot of luggage with him. Instead of engaging a rickshaw, he himself carried his luggage for one and a half miles upto his exertion he was laid up with pain and fever for many days. How much suffering he had to face for not spending a rupee or two. The devotees know very well that renunciation of money does not mean its absolute relinquishment. We are not required to forsake all gainful activity.
The Great Master advocate that we must work hard, earn money and use it in a spirit of detachment. For the sake of money, we should not sacrifice our peace and happiness.
This is not to say that we should indulge in extravagance or misuse anything. Our health, character and life suffer by misuse. Hence, we have to use our possessions rightly, for ourselves, our family and the society. The devotees also realise that money is best utilised for human welfare. By doing so, we would derive maximum peace and happiness.
TOLERANCE
A furniture concern has carpenters, clerks, workmen, salesmen, other employees, engaged and some employers. In case all the persons, engaged in different jobs, continue criticising one another or start doing the same job, the Concern will have to be closed down. The business would flourish only by their team work, though everyone would do his own job. This is precisely coordination and unity. Similarly, the people have evolved their peculiar modes of living according to their countries, climate and culture. In fact, their distinct identity and culture have sustained the world. Maintenance of such diversity with mutual tolerance and understanding is conducive to unity.
ERASE EGO
Devotees serve the saints to erase ego. Such service is not possible in the absence of piety and purity in thought, word and conduct of an individual. He should not feel that he is the ‘doer’. Nor should he be proud of his physical, material or intellectual powers. Every benevolent action of his must be selfless, dedicated and steady. He should always be conscious of the grace of God and blessings of the True Master in every action done by him. The devotees, who genuinely practice selfless service, God remembrance and participate in congregation, became pure, within and without. They are indeed great. They appreciate the plus points of others. To err is human. It is, however, characteristic of the devotee to emulate the merits and ignore or discard the errors and demerits of others.
RICH AND POOR
On inquiry by a person, whether I would like to bring the rich and the poor at par, I remarked that somebody should first let me know the point where riches commence and poverty ends. Until now, I have not come across any rich person who is fully contented. Even a multi-millionaire craves for more. He feels himself still wanting. On the other hand, p poor but contented person enjoys a blissful life though he may not have even one or two hundred rupees. Thus, there is no yardstick for riches or poverty, no criteria for demarcation of the two states. Ultimately, it boils down to a question of contentment. A contented person deems the Almighty as the Supreme Doer and Donor. He, who feels jubilant in submitting to His will, never faces any He is not greedy for anything. Such a one is, in fact, the richest person on earth.
APPRECIATION
People may not appreciate the greatness of saints, seers and prophets, to the extent the devotees do. We should always refer to them with utmost reverence and devotion.
NO FLOWERS WITHOUT THORNS
We must not be scared of tensions and turmoils. We cannot get hold of flowers if we are terrified by the thorns. One who pucks the flowers skillfully, unmindful of thorns, can enjoy their fragrance. A True lover of flowers does not bother even if he is pricked by thorns. Likewise, the devotees, go on serving saints and seers and march ahead on the path of Truth, mindless of the hurdles in their path.
We must follow the above principles undaunted, and practice benevolence with all love and humility.
BLESSING IN DISGUISE
Even apparently terrifying and troublesome incidents incidents may prove a potential blessing, later on. Surging flood appears to spell all round destruction. A farmer, however, knows that flood water also brings manure and fertility to the soil. Consequently, the next bumper crop makes good all the past losses. Hence, we must never be anxious or perturbed. Any adverse development, facing us, is actually meant to eliminate our deficiencies and drawbacks. It warns us against our erratic actions and utterances, in order to reform ourselves.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Children are the foundation of society. Special attention must be paid towards their breeding and education. In future, they may be called upon to shoulder any high responsibility. Hence, their attention should be diverted away from pervasive frivolity and fashion. They must be inspired to lead a diligent, simple and righteous life.