MIRACLES

Brother, from where shall I bring miracles? My attention has never been in that direction. Whenever you people wish something, some miracles will happen. Although my master had said that I have the power to perform miracles, which I certainly believe, yet I am not at all inclined towards that. Secondly, it is always the teachings that can attract the people. Jesus Christ performed miracles throughout his life but he could hardly secure a dozen disciples; out of them one turned out to be so unfaithful that he maneuvered for his crucifixion. After his death his teachings have attracted the whole world. Another thing that helped him was that the Hindus considered it as sacrilegious in those days to cross the sea. One thing which I would like to say is that by the grace of Master whatever miracles I have been able to perform, nobody has performed. But only those who are able to see can know it. And brother, I will be compelled to do so in performing Nature's work.

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SHASTRAS – THEIR VALUE

Shastras go into contradiction of each other, but they are of value to us since they offer a chance to think upon and arrive at a solution. They have another merit besides. It is that they offer means and methods for spiritual advancement for men of every taste, mentality and standard of mind. Everyone wants peace. That means that realisation is not the object. In that case he will get only peace and not realisation. But if realisation is the object, peace will automatically come in its wake. We should not be only after knowing what realisation is but should try to attain it as well.

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HINDUS – SUFIS

There is a vast difference between the spirituality of the Hindus and that of the Muslim Sufis; that of the Sufis is an amalgam of spirituality and matter, while that of the Hindus is nearest to the Real.

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GITA

The simple unassuming character of mind has changed with the march of time and has assumed a colourful disposition, and begun to shed its effect on everything in us, both outer and inner. Whatever, therefore, we take into our thought or action exhibits colourfulness in all its phases. Our excessive attachment to the environment, and surroundings of a similar nature, create in us heaviness and grossness. Subtleness is lost and everything that comes to our view is interpreted in the same light. This not only veils our understanding, but the heart and brain also get affected by it. It was the same tendency of mind which displayed itself through all the writings of men of knowledge and learning. For thorough understanding of things one must have practically attained the state of mind required, before one can come out to explain it to others. The same was the case with our sacred Gita. There are numerous commentaries, and more are still being added. Almost everyone attempted it from his level of learning and reason for the people to understand it from the same level of thinking. But though their physical labour in this respect may be appreciable to some extent, the actual purpose is not served at all; and, to be more frank, the commentaries have made the original text all the more complicated by putting the bare truth under coverings or misconceptions. In other words we increase our own limitations by adding more and more complexities to it.

Similar is the case with the worship of God who is represented as physically similar to man, with the only difference that he is a superior being and has a bigger sphere in proportion to his bigness. But not taking up that topic at present, I confine myself to the subject proper.

It was in accordance with the need of the time that Lord Krishna revealed the truth depicted in the Gita to Arjuna. We must be highly indebted to him for all that he put forth for our benefit, which in course of time has become the guiding light for us all. It was not merely an idle discourse but the actual revelation of the very thing needed for a true pursuit of the Divine path. They relate directly to the various conditions which an abhyasi passes through during the course of his march. It related to the practical realisation of those conditions which can be attained through proper Sadhana. There may however be elevated souls present in the world today who may be able to give you a glimpse of it, or to create instantly the same state in you by the application of their own inner powers.

Let us here consider how much time Lord Krishna could have possibly required for speaking out the total text of the Gita as we find it today. The armies were standing face to face on the battlefield, and war trumpets were sounding loud, announcing the zero hour for action. How much time was there at the disposal of Lord Krishna to bring Arjuna round to the proper course by preaching a sermon to him? The recitation requires at least a few hours. How could that be possible at that critical moment? Evidently he could not have taken more than a few minutes for it. The fact is that Lord Krishna actually transmitted to Arjuna, within a few minutes, all those mental states necessary for the purpose at the time. Really they were the very conditions which an abhyasi passes through during the course of his march. The process brought Arjuna instantly to a higher state of spiritual Consciousness and purged out the feeling of undue attachment from his heart. This can as well be possible today if a personality of that calibre is there. But, as it is too commonly witnessed, people hear and recite Gita for the whole life without taking in the least effect thereof. None has so far ever turned round like Arjuna in spite of hearing the Gita for years together. The reason is that those who recite to others are not capable of transmitting its truth into their hearts, on account of which no effect is produced upon the hearers. For that purpose it is necessary that the reciter must have a practical approach up to the conditions related therein, and should possess a strong will and the spiritual force necessary for making his voice vibrant so as to carry the effect of the sound right into the hearts of the hearers through the process of transmission. Then alone can its recitation be useful to the hearers.

As for the teachings of the Gita, we are ever being told by teachers and preachers of high rank and reputation that man should never consider himself to be the actual doer of things. But at the same time it is quite evident that mere reading or hearing of it is of no avail unless we take up means to achieve it practically. But we are always in the dark about those means which are necessary for the purpose. Nowhere can the slightest hint to that effect be traced out in all other discourses. The result is that the hearers are wrongly led to the conclusion that only the frequent repetition of the words, ‘I am not the doer' is all and enough for them. It is in fact an inner state of mind in which the physical actions of the abhyasi do not create impressions upon his heart. Consequently, a feeling of being a doer does not arise in him. When impressions are not caused the sanskaras are not formed, and consequently chances for bhoga do not arise. The formation of sanskaras is thus stopped. This is quite essential for those on the spiritual path. This was in fact the actual state which was transmitted into Arjuna, and by the effect of which he at once rose up to that level of higher Consciousness. The oral expression given at the time constituted only seven slokas to offer brief hints to illustrate the condition acquired by Arjuna through transmission.

The state of atman described in the Gita is a further clarification of the same point. When one has practically attained that state, he begins to feel the same all through. That is in fact the actual state of Realisation. Great stress is laid in the Gita upon nishkama karma or desireless action. One may go on saying like that forever, still it may never crop up within him unless he adopts the means and practices for its achievement. This is in fact a kind of layavastha (state of merging) without which the vision of Virat, as displayed to Arjuna, could never be possible, though proper capacity and advanced insight on the part of the abhyasi are also essential for the purpose. On witnessing the scene of Virat, even Arjuna cried out that he could not bear to see that dreadful sight. The reason was that the Layavastha which had been transmitted into him related only to the conditions of the virat desh, while the scene witnessed by him was the display of the full force of the brahmanda mandal, which is far beyond the region of Virat. It was in fact the sphere wherefrom everything comes down to the material plane. The entire plan of the battle of Mahabharat was there in an astral form. It was this vision that Lord Krishna brought to Arjuna's view after pulling him up to that level. Some people may not however feel induced to believe it as it is, and they might have their own reasons for it. But I may assure them that though normally wanting in practical proof, it is quite possible and practicable even today, provided there be a personality of such calibre, and provided the sadhaka too be capable of being lifted up to that level.

The Gita also emphasises the importance of Duty, which constitutes the very basis of the social order of the world. It falls within the scope of Raja Yoga, and it is immensely helpful in bringing about the cessation of sanskaras. The state commences when all senses are silenced. Mere saying or hearing is of no avail in this respect. It is only to be practiced, and for it a broader heart is required. It is not so easily attainable in a brief span of time. Persistent labour with proper means is essential for it. It is likely that people may not pay heed to what I say herein; but soon the Reality which has, due to the effect of time, got covered with complexities, shall be unmasked and the people shall begin to realise its true significance. May the time come soon! Amen.

Blind faith has both its advantages and its disadvantages. It may be of immense value where the guide selected happens to be really one of the greatest calibre, and one who has attained the highest approach. But if unfortunately you get yourself attached with one who is not up to the mark, but has caught you by his learned discourses or display of miracles, your blind faith in him will lead you quite the other way to mere delusion and deception. In that case his shortcomings too will remain out of your view, since you have undertaken to follow him blindly. The result will be that you will not be able to attain the goal. It is, therefore, necessary for every one to think twice, and over again, before reposing his faith in any one. In my opinion when we come across one whom we think to be capable of guiding us on the path, we must first have sufficient association with him to judge how far the tendencies of our mind are being affected by it, i.e. whether they are getting gradually silenced or maintain their usual trend. We must try to understand whether his association is causing the same effect upon our heart as it finally must. In the present age of degradation such guides or masters may be rare no doubt, and those having a command over it still rarer. Unrest and disturbance is the predominant feature of the time. For this the modern civilisation too is responsible to a great extent. It now requires a good deal of time and labour to overcome this disorder. It can be removed only through sincere love and devotion to the Divine Master, and this in all respects is the only unfailing instrument for it, and the surest path of success.

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CHARM – Various Kinds

People undertake things for the sake of certain charm which they feel for a particular thing. Some similar charm attracts one towards the Divine. There is thus the charm of worship, the charm of bhakti, the charm of asceticism, and also the charm of peace and bliss. They exert themselves only for the sake of charm and not for the Real thing. But so long as it is for the charm it is but a recreation and hence quite away from the real objective. In fact there is no charm in realization, no enjoyment, not even the Consciousness of peace, bliss or of realization itself. It is a static state, unbroken and unchanging.

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MERGENCE

Mergence is there without doubt. But in such a state a man, having become absorbed in Reality, feels linked with the other side also, i.e., the world. It is Nature's plan for humanity, because humanity cannot survive without it; and it is also essential because we have to exist as human being first, till we close our eyes permanently. It is the secret of Nature. I have just said that these anxieties remain at the surface. When one ponders over them they become aggravated because the power is there. If such a thing strikes, take out that thought from the mind with natural force.