rishi prasad - rp193jan09new

8/14/2019 Rishi Prasad - RP193Jan09New

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..(Read full article in Rishi Prasad magazine).

Search in Your Own Home- Pujya Bapuji

Sufis relate a parable. A farmer was going to his farms for keeping a watch early inthe morning. He found a bundle lying on the way. He opened it and found that itcontained what he thought pebbles and stones. He picked up the bundle and took itto his farm. There was a river flowing by the side of the farm. He started hurling the

pebbles in the river with a catapult. A jeweller came to bathe in the river. Hepicked up a pebble while bathing. He was surprised no end for it was a diamond.He went to the man who was throwing diamonds taking them to be stones. Only onejewel was left with him.

The jeweller said, Stupid! What are you doing? You are catapulting diamonds intothe river!

The fellow asked, What is a diamond?

Give it to me; I will give you fifty rupees for it.

The man became suspicious. He said, Fifty rupees? It should be worth more.

Ok, I will give a hundred rupees.I will get it priced in the market.Ok, take two hundred rupees.Finally, the jeweller took the diamond for Rs.1100. The man took the money andgave the diamond. But there was no end to his sorrow and lamentation. He startedwailing, Alas! I have thrown away diamonds mistaking them for stones and somany of them! How foolish I am! We are more foolish than that farmer. We areAtman, in substance one and the same as the Supreme Lord, the Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. We are equals of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and LordShiva, superior to the state of 330 million gods. But we are living like animals.

Fathering Tom, Dick and Harry! Then we spend our entire lives on bringing themup till death deprives us of all we have accumulated as mine. There isnt even aniota of difference between you and Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Lord Krishna, ShriRamakrishna Paramhans, Sain Lilashahji or Sant Asaram Bapu.

The Lord says: I am the Atman, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all beings! (TheGita: 10.20)

But we are begging from Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, the Mother and sundry gods tobe merciful to us!

With Love You can Overpower the Lord What to Speak ofMan?

(Excerpts from the satsang of Pujya Bapuji)Abdul Rahim Khan-khana was one of the nine gems of Akbars court. In a sway, hewas the king of his kingdom. He was very kind-hearted, which is the literal meaningof Rahim. Though being a Muslim, he believed in Lord Krishna as his presidingDeity.

This incident relates to the year 1593AD. Akbar sent him to southern India forexpansion of the empire. He fought a battle with a king there. That king wasdefeated in battle. The defeated king sent a message to Rahim, Let us be friends.Accept my invitation to have dinner with me at my home.


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One whose heart is full of love and devotion doesnt like to increase power byembellishing his ego. Rahims heart was full of devotion for Lord Krishna.Therefore, he accepted the invitation seeking to foster mutual love and respect. Heleft for the kings place to dine accompanied by his bodyguard. At the gate of thecastle there was a boy standing. He said, Stop! Where are you going?

To dine at the kings palace.

Dont go there; go back. Boy! You want me to go back? You are of an immature

mind. I have given a word to my friend.Even then, dont go.How dare you talk in this manner?And why should I take advice from a small boy I dont know. I dont accept all theadvice given to me even by my ministers. The boy was bent on doing all in hispower in order to dissuade Rahim from going, which greatly surprised him. He said,Why are you so insistent that I should not go to dine at the kings place? The kinghas extended a hand of friendship and I should take it as such.Be that as it may, I tell you not to go to dine there. The king has added poison tothe food to be served to you.

What?Yes.I have given a word. Shall I swallow my words believing the talks of a child?Even if you have to go back on your promise, dont go to dine. Why do you inviteyour death?Rahim replied,Without respect, even if somebody offers me divine nectar, I do not like it. On the

contrary, if one gives me even poison with love and respect, I will prefer to takeit and die. The king has extended a hand of friendship. Let him give me poison ifhe wants to, I will go.

What do you mean by I will go? I have told you not to go.

O boy! How can you order me so authoritatively? I will not obey yourcommand.Why not? You will have to obey what I say.A small stranger child insisting Rahim should obey him! Well, tell me why I shoulddo that? Are you my Beloved Lord Krishna that I should go back on my promiseand agree to your advice?(Read full article in Rishi Prasad magazine).

The Significance and Glory of the Month of Magh(Magh Month: 11thJanuary to 9thFebruary)Describing the significance and glory of the month of Magh it is said that Lord SriHari is not pleased so much by observance of pious vows, charities and tapasy asHe is just by taking a bath in the Brahmamuhurta (the period of two and a halfhours before sunrise) in the month of Magh. Therefore everybody should take bathin the Brahmamuhurta in the month of Magh so as to get delivered of sins and to beblessed with love for the Lord. The bathing for the month of Magh starts from thePurnima of the month of Pausha.The peculiar quality of the month of Magh is that in this month, all the water isequivalent to the water of Ganga. Every day of this month is a festival. If because ofweakness one is unable to take a vow of taking bath in the Brahmamuhurta in thewhole of the month of Magh, the scriptures allow that such a vow should be taken


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for three days or at least for one day. Bath, charity, fasting and worship in thismonth is highly rewarding.

The Ekadashi of Magh (falling on 21stJanuary) is known as Shatatila Ekadashi.

Donating black sesame seeds and black cow on this day is considered to be of greatreligious merit. Taking a bath with water mixed with sesame seeds, smearingsesame unguent, fire sacrifice with sesame seeds as oblation, drinking watermixed with sesame seeds, eating sesame seeds and donating

sesame seeds these six things are destroyers of sin.The Amavasya of Magh (no Moon day falling on 26thof January) is known as MauniAmavasya. Keeping silent or conducting oneself like a sage on this pious dayalong with taking bath and giving charities is full of great religious merit. If, as ishappening this year, the Mauni Amavasya falls on Monday, it is full of so muchreligious merit as is difficult to attain even for gods because all the holy places onthe earth and in the heavens Ganga, Pushkar etc. afford particularly greatreligious merit for japa, meditation and worship on a Monday Amavasya.Amavasya on Monday, seventh lunar day on Sunday, fourth lunar day on Tuesday,

eighth lunar day on Wednesday these four days are equivalent to solar eclipse.Taking bath, giving charities and performing Shrddha on these days affordsinexhaustible religious merit.

The fifth lunar day of bright fortnight of Magh (Vasant Panchami) is believed to bethe manifestation-day of Ma Saraswati. One should worship Ma Saraswati in themorning on this day (31stJanuary). Ma Saraswati is believed to reside in the booksand pens as well. Therefore, these articles too are worshipped on this day.

The seventh lunar day of bright fortnight of Magh (2ndFebruary) is known asAchala Saptami. One should take only one meal on the sixth lunar day and shouldtake bath before sunrise on the seventh. This destroys sins and affordshandsomeness, happiness, good fortune and good spiritual state.

That way, each day of Magh is pious; yet the Magh Purnima (9thFebruary) is

highly significant. Worship of the Lord, Shrddha and charities performed on thisday after ablutions is of great religious merit. One performing puja of Lord Shivain prescribed manner attains religious merit equal to that from performing anashwamedha yajna and finds a place in Lord Vishnus abode.Giving away of sesame seeds, cotton clothes, blankets, jewels, turbans and shoes etc.as per ones capacity on the Magh Purnima affords one happiness and a place in theheavens. According to Matsya Purana, one who donates Brahma-Vaivarta Puranaon this day attains to the abode of LordBrahma._

The Method of Manifesting God(Excerpts from the satsang of Pujya Bapuji)

Eminent western thinkers and philosophers of the intellectual class have admittedthe rationality of the non-dualism of Indian philosophy that there is One reality, theSupreme Self abiding in the hearts of many persons and objects having differentnames and forms but But what is the method by which Indians compel theOmnipotent One, the Supreme Lord of the Universe, the Supreme Being to becomea small child, dance for the sake of a bowl of buttermilk, cry for a lost wife, for adying brother, laugh, play, cry, sing, dance and tend the cows? How is it that theyare able to get the Supreme Brahman become a child, a friend, a charioteer? The


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Supreme Being is driving Arjunas chariot! He appears in King Kamsas cell in Hisdivine four-armed form but Vasudeva and Devaki say, Lord! You had promised tocome as a child. How can we fondle you in this form? How shall we get the joy ofloving you like a son? He immediately responds by becoming a crying newbornbaby. What is this technique that the Indians have?

This is an enigma for western philosophers. Their philosophy, their scriptures,Upanishads and Vedas etc. are all ok; it is intelligible to us, they say, but what dothey have that makes God incarnate, dance with them, eat with them and tend cowswith them? What technique is this? Yes Indians! What technique is this?(Readfull article in Rishi Prasad magazine).

India: What can it teach us? Prof. Max MullerIf I were to look over the whole world to find out the country most richly endowedwith all the wealth, power, and beauty that nature can bestowin some parts a veryparadise on earthI should point to India. If I were asked under what sky thehuman mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeplypondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions of some of them

which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and KantI should point to India. And if I were to ask myself from what literature we, here inEurope, we who have been nurtured almost exclusively on the thoughts of Greeksand Romans, and of one Semitic race, the Jewish, may draw that corrective which ismost wanted in order to make our inner life more perfect, more comprehensive,more universal, in fact more truly human, a life, not for this life only, but atransfigured and eternal lifeagain I should point to India.

I know you will be surprised to hear me say this. I know that more particularlythose who have spent many years of active life in Calcutta, or Bombay, or Madras,will be horror-struck at the idea that the humanity they meet with there, whether in

the bazaars or in the courts of justice, or in socalled native society, should be able toteach us any lessons.You will find yourselves everywhere in India between an immense past andan immense future, with opportunities such as the old world could but seldom, ifever, offer you. Take any of the burning questions of the day-popular education,higher education, parliamentary representation, codification of laws, finance,emigration, poorlaw; and whether you have anything to teach and to try, oranything to observe and to learn, India will supply you with a laboratory such asexists nowhere else.

In the study of the history of the human mind, in the study of ourselves, of our true

selves, India occupies a place second to no other country. Whatever sphere of thehuman mind you may select for your specialstudy, whether it be language, or religion, or mythology, or philosophy, whether it

be laws or customs, primitive art or primitive science, everywhere, you have togo to India, whether you like it or not, because

some of the most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man aretreasured up in India, and in India only._


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Problems are Means to Development(Excerpts from the satsang of Pujya Bapuji)

If one has a higher philosophical outlook in life, one can march forwardtrampling all kinds of problems. There is no problem or trouble in the world whichcannot be utilized as a means to your development. Be certain that every problemand trouble coming your way is a means to your development. One who does notcome across any problem or trouble in his life can never make progress. But if you

become fearful, you will take wrong decisions and the problems will get the better ofyou. Find solutions to the problems, make right use of them and march forward. Ifyou get success and happiness, share it with others and have the joy of benevolence;save yourself from attachment and dependence.

Problems outwardly look like poison, but they

contain the nectar of development within. There has

been no saint or renowned person who has not had

problems in his life, who has not faced opposition.

One finds a host of problems in the life of Lord Rama as well as in that of Lord

Krishna. Even before Lord Krishna was born, the prophecy of his birth caused hisparents imprisonment. Immediately after being born, he was taken to somebodyelses house. What a big problem! On the sixth day, Putana came with poison on herbreasts. This was followed by the demons Shakatasur, Dhenukasur, Aghasur,Bakasur etc. who were coming to kill him. Struggling against these problems headon, by the time He reached seventeen years of age, Lord Krishna had become verystrong. Lord Rama had to go into exile for fourteen years and had to face manyother problems as well. One shouldnt become worried in the face of problems, norshould one flee from them. Worse still is to feel miserable and curse oneself.Problems and troubles come to rid us of attachment and carelessness. If you havemet with failure on account of your carelessness, get rid of that carelessness. If you

fall ill because of your weakness for certain foods or because of taking unwholesomefood, it is suggestive of your carelessness in the matter of food. You generally fall illout of the weakness for taste, you overeat or eat late in the night or eat foodsunsuitable to your constitution.

Similarly, you meet with failure in other matters when you undertake a task withoutgiving due consideration to your objective, your capabilities, and your strength. Oneshould take ones aptitude, ones abilities and ones means into account before fixingones goal, then undertake it with a firmdetermination to accomplish the task._

Days that bestow imperishable fruits

According to the Skanda Purana, the New-moon day of the month of Magha(26thJanuary 2009) is the first day of Dvapar Yuga while according to theBhavishya Purana, the full moon day of the month of Magha (9thFebruary 2009) is

the first day of Kaliyuga. These are called Yugadi Tithis. Charity, homa, japaand meditation practised on these days, bestow imperishable fruits. Hence, availyourselves of their benefits.

Many Men Many Minds(Excerpts from the satsang of Param Pujya Bapuji)


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Jivas experience misery due to ignorance about their Self. Just as there is no forestin the sky nor heat in the lunar realm so also is there no body or senses in theAtman. All the jivas are Atman. Hidden in a seed is the existence of a tree and viceversa. Similarly, the jiva exists in God and vice-versa. However, the jiva is miserablefor want of this knowledge. The chitta or mind-stuff exists in the Atman and theAtman exists in the mind-stuff, just as a seed is hidden in a tree and tree in a seed.Just as it is impossible to squeeze oil out of sand; for the son of a barren woman tobeget a child or to press the sky under the armpit, so also is it impossible for

anybody to become free from all bondages without Selfknowledge. Once one attainsknowledge of and gets established in the Self, he remains blissful in his Self,irrespective of whether he is engaged in activity or remains absorbed in samadhi,whether he delivers precepts or remains silent. He may then rule as a king whilebeing reposed in his Self at the same time. Suppose there are ten people sleeping ina hall. Everyone sees a different dream, and believes it to be true accordingly.Similarly, in the waking state everyone takes his own perception to be true.

Some people went for a walk in a forest. They heard a partridge singing something.One of them, a vegetable vendor, was asked, What is the partridge saying? Hesaid, Dhadadhad Dhadadhad Dhadadhad.

(As he used to hear incessant noise in the market). The wrestler said, No, it issaying, Dand-baithak, Dand-baithak, Dand-baithak (a type of physical exercise).The third one, who was a devotee, said, It is saying, Sita-Ram, Sita-Ram, Sita-Ram.

The fourth one, who was a philosopher, said, No, it is saying, All in one, one is All.You and only You, You and only You.

Each saw according to his own imagination. Similarly, the jivas wander in thisworld according to their own imaginations. If only these imaginations were to bediverted to their source, the Supreme Soul, to attain repose in the same, or if onerealizes that they are just imaginations (mental projections) and becomes a witness

to them, it would lead one to beatitude, his ultimate good.

The Genesis of Creation(Excerpts from the satsang of Pujya Bapuji)

While deliberating upon how this Creation came into

existence, great men have discovered three

theories.

The first is rambhavda, i.e. the theory of origination, according to which theworld was created by pure consciousness (God). Just as a potter makes a pot, a

businessman builds a factory and starts it, similarly God has brought this worldinto existence. A pot is separated from its mentor, the potter, a factory isseparated from its creator, the owner. This means that God is separated fromHis creation, the world; but one can see that the consciousness of God permeatesthe world. So how can God and the world be separate?

The second is the theory ofparinmavda the doctrine of real transformation i.e.God Himself became the world. For example, milk once converted into curd cannotbe reconverted into milk. In the same way, if God Himself has become the world,how can His divinity be immutable when the world is continuously in a state of flux?


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In their quest, the Self-realized great men, the Masters of Vedanta, arrived at theconclusion that this creation is a vivarta, an apparent transformation of God. This iscalled vivartavda, i.e. the doctrine of apparent transformation. That is, the specialappearances of a substance (the Reality) in various new forms without havingundergone any real change. For instance, your Real Self remains the same while atnight dreams appear in it a train, the railway tracks, the rotating wheels, etc.

You are the Consciousness and you create the insentient wheels, train, flourishing

fields, and a scenario of the railway station which depicts hawkers shouting on theplatform, the ticket checker, and passengers.

You reach Haridwar, take a dip in the Ganges saying Gange Har and then youthink of your watch and money which are in your pocket. The thoughts of the watchand money are internal while the watch and money are external. The feeling thatyou will earn merits is internal while you are taking a dip outside. So, there is insideand outside even in a dream. In the apparent transformation of your Real Self thereare both inside and outside, sentient and insentient, but the Real Self remains thesame.

Similarly, this world is an apparent transformation of the Supreme Brahman,the Supreme Soul. Though everything, inside and outside, heaven and hell,

strangers and non-strangers, are apparent in it, the Truth remains changeless!In the depths of the ocean there is calm water while there

are several muddy waves, bubbles, whirlpools and sea shores of different forms andhues on the surface. The water in the depths of the sea remains the same, whilethe waves visible on the surface are just an apparent transformation of thewater. Just as icebergs, which are a product of water, keep floating on it, so doesthis universe undulate in the changeless Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Self.Thus this theory

of apparent transformation propounded by Vedanta Philosophy is most acceptableand incontrovertible._

One Must Experience the Fruits of Ones ActionsThe celestial sage Narada said to Sanaka: O Lord, a doubt has occurred in mymind. You stated that those who perform meritorious deeds enjoy their fruits evenin the course of billions ofkalpas. You also said that in the Prakrit laya (the finaldissolution into the Prakriti) all the worlds are destroyed and that the only one whosurvives is Lord Vishnu. Do not the experiences of the fruits of merits and sins cometo an end till the dissolution of the creation? This doubt has arisen in my mind. Youare able to dispel this doubt.

Sanaka said, O man of great wisdom, Lord Narayana is infinite and imperishable.He is eternal and the Supreme Consciousness.

He is the purest and without attributes. He is permanent and free from delusioncaused by Maya. Although in reality he is without attributes, he is the greatest blissand appears like one having attributes. He appears to be differentiated manifestingin the forms of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, etc. He does all actions in the Universethrough His Maya. Being Brahma, he creates the Universe, being Vishnu, Hesustains it, and in the end being Rudra, he swallows everything. At the end of thePralaya (dissolution), from the bed ofShesha, Lord Janardana gets up in the formof Brahma and creates everything in the whole universe consisting of the mobile andimmobile beings as before. O illustrious Brahmana, in the new Kalpa, Brahmareinstates all mobile and immobile beings back to their former states in the new


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creation. Hence, O excellent one, the fruits of all actions, meritorious or sinful mustbe experienced. The fruit of an action is inevitable and must be experienced. Evenin the course of billions ofKalpas, no action gets nullified without being experiencedby the doer. One is bound to experience the fruits of ones good and evil actions.

Pujya Bapuji says: Irrespective of whether anybody looks or not, there is One whois an eternal witness to all doings of all beings at alltimes. He has all the accounts ofour sinful and virtuous deeds. One may escape the

punishment given by the government of this world but nobody has ever escaped norshall anyone ever escape the government of God. No kind of influence,recommendation or bribery works there.There is no where to escape. Man isfree to act but not in experiencing the fruits of his actions. Therefore, we shouldengage ourselves in good and righteous actions while steering clear of evil ones.

The actions which give peace and happiness to oneself and to others andwhich sooner or later lead one to Godrealization, are good and righteous actions;while those which provide momentary and transitory pleasures and in the long runtake oneself and others away from God leading to misery and hell, are evil actions.Ones evil and good actions chase him for many lives. One has to experience theeffects of the actions done in past lives.

Hard to understand is the nature (path) of karma. (The Gita: 4.17)

Salutation Denotes HumilityOne should constantly examine ones conduct.Swami Akhandananda Saraswati used to make obeisance to renowned and

perfected saints of India like Shri Uria Baba, Shri Shashtrananda, Shri HariBaba, Shri Anandmayi Ma etc.

At the time he took the life of an anchorite, he was told, One should not makeobeisance to all and sundry. This raised a doubt in Shri AkhandanandaSaraswatis mind. He expressed his doubt to Shri Uria Baba. Shri Uria Baba

explained to him, When one is seeking spiritual instructions or Mantra-Diksha,one should be careful to approach only a Brahmajnani (One revelling inBrahman) but obeisance one should make to all. And the obeisance should bemade to the Divine within, not to outer covering in the form of human body.Obeisance is a mark of humility; it is a grand virtue. You should, without anysecond thought, continue to make obeisance to the saints and great souls youhave been making obeisance to earlier. Shri Akhandananda Saraswati acceptedthis advice given by Shri Uria Baba and thereafter he had no hesitation inmaking obeisance to anybody.

The great Manu has said in the Manusmriti:

The vital airs of a young man mount upwards to leave his body when an elder

approaches; but by rising to meet him and saluting he recovers them. He whohabitually salutes and constantly pays reverence to the aged obtains an increase offour things, viz. long life, knowledge, fame, and strength.

(2.120-121)

Therefore, our deeds and conduct should be such that invoke blessings from theelders hearts. None of our actions should be such as to hurt them. In this lies ourSupreme good. If one is benefited even by making obeisance to an idol, then whyshould the ego pose a hurdle in making obeisance to the living gods on earth? SantTulsidasji too supports this fact:


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Realizing the whole world to be pervaded by Sita and Rama, I make obeisance to itwith folded hands.

That head is not worth its name, which bows at every door.

That door is not worth its name, at which the good do never bow._

The Workings of Samskaras(Excerpts from the satsang of Pujya Bapuji)If one is not careful in life, he is bound to develop attachment towards that which

gives pleasure and aversion towards that which causes misery. Thus oneunknowingly develops impressions (samskras) in his mind which in turn willcause repeated births and deaths.

I will get pleasure here when such thought or series of impressions run in yourmind, the consciousness directs you to engage yourself in that activity. Younaturally turn away from the activity which you think gives misery.Consciousness is the cause ofPravritti and nivritti. Objects, individuals andcircumstances are only the apparent means of pleasure and sorrow, but if youknow the root of pleasure and sorrow, you will attain Absolute Knowledge. Theknowledge of action and inaction originates from the consciousness. However,due to the error of your samskras, you foolishly squander it away in futilepursuits. If one develops hunger for God, the inquisitiveness to get to the root ofthe Consciousness Absolute, one will realize that the source of all happiness isSelf-god - the Supreme Lord. When the Lord resides in our own home, whyshould we bow our head in Kaba or go to Kashi?

Imagine two persons are fighting. Why? One fears that the other will take away hisbelongings while the other intends to rob him. So, it is fear and greed that arefighting. There is Consciousness in both of them. In spite of the knowledge-personified consciousness, the impressions of fear and greed are making them fighteach other. Same is the case with attachment and hatred.

The Rakshasas who have attachment towards Ravana and hatred towardsHanumana fight against Rama, while Hanumana and the ape-forces, who havelove for Rama and dislike for the Rakshasas, will fight against the Rakshasas butthe consciousness which gives them the power to fight, is same on both the sides. Thewire running through a geyser will heat the water and the same wire runningthrough a refrigerator does just the opposite but the electricity in both is one andthe same. The Lord is Existence and Consciousness Absolute. He is infinite. Evenafter the death of the body, the knowledge personified Real Self does not die.

If ones karmas are sttvic, his samskras will be sttvic as well. As your karmasare sttvic, the knowledge and samskara of coming to satsang has brought you here.A drunkard or meat-eater would have said, Today is Sunday. Lets go to the liquorshop. A movie hobbyist would take one to the theatre. So, your samskras toss youin the world with the support of consciousness. So, how does some things appear tobe good or bad? It is determined according to samskras. If anybody brings somesttvic prasd mixed with tulsi to me, I say, Ok!Keep some and take away the rest, .(Read full article in Rishi Prasad ).

Where There is Unwisdom, Misfortune is theInevitable End(Excerpts from the satsang of Pujya Bapuji)


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I have observed it in many peoples lives that those, who maligned saints and vexedthem or hindered their divine endeavours, had to face a lot of misery, misfortuneand troubles. And those swho participated in saints divine works got blessed; theysalvaged lost games.

Their extinguished lamps were relit and their arid lands became green. There maybe thousands or even lakhs of such fortunate ones.

The Gurubaani says and it is very true:

The slanderer of the Saint is a brutal butcher.

The slanderer of the Saint is cursed by the

Transcendent Lord. The hopes of the slanderer of

the Saint are not fulfilled. The slanderer of the

Saint departs disappointed. The slanderer of the

Saint becomes deformed. The slanderer of the Saint

receives his punishment in the Court of the Lord. O

Nanak, if it pleases the Saint, then even this one

may be liberated.

If he shows signs of reformation and surrenders himself to the saint, the saint withhis compassion liberates him.

If you want to ruin somebody, engage him in hearing slanders of a saint; he will beautomatically ruined. And if you want to liberate somebody, get him to participatein a saints divine works; he will automatically get elevated.

Tulsidasji also says in the Rama Charit Manas:

Where there is wisdom, there too is every kind of

prosperity.

If you repeat and constantly remember Lords name, if you eschew evil tendencies,your intellect attains wisdom. Then divine wealth of every kind safeguards you.Even those around you are benefited. So the wise are protected by the divine nature.

Where there is unwise judgement, there at the end is misfortune.

Those, who are engaged in evil deeds, who shake peoples faith or do some othersinister act, are bound to suffer great misery. And it is not necessary that onebreaking others faith will suffer for his misdeeds on the same day. It may happenmonths or years later. The law of Karma is inexorable. Our actions may bear fruitfor us after 50 years or even in the next life.

Faith begets the joy of Love; faith enables us to attain the Truth. If somebody

breaks our hand or leg or head, he is not as big a sinner as the one who breaksour faith.(Read full article in Rishi Prasad).

Food for Thought Take the plunge and go all out on the path of Supreme Purushartha

(attainment). Stop brooding over the past and worrying about the future; justmarch ahead. Depend totally on the Lord. And then see for yourself how, even inthis horrendous Kaliyuga, your needs of food, clothing and shelter are met ontheir own!

When you feel interested in some


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mode of sadhana, God invariably makes it more interesting for you. What isimportant is to maintain a firm faith and conviction in the Lord Almighty. Whenyour Supreme Ishta is pleased with you, no Anistha on earth can bring harm on you.Your Supreme Ishta is the Atman, your own True Self. If you have undivided andunalloyed devotional faith in the Supreme Lord, he wont give you anything, but hewill assimilate you in His own Self. And once that happens what else is left to begiven?

All the pleasures other than that acquired from devotion to the Lord areinvariably accompanied by the thorns of futility.

A little analysis will make it clear and you will automatically take the high road ofGod-realization.

If the mind doesnt get steady and keeps wandering around, stop yourmeditation forthwith and tell your mind,Alright, My dear! Go... go wherever

you like to. Each and every form is the manifestation of the Lord Himself. Allobjects are but different forms of Lord Narayana. Knowing all in this worldas different forms of the Lord, mentally bow

your head in reverence to them. One Almighty Lord has manifested Himself ininfinite forms. Realization of God becomes simple by nurturing such feeling

in your mind time and again. (Translated excerpts from Ishtasiddhia bookpublished by the Ashram)

Karma Leads to Bondage and Freedom(Excerpts from the satsang of Pujya Bapuji)

The Gurus grace alone can bring about the disciples supreme good.Gurus grace alone can bring supreme good to the disciple; nothing else can. This is

the verbal testimony of valid knowledge. One who grasps the verbal testimonygets liberated. On the other hand, the one who weighs the Guru with reference tohis own mind and desires is led astray. The Guru should do this; he should not

do that he should conduct himself in such and such manner we should dothis and that we should get this and that If one has such thinking, it meanshe is guided by desires.

One who is guided by the scriptures, acts in accordance with pramna,instruments of valid knowledge. One who is guided by his desires acts according tothe dictates of his mind. Many people get Mantra-Diksha from a Guru, but most ofthem are guided by desires. Rare are those who act in accordance with the pramna.They firmly believe what the scriptures say is the truth; what the Guru says is thetruth; what the mind says is untruth.

Desire-driven actions are the cause of bondage; samsara, the cycle of birth anddeath. Actions guided by the scriptures, on the other hand, are the means tomaterial and spiritual progress, to God-realization.

Of course, we should do Purushrtha, should make full efforts; but what kind ofPurushrtha should we do? Should we do what comes to our mind or should wedo what the Guru or the scriptures ordain? If you act according to your longcherished notions, howsoever great may be the amount of work you do,howsoever big returns you get, it will be worldly gains, not spiritual. What isvalidated by Sruti , the Vedas has to be accepted. For example, the Sun is 13 lakhtimes larger than the earth. This is an authenticated fact. It has to be acceptedeven if our eyes dont see it. The sky looks blue but it is an authenticated fact


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that the blueness is not there. We have to accept that the blueness is not thereand the blueness that looks to be there is on account of the inability of our eyesto perceive the space. The well authenticated fact has to be accepted. The Vedas,say The Gurus grace alone can bring about the disciples supreme good.This is a well authenticated fact. Guru Nanak says, The home within is filledwith Bliss, but the self-willed manmukh does not get to taste it. This is a wellauthenticated fact.

I was a member of a rich family. There was no dearth of caves and places suitable

for meditation. Yet Guruji ordered me to live at a place I didnt like to, in a slum atDisa.I accepted it and didnt allow the mind to

have its way. Had I left that place following the dictates of my mind or my relatives,I would have met the same fate as other wretched men meet. He is wretched whoallows a lump of butter that has come into his hands to slip away and licksbuttermilk. One who fails to take advantage of a propitious situation iswretched. Had I behaved in the way wretched men do, I would have fallen fromthe path of sadhana.

Disa is not very far from Amdavad. I was married; I could have gone home dozensof times in seven years without taking permission from my Guru even if I hadgone seventy times, Guruji would have said nothing. But I thought, What wouldI ultimately get if I cater to the fancies of my or my relatives minds? How canthe advice of those, who themselves have not crossed the ocean of birth anddeath, help me cross it? The saints pronounce:

No wonder one may reduce his body to a skeleton through severe austerities andpractice of meditation night and day but desire wont be eradicated without reflectingon the enlightening knowledge..(Read full article in Rishi Prasad).

The Secret of Success(A continuation of Development of Lifeenergy from the previous issue)

The Supreme Self is within the other as well. To the extent the egocentric tendencyis reduced, the small circle of mans usefulness expands and he thinks good of othersand does good to others, the man actually attains greatness.

A blossomed rose emits its fragrance. It attracts many. On thinking deeply, youwould realize that its ability to blossom and attract can be attributed to its roots.In the same manner, the greatness and abilities that are noticeable in someonecan be attributed to the fact that to some extent, knowingly or unknowingly, thatperson has dived within - to the root (origin) of the vritti, (operative waves) ofthe mind. If deceit or fraud could have made anyone great, then all frauds andcruel people would have become great. On the contrary those who are great inreal terms have become so by respecting the unity of all beings and attaining the

evenness of mind unknowingly. The root causes of all evils (vices) of the worldare personal egoism, sense of reality in the world, and the desire for sensualpleasures. These are the root causes of all misery, obstacles and disease. On theother hand, the cause of all happiness is rising above body consciousness, I-nessand my-ness, and worldly attachments, knowingly or unknowingly. Theperson who carries out his task for the sake of it, and the degree to which he doesnot covet for its results, becomes successful and great in the same measure. Thesecret principles of success are belief in oneself, affection towards oneself,introversion, love for all beings and altruism.

There is nothing in the world beyond the reach of those who have others interests atheart..(Read full article in Rishi Prasad).


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Sins That Cannot Be AtonedDharmaraja (the God of death) says to king Bhagiratha: O protector of the earth,the person who acts as an obstacle to others going to take their bath or performworship, is called a killer of a Brahmana. One who is always engaged in censuringothers, who is interested in self-conceit and self-aggrandizement and who indulges infalsehood is considered a murderer of a Brahmana.A person who consents to adharma incurs, the sin of killing a Brahmana. A personinterested in alarming and frightening others, a person who always finds faults withothers and the person who indulges in arrogant behavior is called a murderer of aBrahmana.O protector of the Earth! I shall narrate to you those sins which cannot beexpiated. They are the biggest of all sins and lead to infernal regions. There aremeans to atone for grave sins like a Brahmahaty. But there is no means to atone forthe sin of a person who hates a Brahmana or Knower ofBrahman. So also, O Rulerof men, there is no atonement for those who are ungrateful and those who commitbreach of trust.

There is no expiation anywhere to those persons who indulge themselves in

denouncing the Vedas. There is no expiation here or hereafter to those who findfault with saintly people.

O Protector of the Earth, those who listen to criticism about great souls withinterest have to bear lot of sufferings. Hot nails are hammered into their ears. Poresthus formed are filled with boiling oil. They are then thrown into Kumbhipk hell.Tale-bearers and back-biters have to eat red hot iron for a period of a thousandyugas. Their tongues are pressed and crushed by means of very terrible tongs andthey are compelled to stay in a very terrible hell called Nirucchvsa for a period ofhalf a kalpa. Heretics, those who do not perform righteous acts, slanderers ofcontinent men and scriptures are great sinners. Those who are engaged in

slandering others, those who speak roughly and harshly and those who createobstacles in regard to charitable gifts are said to be great sinners. Such sinners stayin each of the hells for a period of one yuga. At the end of it they come back to theEarth. They are born as donkeys for seven consecutive lives. Then for ten lives, theyare born as dogs suffering many wounds. For the period of a hundred years theyremain as worms in feceal matter, after which they are born as serpents for twelvelives. O king, thereafter, in the course of a thousand lives, they are born as deerand other animals. Then for a hundred years they are born as immobile beings(trees and the like). Thereafter, they take up the bodies of alligators. Then for sevenlives they are born as chndlas who commit sinful crimes.Then for sixteen lives they lead a depraved existence and then for two births theyremain impoverished and afflicted with sickness. They are always intent onaccepting monetary gifts. Again, they go back to hell. O King! Listen to the fruitsof sins accruing to a perjurer. He undergoes all these tortures for a period equal tofourteen times the reign of Indra, the king of gods. In this world his sons andgrandsons perish. In the other world he falls into Raurava and other hells insuccession too.

(Narada Purana, Part 1 First Pda: Chapter 15)


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YogamudrasanaIn the practice of Yoga, this posture is very important. Hence, it has been namedYogamudrsana (the Yogic mudr).

Benefits: Practice of this asana gives the following benefits:1. It stimulates the digestive fire. It cures problems related to the stomach like gas,

indigestion, chronic constipation, etc.

2. Distension of the abdomen gets reduced.Body becomes shapely and strong.

3. Problems related to the intestines are cured. This asana strengthens the heart.4. It cures blood related disorders. Leprosy and disorders of reproductive system

are eliminated.5. It enhances mental efficiency and intellectual prowess.6. It tones up the nervous system, particularly the lumbar plexus.7. It stimulates the pancreas controlling diabetes. This asana is beneficial for

diabetics.8. All the vertebrae of the spinal column get separated from each other, cleansing

the Sushumna and making it light. This invigorates the activities of the brain.9. The Manipura Chakra gets activated,

which is the main center of the dormant energies lying within every individual.

Note: Yogamudrsana is highly beneficial in curing the weakness of thedhaatus.

Procedure: Sit in Padmsana (lotus posture) and close your eyes. Take both thearms behind your back. Hold the wrist of your right hand with the left hand.Stretch the arms so that they meet at the base of the spinal cord. Exhalingslowly, touch the forehead on the floor. Stay in this position for some time, relaxand breathe normally. Then gradually, while inhaling deeply, lift your head upand return to the upright position.

Keep breathing normally. Repeat this procedure 4-5 times. Initially, if this postureappears difficult, then sit in Sukhsana or Siddhsana. However, the completebenefits of this posture can be obtained by sitting inPadmasana only. Generally, this posture should be practiced for 3 minutes. If youare practicing Yogamudrsana with spiritual objective, increase the durationdepending on your interest and capacity._

Sleep Its Importance and PropertiesFood, sleep and Brahmacharya these are the three pillars of the body. That is, the

body survives and works on the strength ofthese three. (Charka Samhita,Sutrasthan: 11.35)

Taking them in right manner and quantity makes the body stable, nourishesit and equips it with strength and attractiveness. (The issue of food has been dealt

with exhaustively in earlier Rishi Prasad issues) Describing the importance ofsleep, the great health teacher, Charaka says:

When the mind is tired from work and the senses too, being tired, withdrawthemselves from their respective objects, man sleeps to give rest to the mind and thesenses. Sleep gives maximum amount of rest to the body. Such rest reinvigorates thebody. Sleep plays an equally important part in sustaining the body as does the foodtaken by it.


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Benefits of sleep:

A sound sleep nourishes the body and increases its healthfulness, strength and vitalfluids. It enables the sense organs to function properly and effectively. Onehabitually enjoying a sound sleep lives a full course of life.

Sleep should be taken at the right time and in the right quantity. Oversleeping ortaking sleep at inappropriate time or completely forgoing sleep or taking toolittle sleep erodes health and longevity. Sleeping

in the day is highly injurious to health but those who are engaged in excessivestudies excessive hard work or are debilitated by semen-loss, who are tired onaccount of staying awake at night or of travelling as

also children, old-aged, lean and weak people may sleep in the day.In summers, the nights are smaller and there is accumulation of gases in the body;

therefore it is beneficial to sleep for a short while in the day.Those who consume ghee and milk in excess or are obese and those with Kaphaconstitutions or suffering from Kaphaproduced diseases should in no circumstancessleep in the day.

Disadvantages from sleeping in the day:

Sleeping in the day causes reduction in appetite. Food is not digested properly andthe raw, undigested food gets converted into Toxins (ma) resulting in heaviness andcramps in the body, nausea, headache, heaviness in the heart and skin diseases etc.The Tmasic tendencies generated by sleeping in the day lead to diminution ofmemory and intellectual faculties.

Measures to overcome the tendency to oversleep:

Fasting, Prnym, exercise and avoiding Tmasic foods (garlic, onions, radish,horse-beans, stale and fried foods) help overcome the tendency to oversleep.

Insomnia:

Causes: Aggravation ofVta or Pitta, semen-loss, mental agitation, worry andsorrow disturb the sleep.

Symptoms: Sleeplessness causes Vta related symptomslike itching pain,

heaviness in the body and in the head, giddiness, yawning, gloominess andindigestion etc.Remedies for insomnia:Massaging oil into the head, massaging ghee into foot-soles, regularly putting oilinto the ears, getting the body pressed, taking ghee, milk (particularly of the

buffalo), curd and boiled rice, a comfortablebed and pleasing environment in the room these measures help in bringing the sleepback into the eyes.

Massaging the head with Sahchar Siddha oil (available in ayurvedicdispensaries) produces deep and sound sleep.

Noteworthy facts:

Increase in Kapha humour and Tmasic tendencies produces more sleep andincrease in Vta humour and Sttvic tendencies leads to reduced sleep.


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Keeping awake at night aggravates Vta which in turn produces dryness in thebody. Sleeping in the day aggravates Kapha and increases oiliness of the body. Abit of snoozing in the sitting position however produces neither dryness noroiliness; it rather gives rest to the body.

One should sleep with the head towards east or south. One shouldnt sleep with hands or feet contracted, with legs crossed or with

hands behind or over the head. One should also not sleep on the stomach. It is best to sleep 2-2 hours after sunset and to get up 2-2 hours before

sunrise. Reading of scriptures and protracted chanting of immediately before

sleeping converts sleep into worship.

A World-wide Conspiracy to Tarnish the Image of Hindusand Their Religious LeadersHis Holiness Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu, who is revered throughout the world and is asource of inspiration for the spiritual culture of this nation is an amazing asset notonly to this country but to the world as well. With baseless allegations being leveledagainst him, even this great soul who has been constantly spreading the message ofspiritualism, has become the target of a dirty conspiracy to malign his reputation.There have been divine and demoniacal powers in every age. Aspersions were casteven upon in carnations like Lord Rama and Sri Krishna but gold remains everpure. There are many selfish elements in the society today, who cannot bear to seeothers being revered and respected. Pujya Bapujis endeavours for protecting andnurturing the spiritual culture, are unique and unparalleled. Inculcating noblesamskaras in little children through the Gurukul tradition will ensure a brightfuture for the children. Today, Bapuji is revered and respected throughout thecountry and several religious and altruistic activities are being carried out on alarge scale. Millions of devotees attend his discourses and are his initiated disciples.False and baseless allegations are made against this saint and his institutions, whichis part of a world-wide conspiracy to tarnish the image of Hindus and their religiousleaders.

Success Achieved Through the Effect of Mantra-Dikshaand MeditationI took Diksha of Saraswatya Mantra from Pujya Bapuji in the year 2002. Iobtained 80.5% marks in the M.Com (First Year) examination. in the same year.Then I obtained MBA Degree with first class from the prestigious APJ Institute,Greater Noida.

I had shortage of time because I was working as a bank officer trainee. So Iappeared as an external student in the M.Com. (Final). Yet the power ofconcentration I developed by Bapujis grace and japa of saraswatya mantra helpedme secure 70% marks. I was also successful in the all India competitive exam. forthe post of Flying Officer.

It was again the effect of Mantra- Diksha and meditation practised underBapujis guidance that I was one of the 300 successful candidates, though the totalnumber of candidates was in lakhs. Out of 300 successful candidates, 6 were selectedby the Air-force Selection Board, Benaras through various exams and toughinterviews. I was one of them. I found a place also in the final merit list prepared


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Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and egoismthus is My Naturedivided eightfold. (The Gita: 7.4)Good or bad, all are in this eightfold nature; our real nature is entirely differentfrom it.This satsang dealing with the Ultimate Truth was delivered in the course ofPujyashris solitude and the devotees of Jodhpur availed of the opportunity in fullmeasure.

On10

th

DecemberPujyashri arrived at

Amdavad Ashram. Devotees coming from

Sawai Shamgiri Math, Mirpur Khas, Tando Adam, Berani and Talhar Padir etc. inPakistan availed of Pujyashris Darshan and satsang bearing testimony to thereverence people from all religions, castes and nationalities show towards PujyaBapuji and the sublime joy they derive from His satsang.Purnima-Darshan programme was divided between Amdavad and Delhi.Purnima-Darshan programme was held at Amdavad on 11thDecember and 12th

December (up to morning). Lakhs of devotees from states like Gujarat,Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh etc. availed ofdarshan andsatsang here.

Immediately on arriving at the rostrum, Pujya Bapuji asked the devotees, You

people have had so much ofsatsang; are you still not satiated?Devotees said with one voice, No!

Then Pujyashri said, If one is satiated with spiritual satsang, it only means that hedoesnt know the Joy of spirituality, he doesnt know the significance and glory ofspirituality. One can get fed up with the world; one can be satiated with food but theJoy of spirituality is such that the more you imbibe the thirstier you are. Like Amlaand honey, Spiritual Joy gets digested and destroys diseases and it also kindles theappetite. If one has true faith, one has appetite for satsang and it gets digested aswell.

Without satisfying spiritual hunger, one cannot satisfy physical hunger. One can feel

disinclined towards food, but ones hunger is not destroyed. Moral progress is notpossible without spiritual progress and material progress without moral one bringsonly troubles and misery.

Purnima Darshan programme was organised at Delhis Japani Park,Rohini

from 12thDecember afternoon to 14thDecember. Placing reliance on worldly objects,one becomes small but if one places reliance on God, all joys and pleasures comeautomatically and one moves towards real progress. Putting light on thisphilosophical fact of human life. Pujyashri revealed the significance of taking refugein God.Pujyashri showed the straight and simple path of Self-knowledge of rejoicing inthe Self and being satisfied and contented in the Self to the ignorant men lookingin vain for delight, satisfaction and contentment in the world.

Delhites were treated to a sumptuous fare of Spiritual Joy in the three-day satsang.The satsang programme was scheduled to end at noon on 14thDecember; yet thedevotees thirst for satsang was not quenched and they entreated Pujya Bapuji forone more session of satsang. Acceding to their request, Pujya Bapuji allotted theevening session of satsang to Delhi making the devotees feel immensely blessed.


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The satsangon 16thand 17thDecember fell into the lap of Narnaul(Haryana). Pujya Bapuji left Delhi for Narnaul in the morning of 16thDecember. This news spread like wild fire. Devotees waited at manyplaces on the way with garlands in their hands and longing fordarshan in their eyes. When these lovers of Pujya Bapuji were blessedwith a few words of satsang along with Darshan, their joy knew nobounds.

When Pujyashri arrived at Narnaul in the evening of 16thDecember, the pandal wasovercrowded with thousands of people in the pandal and many more outside it.

According to local people, such huge crowds had never been witnessed at Narnaul.Addressing the people at Narnaul, the birth-place of the historic personality ofBirbal and also the place where Maharishi Chyavan performed austerities,Pujyashri said, The Jiva himself has to enjoy the fruit of happiness or suffer that ofsorrow resulting from his actions and the bondage of karma continues so long as thedoer sense is there. When one starts taking delight in the True Self, the doersense is extinguished. For such person, Lord Krishna says there is no duty for him.Such a one becomes a saint. He is not a doer then, whether he is a king like KingJanaka and Lord Rama managing the affairs of Mithila and Ayodhya respectively

or lives on alms like Shukdeva; he is doing all he does as a spontaneous act forgeneral good.

A grand bhandara too was organised here.Two sessions ofsatsang, 17thevening and 18thmorning were given to the peopleofMahendragarh (Haryana). This being Pujyashris first visit to the newlyconstructed Ashram here, the sadhakas and devotees were in a festive mood.Pujyashri awakened the people here to the need of rearing and protecting cows.A question was put by some inquisitive sadhakas as to what are the qualities ofenlightened men. Quoting from the Sukhmani, Pujya Bapuji said:

Who can estimate the knower of Brahman? Only a Brahmajnani can know the divine

spiritual state of the Brahmajnani.Nobody can weigh enlightened saints on his own scale. Shukdeva was an asceticwhereas Maharshi Vashishthaji had a hundred sons. Enlightened saints cannot bejudged on the basis of their outwardly behaviour. However, if you approach themwith faith in your heart, you may get a glimpse of their greatness.

In the afternoon of18thDecember, satsang and bhandara was organised atRewari Ashram (Haryana). Quilts, Shunthi Paak, calendars, photos ofPujya Bapuji and other articles of this nature were distributed for freeamongst the poor people here. Distinguished members of the society

were present on the occasion. Addressing the devotees, Pujya Bapujisaid, Nobody should be under the mistaken belief that only thoseavailing of the bhandara are poor. In fact, those, who considerthemselves to be rich and respectable because of wealth, position orlearning they have acquired, they too are poor if they lack Self-Knowledge and Self-Bliss. Those under the power of mind andsenses are verily poor.

Only saints and even among the saints the rare ones who seek Supreme Good for uscan do such plain-speak. People ofSohna (Haryana) had the good fortune of satsangon 20thand 21stDecember. In the company of Pujya Bapuji, the devotees here


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experienced different shades of spirituality. Now they were immersed in the calm ofmeditation and now they were undulating to the rhythm ofkirtan. The entire townwas suffused with the spirit of Pujya Bapuji! Smashing the doubt of certain devoteesas to whether God administers justice or showers mercy, Pujya Bapuji said thatGod is both just and merciful. His justice aspect is reflected in karma principle andHis mercy aspect is reflected in the principle of devotion. Pujya Bapuji said, Godis just; He is merciful as well and He is supremely benevolent friend of all of us. Godadministers justice by punishing the evil men, is compassionate towards those who

atone for their sins and is a friend to His devotees. God is giver of fear as well asdestroyer of fear. Pujyashri enlightened people on how all are uplifted by God andthe Guru. Pujyashri said, There are three types of people in the world one whodo not do sadhana, secondly there are those who are engaged in sadhana and thethirdly there are people who act contrary to the path of God. Ahilya is not able to dosadhana to realize God, lying as a stone as she is. The Lord liberates her with Hiscompassion. Rishis are equipped with sadhana; the Lord helps them on the path ofsadhana or arranges their meeting a Sadguru. The sadhanaequipped King Parikshitrealized God in just seven days! So all the three types of people in the world devoid of sadhana, equipped with sadhana and perverse people are uplifted byGod and the Guru.

Along with satsang, blankets and dates were distributed among poor people hereand a bhandara was organised. Truly great are such saints who unmindful of theinconvenience suffered by them, travel incessantly to dispense peace, happiness andgood health amongst the people. To those, who are livingin want of material effects, they give material help and to those, who are sufferingfrom attachment to material comforts, they bestowthe gift of spirituality!_

NarayanaNarayanaNarayana

rishi prasad - rp193jan09new

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