Someone who is a karmayogi, who believes in the path of action, says, there is no need of God, Guru, the company of saints and sages, and so forth. Is this correct?
Ma- The Sankhya philosophy also is of a similar opinion. The existence of God cannot be proved by the mind. You concentrate on God in order to transcend the individual mind. When the Lord Buddha was asked whether God existed or not, He kept silent. One will have to accept whatever anyone advocates, in the light of his particular state, sadhana and experience. Each ones practice depends on the stage he has reached and on the nature of his particular line of approach. Where the question of belief and explanation arises, there it is like this. When a salt doll enters the sea, it is dissolved and mingles with the water. In the state beyond mind and intelligence there is no reply. There-about what is one to speak and who speaks? There, I do not see any others, I do not go anywhere, do not accept anything from anyone, do not eat anyone’s food. There is no question at all of talking. Whether you call it inert or undecaying—everything is all right. Here to ask questions or not to ask is equal. To be satisfied by knowing this from heresay will not do: the progress of one’s sadhana will thereby be arrested. One must experience this for oneself. Someone told the following incident:
In the course of doing puja, a man was performing the ceremony of instilling life into an earthen pitcher. All of a sudden the pitcher began to talk and related to him the story of its life. “When I was still earth I was lying somewhere and people came and walked on me. Then someone eased himself over me. I bore everything. One day a man came and broke me up. This also I endured. He put me into a basket, carried me away on his head and deposited me in some place. A little later he took a stick and beat me mercilessly. After putting cold water on me he went away. For a short while I felt at peace. But he returned and kneaded me first with his feet and then formed me into a ball with his hands. Thereafter I was put on a potter’s wheel. I was turned round and round and by the potter’s hand moulded until I became a pitcher. Carefully he placed me on the ground. For a few days I was exposed to the sunshine. Sometimes I had to bear extreme cold and sometimes scorching heat. Then I was put on a fire. What a huge fire it was and how terribly the flames burned! When I had been baked red and hard and solid, I was carefully taken off the fire and put away. One day I was carried to the market together with other pitchers. Those who wanted to buy me took me up and banged me hard. Finally someone bought me for money and took me away. And now I am sitting here, filled to the brim with Ganges water. Look, if you can develop similar patience and forbearance your life will become a vessel for the sacred waters of the Ganges. Be enduring as earth. Then you also will be worshipped by the people. Divine life will be awakened in you.
Ma- The Sankhya philosophy also is of a similar opinion. The existence of God cannot be proved by the mind. You concentrate on God in order to transcend the individual mind. When the Lord Buddha was asked whether God existed or not, He kept silent. One will have to accept whatever anyone advocates, in the light of his particular state, sadhana and experience. Each ones practice depends on the stage he has reached and on the nature of his particular line of approach. Where the question of belief and explanation arises, there it is like this. When a salt doll enters the sea, it is dissolved and mingles with the water. In the state beyond mind and intelligence there is no reply. There-about what is one to speak and who speaks? There, I do not see any others, I do not go anywhere, do not accept anything from anyone, do not eat anyone’s food. There is no question at all of talking. Whether you call it inert or undecaying—everything is all right. Here to ask questions or not to ask is equal. To be satisfied by knowing this from heresay will not do: the progress of one’s sadhana will thereby be arrested. One must experience this for oneself. Someone told the following incident:
In the course of doing puja, a man was performing the ceremony of instilling life into an earthen pitcher. All of a sudden the pitcher began to talk and related to him the story of its life. “When I was still earth I was lying somewhere and people came and walked on me. Then someone eased himself over me. I bore everything. One day a man came and broke me up. This also I endured. He put me into a basket, carried me away on his head and deposited me in some place. A little later he took a stick and beat me mercilessly. After putting cold water on me he went away. For a short while I felt at peace. But he returned and kneaded me first with his feet and then formed me into a ball with his hands. Thereafter I was put on a potter’s wheel. I was turned round and round and by the potter’s hand moulded until I became a pitcher. Carefully he placed me on the ground. For a few days I was exposed to the sunshine. Sometimes I had to bear extreme cold and sometimes scorching heat. Then I was put on a fire. What a huge fire it was and how terribly the flames burned! When I had been baked red and hard and solid, I was carefully taken off the fire and put away. One day I was carried to the market together with other pitchers. Those who wanted to buy me took me up and banged me hard. Finally someone bought me for money and took me away. And now I am sitting here, filled to the brim with Ganges water. Look, if you can develop similar patience and forbearance your life will become a vessel for the sacred waters of the Ganges. Be enduring as earth. Then you also will be worshipped by the people. Divine life will be awakened in you.
Q- If a householder devotee is in trouble, is it right for him to pray to God for redress?
Ma- Various attitudes may be taken. There are those who have dedicated themselves entirely to God. They say; “My Lord, whatever you may do, howsoever you may keep me, it is all right.” According to the state of people’s minds their conditions differ. Some are at a stage where they just cannot help but pray. Others, when visited by trials and misfortunes feel disappointed with God and drop their religious practices. On the other hand there are persons who turn to God more eagerly when in sorrow. And some remember Him with greater fervour when they are happy. In all circumstances He is the great Healer. Therefore many are moved to appeal to Him in trouble. Then again a state comes when one does not anymore feel the inclination to pray to Him for relief in adversity, pain, ill luck, and so forth. To invoke God is always good. For whatever reason you may pray, from whatever motive- at least start praying to Him! Be it for alleviation of distress or for Enlightenment, be it even for wealth and possessions. The wise ever live in the remembrance of God.
Ma- Various attitudes may be taken. There are those who have dedicated themselves entirely to God. They say; “My Lord, whatever you may do, howsoever you may keep me, it is all right.” According to the state of people’s minds their conditions differ. Some are at a stage where they just cannot help but pray. Others, when visited by trials and misfortunes feel disappointed with God and drop their religious practices. On the other hand there are persons who turn to God more eagerly when in sorrow. And some remember Him with greater fervour when they are happy. In all circumstances He is the great Healer. Therefore many are moved to appeal to Him in trouble. Then again a state comes when one does not anymore feel the inclination to pray to Him for relief in adversity, pain, ill luck, and so forth. To invoke God is always good. For whatever reason you may pray, from whatever motive- at least start praying to Him! Be it for alleviation of distress or for Enlightenment, be it even for wealth and possessions. The wise ever live in the remembrance of God.
343 ~ Conversation with Ma.
Two European psychologists came to Ma and this was the conversation......
Q- Psychologists cure patients by talking to them. With you it seems that your emanation cures people even without words. It is our endeavour to help people. What is the most essential thing we should do for them?
Ma- Who in this world can be called normal? Everyone appears to be mad after one thing or another: some after money, some after beauty, some after music, others after their children, and so forth— nobody is really quite balanced.
Q- What then is the remedy?
Ma- Just as one does not water the leaves of a tree but its roots, so one has to grapple with man’s disease at its root. Man’s root lies in the brain. Therefore the remedy for all ills is to still the mind. When man’s mind has been stilled, all will be well with him, both physically and psychologically.
Q- How does the mind become still?
Ma- By treading the path that leads to the realization of “Who am I?” Your body that was young and is old now with its greying hair does not last forever. It is not the real ‘I’. Therefore man has to find out who he really is. When he tries to do this, his mind will be supplied with the right nourishment that will calm it. The right sustenance for the mind cannot be had from anything that is of this world and therefore perishable, but solely from that which is Eternal. The taste of the eternal will still the mind.
The universe was created out of joy and this is why you find joy in the things of this world. Without joy life is an ordeal. You must try to attain to that great joy which has brought forth the world.
Q- What is the special contribution a woman has to make as apart from a man?
Ma- A woman is essentially a mother and consequently her duty is to serve everyone. Further since she is daughter, wife, mother all in one, to recognise the oneness of the three. Besides, in every woman is contained a man and in every man a woman. If man were not contained within you, you would not be able to recognise a man; and if woman were not contained in a man, he would be unable to recognise a woman. Thus one of the most important tasks of a woman is to discover the man in herself.
Q- What then is the special contribution a man can give?
Ma- Man is the reflection of the Supreme Purusha the one who upholds the universe. True manliness means divinity. But then there is Atma which is beyond man and woman. Everyone has to find that Atma that lies hidden within himself. It is the task of every human being to unfold both the man and woman potentially contained within him or herself and to realise the Atma which is beyond man and woman.
Two European psychologists came to Ma and this was the conversation......
Q- Psychologists cure patients by talking to them. With you it seems that your emanation cures people even without words. It is our endeavour to help people. What is the most essential thing we should do for them?
Ma- Who in this world can be called normal? Everyone appears to be mad after one thing or another: some after money, some after beauty, some after music, others after their children, and so forth— nobody is really quite balanced.
Q- What then is the remedy?
Ma- Just as one does not water the leaves of a tree but its roots, so one has to grapple with man’s disease at its root. Man’s root lies in the brain. Therefore the remedy for all ills is to still the mind. When man’s mind has been stilled, all will be well with him, both physically and psychologically.
Q- How does the mind become still?
Ma- By treading the path that leads to the realization of “Who am I?” Your body that was young and is old now with its greying hair does not last forever. It is not the real ‘I’. Therefore man has to find out who he really is. When he tries to do this, his mind will be supplied with the right nourishment that will calm it. The right sustenance for the mind cannot be had from anything that is of this world and therefore perishable, but solely from that which is Eternal. The taste of the eternal will still the mind.
The universe was created out of joy and this is why you find joy in the things of this world. Without joy life is an ordeal. You must try to attain to that great joy which has brought forth the world.
Q- What is the special contribution a woman has to make as apart from a man?
Ma- A woman is essentially a mother and consequently her duty is to serve everyone. Further since she is daughter, wife, mother all in one, to recognise the oneness of the three. Besides, in every woman is contained a man and in every man a woman. If man were not contained within you, you would not be able to recognise a man; and if woman were not contained in a man, he would be unable to recognise a woman. Thus one of the most important tasks of a woman is to discover the man in herself.
Q- What then is the special contribution a man can give?
Ma- Man is the reflection of the Supreme Purusha the one who upholds the universe. True manliness means divinity. But then there is Atma which is beyond man and woman. Everyone has to find that Atma that lies hidden within himself. It is the task of every human being to unfold both the man and woman potentially contained within him or herself and to realise the Atma which is beyond man and woman.
Through pure concentration all is possible. But the least trace of egotism prevents the spiritual growth. The one who wants to lead a spiritual life must be quite transformed and change all values. The cause of our misery is that we cling to forms and believe them to be real. This we must understand: Real joy exists only in spiritual life. The only way to experience it is to know and understand what the universe really is. We have to orient ourselves so that we see the whole world divine. It is said in the Isha Upanishad, ‘Everything that moves in this world must be covered with the Lord.’ Our old world has to go. And instead we shall see the world as it is, see God in all, see how the Divine breaks through names and forms. There is not a place where God is not. The only thing we have to do is to open our eyes and see Him— in good and evil, happiness and unhappiness, in joy and sorrow and in death. One may exchange the word God for life. To be conscious that ‘All Life is One’ gives a bliss that does not change. If you feel unhappy and restless it comes from ignorance of this truth, from being rooted in the idea of manifoldness and differences between individuals and things. All, all are only variations of That which is the centre, which is the One.
The One who created this world is everywhere. Rely on Him in all matters.
Enquire: 'Who am I?' and you will find the answer. Look at a tree: from one seed arises a huge tree; from it comes numerous seeds, each one of which in its turn grows into a tree. No two fruits are alike. Yet it is one life that throbs in every particle of the tree. So, it is the same Atman everywhere.
All creation is that. There is beauty in the birds and in the animals. They too eat and drink like us, mate and multiply; but there is this difference: we can realize our true nature, the Atman. Having been born as human beings, we must not waste this opportunity. At least for a few seconds every day, we must enquire as to who we are. It is no use taking a return ticket over and over again. From birth to death, and death to birth is samsara. But really we have no birth and death. We must realize that.
All creation is that. There is beauty in the birds and in the animals. They too eat and drink like us, mate and multiply; but there is this difference: we can realize our true nature, the Atman. Having been born as human beings, we must not waste this opportunity. At least for a few seconds every day, we must enquire as to who we are. It is no use taking a return ticket over and over again. From birth to death, and death to birth is samsara. But really we have no birth and death. We must realize that.
Only when spent in the effort to know "Who am I?" has it been used well.
You are yourself the self-evident atma: seeking and finding is all in you.
In wealth and property, there is certainly no peace. What then does give peace? My own true nature is peace, knowledge, and divine consciousness - unless and until this is released, how can there be peace? In order to find your Self, you must become revealed to yourself. How beautiful!
Question: God has given us the sense of "I", He will remove it again. What need is there for self-surrender?
Answer: Why do you ask? Just keep still and do nothing.
Question: How can one possibly keep still?
Answer: This is why self-surrender is necessary
You are yourself the self-evident atma: seeking and finding is all in you.
In wealth and property, there is certainly no peace. What then does give peace? My own true nature is peace, knowledge, and divine consciousness - unless and until this is released, how can there be peace? In order to find your Self, you must become revealed to yourself. How beautiful!
Question: God has given us the sense of "I", He will remove it again. What need is there for self-surrender?
Answer: Why do you ask? Just keep still and do nothing.
Question: How can one possibly keep still?
Answer: This is why self-surrender is necessary
The Grace of the Guru always pours down on you, but you must have mercy upon yourself so that you may realize this. If your cup is turned upside down, how can anything catch it?
Have you not noticed how, when you find it impossible to get the object of your love, you either wish to kill it or to die yourself? Whereas, the love of God, takes you to the death of death, to Immortality.
To find protection from the trio of heat (afflictions) you have to take the assistance of another type of heat (taap). It is with heat that one overcomes heat. This is called tapasya (austerity). To tolerate the heat is tapasya, that’s what this body says. Just as one feels pain in experiencing the heat of the world, likewise one may feel similar pain at first while taking God’s name. But in spite of this painful feeling, freedom from the heat comes through this pain only. For this, endeavor is necessary, practice is necessary and action is necessary. Among the birds and animals, there is no interest to get rid of this pain in this manner, for the realization of ever graceful and ever- blissful God. This happens only in man.
Unhappiness does not leave till God is realized. There is no other beneficial way to realize Him except doing His japa, His meditation, His worship and singing His name (Naam Kirtan). The company of saints (satsang) and reading of spiritual books are also of help on this path. This body very often says one thing: "vishay (sense object) mane (means) vish (poison) hoi (becomes)". The enjoyment of sense objects leads slowly towards death –"slow poison". That is why try to spend as much time as possible with Him.
He is the remover of all miseries. Try to call Him all the time. Meditate only on Him and pray to Him. Pay obeisance to Him pouring out your heart. He is permeated with benediction, peace and bliss. The Heart of hearts and He is the Atma (the Supreme Soul).
Whatever God does is for the good. As the doctor operates on a boil and removing the poisonous matter in it cures the ailment, likewise God gives you pain, washes and wipes you and pulls you in His lap. God rectifies all faults and says: "give me all thy impurities – and accept immortality in return". He causes pain and gives unhappiness to the devotee to intensify his eagerness and yearning. God accepts his worship through pain and tears.
The action that helps in the attainment of that which everyone longs for is dharma (righteousness). That is why it is the natural action and the rest, which brings in restlessness and pain, is the action of want – this is adharma (unrighteousness).
The way to self-realization, which cannot be forsaken, is dharma. Every individual has different path to self- enlightenment. Walk on from where you are. Verily only He exists. He is holding on everything. He never leaves. Again, the action leading to revelation of God is called dharma. Inaction is non-righteousness. Verily dharma is one.
One must pay attention to Dharma. Dharma indeed is vitality for the breath of life. It is the Self and it holds on to that which is the eternal truth. What that self is has to be known. How long should one continue to stay in the wayside inn as a traveler in peril in a wrong path? It is necessary to tread one’s own path and take up one’s own journey leaving aside the pleasurable and accepting the adorable.
God is in all forms. One should stay fixed with heart and soul. Everyone should be told that it is forbidden in Hindu Sanatan (Eternal) Dharma to utter anything that brings disrepute and pain to others. God indeed is manifested in all forms. To oppose others means to oppose God. All of us have the One soul. The surroundings should be maintained safe, peaceful and friendly.
Remember that in the path of righteousness, even the shadow of concealed ego covers the goal.
Name and the named are indistinguishable. He Himself is as the name. The akshara (letter of alphabet) indeed is the form of God. Just as by sowing the seed the tree comes forth, likewise, the name is made potent by repeating it. That all names are His names and all forms are His forms will be revealed with the progressive repetition of the name of liking. Again, gradually there will be revelation that He is nameless and formless.
Patience is the mainstay in the domain of karma (action) and dharma.
One is known as Mahamaya, and the other is delusion of the senses – experience of sense objects. You are a traveler towards immortality; you will encounter difficulties if you do not progress towards Him. Do not get entangled in the vibhutis (supernatural powers). This is merely a state. The ultimate and the absolute (goal) will not be attained through vibhuti. The power attained should not be exhausted. Try for the revelation of the self, otherwise you will face difficulties and fall (from the state attained).
Ever since there is God so also is Maya. When God is not? That is why Maya is also beginning less. One should try to realize oneself either in the form of a servant of God or in the form of the Atma.
If the asana is firm and the focus is fixed and japa be taken as the support, then only is there hope of feeling the taste.
Try to pour out the mind and spirit in japa and meditation to the best of your capability. Try to keep yourself in divine surroundings and spiritual engagement as long as possible. The speed of the journey to the spiritual goal of a traveler should be accelerated. May it be of liking or not, japa, meditation and remembrance should be carried on.
327-Conversation with Ma.
Q-For the last thirty years I have kept satsang, yet my mind is not at peace. Like an ox that turns the wheel of an oil-mill I revolve and revolve. How can I find peace?
Ma-You have indeed kept satsang, but you have not reflected upon what you have been told. You have listened to words of wisdom, yet have not acted according to the injunctions of the wise; you have not thought deeply, not contemplated as advised. How will you win the Guru's grace?
Q-Why should the wise not let me have a share of what they have earned?
Ma-So you wish to enjoy the fruit of another's labour? So long as you do not meditate and act upon what you have been told, how can the path open out for you? If you practise whatever sadhana that suits your temperament and is within your capacity, your inner power will develop and increase. God is the Life of life, the Self. There is only one Life, one Self. In order to realise, to know it, you must resort to the spiritual exercise that appeals to you from deep within you. What have you done to find Him? How much work you do for worldly ends, how much trouble you take. But you sit down idly over the fact that you have forgotten your true nature--that you are the Atma, that you yourself are Peace. Have you made a sustained effort to realize this? Start right now some spiritual exercise for the purpose of this revelation. God has given you so much capacity to work. Dedicate at least a little more time to Him! And all the work you do in the world, lay as an offering at His feet. Regard yourself as His manager, don't feel that you are the boss. As the Lord's manager, serve Him in every human being. In your home there are the Goddess Lakshmi, Kumari Devi and Balgopal. Do service to them, do not neglect them, and you will be at peace. And whatever time you can spare, morning and evening, sit in solitude in your shrine-room and contemplate God's divine form, meditate on Him, worship Him. Start today, do not waste any more precious time!
Q-For the last thirty years I have kept satsang, yet my mind is not at peace. Like an ox that turns the wheel of an oil-mill I revolve and revolve. How can I find peace?
Ma-You have indeed kept satsang, but you have not reflected upon what you have been told. You have listened to words of wisdom, yet have not acted according to the injunctions of the wise; you have not thought deeply, not contemplated as advised. How will you win the Guru's grace?
Q-Why should the wise not let me have a share of what they have earned?
Ma-So you wish to enjoy the fruit of another's labour? So long as you do not meditate and act upon what you have been told, how can the path open out for you? If you practise whatever sadhana that suits your temperament and is within your capacity, your inner power will develop and increase. God is the Life of life, the Self. There is only one Life, one Self. In order to realise, to know it, you must resort to the spiritual exercise that appeals to you from deep within you. What have you done to find Him? How much work you do for worldly ends, how much trouble you take. But you sit down idly over the fact that you have forgotten your true nature--that you are the Atma, that you yourself are Peace. Have you made a sustained effort to realize this? Start right now some spiritual exercise for the purpose of this revelation. God has given you so much capacity to work. Dedicate at least a little more time to Him! And all the work you do in the world, lay as an offering at His feet. Regard yourself as His manager, don't feel that you are the boss. As the Lord's manager, serve Him in every human being. In your home there are the Goddess Lakshmi, Kumari Devi and Balgopal. Do service to them, do not neglect them, and you will be at peace. And whatever time you can spare, morning and evening, sit in solitude in your shrine-room and contemplate God's divine form, meditate on Him, worship Him. Start today, do not waste any more precious time!
MA IN HER WORDS
On Dhyan
168. To be Without thought is the ultimate meditation.
On Dhyan
168. To be Without thought is the ultimate meditation.
Beings
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