Hamari Radhey....

  

Hamari Radhey, deenan ki rakhavar.

Deen pukar sunat hi dhavati, tanik na lavati bar.

Jogi japi tapi sadhan-bal, khojat nipat gamar.

Panch prapanch na chhutat ranchak, bahey siddhi majhadhar.

Jehi ras lagi hari har tarsat so, barsat yehi darbar.

Piyat ‘Kripalu’ soi ras japar, kripa karati sukumar.

A devotee says, “Our Radhey is the protector of destitutes.” As soon as She hears a destitute soul calling out for Her, She goes to him without even a moment’s delay. Those who practice yoga, worshiping rituals and severe austerities ignorantly attempt to attain Her grace through the strength of their own efforts. The desires of their senses are not completely destroyed and due to this they fall into the trap of yogic powers. That divine love-bliss, which even Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva long for, is causelessly showered on the humble and destitute souls in the court of Shri Radha. Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj says, “Oh, Kishori Ji! He alone can drink the nectar of this divine love bliss who is blessed with Your causeless grace.”

There are three conditions....

There are three conditions that a practitioner of the path of bhakti must fulfill. He should be more humble than a blade of grace. (When we walk on grass, it simply bows under the pressure of our feet with no resistance.) We should be as tolerant as a tree (which without complaint allows itself to be plundered for its fruits, leaves and branches). We should offer only respect to others and never expect the same for ourselves. To try to be called good or to be seen as good in the eyes of others makes us fall in our devotion. We should instead try to actually become good. For example, when someone criticises you, you feel bad. You become angry with that person and feel he is your foe. You continuously think of him with animosity. We harm ourselves greatly when we do this. Instead of bringing God and Guru into our mind, we have given a place in our mind to a mayic soul. By doing so we are simply increasing the impurity of the mind, not decreasing it. It is a fact that until one attains God realisation, one is completely under the control of Maya. This means that all the mayic defects such as anger, lust, greed, attachment, pride and so on, will also remain in our minds. Along with this, the consequences of all our actions from countless births also remain with us, because these consequences are only destroyed through God’s grace after God realisation. As Shri Krishna says in the Gita,

Aham tvam sarvapapebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah. (18/66)

As a soul has had uncountable births and in all those births we have performed every kind of action, then if someone calls us lustful, hot-tempered, greedy, sinful, mean, unprincipled, or wicked, then what is wrong with that? We should happily accept the truth and try to rectify that fault.

When we introduce an ordinary police officer to someone as a police officer, he doesn’t feel bad and say, “Why didn’t you introduce me as a detective or a police chief?” This is, after all, his position. Saint Tulsidas says,

Nindak niyare rakhiye aangan kuti chhavay.

The one who criticises us is actually our well-wisher. If a snake or scorpion were crawling on our back and if someone were to warn us, “Hey! Look out!” We would consider that person our well-wisher. In fact, all Saints who have attained God and gone beyond Maya express the acceptance of one’s faults in their writings,

 Mo sam kaun kutil khal kami.

“There is no one as deceptive, wicked and worldly as I.” A true Saint doesn’t possess any of these qualities, but we definitely do. Still we feel bad when someone criticises us and thus we harm our devotional progress greatly. Another point we must understand is that the only time we utilise correctly is when our mind remains attached to God. So during the course of one day, how much does our mind remain attached to God? Think about it. Repeatedly reflect, “The consequences of all the wrong actions I have ever performed in countless past lifetimes are still with me. Plus I have performed uncountable wrong actions in this birth. Still, I can’t stand before God and shed tears asking for His forgiveness. Shame on my understanding!”

You have to repeatedly promise yourself that you will not feel bad if someone tells you your faults. Practise will lead to success. Every day before going to sleep at night ask yourself, “How many times did I fail to tolerate someone’s criticism today?” The next day be more careful so you don’t commit the same mistake. With this kind of regular practise, you will stop feeling bad.

 You should also remember that Shri Krishna is seated in our hearts, noting all our thoughts. If we feel animosity towards someone, how will He grace us? These faults will decrease if we are aware of His presence everywhere, which means we will also be doing continuous remembrance. Don’t feel animosity towards the one who criticises you; Shri Krishna also dwells in his heart, too. Instead remain neutral. Request God repeatedly,

 Yadi dainyam tvatkripaheturna tadasti mamanvapi.

Tam kripam kuru radhesh yatatey dainya mapnuyam.

“Oh Shri Krishna! You bestow grace on the base of one’s humility, but I am not humble at all. So first grace me so I may become humble!” While saying this, shed tears. You must definitely do this. The human birth is temporary, so quickly do this. You don’t know when your time will be up. I humbly request this of all of you.

Char dina ki Bat...

Are man ! Char dina ki bat.

Nar tanu sharad chandani beetey, puni andhiyari rat.

Tu sovat kachu janat nahin, kal lagayo ghat.

Tajat na neend yadapi vishayan ke, chhin chhin jutey khat.

Avasar chuki phiriya chourasi, kar meenjat pachhitat.

Rasikan kahi ‘Kripalu’ manu gahu, yugal charan jaljat.

A devotee says, Oh my mind! This life lasts just a few days… After the light of the full moon of the autumn month in the form of this human body ends, then the dark night in the form of rebirth in the 8.4 million species of life is bound to follow. Lost in the deep slumber of ignorance, you are totally unaware that death is waiting every moment to make you its prey. Although you are constantly going through terrible suffering as a result of the fleeting happiness you receive from mundane desires, still you are not ready to abandon your sleep. Remember, if you lose this golden opportunity and don’t realise God while in this human form, you will wring your hands in remorse and wander here and there in vain in the other 8.4 million life forms. Therefore, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji says, “Accept and follow the teachings of Rasik Saints and surrender yourself at the lotus feet of the divine couple, Shri Radha Krishna.”

Chail Chabilo shyam.........

हमारो,छैल छबिलो श्याम।

रसीक रङिलो गुन गर्विलो, निलो तनु अभिराम।

धेनु चरावत बेनु बजावत, अती मन भावत भाम।

झुमत मोर मुकुट मुख चुमत, घुमत लट छबिधाम।

काँधे पितपटी दुपटी कर, लिपटी लकुटी ललाम।

कर कन्कन कटी किन्किनी बाजती, पायल बाजती पाम।

कर 'कृपालु' जब नैन सैन तब, ह्वै गयो काम तमाम।

Our shyam sundar is full of beauty and grace. The blue complexioned lord is the abode of countless divine attributes and he brings unlimited joy to the rasiks. He plays the flute while grazing the cows and he is very dear to the gopis. The peacock-feathered crown is swaying in his head and his curly ringlets of hair are kissing his all attractive face. His yellow silky upper garment is fluttering on his shoulders and the cowherd’s stuff wound up in it is looking very beautiful. The bracelet in his hands, the delicate chains around his waist and the anklets around his ankles is jingling and tinkling and making a very sweet sound. Shree Kripaluji says when shyam sundar casts side-long glances the one on the receiving end is finished forever.

Manav ka Lakshya.........

So, the glories of the human body have been sung by the Vedas, th Darshan Shastras, the Purans and the Saints because it is a fact that there is absolutely no other body in which we can attain our goal. So the human body is the first necessity. Now the second is ‘proper association’ with the Guru. Not mere meeting with the Guru but proper association with him. We have met Gurus infinite times, in infinite lives. But, we did not associate with them in the proper manner. We went to them, offered our obeisance, listened to their lectures and even nodded our heads afterwards “yes, yes, I understand”. But that’s all. We did nothing practical about it. Our minds remained attached to the material world. So proper association is required. Thus the human body is the first necessity and proper association with the Guru is the second. That is why God’s grace is considered to be a reason fo attaining the human body.

Kabahunka kari karuna nara dehi

Deta isa binu hetu sanehi

(Ramayana)

Out of compassion, God sometimes awards the human body to someone. This is the first grace. Furthermore proper association with the Guru is an exceptional grace (second grace). Merely meeting the Guru is not grace. It becomes special grace when we associate with him properly. Without this proper association, it is like having fifty-six delicacies laid out before you, and yet not eating. If we simply sit before the food and stare at it, we will die of starvation. If water is there but we refuse to drink, we will die of thirst. Similarly, merely meeting a Saint will not help. If we associate our mind with His, surrender unto Him and unite our intellect with His, then this is the second and even more special grace.

 

We have met infinite Saints in infinite lives. They explained everything to us and we also accepted it. Already we have been blessed by both these graces before. It is the result of this that you are seated here today. This is not your achievement. Just think over it by yourselves – what wonderful thing have you done to get the human body and get correct knowledge of spiritual principles? How much study of the Vedas and other scriptures did you engage in? On what basis did you receive these two graces? But, you still did not attain your goal. The third grace is even more essential – it is the thirst for Divine love. In other words the hunger for food must be there (the intense yearning to attain). This is called ‘mumuksha’ or intense desire (for liberation) by Shankaracharya. The Braj Rasiks call it ‘lalsa’ or ‘craving’. It is called by various names. There should be a thirst, hunger, craving, intense desire, yearning and intense eagerness and longing to attain Divine Love. One should reach the point of not being able to live without it. Thirst has various levels. The level of desire to attain something can be of various classes. There is an ordinary level – “it would b nice to get it”, a little effort is made and then, “forget it, it cannot be obtained”. Then there is this level – “no I have to obtain it, no matter what!” and the corresponding effort is made. Similarly the levels of thirst for Divine Love, is different for everybody. It depends on our detachment. What is the level of our detachment from the world? How firm is this knowledge within you – that this mother, this father, this wife, this husband, this wealth, this world is not for you, not for the soul, not at all? There is nothing to be gained for the soul there, not even 0.1%. We are divine souls, parts of God. This world is mayic, material. It has been created by God for the maintenance of the body; not for the soul. If this knowledge remains in your mind cent percent at all times and in all places, the thirst for Divine love and detachment from the material world would be stronger....

Whenever you practice devotion.....

Whenever you practice devotion to God, you should first understand that the mind must be attached to God. Worldly work can be performed even without the attachment of the mind, and people of the world will accept that work as genuine work. For instance, a president or prime-minister is received with great respect wherever he goes. The government officials who give him such great respect are tense and worried as they go through the motions. Now he’s coming; we must be very alert; we must run around and make sure everything is okay. And when he leaves, these officials heave a sigh of relief. Thank God he’s gone; now we are free. Similarly, you receive visitors at home, but you do not feel any love for them. Out of formality you show them respect. Let us say there is a wedding in the family. Your house is swarming with guests. You receive them with great respect; you feed them different kinds of food; you accommodate them in hotels. And once the wedding party leaves, you feel relieved.

In the material world, you get away with performing actions without the attachment of the mind, because worldly people are not omniscient. They have no way of knowing whether you truly love them or are merely putting on an act. But you cannot put on an act with God. He is sitting inside your heart. He starts noting down your action from the time it is in the form of a thought. God does not take note of physical actions. You may host a yagya, give charity, observe fasts, and perform Vedic rituals, but God will not take note. He only takes note of the percentage of the attachment of the mind. If you don’t do anything physically, God will not mind. But devotion performed without attachment of the mind is not acceptable. In fact, it is considered mere hypocrisy. And to be hypocritical with God is a very serious spiritual transgression.

This Sutra (aphorism) from Yog Darshan instructs us to develop the appropriate sentiments while speaking words in front of God. We must meditate on God in the mind. Devoid of attachment of the mind, devotion practiced with the senses is not accepted; God refuses to take note of it. It’s called ‘acting.’ If you act in the world, it’s very well and good, but to put on an act in front of God is not good. In the world, where you should put on an act, you work in ‘fact,’ whereas with God, where everything you do should be a ‘fact,’ you put on an ‘act’. You are careless where you should be careful. This is not good. Start taking care. Resolve to yourself that from today onwards, you will involve the mind in devotional practice. Then you will see how far you will reach within even one week’s time.

Definition and Conditions of Devotion

Devotion has been defined by various Acharyas. One definition is 'to drink the nectar of God.' One is, 'to destroy ignorance.' Still another is 'to understand and accept that I am a part of God.' Another definition is 'to have the mind-stream flowing continually towards God.' One Acharya says that Devotion is 'love-filled meditation on God.'
If devotion is to be properly practiced, there are some conditions to be fulfilled.

 

First Condition

One must not present desires in front of God for a number of reasons:

God does not alter anyone's destiny.

God is Omniscient and already knows what his children need and do not need.

One who desires something from God will not be able to practice true devotion.

Being ignorant, the devotee does not know what to ask for.

 

Second Condition

We must establish 4 loving relationships with Shri Krishna:

Dasya Bhav: Servant-Master relationship. There are more rules and regulations and less privileges in this relationship.

Sakhya Bhav: Friendly relationship. More closeness; less restrictions.

Vatsalya Bhav: Parent-child relationship. Shri Krishna is my Son; I am His mother (or father). Far greater closeness; less restrictions.

Madhurya Bhav: Lover-Beloved relationship. Shri Krishna is my Beloved. There are no restrictions in this relationship. Gopis give the dust of their feet to cure their Beloved Shri Krishna.

Madhurya Bhav is the greatest, since it includes access to all other relationships.

 

Third Condition

Devotion to Shri Krishna must be exclusive. The attachment of the mind must be reserved for God while worldly duties are being performed externally. The performance of any work requires involvement of the mind, not attachment of the mind.

 

Fourth Condition

Devotion must be practiced daily. One must spend at least an hour with God every single day. During that time, one must attempt to focus the mind on God with the help of bhajans and keertans. Longing for God has to be developed, and as Kabir Das says, "No one can attain God without shedding tears of love for Him." When the mind runs away to the world, you must take Lord Krishna wherever the mind has gone.

 

Fifth Condition

Devotion must be practiced under the guidance of a GURU. Guru must possess THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE OF SCRIPTURES and PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF GOD. One must look for the following in a Guru:

He must clearly answer the questions you have about God and the path leading to God.

He must remove all the doubts you have regarding God.

The Sadhana prescribed by him must bring about internal changes.

Guru is Divinity in human form. One must trust the Guru to lead him to God.

The Intellect's Decision...

Beyond the mind is the intellect. It is the intellect that decides, and it is the mind that desires. Sometimes mind and intellect are referred to collectively as just the mind; sometimes individually as the mind and intellect. If the mind which desires the world, is governed by the intellect that decides that there is no happiness in the world, detachment from the world will come about naturally. We see that desires are unending. When one desire is fulfilled, many more are born. Although an individual keeps getting older, his desires are constantly rejuvenating themselves. According to scriptures, a wealthy man is not one who possesses more; he is one who desires less.

Since the body is the means through which one can fulfill the selfish motive of the soul, it is very important to take care of the physical body. Consequently, Materialism is important. However, the material world does not fulfill the purpose of the soul. For the soul, Spiritualism is absolutely necessary.

Materialism should be accepted in small limits, but Spiritualism should be embraced without abandon. Why? Because true happiness, i.e. unending, everlasting, and ever-increasing happiness is found only in God, not the material world.

Detachment from the world is not enough to take us to God. We need to find out which are the paths leading to God.

Self-surrender.....

In order to attain God's grace, one must surrender wholeheartedly to Him. Even in the world we see that a newborn child is completely surrendered to its mother, and therefore, the mother assumes full responsibility of the child. As the child starts doing work for himself, the mother starts lessening her responsibility towards the child.

To surrender means to offer the mind to God. In the Geeta, Shri Krishna says, "Arjun! Offer Me your mind and intellect." Speaking fancy words in Sanskrit does not constitute self-surrender to God, nor does the performance of rites, rituals and ceremonies make one surrendered to God.

The mind must focus on God. However, it is extremely attached to the material world. Since we have only one mind, this poses a problem. We need to examine the mind, understand it and then divert it towards God.

Life's Ultimate Aim....

Every living creature is engaged in work. Works are of two types; physical + mental, and only mental. The body may or may not be involved in the performance of a work, but the mind is always involved. Mind motivates all activities, which means that there is a motive behind every action of every individual being. What is our motive? We want happiness. Philosophers say that we desire Immortality, Knowledge, Freedom and Power also, but the Bhagvatam instructs that these are mere means of attaining happiness.
Every creature desires happiness. Everyone is so different from one another. All look different; have distinct tastes; think differently, but all want only happiness. Why?
Reason: All are part of God, and every part desires to unite with the whole. Being part of God, all desire to unite with Him. Vedas tell us that God is happiness, and that the individual soul can attain happiness only by attaining God.
This is the reason we should know God. Through God we will attain genuine happiness; happiness that is unending, everlasting and ever-increasing. Why have we not yet attained God?