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?

 

Are man.....

 

अरे मन ! मुरख निपट गँवार |

बिगरत आपु बिगारत मो कहँ , नेकु न करत विचार |

कोटि-कल्प भटक्यो ज्यों शुकर, विष्ठा-विषय मझार |

बिनु सेवा जहँ पाइय मेवा, गयो न तेहि दरबार |

दोउ कर-कमल पसारि निहारति, तोहिं वृषभानुदुलर |

अस अवसर नर देह सुदुर्लभ, मिलत न बारम्बार |

साधन बिनुहिं 'कृपालु' द्रवत जो, को अस सरल उदार |

अरे मन ! तू वास्तव में अत्यन्त ही मुर्ख एवं नासमझ हे | तू आप अपना भी नाश कर रहा हे , साथ ही मेरा भी नाश कर रहा हे | तू इस विषय में थोडा सा भी विचार नहीं करता | तुझे सांसारिक विषय-वासना रूपी विष्ठा में शुकर की तरह भटकते हुए करोड़ों कल्प बीत गए , फिर भी कुछ भी न पा सका | जिन किशोरी जी के दरबार में बिना साधन के ही तू सब कुछ पा जाता, उस दरबार में तू हठ्वश कभी न गया | तुझे वृषभानुनंदिनी अपनी दोनों कोमल भुजाओं को पसारे परख रही हे | एसा अवसर एवं देवदुर्लभ मानव-देह तुझे बार-बार न मिल सकेगा |

 'श्री कृपालु जी ' कहते हें कि सबसे बड़ी बात तो यह हे की वृषभानुनंदिनी के सिवा ऐसा सरल एवं उदार ह्रदय वाला और तुझे कोन मिलेगा जो बिना साधन के ही शरणागत को सदा के लिए अपना बना ले |

Contemplation...

Remember that you must always have positive thinking when you are in the process of surrendering to God and the Guru. Keep practicing it. Do not listen to, read or think anything else. Whenever you tend to listen to, read or think something else, be on your guard immediately. Like, while you are chewing food and suddenly you find grit in between your teeth. So what you do is throw it out. But in case you go on chewing that also, people will say you are crazy. Similarly, whenever a negative thought enters your mind you must expel it immediately. Do not entertain it. You already know it that such thoughts are harmful and still you have entertained them. Why, then, were you not alert enough and why did you not curse yourself for being so negligent? Why did you not start contemplating immediately?

You know that contemplation has boundless strength. It can make you a demon or a saint. It depends on your direction of contemplation. As you think so you will be. If you think of good things, you will be good. If you think on the evils, you will be evil. Your rise and fall depend on your thinking. So do not keep your mind idle. Do not let it be influenced by the company of the wrong people. Do not listen to the wrong people. Throw out all their words which you have heard, just as you spit out the grit which was mixed with your food. Always retain the thought of your Guru in your mind and heart.

True Well Wisher

It may be beyond our comprehension to understand the benevolent acts of a Saint but whatever he does that is for our well being. When a saint asks you to give him some money, your maya-infected intellect, will make you think - this is ordinary people also do. They also ask others to give them money just as the Saint is doing. But you forget that you ask fo money for satisfying your own needs and comforts, whereas the Saint want money for the welfare of others. This is the fundamental difference. A person, who does not understand this difference, thinks that the Saint is just like him or any other human being. If a Saint asks you to give him something, he is doing it for your well being. He was kind and merciful towards you that he asked you to give him a particular thing so that your attachment for that possession of yours could be removed. God has said in the Bhagavatam,

Yad yadishatamam loke yachchatipriyamatmanah

tattannivedayenmahyam todanantyaya kalpate

(Bhag.11.11.41)

"O human beings! Whatever thing you are most attached to whether it is your body or money give that to Me. By doing so, you will get rid of your attachment, your vanity. You will then get attached to Me." When you will have no money, your vanity will have no base to stand on. Then you will not be worried about anything. When you have donated all that you have in the name of God there will be nothing left to pamper your vanity or egoism? Where is now that money of yours which was in lakhs and crores? You have already donated that. So whenever you donate anything to God or a Saint, always think that They have no selfish motive behind it and you have done that for your own good, for the good of your parloka (next world). The wise always make donations with this objective in mind. Whenever you give a small amount in alms to a beggar this feeling is uppermost in your mind. So behind it, either there is a selfish motive or a wish of having a better next world. But the latter is again an act of selfishness. If you are doing it to purify your heart, that again is a selfish act. If we do so to seek the grace of the Guru, that too is selfishness. So a selfish person donates money and things with a selfish motive in mind. The selfishness may be positive or negative, good or bad. This difference is always there. But whatever God and the Saints give and do, They do it only for others.

Look, God or the Saints have no work to do. Take the case of the Saints. Before God-realization, they as ordinary human beings had been performing actions and have had suffered the fruits of their karmas, both good and bad in infinite lifetimes. But after God realization, they became Saints. Then, they too were freed from worldly tasks. They became complete in themselves. But they do perform all worldly tasks. History is replete with such examples. Prahlad, Dhurv, Ambarish – all of them ruled their subjects for many number of years. Even the greatest Saints did have a family life. They married and sired children. They fought in the battle grounds like Arjun did. They did everything that a mayic person does. As a rule, they are not supposed to do all these things. Because a Saint has got everything that he could wish for. Why should he do any work? The purpose of doing something is to attain bliss, which they have attained already. He has achieved his goals. Then why should he do any work?

Yastvatmaratireva syadatmatriptashcha manavah

Atmanyeva cha santuhtastasya karyam na vidyate

(Gita 3.17)

But, a Saint too works or does karma. God descends on the earth in various avataras and works day and night. Shri Ram came and stayed in this very orld of ours for eleven thousand years. So did Shri Krishna for hundred of years. And the Saints have always stayed here after realizing God and did everything that an ordinary human being has to do. They did to the ‘play-acting’ of all that i disapprovingly called kaam (sensuous gratification), krodha (anger), lobha (avarice), moha (attachment), jealouy and malice. But they could do all this through yogamaya, the personal power of God. Therefore, neither sin nor virtues can influence a saint. The reason being his mind is not attached to that karma. He does everything for the welfare of all living beings. Shri Krishna killed many demons like Aghasur, Bakasur, Putna and others. But what ultimately happened to them? They received the grace of God. All of them went to Golok, the abode of Shri Krishna. It means the Saints cannot but grace all living beings. They may kill us or love us. They may punish us or rotate us in 84 lakh species. Whatever they do to us is nothing but the manifestation of their grace. They do so, so that we become aware and seek the shelter of God and the Saint and avoid doing a crime by nursing a thought against them. In order to save us from committing all such wrongs a prison of eighty four lakh species has been created so that all living beings may become cautious and alert.  So God or a Saint can shower grace, though They may seem to perform any kind of action yet, whatever They do is for the welfare of all beings. An odinary human has the evils of love and hatred as he is bound by maya, that cause all the ailments. But God and Saints are free from both.

Samo’ham sarvabhuteshu na me dveshyo’sti na priyah

Ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya mayi te teshu chapyaham 

(Gite 9.29)

God says that He does not have either an enemy or a dear one. Similarly, the Saints do not have an enemy nor do they have a dear one. They are Grace in Person. So whatever they do is only the manifestation of their grace. We may or may not understand it fully, since we are ignorant. A mother, for example, hugs and kisses her child. She feeds that child from her own breasts even if sometimes she does not have the strength to do so and gets emancipated in the process. This is her love, her grace. Sometimes, she slaps her chils too. That too is her grace. She does it, so that she could teach her child not to pick up wrong habits like lying. Father also punishes the child so that his child should become a person of character and good conduct and be inclined towards God. So, that punishment has his grace hidden in it. If this is the case with a worldly mother or father, then a Saint is all the more so because he has only grace for others. What else can he do? A mother loves her child punishes him too. Apparently they are two contradictory things but the purpose of both is grace.