the first step to get the grace of the Lord

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Answer given by Swami.

Q.175) Let me know the first step, which I have to enter and by entering which

step I shall attain the salvation and the complete grace of the Lord?

Ans.) This is a very good question. You want to know the first step which if you

enter, it shall automatically lead to the goal. In fact all are failing to enter

the first step only. If you correctly select the first step and put your foot on

that first step, the other steps are connected automatically like in the case of

a ladder. It is not sufficient if you know the first step. You should be firm in

putting your foot on that first step and you should be firm also to climb the

ladder. Therefore, simply knowing the first step is not sufficient. Further

action should be associated with your firm determination. I will show you two

ladders. The first ladder leads to God and the second leads to temporary heaven

or hell. The wonder is that as soon as you put your foot on the first step, you

need not make any effort to reach the goal because the steps are moving as in

the case of an escalator. Therefore you are very lucky if you put your

foot on the first step of first escalator and you are very unlucky if your step

is on the second escalator.

Let me not raise your anxiety any more by not revealing the two escalators.

Listen! Be attentive! So far no one asked me such a question. You are very

intelligent. Yes! I am revealing the two escelators. Attention Please! The

first step of the first escalator is association with good devotees of "God".

The first step of the second escalator is association with good devotees of

this "World". Both are devoted towards their subsequent goals. The first one is

going to a good doctor, who injects medicine into your body, which heals your

disease. The second one is going to a bad doctor who injects poison into your

body, which intensifies your disease. If you pay hundred rupees to the doctor

for the injection of medicine, you must pay two hundred rupees to the doctor

for the injection of poison. Even if you don’t have strength and good health by

the first injection, you must avoid illness by the second injection.

Association is the first step that automatically leads to the goal. Sankara said

that the first step, which is the association will lead to the goal

automatically (Satsangatve). A devotee of God may be your enemy, but you should

develop freindship with him for his association. The medicine may be soar but it

should be taken for the health. You may like the sweet, but it causes illness.

Therefore, the devotee of the world, should be avoided at any cost. You must

avoid even the closest relative who goes on speaking worldly matters and you

can tell a lie that you are not feeling well and require rest, be it your

wife or son. But you cannot get rid of them. In such case stay very little time

in the house and avoid them. If they obstruct your association with devotees of

God, you abondon them permanently, and that is not a sin. Prahlada was praying

the Lord. He avoided his father and was praying

alone. But his father interfered frequently. Therefore, he abondoned his father.

Even when Lord was killing his father, Prahlada never prayed for the life of his

father. He prayed only for a better-devoted life for his father in the next

birth. Sankara left his mother because she was not encouraging his detachment.

She was fond of her son and was too much attached to her son. Sankara wanted to

bring detachment in her and therefore abondoned his mother. For the same reason,

Bhuddha left His wife and son. Therefore, if the family obstructs, you should

leave them permanently like Prahlada. If you are still a stronger spiritual

devotee, you can even leave the family, if the family is not congenial and

encouraging your spiritual effort. Very fortunate people get the opportunity to

have the whole family devoted to God. Markandeya became such a strong devotee

since his parents were also strong devotees. If you catch this first step the

other steps are automatic. When a newly married

devotee told Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, that his wife was obstructing his visit to

Paramahamsa, Shri Paramahamsa told him to divorce such wife immediately. One day

Shri Paramahamsa was killing the bed bugs. Devotees wondered at this cruel

action. Paramahamsa told that when he was sitting on the cot for the

meditation, the bugs were disturbing him. He told that He would not mind to do

anything that obstructs his path towards God. Veda says the same thing "Na Tat

Samah", which means that no body and nothing should be equal to God. Gita also

says the same "Eka Bhakthih". An illiterate cobbler became a great scholar

in Vedas when Shri. Narasimha Saraswati placed sacred ash on his forehead. The

same fellow became illiterate cobbler again by receiving the sacred ash

from the hand of a miser. Even the touch has so much influence. Then think of the association!

There are two fields. One is Pravrutti, which consists of justice and injustice.

If you are in the association of justified people, you will not do injustice and

do justice only. But for this the result is only temporary, which is the

attainment of Heaven. That is good in the beginning stage, because instead of

going to hell by associating with people of injustice, it is better to go

temporarily to the heaven. But when you associate with devotees of Nivrutti,

who are associated with the Lord in human form, you will go to Brahmaloka

forever. Therefore for such a permanent result you should associate with

devotees of Lord and not with the mere justified people. Leaving injustice and

following justice gives only temporary heaven. But leaving the world, which

consists of both justice and injustice and associate with devotees of Lord

gives the permanent result. Pandavas achieved the heaven, but not Brahmaloka.

Kauravas attained the hell due

to association with Sakuni. But Gopikas left the whole world consisting of both

justice and injustice and were associated with Lord Krishna only, which gave

them permanent Goloka, which is higher than even Brahmaloka. They did not mind

to leave their families for the sake of the Lord even though it is not

justified.

 

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