Guest guest Posted March 1, 2006 Report Share Posted March 1, 2006 Shree Hari Ram Ram ALL RESPONSES ARE FROM SWAMIJI'S MESSAGES: QUESTION: Is " Shree " (bhog and sangraha i.e. enjoyment of pleasures and wealth ) is OK to go ahead and enjoy? Enjoyment of pleasures and accumulation of wealth are to be strictly avoided by a sincere spiritual aspirant. The Lord has said: " Bhogaisvaryaprasaktaanam tayaapahrtacetasaam vyavasaayaatmikaa buddhih samaadhau na vidheeyate. " " No mind that is lured by sense-objects and engrossed in sensual enjoyments and glory of material possessions can ever enter, O, Partha, the state of contemplation and divine communion transcendental. " * He who is intensely attached to sense-enjoyments and acquisition of material things, cannot even conceive or decide on moving towards God. There is no resolve to turn towards God, and when this resolve is not strong enough, where is the question of God-Realization ? When one rises above the transitory attractions of sense-objects (the unreal), then God-Realization is not at all difficult. Where is the difficulty in realizing what already is, that which is self- evident, ever present, real, imperishable and eternal? That which already " IS " . It is ironical that in spite of the fact that human beings are sensible creatures, yet surprisingly they desire enjoyments and things that have a beginning and an end. Just ponder for a moment - if from whom you seek enjoyment and happiness, is he himself entirely happy? Isn't he unhappy? How could an unhappy person make you happy? One who longs enjoyments and pleasures has to face the agony of their wants. Desire for enjoyment (bhog) and for accumulation of worldly possessions (sangraha), both only cause one to commit sins. They are of no other use. One must therefore renounce the desire for enjoyment and the hoarding of material possessions. Just as one gets misery without seeking or wanting it, similarly one receives enjoyment and pleasure without desiring them. Rather an aspirant should never desire for worldly enjoyment and pleasure. At some point in time in one's life, one will have to give up worldly pleasures and enjoyments. This is inevitable, so why delay. Attraction to enjoyment and gratification from worldly pleasures and attachment to accumulation of wealth are the greatest obstacles to Realization of God (or Self). Swamiji says – seeking enjoyment from pleasure makes one weak. A large black bee, drills a hole is capable of drilling hole through a hard and impenetrable bamboo, however the same bee enclosed inside a lotus, is incapable of drilling through the soft lotus petals. The reason it the bee has become weak, because it is gaining enjoyment from sucking the nectar in the lotus. Similarly man seeks pleasures and enjoyments from the world which make him weak. This world that appears as beautiful as a lady, makes one unsteady and weak. So what is this unstable behavior, this immaturity? Seeking enjoyment from the world itself is immaturity. One has to remove this weakness. 1) What is the right thing to do based on the Gita ? Gita clearly states that - He who is free from desires, attachment, egoism and thirst for enjoyment, attains peace. Gita 2/71 Gita says - The pleasures that are born of sense-contact are verily a source of suffering only (though appearing as enjoyable to worldly minded people). They have a beginning and an end (they come and go). Arjuna, it is for this reason that a wise man does not indulge in them. (Gita 5:22). Gita clearly states - 'I am not the body'. You are separate from the body. All desires for enjoyments and for accumulation of material possession come as a result of this erroneous understanding and association with the body. 2) How to know, who is the right Guru (that can be trusted / believed)? What are the qualities? In those Gurus, Saints and Great Souls is seen the following - 1. Appears to be filled with true wisdom, seems to know the real nature of things and in whom is seen the kind of transcendental divinity and remarkableness that is not seen in anyone else. 2. Has deep knowledge of the core essence of the three spiritual disciplines - Path of Action (Karmayog), Path of Knowledge (jnanayog) and Path of Devotion (bhaktiyog) etc 3. Through whose association (satsangs) and assurances, all doubts that are in the aspirant's hearts are dispelled on their own, even without uttering a single word. 4. By staying in whose presence, joy and peace is experienced. 5. Seems to have an association with the spiritual aspirants only for their benefit and for their salvation. 6. Does not expect anything from the aspirant, even the slightest bit. 7. Whose each and every wish and aspiration is simply for the benefit of the spiritual seeker. 8. In whose company, intense longing, focus and direction towards the ultimate aim is intensified of its own accord. 9. In whose company, from face to face meetings, from lectures, through contemplation etc., evil and bad qualities are eradicated on their own, and good qualities, good behavior, divinity naturally and effortlessly prevail. 3) What does Gita say about Guru or Spiritual Master? Gita does not give as much importance to external rules, ordinances and outward transformations, as much as, internal intention and expressions (bhaava), discrimination (vivek), wisdom (boddh), deep seated spiritual quest (jigyaasa), and the spirit of sacrifice (tyaag). In the exposition of knowledge (jnana), in the following verses, " pranipaaten pariprashshren sevayaa " (Gita 4:34) and " Aachaaryoupaasenam, " (Gita 13:7) Gita has talked about serving the teachers and worshipful reverence. The significance of this verse is that, in the path of knowledge (Jnana marg), there is a greater tendency to develop arrogance, that " I am Brahma " (I am that Supreme Reality). In order to alarm the spiritual aspirant, there is the stipulation expressed or need for a realized spiritual master. However, even this is only necessary if the spiritual aspirant is lacking in intense quest or is of the deep belief that only through the instructions of a spiritual master, he can attain knowledge. But on having intense inner longing, an ardent desire, the spiritual aspirant will not feel satisfied in any condition without having attained the divine knowledge. He will not get stuck in any religious organization, and he will not consider any special qualities in himself, causing him to become egoistical. Such a sincere spiritual seeker's quest will attain realization by God's divine grace. Arjun was at all times with Lord Krishna; he used to eat, drink, stand, sit, sleep, wake-up along with Krishna. When an inner quest was awakened within Arjun, a pursuit of spiritual fortune, a desire to be released from bondage and a longing for salvation – " yacchryah syaannischintam broohi tanme, " (Gita 2:7), it was only after this state in Arjun, that Lord Krishna delivered the message of the Gita. After the awakening of this intense longing within him, Arjun considered himself a student (shishya), and on taking refuge in Lord Krishna, Arjun pleads for instructions and direction – " shishyasteham shaadhi maam tvaam prapannam " (Gita 2:7). It was not due to Master - Student age-old tradition (guru sishya parampara) that Arjun consider Lord Krishna a Guru. Also it is not that Lord Krishna started delivering the message of the Gita, only after following some scriptural traditions of first accepting Arjun as a student, thereafter giving a Guru mantra (secret magical formula, sacred verse) and placing His hand on Arjun's head. From this it is evident that for attaining spiritual progress, it is not essential too engage in Master – Disciple (guru-shishya) relationship. God's divine grace, the divine declarations of the Saints and great Souls, the Scriptures and Holy books, the atmosphere itself, all of these avail themselves to provide spiritual instructions, disciplines, tools, techniques (saamagri), automatically and naturally to a zealous spiritual seeker, who is able to grasp them. 4) Is there a need for a Guru? What if none appear to make the mark of an ideal Guru in your judgement ? For ones salvation, Guru is desirable, but a Guru that you take on, will not lead to salvation. He who is instrumental to your salvation, automatically becomes your Guru. The point is that for salvation one does not need to take on a Guru, rather those whose teachings you imbibe in your life, automatically become your Guru. It is the intense quest, inquiry, faith and belief, that one is able to take the spiritual teachings from anyone without having a formal relationship (Guru-disciple) with that individual. " Shraddhavaan labhate jyaanam " (Gita 4:39). The point is that knowledge is attained through one's own internal quest (swayam), intense pursuit, not by making someone a Guru. In reality, God is Ultimate Guru, because whoever receives knowledge, wisdom, enlightenment, he receives it from God only. " Ahamaadirhi devanaam maharshinaam cha sarvashah, " (Gita 10:2). Even Arjun while seeing the vision of God's Universal Form (Viratroop), he does stuti and says " God, you are guru of all – " " Gariyase " (Gita 11:37); " Gurugariyaan " (Gita 11:43). Therefore it is not essential for a spiritual aspirant to search and seek a spiritual guide. Considering " Krishna as the Guru of this World " " Krishnam Vande Jagatgurrum " and considering Krishna's voice and words as expounded in the Gita, as the Mantra, believing in the message, and in accordance to his orders one should get fully engaged in spiritual disciplines. If a spiritual aspirant has the need for a Guru of this world (laukik), then Jagat guru (God) will of his own accord make him meet a Guru, because God will provide for all needs of a devotee, " Yogkshemam vahaamyaham " (Gita 9:22). A Sadhak Ram Ram > > On > Behalf Of Mamta Kaura > Sunday, February 26, 2006 1:06 PM > > FW: Bhog aur Sangraha nahi karnaa hai > > Shree Hari > > Ram Ram > > > I recently heard a Hindu Spiritual Leader on TV Asia, whose general > theme was - It is Ok to go ahead and enjoy Wealth and Glamour (Shree)... > But do not forget Hari(God). After all Dwarka was made of gold too. > > I am often confused with the contradictions amongst various hindu > spiritual masters. So utterly conflicting are the various messages from > various spritual speakers. Living in the West, I feel torn and do not > know whether it is possible to live as Swami Ramsukhdasji suggests - > " Bhog aur Sangraha nahi karnaa hai. " (i.e. No enjoyment of pleasures and > accumulation of wealth and other things) and at the same time do > not>know if " Shree " is OK to go ahead and enjoy? > > 1) What is the right thing to do based on the Gita ? > 2) How to know, who is the right Guru (that can be trusted / believed)? > > What are > the qualities? > 3) What does Gita say about Guru or Spiritual Master? > 4) Is there a need for a Guru? What if none appear to make the mark of > an ideal Guru in your judgement ? > 5) Should women have a spiritual master? > > I seek advice, kindly, Mamta > Ram Ram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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