Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

5. Have a Firm Determination

 

Question: As long as worldly pleasures do not come in front of us,

till that time we are firm that we will not get entangled in

enjoyment of worldly pleasures. But when we come face to face with

such enjoyments, we become weak. What should we do? (cont'd Part 5)

 

Swamiji: When enjoyments come in front of you, all things that you

have heard or learned, all become useless. There is a story. There

was a learned man. Every night he used to give lectures. He had

taught a cat to sit in front of him and on his head he would place a

candle so that he could read the spiritual tales in candle light.

Some one would question, that my mind is not steady, at which he

would reply to them - " Look as this cat, how controlled she sits,

then why not you? " One man wanted to test the situation further to

see how still this cat remains. Next day he brought a little mouse.

When the learned man was sharing the tales, he released the mouse in

front of the cat. As soon as the cat laid eyes on the mouse, it

instantly pounced on the mouse and the candle fell off ! This is the

same state we all are in. When listening to wonderful divine

stories, we all remain quiet, but when objects of enjoyment and

pleasure come in front of our eyes,

then things become out of control. This is because deep within there

is still a great attraction for money and enjoyments etc. therefore

when money comes in front of the eyes, it becomes difficult to

ignore. It is not that the attraction was not there before, it was

always there but it was subdued.

 

When an ordinary metal is plated with gold, it appears to be made of

gold. Similarly learned things are like that plating. But that which

is experiential knowledge, which is known is firm. It is solid. One

who has had experiential knowledge of the real Self, in front of

such a one, whatever may come, he will remain unaffected. In all

situations he will remain, as is.

 

People consider God Realization to be difficult, but in reality, God

Realization is not difficult, but what is difficult is giving up the

desire for enjoyment and pleasures.

 

God has said in the Bhagavad Gita -

" Bhogaishvarya prasaktaanaam tayaapahchetasaam

Vyavasaayaatmika buddhih samaadhau ne vidhiyate. " (Gita 2:44)

 

One who is attracted to enjoyment of pleasures and acquisition of

things, that one cannot even have a firm resolve to realize God. He

will be far from God Realization, but worst yet, the firm

determination that I want to realize only God, I want to only gain

salvation - he will be unable to firmly resolve towards this aim.

Rather, as long as within there is desire, attraction and importance

given to worldly things and enjoyments, till that time, however much

you learn these talks, you will be unable to resolve towards God

Realization. When the objective, the goal itself is not firm, then

how will God Realization be possible?

 

(to be continued)