Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

On Cheerfulness of Mind - Gita 17:16

 

" Cheerfulness of mind, gentleness, calmness and contemplation, self-

control, purity of thought - are called, the penance of mind. "

(Gita 17:16)

 

Manah prasaadah saumyatvam maunamaatmavinigrahah

Bhaavasamsuddhirityetattapo maanasamucyate. " (Gita 17:16)

 

Let us focus just on the first word - " Cheerfulness of Mind. " It is

called " Manahprasaadah. Cheerfulness due to contact of persons,

things, country, time, situations, circumstances, incidents etc., is

not permanent. It cannot stay with you at all times; because that

which comes and goes, is not the kind that remains the same at all

times.

 

On leaving association of evils doers and actions, the ever present

and innate joy (inner cheerfulness, prasannataah) will manifest

naturally. This type of innate joy and cheerfulness remains at all

times. It seeps into the mind and intellect, and thereafter there

is never any loss of serenity and peace i.e. one remains joyful

(cheerful) at all times.

 

When does a man experience lack of peace, disturbances of the mind?

When he begins to depend on wealth, possessions, wife - son and

other perishable objects. Those things and persons that he is

depending on, are all the kind that are coming and going. It will

not remain stable with you. That is, in their coming together and

departing, the mind becomes restless. If the sadhak (spiritual

aspirant) leaves dependencies of those things that are temporary and

perishable, and depends only on Prabhu (God), who is Eternal and

Imperishable, then the meeting and departing of persons and things,

will not result in restlessness or loss of peace.

 

The method to remain cheerful (joyful) is -

 

1) One should remain free from attachment and aversion to persons,

objects, incidents and circumstances etc.

 

2) Out of egoism and selfishness, one must not be partial with any

one.

 

3) One should fill the mind completely and entirely with divine

traits, such as compassion, forgiveness and generosity etc.

 

4) One should have feelings of welfare of all beings

 

5) One whose diet is balanced and regular, whose nature favors

living in solitude, who on being asked, shares at times insights

that are spiritually beneficial, in other words, speaks very little,

he who is moderate in sleep and recreation. In this manner, that

which is in accordance to the ordinance of the scriptures, such a

spiritual aspirant, gains cheerfulness (Joyfulness) of mind, very

quickly.

 

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Evil Is Our Own Doing

 

In Gita, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, to become merely an

instrument.

 

" Nimit maatram bhav savyasaachin. " (Gita 11:33)

 

I may become merely an instrument, but performing this work

properly, is beyond my power. O Lord ! You help me with your

power, to do this properly. The Lord keeps the honor and promise of

such a devotee.

 

" Us sewak ki laaj, pratigyaa raakhe saayi. "

 

Whatever God does, he does good. Whatever happens through God is

good and good only. Through Him there is protection, there is help

and aid, there is gains, there is never any loss.

 

" Bhoondi banai sou aapki " Evil is your very own doing. Man himself

does evil. If he is not willing to do so, no one can force him.

Man makes all kinds of excuses and nothing else - The law did so

and so, people did such and such, bad company was responsible for

this, the environment and circumstances were such, it was our

misfortune, we did not meet a proper spiritual guide etc. But all

these are merely excuses and nothing else. No one in the least bit,

can do anything to harm you, until you are prepared to harm

yourself. If you have a firm determination and dependence on only

God, no one can degrade you. If you call from within - Oh Lord,

without your grace, I will be unable to do this. When there is

faith in such grace, then your downfall will never be possible. By

taking refuge at the Lotus feet of the Lord alone, Bhagwaan (God)

says -

 

" I shall liberate you from all sins, worry not. "

 

" Sarva dharmanparityajya maamekum sharanam vraj

Aham tvaa sarva paapebhyo mokshayishyaami maasuchah. " (Gita 18:66)

 

" Mamekum sharanam vraj " the condition is that if you seek refuge in

wealth, in lies and falsehood, in fraud and in dishonesty, then

brother, it is not in my hands. What does man do ? He takes the

support of lies, dishonesty, falsehood, and fraud.

 

When it is said, do not commit sins, the people say, " Maharaj ! in

present times that will not be possible. Your advice is outdated

and old fashioned. In present times, this will not do. If we do

so, we shall die of starvation. Rather we cannot live. How can we

live only by truthfulness? Almost 50% of our earnings go into some

form of taxation. Nowadays man is not able to sustain by being

honest and truthful. How can we earn our livelihood, with your

advice? " My sincere response is - earn less and live within your

income and means. With that, no one will be able to make you commit

sins. Then people say they need money to marry their daughters and

maintain a certain standard of living in society. To maintain a

high standard is called civilized in modern times. Therefore what

is one to do? Kindly sever all connections with this sort of

civilization and don't maintain it. Don't be afraid of being

insulted or dishonored by doing just and righteous actions. If

people criticize even after you follow the righteous path, then let

them criticize.