Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

Avoid Forbidden Actions

 

In the book " God Realization through Renunciation " Shri Sethji (Shri

Jayadayal Goenka) has written that the first thing to give up

(renounce) is forbidden actions such as lies, deceit, cheating,

dishonesty, eating forbidden foods, etc. Such forbidden conduct must not be done

with either the body or the mind. They are blemish and an

obstacle to the spiritual path. Therefore can't you renounce even the

blemishes? Give then up from your heart. Renunciation from one's heart

is most important. In spite of this if at sometime a sin or mistake is

committed by error, sign of spiritual progress is that it will create a burning

distress within. It will result in lack of peace. That burning distress has the

power by which it will not enable one to commit a sin again. Have a firm

determination that from henceforth we will not engage in forbidden actions. Hey

Naath! (O Father!) give me such strength whereby I do not do any actions against

Your will. Then

Bhagwaan helps, Dharma supports, scriptures provide guidance, saints and great

souls come to your help. If a person has a true and sincere

desire to walk the path towards Paramatma (God) then the entire world

comes to aid and helps him.

 

I met a blind saint who said that he developed dispassion and began to

live in a forest. Winter approached and a devotee gave him a high

quality blanket. That blanket was the only good possession he had.

There was nothing else that was that good with him. At night he heard

the sound of a few people. He thought that they might be robbers or

thieves and that they may take away his blanket. He thought that it is

better he initiate conversation with them, so he started talking to

them. They saw that he was a Babaji, so they spoke the truth to him,

and said - Maharaj! we were going to rob you, even though our intention was not

to take up stealing, but due to the the heavy taxation imposed by the

government, and our incapability to pay these, we are turning towards stealing.

The saint said that it was not proper on their part to steal. They too agreed

that it was not the right thing to do, but there was no way out to pay for the

tax levies, with money they did not have. In the end however, they did not take

away his blanket. A man commits sins out of greed, covetousness, giving misery

to others, and take their wealth. It is so sinful, so unjust. But an

extraordinary and uncommon point is not to commit any sin, in spite of having no

wealth, in spite of facing financial hardship.

 

The kings Sibi, Dadhichi and Harishcandra suffered lots of hardships for holding

on to righteousness (Dharma)

 

" Sibi, Dadheech, Harichand naresaa

sahe dharam hit koti kalesaa (Manasa 2:94:2)

 

But they did not give up righteousness and duty, even though facing many

hardships.

 

Patience, righteousness, friend and wife are tested in the face of

adversity as mentioned by Goswami Tulasidasa

 

" Dheeraj, dharma, mitre aru naari

Aapad kaal parikhiahin chaari (Manasa 3:4:4)

 

A man is tested during hardships. Therefore it essential for a man to

not loose patience. When a thunder-storm blows high winds sometimes the big

trees are rooted our. But if a tree remains agile and safe then there is no

danger to it. In the same way the wind of lust, anger and greed etc. come and go

away, thereafter all is OK. Simply be patient for sometime, and their momentum

comes to an end and everything is set right. You may face the worst of

adversity, even die of starvation but have a firm determination not to do

forbidden actions, injustice and sins. If you have nothing to eat, the severest

punishment you may get is to die of starvation. But if you commit sins, it will

pave the way to 84 lakh forms of lives and hell and there is no more severe

punishment than hell. But if you are once determined not to commit a sin, no

power can force you to do so.