Excerpts from Rishi Prasad – 18 Issue 177 Sept, 2007

Satsang News

The fifth and final phase of Gurupurnima festival was

celebrated at the Guru‟s Abode in Amdavad Ashram. Even after
the programmes of darshana and satsanga being held towards the
Gurupurnima festival at four other venues of the country prior to
this programme, the enormously large number of devotees coming here defied all predictions.
Naturally enough, all arrangements made for them
fell far short of the actual requirement. The
organizers were woefully tensed in the wake of such
unmanageable circumstances. However, under the
benign guidance of Pujya Bapuji, they regained
control over the baffling situation and were soon
able to manage things quite well.

Though scheduled to be held from 28th to

30th July, the Gurupurnima darshana and satsanga
programme practically got underway well before the
schedule on 26th July itself and instead of the
scheduled three days, the programme continued for
5 days here. On this pious festival of Vyasapurnima,
Pujya Bapuji was present in the pulpit, while the
devotees, after waiting for long in ten long
serpentine queues; would cross through His vicinity
and feel blessed by having His divine darshana.
How satsanga helps people keep cheerful even
amidst adverse circumstances was clearly visible
among these devotees. While giving them the
message of leading a healthy, happy and
equanimous life Pujyashree said,

„Cheerfulness of the mind in itself is greater than all

omens.‟
„May you all, day and night, i.e. always, keep
cheerful.‟
(The Agni Purana: 230.13 - The Atharva Veda).

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 Excerpts from Rishi Prasad – 18 Issue 177 Sept, 2007

This delightful festival of Vyasapurnima

imparts the message of – „All in One and One in
all‟. In case fearlessness has been missing in your
life, do awaken it by all means. Do away with all
negative thoughts of disappointment, dejection
and escapism. Be optimistic. Have a wholesome
diet. Learn the art of keeping happy and cheerful.
Remember God with devotional love.

The message for this purnima is that you

should undo your knots of ignorance; and
recollect day and night your oneness with the
cosmic power and the Guru Tattva lying latent
within you.

Imbibe the Wine Divine that Elevates You

Once the friends of Diogenese offered him a
glass of some very costly liquor, which he calmly
emptied into a dustbin. His friends asked him,
“How could you ever waste that costly liquor?”,
“What are you people doing?” Diogenese
quipped a counter question. “We are drinking.a”
They said. Then Diogenese explained, “You are
rushing your lives towards sure ruination
drinking the same stuff that I just poured into the
dustbin. Thus, while I wasted only the liquor, you
people are wasting your liquor and life both.
It‟s no use drinking liquor to the fill; That joy of
night will wane by the morning. You‟d better
imbibe the wine divine; This will see your life go
high soaring.

The ill effects of the bottled liquor can

harm a man right upto his tenth generation. Then,
it is but all so very natural for the wine divine of
the Lord‟s pious name to be quite capable of
liberating a man‟s family right upto his 21st
generation

The Garuda Purana says:

„Satsanga and discrimination – these are
the two clean eyes of man. One devoid of these two
is actually blind. How can he save himself from
treading the evil path?‟ (49.57)

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 Excerpts from Rishi Prasad – 18 Issue 177 Sept, 2007

He is bound to suffer troubles, afflictions, life in wombs of mothers and hells. This
is as sure as death. Even Lord Brahma can not save him.
Satsanga and discrimination are the two clean eyes of men. The physical eyes are not
clean. No matter how much you treat them with all kinds of collyrium and Netrabindu eye drops,
filthy substances continue to come out of them. If they happen to see a beautiful damsel, impure
thoughts come in the mind. If they see a delicious stuff, the mouth starts watering. So, this is not
clean vision. But by the grace of God and the Guru, when discrimination is kindled, one
experiences his oneness with the Supreme Being, the direct and immediate experience of the
Absolute.
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

Personal Liking & Goodwill

One is personal liking or passion and the other is goodwill. The passion for the samsara
gradually enslaves one thereto; while goodwill, in due course of time, does lead one to the Truth
personified God. One driven by goodwill does get divine inspirations at virtually every step of
his life besides having his intellect sharpened ever further. Thus goodwill brings real happiness
into one‟s life, paves the way for divine inspirations to guide him suitably and finally unites him
with the Truth Absolute. Personal liking ensnares man in sense pleasures, but goodwill leads one
into the practice of yoga quite naturally.

General Dyer had perpetrated the Jalianwala Baug massacre in the year 1919 AD and thereby
earned wide-spread notoriety among the people of that time.
The „Hunter Committee‟ that probed into the case did denigrate and censure him in the
harshest words; whereupon he lost his job as well. Then, eventually he was down with a (severe)
paralytic attack in 1921 AD. And the Nature‟s wrath of vengeance did not stop at that but made
him suffer the pangs of arthritis as well. A few days before his death when he was still suffering
from (acute) arthritis and in a conscious state, he declared, “May the world at large know from
me in these final moments of my life the consequent end of a person who, like me, basks in the
vainglory of being very clever and doesn‟t feel any sort of hesitation or shame while acting in an
absolutely violent manner.”
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

A Yogi and A Lustful Person, Both Need Celibacy

Be he a recluse or a householder, a yogi or a lustful person, both invariably, need a
healthy body to achieve their goals. Hence there is an old adage, “A sound mind in a sound
body.” Thus a powerful mind, a holy soul, can abide in a healthy body only. A saintly recluse
does stand in need of a healthy body and for that he needs celibacy, the preservation of semen.

In order to enjoy the pleasure of a dinner, one has to be hungry; for without an appetite
the food seems tasteless. The basis of the relish of food is a good appetite, so too celibacy is the
foundation of the apparent pleasure derived from the breach of celibacy, the sex act. One who
has not observed celibacy is not eligible for indulging in sensual pleasures either. And if anyone
does so, it is just like trying to be a heroic donor by taking loans. But for how long can that hero

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celebrate his heroism after all, by mindlessly wasting the vital elements of his body without
conserving them? Hence even a lustful person needs to observe celibacy in order to experience
sensual pleasure. Whether it is for attaining Brahmic bliss like a yogi or sensual enjoyment (an
inferior variety of bliss) like a lustful one, observance of celibacy, which is the very foundation
of bliss, is but a must.
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

Keep it in your mind that the Bliss-personified Lord Supreme is equipped with all divine
riches and is always with us abiding verily in our own hearts. Joy or bliss does not come from
some external source or object. When the mental modifications are pacified one gets glimpses of
the Bliss-personified Lord and thereby experiences bliss. Likewise, when the mental
modifications are aroused one feels to be losing the bliss, but that bliss does never go anywhere.
It is only the ignorance of the Bliss-personified Lord that veils the bliss lying within us. Upon
getting enlightened one attains the very Lord Who is but eternally his own. One does not get
something that was not with him already. In fact, there is absolutely nothing other than Atman,
the Self. All of creation is but filled up with the all-pervading Supreme Self alone.

Know for sure that the object of your search is verily you. You and the Lord are not
separate entities. Similarly, You and I are no different either, but the same in essence. It is only
on the planes of name and form that we appear as different. God, Guru and the Self are all
essentially one and the same. You alone are the Truth, Consciousness and Bliss Absolute. You
are not the gross, subtle, causal or mega-causal body, but are yourself the one who knows it,
proves its existence and brings it into light. You alone do bring the sun, the moon, the planets,
etc. – all into existence. Only due to the ignorance of the Truth personified Self, you have
mistakenly identified yourself with this gross, subtle, etc. body, but this isn‟t the Truth.

The actual Truth is that the One you are searching through Self-enquiry is none other
than you. And all this visible and invisible world is but you alone, nothing else. Bondage is
caused by the ignorance only. Otherwise, you are ever liberated and benevolence personified.
You are yourself salvation personified, therefore it is absolutely futile to worry about attaining
the same. Whatever exists is verily you and nothing other than you. Unfathomed and infinite is
your glory. It can not be described in words.
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

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 Excerpts from Rishi Prasad – 18 Issue 177 Sept, 2007

Transcend All Dvandvas!

- Pujya Bapuji

You must have four virtues in your life irrespective of whatever caste, race, stage of life
you belong to or whatever business, job or stage of edu-cation you are in.
The first virtue you should have in life is the tolerance to-wards
all dvand-vas or pairs of opposites, i.e. maintain-ing equanimity in
opposite con-ditions such as pleasure and sorrow, honour and
dishonour, adversity and prosperity, profit and loss, praise and
censure.

Try to be equanimous in these dvandvas. Do not lose your

patience even when faced with the greatest of adversities, nor be a
slave to even the most favourable circumstances. No matter how
great an opposition you may have to face, do not fall from your height of equanimity and
wisdom.

Bring tolerance into your life and be equanimous in the face of dvandvas. Have patience
during sorrows, adapt the virtue of renunciation during pleasures, nurture an optimistic outlook
in the face of adversities and you will get the strength to trample over the circumstances coming
in your life.

When engaged in worldly activities, be neutral, not yielding to emotionalism and do not
be indifferent to spiritual pursuit. Let your heart melt. Just as when you add colour to molten
wax, the colour spreads throughout the wax, whereby it becomes difficult to separate the colour
from the wax. Similarly, when you worship God, practise japa, meditation and selfless service,
and remember and contemplate God, let your heart be melted like wax so that it is imbued with
devotional love and your mind becomes one with God. But ironically enough, what we
practically do is that we let our heart melt when engaged in worldly activities and keep it
indifferent when engaged in devotion. At the time of satsanga your heart should be like molten
wax so that it is dyed with the colour divine.

Sant Kabirji has said:

„My Master is the Dyer;
He has dyed my scarf;
He has removed the colour black,
And dyed me with the madder colour of devotion.
The colour doesn‟t fade on being washed;
It‟s rather getting faster by every passing day.‟
The real Dyer is verily the Supreme Self Himself. Sant Tukaramji too calls the Supreme Self as
„Ranganatha‟, i.e. the Dyer Lord. We should keep our heart melted during devotional practices,
meditation and satsanga so that the Master, the Supreme Self, the Real Dyer, may colour us in
His colour divine; and keep our heart indifferent when engaged in worldly affairs. This will
make it easy for us to experience the higher spiritual state that is beyond dvandvas.
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

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Sleep and Samadhi

(Excerpts from the satsanga of Pujya Bapuji)

There is no might or power that doesn‟t emanate from a

complete exertionless repose. All kinds of psychic power and
happiness are available through exertionless repose alone.
There are three types of exertion – physical exertion, mental
exertion and intellectual exertion. Suppose one is sitting idle, his
mind and intellect may still be at work if the process of weaving a web of resolves and counter
resolves continues within.
Mind you, it‟s not sleep, but the state of exertionless repose; this alone is called samadhi. What is
the difference between sleep and samadhi? The pleasure of sleep is tamasic in nature and it
removes fatigue, while the bliss of spiritual peace (samadhi) is sattvic in nature and it increases
the ojas that eradicates ignorance. One wakes up from sleep relieved of physical fatigue but
remains the same as he was before sleeping. The level of his mental and intellectual being after
waking from sleep will be the same as it was when he went to sleep. But on coming out of
samadhi, having exertionless repose by meditating on the Supreme Self, one finds the mind and
the intellect sublimated with a change in wisdom and surfacing of elevated thoughts and lofty
ideas.

In sleep, some people droop forwards while others droop backwards. If the head droops
forwards, it means that the mind is concentrated in the heart and one is overcome by sleep. If the
mind is overcome by inertia the head will droop backwards. In samadhi, the head remains
straight.

In the Satayuga there was a majority of yogis and Self-realized saints. They didn‟t sleep.
They meditated for eight hours which, apart from being a mode of sadhana, fulfilled their
requirement of sleep as well. In any case, if one practises meditation perfectly for 4 hours, he can
make do with 2 hours of sleep.

I have seen Ghatwale Baba holding spiritual discussions till midnight or 1 am and then he
would wake up at 3 am to go into the jungle where he would meditate and carry out spiritual
practices. Whenever he felt tired, he would take a nap for one or two hours. For a yogi, 4 hours
of sleep is more than enough. 8 and 6 hours of sleep are sufficient for a child and a worldly or
pleasure-seeking man respectively.
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

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A Brief Account of Insomniacs

In the Prajagara Parva, occurring in the Udyaoga Parva of the Mahabharata, there is a
description about Dhritarashtra suffering from insomnia and Vidura explaining to him about the
types of people that fall prey to this disorder:

“O King! One who has developed enmity with some powerful person, is weak, is devoid
of wherewithal, whose all belongings have been usurped, who is a lustful person or a thief, does
suffer from insomnia.”
(Udyoga Parva: 33.13)

Even the following types of people suffer from insomnia:

1. Whose mind is haunted by the frequent memory of dead people.
2. Who has a lot of works to do.
3. Whose mind is agitated with anger.
4. Whose mind is more prone to mental agitation.
5. Who has too many attachments in his mind.
6. Whose mind is too much afflicted with hatred.

How enormously cumbersome is the burden of karma, anxiety, tension, etc. on the head
of people that they can‟t even sleep at night and have to depend on sleeping pills for that! This
problem has already taken a serious form in western countries. And though India has still only
marginally been affected by this problem the preys thereto are primarily those who in slavish
compliance with foreign cultures give too much importance to fast food, etc. in their diet as well
as to the comfort and convenience of the physical world while considering spiritual progress to
be minor. (Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

Sadhana and its Objective

Irrespective of whatever name a man gives to the purpose behind his action, the only real
motive behind it is removal of misery and attainment of happiness. Some people think, „On
having amassed such and such amount of gold, silver, diamond and pearls; our miseries will be
removed and we will be happy. But if you rack your brains, you will realize that even those who
are already in possession of all these things have yet not attained freedom from miseries. Even
the so-called rich people, business tycoons, property magnates and money lenders of society
admit that they are not happy. „I will be happy if I get this much‟ – this is but an absolutely false
notion and has its roots in ignorance.

„I will be happy if I pass my exams…‟ what great will you achieve by passing the
exams? „I will be happy if I get a job…‟ Are they happy who have a job? „I will be happy if I get
married…‟ Are they happy, who are married? „I will be happy if I beget a son… If my son gets
married, how happy I would be! I wish my son is separated from me, I would then be happy…‟
You can be happy only if you know your Real Self, or else there will be misery, and nothing else
but misery for you!

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Some say, „We will be happy if we get these objects of enjoyment.‟ I know people who
over indulged in sense pleasures and died suffering from tuberculosis, asthma, blood-pressure
and insomnia; but failed to attain happiness. By indulging in sensual pleasures, people have
become afflicted with diseases and died a miserable death but never attained happiness.
Somebody said, “We will be happy if so and so much of our business assignments is
completed.” But these business assignments have never been completed in anybody‟s life. One
assignment gives rise to another and so on.
Just as a child is born out of a (grown up) child and a tree out of a tree, so also does one
assignment give rise to another and that goes on till the very end of life.

A mantra in the Rigveda says,

“Invoke power in yourself.” (9.113.1)
Attain the strength to protect yourself from carnal pleasures and passions,
Attain the strength to obtain real happiness.
Another said, “I will be happy sitting quiet.” If it were so, stones would have been the happiest!
Go and become a rock then if you want to sit quietly!
Man should have a shelter (of Knowledge) that would keep him bliss personified, both in
samadhi and distraction, richness and poverty, action and inaction, enjoyment and renunciation,
quiet and disquiet, sleep and waking state. May the bliss of the Atman be constantly available to
you while waking or sleeping, while in samadhi or engaged in activity. May the benign grace of
the Lord Absolute enlighten your being. That alone will see the accomplishment of your
purpose, i.e. complete eradication of misery and attainment of bliss. If you assign the
accomplishment of your purpose to the attainment of a particular object, viz. „I will be happy if
the circumstances are such and such… or if I become so and so… or if it doesn‟t happen that
way…‟, you are absolutely wrong. Actually, you have no relationship whatsoever with the
objects and circumstances of the world; and you are never distant from the Bliss-personified
Self. (Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

The Supreme Sadhana

Everything is verily a manifestation of God; where then do differences, delusion,
misfortune and misery exist? They exist in the „seeing‟ without right knowledge. For as you see,
so is the world. It is the same creation, the same Atman and the same five elements of nature as
well. The difference is in the perception of the enlightened sage and that of the ignorant jiva. It‟s
verily for this reason that saints have extolled „recollection of the Supreme Soul‟ as the highest
among all means (of sadhana). The Truth-Consciousness and Bliss Absolute Being permeates
every place, every moment and every jiva in the same measure and content, but those who stick
to the master means of recollecting God with constant awareness are alone able to revel in the
joy and ecstasy of that Bliss personified Consciousness. Japa of the Lord‟s name too reaches the
highest level only when it is done with due remembrance of God. All the scriptures, dealing
mainly with the subject of salvation, have generously eulogized this beautiful means.

“The merit of propitiating Lord Vishnu which could be accomplished in the course of
one year in Satyayuga, could be accomplished in a month in Tretayuga O King, and the same in
a fortnight in Dvaparayuga. Whereas ten times that merit can be achieved through mere

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remembrance of Lord Vishnu in Kaliyuga.” (The Skanda Purana, Vaishnava Khanda, Vaishakha
Masa Mahatmya: 22.20-21)
“May all remember and remind each other of Hari, Who annihilates the mass of sins
instantly.”(The Srimad Bhagawata: 11.3.31)

Devarshi Naradaji considers “extreme agitation in moments of forgetfulness of the Lord

as verily a sign of steadfast devotion” (The Narada Bhakti Darshana: 19)
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

Yoga of Divine Recollection, Charity &

Discrimination
(Excerpts from the satsanga of Pujya Bapuji)

Notwithstanding its numerous demerits, Kaliyuga has one excellent merit. With lust,
anger, greed, attachment, diseases, deceit, loss of peace, wars discord between brothers and
spouses, etc. ruling the roost in the Kali-age, it has become a „Filth-age‟ in effect. But then, it has
an enormous excellence too in the form of „Smriti Yoga‟, i.e. recollection of the Lord or the yoga
(union) through the name divine.

Irrespective of how small a means of sadhana you take recourse to, if you earnestly aim
at attaining God driven by a firm conviction of – „God alone is mine‟, all defects of Kaliyuga are
automatically nullified. Then the incoming wealth would not be wasted on unworthy pursuits but
would duly be spent on good endeavours alone. The wealth that is not spent on righteous
endeavours is sure to be wasted on evil pursuits, viz. indulgence in alcohol, non-vegetarian
foods, gambling, etc. or else would be mindlessly squandered away by one‟s progeny; otherwise
end up falling into the taxman‟s net.

Three things are supremely important in Kaliyuga. One of them is of course – „Smriti
Yoga‟, i.e. remembering the Lord along with the japa of His name divine; while the second one
is „Dana Yoga‟, i.e. exercise of charity. „Charity is the only means in Kaliyuga.‟ One possessing
wealth should donate it. One should serve if he is able. A knowledgeable person may go ahead
and enlighten the people. But it should not be a mere bookish knowledge enabling him to deliver
discourses. He should first imbibe and assimilate the Knowledge of his Guru by leading a life of
total obedience to Him. Donations of peace, knowledge, devotion and love are all essential
virtues. Once virtues are developed, vices will automatically vanish and the heart will be purified
as a matter of course.
If you experience an increasing peace of mind, are treading the path of dharma and utilize your
money in dharma oriented pursuits rather than wasting it on mindless pampering of your fanciful
desires, your money will prove to be a saviour to you. But in case your money is spent only
towards bringing sense pleasures and luxury to you, it would but prove to be a degrader to you.
The two means of „divine recollection‟ and inclination towards good endeavours lead one to
salvation.

And the third important thing is to awaken discrimination by reflecting on the matters
like – what ultimately do the worldly achievements bring us? … What after all do we get by

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amassing a large sum of money? … What truly worthy do we get even after having amassed a
sizeable amount of wealth? After all, everything has to be left behind when the body crosses the
portals of the grave. Hence, before death overtakes us we should make it a point to realize the
deathless Self. Let us know and comprehend That Peace Absolute and Consciousness Absolute
Self, Which does not die even after the death of the body.
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

The Self-Bliss - Pujya Bapuji

This incident relates to My childhood. I had read somewhere of Lord Vishnu saying to
Ma Lakshmiji, who was massaging His feet, “Lakshmi! You may be thinking that you are
massaging My feet and that is giving Me great pleasure making me sleep comfortably. It is not
that I am deriving pleasure from your massaging my feet. I revel in the bliss of Knowledge
ensconced in the Gita. I am contented in the bliss of Self by myself. Your pressing my feet
doesn‟t add to my bliss; rather I am giving you an opportunity to serve by letting you press my
feet.”

Brahmavettas don‟t get joy by getting something or by meeting somebody. They are bliss
personified themselves. If you see them blissful, don‟t think that it is because of some external
agent. And one, whose joy depends upon external agents, is not a Brahmavetta. A knower of
Brahman is contented in Himself.

Ordinary children look beautiful if they wear beautiful clothes, but Lord Sri Krishna
lends beauty to whatever He wears. Ordinary people look graceful in good clothes and
ornaments, but a Brahmavetta looks graceful in whatever he does. Jadabharataji looked graceful
even when he was made to carry the king‟s palanquin along with the kaharas. Ashtavakraji
looked graceful even in his awkward gait, while was due to the deformities in his body. Lord
Rama looks graceful even which wailing for His wife Sitaji and brother Lakshmanaji.
What a marvellous effect the-Bliss personified Self has! Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama and great
men have Supreme Bliss as their very Being; same is the case with you. You only need to wake
up, that‟s all. (Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

Life should be full of Divine Joy

One is the action-born pleasure, the sensual pleasure, which is
derived from eating, drinking and clothing the body. Eat,
drink; not for pleasure, otherwise you will suffer ailments
caused by overeating. Sex for the purpose of procreation is
okay; but will invite premature old-age if it is done for
pleasure. In this, you merely enjoy some momentary pleasure, only to repent in the end. A
momentary phase of amorous dalliance between a husband and wife is followed by fatigue,
strife and misery. You enjoy drinking liquor or eating meat and end up with health hazards.
Similarly if you wallowed in the joy of being praised, you will but cry when slandered.

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Sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing are the five kinds of action-
born or sensual pleasures. If one develops the habit of seeking happiness
from worldly objects, one will meet his end very soon. It is better instead
to observe self-restraint and get the joy of Bhagvad Bhava, devotional
sentiments, japa or meditation. But then, even japa or meditation cannot
be continued perennially. Nor can the same kind of Bhava or spirit of
devotional love be maintained forever, as emotions will keep changing.
They actually commit a grave mistake who say, “I used to have such and such experiences in
meditation. Bapuji! I could see You in my dreams but now I do not have such experiences any
more. Alas! I am lost.” These are, after all, emotional joys and emotions keep changing.
Happiness, whether external or emotional, cannot remain constant and those who wish to keep
them constant, create misery for themselves. “I should look beautiful forever.” Well, that is
impossible, for beauty belongs to Nature and hence is ephemeral.

Superior to emotional joy is the pleasure derived through vichara, i.e. spiritual reflection,
as it involves (comparatively) less efforts. The joy of reflection is derived by moulding the
mind in accordance with the principle that has once been assimilated.
Greater even than that joy is the bliss derived through knowledge. On realizing the very genesis
of that bliss as one‟s real „I‟ –
„Blessed with the grace of the Perfected Guru;
And the knowledge of the Perfected Guru having descended upon Him,
Asumal was transformed into Sai Asaram.
As a witness to the three states of waking,
Dream and deep sleep;
He revels in the Brahmic Bliss.‟
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

Divine Answers from a Benign Heart

Question: Who is the Supreme well-wisher (friend)?
Answer: God.
Question: Which is the Supreme Knowledge?
Answer: Self-knowledge.
Question: Which is the biggest power?
Answer: The power of Truth.
Question: Which is the greatest virtue?
Answer: Altruism.
Question: Which is the most genuine relationship?
Answer: That between the Soul and the Supreme Soul.
Question: Which is the most selfless relationship?
Answer: That between the Sadguru and a worthy disciple.
Question: Which was the seed-mantra that emanated from
Krishna‟s flute and captivated its listeners?
Answer: The seed-mantra „klÐÒ‟.
Question: How does one attain power and competence?
Answer: Through peace and meditation.

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Question: What depletes power?

Answer: Worldly pleasures and sexual indulgence.
Question: What is the biggest dependence?
Answer: The biggest dependence is our inability to live without a thing or individual.
Question: Who is the biggest miser?
Answer: One who hankers after the world having no time for God is the biggest miser.
Question: Which is the most excellent music?
Answer: The Ajapa Gayatri.
Question: What is the method of practising Ajapa Gayatri?
Answer: Mental incantation of „so‟ during inhalation and „haÒ‟ during exhalation is called
Ajapa Gayatri. Not even a single breath should go unaccompanied by such incantation.
Question: Who is the greatest physician?
Answer: Fasting.
Question: When does man wake up?
Answer: When finding the worldly pleasures and luxuries to be worthless and trivial he
develops love for God.
Question: Which is the biggest form of Freedom (self-reliance)?
Answer: To be happy and satiated in one‟s own Self with no dependence on anybody else for
one‟s personal happiness is the biggest form of Freedom (self-reliance).
„I have my beloved Lord in my heart,
whenever I wish, I can see Him.‟
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

Nectarine Drops from the Yogavasishtha

This attachment towards the world is extremely painful. There is no doubt in the fact that
like a snake, it bites those who come to the world, it slays them like a sword and pierces them
like a spear, it binds their limbs like a rope, burns them like fire and blinds them like night,
knocks them unconscious like a stone falling on their head, robs them of their discrimination,
destroys the propriety of conduct and pushes man into the dark well of delusion. In this world,
desire makes man debilitated, i.e. just as the moon plant is rubbed and squeezed for its juice so
also does it numb every organ and sub-organ of the body of man. To put it in a nutshell, there is
no misery which is not suffered by a worldly man.

As a result of an assemblage of saints, a miserable place devoid of wealth and one‟s kith
and kin becomes prosperous and populated, even death is converted into a celebration and
misfortunes appear verily like good fortunes.
Just as poor people look at pearls with great love, so also should one endeavour to have
darshana of those blessed saints whose minds are satiated with the bliss of Self-repose.
Penance or other modes of self-mortification are of no help in destroying the mind. The mind,
spiritually trained with discrimination, gives up its tendency of developing modifications of
sankalpas-vikalpas and devlops the Brahmakara Vritti leading to Self Realization that is
endowed with the all-pervading consciousness of the Brahman. The destruction of the mind is
the attainment of the Supreme goal of human life and the dawn of total eradication of all
miseries. Therefore, endeavour to destroy your mind and not to engage it in external activities.
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

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 Excerpts from Rishi Prasad – 18 Issue 177 Sept, 2007

Lessons to the Mind

(Excerpts from the discourses of Brahmaleena Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj)

The mind is extremely restless. It is really difficult to control the

mind, but this too becomes easy with practice. We should take a
retrospective look at our actions every day and sincerely repent for the
inauspicious or sinful ones. We ought to persuade the mind, „O mind!
You have committed numerous offences till today. You misled the
senses to depravity, thereby causing degeneration and ruination. And
how strange it is that even after the passage of the most precious years
of life you are still reluctant to refrain from the wrong doings! Fear the
Lord. Have faith in Him. The Lord Supreme is beholding all our
actions.

„O mind! If you do not acquiesce, it will be difficult for you to

find a place even in hell, let alone that in heaven. Your certificates,
wisdom and temporal knowledge won‟t protect you against the
onslaught of sorrows. O debased mind! You have brought my degeneration. You have made me
fall for the momentary sense pleasures, thereby depriving me of true happiness and destroying
my strength, intellect and health. If the offences that you have forced me to commit be revealed
to the people, they will curse me and admonish me with contempt.
„O depraved mind! On account of having committed evil deeds and made evil resolves in
association with you, I am being cursed today. How can I face them with dignity who know my
evil acts? Yet, you are not ready to acquiesce in and tempting me to evil deeds!
„O kind-hearted Lord! Give me patience and wisdom. Guide me on the righteous path. My
depraved mind has ruined me. My human birth has gone in vain. The depraved mind is a devil.‟
Keep persuading the mind in this manner constantly, whereupon the mind will lose its sway
over you and come under your control. If you march on the path of Truth, justice and honesty,
salvation is not difficult.

Never trust your mind. Given a free reign, the mind will put your very life into jeopardy.
A goad has to be used properly in order to keep an elephant under control. Similarly, in order to
keep the mind under control one needs to take regular recourse to satsanga, virtuous
contemplation, pious study and translating the precepts thereof into life. Make a time-table
leaving no room for the mind to be empty. Bind every moment of your life with the shackle of
punctuality giving no freedom to the mind. You must sincerely regret for the time you have
already wasted. The supremely gracious Lord is very kind. Take refuge in Him and He will
certainly protect you. Though humans, we lack in humanity. Everywhere it is
barbarousness that meets the eyes. In order to become true humans, bring self-restraint in your
life. „A human being (manushya) is one who can forge a relationship with God through the
mind (manas)‟.
(Read the complete article in Sept 2007 issue of Rishi Prasad)

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 Excerpts from Rishi Prasad – 18 Issue 177 Sept, 2007

AMLA – The Holy and Healthful Fruit

In one episode of the Padma Purana, Lord Shiva says to Kartikeya, “Dear son! The fruit
of Amla is supremely holy. It is believed to be pleasing to Lord Vishnu and very auspicious. Its
consumption prolongs life. One drinking the juice of Amla earns religious merits, while taking
bath after smearing this juice on the body eradicates poverty and endows one with riches. O
Skanda (another name of Kartikeya)! Demons and evil spirits do not enter a house wherein
Amla is kept. Those who take bath using Amla-juice on both the Ekadashis of the month are
purged of their sins. O six-headed one! One should wash one‟s hair with Amla-juice. One
having darshana of Amla, touching it and pronouncing its name pleases Lord Vishnu and wins
His favour. Therefore, one should always keep Amla in his house. Lord Vishnu is very much
pleased with the one who offers Amla-jam and other items prepared from Amla to Him. One
consuming Amla goes to higher planes of existence. One should not take Amla on Sundays and
especially on the seventh lunar day. Amla should not be taken on Fridays, first, sixth and ninth
lunar days as well as on Amavasya and Sankranti days.”

Ayurveda holds Amla to be useful in diseases like menorrhagia, piles, impotency, heart
diseases, urinary diseases, burning sensation, indigestion, asthma, cough, diarrhoea, jaundice,
tuberculosis, etc. It nourishes all the seven dhatus. Apart from being a heart and brain tonic it
prolongs life, improves memory and eyesight, and also increases lustre, strength and potency.
The hair roots get strengthened with the hair getting darker. It purifies the blood and improves
immunity.

Scientific research has confirmed that the anti-oxidant enzyme available in Amla
prevents ageing. Fully ripened, and well-nourished fresh Amla fruits are beneficial to all. If that
is not available, Amla-powder, Amla-jam or Chyavanprash can be used throughout the year.

Glossary
Brahmacharya – celibacy.
Brahmabhavana – to contemplate oneself as being the Brahman.
Brahmadhyana – meditation on the Brahman.
Brahmavetta – one established in the Brahman.
Brahmajnana – knowledge of Brahman or the Self.
Bhava – divine mood, spiritual ecstasy, a state of the mind imbued with some emotion.
Brahmakara Vritti – mental modification in the form of Brahman.
Darshana – the pious act of meeting some revered one or deity face to face.
Daridranarayana – the poor as manifestations of Lord Narayana.
Dhatu – vital element of the body.
Gugal – a gum from the herb called Indian bedellium (commiphora mukul).
Guna – any of the three qualities of Matter or Nature.
Guru-Tattva – the all pervading spiritual essence of the Guru.
Havana – a fire sacrifice.
Japa – repetition of a mantra.
Jiva – the individual soul.
Jivatman– the individual soul.

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 Excerpts from Rishi Prasad – 18 Issue 177 Sept, 2007

Kahara – a caste of sudras, who carry people in palanquins.

Mridangam – a double headed drum.
Ojas – inner radiance or lustre of the body.
Pitta – biological bile humour.
Prakriti – Nature; natural constitution of the body.
Pranayama – breathing exercise.
Satsanga – spiritual discourse and company of a saint.
Shraddha – a ritual performed towards propitiating the manes.
Sadhana – spiritual endeavour.
Sushumna nadi – the most vital channel in the spinal cord opening to the brahmarandhra. It is
largely instrumental in spiritual elevation.
Sattvika – characterized by purity, gentleness, noble lightness and serenity.
Sankalpa-vikalpa – resolves and counter resolves.
Tapasya – austerities for religious purpose.
Tamasic – characterized by darkness, lassitude, idleness and ignorance.
Upasana – worship.
Vata – biological wind humour.

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