Give up pride

Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj

If one is fully absorbed in the glory of the Supreme self, Paramatman, the individual (jiva) becomes God (Shiva). One must give up the pride of the body, and only then does one become Paramatman. If one is proud of the physical body, Shiva becomes jiva. This is called regression or downfall. The difference is slight but it is of greater importance. One should give up the desire for public recognition. There is nothing that is impossible for one to achieve. Effort must be made in spiritual practice, but it must be right effort. Only then does one become the All-Permeating God (Narayana). You are the owner of the world. Descent means to fall down. If you use a little discernment, you become the owner of the world, you become happy, and you even obtain all of the spiritual powers.

One who takes the medicine named Vitthala (God) must observe certain precautions. The precaution is to give up contact with the objective world. One must be in constant awareness of the Self. You should say, 'I am not the body, I am the all-pervading God. Not a single thing in the objective world is useful to me.' All objective things should be considered trash and thrown away. You should tell people, 'Even if all things are real for you, I don't want anything, even if it is free.' You should treat all objects of this world as disposable. Be as if dead in the eyes of the world. Saints are asleep to those things for which the people of the world are very much awake and concerned about. Moreover, the Saints are awake where the world is asleep. That means that the Saints have no taste for the things that the world likes. That which the Saints give up, the whole world desires and does not want to give up. This is a fact that is clearly seen. One who sleeps with regard to worldly pursuits, becomes awake in the spiritual world. However, in the beginning you have to apply some effort, and willfully forget the objects of the world.