"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Examine Your Mind Daily

Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj
4-12-1934, Evening

Examine daily what kind of thoughts you project. Are they about spiritual life or are they worldly life? One who examines in this way, gains an inner richness. For one whose attention is turned towards the Reality, the first effect is desirelessness. Then, one experiences that whatever maybe given to him or taken away from him, does not matter, as he does not need anything. Charity means that there is no desire to maintain even that which one possesses. Then there is Knowledge. Afterwards there is success as one becomes victorious over Illusion. There is no sorrow for that which is gone. The fourteen senses are emissaries of God of Death, Yama. The function of the senses is to increase their activities and invite punishment. To escape from this is extremely difficult. First of all, you must have the urge to free yourself from this. Such an aspirant is truly benefited when the Guru meets him. The Guru points the way, only to the one who is ready, and the teaching is useful only when one is ready. After meeting the Guru, you must be disciplined and study hard. Only then will the path become easy for you. The departed forefathers will shower flowers on the one who is able to beat the drums of victory in spiritual life. Only one who remains in the state of "Brahman Consciousness" becomes successful. Only he achieves his goal. Only his boat has reached the other shore. Only He is the victor! Then there is liberation. This One dwells in everyone's heart, all pervading, everywhere. Then only, is there life in freedom, without any touch of worry, without any desire, the life that is free from all actions. Such a one is God. If one becomes God, all praise Him, and like to have a glimpse of Him (Darshan; to see Him). If one attains liberation while still living, it is considered to be the "Glory of God".

Examine your behavior everyday, and you will know for yourself what virtues you have developed. If you identify yourself with God, you will also gain "His charity". If you come to the realization that "You Are Brahman", you will be Brahman. Then you will not desire anything else. If a lamp is lit in a house, the light shines through the window, similarly, if Brahman shines within, its signs are evident on the outside. Consider "desirelessness" as a great profit that is gained. What does it mean to you that some other aspirant behaves in a certain way? What do you lose if he goes astray? We must free ourselves from the concept of "you". Otherwise, that also becomes a bondage, a source of worry. Therefore, you should not worry about anybody. Only then are you free, and your fame will have no bounds. Great Saints, like Rama, Krishna, Vasishtha, and Tukaram are very famous. The older the fame, the greater the Glory! The renown and dignity only go on increasing. The one who has escaped from this Illusion is the truly brave one. Without concern for fame, such a one becomes famous, and people sing his praises. 

No comments:

Post a Comment

सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad