A definite means to get rid of vices (faults) is to not accept (within oneself that) these vices are in us, and to not repeat the same mistakes again. By time and again repeating the same mistakes, these vices continue to persist. Both virtues and vices are the kind that come and go, and we (the self) remain as-is. Similarly, this world is the kind to arise and subside, whereas God is the kind to always stay. Therefore I (Self) and God are one, and the world and the vices (flaws) are one. It means that our relationship is with God, it is not with the world and the vices. But we have become disinclined towards God and accepted our affinity with the world. This is our mistake. We only have accepted our affinity (relationship) with the world and the body. The world and this body have not assumed any affinity with us. We only have become disinclined towards God; God has not distanced Himself from us. Therefore, this body and this world are not mine, and I am not theirs. But God is mine, and I am God’s. Accept this today itself. Body is a part (ansh) of the world, and I am an inseparable part (ansh) of God. Surrender this body to the service of the world and surrender the ‘self’ to God – that is all the work that an aspirant must do.
The moment man accepts his affinity with the world, he becomes trapped and suffers all sorts of pain. He believes that this body, money, property, house, family etc., are his and he is their master, but in fact, he becomes their slave. The misconception is that of becoming a master, but instead he becomes a slave. This is the absolute truth. Man should want that he serves those things, and have no expectation from them, have no attachment (sense of mine-ness) with them. You should serve the body as well. Give it food, water, etc., but do not regard it as your own. You cannot keep this body forever, you cannot make it as you wish, you cannot make it change the way you wish for it to be, then how is it yours? You cannot keep even money, property, house etc., as you would like to keep them. Therefore, it is entirely false (a lie) that these are yours. We have received these for the purpose of serving, hence serve with a disinterested spirit. If they appear as ours, it is because of God’s generosity. When God gives anyone anything, God gives it in such a way, that the thing appears to be as his own to him. This is such exceptional generosity of the giver, that even on giving everything, He remains hidden. To assume the things that are received as ours, is misuse of God’s generosity. Hence, that which is not ours, should not be assumed as ours. And we must become inclined towards God Who in fact is ours.
All objects pertaining to the body are continuously moving towards destruction. So far, these objects have not stayed with anyone forever, then how will they stay now? From your side, release these things that come and go. If these come, then great! If they go away, then great! This itself is called renunciation. There is immediate peace from renunciation.
त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ।।12.12।।
Renouncing does not mean to leave money, property, family etc., and run away. Leaving these behind, wherever you go, the body will stay with you. Like money, property, family etc., there is affinity with this body. Affinity (relationship) with this body is affinity (relationship) with the entire world. This body is the seed of this world. A single seed can be the cause of an entire forest. Thus, these objects are not to be renounced by us, rather they are not to be assumed as ours and for us. When we do not consider them to be ours, all worries and distress will come to an end. The daughter is the same, and we are the same, but after her marriage, even if the daughter is sitting in our house, we do not worry about her, because we have now accepted that she is not ours. In the same way, this body too is a daughter. It needs to be taken care off, but it is not to be assumed as ours. This daughter in the form of this body must be surrendered in God’s hands, and thereafter become free of all worries.
No one to this date has been able to keep this body and other worldly objects. There have been many great ascetics to date, who have received many great boons, but so far, no one has been able to keep their body etc. No one can keep the body, none whatsoever. Then what is the benefit of the false attempts and efforts to try to keep it? To put forth effort to keep this body, money, property, house etc., is like trying to capture darkness.
Can darkness be captured, lifted and thrown outside? And if someone wants to look at darkness with a lighted lamp, can they do so? Similarly, if we try to get to know the world, then we will get nothing. Because the unreal (asat) has no independent existence. It is only due to the existence of the Real (God), that the world appears as real (sat).
An aspirant should not accept his affinity with either virtues or vice, then he will not have any pride of his virtues, and no flaws will stay. The condition of the “self” is devoid of both virtue and vice.
Hence it has been said –
“Sunahun taat maaya krut guna aru dosh anek |
Guna yah ubhay na dekhiahin dekhia so abibek ||
“Gunadoshdarshidosho gunastoobhayavarjitah ||
(Srimad Bhagavata 11/19/45)
“To have our eye on vice and virtue, i.e. to consider its affinity with us is the worst of all sins, and to not have our sight on these and instead to remain established in the immutable Self, is one of the highest virtues.”
If you see qualities in you, then most certainly pride and sins will come along with it. Praising one’s qualities and attributes is due to flaws. Just as praising a wealthy person is due to those that are poor (without any wealth), not due to being wealthy. Just like greatness of a wise person is only due to the ignorant fools, not due to his wisdom; the orator’s greatness is only due to the listeners, not due to the speakers. Due to small things being present, there is greatness of big things. If small things did not exist, then how will one see things as being big?
Worldly pleasures are like poisonous ‘laddoos’ (sweets). If man does not leave the ‘laddoos’, then the poison will not leave man. Man will have to give up the ‘laddoos’ to be saved from being poisoned. It cannot be that on eating the ‘laddoos’ the poison does not spread. On finding out that there is poison in the ‘laddoos’, no one will eat them, even though they taste sweet. If someone eats them, then it is proof that he does not believe there is poison in the ‘laddoos’. It has been said —
करनी बिन कथनी कथे, अज्ञानी दिन रात ।
कूकर ज्यों भूँकत फिरै, सुनी सुनायी बात ॥
Karani bin kathani kathe, agyaani din raat,
Kookar jyon bhookat phire, suni sunaayi baat |
Narayan ! Narayan ! Narayan !
From book in English ‘For Spiritual Aspirants’ by Shradhey Swamiji Shri Ramsukhdasji Maharaj
www.swamiramsukhdasji.net
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