One of the main obstacles in the path of God Realization is having likes (attraction) and dislikes (aversion). They are thieves. When you engage in spirituality, often the likes / dislikes shift from worldly matters to spiritual matters such as we do not believe in Shankarji. We will only say “Jai Shri Krishna” but not “Jai Shankar.” Or thinking that if we say “Ram Ram,” while believing in Krishna, we will be without a foundation, a support. Such things are like carrying with us biases that will surely lead to hell. Even in our worship, contemplation and thinking if we hold on to likes/dislikes, it will take us to hell !
The obstacles are only in our mind. There is no other obstacle. There never was, there cannot be. The main obstacle is – “May things happen according to my wishes”. Some say Allah O’ Akbar, and others say Sita Ram, or Ram Ram or Krishna Krishna. Now it is not necessary that you say Ram Ram, but you must get the same joy when hearing Ram Ram, knowing that it is the name of the our Lord. We must become happy, that they are speaking our language (spiritual/divine) in worship and reverence of the Lord. If anyone wants to attain the God, he may do so in any form, or worship any name; it is all OK. Why must we have dislikes? Ram, Madhav, Mukund, Damodar are all names of ‘Bhagwaan’ (God), similarly, Allah, Akbar are names of God. Therefore let us feel joy, let us be pleased, that everyone is calling out the Lord in their own way.
Remove likes-dislike from your heart, in whatever way that you can . When you are counting, add any which way you want, but the total must add up. Similarly in total there should be no likes-dislikes. Get rid of all of these – Good-not good, favorable-unfavorable, attraction-repulsion, in whichever way you can, whether it be through scriptural teachings or other, then you will be greatly benefited.
“Jneyah sa nityasannyasi yon a dvesti na kaanksati |
Nirdvandvo hi mahaabaaho sukham bandhaat pramucyate ||
(Gita 5/3)
He who neither hates, nor desires anything, should be known as a “Nitya Sannyaasi” (ever a renouncer); being free from dualities (pairs of opposites) he is liberated easily from bondage, O mighty-armed (Arjuna).
Gitaji says that if you become free from the pairs of opposites, then you will be liberated. You already are naturally liberated. It is only due to likes-dislikes (attraction and aversion) that you have become trapped. And what is bondage? This is good and this is bad, this is OK-this is not OK etc., this itself is bondage. Get rid of this once and for all, and you will be freed. Do it and see for yourself. Find a way. You are free in finding a solution. Do what the Gita, Ramayan, Bible, Quran etc. say to do, but all-in-all, attraction and aversion (likes-dislikes), elation-dejection etc. should not be there.
“Yo na hrshyati na dveshti, na sauchati na kaanchati | Shushbhaashuparityaagi bahktimaanyah same priyah” ||
(Gita 12/17).
However much you study, however educated you become, however knowledgeable you become of the Vedas, but if in your heart there is likes-dislikes, then you will not be benefited.
“Aachaar heen na punati vedah.”
There is no likes-dislikes in good conduct. Why is Gitaji liked by all? In Gitaji the main emphasis is on salvation, on liberation. There is no insistence. There is no dislikes. Whether you are a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jewish, Parsi or any other, become free of dislikes and dislikes, and you will smoothly cross this ocean of life. If you become a Hindu, or a Muslim, and have your own little groups, then will or will there not be likes and dislikes?
“Mana changaa to kathoti Ganga”.
Make your mind “changa” ( good, honest, kind etc.) and there will be nothing but great joy, delight, bliss !
The main point is – Get rid of likes and dislikes. Thereafter if there is anything binding then let me know. Do it and see for yourself! Swami Sharananandji said, leave the attraction and aversion for all and come and sit down over here. If you are not liberated, then hang me by the noose ! Likes and dislikes are the main bondage! What else is bondage ?
You say – wipe out the “varna” system and let us make different groups. This group is a communist, this one is a socialist, this one is from Hindu Parishad, this is a muslim group. You are creating and forming new groups daily. That which is good in the “varna ashram,” we wish to wipe out, to get rid of it and start various different new things, new parties and groups etc. Initially there were likes / dislikes in the four “varnas“, now there are so many more parties / groups and the likes and dislikes have expanded. In my experience, the Brahmins and cobblers have never fought, but in these various parties one cannot remain without fighting. Initially, generally the fights were between Kaurav and Pandavas, where the Rajputs were fighting the Rajputs. Now everyone is fighting. They said they all should be united, but instead each one became a separate isolated strings (ek-ek taar). In other words, all separated. Mother votes for one, father votes for another, son votes for a third
tell me is this true or false? Unfavorable condition is taking place everywhere.
“Karat kusang chaahat kushal yahin bado afsos hai |
Mahimaa ghati samudraki raavan basyo pados ||
Due to living in proximity of Ravana, the ocean was trapped. You yourself do not do, and whatever is said, you do not listen. Whatever is heard is not understood, and whatever is understood, is not believed. Now what to do? You all tell me the solution? You introduce new problems/issues – abort unborn children, do family planning by operating etc. Why are you creating problems? Do you have a greater intellect than God, Who is sustaining this Universe for billions of years?
I met a girl from Bhagalpur who came to visit me in Rishikesh. The young girl said, that many people say to me why not remarry, since you are a widow? She said to others – ‘If for a widow to remarry is a great thing, then why do you not get your mother who is a widow remarried?’ If it is a great thing, why not first start with marrying your mother, but if it is not such a good thing then why are you sending me to hell? It was good to hear the girl speaking up like that. One says that by sacrificing a goat we will attain salvation. If you are sending the goats to heaven as sacrifice, why do you not send your father? You talk good things, but your intent is bad. Get rid of likes and dislikes once and for all and see if there is anything binding thereafter and let me know!
Narayana ! Narayana ! Narayana !
From summary of discourse in Hindi on Jan 27, 1992 at 5 a.m. by Swami Ramsukhdasji
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