| Serial No. |
Article |
| 181 |
Who is a true spiritual master ? (The one who connects us with GOD is the spiritual master)
The supreme master, universal master and original master is GOD alone. But a true worldly spiritual master is one who believes solely and exclusively in connecting his disciple with GOD. A true spiritual master garlands GOD alone and makes his disciples do the same, and does not accept garlands from his disciples for himself. A true spiritual master always speaks about GOD and constantly shows the path of devotion to attain union with GOD. One who portrays himself equal to GOD in the role of a spiritual master, wears garlands himself, gets his own feet worshipped, and gets himself praised and glorified cannot be a true spiritual master. The true hallmark of a true spiritual master is that he puts himself behind and brings GOD forward. A true spiritual master awakens devotion for GOD in his disciples, not for himself. The one who moves back by placing GOD ahead and connects us with GOD should alone be recognized as a true spiritual master.
Therefore, the choice of a spiritual master in life should be made very carefully, after thorough investigation and by remaining fully vigilant.
|
| 182 |
What is the true utilization of time ? (Surrendering time to GOD by undertaking devotion is the true utilization of time)
GOD has blessed a mother with maternal affection to nurture her newborn child. On the strength of that maternal affection, a mother invests her body, mind and wealth in raising her child. Similarly, GOD has granted His devotion to a rare few, who, being desireless, never ask for the worldly things from GOD, but ask only for devotion. Upon receiving the strength of devotion, such rare devotees dedicate a major portion of their life, along with their body, mind and wealth in the service of GOD. It is due to devotion that they develop the heart and capability to do so, and by GOD's grace, they are also able to put it into action. Such rare devotees, by the grace of GOD, succeed in offering their lives in the service of GOD. Therefore, one should never ask for the worldly things from GOD and should ask for devotion alone, just as all devotees have asked from GOD and also received. If asking for devotion is like bringing a pearl, then asking for worldly things is like bringing a pebble. We have to see whether, after diving into the depths of the ocean, we bring back a pearl or a pebble.
Therefore, one should ask for devotion from GOD and make the true utilization of time in life by undertaking devotion.
|
| 183 |
Whom should we hand over the reins of life to ? (Hand over the reins of life to GOD)
When we travel in an airplane, we hand over the reins of our life to the pilot of the airplane. When we travel in a ship, we hand over the reins of our life to the captain of the ship. We do not hesitate even for a moment in doing so. Yet, we do not hand over the reins of our life to GOD by taking the shelter of GOD. How great a misfortune this is of ours. Because of being unable to do so, we remain trapped in the struggles of life and remain restless. The fortunate one who takes shelter of GOD and hands over the reins of his life into the Divine Hands of GOD becomes carefree. He comes under the Divine canopy of GOD and receives the boon of fearlessness from GOD. Then no fear of the world can ever torment him. Taking shelter of GOD and handing over one's reins to GOD is a very great and appropriate decision of life, which yields infinite benefits.
Therefore, if one wishes to remain forever carefree in life, one should take shelter of GOD and hand over the reins of one's life to GOD without delay.
|
| 184 |
With whom do we have an eternal relationship ? (We have an eternal relationship with GOD)
We deal with the world and increase our bonding with the world, but we do not increase our bonding with GOD. We increase our love for the people of the world, but we do not increase our love for GOD. This is the very mistake we make. Our relationship with the people of the world is like two particles of dust, and when the wind blows, those particles get separated from each other. Our relationship with the people of the world is like two pieces of paper floating in a river, which get separated upon the arrival of a single wave. Only our relationship with GOD is eternal and spans across births. Our relationship with every living entity of the world is mortal. We put in so much effort to maintain mortal relationships, but our attention does not even go toward that eternal relationship which is with the Supreme Father, GOD. We do not even make an effort to strengthen that eternal relationship. How great a misfortune this is of ours.
Therefore, in life, one should strive to strengthen the eternal relationship that we have with GOD. This is possible through devotion alone, hence, we should do so by undertaking devotion of GOD.
|
| 185 |
What do we not get from worldliness ? (No spiritual benefit is obtained from worldliness)
We should carve out time from our life for devotion of GOD, but we waste a large portion of our life in worldliness. No matter how much worldly affairs we conduct, our relationship with the people of the world is only for this single birth, whereas our relationship with GOD is eternal. What a great foolishness we commit that we give so much time to a relationship of a single birth and do not give time to the eternal relationship which is with GOD. No matter how much worldly affairs we conducted, went to everyone's wedding, went to birthday celebrations, went to the inauguration of houses or factories, went in sickness, went in death, went in festivals, then many people will come to our place as well. Those who spend their entire life conducting worldly affairs, ten thousand people gather at their death and praise them. But this crowd is only up to the cremation ground, and the praise lasts for a few months or a year. After three or four generations, even our family members would completely forget us.
Therefore, to gain spiritual benefit in life, one should undertake devotion of GOD, because we have eternal relationship with GOD alone, and devotion of GOD alone brings about our salvation.
|
| 186 |
In which direction should our effort be ? (Our effort should be for GOD)
By engaging fully in worldly affairs, we can gather a crowd at our death and earn worldly praise, but our welfare, salvation and liberation are not possible through it. This is because we did not make any effort in the direction of welfare, salvation and liberation, and due to worldly affairs, no time was left with us to make such an effort. On the other hand, devotees have nothing to do with worldliness, they consider their eternal relationship to be with GOD alone and labor hard to strengthen that very relationship. By undertaking desireless devotion of GOD, they attain the supreme achievement of human life. Even if only four people come at their death, after death such devotees attain a place at the Divine Lotus Feet of GOD, from where they never have to return by taking birth in 8.4 million species again.
Therefore, in life, our effort should not be for worldliness, rather, our effort should be for the devotion of GOD alone.
|
| 187 |
Whom does Time punish ? (Time punishes the one who does not undertake devotion of GOD)
Even if a creature, after attaining human birth, does not undertake devotion of GOD and fails to attain GOD during his lifetime, still GOD is so compassionate that He does not punish him. But Time punishes that creature, and that creature has to wander through 8.4 million species again. Wandering through 8.4 million species is in itself a very big punishment. By undertaking devotion of GOD in this life, we can become free forever from the cycle of birth and death on earth, but due to not undertaking devotion, we have to wander through 8.4 million species again. Scriptures and saints consider this very thing as a huge punishment. We just need to understand one thing that we have to make this birth of ours our last birth, that is, after this birth we have to reach the Divine Lotus Feet of GOD. If we make this resolve and start undertaking devotion to do so, then we are saved from the punishment of Time.
Therefore, if one wants to avoid wandering through 8.4 million species in life and wants to make one's human life successful, then devotion of GOD is the only way for it. Without devotion, no one can save us from the punishment of Time.
|
| 188 |
With whom is our very first relationship ? (Our very first relationship is with GOD)
We are first and foremost the children of the Supreme Father, GOD. Our very first and only permanent relationship and identity is with GOD. Worldly relationships are mortal and come to an end after a single birth. Our relationship with GOD is eternal, that is, it remains in every birth and in every species. It is our misfortune that we put in hard work to strengthen the relationship that lasts for a single birth, but we fail to strengthen our eternal relationship with GOD. A worldly relationship will leave us at the cremation ground at the very most, but if we connect our relationship with GOD by undertaking devotion, it will reach us to the Divine Lotus Feet of GOD even after death. We put in so much labor to strengthen our relationship with the world, yet we are unable to keep everyone pleased at all times. On the other hand, if we put one-third of that labor into strengthening our relationship with GOD, we will please GOD and our human life will become successful immediately.
Therefore, in life, one should maintain one's very first and only permanent relationship with GOD and should undertake devotion of GOD to strengthen it.
|
| 189 |
Who constitutes a Devotee’s family? (A Devotee finds his true family only among Devotees)
A devotee is connected with GOD. He certainly takes birth in the world to some parents and in some family, but he has only a formal relationship with that family. He considers it a bodily relation, but a devotee considers a mental relation only with the one who undertakes devotion. In this world, whichever soul maintains a relationship with the Supreme Father, GOD, is the family of that devotee. Every devotee is his family member. It makes no difference to him which caste, country or color the other devotee belongs to. If he maintains a relationship with GOD, then he considers him to be a part of his own family. A devotee becomes most pleased and joyful only upon meeting another devotee. The subject of their conversation and dialogue is GOD. A devotee says with great pride that just as he is connected with GOD, similarly anyone else who is connected with GOD is his family.
Therefore, a devotee's family is very large, and even national borders cannot keep it bound. Rising above caste, color and geography, he has a very large family.
|
| 190 |
When does illusion (Maya) not affect ? (Maya does not affect when staying in contiguity of GOD)
The influence of illusion (Maya) is zero around GOD. This is a priceless principle that if we stay around GOD, we will definitely escape from Maya because Maya cannot enter the restricted zone around GOD, nor does it ever do so. Therefore, one should always stay in the contiguity of GOD so that one can escape from the influence of Maya. Escaping from Maya is necessary because Maya makes the purpose of our human life unsuccessful. Even if a virtuous soul escapes from sensuality, anger, pride and greed by maintaining self-restraint, still even self-restraint cannot save us from Maya. We can escape from Maya only through GOD's grace and compassion. A creature can never escape from Maya through his own efforts. Maya is so powerful and its velocity is so immense that it sweeps us all away.
Therefore, in life, one should stay in the contiguity of GOD by undertaking devotion so that Maya becomes inactive in our life, that is, it is unable to cast its influence.
|
सर्वसामर्थ्यवान एवं सर्वशक्तिमान प्रभु के करीब ले जाने वाले आलेख (हिन्दी एवं अंग्रेजी में) 
श्रीग्रंथ के श्लोकों पर छोटे आलेख (हिन्दी एवं अंग्रेजी में) 
प्रभु के बारे में उत्कथन (हिन्दी एवं अंग्रेजी में) 
हमारे उद्देश्य एवं संकल्प - साथ ही प्रायः पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्नों के उत्तर भी 
वर्तमान समय में प्रभु कृपा के दर्शन कराते, असल जीवन के प्रसंग
प्रभु के लिए प्रार्थना, कविता