माँ --- इश्वर का ममतामयी रूप...

राजा कठोर हो सकता है , दंड दे सकता है, पिता मुंह मोड़ सकता है, दुनिया दगा दे सकती है पर माँ?.........माँ अपने संतान को हर हाल में अपने कलेजे से लगाये रखती है....खुद के जीवन और प्राण की बाजी लगा देती है पर अपने कलेजे के टुकड़े को कोई दुःख होने नहीं देती है..माँ का ऋण कोई कभी नहीं उतार सकता है.....

एक साधक थे..उनको गुरुदेव ने ग़ज़ल, कव्वाली और भजन रचने और गाने की विशेष शक्ति दिया था .......पहले वो बाजारू औरतों के साथ कोठों पर गाया करते थे....गुरु देव के इस कृपा का बखान वो सब के बीच कर देते थे....पूज्य गुरुदेव ने उनसे कहा की इन बातों का खुलासा करना इस रूहानी रास्ते के साधक को लाजमी नहीं है...मत किसी से इसका जिक्र किया करो....पर उनसे रहा नहीं जाता ..गुरुदेव की कृपा की चर्चा करते वक्त जबान फिसल जाती थी ...और गुरु देव के मना करने की बात भूल जाते....वो बड़े भावुक ह्रदय के साधक थे......पूज्य गुरुदेव नाराज हो गए...एक दिन सत्संग चल रहा था .....तो उन्होंने कहा पाल सिंह ...तुम मेरे सत्संग में मत आया करो...इसी वक्त यहाँ से उठ जाओ...श्री पाल सिंह जी क्या क्या करते?..उठ के चले गए...मगर जायें तो कहाँ जाये ?....चुपके से गुरु माता (हम उनको जिया माँ कहते हैं ) के पास kitchen में चले गए और उनसे सारी वृत्तान्त सुनाकर रोने लगे...माँ का दिल...नवनीत (मक्खन) से भी ज्यादा कोमल...तुरंत पिघल गया...उन्होंने कहा.... पिता ने निकाला है...माँ ने तो नहीं निकाला..फिर क्यों डरते हो?..क्यों रोते हो?...चुप हो जाओ और जाकर उस store room में छिप जाओ.

सत्संग खत्म हुआ...पूज्य गुरुदेव घर के अन्दर आये...काफी गुमसुम थे...चेहरे पर वो चमक नहीं थी...माँ से कहा...आज मैंने पाल सिंह को सत्संग से निकाल दिया ....वो मेरी बातों का उल्लंघन करता था...पर सोचता हूँ की वो कहाँ जायेगा?....मेरा दिल कहता है की वो जा नहीं सकता....मन बहुत दुखी है....

माँ ने कहा ...आप पिता हो... निकाल सकते हो...पर मैं तो माँ हूँ....कैसे निकालती..?

.और माँ ने आवाज लगायी..... "पाल सिंह बाहर आओ...."

श्री पाल सिंह जी आकर गुरुदेव के चरणों पर गिर गए...और फूट फूट के रोने लगे...पूज्य गुरुदेव के आँखों से भी आंसुओं की धारा प्रवाहित होने लगी....माँ तो पहले से ही द्रवित थीं...और उनके ह्रदय से भी श्री पाल सिंह साहब के लिए आशीर्वाद की धार फूट निकली.... सभी पुराने सत्संगी कहते हैं.......की पूज्य गुरुदेव और जिया माँ ने उसी वक्त श्री पाल सिंह जी को रूहानी दौलत से मालामाल कर दिया...

इसीलिए हम हिन्दुओं में माँ का स्थान पिता से ऊँचा रखा गया है...

हिन्दू धर्म महान है...हिन्दू लोग भी महान हैं...हमारे यहाँ कोई पिता-माता नहीं कहता...सभी कहते हैं...माता-पिता..

हिन्दू धर्म का एक एक शब्द रहस्यों से भरा है....

मेरे सभी हिन्दू भाइयों और बहनों को हार्दिक बधाई की हम सब इतने महान धर्म में पैदा हुए...

इसके लिए परम पिता परमेश्वर के श्री चरणों में कोटि कोटि धन्यवाद और नमन....

सहज समाधि … जिसके आगे कुछ नहीं है ..... 

--- समर्थ गुरु परम संत डॉ चतुर्भुज सहाय जी 

सहज शब्द के अर्थ सरल या आसान के हैं। जिस काम में कोई कठिनाई न हो उसको 'सहज' कहते हैं। सहज - दो शब्दों से मिल के बना है - 'सह' और 'ज' । 'सह' - के अर्थ संग व  साथ होते हैं और 'ज' के अर्थ - जन्म के हैं। जो चीज़ जन्म से  साथ आवे, जो हमारे स्वभाव में हो, वह 'सहज' कहलाती है। किसी काम के करते करते, चाहे वह अच्छा काम हो या बुरा, मनुष्य अपना स्वभाव बनाता है। ऐसा स्वभाव जन्मान्तर से संग आता है और इस जीवन में भी बनाया जाता है। स्वभाव के बनाने और बिगाड़ने का अधिकार भी मनुष्य को है। समाधि की अवस्था में प्रवेश होने के लिए आरम्भ में थोड़ा मन को कसना पड़ता है , उसे बाहर से रोक के, अंतर में ले जाना होता है, आगे अभ्यास करते करते वही स्वभाव हो जाता है और बड़ी सरलता से उसकी समाधि  चलने लगती है। अनुभवी गुरु यदि भाग्य से मिल जाये तब तो और भी आसानी हो जाती है और थोड़े यत्न करने पर ही यह अवस्थाएं प्राप्त हो रहती हैं।  गुरु के बताये हुए मार्ग पर चलने और 'उद्योग' करने को ही 'अभ्यास' कहते हैं। जैसा कि योग सूत्र लिखता है -- 

तत्र स्थितौ यत्नोभ्यास: 

वृत्तियों को रोकने की चेष्टा करना, अथवा चित्त की तरंगों को रोक के उसे शांत करने का यत्न करना ही 'अभ्यास' कहलाता है।  इसी अभ्यास से आगे चलके ऐसा स्वभाव बन जाता है कि व्यव्हार करते हुए, सारे  संसारी काम-काजों में जुटे हुए भी मन, रूप रस पीता रहता है, उस अपूर्व आनंद में डुबकी लगाता रहता है,

इसी का नाम 'सहज-समाधि'  है। श्री कबीर साहब ने अपने एक पद में इसका नक्शा इस तरह खींचा है --

 पद 

संतो सहज समाधि भली। 

गुरु परताप भयो जा दिन से, सूरत न अनत चली। 

आंख न मूंदु , कान न रुंदु , काया कष्ट न धारूँ। 

खुले नैन मैं हंस हंस देखूं , सुन्दर रूप निहारूँ। 

शब्द निरंतर मनुआ राता , मलिन वासना त्यागी। 

उठत बैठत कबहूँ न बिसरे , ऐसी ताड़ी  लागी। 

कहैं 'कबीर' यह उन्मनी रहनी, सो परगट कर गाई। 

दुःख सुख से एक परे परम सुख, तेहि सुख रहा समाई। 

अर्थ -- हे संतो।  सबसे अच्छी और सबसे ऊँची सहज समाधि  है। जिस दिन से गुरु का दया पात्र मैं बना हूँ उस दिन से मन की वृत्ति कहीं दूसरी जगह गयी ही नहीं है। मैं न तो आंख बंद करता हूँ न कानों में ऊँगली ठूंसता हूँ न तपस्वियों की तरह शरीर को कष्ट देता हूँ। दोनों नेत्र खुले हैं, चित्त प्रसन्न है और प्रभु का मनोहर रूप खड़ा अपनी छटा दिखा रहा है।  

दिन रात हर घड़ी ह्रदय की जिह्वा पर प्यारे का नाम उच्चारण हो रहा है, मन अपनी सारी मलिन इच्छाओं को त्याग के उसी में मस्त हो रहा है।  यह एक ऐसी समाधि लगी है कि  उठते बैठते और काम काज करने पर भी भंग नहीं होती। कबीर साहब कहते हैं कि संसार में रहते हुए संसार से अलग थलग रहने का जो भेद है सो हमने तुम्हे प्रकट कर के बता दिया।  इस मायावी द्वन्द सुख दुःख इत्यादि के परे एक स्थान है, जहाँ पर परम सुख है, परम आनंद है, हम वहीँ के वासी बन गए हैं, वहां से चित्त हटता ही नहीं है।  यह है सहज समाधि, सहज योग अथवा चैतन्य समाधि  व समयोग। 

यह सम्पूर्ण जगत पुरुष और प्रकृति का खेल है , माया और ब्रह्म के ग्रंथि से यह सारी सृष्टि रची गयी है।  पुरुष चैतन्य है और प्रकृति जड़ है।  पुरुष सत और सदा एक रस रहने वाला है।   माया व् प्रकृति असत, और क्षण क्षण में बदलने वाली है।  पुरुष में प्रकाश, ज्ञान और आनंद है और प्रकृति में अज्ञान, अंधकार और अशांति है।  प्रकृति नीचे को खींचती है और पुरुष उसको ऊपर उठाता है।  जीव इन दोनों के बीच में लटका  हुआ है , वह कभी प्रकृति की ओर अधिक आ जाता है और कभी चैतन्य पुरुष की ओर बढ़ के प्रकृति को भूल बैठता है। भगवान  कृष्ण के कथनानुसार यह दोनों ही अवस्था समाधि की नहीं है।  संसार में अधिक लिप्त हो जाना भी समाधि नहीं है और  परमार्थ में अधिक प्रवेश होके संसारी सारे कामों की ओर से लापरवाह हो जाना और उनको बिगाड़ देना भी समाधि  नहीं है क्योंकि इसमें समता नहीं रहती।  कई महापुरुष आत्म्देश की ओर  इतने बढ़ जाते हैं कि उनको शरीर से बाहर के जगत का ज्ञान नहीं रहता।  ऐसे संत दुनियादारों से  बहुत उच्च कोटि के माने जा सकते हैं, पर उनको समाधिस्थ नहीं कहा जा सकता। महत्व का पद अभी इनसे दूर है, यह एक ऐसी बीच की अवस्था से गुजर रहे हैं जो आगे चलके जल्दी ही पूर्ण बन सकेंगे। जो लोग , लोक और परलोक की इच्छाओं में फंसे हुए क्लेश भोग रहे हैं, और अशांति के मैदान में इधर से उधर चक्कर काट रहे हैं, उनसे ऐसे योगिराज जो अपने को भूल के केवल आत्मानंद का रसपान कर रहे हैं, बहुत ऊँचे उठ चुके हैं, पर वह जिस स्थान पर पहुँच के असली जीवन मिलता है, उससे कुछ नीचे हैं , समय आयेगा जब वह पूर्ण बन सकेंगे और असली मानवी ज्ञान प्राप्त कर मनुष्य बन सकेंगे।  मनुष्य कहलाने वाला प्राणी जब तक संसार में लिप्त है और अपने असली रूप (आत्मा) को भूला रहता है, वह 'पशु' संज्ञा में गिना जाता है और जब आत्मा से सम्बन्ध जोड़ अपने अन्दर दैवी गुणों को भरने लगता है तब उसकी 'देव' संज्ञा हो जाती है।  यह दोनों हो मनुष्य संज्ञा नहीं है, इनसे आगे जब वह ईश्वरीय गुण धारण करता है तब उसको "मनुष्य" कहते हैं , ऐसा शास्त्रों का मत है। 

इश्वर सब कुछ करता है, उसके सारे काम नियमानुसार ठीक ठीक चलते हैं।  वह जगत की ओर भी देखता है और अपनी ओर  भी देखता है।  वह संसार के छोटे से छोटे पदार्थ का भी ज्ञान रखता है और अपने रूप व  अपनी शक्तियों का भी ज्ञान रखता है।  वह एक ओर सृष्टि के कण कण में व्याप्त हो लीला कर रहा है और दूसरी ओर सबसे अलग थलग हो द्रष्टा बना हुआ है, इत्यादि ।  ऐसा बेखबरी में बाखबरी  और  बाखबरी  में बेखबरी, कर्ता रहते हुए भी अकर्ता और अकर्ता में कर्ता, ज्ञानी होते हुए अज्ञानी और अज्ञानी रहते हुए ज्ञानी की अवस्था  जिस संत को प्राप्त है, जो दुनिया में अपने को रखता हुआ, दुनिया के सारे व्यव्हार करता हुआ भी दुनिया से अपने को अलग देखता है, जिसके इधर के काम भी पूर्ण रीति से होते चले जाते हैं और इधर भी अपनी बैठक बनाये हुए है, ऐसा परम पुरुष योगिराज, पूर्ण संत और समाधिस्थ बोला  जाता है।  पहले अवस्था को लाने के लिए कुछ उद्योग करना पड़ता है पीछे वह स्वभाविक हो जाती है और बिना प्रयास के सहज ही में चला करती है इसी को 'सहज योग' कहते हैं।  गीता ने इसी को 'समयोग' माना है। हमने इसको चैतन्य समाधि  का नाम दिया है।  

बिना इस अवस्था के आए हुए नाम और रूप में फंसे हुए ब्रह्म के दर्शन तो हो सकते हैं पर क्षर और अक्षर से  परे जो कूटस्थ है, जो नाम व  रूप की उपाधि से अलग है , जो सबका आदि और अंत है उसका साक्षात्कार नहीं हो सकता।  उसके असली भेद इसी स्थान पर जाकर खुलते हैं।  ऐसा मनुष्य ज्ञान में अज्ञान और अज्ञान में ज्ञान को फंसा हुआ देख के चकित रह जाता है, उसकी ज्ञान शक्ति फेल हो जाती है और पूछने पर कहने लगता है कि -- मैंने सभी कुछ जान लिया है और वह इतना है कि कुछ नहीं जाना। यह असली 'परमपद' है , यही कैवल्य पद है, यही 'निर्वाण' है जो विरलों के भाग्य में आता है, इसके आगे कुछ नहीं है।   

****************     

A letter of Pujya Gurudev that unravels the secret of this Universe

A letter of Pujya Gurudev that unravels the secret of this Universe

Eta

30.4.1940

Shri Gurudev would often hum a ghazal, the first two lines of which I remember as

"इचे शोरेस्त के दर दूर कमर में बीनम 

हमा आफाक पुर अर्ज फितन ओशर में बीनम "  

Meaning: I lifted my eyes and saw that the entire world -- as far as the rays of the moolight could reach -- was full of fights, quarrels, intrigues, and bickerings; a huge cacaphony, sound of hue and cry, of turmoils filled the entire world.

This is the picture of this world that was painted in the words of this Great Man -- My Pujya Gurudev. In fact if one can remove the glasses of ego from one's eyes and see with the help of real intellect, one would find that this entire world is fictitious and imaginary. A game is being played out by Maya. Souls come, play their roles and depart. In this game false relationships are struck. One becomes the wife, another takes the role of a son, while others assume roles of brothers and friends etc. Now we see scenes of joy, and soon it gives way to scenes of tragedy and cries and shrieks break out. Sometimes the soul puts on the garb of richness and at others those of poverty.

Someone becomes the Guru, some become disciples. Someone becomes the father and someone takes the role of a son. At a given point of time, someone is born and someone is seen being taken to the cremation grounds. Which of these all is true? Is all that is happening true or only a drama? Are the various relationships of this great drama real or only transient? Ponder over all these.

In a drama someone wins and someone suffers a loss. Someone enjoys while others slog it out. Someone laughs while someone weeps. But in their hearts the actors know it well that there is no truth in all these. They know that they are only following the script written by someone else. They know that joy or sorrow, loss or victory, does not affect their real identity and self in any way. Our world is exactly like this drama. Relationships here are not real and true but unreal and momentary. Some souls get together to create a drama. Till the time the Director orders they continue with their roles -- whether good or bad-- and when asked to stop they stop. In such circumstances, which actions of the play are to be categorised as good and which ones are to be categorised as bad? When should one rejoice or lament? In fact, these are all mere dramas, without any reality or substance. There are neither sins nor virtues, neither sinners nor virtuous characters. There is nothing good or bad. All actions are as per orders of the Director. In real life, the problem is that while playing one's role, one forgets one's real self, and with that also forgets the reality of the other actors on the stage. He takes the temporary roles assigned to all the actors as the actual reality. Thereby he gets caught between good and bad, sinners and virtuous people, joy and sorrow. He is now bound in chains of "Moh" and "shok". But the fact remains that no one is a friend or a foe but mere actors. Joy or sorrow, defeat or victory of the stage have no effect on the real self of the actors.  There is no need for more details. You are intelligent enough to understand the message that I am trying to convey. Look at the instances happening all around you and try to read between the lines. Try to read the underlying messages behind the incidents. Whether son or brother-- let him do what he wants to do. Remember you are not the arbiter of their fates. Realise your own position in this universe, and keep moving towards your own goal. Those who perform well are rewarded and those who make mistakes are punished. Why should we entangle ourselves with other's issues? These will only delay our journey back home. Some souls get together. We love them and serve them but in the process develop undue attachment to them and thus delay our journey back home. Sometimes we also change track. So we need to be very cautious, and not bother about others unnecessarily. We need to concentrate on our own job.

A question may be raised -- then why should one preach others to be good, virtuous, etc? The answer is that poison fights poison. Iron is used to cut iron. Similarly, one set of false notions needs to be demolished with the help  of another set of falsehood. In reality there is no need to preach others. But in order to help remove the glasses of ego and self, preaching is undertaken.

In recent two months you have seen two different situations-- one of great joy and another extremely tragic. None of these are real. They are all false happenings. They came to help raise your level of vision. Now come on, find the truth. Don't get bogged down with untrue dramas of this world. Leave all things to God. You already have to shoulder your own share of burden, why should you try to take others burden upon yourself? No one has ever known the games of God. None has been able to interfere in his work. Keep aloof, watch the events of the world like a spectator from a distance, with your eyes set firmly on your goal. That is the duty of all of us human beings. Be patient, don't lose heart.  

पूज्य गुरुदेव का एक पत्र जिसमे उन्होंने सृष्टि के रहस्य को बातों बातों में खोल दिया

पूज्य गुरुदेव का एक पत्र जिसमे उन्होंने सृष्टि के रहस्य को बातों बातों में खोल दिया 

एटा 

30.4.1940

श्री गुरु महाराज अक्सर एक ग़ज़ल गाया करते थे । उसका पहला मिसरा  हमको याद है और वह यह है  :

"इचे शोरेस्त के दर दूर कमर में बीनम 

हमा आफाक पुर अर्ज फितन ओशर में बीनम "        

अर्थ:   मैंने आंख उठा कर देखा -- यह दिखलाई दिया कि सारे जहान  में जहां तक चाँद की रौशनी पहुँचती है -- एक शोर मचा हुआ है और फितना  व्  फिसाद  व्  शोर  ही चारों ओर दिखाई देते हैं ।  

यह दुनिया का नक्शा है जो उस महापुरुष ने खींचा है । दरअसल अगर खुदी की ऐनक उतार कर अकल की आँखों से देखा जाये तो यह सारा संसार ही एक वहम या ख्याल है । माया का एक खेल हो रहा है। रूहें अपनी- अपनी बारी से अपना-अपना पार्ट अदा करती है और चली जाती है । इस खेल में झूठे रिश्ते भी कायम होते हैं -- कोई स्त्री बनती है, कोई पुत्र बनता है, कोई भाई और दोस्त बन के आता है। कभी ख़ुशी की सीनरी (scenery) आती है, कभी रोने चिल्लाने का कोहराम सुनाई  देता है। कभी अमीर और मालदार हो जाते हैं, कभी फकीर और दरिद्र बन जाते हैं । 

कोई गुरु बनता है, कोई शिष्य बनता है । कोई बाप है , कोई बेटा है । कोई पैदा होता है और किसी की लाश जाती हुई दिखाई देती है । इनमे से कौन सच है ?  क्या दरअसल जो हो रहा है, वही ठीक है?  या यह सब स्वांग  है ? इस खेल में जो रिश्ते कायम हुए थे ठीक और कायम रहने वाले हैं या चाँद मिनट के हैं ? इस पर विचारो । खिलाड़ी खेल में बड़े बनते हैं, छोटे बनते हैं  ।आराम पाते  हैं,  तकलीफ उठाते हैं। हँसते हैं, रोते हैं, वगैरह वगैरह।  मगर दिल में यह जानते रहते हैं कि इसमें कोई सच्चाई नहीं है । यह किसी के हुकुम से हम कर रहे हैं और इसका हमारी जात से कोई ताल्लुक नहीं है । बिलकुल ये ही दुनिया की हालत है । यहाँ कौन किसका है ?  चंद  रूहें मिलकर एक खेल रचती है । जब तक मालिक कहता है -- अच्छा या बुरा -- वह खेल खेलती है और दूसरा हुकुम मिलते ही बंद कर खामोश हो जाती है । जब ऐसा ही है तो किसको पाप  कहा जाये और किसको पुण्य कहा जाये या शबाब ? किसमें  ख़ुशी मनावे और किसमें  रंज ?  यह तो सब झूठा व्यापार है । मनुष्य खेलते   हुए अपने  को भूल जाता है और अपने को भूलते ही दूसरे की हस्ती भी समझ में नहीं आती । बस वह ख़ुशी और रंज के भंवरों में गोते खाने लगता है । मोह और शोक की बेड़ियाँ उसके हाथों में आ जाती है और वह जकड़ जाता है । खेल में कौन अपना था ? कौन पराया था ?  किसने पाप किया ? कौन सबाब कमाने वाला था ? एक को हुक्म मिला अच्छा काम करो। वह खुश हो लिया । तारीफ़ मिली, इज्जत दी गयी । उसने समझा हम कोई बड़े आदमी बन गए । यह मूर्खता है, अज्ञानता है, झूठी ख़ुशी है । दूसरे को बुराइयों पर तमाशा करने की ड्यूटी बोली गयी । ऐब करने लगा -- सजा भी मिली, रोने भी लगा । सब बुरी निगाह से देखने लगे । कई दुश्मन भी बन गए । मगर उसकी जात खास पर इनका क्या असर हुआ ? क्या यह गुनहगार है या पाक और पवित्र है ? ज्यादा तफसील में जाने की जरुरत नहीं है । तुम अक्लमंद हो । इन फिकरों को समझो और अपनी निगाह ऊँची करो । भाई हो या लड़का हो वह जो करना चाहे उसे करने दो । उसके कर्ता धर्ता तुम नहीं हो ।तुम अपनी हस्ती समझो और अपने कल्याण की राह तलाश करो । जो अच्छा करेगा मालिक उसको इनाम देगा । जो बुरा करेगा उसको सजा जरुर मिलेगी । हम अपने को क्यों इन झगड़ों में डालें और अपना रास्ता खोटा  करें ?  चंद  रूहें इकट्ठी होती हैं, हम उनसे मुहब्बत करते हैं, उनकी खिदमत करते हैं, उन्हें आराम पहुंचाते हैं मगर उन्हीं के मोह में पड़कर अपने लिए परेशानी लेने की तुम्हें क्या जरुरत है ? जो जैसा करेगा या कर आया है उसके बदले में सजा और जज पायेगा -- हम को इन सारी खुराफात से क्या मतलब है ? सवाल हो सकता है कि  फिर अच्छे रास्ते पर चलने और उपदेश देने और दूसरों को सँभालने की क्या जरुरत है ? जवाब यह है कि  जरुरत कुछ  नहीं है ।  सिर्फ खुदी का पर्दा हटाने और उसके वहम को दूर करने के लिए यह सब खेल रचे  जाते हैं । दरअसल तो यह भी झूठे और वह भी झूठे । जैसे लोहा को लोहा ही  काटता  है वैसे  ही झूठ को झूठ से और वहम को वहम से दूर किया जाता है ।  जहर का इलाज जहर ही है ।  दो  माह में तुमने दो हालतें देखी  -- एक ख़ुशी देने वाली थी दूसरी रंज और शोक में डुबोने वाली थी । यह सब तुम को उठाने ही आई  थी । उठो और  असलियत का पता लगाओ । झूठे झमेले में अपने को न डालो ।  तुम  तेजी से आगे बढ़   रहे थे ।फिर बढ़ो । जो साथी पीछे रहता हो उसे छोड़ दो और चले चलो । यह सब मालिक के ऊपर छोड़ दो । तुमको अपना ही बोझ क्या कम है जो दूसरों का और लादते   हो ? इश्वर की लीला किसको मालूम पड़ी  है ? और उसके कामों को किसने रोक पाया  है ? देखते रहो  और चलते  चलो । कुछ नहीं यह सब झूठा  व्यव्हार हो रहा था । यही  मनुष्य धर्म है।   धैर्य से काम लेना घबरा मत उठना ।  आत्मा संयोगवश ऐसे ही आती है और चली जाती है । यह  चक्र चला  ही करता है ।

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DAAN

Question: What are the instructions or orders in RSM  about daan.?

Answer: Dada Guru Maharaj directed that we should keep away 1/32 part of our income for being spent on shubh purposes. He stated that the best daan is to support widows having good character. Such daan brings more results than a thousand yagyas. Helping poor students, people in distress, poor patients, have also been advised. These are the directions of RSM. But one should be careful and donate only where there is guarantee that the money will be put to good use.

( Bloggers Note: We can donate in cash or kind in Mathura or Tundla or Jaipur or any other bhandara where huge sums are required for making arrangements for stay and food of thousands of satsangis. We can also donate to the various Trusts being operated by RSM for helping widows, poor students etc. Addresses and other details for making payments may be obtained directy from Dampier Nagar, Mathura) 

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Principles of Mukhya and Gaun

Question : In ‘Sadhana Ke Anubhav’, a unique and wonderful book on spiritual practices and experiences written by Brahmaleen Param Sant Dr Chaturbhuj Sahay Ji Maharaj, there is a discussion in the 22^nd chapter about the principles of Mukhya and Gaun. Could you tell us something about this principle?

Answer : In chapter 22, Param Pujya Gurudev is talking about the difficulties that arise in the spiritual path due to which we are unable to break free from the clutches of Maya. One of the difficulties is that we attach primary importance to worldly matters. Spiritual issues come a poor second. We are ready to spend time, energy, and money on worldly matters but we have no time, energy, or money for our own spiritual development. Mukhya means ‘primary’, Gaun means ‘not important’. We have money for wife and children, for fashion, cinema, restaurants etc. We have time to go to cinemas, markets, visits to relatives, trips to tourist places, etc. But we have no time or energy or money for our own spiritual progress. Because it is not a matter of prime importance for us. It is not mukhya but only gaun. In that case we cannot expect to attain complete and true knowledge, eternal bliss, eternal peace, and freedom from the cycle of births and deaths. We will get what we strived for – Maya i.e. momentary happiness and lasting sorrow, false, untrue knowledge, disease and death – in unending cycles. For attaining eternal life, eternal bliss, complete and true knowledge and complete freedom from the shackles of Maya, we have to make spiritualism the mukhya subject of our life. Everything else should be gaun. We should happily accept worldly losses if that is required for growing spiritually. We should happily sacrifice worldly benefits for spiritual gains.

We should remember that money, riches, property, name, fame, power, position, etc., are transient. They will not accompany us even till the cremation grounds. Friends and relatives will only accompany us till the cremation grounds. But what thereafter? Thereafter, satkarma, satsang and subh sanskars are the only three things that can serve us. So it is no use trying so hard to achieve these transient objects. Rather we should try as hard as possible to progress on the spiritual path because only these achievements will serve us -- before as well as after death – on this material plane as well as on the non-material plane.

We should try to live a simple life of minimum needs. We should control our desires. We should spend only minimum time, energy and money on worldly matters. Only that much without which things can’t be managed. We should reserve the balance time, energy and money for making spiritual progress. 


We should also try to avoid the company of materialistic people to the extent practical and feasible. Because they dump a lot of negativity from their huge stocks on us even within a very short time. Those negative things pull us strongly back to the materialistic world. 


By following the teachings of our Guru and treading this path carefully, we will be able to achieve eternal bliss, eternal life, complete and true knowledge and freedom from the cycle of births and deaths.

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CONCEPT OF HELL AND HEAVEN AND THE EARTH PLANE

CONCEPT OF HELL AND HEAVEN AND THE EARTH      PLANE

       In order to understand the concept of Heaven and Hell, it is necessary to have an           understanding of the following basic concepts:

(a)    The constitution of this Universe

(b)   Constitution of Human Beings

(c)    Concept of death

The two concepts mentioned at (a) and (b) above have been made clear in answer to question nos 1 & 2 and 38. These should be read and understood before the following paragraphs are read.

Concept of death

Death is nothing but the permanent separation of the four inner bodies from the physical body. The pranic body which is intertwined with the entire physical body from head to toe and is present in every pore of the body starts withdrawing itself at the time of death. We experience extreme pain at the time of death. When the pran starts withdrawing, the dying person first feels a strange sensation in his legs. He feels something being pulled out of his both legs which leaves the legs powerless. The process of withdrawal of pran is continued upwards in the body. The same experience is felt in the hands. The sense organs become powerless and stop functioning. Eyes are open but they are unable to see; ears are not closed but no sound can be heard; tongue is unable to taste; power of speech is lost; Thereafter the heart beat slows down and becomes feebler and feebler. The dying person feels extremely worried and restless at these developments. The pran leaves the trunk and gathers itself in the brain area where it remains captive for some time. All these happen at the instance of an unseen invisible power. Despite all these happenings, the person’s mun and buddhi do not stop functioning. They continue to function and are fully aware of all that is happening. At that point of time the chitta is extremely worried and looks at its karmas done in this birth; it repents at its own impotence and present miserable state. Soon that same invisible power or force gives one more push and the person loses consciousness, falls down back to the trunk and leaves the body with tremendous speed and force from one of the nine openings. (2 eyes + 2 nostril openings + 2 ears + 1 mouth + 1 anus + 1 exit point for urine).

This loss of consciousness is a momentary phenomenon. After sometime he again starts regaining consciousness and is seen standing near his dead body in a semi-conscious or half-sleep state. You would have seen, through a beam of sunlight, smoke rising upwards toward the sky.  The pran leaves the body in the form of smoke. At first the pran goes up to the sky in a single line. Immediately thereafter, it comes down and stands near its dead body. Gradually, hands and legs, face, eyes, head, trunk, etc., begin to form out of that smoke. And soon takes the identical shape of the physical body that is now lying as a dead body.

The fate of the pranic body or the Jeevatma is dependent upon his karmas and sanskars. One becomes as one thinks. Those who believe in the concept of births and deaths get birth in other bodies and planes according to their karmas and sanskars. If one has believed life-long very strongly that he will never come back into this world, then he will remain suspended in the ethereal plane till pralay, but will not take birth.

84 lakh yonis in 3 planes

Jeevatma shuttles between 84 lakh yonis (forms in which life is expressed and exists in different planes). This shuttling takes place in three Kosh namely, annamay (material plane/physical plane or earth plane), pranmay (ethereal plane) and manomay (astral plane). Therefore these 84 lakhs yonis exist only in these 3 planes.

On the earth plane, the various yonis are classified into four categories which are inanimate beings, plants, animals and human beings. In the ethereal plane the various yonis in which beings exist are known as prêt (ghost), rakshas (a sort of demon), pisach (a sort of demon), pitra (Father or guardian spirit), vidyadhar (Studious, learned people, scientists, people with knowledge of scriptures but who did not practice them in their lives), gandharva or kinnars (musicians, dancers), and siddhas (philanthropic people who did philanthropy with some motive and spiritual people who worshipped with desire of getting happiness). In the astral plane the beings exist in yonis like dev (virtuous, kind, helping people), apsara (extremely beautiful spinsters) etc.

The three worlds or three planes

The earth plane lies in the middle. Below it lies the ethereal plane and above it lies the astral plane. The ethereal plane is referred to as Hell and the astral plane is referred to as Heaven.

Life on the first three zones of the ethereal plane is one of extreme pain and agony; extreme darkness and ignorance. In the other four zones there is some relief from pain and agony and darkness but it is a very limited life bereft of much happiness. Life on earth plane is a mix of happiness and unhappiness, the latter being predominantly more than the former.  Life on the astral plane is a life full of beauty, music, enjoyment, etc. It is full of happiness.

The common thread running in these three planes of existence is DESIRE. All beings living in these three planes constantly desire for something or the other. When the desire is fulfilled, the beings are happy. When not fulfilled they are unhappy. Whether on earth plane, or in the ethereal or astral plane they always carry a baggage of desires with them.

Fate of human beings on death

People on the earth plane can be divided into the following two broad categories:

(a)   Those who practice sadhana under the guidance of an able guru with the desire to attain moksha or mukti or freedom from the cycle of births and deaths.

(b)  Those who do nothing to break free from the cycle of birth and deaths. Who are happy and content enjoying material aspects of life.

People of category (a) who succeed in breaking their ethereal bodies through sadhana land, after death, in the next higher plane i.e. the astral plane. If they have succeeded in breaking their ethereal as well as astral bodies through sadhana, they land in the next higher plane i.e. the mental plane or vigyanmay kosh and so on. Those who have been able to break all their four bodies land outside the boundaries of creation or maya and attain the last mukti known as sayujya mukti. Those, however, who could not break the astral body spend some time in the astral plane and are re born as human beings in very highly evolved spiritual families so that they can carry on with their journey towards the Atma from the point they left in their last birth.

People of category (b) suffer a combination of the following fates:

(i)        They are born again immediately as human beings or in lower yonis as per their karmas and sanskars

(ii)         They land in the ethereal plane and undergo suffering and cleansing

(iii)       After completing their tenure in the ethereal plane, they either go up to the next higher plane i.e. the astral plane to enjoy the fruits of certain good karmas done on the earth plane or if they have no such good karmas they are again born in the earth plane

(iv)         Those who complete their tenures in the astral plane are reborn as human beings

(v)        Those who come back to the earth plane from the first three zones of the ethereal plane do not get birth as human beings but in lower forms as animals, etc.

Chandralok and Suryalok

The universe comprising five kosh is divided into two divisions -- the earth plane, the ethereal and the astral plane comprise the Chandralok while the mental plane and the plane of ego comprise the Suryalok. Those who are able to break their ethereal and astral bodies land, after death, in the vigyanmay kosh i.e. in Suryalok. They never come back to the Chandralok. They become free from the cycle of births and deaths. This is a lower form of Mukti or Moksha. Gradually they progress and reach the next higher plane i.e. anandamay kosh and ultimately outside the boundaries of the universe. They are attracted and pulled by an unseen force towards the Atma.

Hell

It is comprised of seven zones. The first three lower zones are adjacent to the earth plane. The other four higher zones are further away from the earth plane. The zones are differentiated by the quantum of light present. In the lower three zones it is very dark with little or no light. While in the other four there is not much light.

Suffering that is common to sinners (especially for inhabitants of zone 1 to 3)

Sinners are very much aware that they have done great sins in their lives. They have also heard/read in their lifetime in their religious scriptures that those who commit sins are punished in hell. So they form a world of imagination according to their own religious beliefs and they ‘see‘ that they are being punished, being burnt in fire, drowned in cauldrons full of boiling oil, etc. The reality is that there is no fire or cauldron or authority to punish them. One suffers due to one’s own karmas and sanskars.

Sufferings common to all in Hell from zone 1 to 7

(a)    Darkness and lack of light is a common source of suffering especially in zones 1 to 3, which are pitch dark. The amount of light gradually increases from zonel 4 onwards.

(b)   While in the earth plane they developed great attachment to certain persons, places and things. Death has snatched all of these from them. They are able to see all of them, they can hear them, they try to talk to them, to touch them, to hug and kiss them, to eat and to drink. But because they no longer have physical bodies, they are unable to communicate. Those on the earth plane cannot hear what they say. They cannot see them. They see that their hands ‘pass’ through the bodies of their near and dear ones. This is a tremendously depressing situation. The beings on the ethereal plane or hell are agonized, depressed, frustrated and know not what to do. The suffering undergone is immense and beyond anything words can describe. When their suffering is over they either move on to higher planes or are reborn on the earth plane.


      It is very important to note here that the inhabitants of seven zones of the ethereal plane have different levels of attachment to the persons and objects of physical realm. The higher the attachment, the greater the misery. From level 5 onwards the inhabitants are seen to have developed, on earth plane, more attachment to particular life-styles than anything else. Scientists were more attached to doing research, the learned were more attached to reading, studying, teaching than anything else on the earth plane, the musicians, dancers, artists were principally attached to their music, dance, arts, and so on. In these cases as the attachment to the persons, places, and objects on earth plane was weak, their suffering is correspondingly less. On the ehtereal plane they create a world of their own by their power of imagination and live there just as they lived on the earth plane. Musicians sing, dancers dance, teachers teach, scientists do research, learned study, preachers preach, etc. 


zone 1-3 of Hell

The first three zones are referred to as raurav nark. Because there is extreme pain and agony together with darkness and ignorance. It is inhabited, among others, by those who commit suicide. They live in pitch darkness and incessantly relive through one of the following

(1)    the circumstances that forced them to commit suicide

(2)    the actual action of committing suicide

You would remember the record player of olden days. Sometimes the needle would get caught in a particular circle and as a result the record player would only produce, repeatedly, the same sentence of the song. One would have to physically lift the needle and place it in the next circle to hear the subsequent sentences/stanzas of the song. You would also recall how painful an experience it is when our minds get caught in a particular painful thought chain for a long time, say a few hours or days. On the earth plane there are several exit routes from such situations. Our attention is drawn away from that particular thought with some new development or distraction around us. And we become free from suffering further pain due to that negative thought. But in the ethereal plane there is no such exit routes. The Jeevatma continues to incessantly suffer the pain and agony of reliving those traumatic moments. And it continues for thousands of years. Since the person who committed suicide had developed hatred for the human body he gets birth in the human body after a very very long time.

Raurav Nark is also inhabited by beings of pisach yoni -- those who had a devilish and demonic nature – who reveled in the sufferings of others; Who lived out and out an evil life. They are also surrounded by pitch darkness.

Raurav Nark is also inhabited by people who did not hesitate in harming others for their own gains. They would not harm others normally, but if their self interest was served they would not hesitate in bringing harm to others. They led a very selfish, self-centred life, not caring about anyone else, and remaining steeped in materialism; gratification of five senses.


Those who lead a very licentious, and sexually debased life; always think of sex, sex organs, people of the other sex; who indulge in false sex and waste their semen/fluids etc. also land up in raurav nark.


Those who criticize others, backbite others, commit theft, drink liquor, eat flesh, are liars, are gamblers, lend money and take interest, take bribes, enter into sexual relationships outside marriage, etc, also land up in raurav nark.

Zone 4 of Hell (Pitar Lok)

There are people on this earth who lead a life steeped in materialism. They are good people but their only motto in life is to earn and enjoy. They would not like to harm anyone. They are limited to serving their family and relatives considering it their duty. They never bother to find out about the world beyond the five sense organs. Such people land in zone 4 of Hell and are said to belong to Pitar yoni (Pitar means father or guardian).

Their life is somewhat better than those in levels 1, 2 and 3. But it is still a painful life because of the lack of sufficient light, ignorance and great attachment developed to certain persons, places and things on earth plane.

When the attachment weakens or if by luck they get some light or knowledge they move to higher planes. Otherwise on the completion of their suffering they are reborn in their own family. Men are born as men and women are born as women. If their sanskar is such that they are to be born in lower yonis, then they join their families as pet or domestic animals.This continues for thousands of years. One is freed from this cycle only by satsang, satkarm and sadhana.

Zone 5 of Hell (Vidyadhar Lok)

It is the world of men who were studious, spent all their time amidst books, engaged in teaching, religious leaders like priests who were engaged in preaching / delivering religious sermons, scientists who spent all their time in laboratories / made new discoveries, reformers, and others who had knowledge of what is good and bad but never brought their knowledge into practice all their lives. They engaged in good actions but to serve some ulterior motives. They are said to be in vidyadhar yoni.

They continue to live the very same-life style that they lived on earth in a world created by their own imagination.


When their suffering is over they either move on to higher planes or are reborn on the earth plane.

Zone 6 of Hell (Siddha Lok)

Those people who engaged in philanthropic activities or worshipped with a motive of some worldly desire, land in this level, popularly known as siddhalok. Yaksh-rakshas and siddhas are inhabitants of this zone. 


They continue to live the very same-life style that they lived on earth in a world created by their own imagination.


When their suffering is over they either move on to higher planes or are reborn on the earth plane.

Zone 7 of Hell (Gandharva or Kinnar Lok)

Popularly known as the Gandharva or Kinnar Lok, it is inhabited by such men who were good people but were fond of good things in life i.e. pleasures, and luxuries. They never engaged in any negative activity. They served others, gave alms, etc. But their main purpose was to enjoy the sensory pleasures like music, dance, touring, playing games, etc. Gandharva, apsara, kinnari etc are inhabitants of this level. 


They continue to live the very same-life style that they lived on earth in a world created by their own imagination.


When their suffering is over they either move on to higher planes or are reborn on the earth plane.

Heaven

The astral plane consisting of 7 zones are referred to as Heaven. Inhabitants are called Devtas (godly people who bring happiness to others). The inhabitants of this plane are markedly different in behaviour and nature from those of the ethereal plane. They are kind; they desire welfare of all; they are always eager to bring happiness to others; they rush to help those who are in trouble. That is why they are called devtas. But they are not free from desires. This leads to some negativity in these devtas -- they are afflicted with the common disease of jealousy, kaam, krodh, raag-dwesh, etc.


There is complete lack of unhappiness on this plane. One gets what one wants instantly.  Things are created instantly exactly as per the imagination. But one worry nags the inhabitants now and then -- I will be some day pushed down to the earth plane when the stock of my good karmas get exhausted. This thought, whenever it occurs to them, makes them lose their peace, makes them restless. 


One reaches here by virtue of having committed service to others with expectations of rewards. Those who do bhakti of God with expectations of rewards of worldly pleasures or pleasures after death also reach this plane.

After exhausting the fruits of good karmas, Beings have to come down again to the physical plane. They get birth as human beings.

In the upper 4 zones of ethereal plane the beings have limited powers of imagination and will power. They create a world of their liking and live in it. Preachers preach to gatherings of people; teachers teach to students in classrooms; musicians practice playing instruments; singers sing; dancers dance; scientists perform experiments in laboratories. All these are created by their imaginations. They can also create a physical body for themselves temporarily to make oneself visible to someone on the earth plane. But they cannot impart physical form to other objects by their imagination and show them to people on the earth plane.

The inhabitants of astral plane have complete powers of imagination and will powers. As soon as they imagine something, it is created before them. They can not only create their own physical forms they can also impart physical form to any object they desire by just imagining.They can create things not only for themselves but also for others.

As already stated above, the astral plane or heaven is also divided, like the ethereal plane, into seven zones. In the lower three rajoguna is predominant. The inhabitants are busy leading a life of luxury and grandeur and enjoying sensory pleasures. Progressively the rajogun decreases and satogun increases in the upper four zones whose inhabitants are basically satoguni Beings. But they have not been able to free themselves of desires. Hence they too spend their times in enjoying the pleasures of the five sense organs.

On taking rebirth as human beings they turn out as far superior to normal human beings in character and capabilities. They are intelligent, simple hearted, and love one and all. They are always eager to help others. Despite suffering at the personal level they make great efforts to serve their country and people. They bring about great reforms in society. They motivate people to break free from clutches of age old customs and tread new and better paths in life. But they are not interested in Atma or spiritualism.

LIFE IN THE ETHERIAL AND ASTRAL PLANES ARE SIMILAR TO OUR EXPERIENCES IN DREAM STATE ON THE EARTH PLANE. THE OBJECTS, SITUATIONS, PERSONS ETC., ARE IMAGINARY BUT THE PLEASURES AND PAIN EXPERIENCED ARE REAL, JUST AS THEY ARE WHEN WE SEE DREAMS. 

Those who want to get out from the vicious cycle of these 3 planes need to beak their ethereal and astral bodies through sadhana under the tutelage of an able (samarth) Guru. They should do karmas without entertaining egos or ahankar (that  I  am doing this / I have done this, etc.,) They should always think that they are instruments in the hands of God / Guru and it is God / Guru who is getting the works done. They should never think that the karmas are mine. They should think that these karmas are of God / Guru. They should never expect anything in return of their karmas. Karmas should be done selflessly. They should always take advantage of opportunities to serve others even if it leads to some loss at a personal level. One day they will be able to break free from the vicious cycle by the blessings of their Guru. And lead an immortal life of complete and never ending bliss, and complete knowledge without even the shadow of death, ignorance and pain. 


You can ask 'How do you know this? Did you die and find out? Then how did you come back from death to narrate all this? 


Your questions are very natural and must be asked. The reply is 'Please read the answer to Question No 35 and 36'. As human beings you are no less than God. But you have forgotten your own powers. You have all the powers that God has. Because you are a part of God. Ego, false knowledge and desires are impurities that have entered your pure form and made you impure, ignorant and powerless. You can cleanse yourself with the help of an able (samarth) guru by doing sadhana. When you are in the process of sadhana a stage comes in vigyanmay kosh or the region of true knowledge, when your inner eyes known as divya netra opens up. Through that eyes you can see all the subtle realms even while living in the physical body. Saints, and Gurus have this ability. They saw all this and recorded these in various religious texts. These are not cock and bull stories, fabricated by clever religious people to keep their flock of religious followers in discipline or control. It is not the creation of fertile but stupid and timid people.  It is as real as this world itself, as real as you and me. Our Guru Maharaj has written that " I have seen all these realms with open eyes with the blessings of my Guru Maharaj". It is your goodluck if you believe and make appropriate changes in your life. If you don't, wish you best of luck.

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