LADDER |
LAST STAGE |
LALAJI |
LATENT MOTIONS |
LAYA
/ LAYAVASTHA (STATE OF MERGING) |
LAZINESS |
LEARNING |
LETTER AND SPIRIT |
LIBERATED SOULS |
LIBERATION |
LIFE |
LIGHT - lUMINOUS |
LIGHT (-NESS) |
LIKES AND DISLIKES |
LIMITATION |
LIMITLESSNESS |
LINK |
LIVING DEAD |
LIVING STONES |
LONGING |
LORD KRISHNA |
LOTUSES |
LOVE |
LOVE OF GOD |
LOWLINESS |
LADDER
Consciously, the inner craving of a human heart
is the attainment of the Real. This is the ladder
for one to ascend towards unknown.(SS-412) The
state of prayer is that of a devotee and it is
strengthened by love. This constitutes the first
step in the ladder, which helps us to climb upto
the Ultimate. All stages or states of spiritual
advancement are within it.(IB-19)
LAST STAGE
After crossing all the Rings of Splendour, the
abhyasi begins to feel expansion throughout the
universe. Then comes the stage of Divine knowledge
afterwards we feel the vision of the absolute.
In the end starts Layavastha in Brahm, at this
state the problem of life is thoroughly solved.
And this is the last run of all our spiritual
activities, - but the thing never ends. We begin
to start swimming in the Infinite in order to
complete the chain, I must add that during our
march to Reality, of course at a higher point,
the atoms of the body, begin to convert themselves
into energy, and then energy into its absolute.
The whole of the system is thoroughly divinised.
And a man becomes dynamic. (SDG-92)
LALAJI
Please See Adi Guru.
LATENT MOTIONS
But though they were dissolved into Origin losing
their individuality, the previous impressions
persisted. This was because of the shade of reality,
which they remained under till the time of dissolution,
which helped them to retain the effect of the
impressions during the entire period of their
existence. How long they continued to absorb this
effect is beyond human imagination to determine.
It must at least have been during the entire period
of existence since the time of creation. The effect
taken in by them was no other than the motion
which generated from the shocks of the Root-Power.
This being saturated with the effect remained
silently active and this continued indefinitely.
It is known as the Latent Motion around the Centre.
(IB-8,9)
The latent motions generated power which rushed
out and created something that can be expressed
like the eggs of a fish in the spawn. These egg
like things are full of concentrated essence of
power and energy created by invisible motions.
Now all these three i.e., the Centre, the latent
motion and the so called egg like things are so
adjacent to one another that it is very difficult
to distinguish them each separately and all seem
to be one or adjusted together as one.( ERY-59)
LAYA
/ LAYAVASTHA (STATE OF MERGING)
Merging really refers to a state of settledness
in the condition at a certain point or knot arrived
at by the Abhyasi. When after sufficient practice
an abhyasi is able to secure his entry into a
certain knot or granthi, he goes round in it for
some time touring the place in order to acquire
a thorough experience of it. By this process he
begins to absorb in him the state prevailing at
the place. When he becomes saturated with it,
his merging has then come into effect. This is
known as Layavastha (merging). But the consciousness
of the conditions we have by now arrived at also
exists, and so long as it does, the state of merging
cannot be said to have matured to fullness. For
this we have to proceed on further to acquire
the state of settledness, which is termed as identicality
or SARUPYATA. This again is not to the final phase,
till it has developed into a still finer state
of SAYUJYATA, where the impressions of the state
of merging and identicality also become extinct.
(PG-15,17 footnote)
When close conformity or Sayujyata has been attained,
then alone can the knowledge gained be deemed
as complete.(PG-43)
At every knot the states of identicality following
merging and leading to Sayujyata repeat themselves
before we can obtain a complete knowledge of the
knot. (PG-15)
LAZINESS
Laziness can also breed cancer. Laziness is surrender
to the self. A lazy man surrenders to the self
which is suicidal for spiritual growth.(SS-268)
I regret to find that some of you do not try to
overcome your lazy habits, which is a clear indication
of the fact that the ideal has not yet been firmly
fixed in your mind. If it is foremost in your
view, it can never be that you would shirk or
neglect your duty in this respect.(SS-241)
LEARNING
Learning and knowledge have their own importance
and people having it are often held in high esteem.
I too have a regard for them and for that reason
I usually behave submissively with them, exalting
them in all formal ways. But on my part, I never
did hanker after knowledge. Yet, to be quite outspoken,
I may say that I do not feel myself lacking in
knowledge in any respect, and I do possess it
in its fullness. The reason is that my great Master
had transmitted to me everything that he possessed,
and that included knowledge as well. For that
reason, I feel myself immensely in possession
of every type of knowledge from the lowest to
the highest, though I may be lacking in the use
of technical words in my expression. But it is
my meekness of nature and disposition, which I
have copied from my Master, that keeps it veiled
under covering.(SS-264,265)
LETTER AND
SPIRIT
The general idea that fills abhyasis is that the
items of practice taught to them are all that
is needed to take them up to the final state of
evolution. Their thought does not run beyond this
at all. We indicate Raja Yoga as our foundation
and it is so in fact, their ideation does not
reach down to its depths and it just stops short
with the observance of the rules. But it is certain
that in Sahaj Marg, the fragrance of Pranahuti
indwells, but still the factors that get left
behind are Love and Devotion. Along with the act
of Meditation, it is essential that these should
also inhere therein. It has been necessary for
me to stress the mingling of the facets together,
since by doing this the Sadhak may be able to
reach his goal very soon. It is your responsibility
to engender these factors in yourselves. The means
consist in endeavouring to maintain the remembrance
of the Principle, that is, Ishwar (God). Even
here, the objection can be put forward by some
that by this effort the mind gets so tired that
perhaps it can retain this only for half a day.
(SDG-106)
LIBERATED SOULS
The impression held by certain philosophers that
liberated souls do not possess the actual consciousness
but only the potentiality for it, is wrong and
misleading. No doubt, the liberated souls develop
their power so much that they utilise both consciousness
and potentiality any way they like, but really
they are above both and then only follows liberation.
If you have got potentiality developed in you,
it means you have got something which is far away
from the idea of nothingness.(ERY-50,51)
They swim and swim near about the Centre - the
vast limitless expanse - Infinite. The liberated
souls will lose their identity altogether only
when Maha-Pralaya, the state of dissolution, comes
in dead form.
The space shown round the dot marked 'C, the Centre,
is the actual place of landing and swimming for
the liberated souls. This is such a vast expanse
that the first rishi of the time when the world
was born is still swimming, and has not yet been
able to reach even the middling point of this
ocean. Those who have got vision of that first
type or, in other words, that which they ought
to have when they get into the central region,
can verify the truth of what I have stated above.(ERY-55,56)
LIBERATION
Our great master has boldly asserted that one
can, for sure, attain liberation in this very
life, nay even in a part of it, provided one is
really earnest about it and has the fortune of
having a proper guide. This he has practically
demonstrated in many instances which only direct
experience can prove.(SDG-61)
The problem before us is not mere deliverance
from pain and misery but freedom from bondage
which is the ultimate cause of pain and misery.
Freedom from bondage is liberation. It is different
from salvation which is not the end of the process
of rebirth. Salvation is only a temporary pause
in the rotation. It is the suspension of the process
of birth and death only for a certain fixed period
after which we again assume the material form.
The endless circle of rebirth ends only when we
have secured liberation. It is the end of our
pains and miseries. Anything short of liberation
cannot be taken as the goal of life although there
remains still a lot beyond it.(DR-16,17)
If I speak of liberation people will think it
to be a very far-off thing which can be achieved
by persistent efforts for a number of lives. In
the diagram the state of liberation lies between
the 2nd to and 3rd circles. The various conditions
we have to pass through in order to secure liberation
are all acquired within about a circle and a half.This
may help the reader to form a rough idea of what
still remains to be achieved after we have reached
the point of liberation which really, as commonly
believed, is not an ordinary achievement.(DR-20)
Liberation has today become very easy because
of the presence of the Divine Personality. The
conception of people does not generally go beyond
the point of liberation which they take to be
the final limit of human approach. But that is
a wrong idea. As a matter of fact liberation is
the lowest attainment on the Divine path, hence
it is just like a toy for a child to play with.
Beyond that there is yet a lot to be achieved.
The Infinite oceans lies still ahead. It is a
limitless expanse. Have your eyes fixed upon That
and only That, and go on and on to trace it out.(SS-381)
The popular belief that the attainment of liberation
is not only difficult but also impossible within
the span of one life is a mistaken notion. Who
knows, this very life of ours might be the last
one to bring us to the level of liberation. (SDG-61)
We can attain liberation, as our scriptures say,
only when we are free from the coil of past sanskaras
or impressions. The present sanskaras are so much
controlled by themselves that no further sanskaras
are allowed to be formed. It is, of course a spiritual
state. We come to it easily in Sahaj Marg when
we go deep into consciousness.(SS-113)
I wish you all to acquire, during my life time,
the highest approach beyond, or atleast the state
of thorough negation. It is not so very difficult
under the efficient system of Sahaj Marg. I strongly
affirm that such a masterly type of spiritual
training cannot be had anywhere but in our sanstha
which runs under the kind grace of my great Divine
Master. It is certain that the followers of such
a high road to Divinity have ever been few at
all times and in all yugas. Only those who are
destined for liberation are attracted to it with
eagerness and zeal.(SS-174,175)
If one is to be brought to the stage of Liberation,
Sahaj Marg method for it would be to divert his
soul towards the Ultimate. The result shall be
that he will go on developing till,by the last
moment of his life, he will finally reach the
destination and attain Liberation. I can proclaim
by the beat of the drum that none except a worthy
Master having at his command the power of transmission
can ever bring forth such wonderful results, and
that Raja Yoga alone is the path which promises
sure success. But this can fall to the lot of
those fortunate ones alone who are actuated by
an earnest longing for Liberation and are really
destined for it.(SS-422,423)
I perfectly agree with these ideas laid down by
Gautama Buddha. If we go with the full force at
our command towards our main goal, the world would
itself become a second thought. Go on doing the
process of meditation till it is matured. This
is the last stage of meditation. When we become
one with the real thing, the things following
it grow so dark that we do not perceive them.
In other words, we become blind in this respect
and our vision for the real things improves and
we bring it to such a standard that we are lost
altogether. When this condition comes we feel
that we are in the state of liberation. If this
condition is matured then there is the end of
all miseries - no pain, no sorrow, no enjoyment
and no pleasure. The machinery of body now works
without producing impressions upon us. In other
words, the body becomes an automatic machine which
runs by itself as duties demand. Here is the end
of everything and there is no making of sanskaras.
Here is the point where we surrender ourselves
in toto automatically. This is the essence (Tattva)
of the Bhagavad Geeta. This is the condition which
the angels crave for. It is reserved for the human
being alone. Dear friend, do you not crave for
it? I think everyone of us must endeavour to achieve
this end. The thing is not as difficult as it
seems to be, and to me it is as simple as anything.
Absorbency in the pious thoughts achieves this
goal. (SS-478,479)
Everybody likes freedom. But few take care to
acquire 'freedom from freedom'. This higher stage
is the result of total submission to Master Supreme.
It is all absorbing attachment (bondage) to Reality
alone, which liberates one from every other bondage.
(SDG- 87)
Spirituality ends in Divinity, and Divinity ends
in its Real Essence. Man after liberation gains
nearness to God; and enters into a sphere where
even Silence is silent. Liberation in body is
also a chapter in spirituality. Material science
cannot explain further after matter is left out.
(SDG- 130)
Please see MOKSHA also.
LIFE
Now I come to your question, Whether life has
got some meaning". I may quote here a verse to
give you some idea of it.
"Life means liveliness; damnation is for those
who are dead at heart."
Whatever poetical meaning it might carry, my view-point
will be clear by the following interpretation.
What is liveliness? It is to live with a heart.
But what kind of life would it be? In a word I
may say, "Give away your heart to another, what
remains then is only life". If you ponder over
the word 'life' you will come to the conclusion
that life is only that which is connected with
living. My expression makes it clear that there
is certainly some type of living with which life
is connected. At the same time it is also clear
that the living with which this life wants to
remain connected is eternal and immortal. If we
merge our life in that life it is then the real
life, where there is neither bliss nor sorrow,
neither pleasure nor pain. I wish to lead you
all to that life which alone is the goal of life
as I have put it. Whatever sense you apply to
the sentence, "give away your heart to another",
will be correct if that is associated with the
feeling of love. But it is also definite that
Reality can never be revealed through mere interpretations
because that would be far away from mental grasp.
My object in writing all this is that the real
being which is shrouded over with worldliness,
or the heart which is inclined towards silly pleasantries,
should be turned round. This is all that one has
to do in life - the heart to be His, and you to
be yours! (SS-357,358)
People ask the meaning of life. Life is meaningless
in some persons' minds, and this is a suicidal
idea. Life has its meaning because there comes
a force with it, and that reminds us of something
which should be very precious to those who want
to keep it within them. (SDG- 87)
There is every sense in living - not only in living
but achieving the highest. The craving of the
soul can be satisfied best, while one is living
and existing. Nobody knows the shore. (SDG-135)
Life is the awakening of the State of Being. When
we brought in our share of the awakening state,
every function of the material existence commenced.
In the beginning, it was more in relation with
Divinity from which life started. With the progress
of life, actions continued having their effect
according to their nature. Now we have lost our
balanced character and have grown unbalanced.
(SDG-40)
Accepting turning towards the spiritual life is
the beginning of life, and the highest state of
it is 'Life in Life' which lies hidden in life
itself. We should start for that Life which is
to be entered into. All our abhyas leads us to
that Life. (SDG-87)
Diversity is life. Had there been no diversity,
what would life have meant? (SS-358)
We have now to enter into a new life, a life which
is beyond this outer life of ours. (SS-66)
Everybody has got life but we have to seek for
life in life which ultimately merges in its own
essence.(PP-165)
LIGHT - lUMINOUS
Every saint has used the word 'light' and I too
cannot avoid it because that is the best expression
for reality. But that creates some complications,
because, when we talk of light the idea of luminosity
becomes prominent and we begin to take it as glittering.
The real light carries with it no such idea. Under
our system the abhyasi, no doubt, sometimes sees
light. But the glittering light appears only in
the beginning , when matter comes into contact
with energy. In other words it is only a clue
that energy has begun to work. The real light
has the dawn colour or a faint reflection of colourlessness
.Although light is not the exact translation of
the thing, (because light is really far more heavy
a thing than what that actually is), it has been
expressed so merely for the sake of understanding.
Thus the real light refers only to the real substance,
or more appropriately, substanceless substance.(SS-410,411).
Under our system an abhyasi, no doubt, sometimes
sees light. But the glittering light appears only
in the beginning when matter comes in contact
with energy. In other words, it is only a clue
to show that energy has begun to work. The Real
light has the colour of dawn or a faint reflection
of colourlessness.
Under this system much emphasis is laid on removing
the grossness so that over-cloudiness which hovers
around the soul be removed. That is for all preceptors
of the Mission an important part of their duty.
Still much is to be done in this respect by the
abhyasi himself, who is prescribed a method for
the purpose. I do not mean to touch the point
why we meditate upon the heart, since it has already
been discussed elsewhere.
Most of the scholarly saints have tried to define
the state of Realisation in numerous odd ways,
but to me it appears that if it can be defined
it is not Realisation. It is really a dumb state
which is beyond expression. Feeling or observing
luminosity within or without is not Realisation
at all. During the early period of my abhyas I
often witnessed and felt luminosity. But that
not being the goal, I proceeded on under the watchful
support of my Master from 'Light to gray' as Dr.
K. C. Varadachari rightly puts it (for our system).
It is not in fact Light in the sense of luminosity
that we are finally proceeding to but to that
goal where there is neither darkness nor light,
as the emblem of our Mission indicates. What that
can possibly be is beyond words. (SS-411,412)
People in certain sansthas meditate upon this
light as well. They take the lights as the real
thing and they go with curiosity in it freely
applying their will. The result is that they expand
the matter for light to come in a higher degree.
Power of light increases as the capacity for having
it improves. But really speaking they are on the
verge of Maya in solid form. I use the word 'solid
for the light. The scientists may object to it,
but if they think in true sense of the Reality
where there is neither light nor darkness they
will find the former far heavier than the latter.
This thing happens generally in the Trikuti and
beyond it.(ERY-38)
I find people hankering after seeing the light
in their heart, but that is to no purpose at all,
for that light is far heavier than the bliss one
craves for.
An abhyasi should not try to see the light, but
to suppose that it is there. I may say that it
is so much repelling to me that I try to be away
from it. Light is in fact only a shadow of Reality,
and not Reality itself. We have to gain true Reality,
of which light is only material exposition. It
is felt during the course of abhyas but we ignore
it as superfluous. In fact we have finally to
arrive there where there is neither light nor
darkness.(SS-122,123)
Under our system of practice too, an abhyasi no
doubt does see the light sometimes, but that is
only in the beginning when matter comes into contact
with energy. In other words it is a clue to show
that energy has begun to work. Moreover light
nor being our goal, the vision of luminosity within
or without is not an indication of the attainment
of Realisation. (SDG- 77)
LIGHT (-NESS)
If the Abhyasi begins to feel himself lighter
and lighter it means he is progressing, because
in that case he is going into the state that God
is in. Light means the loss of weight of one's
own thoughts. (WU-49,50)
When we find ourselves growing lighter and lighter
day by day we must conclude that we are proceeding
right towards that which is the lightest and subtlest.(SS-288)
Feeling lightness, though only a little, is a
sign that complexities are melting away gradually
and the spiritual force is flowing into you. (SS-150)
You complain of experiencing a sorrowful mood
in general.This can be a spiritual state as well.
If you write about it further in detail I may
be in a better position to judge. If along with
this feeling of a sorrowful mood you feel lightness
too,then I must congratulate you for it..(SS-247,248)
God willing your doubts shall certainly vanish.
But it is of course certain that none has up till
now been able to answer every 'why', nor is there
any hope of it in the future. The light which
you feel is the reflection of your own good thoughts,
and of your deep feelings of love. Give up the
idea that you have not so far progressed in meditation.
Go on with it, maintaining constant remembrance
as best as possible. It shall not be difficult
for you since you are a man of devotion. (SS-282)
LIKES AND
DISLIKES
Liking something means egoism. So, one should
rise above likes and dislikes.(SS-103)
LIMITATION
Power is unlimited. The very word 'limit' came
into man's understanding when he experienced his
thought confined within a certain sphere. Thereby
he concluded that his power is limited. The idea
also promoted within him the thought of some higher
power or superior force which lay beyond, and
which is presumed to be unlimited. This thought
of duality sprang up only when our sphere was
taken to be narrower. If this idea gets banished
from the mind, as it must be at a certain stage
of spiritual advancement, it is then quite possible
that we may lose the idea of being limited as
well. When both these thoughts i.e. being within
or beyond limit, are washed off from the mind,
then we are in the true sense free from limitations,
and the self has been joined with That which is
beyond limitation or the limited. If fortunately
one happens to have transmission from that higher
stage then the above attainment is quite possible
and practicable.(SS-422)
When you are describing your condition of bliss
as heavy, it proves that your link is connected
with the Centre (or Kendra of ignorance), and
it is due to limitation. It would be more proper
if you describe it as boredom instead of heaviness.
Boredom means that you require pleasant and light
air as you are now proceeding in higher altitude.
Peace will be never dull.(SS-451)
There are many amongst us who eagerly hanker after
realisation and freedom, and they feel it to be
their duty. But when we talk of duty we find ourselves
enclosed within a sort of limitation. What is
that limitation? It is only a narrower sphere
of thought and wisdom. As for our present level
it is that of finiteness which we cannot get away
from, and from which we proceed on to broader
visions; I mean the vision of the Absolute Reality.
But that depends mainly on the means and methods
we apply for the purpose. If perchance we fall
upon means which go on adding to our limitations
and bondages, we shall definitely remain away
from the vision of Reality - the Absolute. There
may be methods to suit the temperament of particular
individuals, but which may basically be wrong,
or in other ways inefficient, and may serve as
a toy for a child to play with, only too offer
him a temporary lull, but which may lead him further
to temptations for more and more enjoyment of
pleasures and happiness. That may perhaps be the
charm to induce him further on the path of happiness.
But so long as he remains held up by the charm
of it his progress gets frozen. He may well be
compared to a frog in the well which thinks its
own narrow sphere to be the whole universe. But
if our present level inspires within us a Consciousness
of a higher type of happiness of infinite character,
we may be awakened to the idea of going further
into the sphere of limitlessness. (SS-37,38)
LIMITLESSNESS
It is definite that a person having been bestowed
with that highest approach, is in complete subjection
to the will of God. The Divine will, through the
medium of his Guru, works in him every way to
this extent that he cannot be away from it even
for a moment. In other words, he is completely
under the charge of his Master. Such a man alone
as can give himself up completely to his Master
is possibly worthy of that highest approach. But
this too is after all the beginning of the state
of limitlessness, which is to be entered into
after this. In short, how far one has yet to go
on cannot be determined in any way.( SS-177)
LINK
We love him with faith and reverence trying by
all means to attract his attention and favour.
For this purpose we connect our link with Him
in the light of the worldly relationship only
for the sake of facility. We think of Him as father,
brother, master or beloved. The process, if taken
up in the right earnest, is greatly helpful to
a disciple. The strong link of attraction thus
established leads him to a state of devotion and
surrender. (DR-94)
It is my earnest desire that my satsanghis should
advance more than myself. But all this depends
upon their love, labour and the grace of God.
When there is love and labour then the link does
move, and our jingling shall certainly reach the
Master.(SS-271)
You may also be surprised to note that the link
of connections which existed so far is now no
more, since it has been cut off under Divine directions,
and another one has been established in its place
which every one has necessarily to come up to.
It is therefore essential for you all to turn
round - the sooner the better - towards this new
link and offer me an opportunity to mend and correct
your connections without which one shall remain
deprived of the Master's infinite Grace. (SDG-6)
Guru is the connecting link between God and man.
He is the only power that can extricate us from
the intricacies of the path.(SS-491)
It matters little if a few break off from us,
because what they have gained during their brief
contact will develop in the subsequent life, if
not in this one. Thus our labour is by no means
wasted or lost. (SS-227)
LIVING DEAD
We have not yet come to the point expressed as
Nothingness or zero. When can we enter this state?
Only when we make ourselves as such. We get power
from the first Mind to reach the state of zero.
This is the state which even angels crave for.
The air of this state can be felt by him and him
alone who has abandoned all airs i.e., who has
become a living dead.(ERY-47)
It is possible that I cannot understand the meaning
of zero in as good a manner as others do, because
the zero cannot know the conditions of another
zero, nor can the dead know the condition of the
corpse. In a way you call such a condition as
that where all dualities whatsoever go away, and
we become living dead. Or we get dissolved in
Reality in such a way that every discrimination
is lost, and the difference between the real and
the imitation is not discerned.(SS-363)
Vairagya can be attained only when one is wholly
diverted towards the Divine. When it is so, one
naturally becomes disinterested in his own self
including everything connected with it. Thus he
loses not only the body Consciousness as well.
What remains then is nothing but the 'being in
dead form' or a 'living dead'.(SS-69)
'Living dead' is the condition felt when a man
becomes absorbed in absorbency(Fana - e - Fana).(PP-164)
LIVING STONES
Everything casts a reflection in a form similar
to its own. If the thing is subtle its reflection
will also be subtle in character and if it is
gross the reflection will likewise be gross. If
we concentrate on a solid thing we are sure to
become ourselves inwardly solid. Great havoc has
been wrought by teachers, who have presented to
the ignorant masses everything they had learnt
from the holy books in hard and solid form. It
destroys the reflexive power of mind. If one develops
such a horrible state he is gone for ever. He
loses his approach to a broader vision and the
capacity for further progress becomes extinct.
Such persons may be compared to frogs in the well,
with a little field of activity which they consider
all and enough. They remain whirling round in
a closed sphere, hemmed in on all sides. They
are hammering on the same thing all their life.
Stories and illustrations of gods are all and
enough for them. When the practice continues for
long the cells of the brain are affected and they
become saturated with the thoughts which grow
stronger day by day. Finally the whole nervous
system is affected. The external oapacity gradually
creeps inwards and they become completely impervious
both within and without, to the passage for the
Divine Light. Their approach to inner-self is
completely barred. I shall prefer to call them
living stones. The hardened crust which they thus
developed keeps them aloof from slightest association
with anything higher or finer. They are almost
spell-bound by its effects which they consider
to be a spiritual stage although in fact they
are far away from it. My personal experience in
the spiritual field has revealed to me that it
is a pretty hard and tedious task to shatter the
hard crust, created by such forms of practice,
from the hearts of those coming to me for spiritual
pursuit. If one wants to free himself from those
bondages of soul he must necessarily clear off
the layers of grossness and solidity settled over
his mind as a result of these stultifying practices.
(DR-9,10,11)
LONGING
If our longing (or Lagan) for the realisation
of the goal is great, our negligent or sluggish
habits will not stand in the way of our efforts
or progress. If we go through the history of ancient
sages we find that they had sacrificed all the
comforts of life for the sake of attaining Reality.
They led a life of austerity and penance, undergoing
every kind of hardship and trouble for the sake
of the object so dear to their heart. Intense
longing for the goal made them blind to everything
else and they remained firm on the path not minding
the difficulties and reverses that came across
their way. Such an intense longing for the object
and an iron will to achieve the goal is absolutely
necessary to ensure complete success. I may assure
you that you can win laurels in the spiritual
field if only you turn your attention towards
God and proceed with will, faith and confidence,
no matter how adversely you may be placed in,
surrounded by all the worries and miseries of
a household life. Your busy life will then offer
no hindrance in your way. (DR-36,37)
LORD KRISHNA
If the question as to from whom Lord Krishna got
light is put to me, my answer would be that He
is Self-luminous. But then this need not mislead
the enquirer that he too is self-luminous and
everyone else is also such, and there is an end
to all enquiry. Logical speculations are no substitutes
for the cravings of the heart. The heart is not
satisfied even if the logic stops dead in some
blind alley. (SS-223)
LOTUSES
Please See CHAKRAS.
LOVE
My associates have often enquired from me the
method for creating such type of restlessness
within them. I may tell them that intense love
for the object will automatically lead them to
it. When we are in deep love, we shall naturally
feel impatient to secure nearness with the loved
object. When we are greatly in love with any of
the worldly objects its idea comes to our mind
again and again, and we think of it over and over
again. Now in order to develop Divine love in
our heart we have only to reverse the process.
If we remember God frequently or for the most
part of the day, we will automatically develop
love for Him, which if continued with earnestness
will create impatience in our heart to secure
union at the earliest. Another way of developing
love with God is to play the part of a lover as
if you are enacting a drama. But it is only for
those who are almost incapable of finer means.The
method though artificial will shortly bring you
to reality and feelings of true love and impatience
will begin to agitate your heart. (DR-39)
The relationship of love having been established
in the sphere of self extends upto that of the
Master. This is the link which once established
is never severed. But still the final destination
is far off yet, though the power of thought which
is enormously great, makes it easily accessible.(IB-19)
The only way to develop love is constant remembrance.
While doing your daily work you must think that
you are doing it in obedience to God's orders,
and hence as part of your duty. This simple process,
if followed in the right spirit, will keep you
in touch with the Ultimate. Another advantage
would be that you will stop further formation
of sankaras. The constant remembrance promotes
attachment to God which develops into Bhakti.
This is because the heat contained in the thought
stimulates emotion which assumes the form of Bhakti.
If you turn it into a habit you will find how
fast love develops in you. It is in fact an essential
feature of spiritual life.(SS-54)
I was so mad with love for Him that I had lost
my power of vision for all things. People may
condemn it as blind faith, but my love-madness
pulled me up to it, and I liked to linger within
the dark gloomy atmosphere of love, rather than
enjoy the blissful state of anandam But I like
to keep it reserved exclusively for myself land
I do not induce any other to follow this mad course.
His every gesture was to me the revelation of
the Divine mystery, his every word a volume of
spirituality, and his every action the exposition
of the 'Unknown'. I had no choice or liking nor
even a sense of discrimination between the right
and the wrong. To me everything of his was what
it ought to be. I was in complete submission to
his will and could never think otherwise even
for a moment. I literally followed the following
concept:
If your spiritual guide asks you to dye your prayer
carpet with wine, do it; for he, having travelled
himself the entire distance, is well aware of
all ups and downs of the path! (SS-236)
Love is praised everywhere. There is a story in
the Mahabharata: When Lord Krishna went to Vidura's
house, Vidura's wife, who was bathing naked, rapturously
opened the door and came out on hearing Krishna's
voice. Krishna threw his upper garment and covered
her. She began to feed him with plantains in such
a way that she gave him the skin (peel) and threw
away the fruit. When Vidura came and reminded
her as to what she was doing, she came to her
senses and began to feed him the fruit. Lord Krishna
then said that the taste which he found in the
peel was not there in the fruit. So when love
and Bhakti take hold to such an extent, the condition
which Vidura's wife had is some times experienced
by the less advanced. (SS-279,280)
Having stayed with this insignificant being for
sometime, you have actually created in yourself
a condition which if further developed can be
interpreted as an all-absorbing love. This is
the reason why you create deep impressions wherever
you go. I am much pleased with whatever service
you have been rendering to the Mission so far
and I believe success will soon dawn upon you.
(SS-244)
One might think it a serious blunder on my part.
My simple answer to it would be that like Majnun
I was beside myself with the madness of love,
and a Majnun can best be judged from the viewpoint
of Laila. I was concerned solely with my beloved
Laila. This is in a word about me and my condition,
but for others I do not insist upon their taking
up the same course of mad love. (SS-237)
But the course we thus take up leads to the reverse
of what we aspire for. What is to be done under
the circumstances is for each one to decide for
himself.
Jab mai thaa tab too naheen ab too hai mai naheen.
Prem galee ati sankaree taame dho na samahi. (SS-239)
Do not feel surprised if I say love and hatred
are the same. Love is only positive thinking and
hatred is negative thinking. (SDG-100)
This motherly affection, so deep, for the first
time shows that he has advanced a step further.
That is the sign of aggravation of love. Now he
has started learning love from the very base which
moves on all other sides. (SDG-104)
Finally love makes every task easy and paves the
way for the shower of Master's grace to smoothen
the way to the Ultimate Goal. Love is the hunger
of human soul for divine beauty, according to
Socrates; and Love is the inner awakening to Reality
according to me. Love Him who loves all, and thus
everybody is automatically loved through Him.
Amen. Sahaj Marg has come in the front with the
basic principle in view. (SDG-32)
Even scoldings are endured in love but, dear brother,
there is a strange sweetness in those scoldings.
And those scoldings can come only under intoxication
of love. Such a one will never be of loose and
low morals. I shall write a famous verse of Surdas
which he has uttered in the love of Krishna: 'You
are getting out of the grip of my hand, thinking
me to be weak; but I shall consider you really
a man if you can get out of my heart'. He said
this when he had fallen into a well as he was
blind, and Krishnaji Maharaj had got him out.
Then he had gripped the hand of Krishna saying
that he would not let him go. But Krishna ran
away, getting out of his grip. (SS-481)
If there is real love,every particle of the body
should be transformed within seven years. (SS-454)
Liberation can make one free from all the earthly
bondages. When a person wants his Evolution, Nature
helps him. Doctor gives bitter pills to the patient,
even when he loves the patient dearly. God wants
to see His creation quite befitting, pious and
clean. So it is the Law of Nature that He does
everything necessary to open the door of Evolution.
'A bad workman quarrels with his tools' - is the
proverb. What we think bad and troublesome, becomes
the way of freedom. My Master, in great agony
due to abscess of the liver, said on seeing tears
in the eyes of His disciple that though He could
cure His disease in no time, He did not want to
meddle with God's ways. (SDG-87, 88)
When the feeling of love is there in the heart,
restlessness must come in by itself. The difference
in degree may not be of much account in this respect
since it may grow more and more in course of time.
But what can be said of those who even get annoyed
and irritated whenever a harsh or reprimanding
word is used for them? That may be a clear indication
of the fact that they do not like to free themselves
from their egoistic feelings. It is just possible
that they might be under the impression that to
put them on the right path, and to give them higher
approaches, forms a part of my duty towards them.
It may be so to some extent, but then at the same
time they must also bear in mind that they are
to make themselves deserving for it. I feel concerned
with everyone of you but only to the extent that
it lies within the limits of my essential duties.
I induce everyone to try for the nullification
of self, but they do not care to take into view
even its elementary steps, and I have to put up
with it. I speak of it in very guarded words lest
someone might get annoyed.(SS-173)
LOVE OF GOD
The disease is hated by all who suffer. But basically
it is very purifying. When impure 'Samskaras'
come into 'Bhog', the eyes of the creator are
towards us. It serves as a cradle for rocking
the baby and we get nourished. Even when the virtuous
'Samskaras' come for 'Bhog, the eyes of God are
towards us. It means, we are benefited by the
disease also which takes along with it the vicious
'Samskaras'. All is the play of His love. (SDG
100)
LOWLINESS
He alone can climb up a height who has created
in himself the recognition of his lowliness (low
lying state).( SS-384)
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