Benefit from Firm Resolve
Question: When worldly pleasures don’t come in front of us, till then we are of a firm sentiment that we will not get entangled in worldly pleasures. But when pleasures come in front of us we become weak? What should we do?
Swamiji: Very beautiful question! The sentiment - to not succumb to sense enjoyments and worldly pleasures (bhoga), is verily a rare thing, a very valuable thing. Sundering ties with the world and awakening our relationship with Bhagwan, this is real humanity. In reality, when we look more closely, we do not have a relationship (adjoined) with the world, whereas our relationship with Bhagwan is unbreakable. We become one with the world and separate from Bhagwan – this is just impossible. We don’t have this power to separate ourselves from Bhagwan and although being Almighty, Bhagwan does not have the power to break away from us. The truth is that our relationship is not with this world, and our relationship is with Bhagwan. Whatever is not, just break it and whatever is, just awaken it - this is our main work.
Till the objects do not come in front of us, till then our mind remains firm that we will not be tangled in sense pleasures (bhoga) - if you have grasped this much also, then this is indeed a thing to rejoice! ‘Not to desire pleasures’ is a very eminent attitude, not an ordinary one. Even even the slightest desire is there to renounce the world and to attain God, then the outcome (fruit) of this will not be perishable, but it will indeed give only imperishable fruit (salvation).
‘Swalpamasya Dharmasya Trayte Mahato Bhayat’ - ‘Even a little practice of this discipline (equanimity), saves one from the terrible fear of birth and death.’ (Gita 2.40).
Getting millions and billions of dollars is nothing compared to this. Getting kingdom of three worlds, then too it’s value is not even that of a hair, because all this is perishable.
When things come in front of us we fall from our place – why is this is our state that after thinking and rethinking, we leave it, such bad habits we have formed. After hearing Satsang, reading books we contemplate that we will do this only, then, we again leave it. This is also applicable even for trivial things, that we leave them. This habit is what makes you weak. If it had been your habit that, after if you leave it, then just leave it and if you hold on to anything, then just hold on to it, then you wouldn’t have been in such a sorrowful state. Please forgive me, you may not feel offended; this is a very pitiable state! Whatever thing you decide to do, you don’t remain firm on that. Things and hoarding do not have much badness, as your habits have. If you are not firm then in whatever field you go you will not progress. Bad habits are causing great harm. If you remain firm on one thing then you will be gratified. Bhagwan is mine, then whatever happens, only Bhagwan is mine. World is not mine, then it is not mine at all.
Question: When worldly pleasures don’t come in front of us, till then we are of a firm sentiment that we will not get entangled in worldly pleasures. But when pleasures come in front of us we become weak? What should we do?
If you want to speak truth then make a solid decision that from today I will speak truth only, I will never ever lie. In this be unshakably firm - ‘I will not tell a lie’, and not on - ‘I will speak the truth’. Renunciation is of great glory and great importance. Come what may, I will never lie. If prestige dwindles, fame and honor sinks low, if riches flee, losses to any extent fall in my way, yet “I will never lie!” If you become weak at the moment when there is an opportunity to speak the truth, when you do not have the courage to speak the truth, then you may relax only to the extent that – you may not tell a lie, be mum. Tell the other person that everything is not to be shared with all, therefore, I will not share with you. When we are not able to tell the truth; we don’t have any plan to disclose the whole matter; we don’t have any intention to convey the whole matter, then just walk off by telling that ‘I have some work’. Work is that we don’t want to disclose. By doing this ‘We will not lie’ – This oath of yours, will come to true. The method thus shown to you can be practiced, and which you can do.
If you have once decided on something, remain firm on it. Never kill the idea. Slaying our thoughts/ideas again and again will cause birth and death. So remain firm on it that let things come in front of us, we will not falter, we will not lick our own spit. By remaining solid on our ideas, strength will be generated within, a power will descent. Then you will not suffer from such a plight. Even if people call you a coward, abuse or denounce you, don’t worry about that. We have to remain firm on our decisions.
However you are, I will tell you the simplest practice, but it is you who has to hold on to it. I will tell you very simple, very easy practice and I will also make you accept it, that we can do this practice and benefit from it! You just prepare yourself, and then our work will be done. The reason is that we have got this human body only for God Realization (Paramatmaprapti). If we will not get Paramatma, then what will we get? World can never be attained. It is just an illusion that we have money, we have family. Everything will perish, than what have you got? We can never get this world and we can never separate from Bhagwan, this is an absolute true fact.
We will not harm anyone, we will never cause sorrow to anyone - be firm on this. This thing looks very ordinary, but it has great glory. Its greatness is no way less than worship, meditation, chanting etc. This is a very pricey thing but people do not give attention to this, they just ignore it and leave it as it is. After an illness is cured we start feeling hungry, and after taking meals immunity (power) starts coming in our body. When the digestive system is in stable condition, then eating anything half-cooked will generate stamina. Similarly, if you stay firm on your decisions then a power will come in you. So remain firm on your decision that I will never ever lie, whatever may happen. I will not manipulate. Don’t be afraid of that others will get insulted. Nonetheless, if you deceive by speaking lies then you will bear great insult. By not deceiving you will get respect. If you manipulate, then you will fall from good people’s heart that this man is of no use. You will also fall from Thakurji’s (Bhagwan) heart. So don’t try to be too smart, just say as it is. By telling the straight-clean truth, is anyone going to hang you? Doing this is not a tough thing. On firm aim of salvation this becomes easy. In beginning, one is a bit fearful, but later this fear steadily evaporates.
If anyone asks me something, I will immediately tell. Else in front of thousand people I will say, I don’t know. What is the problem in telling things straight? People will consider me ignorant and foolish, what else besides that, will happen? By considering me as wise, how can they make me realize God? And by considering me as foolish, what barrier can they create in God-realization? Whatever we know we will say; whatever we don’t know we will not say, and there are some things, which we know but we will not say. I have been through this and one occasion told the person that whatever question you are asking, answering that will not benefit you. So I will not respond.
Don’t be afraid of this that your secret will come out. Secret comes out, but firmness will remain intact! What will you do by keeping secrets? It’s very surprising that Shri Ved Vyasji Maharaj has written his birth-topic many times in verses. What is his sentiment? That is why he is worthy of worship, respectable! By revealing the truth there is no harm. It is only a delusion that harm will be caused.