Spiritual Essence
Divine Words of G.P.P. Sahebji
- Bhavisha Tailor
th
On 20 March 2012; the Tuesday prior to G.P.P. Sahebji departing for his dharma-yatra of Australia and New Zealand,
he graced Vallabh Vidyanagar mandal’s weekly satsang sabha in which he beautifully explained the Amrutotsav prayer,
“O Lord! To do your work, in your way, to please you!’. The article below is a translation of this for your reflection and contemplation.
The Holi-Dhuleti samaiyo was celebrated in Surat with
Supreme is manifest. Man is able to love everyone, but is
great devotion as the ‘Sant-Preeti Sopan’. In the Vachanamrut,
oblivious to the one that he should truly love, and so he is not
Swaminarayan Bhagwan says that, “Every single human being
able to attain true happiness. Maharaj has said that, “Love all,
wants happiness and fulfillment, but because of difference in
there is nothing wrong in this – but for the Satpurush you
understanding there is a difference in the happiness you
should have exceptional love”. If you join with a Satpurush out
experience”. What understanding is this? It is the
of exceptional love, this is like a mosquito gaining the speed of
understanding of accepting God as your Supreme, all-
an eagle by simply sitting in its wing! Similarly we will
powerful Lord and of joining with the Satpurush through
effortlessly begin to live in the Akshardham-roop3 state. And it
whom God is manifest. But because this understanding is
is for this that Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj raised the
absent – no matter how much effort you make, or how much
call. Yogi Bapa, through the weekly satsang sabha is making
seva you do – you do not see the results you desire.
this happen in our lives.
Some students will study for fifteen hours at a time, and
The Satpurush that we have in our lives seems just like us,
will revise ten times over, whereas another may barely revise
and yet how great is he? When the mahima4 you have in your
once – but will score much higher grades. So why does this
heart continues to rise higher and higher then your love for
happen? One has to pinpoint and focus on that which is
him will also grow. If you offer a small child the choice of a
important. The intelligent student will concentrate on what is
chocolate or a gold bar, what will the child take? The child will
important for the exam. In the same way, everyone here
take the chocolate and throw away the gold bar. But when he
worships God, and everyone is on the path to God to attain his
grows older and grows wiser in his understanding, he will
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prasannata ; but the wider masses are not even able to reach
know that this bar of gold is worth Rs100,000. Then even if
the path, because of the difference in understanding.
someone gives him sacks full of chocolate, he will throw them
That understanding refers to the acceptance of your Ishta-
away and keep the gold bar. As he grew up, he understood the
Dev as Supreme. What do we mean by this? It means that no-
value of the gold-bar and so his temptation for the chocolate
one in the world can even come close to the place that your
dropped away. Similarly you will come to understand the
Ishta-Dev holds; regardless of whether they perform miracles
mahatmya5 of the Satpurush – that he is no ordinary human
and show all sorts of supernatural powers, no-one can make
being – he is not like us. Rather you will find that you have
you budge an atom in the faith and devotion you have for your
attained a Sadhu that eternally holds God within him! When
Lord, Bhagwan Swaminarayan. This is what is meant by
you understand this mahatmya in your heart, then your
acceptance of your Ishta-Dev as Supreme!
weakness for everything else will drop away. Your love for
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Secondly, we have to have atma-buddhi and preeti for the
Sant, through whom the Lord who we have accepted as
1
When God or Guru is so pleased with you that it culminates
in an outpouring of grace – this is called prasannata
2
Atma-buddhi and preeti refers to an inseparable loving
Akshardham-roop refers to attaining the Gunatit state,
which is the highest spiritual state of being.
4
Understanding of glory or greatness
5
Absolute unshakeable faith and conviction in God/ Guru as
faultless and divine and the feeling of unparalleled fortune to
have attained Him.
association
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the Satpurush will grow greater and greater and through it
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you will be able to follow his aagna .
house to house, group discussions, the Vartul sabhas; and all
of this is God’s work. We have taken His shelter, we have
The theme of the Surat samaiyo was ‘Sant-Preeti’ and ‘O
accepted His Supremacy and so the desire to please him will
Lord! To do your work, in your way, to please You….’ What do
progressively become crystal clear in our hearts and our
we mean by God’s work? Is it to make sure that someone that
Upasana will become purer. This will happen through
has lost their job gets employment? If you do not have a child,
samaiya, shibirs, weekly sabhas, Vartul sabhas,
is it God’s work to grant a child or two who will be helpful in
padharamanis, and mingling with bhakto; this is all God’s
seva? If your business is not going well, is it God’s work to
work. But why should we do this? We do it to please God.
make it better? Remember this: whether your wants are to do
In his work, we can offer our physical seva, material seva
with your job, marriage, money, clothing or shelter – you will
and mental seva. Today all of you have got together for the
not have to ask for this. The reason is that Swaminarayan
weekly sabha – this is God’s work. For the sabha, someone will
Bhagwan has already asked for these boons from his Guru,
lay out the mat, someone will do the cleaning, someone will
Ramanand Swami: “None of my followers should suffer the
lay out the chairs; this is physical seva. Someone will bring
pain of lack of food, clothing or shelter. If my follower is
prasad, another will bring a garland, whilst yet another will
destined to suffer the pain of one scorpion sting, let me suffer
have an A.C. fitted in the hall; this is material seva. In the sabha
the pain of a thousand scorpion stings, but release my
someone will do the seva of carrying out discourse and singing
follower from all suffering”. We have heard this, we know this,
the praises of God and Santo– this is seva of words. Now all of
but we still keep forgetting. Bhagwan Swaminarayan has
this seva has to be carried out in His way….so what is His way?
released us from our destined suffering and already granted
In England, before the king is given the throne, he is given
us two boons for our comfort, and if we still keep demanding –
training. From childhood, he is given the best education. He is
then that is our sheer foolishness!
taught the proper way to walk. He is taught how to run, how to
So what is God’s work? For us : to do God’s work, means to
climb a wall and jump over it, how to climb a tree, how to jump
worship him as Supreme. This means: to become Brahmroop
off a tree, horse-riding, rifle-shooting, archery, how to stay
and worship Parabrahma, such that we become God’s
alone in a jungle overnight, how to chop wood, light a fire and
instruments in whatever work or goal that God has
cook a meal – all of this training is given. Why is all of this type
manifested for. His goal was to propagate pure Upasana.
of training given? Because in future, if the king were to ever
Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj too did this work of
lose his kingdom and end up on the street, then he would not
spreading the Akshar Purushottam Upasana; and now we
starve to death. And secondly, when he sits on that throne he
want to give ourselves for this work.
should be awe-inspiring. The person that sits on the throne
If someone says make laadu for the meal. Does that mean
has to be one with discipline and principles.
you only make laadu? If someone says to us, please come to
Similarly, God’s bhakto should work together in harmony,
my home for a meal, there is laadu; so what – does that mean
support each other in their work, and always be humble
there is only laadu to eat? Of course there will be laadu, but
before each other – this is God’s way. The Surat youths are all
alongside it there will be three or four vegetables, there will be
so capable and bright and are such that they would make
raitu, farsan, chutneys, rice, daal – there will be so many
others bow before them, but because they had atma-buddhi
items! But in Gujarati – the meal is described as laadu ni rasoi.
and preeti for santo like Ashvinbhai and Shantibhai, they were
Similarly to spread the Akshar Purushottam Upasana – there
able to work harmoniously amongst themselves - according to
will be samaiyas, shibirs, weekly sabhas, padharamanis from
the instructions of Harshadbhai, Dilipbhai, Gopalbhai,
Rameshbhai Zha and Santo; this is God’s way. God is more
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Any instruction given by God or Guru, which is always for
our spiritual benefit
pleased if five members of the household live and manage
their affairs in complete harmony, than he is with a single
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person who can rule over the world. The reason is that the one
filtered with a cloth’. Mota Swami was sitting next to Bapa
person alone does not need to ask anyone anything, but for
talking to someone, so he had not heard this; so Bapa asked
five people to work together in harmony – is God’s work…and
me the question again.
it is God’s way.
Bapa was the manifest form of God himself. He knew all of
When we used to stay with Yogi Bapa, any work that had to
this already, but to simply answer whatever he asked, was our
be done - no matter how big or small– Bapa would call
devotion to him. Bapa asked the same question again, so
Dadubhai, Harshadbhai, Chhaganbhai, Pramukh Swami and
Mota Swami said, “He is a haribhakta’s son. He will know all of
Mahant Swami. He would gather all of them and ask, “What
this, so he must have washed it; he would not give it you
shall we do?”. Bapa was the manifest form of God himself.
otherwise!”. That is when I thought, Yogiji Maharaj is all-
Everybody would do as he said and yet he would ask everyone.
knowing, but there is a reason behind his questioning, which
He was giving us the training that to work together – is his
we would not know; and so we should just simply answer
work, and is the work that he is most pleased with.
whatever he asks. When Mota Swami answered, that is when
Another thing was that Bapa used to give us seva. Many
it clicked that the reason Bapa asked me those questions, was
times when we went to Gondal, Bapa would give us the seva of
so that no-one would think that Bapa was inconsistent in his
cleaning the rubbish pits, washing the dishes and washing the
spiritual disciplines and had overlooked them while staying at
rice grains. Once when we were washing the dishes, Bapa
the hostel. Bapa would never say or do anything that would
came. We had washed them and turned them over to dry.
result in someone having bhav-fer7. That is why he is so
Bapa asked for a spoon. There was some soil stuck in the ridge
pleased when we do his work with such care and attention to
of the spoon. So Bapa said, “wash this again”. God’s work must
detail.
be done in a way that pleases God – it must be done
In the sabha hall, when arranging the seating we should
meticulously. When it is our own work, we do it with such
spread clean cloths and do this all up-to-date and
attention to detail! So should we not do this for God’s work?
meticulously! We must always keep our surroundings clean.
Bapa used to teach us this. If we would go to the tap to get
Our Lord loves cleanliness and so our whole house must be
water, he would teach us to wash the tap first.
kept clean. God lives in our home, and so if you take the extra
Once Yogi Bapa came to our hostel in Vallabh Vidyanagar.
Whenever Bapa came, we would receive a letter one week in
hour to clean it, that is equivalent to an hour of turning the
rosary.
advance. Whenever the letter came, we would go out and buy
While we were living in the Chhatralaya, one day H.M.
a new clay water pot. We would wash it out, fill it with water
Patel Saheb was out taking a walk. He came straight into the
and leave it to stand for two days. Then we would wash it out
hostel. We were all sitting out on the steps, and got up
and fill it with fresh water daily, to suck out the smell of the
immediately. He stood with us for a little while, then he asked
clay so as to stop it from going in the water. Then on the day
us, ‘where is your bathroom?’. We thought, H.M. Patel Saheb
before Bapa would be arriving, we would wash the tap and tie
has just been for a walk and needs the bathroom – so we took
a fresh, clean piece of cloth to the spout to act as a filter, and
him towards them. He inspected them one by one and then
then fill the clay pot with water. When Bapa arrived he came
came back. He said to us, ‘Boys, hats off to you! You are Yogiji
and sat in our room. Mota Swami and Santo had come with
Maharaj’s true disciples!’.
him. Bapa asked for water, so we served it. Before drinking the
As such everything looks clean but if you really want to see
water, Bapa asked me, is the clay water pot new? I said, ‘Yes,
whether the home is truly clean, you can gauge this from the
Bapa’. Then he asked me, ‘Had you washed it out?’, so I
state of its bathroom and toilet. H.M. Patel Saheb was so
answered ‘Yes Bapa I had’. Then he asked, ‘Did you wash the
pleased. This became our bhakti!
tap,’ I said ‘Yes Bapa, I did wash the tap’. Then he asked, ‘did
you filter the water?’ and I said, ‘yes Bapa, the water has been
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To negatively change one’s attitude toward someone.
Our homes should be so clean and pleasant, that even if
God’s prasannata is in our becoming nameless. We want
someone comes for five minutes, they should feel like staying
to dissolve our entire being in God. Our unique personality’s
for half an hour. To keep cleanliness, is God’s way. If we have a
should blossom, but our sense of ‘I’ – our ego must reach
small mandir, that mandir should be up-to-date. Additionally,
zeroness. Our only expectation must be to please God :
in the home one must always speak positively and speak of
‘whether my name is called out or not, whether I am seated at
mahima. You should not allow amahima, bhav-fer or fault-
the front or at the back, at the top or at the bottom – this has
finding; you should keep this type of purity. We have God’s
nothing to do with me; all I want to do is please you’. Whether
presence in our home and if we keep cleanliness in every way,
one acknowledges you or not, you should not leave your seva,
then God is pleased. We have to keep our home and ourselves
nor slip up on your devotion – you should not give up on your
clean, not to please our guests, nor to impress a visitor, but to
bhajan or prayer, nor should you miss the weekly satsang
please our Lord. Never mind if your clothes are simple, but
sabha. Then it can be said that you are doing God’s work truly
they should be clean and washed. God loves cleanliness and
to please God.
so our homes should be clean, our work should be clean and
our daily dealings should be clean. In your internal dealings
with bhakto, you must not hurt another haribhakt. If you are
dealing in money matters with another bhakt, you must do it
with the attitude that you do not want the money back at all;
otherwise you must not engage in money matters with other
bhakto. If you give money and then pain the bhakt by asking
for it back, then Maharaj will not be pleased. If Maharaj is not
pleased then our service amounts to nothing. For this reason,
keep all your dealings clean.
If you enter into any dealings with bhakto then you
should do it with an attitude whereby you are able to let go.
If you internally stand bowed before bhakto and let go of
things, then God will become bound to you, and he will give
you so, so much more. We want to trade and do business; so
that we earn money and can do seva, but we do not want to do
this by hurting a haribhakt in the process. We do not want to
do any dealings whereby a bhakt is hurt in the process. So
keep all your dealings clean. If you are not able to do this then
go and sit in the mandir and pray – then God will forgive you.
But for as long as you are in business, you should keep all your
dealings clean, this is God’s way.
If you want to please God, then give your children love.
To make the work of Akshar Purushottam Upasana flow in
full force, the Holi – Dhuleti samaiya were done in God’s way,
with complete harmony, togetherness, unity and nirdoshbhav8 and so God was pleased. For this reason, God was
present through everyone there and gave the whole
atmosphere such divinity. That divinity touched everyone
and came through in the joy that everyone experienced. For
any shortcoming, there was not a single complaint from
anyone. The bhakt that can turn difficulty into joy, has also
truly carried out God’s work to please God. This is what we
have to do.
It was Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s divine will to give
everyone the joy of Akshardham in their present physical
state. He wants to give us constant joy and peace, whereby
whatever we ask for we get, and whatever we seek – we find.
But we fumble about and face all sorts of obstacles, because
we cannot hold on to God and are doing everything besides
this; so we must hold on to God. And to do this, you have to
practice to do God’s work, in God’s way, to please God; then
God will stay and consequently whatever you think, will be
realised – you will get what you ask for, and find whatever you
seek. That is how great your attainment is going to be!
Because of our love for Yogi Bapa, his every action seemed
Your children are a gift to you from God; your devotion is to
nurture them, educate them well, teach them values, join
positive to us. If there is love, then one can believe that
them to God and give them the association of Santo. This
whatever is happening is being done by my Lord, for my good.
pleases God. To make your home and your world divine, is
If you have love, then you will be able to keep nirdosh-bhav.
God’s work. For this, keep God at the centre of your lives, and
do seva in God’s way – without any expectations at all. The
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only expectation you must keep is that of pleasing God.
faultless.
The inner perception that God and all of God’s devotees are
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We loved everything about Yogi Bapa, we even loved it when
For three months, Kanjibhai and Bhupaji worked together
he yawned. When you have exceptional love for a Sant such as
– which in itself is a huge miracle! They stayed humble before
this, and like everything about him, then you will be
each other, they bore each other’s differences and worked
transformed. We need to have atma-buddhi and preeti for
together in harmony; this is work that can be said to have been
Santo such as these, understand the mahima of all of these
carried out in God’s way. To put aside one’s own opinions or
bhakto, and work together in harmony; then the results will
ways – is God’s way. This is the fruit of this samaiyo. Thousands
be wonderful, and you will feel the joy of this.
of people gathered, that is true; but those that did seva
Our mandal’s should feel like a family, there should be
reaped the benefits – their innate nature dissolved, the
unity, harmony and love for one another. You should not fall
harmony and unity amongst them increased and to please
into gossip, ill-talk or criticism of any member. If anyone tries
God what could they not do for each other! That sentiment
to talk about this, you should not allow it. If someone comes
heightened and that is the success of the samaiyo! So
and denounces any one of our members, you should not allow
however many mukto there are, you should support each
it. Internally, do not allow your harmony to be damaged. You
other; should share in each other’s troubles with love and
should keep unity and oneness and share in each other’s pain.
affection and share in each other’s joy too. If you come
If a bhakt is ill, you should go and see him; if he is in need of
together and offer your devotion in this way, then you will
help, you must offer help, then God will be pleased. If we do
attain God’s great prasannata.
this to please God, then God will not allow pain in our lives.
You should do all seva with the aim of pleasing God.
When a man like Kanjibhai joined with Ashvinbhai out of
love, then he was able to stay humble, tolerate all difficulties
You should do God’s work, in God’s way, to please God….
and leave everything behind to offer his seva to God. In this
For this, Ashvinbhai and Shantibhai went to give guidance to
work, he was able to keep Ashvinbhai and Dilipbhai at the
the Surat mukto, one hundred days prior to the samaiyo. In
forefront, and as per Shantibhai’s instruction did not
addition to this, Harshadbhai, Gopalbhai, Rameshbhai and
obligate anyone in anyway. Just see how much progress
Santo went and did sabhas and explained that, ‘The aim of
mukto are making in satsang! Seeing this, doubles our joy –
this samaiyo is not to gather hundreds and thousands of
because everyone is attaining God’s prasannata. So let us
bhakto, or to have people sing the praises of Anoopam
live in this way.
Mission; the goal is for us to offer our devotion. However
Truly, our huge congratulations to Jayendrabhai Bapu! He
many of us there are, let us offer our devotion and do this
has kept everyone together, and is doing the work of satsang
samaiyo, to take ourselves spiritually one step forward’.
so well. Subhashbhai, Dineshbhai, Jaygopal are all giving their
Truly our salute to these bhaktos courage and their
support! Mahendrabhai, R.N. and all are doing such
enterprising spirit! They have followed this theme perfectly.
wonderful work in unity! The whole mandal has become one
Bhupaji used to be in the police force and had to become as
big family! When there are samaiya-utsav being celebrated at
thick-skinned as the people he worked with; but with
Brahmajyoti, each of you consider it your own, and offer your
Shantibhai’s association and love, he came to understand the
seva wholeheartedly with devotion; doing God’s work, in
mahima of bhakto. Bhupaji has good friendship with
God’s way, to please God….and so all which is negative within
Kanjibhai, and so according to Dilipbhai’s instruction, he
us, will be rooted out. May all of your lives become such that
stayed in Surat for three months. I was so pleased when I
please God. May the whole mandal, become even more
heard this! After the samaiyo was over and we came back,
fulfilled in every way, in mind, body and spirit. This is our
there was a sabha in Surat on the next day – in which Bhupaji
prayer at the lotus feet of God and Guru on this auspicious
and the others cried so much. He changed completely.
day! Jai Swaminarayan!
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