|
EZ Print Version of all 15 [Part Eleven] GENERAL (cont'd) Now as to your question - 'self' and what it is? The inner man sitting in you, the unseen power or the spirit that supplies the motor-power to all the senses and the sense-organs of perception and locomotion activating all for the benefit of the real I you I in you, the 'indweller' in the body as apart from the body, is the I self. I When once you realize that 'self' by a regular process of self-analysis, then alone you will see that very 'self' of yours reflected in others around you. Your first and foremost duty therefore is to know and realize the essential 'self' as distinct from its trappings. With this first-hand realization alone, you will be in a position to render any real and useful service to your fellow-beings, in the strict sense of the term. You will know more and more of the exact and intrinsic nature of 'service' in proportion to the degree you are able to extricate your 'self' first from the body and the bodily adjuncts and then from the astral and the causal raiments and stand apart as a Pure Spirit embracing the totality of existence itself. All these matters besides many another will then stand revealed of themselves and by themselves. The reasoning is of help to just a little extent in understanding the theory side only; but if it is carried on beyond proper bounds, it becomes a bar to further progress, as mind and intellect have both to be transcended for revelation of this 'self.' You should therefore, for the present, try to be content with the practices assigned to you, with loving devotion, leaving everything else to the care of the Master-power that will do for you all you desire, in a way unpredictable by the human understanding. * * * The highest service and devotion one can offer to the Master is to live a life full of sublime dedication and piety, and remain attuned with holy Naam by regular, faithful and accurate meditations. Love is the panacea for all ills of life -- physical, moral and intellectual. The divine love of the Master surpasses all disciplines and austerities undertaken at the intellectual level. It is a rare subject concerning more with the heart than head. Loving devotion and dedication to the Master is the stepping stone to progress on the spiritual way. When you step over the intellect by complete mergence of your will with His Divine Will, you taste the real elixir of life. * * * DIARY The prescribed diary is recommended so that it way serve the initiates as a sweet and prompting reminder that they do not relax in their meditation and also that the outward failings may be weeded out one by one until a pure ethical life is wrought about wherein the great gift of spirituality dawns with full effulgence and consciousness. I have love for you and wish you progress from day to day. Please remain lovingly devoted and steadfast and accurate in your meditations. You will progress from day to day. * * * Thoughts, words or deeds relating to failures in chastity are to be recorded in the prescribed columns of the diary for self-introspection. You can base your findings in light of this anytime you happen to fall in either of them. * * * Love means warm affection, attachment, likeness or fondness. Non-violence means not to hurt anybody in thought, word or deed. Love implies in the diary column as a sense of absence of hatred for others caused by your better position in different fields of knowledge, wealth or worldly status. You can classify the failures under different headings accordingly. * * * This type of failure on your part when you felt upset over the behaviour of your friend during meditations by her snoring, etc., falls under the column of hatred in thought. Howsoever, your sense of repentance afterwards is appreciated. * * * CHASTITY, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY Try to realize that God has concern for all His children and that He is Himself looking after all the dear ones in your family. Try not to worry about them, and the more you are devoted to your meditations, the more help you will be to all of them. * * * I appreciate your kind sentiments for the welfare of your brothers and sisters. You may please note that the gracious Master Power extends feasible help and protection for the near relations and friends of the dear ones who are accepted and put on the holy Path. You may convey my love to them and encourage them to repose their hopes in the gracious Master Power working overhead. * * * I am sorry to find that you were robbed and are unhappy over your family conditions. As mentioned to you in my last letter of November 11, please try to stay aloof from the discord and strife that your family has amongst themselves. You may pray for them and their sickness without letting them disturb your peace of mind, which is not conducive to good meditations. The gracious Master Power extends feasible help to the near and dear ones of a devoted disciple. * * * I appreciate your kind sentiments for your family whom you wish all good luck. Kind hearts are invariably blessed with divine grace. * * * Please read carefully the booklet 'Seven Paths to Perfection' for helping you to weed out all imperfections and replacing them with ennobling virtues. Lustful dreams resulting in loss of semen can be overcome by having self restraint in chastity of thought throughout the day. Thoughts precede the actions and as such the thought pattern of the initiate should be watched. Also, you should say some prayer before retiring and sweetly keep repeating the sacred charged names, and remembering the Master. If you sleep in this relaxed mood, no further disturbance will overcome you in this way, with His grace and protection. * * * Loss of vital fluid in sleep state can be avoided by having a light meal in the evening and also watching the thought patterns during the day and evening. Thoughts create impressions in the mind, which seek release in sleep when the attention slips down into the body. These should be recorded on the diary forms. If you are not sensually affected by looking into your wife's eyes, then there is no objection to it. * * * It is good that dear (wife) is now living with you at _____ , and that you are able to be of help and encouragement to each other on the Path Godwards. You are not to discuss together your inner experiences, which is entirely a matter between you and the Master. * * * I note the desire of you and your wife to have a baby. The spiritual conduct of the parents do attract a similar soul to them. My blessings are with you. * * * You state that you are unemployed at present, and are feeling lost and lonely. It would be better for you to return to dear (husband) at ______ and strive to prove him a good wife. It is due to the evolution of past karma that persons with varying temperaments are brought together in the sacred bonds of holy matrimony for the liquidation of their give and take. All efforts should be made for cementing the relationship. You should try and be more obedient and serviceable to your husband. Loving devotion and respect for each other's sentiments will bring in more of right understanding and harmony. You are both dear to me and I wish for you both to be happy together and help each other to know God and to fulfill the highest aim of man's life. My blessings are with you. * * * You may rest assured that the friends and relations of the initiates do receive help from the gracious Master. * * * I am glad for your dear mother who has decided to be initiated into the mysteries of the beyond. Please convey my love to her and encourage her to write to me all about her welfare. * * * Chastity is life and sexuality is death. While I sympathize with you in your present situation with your husband, you should continue to meet with your obligations in as detached a manner as is possible - you should inform him on your own behalf in a loving manner that the vital fluid which he loses each time is extremely harmful not only for his spiritual and mental health, but also to his physical health. If, however, he cannot stop all at once, he should in his own interests try and practice more self restraint. With your loving help and cooperation, he will be successful in this and to some extent, safeguard his physical health. Your advice to make use of the _____ was appropriate. The body is the temple of God and should be made a fitting instrument to manifest the God in man and not be degraded to the practice of sensual pleasures. * * * Unfortunately, very few people have the right understanding as to the importance of maintaining the chastity of life. It is because man is not chaste that he is under the domination of other vices such as anger, greed and attachment. If he were to control his sensual appetite, the other vices would gradually drop away. So chastity is the key not only to the spiritual life but also to success in every other field of endeavour. The pity it is that the very people who could help their fellow men, such as doctors and the clergy, are themselves in the grip of sexuality and are hardly likely to recommend the practice of that which they themselves are a prey to. To help your husband gain the right understanding of the need to lead a chaste life, you should request him to read the English version of a Satsang that I have entitled "Chastity and Forgiveness" which may be found in the January, 1968 issue of Sat Sandesh magazine. Having gained this right understanding, he could talk in a fatherly way to your son, so that they may have the opportunity at their early age to realize how important it is to maintain the chastity of life and the benefits that can accrue from retaining the vital fluid in the body. * * * I am glad that one of your sons has taken an interest in the teachings of the Master and is studying the sacred books. You nay encourage them all to study the sacred books by holding Satsang in your home, if it meets with your husband's approval. Whenever the boys are home from college on vacation, they may perhaps like to read from the Master's books at the Satsang meetings. In this way, your lady friends may also like to join you and grasp more of the theoretical side of the teachings, which precedes practice. A short meditation period can be included before or after the Satsang and all can enjoy the divine radiation from the charged atmosphere. My love and blessings are always with you. Please convey my love to your husband, sons, daughter and lady friends. I shall be glad to hear from them at any time. * * * You should continue to meet with your obligations towards your husband in as detached a manner as is possible. The relationship between husband and wife is sacred and nothing should be allowed to come in between. Your loving patience and cooperation will help him to awaken to the higher expression of life in due course. My best wishes are with him. * * * You should exhibit more of respect, patience and loving tolerance for your husband as God has united you both in marriage, which is a sacrament. * * * You should consider yourself as a trustee for your child and love him with a more detached and serene manner. As also please refer to my latest message since released on the Birth Anniversary of my Master. * * * When you feel overtaken with judgment of your mother, you should try to search about your own self. You will overcome this failure. * * * I am sorry for your family affairs when your husband does not cooperate with you. It is due to the evolution of some past Karma that persons with varying temperaments are blended together in the bonds of matrimony for the liquidation of their Karma. You are advised to be more calm, patient and tolerant in face of harshness. Such like passing phases of trials and tribulations come up as a reaction of past Karma and as such should be treated in the like manner. You may consult dear _____ in this behalf and act accordingly. My love and blessings are with you. * * * I appreciate the selfless help which dear _____ and _____ have given you in solving your marriage problems. In fact the disciples of the Master should be ever prepared to help fellow seekers after Truth in all their affairs. * * * You may nurse your son as long as you consider it necessary. * * * I am sorry to learn that your husband has gone back on the promise he made at the time or your reunion that he would not make dear ______ eat flesh. You have acted rightly in politely refusing to feed your son on eggs. Please follow the path of righteousness and resign yourself to the Supreme Will in all humility. My best wishes are with you. * * * You should be more obedient and serviceable to your husband which will enable you to win him. Love and humility surmounts all troubles whatsoever. Please convey my love to him. * * * I appreciate your loving and dutiful attitude towards your dear husband. An attitude of serene detachment from within, yet attending to one's legitimate duties carefully, considering oneself to be an obedient servant and trustee of the Master is the central them of the sacred teachings of the Master. Your steadfastness and obedience will help to win him round to you in due course of time, with the grace of the Master. * * * You need not bother about your husband but try to serve him with more of devotion which shall enable you to win him to your side in due course. Please convey my love to him. * * * Marriage is a sacrament and means the selecting of a companion for life to stand by in weal or woe. If you and dear ______ have decided to enter into matrimony and you can afford to do so, there is no objection in your marrying. Married life is no bar to spirituality if you live according to the scriptures. You should try to come up to the required standard of chastity by mutual understanding. * * * As regards your attitude towards your dear parents, you may please note that your duty is to be humble, polite and sweet outwardly and at heart. Everybody is free to choose his/her course of faith and action which is chiefly determined by past karmic evolution. You should try to exhibit and inculcate more of loving humility which will be more effective to prove your greatness and that of the holy Path on which you have been put. You do owe them some parental debt which can best be repaid by service and loving devotion. Please convey my love to them. EZ Print Version of all 15 |