Only a Servant
Once, Yogiji Maharaj was suffering from a painful boil on his arm. While applying some medical cream to the region, one youth jokingly questioned, 'Swami, if some political leader had fallen ill, doctors would be specially flown in by air to treat him, but for you, there are no privileges like that. Why is that?'
'But who says I am a leader? I am only a servant. My greatness lies in washing utensils, sweeping and in all forms of humble services.'
The spirit with which Yogiji Maharaj replied carried the essence of his heart. He truly believed in serving, not ruling. Though he was the spiritual master of thousands of people, he never exercised his authority. He always requested, never ordered. In fact, his humility was his paramount strength.
Once, Yogiji Maharaj was suffering from a painful boil on his arm. While applying some medical cream to the region, one youth jokingly questioned, 'Swami, if some political leader had fallen ill, doctors would be specially flown in by air to treat him, but for you, there are no privileges like that. Why is that?'
'But who says I am a leader? I am only a servant. My greatness lies in washing utensils, sweeping and in all forms of humble services.'
The spirit with which Yogiji Maharaj replied carried the essence of his heart. He truly believed in serving, not ruling. Though he was the spiritual master of thousands of people, he never exercised his authority. He always requested, never ordered. In fact, his humility was his paramount strength.
Total Detachment
During his early days, Jina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj's name as a parshad) had gone to Bhavnagar with some sadhus. The leader of the group was an elderly sadhu. They had put up at the local mandir. One evening somebody brought news that the procession of the King of Bhavnagar, Shri Krishnakumarsinhji, was coming through the streets. All the devotees rushed to the windows to catch a glimpse. Slowly, even the sadhus made their way to see the royal event. But one sadhu remained seated - Jina Bhagat. Even the leader sadhu got up, saying, 'Come Jina, have a look at the festivities. The colors, the music, the…'
'But what use is it all? Once I have renounced everything, why should I look at it again?'
The leader was stunned by the reply. Inside, deep within himself, he knew that the young 19-year-old Jina Bhagat was correct. As sadhus, all of them had willingly renounced the excitements of the world. But Jina Bhagat had a stronger conviction. Right from his young age, Yogiji Maharaj had never been lured by the glitter and glamour of this world. His detachment remained unflinching. Faultless.
During his early days, Jina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj's name as a parshad) had gone to Bhavnagar with some sadhus. The leader of the group was an elderly sadhu. They had put up at the local mandir. One evening somebody brought news that the procession of the King of Bhavnagar, Shri Krishnakumarsinhji, was coming through the streets. All the devotees rushed to the windows to catch a glimpse. Slowly, even the sadhus made their way to see the royal event. But one sadhu remained seated - Jina Bhagat. Even the leader sadhu got up, saying, 'Come Jina, have a look at the festivities. The colors, the music, the…'
'But what use is it all? Once I have renounced everything, why should I look at it again?'
The leader was stunned by the reply. Inside, deep within himself, he knew that the young 19-year-old Jina Bhagat was correct. As sadhus, all of them had willingly renounced the excitements of the world. But Jina Bhagat had a stronger conviction. Right from his young age, Yogiji Maharaj had never been lured by the glitter and glamour of this world. His detachment remained unflinching. Faultless.
Eternally With God
A fortnightly magazine, 'Bhavan's Journal', carried a series, 'How God Came Into My life'. It gave an account of experiences of the Divine from the lives of different spiritual luminaries. Yogiji Maharaj was told about the experiences of a personality from a current issue of the magazine. He was then asked to reveal his experiences about God so that they could be sent to the editor of the 'Bhavan's Journal'. Yogiji Maharaj laughed in reply and said, 'I am eternally in communion with God.' There was no particular day or point when God came into the life of Yogiji Maharaj because he was an eternally realized, God-communion Sadhu.
A fortnightly magazine, 'Bhavan's Journal', carried a series, 'How God Came Into My life'. It gave an account of experiences of the Divine from the lives of different spiritual luminaries. Yogiji Maharaj was told about the experiences of a personality from a current issue of the magazine. He was then asked to reveal his experiences about God so that they could be sent to the editor of the 'Bhavan's Journal'. Yogiji Maharaj laughed in reply and said, 'I am eternally in communion with God.' There was no particular day or point when God came into the life of Yogiji Maharaj because he was an eternally realized, God-communion Sadhu.
Divine Mind
A youth enquired, 'Do you ever get any worldly thoughts?' Swamishri replied, 'If I had a (worldly) mind then I'd get worldly thoughts.'
A God-communion Sadhu has no mind (desires of worldly pleasures). His senses and mind are divine. So how can they ever be inclined towards the sense pleasures?
A youth enquired, 'Do you ever get any worldly thoughts?' Swamishri replied, 'If I had a (worldly) mind then I'd get worldly thoughts.'
A God-communion Sadhu has no mind (desires of worldly pleasures). His senses and mind are divine. So how can they ever be inclined towards the sense pleasures?
Sweet Like Cake
London, Wednesday: 12-4-88. The Bal Sabha had just finished and Swamiji had personally given prasadam of cake to all the kids. Chandresh was eating his share of cake. Swamiji saw him.
Swamiji: How does it taste?
Chandresh: Sweet.
Swamiji: What does God's name taste like?
Chandresh was puzzled. He didn't understand what Swamiji was asking.
Swamiji: Even God's name should taste sweet to us. Like cake, God also has sweetness within Him.
If you are given something bitter to eat you won't like the taste. In the same way without God and our Satsang everything should 'taste' bitter. We must obey our parents. If they tell us to go to the mandir and we say, 'Don't want to,' and when they tell us to wake up early, do puja, study hard and we say 'No! I won't,' that means we have eaten bitter food.
Swamiji gave the kids a smile and asked in English, 'All right?' Swamiji loves all children. That's why he revealed that all happiness is with God, Satsang and obeying our parents. If we don't realize this, we become unhappy or eat bitter food.
London, Wednesday: 12-4-88. The Bal Sabha had just finished and Swamiji had personally given prasadam of cake to all the kids. Chandresh was eating his share of cake. Swamiji saw him.
Swamiji: How does it taste?
Chandresh: Sweet.
Swamiji: What does God's name taste like?
Chandresh was puzzled. He didn't understand what Swamiji was asking.
Swamiji: Even God's name should taste sweet to us. Like cake, God also has sweetness within Him.
If you are given something bitter to eat you won't like the taste. In the same way without God and our Satsang everything should 'taste' bitter. We must obey our parents. If they tell us to go to the mandir and we say, 'Don't want to,' and when they tell us to wake up early, do puja, study hard and we say 'No! I won't,' that means we have eaten bitter food.
Swamiji gave the kids a smile and asked in English, 'All right?' Swamiji loves all children. That's why he revealed that all happiness is with God, Satsang and obeying our parents. If we don't realize this, we become unhappy or eat bitter food.
How to Become Happy
12-4-88, London. This morning Swamiji finished breakfast and was making his way to the Bal Sabha. He had to walk through a corridor formed by two lines of balaks. As Swamiji passed through,
Dinkerbhai loudly asked the kids, 'What are the three types of unhappiness.'
At once the kids chorused, 'Adhi, vyadhi and upadhi.'
Swami was extremely pleased at their knowledge. He stopped and asked, 'Do you know how to get rid of this unhappiness?'
'No,' the kids replied.
'By worshiping God, unhappiness is driven away'.
'Do you know what upadhi is?'
'No.'
'Beating others up, quarrelling with teachers in school, playing mischief and damaging things are all called upadhi. This leads to unhappiness. How can we get rid of this unhappiness?'
'Only by devotion to God.' Swamiji answered himself.
Are you happy or unhappy kids? Think this one over carefully, and do as Swamiji advises.
12-4-88, London. This morning Swamiji finished breakfast and was making his way to the Bal Sabha. He had to walk through a corridor formed by two lines of balaks. As Swamiji passed through,
Dinkerbhai loudly asked the kids, 'What are the three types of unhappiness.'
At once the kids chorused, 'Adhi, vyadhi and upadhi.'
Swami was extremely pleased at their knowledge. He stopped and asked, 'Do you know how to get rid of this unhappiness?'
'No,' the kids replied.
'By worshiping God, unhappiness is driven away'.
'Do you know what upadhi is?'
'No.'
'Beating others up, quarrelling with teachers in school, playing mischief and damaging things are all called upadhi. This leads to unhappiness. How can we get rid of this unhappiness?'
'Only by devotion to God.' Swamiji answered himself.
Are you happy or unhappy kids? Think this one over carefully, and do as Swamiji advises.
Pure Living
6-7-88, Valdosta. Romin is a satsangi balak in Arizona. His father Himanshubhai was not a satsangi, that is, until the two traveled, 1,880 miles to Valdosta to meet Swamiji. Himanshubhai was initiated by Swamiji into the Satsang-fold and a kanthi was placed round his neck. Then Romin spoke up and the conversation that took place is as follows:
Romin: Swami! Tell father to stop eating meat.
Himanshubhai: But I only take it sometimes…
Swamishri: We should not eat it sometimes. Look at your child he is so cultured…
Himanshubhai: From now on I will put a label on the fridge saying we should not eat meat.
Romin: Not only on the fridge! But it should not even be brought into the house, and for that I'll write a label saying, 'Meat is not allowed in this house, … and Daddy, even after taking this vow from Swamishri, if you eat meat or if meat is cooked in the house, I will immediately come over here and stay with uncle.
Swamishri was pleased with Romin. He praised him and gave a gentle pat on his back. He told Himanshubhai to follow a strict vegetarian diet and to say 'no' to meat even if others try to force him to eat. Swamiji also asked him to pray to God and blessed him.
6-7-88, Valdosta. Romin is a satsangi balak in Arizona. His father Himanshubhai was not a satsangi, that is, until the two traveled, 1,880 miles to Valdosta to meet Swamiji. Himanshubhai was initiated by Swamiji into the Satsang-fold and a kanthi was placed round his neck. Then Romin spoke up and the conversation that took place is as follows:
Romin: Swami! Tell father to stop eating meat.
Himanshubhai: But I only take it sometimes…
Swamishri: We should not eat it sometimes. Look at your child he is so cultured…
Himanshubhai: From now on I will put a label on the fridge saying we should not eat meat.
Romin: Not only on the fridge! But it should not even be brought into the house, and for that I'll write a label saying, 'Meat is not allowed in this house, … and Daddy, even after taking this vow from Swamishri, if you eat meat or if meat is cooked in the house, I will immediately come over here and stay with uncle.
Swamishri was pleased with Romin. He praised him and gave a gentle pat on his back. He told Himanshubhai to follow a strict vegetarian diet and to say 'no' to meat even if others try to force him to eat. Swamiji also asked him to pray to God and blessed him.
Quit Smoking
Fairtown, Atlanta. In the suburbs of Atlanta city at a motel an eight-year-old boy named Rishi welcomed Swamiji in the traditional Indian way by offering a coconut, showering rice and flowers and applying the vermilion powder on Swamiji's forehead. Although Rishi was very happy, he wanted to tell Swamiji something important.
In the evening when the family and a few devotees were seated with Swamiji, Rishi said, 'Swami Bapa! Daddy smokes, so please make him quit smoking.'
Swamishri told Dineshbhai, Rishi's father, 'Normally it is the father who teaches his son but today Rishi is teaching you! Believe me that God has spoken through him. If you want to become happy and healthy, stop smoking…'
But before Swami could finish, Rishi said again, Swami Bapa! Sometimes, Daddy also drinks beer! Swamishri laughed at the innocence of the young boy. He advised Dineshbhai to put a stop to all his vices. He patted Rishi on the back and blessed both father and son.
Fairtown, Atlanta. In the suburbs of Atlanta city at a motel an eight-year-old boy named Rishi welcomed Swamiji in the traditional Indian way by offering a coconut, showering rice and flowers and applying the vermilion powder on Swamiji's forehead. Although Rishi was very happy, he wanted to tell Swamiji something important.
In the evening when the family and a few devotees were seated with Swamiji, Rishi said, 'Swami Bapa! Daddy smokes, so please make him quit smoking.'
Swamishri told Dineshbhai, Rishi's father, 'Normally it is the father who teaches his son but today Rishi is teaching you! Believe me that God has spoken through him. If you want to become happy and healthy, stop smoking…'
But before Swami could finish, Rishi said again, Swami Bapa! Sometimes, Daddy also drinks beer! Swamishri laughed at the innocence of the young boy. He advised Dineshbhai to put a stop to all his vices. He patted Rishi on the back and blessed both father and son.
One With Intelligence Realises and Eradicates His Flaws
'… One who is intelligent, though, realises his own flaws; i.e., he acknowledges the fact that I possess this many flaws. Then, maintaining an intense aversion towards those flaws, he eradicates them. Also, if a sãdhu were to speak to him about eradicating those flaws, he would accept that advice as beneficial. As a result, no flaws of egotism, jealousy, etc., would remain in him…'
[Panchãlã-3]
'… One who is intelligent, though, realises his own flaws; i.e., he acknowledges the fact that I possess this many flaws. Then, maintaining an intense aversion towards those flaws, he eradicates them. Also, if a sãdhu were to speak to him about eradicating those flaws, he would accept that advice as beneficial. As a result, no flaws of egotism, jealousy, etc., would remain in him…'
[Panchãlã-3]