Physical and mental worship.
Chapter-3
What means Shravana, Manana, Nididhyasan and Sakshatkar ?
How to meditate upon all aspects of God ?
On the seventh day of the second fortnight of the month of Shravan
of Samvat 1877 Shriji Maharaj was. seated on a cot in the verandah at the
Durbar of Shri Jiva Khachar at Sarangpur. It was evening and he had put on a
white turban on his head. He had covered his body with a cotton shawl
having a black border. Munis and Bhaktas from the various places were
assembled before him.
Then Swayamprakashanand Swami asked, "Oh Maharaj! One devotee
offers worship to God personally by offering sandal paste, flowers, incense
etcetera and another devotee offers worship mentally with all such -
paraphernalia. Who out, of these two excels?" Then Shriji Maharaj said, "If
both these devotees offer worship either mentally or in person to God with all
such aids and are engrossed in the emotion of love for God, both are
acclaimed as great. And if any one of them, does it either in - person or
mentally but with an absent mind, then it would be."
Further to this, Somla Khachar asked, "One offers such worship with total
engrossment in the emotion of love, but by which distinctive features can such
a devotee be distinguished ?" Shriji Maharaj replied, "One who has immutable
faith in and love for God and desires to serve his lotus feet, and has an equal
interest is listening to scriptures, spiritual talks, and chanting of devotional
songs of the divine praises of God and knows the infinite powers and glory of
God and if all these features do not wear out with time, but get renewed with
vigour every day then such a devotee is said to possess the distinctive features
of being totally engrossed in the emotions of love. Muktanand Swami, ever
since I saw him at Lojpur, has been flourishing in faith and in love for God
which have not worn out today, the Yadavs4 who lacked these two distinctive
features viz knowledge of the infinite greatness and glory of God and faith,
even though they stayed with Shri Krishna, served him as their king only.
Their names therefore are so easily obliterated from the scriptures, since they
lacked the knowledge of the glory of Shri Krishna, where as Uddhavji who
served Shri Krishna and knew his divine greatness, is acclaimed as Parama
Bhagwat and his name has been well recorded in the scriptures and also
remembered by the people.
Then Nirvikaranand Swami asked, "Oh Maharaj! explain to us that what
means Shravan, Manan, Nididhyasan and Sakshatkar. Shriji Maharaj said, "A
talk which is heard through ears is Shravan. The same which is heard,
remembered well mentally and its worthy portion retained is called Manan. The
talk mentally so retained when recollected incessantly is Nididhyasan and the talk
so recollected when imprinted within and spontaneously emerging out of the mind
is Sakshatkara.
If the same process is applied to the Atma, one would attain Atma
Sakshatkar. The same process of Shravan, Manan, Nididhyasan, and
Sakshatkar when applied to the divine form of God, God would reveal
himself with all his divinity before the devotee. Mere Darshan of God whose
human form appears before us does not lead us to Sakshatkar. Therefore, one
who sees God but does not introvert to remember him mentally will not have
his Sakshatkar even if he lives with God millions of years. His Darshan
which is superfluous tantaments to the knowledge of one who has simply
heard of God, but not seen him. However, one who has keenly observed
every limb of God and has-been recollecting the same mentally, would
remember then so vividly as if he was seeing him. But mere superfluous
Darshan does not bring him near to the state of Sakshatkar.
Some devotees complaint that when they sit in meditation and try to
remember my form, they can not recollect a single part of my body. How
then would they recollect my divine form in all fullness ? The reason is not
far to seek in as much as such superfluous Darshan without the aid of
manan6 and nididhyasan does not bing him nearer to me. Even a material
object is required to be keenly observed or attentively heard, for a future
reminiscence, otherwise that too is likely to be forgotten. How then is one who
is divine and of the other world can be remembered without an unbroken
mental recollection ? Therefore, one who has the Darshan of God or who
hears his talks, if he men tally recalls tthe Darshan or talks, is sure to reach
the state of Sakshatkara. Otherwise he loses the thread of such divine contact
even if he remains with God for life."
Thus Ends Vachanamrit : Sarangpur - 3.
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