Virtues, Vices and Association
Chapter-18
Can bad nature be improved ?
Spiritual practices and changes in Gunas
Why some greats are irritant ?
On the eighth day of the first fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada of
Samvat 1877, Swami Shri Sahajanandji Maharaj was seated on the Verandah
facing north in the Darbar of Shi Jiva khachar at Sarangpur. He was dressed
in white cloths and white turban was put on his head. Munis and devotees
from the various regions were assembled before him.
Then Shriji Maharaj said, "When a devotee gets the company of a
realised saint and reposes full faith in him and his words, all the
redemptive virtues like Swadharma, Vairagya, Vivek, Gyan, Bhakti,
develop in his heart and the evils, of anger, passion etcetera disappear.
However, if he happens to come across a vicked person and takes him as
his aviour, virtues like Vairagya Vivek etcetera would disappear from his
heart. For example, suppose there is his saline land. However, much rain
may be, grass etcetera would not grow there, but if there is a geat flood
on that land, all the salt would be washed away and alluvial soil would
replace the salty crust. Similarly, when one, who possesses the virtues of
Swadharma etc. and does not have any iota of desire to enjoy mundane
happiness comes under the evil influence of a wicked person, and the evil
influence, of the letter washes off all- his virtues and deposits alluvium there
within him with the seeds of passion, anger, covetousness, infatuation,
company of the vickeds etc. growing into big trees by alluvium of worldly
ways. Therefore the devotees of God should never have evil company.
Again, a devotee should judiciously study his own nature and try to purge
himself of any unbecoming trace of evilness if any, by keeping himself in
the constant company of a fully realised Saint and also.. by applying his
thoughts to the necessity of uprooting such nature. But thoughtless
broodings will not help him. Such dubious people who are unable to save
themsehes from the evilness of their nature become helpless and then cry
out or remain in dead-silence or pick quarrels with some one or fast or
in sheer frustration -ultimately commit suicide also. But they should
realise that these are not the proper methods to escape the grip of an evil
nature. It is only by careful probing that the influence of such nature and
intensity of the evilness can be neutralised.
The Vairagya and the intensity of vairagya, developed by the
knowledge of and devotion towards God can resist the forces of evils in the
way in which the fire of lightening resists rain-bearing clouds. Vairagya
devoid of such knowledge and devotion even if it appears to be so
overwhelming would ultimately disappear just as the big flames of fire are
cooled down by downpour of water."
Then Nirvikalpanand Swami asked, "Oh Maharaj! How can one give
away with the evils of his nature like anger etc.? "
Shriji Maharaj replied, "As a good businessman keeps accounts about
his trade, In similar way a person who is wise examines his nature every
moment and daily takes cognisance of. the evil in his, nature from the day
he' has joined this Satsang, wipes out all evils in his nature. He would
think thus, 'When I had not joined Satsang, this much was my ill-
temperament, and after joining Satsang, this much better has been my
temperament. It improves year after year !' He takes note of the changes.
But if he does not cultivate this awareness, he will never be cured of the
evils in his nature, just like a bad businessman who does not keep accounts
and ultimately suffers loss." Then Muktanand Swami asked, "When one is
under the influence of evil persons, he naturally possesses all the evils, but
when one is under the influence of a saint and is still found to have
retained his evil nature, it seems naturally unreconcilling. Kindly explain
the reason behind such an anamoly."
Shriji Maharaj said in reply, "When one is in his childhood, the evils
of passion, anger, etc. are not seen in him and his love for God is also
profound. But when one attains youth the above evils appear and grow in
him. However, if he takes care and keeps the company of a saint bereft of
such evils and also of the ego attached to his body, he will easily be rid
off his evils. He even overcomes the pangs of passion attached to this stage
which is like crossing an ocean. Otherwise he will suffer a lot of those
carnal desires, lust, anger etc. And if during old age, he still suffers from
such evils, it is because they had disregarded the company of the
enlightened saint and eastimated him as if he was an ordinary human
being. If he, however, realise that such a realised saint acts, behaves and
lives only for the redemption of the Jivas, but due to his own demoralised
nature, they estimates him par with other ordinary human being, he will
feel repeent for his perverted thinking, and then he also will be redeemed
of his evilness."
Then Mahanubhavanand Swami asked, "Will the nature evolved out of the
three Gunas-Rajas, Tamas, Sattvik, be redeemed of its Gunas by Sadhana0
or not ?" Shriji Maharaj replied, "Spiritual endeavour for redeeming the
influence of the three Gunas always bears fruit." Then again Mahanu-
bhavanand Swami asked, "Durvasa", who is called a released soul, is famous
for his Tamasi nature. How can this be reconciled ?" Shriji Maharaj said,
"It is because Durvasa desired to use punishing wrong-doers and therefore he
had retained it, whereas a devotee who desires to offer consecrate devotion to
God should always realise the evilness of such tamasi influence and try to
purqed of them. And by God's grace, he will be relieved of such influences."
Thus Ends Vachanamrit : Sarangpur - 18.
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