"We face problems all the time in the world. Everyone’s life is
beset with problems. What is the solution to these problems? How do we
solve the problems? Do these ever get solved? No, Samasya i.e.
problems will always remain, and do not come to an end. One should learn
to live with Samasya. We draw the necessary strength from Ram
Nam – it is our sole strength, and inexhaustible strength.
Tulsidasji says: Problems cannot be solved. Take the umbrella of Ram
Nam in your hand; even if rains do not stop, you will not be drenched,
you will be safe. Ram Nam is that umbrella. It must be chanted with
love and not just a mechanical chanting; you must pour your heart and soul
into it. It then becomes devotion – Bhakti. If knowledge is
combined, then it becomes Parabhakti.
What are the salient features of devotion? Devotion does not look at
your past – a dacoit, a murderer, a prisoner, it doesn’t bother. One
you have reached the feet of Mother Devotion, she accepts you as you are.
This is one of the very important features of devotion. Just as the
worldly mother, she doesn’t look at how dirty the child is. She accepts
the child, takes it in her lap, cleanses it and makes the child fit for
the Lord’s lap. Every child is so dear to the mother, however ugly it
is! Devotion doesn’t see your past. One day a Tahsildar, given to all
vices, rendered a service to a saint. After his meeting with the Mahatma,
he swept himself clean of all the vices and resolved to take to a very
honest life and later became a saintly person. Bhakti nindaneeya ki
vandaneeya banai dheti hai – Bhakti transforms the condemned
person into a blessed person. When you take to devotion, to Ram Nam,
it makes you venerable.
There was a notorious thief. One day, in order to escape the police he
reached a secluded place. He found a small hut and a hermit sitting
inside. The saint looked noble and divine, and his face was glowing with
divine love. The dacoit immediately put his head in his lap and appealed
to him to accept him as his disciple. The saint put both his hands on his
head and said, " you are most welcome". The dacoit was amazed
and said, "Don’t you want to even know who I am? I am a murderer
and a cruel dacoit." The saint said, "It makes no difference.
Once you have come to me, I accept you because I am sure the Lord knows
what you are. If he has not yet rejected you, not yet killed you, who am I
to reject you?" the dacoit was initiated into Ram Nam. The
saint appealed to him, "Look my dear son, you have been given the Ram
Mantra, please keep on reciting the Mantra when you go back.
Whenever you feel like doing an ill-deed or sin, please remember that the
Lord is watching with innumerable eyes. From today, the Lord is watching
all your activities." The dacoit did Pranam to Swamiji Maharaj
and went away. He thought, "What does it matter to me if He sees me
or he does not see me; I have to do what I have to do. I will keep
chanting Ram, Ram as he bid me. How can I live without ill-deed. I
am a sinner." But he came back after a fortnight and said: "What
have you done to me, Swami! Despite my best efforts, I am not able to do a
single ill-deed." That is Satsang, glory Ram Nam that
has brought about the big transformation in the dacoit. He became a
renowned saint later. Glory of Ram Nam! Glory of Bhakti! –
Bhakti ki mahima hai nindaneeya ko vandaneeya banai dheti hai. Bhakti
transforms a condemned person into a revered person. Do it honestly and
see for yourself. Bhakti doesn’t look into your past.
There are two important features, which Bhakti doesn’t like.
One is doership. In Bhakti, if the devotee thinks he is doing
something, he is not a devotee. For him, the Lord is the doer. Bhakti
doesn’t like anyone to say that he has doen so much work, so much Swadhyay,
so much Seva, so much Satkarma. Bhakti doesn’t want
to listen to these words. She immediately rejects that person. The second
is exhibiting devotion.
What Bhakti likes – ‘Come to me as you are. Don’t project
yourself to me otherwise.’ Don’t you remember what honour is given to
Maricha in Ramayan. You all know Maricha – a cheat, a Mayavi –
who becomes an illusory golden deer. Normally we run after the Lord, is it
not? Here, the Lord is running after Maricha ! In our eyes, he is a cheat,
but the Lord says, ‘No, he is not a cheat; he is very honest person –
being a cheat he is projecting himself as a cheat; he is not projecting
himself as otherwise. Look at the generosity, magnanimity of the Lord! If
you project yourself what you are not, Lord says you are not a cheat, you
display yourself i.e. what you are within.
Bhakti is Paramprem. In his definition of Bhakti,
Devrishi Narada says, ‘the Roop of Bhakti is Paramprem, the
Swarup of Bhakti is Amrit’. He claims, "A devotee's
very soul becomes Komal, Madhur, Amrit - 'Siddho Bhavati, Amruto
Bhavati, Trupto Bhavati' - No doership, no show. Third point
which is equally important and very much related to doership - 'Siddho
bhavati' - Bhakti becomes ripened. Does he perform miracles?
No, he is not fond of Chamatkar; yet the Lord performs miracles
through him. He is fully aware, 'I am not the doer; the Lord does
everything.' Someone asked Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, "Narada says, 'Bhakti
Siddha ho jata hai - Bhakti becomes ripe. What is the Siddhi
or the fruit of Bhakti - rising in the air, walking on the water?
Ramakrishna Dev gave a nice answer: You have seen rice. It is hard. When
it is boiled it becomes soft and elongated. This is the Siddhi of Bhakti.
'I am something' - the ego, pride, Abhiman-dies, just as hard rice
becomes soft. The hardness of the ego is transformed into softness. Ego
thinks itself superior, making others feel inferior. 'What I have done, I
have done well.' This is called Abhiman, ego. Ramakrishna Dev says,
'A devotee of Ram Nam becomes egoless. This is the Siddhi of
Bhakti.'
May the Lord bless us with His Love! Take his Name with all love, from
heart and soul, not mechanical. Without Bhav nothing happens. 'Even
if a whole lot is given without Bhav, I don't accept it.' - this is
what the Lord says. You must put your heart and soul into the chanting of Ram
Nam, May God bless us all!!