Nisaadhanta
Fourth Discourse - Page Two

'Mercy' looks for an excuse to visit.  Hanumanji told Vibhishan, "Learn to serve! you may have a tulsi in your garden and the name of Sri Ram written in your house, but you do not perform service! Seetaji has been a prisoner in Lanka for some time and you have done nothing about it!"

Vibhishanji then said "I am becoming aware of my faults as you are bringing them to my notice. But then please tell me why you have been kind enough to grace my home?"

Hanumanji answered, "I have come to you, because your wife and your daughter often go to Seetaji to give her courage."

'Mercy' looks for an instrument through which to flow, and is as impatient and loving as a mother who seeks her child when her breasts are full.  Similarly God in His form of Mercy loves us and looks for excuses, despite our base nature, to make us His own.

The great battle in Kurukshetra was an instrument through which the world received the Sublime Song of the Lord in 'The Geeta"  The Bal-kaanda (chapters in the Ramayana are called Kaandas) in the Ramayana gives us the birth of Sri Ram.  The Ayodhya-kaanda is an excuse to show to the world the love of Sri Bharat.  The Aranya-kaanda is an instrument through which we get acquainted with 'Nisaadhanta'.  Kishkinda-kaanda teaches us the fact that one achieves the lord through faith in one's guru.  Sunder-kaanda gives us an insight into Bhakti (Devotion).  Through the Lanka-kaanda one learns, means of salvation.  The Lanka-kaanda and the Uttar-kaanda are an excuse to give the world, great knowledge through 'Bhushundi Bhagvad', Ramayana , Upanishads and 'Geeta Gyan'  The curse of the Rishi was an excuse for the world to receive the 'Shrimad Bhagvad'

It is therefore clear that 'Mercy' looks for an instrument through which to appear.  Hanumanji also found an excuse, to come to Vibhishan to take him towards the Lord.  Hanumanji said: "I have come to you because I feel that you are capable of great service."  When a child fails in his examinations, he only gets courage from another student who has similarly failed in the past and has eventually been successful.  In the same manner Hanumanji gave confidence to Vibhishan , by telling the latter that he was even less worthy than him.  Hanumanji said: "If you feel inferior because you belong to the demon race, then think of me! I am a monkey!"

At this point :

Bhare bilochan neer

Which means that Hanumanji's eyes filled up with tears.  When Khagraj Garuda felt inferior because he was only a bird, Kaagbhusundi who belonged to the crow race said: You are unhappy because you think that you belong to a low caste, but you look at me! I am the lowest amongst birds and yet the Lord in His mercy, has made me 'world-known'.

Kapi chanchal
Sabhi vidhi heena

Hanumanji continues to tell Vibhishan, "I do not even have great qualities. Because I am a monkey I cannot even remain still, and in the Spiritual path that is one of the most important requisites required. I am no great devotee, neither do I know how to pray. I do not know how to perform sacrifices, nor how to meditate-- yet the Lord 'Kinhi kripa' (showered His grace) upon me. Thinking of the large heartedness of the Lord my eyes fill with tears of gratitude".

Hanumanji decided on:

Ram kaaj kinhe binu
Mohi kahan vishraam

Which means that unless I serve the Lord I cannot rest!  How could Hanuman rest until he had accomplished what he had set out to do; which was to meet Mother Seeta and hand over to Her Sri Ram's ring.  However, sometimes one does feel rested when one meets a fellow pilgrim on the Spiritual path.

Ram Charit Maanas yahi naama
Sunat shravan paeeye vishraama

Which means one feels rested when one listens to the Ramayana. One feels at peace when one listens to any katha (a Spiritual lecture). The fruits of listening to a katha is to feel rested. All of you have visited 5-star-hotels, clubs, and yet you experience no peace. Your mind is in turmoil.
But in a satsang, I see serenity on your countenance! Peoples' illnesses disappear in a katha.

Sri Raghuveer pratap se Sindhu tare

Which means that stones were made to float, by the Grace of the Lord. You can experience the same sense of peace that saints do. In a katha! When you flip the pages of the scriptures, you will feel the Breath of the Lord. The Scriptures are alive, that is the reason why they are able to grace you with peace and contentment! Some people ask me: "You have been doing the katha for years, do you think that people have changed their lives?" The truth is that  I cannot do much about that. I personally do the katha or sing the Lord's praises because it helps me, on my Spiritual journey.

A woman went to a palmist. The palmist conjectured that her husband may die consuming poison. She asked, "Will I be caught?"  Just that one sentence reveals so much about the state of mind of the woman and her life.  Similarly sometimes a mere sentence heard in a satsang or in a katha reveals so much about our lives, that it proves to be very useful, in our changing for the better.  We have exhausted enough of our lives running here and there. It is time to take stock of the time spent,  and rest! Rest in a katha!

As I was saying that Hanumanji felt that he could not rest until he had executed the task that Sri Ram  had entrusted him with.  Hanumanji told Vibhishan that even though he was full of short-comings, the Lord had showered His Grace upon him.  The main point to consider is that if one eliminates ones ego, which is as hard and heavy as a stone, then:

Kinhi kripa jaani jan dina

Which means: The Lord showers His Grace on the humble.  The word 'Kripa' (grace) has been used with meticulous care, and in the appropriate places.

Ab mohi bha bharosa Hanumanta
Binu Hari kripa milahi nahin santa

Which means that : I am now convinced, O Hanuman, that without the Lord's Grace one does not come in contact with His messenger (a saint).

The Lord's Avtaar of Grace

Whenever the Almighty incarnates on this earth, how many people have ever been able to recognize Him?  In the case of Sri Ram only 9 or 11 were able to know Him as the Lord. One realizes that an elephant has passed through a desert, by the sand that has risen due to the movement of his feet. Similar is the case with an Avtaar.  When an Avataar descends on earth, most people are asleep. But when they notice his foot-prints after He is gone, then they lament and cry out in grief, "Oh! the Lord came and left and  we did not even recognize Him!"  Very few people realized the value of  Mahaprabhuji or Shankaracharyaji while they lived in our midst.  

If one were to ask a fish to describe the ocean, it would be difficult for her to answer because while she is out of the water, she is not able to breathe to talk; and while she is in the ocean, she cannot explain.  Similarly, those who by the Grace of God are able to recognize the Incarnations, find it difficult to convince their brothers and sisters of the magnitude of their understanding.  If you ask me, even today  an Incarnation of the Lord lives and moves amongst us! That is the Incarnation of Grace!  I see Grace flowing freely everywhere today.

Earlier one did not see too many young people attending kathas, and interested in religious matters. While today one finds them attending Spiritual discourses in great numbers.  So I say, feel the 'Grace Avataar' around you.  Without Grace you will not be able to accomplish anything.  Grace is ready to pour over you, but first, you will have to remove the stone of ego that is blocking the entrance from where Grace must enter.

Refuge

Naradji says: Take refuge only in the Lord!  Some take refuge in people. They feel: "I know that person who is so influential, so why should I worry? All I have to do is write him a letter, or make a phone-call and my work will be done!"   How can you depend on a man, who may be there for you today, but not here tomorrow?

Some people become very egotistical about their wealth! They should remember that the Lord sends you His wife Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth) to pamper you, to hold you in Her arms and give you some milk. Since it is by the Grace of God that you enjoy some wealth, then how can you become egotistical about it?

Some take refuge in their own strength, and some in the amount of rituals/prayers that they may have performed. I am not asking you not to perform rituals or sacrifices, what I am saying is do not become egotistical about it!

The ocean became proud, and its result was that it was punished! It turned salty!

Nisaadhanta means that you continue to do everything; but do not take credit for it.  Believe that the Lord is doing everything through you.

A father teaches his child to pronounce his (the father's) name; and then takes great joy when the child repeats it-- So does the Lord!

Kahat Kabir suno mere sadho
Sharan gayo soi bhaayo

Which means that: Kabir claims that who-ever surrenders to the Lord is loved by Him!

Priti Ram naam so, Pratiti Ram naam so
Riti Ram naam so, Pratiti Ram naam so
Arth Ram naam ho, Kaam Ram naam ho
Ghar mein Ram naam ho,Moksha Ram naam ho
Riti Ram naam ho, Vibhuti Ram naam ho
Raag Ram naam ho, Viraag Ram naam ho
Maan Ram naam ho, Dhyaan Ram naam ho
Mati Ram naam ho, Sumati Ram naam ho

Which means: Bring the Lord to your heart and surrender to Him, your faith, your knowledge, your experiences, your customs, your mannerisms, your wealth, your desires, your efforts, your renunciation, your likes, your meditation, your intellect, your thoughts and the praises showered upon you.

Come let us take refuge in the Lord and sing His praise for a short while.

Sri Vallabh Vithal Giridhaari
Jamunaji ki Balihari

The Ultimate type of Peace

I believe that listening to 'kathas' confers upon you the ultimate type of peace.  Even if you go to the Himalayas looking for peace; there your senses will wander. Whereas when you listen to a katha, your senses become centered. Here your very breath lives through your ears!

I personally like the following anecdote very much :

Shukdevji told Parikshit: "Once you start the katha, even if you keep it going for 360 days, the curse of the Rishi will be rendered useless, and I will not die, because the power of the katha will keep me alive! If you stop the katha after 4 days, then also the curse of the Rishi will be proven false because I will die as soon as the 'katha' stops, and not after a week as he had predicted. But I want the Rishi's word to be proven correct".

This is the power of the 'katha'!

I believe that once you surrender totally to a sadguru, you need no further means to achieve the Lord. He will pick up the Giriraj (mountain) for you.  During the deluge Sri Krishna held the Giriraj on His little finger to protect His beloved cowherds. Yet the gopalas (cowherds) held a stick under the mountain Giriraj to try and help the Lord--when actually the whole burden was being carried only by Krishna's little finger!   We do the same! We hold the stick under the mountain. We think that we are performing this or that act, when in effect the whole work is being accomplished by the Lord!

Let's sing!

Naath sakal saadhan main heena

Sri Vallabh Vithal Giridhari
Jamunaji ki balihaari

Om namah Parvati Pataye, Har Har Mahadev