Change your Habits now

VI

Reading scriptures, singing the hymns; why so much pride in this?

Are you proud because you can sing better than others, or because you can thrash out the written words? Or perhaps you are the best lecturer around? What real achievement is this – singing and reading and being proud because you know more than other people?

It is written that King Ravan was a learned yogi who was familiar with the four Vedas and the six Shastras. Today, in what manner do we remember him? In effigy, we give him a donkey’s head. Why? Because he lost whatever knowledge and progress he had gained. So to be academically proficient is no Spiritual Accomplishment.

To be clever, to read, to write – that is an easy thing.

It is not difficult to be clever or cunning, to bring together the earth and sky with eloquent words.

To control desire, to leave the body, to control the mind – these are difficult.

Keep the Truth before you.

You go on praising your Guru, but will not allow Him to reside in your heart.

He will have salvation who will bow down to his Guru’s commands:

The whole world sees the Satguru but the salvation does not come with just a glimpse; without Love for His words, you will not get it.

These words are always uttered with not distinction of individuals – they apply to rich or poor, high or low, for Saints speak freely, even about Themselves if necessary. Pride and ego do not let us progress – when we make mistakes we will not admit them. In our heart we have the thought, ‘There is none greater than me.’ Self-respect and praise are both food for the mind. Caught up in this falling, we at times push the Guru aside, saying, ‘What does the Guru know?’ A mother always considers her child’s betterment, and so the Guru has concern for the progress of His disciples. Is it likely that the mother will cast out the child if he misbehaves towards her? The fact is that we do not even try to recognise what the Guru is. Give up the ego, or it will be your downfall.

This pride has spoiled you; this same pride even now does you great harm.

We may have been given human birth many times, but pride and ego killed us again and again, ruining all our good work and causing us to return to the same scene time and again. In the past it was our ruination, and it is winning the present, which will bring you great joy, whereas obedience to the mind will give you unending distress – the mind ever gave birth to trouble. Wash anger away with Love, just as your Guru does. He never leaves the duty, though mankind may make good or bad remarks about Him. He does not live on the earnings of others – does not accept anything for Himself – has no desire. If anyone brings money to the Satsang, it is used for the Satsang. Up to today I live on my pension and have managed to live within its means. If the advice is good, you should appreciate it and be grateful – if through the advice your distress is increased, it’s a different matter.

Oh beloved children, I have unfolded it to you; think not that thy habits are good. Hurry and leave all deceit; increase your devotional attitude.

Your carelessness will result in the loss of everything most valuable if you do not change your habits. In the heart there is one thing, on the tongue is another, and our actions denote something different again. Leave such deceit as soon as possible – leave all cunning ways and develop sincere humility. If you do this, the Guru Himself will embrace you. An attitude of devotion will take its own place within your being. You are greatly mistaken if you think you can gain His pleasure by merely saying you love and serve Him when your heart denies it.

If after this the mind does not agree, then you will see the results yourself.

If you refuse to understand, then nothing can be done. You will just have to continue paying up for your mistakes. Even the Saints are defeated at this point and say, If you will not listen, what can we do?

On your head, the Negative Power’s orders; that’s why the mind does not obey.

The hand of the Negative Power on your head will not allow the mind to obey you. He will go on increasing the duality to make it more and more difficult and confusing. The negative will not help you to overcome this duality – only the positive can do that. It is a marked difference between the Powers.

One thing I have discovered, my brother; you are dishonourable.

In the end, what can one do if no one wishes to listen and obey? Honour is a noble virtue – what kind of man is this, that has no virtue in him?

Constantly keep the Guru’s company; perhaps one day the mind will agree.

With the co-operation of the mind, go on persevering. If we see the Guru through a dark curtain, it does not mean that the Guru has turned black! Slowly, slowly, slowly – do not leave the Guru, but go on trying to understand, then definitely there will be hope of the curtain being drawn aside forever. To be constant and then unfaithful sometimes this and sometimes that – this does not remedy anything. A rolling stone gathers no mass. That which has to be developed is the Inner Man. If the Guru is true and I have told you how to discover this, then stick to Him, listen to His words and do your best to understand. You will make the great if you ignore your mind. The mind may stand in between, but the soul knows what Guru is and what God is.

Radha Soami has unravelled it; why should man be in doubt?

God manifested on Human Pole was termed as Radha Soami by Swami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji – Who is usually called Swami Ji. It is surprising that mankind does not accept true facts of life, when God Himself is explaining them through the Godman.