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(Vachanamrut Gadhada I 26 - A Genuine Amorous Devotee; The Nirgun State)
Extract:
Thereupon Shriji Mahārāj said, “If, while singing amorous devotional songs, a person is attracted only by God’s form, then that is fine. But, being attracted to anything except God’s form constitutes a major deficiency. Why? Because just as that devotee develops affection for and is attracted by sounds related to God, he also develops affection for and is attracted by worldly songs, musical instruments, talks related to women, etc. Such a devotee should be known to lack wisdom. Thus, a person who is attracted to an equal extent by the words of God and His Sant and by worldly speech should forsake such foolishness. Having forsaken such foolishness, he should experience happiness through sounds and speech related only to God. Such a person is a genuine amorous devotee.
“Furthermore, just as that devotee wishes for sounds related only to God, he desires the touch only of God. When he realizes other types of touch to be like touching a black cobra or a blazing fire, then he is a genuine amorous devotee. Similarly, if a person experiences profound bliss on seeing God, realizing everything else to be like a pile of filth or a decomposed dog, then he is a genuine amorous devotee. Similarly, if a person experiences profound bliss on tasting the prasād of God, not enjoying the various other types of tastes, then he is a genuine amorous devotee. Furthermore, such a devotee experiences profound bliss on smelling tulsi, garlands of flowers, sandalwood paste, the many varieties of fragrant perfumes, etc., that have been offered to God. He is not pleased on smelling the perfume, sandalwood paste, or garlands of flowers worn by materialistic people. In this manner, a person who has intense love for God-related vishays and an intense aversion for worldly vishays is a genuine amorous devotee.
Discussion Points:
- Can you name some things the extract suggests a true devotee should be attracted to?
- What does the extract say about the nature of devotion?
- What does it say about being attracted to something?
- Why do you think Maharaj talks about focusing on things related to God instead of other worldly pleasures?
- How can we use our senses to feel closer to Maharaj and Swami?
- Why must we stay focused in our lives and keep Maharaj in the centre of our lives?
Activity - Test your Senses:
- Get a blindfold, this can be a scarf or anything that blocks your vision, place some items in front of the. (mala, shikshapatri, etc.) try to guess all the items correctly. Then use your hearing to identify what bhajans are being played. Try different ways of testing your senses, and see if your parents can do better than you!