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(Vachanamrut Gadhada I 32: Greatness Is Due To Faith)
In our everyday lives, we often encounter analogies like "there is always light at the end of the tunnel," and “every cloud has a silver lining.” They use simple, everyday examples to help us understand certain principles such as being patient, the value of hard work, and giving us the courage to get through difficult times.
Similarly, Maharaj and Swami have gifted us with numerous insightful analogies, through the scriptures such as the Vachanamrut and Swamini Vato. This year, on Vanchan Wednesdays, let's explore these instances and unravel the meaningful messages embedded in them by Maharaj and Swami.
Extract:
On the morning of Posh vadi 3, Samvat 1876 [3 January 1820], Shriji Mahārāj was sitting on a large, decorated cot on the veranda outside the west-facing rooms of Dādā Khāchar’s darbār in Gadhadā. He was wearing a white khes and had tied a white pāgh around His head. He had also covered Himself with a white cotton cloth. Sandalwood paste had been applied to His forehead. He was wearing a garland of white flowers, and tassels of white flowers were dangling from His pāgh. At that time, while some munis were singing devotional songs, other munis as well as devotees from various places had gathered before Him in an assembly.
Shriji Mahārāj said… “For example, birds leave their nests to gather food, but after gathering their food, they always return to their respective nests at night to rest. Never do they forget their own nests and return to another bird’s nest. Similarly, after feeding on discourses, talks, devotional songs, etc., related to God, devotees of God also return to their own nest in the form of God to rest. Again, animals, birds and, in fact, all creatures return to their respective homes to rest after feeding. People also travel far and wide for their work, but only when they return to their own home do they rest peacefully.
Mahārāj used the analogy of birds returning to their nests after gathering food to illustrate how devotees, after immersing in activities, find rest in the association of God.
Relating this to our lives, amidst our daily worldly engagements, our spiritual routines like ahnik (arti-thaal, puja, ghar sabha, cheshta, etc.) serve as a way to direct our focus towards Maharaj and Swami. Just as creatures return to their nests for peace, we, too, consistently find our solace(peace) in satsang after our worldly endeavors.
Discussion Points:
- In the example used by Maharaj, explain how the bird behaves?
- In the example used by Maharaj, explain how the bird behaves?
- Like the bird returning home, what can we do in our lives to try and constantly remember Bhagwan and the Sant?
- Like the bird returning home, what can we do in our lives to try and constantly remember Bhagwan and the Sant?
Activity:
- On a piece of paper make a list with 2 columns. Materialistic Vishays and Devotional Vishays. Write down as many examples you can think of in 3 minutes!