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(Vachanamrut Sarangpur 7: Naimisharanya Kshetra)

Extract: 

On the night of Shrāvan vadi 11, Samvat 1877 [3 September 1820], Shriji Mahārāj was sitting on a large, decorated cot on the veranda outside the north-facing rooms of Jivā Khāchar’s darbār in Sārangpur. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. At that time, an assembly of munis as well as devotees from various places had gathered before Him.

…

“For example, an extremely sharp arrow pierces and lodges into its target; then it cannot be removed. However, if that same arrow, with its tip removed so that only its shaft remains, were to be shot at a mud wall, it would rebound and fall to the ground; it would not penetrate the wall like the sharp-tipped arrow. Similarly, when the jagged edges of the manomay chakra; i.e., the indriyas, are worn away, then no matter how alluring the vishays may be, the indriyas’ vruttis would not be drawn towards them. Instead, they would rebound like the blunt arrow-shaft.”

Discussion Points:

1. Which senses can you name? What organs relate to which sense?
   1. Sight - eyes; Smell - nose; Hearing - ears; Taste - tongue; Touch - skin
2. What is your favourite thing to…
   1. See? (examples: favourite TV program, favourite sport, favourite films)
   2. Smell? (examples: favourite perfumes)
   3. Hear? (examples: favourite music, gossip with friends)
   4. Taste? (examples: favourite food, drink)
   5. Touch?
3. How can these things be an obstacle in the path of Satsang?
   1. Examples include reducing the amount of time that one can do satsang activities and reduce study time.
   2. Can lead one on the path of kusang
      1. What is kusang?
         1. Best definition is anything that leads anyone away from Bhagwan and the Satpurush
      2. Briefly touch on the types of kusang
         1. Outside: bad friends, seeing, hearing and feeling things that are against our niyam dharma such as movies, etc.
         2. Inside: swabhavs such as anger, jealousy, etc.
         3. Within Satsang: abhav avgun, etc.
4. It is very hard to come out of these things that affect the mind (manomay chakra) once these things have entered the mind. It is a bit like sugar coated poison: feels and tastes amazing but it will make you want more and more and throw you off anywhere. That arrow with the very sharp tip of poison has hit your mind. Once the poison starts to spread, it will take over your mind and lead you astray from the path of Satsang.It is very hard but not impossible. What are ways you think you can ‘make the arrow blunt’ i.e., avoid being affected by these things and driving away maya?
   1. Discuss ways in which you can do this and summarise like so:Make sure through any means possible that you start to like things related to Bhagwan and the Satpurush.
      1. Sight - favourite Guruhari Darshans, documentaries, etc., Satsang reading
      2. Smell - prasadi that has been offered to Bhagwan like flowers etc.
      3. Hear - kirtans, katha
      4. Taste - home cooked food that has been offered to Bhagwan, not eating out, refraining from eating things that are outside the scope of our niyams etc.
      5. Touch - the feet of murtis, page laaging each other at the mandir, anything that reminds you of Bhagwan and the Sant.
5. One of the best ways to ‘blunt the arrow’ has been shown by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in Vachanamrut Gadhada II 7. He says:“If a person lacking vairāgya intensely serves a great Sant and obediently perseveres in his observance of the injunctions of God, then God will look upon him with an eye of compassion and feel, ‘This poor fellow lacks vairāgya, and lust, anger, etc., are harassing him very much. So now, may all those vicious natures be eradicated.’ As a result, they will be eradicated immediately. In comparison, if he were to endeavour in other ways, those swabhāvs may be eradicated, but after a great deal of time and effort - either in this life or in later lives. If such vicious natures are eradicated instantly, then it should be known that they have been eradicated by the grace of God.”MORAL: Bhagwan Swaminarayan is saying that the best way to ‘blunt the arrow’ of vishays and swabhavs in such a way that they don’t affect oneself is to gain the rajipo of Bhagwan and the Satpurush.
6. Every action, one question: Will Maharaj be raji? Will Swami be raji?Vachanamrut Gadhada ii 28: "The essence of all the scriptures is also that one should only do that which pleases God."
   1. Before any action: "Whatever I'm about to write, eat, see - whatever I'm about to do, will it make Swamishri happy?" If yes, then continue. If no, then stop. This is the most important step in rajipo.
   2. During any action: "Am I doing this with the right intention?" Many times, we are doing the right kriya, but do we have the right understanding? Our purpose is to please Maharaj and Swami and thus constantly remember their mahima.
   3. After finishing the action: "Was Swamishri happy with the way I just did this?" Always introspect (antardrashti) to see where you could improve. If Swamishri would not be pleased with you, then what can you do next time to improve? How can we perfect the kriya with the right intention for next time?
      
      When our mind attaches to Bhagwan and Sant and one gains their rajipo, it will no longer be attracted to the world. However, tempting something maybe, the mind will not be drawn towards it.