Direct devotion is very sensitive
Scriptures say that women should see their husbands as their direct God, and disciples should see their Guru as their direct God. At the same time, husbands and Gurus should not think that they are in fact God. Most of the times the husband or Guru is infected with the disease of thinking themselves as the ultimate God. In such cases, instead of achieving the ultimate good for themselves and for others, they spoil everything.
If the husband think himself as God, then he would get a nice treatment (from his wife). In this case the number of souls spoiled is very limited. For example, he, his wife, and his kids.
If Guru thinks himself as God, then there is no treatment. The number of souls spoiled in this case is too large which includes himself, his disciples, and his followers. Such a Guru has to suffer.
When Shastriji Maharaj was alive, many people used to say that he had the qualities of God. In fact, Shastriji Maharaj had the qualities of God. Shastriji Maharaj knew about it and never asked anyone to publicize it. If you believe in him and serve him as God, you would achieve your ultimate good.
If Shastriji Maharaj thinks that, “let that person think me as God so that he would achieve his ultimate good,” then that person might get ultimate good but not Shastriji Maharaj.
Brahmaji also believed that there is only one God – The head of all the universes, and that the cow herd boy in front of him cannot be the ultimate god. Brahma thought, “Why would He herd the cows when he could get the milk of divine cows (Kamdhenu)?” “How could a cow-herd boy be the ultimate God.” Indra thought against Lord Krishna when Krishna asked people of Vrindavan to worship Govardhan Mountain instead of Indra. All of them fought against God even though they were the worshipers of the ultimate form of God in the form of Parabrahm and had firm faith in him. They were not atheists. If they were not worshiping God, they wouldn’t be in those great positions. They were great worshippers of God and yet they thought that Krishna was not the ultimate God.
In Vrindavan, the wives of Rushis directly worshipped Lord Krishna, whereas Rushis were worshipping God through Yagna which is an indirect worship. Both of them are devotees of God. Wives of the Rushis believed that Krishna is the ultimate God. Rushis believed that only the ultimate God residing in His abode is the ultimate refugee. Rushis used to chant “Vasudevaya Namah,” “Om Shree Krishnaya Namaha,” but did not believe the Krishna before them as the ultimate God. That was the reason Rushis couldn’t enjoy so much bliss even if God was present before them.
They were not believing Krishna as the ultimate God. But they did believe in God who was not present with them.
Traps of direct devotion
So, realizing God directly has two traps: First, we don’t believe in the real God who is directly present before us. Second, if the real God is not present, we believe in someone else as direct God and submit to him without knowing the reality.
When Lord Krishna was present on earth, many mistook him. Brahmaji mistook him. Indra mistook him. They couldn’t see the reality so they went on to worship God indirectly.
Similarly, we may not know God and His great Saint even if they are present before us. When they leave us, we worship their photo and praise them. We are like the people who don’t even offer water to their parents when they are alive but offer them water after they leave their bodies as a religious custom.
Lord Krishna said in Bhagavat Gita:
manushyanam sahasreshu kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam kascin mam vetti tattvatah
Meaning: Out of thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me(God) in truth.
The people of Vraj (Vrindavan) were leading the simplest life and they could realize the God directly. Brahmaji, Indra were all in high positions and lead the greatest lives with great opulence and excellent capabilities, yet they couldn’t realize the God present before them.
Nishkulanand Swami says that we are unlucky. Either we don’t realize the direct God or direct pure Saint, or we end up with someone who acts like God or pure a Saint.
When Maharaj was present here, some persons like Alia Kachar did not realize Him. After Maharaj left this world, they repented saying, “We are so unfortunate. When Maharaj was present we couldn’t realize Him.” It is the same with Guru. Even repenting about it is a waste of time as we don’t get back the lost time.
Don’t miss the chance
Rushis and Brahmins were serving the ultimate God through the medium of Yagna but by discarding the manifested God Lord Krishna. And once they lost the opportunity they had to repent the rest of the life for missing such an easy chance. They feel it for their whole life: “When there was right time, I missed it completely.” They missed the chance either knowingly or unknowingly. Once we miss the chance, we can’t get back the lost chance even if we run after the spiritual processes and scriptures.
It happens with Guru as well. If we neglect the real and pure Guru, and then follow all the scriptures, you are not going to get the ultimate good. Maharaj said that such a person can never realize of God and can never see the divine form of God.
So, without knowing and directly serving God or a pure Saint, many great souls wouldn’t have realized God.
Belief of God and Guru is a private matter
Scriptures say that we should believe in our Guru like we believe in God. But we can’t force someone else to believe that my Guru is God. We should not publicize it and we should not disturb our Guru in this matter.
If we believe in our Guru as our likable God and if someone else refutes us, we should not fight against it.
Direct relation with God and Guru is a private matter. If there is a pure Guru or pure Saint and you serve him as you serve your God, then it is as good as direct relation with God. But that is only for you. You can’t generalize it. It is a matter of your own belief. Belief is always limited to yourself.
As per scriptures we shouldn’t worship the Guru/Saint or meditate on him or chant his names. But we should serve him like we would serve our beloved God. We should follow his intentions.
Practice with a Saint before God.
Before a medical student could become a doctor, he performs a lot of experiments in the laboratory. Similarly, a devotee should first deal and practice with a Guru/Saint considering them as God and learn the techniques of having stronger relation with God.
You should maintain the same respect and relation with a pure Saint as you would with God until you reach God.
Example: “If Maharaj leaves me, how would I feel?” we can simulate it in this world with “If my Saint leaves me and is unhappy with me, how would I feel? what would happen to me?”
You should respect a real Saint as God only for practice, but do not meditate upon a Saint. You shouldn’t meditate on a Saint to see how well you can meditate. Your relationship with a Saint is like practicing in a lab before taking actions with God.
It is a very sensitive lab. There is a thin line of differentiation that you should maintain. If you don’t maintain that line, your life would be at a great risk.
Permanent life is only with God
Life with a Saint is only for practice. It is not a permanent life. Permanent life is only with God.
A medical student practices all he wants in a lab. But after receiving his degree and becoming doctor, he wouldn’t have to stay in the laboratory. He would go out and lead a practical life. Similarly, a devotee’s practical life is with God and not with anyone else. Direct relation with a Saint is temporary. Direct relation with God is permanent.
If you don’t believe in the laboratory or if you believe that laboratory life is the eternal life, then you fail the practical life.
References:
Sarsiddhi Katha Part 20