Asserted Topics:
The Way pleasing God to a devotee of God.
Key Points:
True, best, and consistent manner to please God is to considers oneself as ātmā and free from bodily attachments.
Explanation
Shreeji Māharāj says in this Vachanāmrut that “The scripture namely Vāsudēva- māhātmya is very dear to me because therein it describes the method of worshipping God in full detail.”
Vāsudēvamāhātmya explains how a devotee’s usual actions become devotional and how Karma which is performed to please God, gives more fruit than one’s own desire. Additionally, the Infinite greatness of God is described, because of God’s greatness, God should be worshipped even by demi-Gods, humans and Muktas (liberated souls). Such is the infinite greatness of God which is described. And the means to create bhakti. Therefore, Māharāj says that it’s very dear to Him.
Shreeji Māharāj Himself describes the manner of how to please God in this Vachanāmrut by stating that the “Devotees of God are of two kinds. The first has a firm faith in God, but their mind is attached to their physical body. The second considers themselves as a real spiritual entity, distinct from the three kinds of bodies: Sthūla (physical), śukṣhma (subtle) and kāraṇ (causal) and three kinds consciousness: Jāgrat, svapna and suṣupti i.e. wakeful, dreams and dreamless sleep. Then one sees oneself illuminating brilliance init finds the Murti of God with huge brilliance. One should attain such a state and worship him.
In fact, Māharāj has said that there are two kinds of devotees who worship God. One worships God despite being attached to a materialistic body and the other devotee who, being in a state of ātmā, worships God. A devotee who is in a state of ātmā, worships God, bears every kind of hardship and endurance for God, devotee, or Satsaṅg. The devotee renders their service to the three. Devotees who are attached to the objects of this world have a different nature. The above three will have to suffer due to his weeknesses. In other words it’s not wrong to even say that to fullfill those weaknesses/flaws God (only if he is in-person), devotees and satsang has to bare/suffer him. Even this devotee’s knowingly or unknowingly behavious in a way that the “all are baring me and they have too because I am also serving them as thier need!, So, it’s thier duty to bare me.” This is the result of one consering oneself as not distinct from the body and this happens sometimes.
God, great devotees or Satsaṅg happily allow a devotee to harbour some attachment. But Māharāj wants to say that this kind of manner is not good for them, is not more beneficial and is not the true manner for the devotee. A devotee’s true manner for worshipping God is to worship God in a state of ātmabhav. By engaging in bhajan along with ātmabhav, one becomes content as prescribed in this Vachanāmrut. They also receive divine light in their hearts and unshakable faith in God. Worshipping like this is very dear to God, and that is why the book of Vāsudēvamāhātmya is very dear to Him.
Shreeji Māharāj says A true devotee of God should attain such a state of mind and as long as he does not attain such a state of mind, he is in the danger of falling from his spiritual level inspite of the fact that he is a true devotee of God. Shivji had not attained such a state of mind. So he was lured by the charms of Mohini; Brahma was attracted towards Sarasvati. Naradji had a desire to marry; Indra got a bad name, and Chandra-the moon got a blemish on his face on that account. However great a devotee may be, if he has not attained such a state of mind, he is likely to ascribe human qualities in God. King Pareekshit was not such a devotee of God. so he became suspicious about Lord Krishna on hearing the episode of Raas-Kreeda (a sportive dance in company of the cowherd damsels of vrundavan). Shukji was such a devotee of God, so he did not become suspicious about the Lord.
All this examples are to teach a lesson to the modern devotees. Maharaj says that above mentioned ones got troubles yet their greatness is not declined, those where ment only for the lesson of present devotee. In it:
Example of Brahmaswarup divine form Shivji teaches that even Yogis should be careful.
Example of Shri Brahmaji teaches that even aged devotees should be careful.
Example of naradji awares that even devotees with high spiritual state shoud be careful.
Example of Indra teaches that devotees having royal facility and well-prospered should be careful.
The Moon teaches that having a faultless and bright life should be careful.
Example of Parīkṣhit teaches us that devotees having eagerness for salvation should be careful.
Therefore, one the who does not exclude himself from this matter is Great.
Shreeji Māharāj says that when a devotee of God concentrates their mind on the Murti of God, their mind divides into two sections. That means that a devotee should alertly observe thoughts that arise from their heart and divide them into two divisions. There are two kinds of Vr̥utti (thoughts) arising from their heart. One leads to an increase in love towards the Murti of God and the second for the body and its needs. One should identify and segregate them. The desires that arise in the mind pertaining to the body should be countered and negated through conscious thoughts.
Shreeji Māharāj says the devotee’s mind is thinking about God one moment and thinking about worldly matters the next moment, he will never be able to concentrate his mind on God. If one pours a jar of water into a pit one day and another jar the next day and another on the third day, the water will never be able to fill the pit because the water poured on the first day will have dried up by the next day. However, a stream that is the size of the little finger with a constant flow will be able to fill a bigger pit to the brim. In the same manner, one should have his mind focused on God while eating, drinking, walking, or performing any other daily activities. If one’s mind is constantly thinking about God, he will gradually be able to attain a steady state of mind.
-Swaminarayan Chintan