GF-55 Resoluteness in Worship, Remembrance and Observance of Religious Vows

Central Insights:

• Why does a jeev’s consistency in bhajan, smaran, and adherence to vartaman not remain steady?

Key Points:

• When one associates with auspicious places, times, and especially a Satpurush, firmness remains constant.

Explanation

In this Vachanamrut, prompted by Shreeji Maharaj’s encouragement, Muktanand Swami raises a question: Why does the jeev not maintain consistent firmness in bhajan, smaran, and in observing vartaman?

Shreeji Maharaj replies that such inconsistency is due to the influences of desh (place), kal (time), kriya (activity), and sang (association). The steadiness of spiritual resolve (dradhata) also exists in three levels: uttam (superior), madhyam (moderate), and kanishtha (inferior). Even the most superior firmness can be overpowered by extremely negative influences of place, time, and association. So what need is there to mention the fate of moderate or weak firmness?

However, if one’s spiritual steadiness remains unaffected despite being in highly impure conditions, it should be understood that the person has profound punya (merit) and strong samskaras from past lives. Conversely, if one’s intellect becomes tainted even in pure surroundings, it suggests the influence of grave pap (sins) from this or previous lives—particularly offenses against great devotees of God.

Still, if such a person becomes alert and begins to serve a great Satpurush, those sins are burnt to ashes. On the other hand, associating with a deeply sinful person increases one’s own sins, even destroying any accrued sukrut (spiritual merit). If one sits with wine-drinking prostitutes and later blames God for not keeping their mind steady, Maharaj declares such a person to be utterly foolish.

A similar message is conveyed in Vach.G.F. 58. There too, Muktanand Swami asks why devotees do not experience joy during bhajan and smaran when the impulses of the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas) arise. Maharaj answers that these arise due to the body, bad association, and past samskaras. Through contemplation on the atma-anatma distinction, satsang, and the service of great souls, each of these obstacles is eliminated. That is how steadfastness in bhajan and smaran is achieved, and true bliss experienced.

A closely related theme is discussed in Vach.G.F. 29. There, Gopalanand Swami asks: How does the strength of dharma, bhakti, and other virtues grow? Maharaj explains four contributing factors: a pure place, an auspicious time, sacred actions, and association with a pure Satpurush. Among these, association with a Satpurush is the most important, as it has the power to elevate all other aspects.

Muktanand Swami further inquiries: If a devotee initially has a foul inner state but later becomes extremely pure, what causes this change—past samskaras, grace, or personal effort? Maharaj elaborates on each, showing how they all can contribute to transformation.

When we consider these three Vachanamruts collectively, Shreeji Maharaj identifies three primary factors for attaining unwavering devotion to God and firmness in moral observance (vartaman):

1. Purity of place and time (desh-kal): One must intentionally choose to dwell in sanctified environments—holy lands, auspicious times, and pure surroundings.
   
2. Favorable past impressions (purva sanskar): If one possesses meritorious samskaras from past births, both firmness in bhajan and adherence to vartaman naturally strengthen.
   
3. Personal effort (purusaprayatna): Sincere and sustained spiritual striving reinforces one’s progress.

When all three of these elements are favorable, one’s bhajan and vartaman remain steady and deeply rooted. If even one of them becomes unfavorable, firmness weakens to that extent.

Among these, desh-kal is an external factor; purva sanskar is an internal one. Purusaprayatna is influenced by both. When the first two are supportive, effort bears quicker and greater fruit. But if they are adverse, even earnest effort fails to yield the desired results, and true steadiness is not easily cultivated.

Especially when one’s purvasamskar is adverse, the remedy lies in serving devotees, pleasing them, and earning their grace. To support cultivating holy surroundings, Shreeji Maharaj outlines in the Dharmasiddhi Adhyaya of Satsangijivan that one must seek out pure lands, sanctified times, sacred actions, and righteous association. If one associates with a strong devotee of God, their superior firmness becomes one’s own, helping to sustain spiritual stability. Otherwise, negative influences from desh-kal will erode that firmness.

Maharaj warns: if someone, without discernment of purity or impurity, chooses to sit with morally corrupt individuals—like placing one’s hands around the necks of prostitutes—and then blames God for not maintaining mental stability, that is sheer ignorance. In such cases, regardless of noble past samskaras or heroic effort, the inner self deteriorates and spiritual resolve is lost.

Thus, discernment in all four—place, time, action, and association—is absolutely essential.

Glossary