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Whose company should a Sadhak keep or avoid? 4* Questions and Answers with Shri Ramana Maharshi 5* Just get on! Everything becomes easy on its own 6* God enjoys bringing Yoga and Kshema to whom? 7* Taking shelter under the Guru makes

even those who are crooked, adorable 10* A chance to boost health and get

victory over one’s own nature 11* How to remove all misery and attain Supreme Bliss? 12* We are indebted to such a great personality 14* Selfless service is the gateway to success 17*

The root of the development of life is Vows 18*

Who soon attains God? 19* No such a person is honoured in the world who... 19*

This type of reflection develops intellect! 19* …then God agrees to reveal Himself 20*

What should be the ideal outlook of the manand the woman towards each other? 21

*

Why is Àrati performed? 22* Discriminating between the three bodies and the witness 23* A play of hide and seek with God! 24* There is no duty of the Self-realized one,

but the self-created humour 25* Benedictory experiential words of Saints 26* Bapu Asharamji should be released at the earliest

– Dharmendra Gupta 27* My heart is weeping without You… – Sant Pathikji 27*

The way to renounce the imagined ego 28

* He made a debtor the owner of two factories– BÍbubhÍi Patel 29

* Two types of restraint 29*

The many benefits of Triphala consumption 30* Health care in autumn 31*

The key to all kinds of benefits 31*

The ritual of ShrÍddha and its subtle secrets 32* However distracted one’s life may be,

it will become elevated 33* If you remove this fault, all problems

will automatically go away! 34* Question & Answer Session with Shri UdiyÍ BÍbÍji 34

Owner : Sant Shri Asharamji AshramPublisher : Dharmesh Jagram Singh ChauhanPrinter : Raghavendra Subhashchandra GadaPlace of Publication : Sant Shri AsharamjiAshram, Motera, Sant Shri Asharamji BapuAshram Marg, Sabarmati, Ahmedabad-380005 (Gujarat).Printed At : Hari Om Manufactureres, KunjaMatralion, Paonta Sahib, Sirmour (H.P.) - 173025.Editor : Shrinivas R. KulkarniCo-Editor : Dr. P.K. MakwanaPatron: Shri Surendranath Bhargava, Former ChiefJustice, Sikkim High Court, Former Chairperson,Human Rights Commission (Assam & Manipur),Former Justice, Rajasthan High Court

Year: 21

Issue: 07Continuing Issue: 345Language: English Price:

`

7Publication Date: 1st September 2021Number of pages: 36 (including cover pages)

Opinions expressed in this publicationare not necessarily of the editorial board.Subject to Ahmedabad Jurisdiction.

In This Issue...

ShÍradiyaNavarÍtri: 7th to

14th October

A chance to boost health and get victoryover one’s own nature – Pujya Bapuji

This festival is observed twice a year.Once, in the month of Ashwayuja(ShÍradiya NavarÍtri), and then again inChaitra (Chaitri NavarÍtri). One startsbefore the death of RÍvaÔa; RÍvaÔa dieson DusserÍ and NavarÍtri ends with it.The other NavarÍtri of Chaitra monthstarts before the birth of RÍma, i.e., beforeRÍmnavami.

If you want to get thebliss of RÍma and saveyourself from the tyranny ofRÍvaÔa, realise your realSelf, i.e., RÍma in the formof Àtman. Living under theinfluence of lust, anger ,greed, infatuation and egoism andconsidering the body as ‘I’ and this worldas ‘mine’ is the RÍvanian way .Considering the Soul as ‘I’ and this wholeuniverse as ‘mine’ from the viewpoint ofÀtman is the way of RÍma.

Why is fasting so important?Observing a vrata or fasting, doing

meditation japa, practice of self-restraintand Brahmacharya, avoiding conjugalcontact during NavarÍtri is highly beneficialfor one’s health, intellect and merit. Butthose who indulge in sexual intercourseduring these days get the results instantly.NavarÍtri gives the message of abstinence.It is due to the nice arrangement madeby our farsighted Rishis that we can livea long life, and being equipped with deepinsight and understanding, we can attainsuch a lofty state from where even thepost of Lord Indra appears insignificant.

NavarÍtri fasting is a boon to health.The body gets the Prithvi Tattva from thefood we eat. The body carries the burden

of many undigested substances andunnecessary elements which give rise todisease on getting the opportunity or on achange of season. Therefore, those who donot keep fast during these days and keepovereating, become tired, sick and sufferfrom fever and other illnesses.How to get the complete benet

of fasting?Keeping fast will remove

accumulated toxinsdeposited in the previous 6months, and small particlesof food like bread, biscuits,condensed and thickenedmilk that you have eaten

which were deposited in the intestine andcause belching, stomach upset, backacheand carcinogenic substances. So take thebenefit of keeping fast during NavarÍtri.

While you fast, stop eating cereals andeat only vegetables for two days so thatPrithvi tattva related diseases are consumedin the stomach. Then for the next two dayslive on fruit only. Vegetables have apredominance of the water element, whilefruit has a predominance of the fire element.Then reduce the amount of fruit and remainonly on water or air (preferably for obesepeople). Thin and weak people should eatraisins, grapes, etc., in small amounts anddrink small amounts of lukewarm waterduring these days. Drinking cold waterwill suppress digestive fire.

If you are not diabetic, weak or elderly,keep fast if you can. If you are not ableto keep fast on all the nine days then youmust keep fast at least on sapatami,ashtmi and navami i.e., 7th, 8th and 9th day

(Continued on page: 17...)

11Issue-345 September 2021

How to remove all misery and attain Supreme Bliss?Pujya Bapuji’s 58th

Self-realization Day: 7th OctoberWhat is the meaning of Self-realization?

It simply means removal of all miseryforever, and attainment of Supreme Bliss.Attaining supreme bliss, the highest state ofbeing, is what is called Self-realization!

So, does it mean that you won’ t feelhungry or feel the urge to eat anything afterattaining Self-realization, or won’t fall sick?

Satisfying hunger or curing fever is notthe result of Self-realization; instead, Self-knowledge means the r emoval ofignorance that – ‘I am hungry, I am sick,I have grown old, I am the one who ispraised or criticized.’ Even after attainingSelf-realization, your physical being will beaffected externally as a result of destiny,environmental issues causing this and thatproblem. The external influences on Self-realized ones (those who have attained God)and the ignorant ones (those who have notattained God) will be the same; yet, anordinary person would becomeoverwhelmed by external influenceswhereas the jnÍni (Self-realized ones)understand that – ‘All this has happened tothe body and the mind…’; they don’t feelpain in their essential nature.

{IÝZmo@{n Z M {IÚVo &Meaning: Though pained, he does not

suffer any pain.Those Self-realized ones can remain calm

in the heart, despite being afflicted. Evenwhile becoming angry, they actually reposein absolute peace.

‘Alas! My son passed away, now it isdifficult for me to survive!’ saying this,Vasishthaji started to head towards the banksof Ganges to commit suicide, but as soon ashe jumped in, the water-level of the Gangeswent down; as he went further and was about

to jump into the river witha stone tied to his body, Goddess Gangaappeared herself before him.

She said, “MahÍrÍj! I will incur sin if aSelf-realized, man of Knowledge like youcomes to me and commits suicide due to theanguish of losing a son. Holy places andrivers like me assume a human form andcome to your lotus-feet to hear satsang. Butnow that even you, despite being of thisstature, are committing suicide…”

Vasishthaji said, “O little girl child! Whoare you to teach and give instructions tome! Do I commit suicide in reality? Thethought of committing suicide arose in mymind, which is the part of prakriti; but I, inessence, am present in crores of bodies. So,why would I ever die?”

Lo! What sublime thinking!AshtÍvakra GitÍ (14.4) mentions the state

of such men of greatness:“The different conditions of a wise man,

who, devoid of any doubt within, outwardlyroams about at his own pleasure like adeluded man, can only be understood bythose like him.”Self-realized ones make it to the

Turiya stateThose, who have realised their true Self,

sometimes become identified with the body,and behave like ordinary people(unenlightened ones), and then the very nextmoment, they go back to their true Self inno time. But where do the unenlightenedones go? At the end of the day , beingunenlightened, they end up coming to thebody consciousness! They would come toeither sattva guna (purity) or rajo guna(passionate condition), or tamo guna (thestate of inactivity; the quality of darkness orignorance) – these are the only 3 states orconditions for them to stay in. The Self-

– Pujya Bapuji

12 www.rishiprasad.orgIssue-345 September 2021

For StudentsFor StudentsFor StudentsThe root of the development of life is Vows

(MahÍtmÍ GÍndhi Jayanti: 2nd October)Those who do not observe vows in

their life cannot develop their life.Make at least one good vow. A vow isthe root cause of the development oflife. Take a vow to be high-minded, ‘avow not to complain, a vow not to seeill in anybody; I shall see only good.’Take a vow to behappy. Take a vow ofPÜrÔimÍ (day of thefull moon) and/or thevow of EkÍdashÐ .Mohandas Gandhitook the vow ofBrahmacharya, evenat the age of 36 whileliving with his wife.He observed manyother vows during his life. One of themwas taking food without salt on certaindays which also inspired his son ManilÍlto take the vow.

GÍndhiji made a rule in his ashram totake a saltless diet for a month. His sonManilÍl was bored of saltless food. Uponthe arrival of British guests, GÍndhijisaid to prepare Khichri as usual for thembut without salt and spices for the Ashramresidents.

What happened was, ManilÍl, the sonof GÍndhiji, went to get his food from theplace where the khichri for guests wasprepared, not where the khichri wasprepared for the residents of the ashram.

The Ashram residents said to ManilÍl,

“We are ashram residents.We have to observe the rule of taking asaltless diet. This food is for the guests.”

He replied: “I know about the vow toremain on saltless food for a month. If Itake khichri with salt for a day then I canextend the vow by a day to compensate.”

However, the server couldn’t gatherthe courage to servekhichri without thepermission ofGÍndhiji. He said:“Wait, let me go toask him.”

GÍndhiji came tothe location andserved the khichri tohis son but before hisson could carry the

plate, GÍndhiji slapped himself saying, “Imust have been breaking vows and havebeen a slave of the tongue; that is whymy son is not able to give up even a littlesalt for now. He must give up his bodyand all relatives one day. My son islapsing even in observing a small vow;it must be because of my weakness.”

Now, how could his son eat the saltedkhichri! He fell prostrate at GÍndhiji’s feet:“No father! It is not your fault, it is mygluttony. Please do not slap yourself.”

Only such men become Bapu, becomegreat men. One should have control overhimself, one should have control over hissenses, one should have control over hismind. m

– Pujya Bapuji

18 www.rishiprasad.orgIssue-345 September 2021

Why is Àrati performed?Àrati holds an important place in

religious acts, morning and eveningworship (sandhyÍ), and any auspiciousworship of Hinduism. Àrati is also knownas ‘ÀrÍtrik’ or ‘NirÍjana’.

Pujya Bapuji has been not only talkingfor years about theimportance, methodand scientificimport of Àrati, butalso giving thedirect experience ofits benefits to thepeople byconducting collective Àrati in His Satsang-programmes.

We learn from the Satsang-discoursesof Pujya Bapuji, that “Àrati is a kind ofarrangement for the purification of theenvironment, and harmonizing our aurawith the auras of others. The performanceof Àrati provides a positive aura andenergy. The system of performing Àratiof God and saints on auspicious occasions,discovered by the Rishis of Hindu Dharma,destroys the harmful microbes, bringsharmony to the feelings of individuals,and contributes greatly to the spiritualprogress of individuals.

If Àrati is performed at the beginningof a virtuous act, it comes to fruitionquickly. If Àrati is done at the conclusionof a virtuous act, it makes amends for anymistakes in that action. The importanceof the Àrati is described in the SkandaPurÍÔa. Lord Krishna says:

_ÝÌhrZ§ {H«$`mhrZ§ `ËH¥$V§ nyOZ§ __ &gdª gånyU©Vm_o{V H¥$Vo ZramOZo gwV &&

“The worship performed of Me may bedeficient in mantras, or in holy rites orin devotion, it becomes complete on doing

my Àrati.” (Skanda PurÍÔa, VaishÔavaKhanda, MÍrgashirsha MÍhÍtmya: 9.37)The secret of the number of wicks

Normally, Àrati is performed using alamp with 5 wicks, which is known as‘Pancha Pradipa’. In the performance ofÀrati, either use one, three or five wicks.By lighting wicks in odd numbers, the

environment ischarged withpositive energy. Ifthe number of thewicks is even, thetransmission ofenergy becomesineffective.

Why perform Àrati as a welcomeceremony of guests?

Each individual’s body radiates his/heraura. When a guest arrives at our home, weperform his Àrati because, first of all, aguest is considered as Deva in the SanÍtanaculture. Moreover, since every personhas their own aura, Àrati of the guest isperformed in order to protect the aura ofthe host family from any disturbance causedby the new aura of the guest, and the guestdoes not feel like a stranger. This giveshim affection and the 2-4 rounds of theÀrati helps the guest’s aura mix with thatof the house. What a nice system SanÍtanDharma provides!” (To be continued…)m

the major works, why burden your ego bytaking pride in the minor works?

Aum Aum Peace… Aum Aum God!Aum Aum O beloved one! Aum Aum mydear one! Aum Aum Sweet repose… HariSharaÔam… Hari SharaÔam… HariSharaÔam… (I take refuge in Lord Hari)Aum Peace Peace Peace… Remainengrossed in the sweet peace, the sweetnessof God for sometime… Aum Peace… �m

(Continued from page: 20...)

22 www.rishiprasad.orgIssue-345 September 2021

Bapu Asharamji should be released at the earliest

Mahant HaridÍsjiMahÍrÍj, DigambarAkhÍdÍ, AyodhyÍ: ParamPujya Sant Shri AsharamjiBapu has done lot of good

works for our Dharma and culture, ‘for thegood of the many as well as for thehappiness of the many’.He should be given bailat the earliest. No matterhow much effort anyoneputs in, no one candestroy the place which people hold intheir heart for Bapuji.

Mahant ParmeshwardÍsji,MahÍmantri, Bharat SÍdhu SamÍj,South Gujarat: A great saint, patriot andwell-wisher of the world Asharamji Bapuhas been sent to jail under false allegations.In spite of having bad health he is not being

granted bail. Injustice is beingdone to him. This injusticeshould be stopped and Bapujishould be released from jailso that the Dharma can

propagate again, welfare betide the people,poor people get clothes and food and the

converted Hindus again getawakened and becomedevoted to their Dharma.Open your eyes andrecognise the living God.

All people should unanimously and openlysay to the government, ‘He, who is theRÍma of present times, should bereleased.’

This RÍma is not asking you for

anything, He came here for your welfareand he has been convicted and imprisonedunder false allegations!

(Compiler: Dharmendra Gupta) m

My heart is weeping without You…

O my heart’s treasure! Resorting toloneliness, on not having attained You,

Installing Your mental image inthe temple of my heart,

With this easily available good feeling,I am cleaning my impurity.

My heart is weeping without You…Today, my path is a forlorn path,

who is there to know my distress?With this cry of mine in the wilderness,

all my desires are fruitless.With the broken desires of my heart,

I am in a painful coma.My heart is weeping without You…

All this prosperity is worthless withoutYou, and so is all the adornment,

Is my heart giving vent to silentfeelings, without You?

See Yourself how I am uselesslywasting my life.

My heart is weeping without You…Where shall I go leaving You? I tell

the tale of my woes to You alone.Tell me what should I do to attain

Your supreme support?Now a wayfarer, I am becoming

a beggar of You alone.My heart is weeping without You…

– Sant Pathikji

27Issue-345 September 2021