The cosmos moves in a definite pattern, with mathematical precision, in a certain pre-chartered, abstract direction and like the zero hour, its destination is the same as its starting point.
The river flows through the mountain, to the plains to fertilize the fields on its banks, reaches the ocean to merge with it and helps the aquatic beings to keep alive, rises up in the sky to form clouds and again reaches the mountain to start the cycle once more.
A star goes expanding and expanding till it can expand no more. Then it starts contracting progressively till it becomes a pin-point size speck and expanding again till it becomes a star.
The same is the case with infinite numbers of souls who move like stars in the universe. All of them enjoy their freedom and shine as if they are smiling. But as they come in touch with Maya (the illusory material plane), the picture changes. Affected and infected by Maya, they lose their freedom and become subjected to the laws of Karma. Then they have to assume bodies and perform their respective Karmas. So, the cycle of births and deaths starts and in every species the soul is encased and it has to go on suffering right from birth till death. Phases of happiness make the suffering more agonizing by contrast.
When a person meets a Guru, the Guru guides him to the right path and frees him from the clutches of Maya and the soul again starts moving towards the ‘Destination’ of freedom and inherent light in Akshardham, the abode of God, the abode of Shree Swaminarayan Bhagawan. Here, Maya can no more open her mouth to gulp the soul and can no more show her heart curdling clutches. Here she cannot tempt any soul.
The literature of Swaminarayan way of life is as vast as the biggest iceberg. What we see in print is only a microscopic part of what has been written by saints who were contemporary to Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan.
A Sanskrit verse says:
Infinite are the scriptures.
Infinite are the branches of knowledge.
Life span is too short.
And many are the obstacles, so, follow only the essence.
Like the swan that separates, milk from water.
You must reach the goal of your life i.e. Akshardham. We look upon you as a hero.
Across the snowy mountains.
Across the teeming stars.
Across the heaven unknown.
The hero has no bars.
Designed by : Jnan Baug, Vadtal. www.harismruti.com
thats cool
ReplyDeleteIn the article I like how souls are being compared to stars moving freely in the universe. They are free to roam and have a universe to roam across until as you say come in touch with Maya. When I was reading through the paragraph where you describe the soul losing its freedom and taking on the Karma (duty)of the body it reminded me of a story where people sold their soul to the devil and became his property performing whatever he ordered them to do. I'm not saying this is the same thing, but I see a connection where Maya has control over the soul having it conduct its duties. The soul will suffer throughout its existence as would a soul owned by the devil. It is until the soul meets an enlighten and spiritual being, guru, that can release the soul from this hold and allows the soul to reconnect with its original journey of freedom to the Almighty abode of Shree Swaminarayan Bhagawan.
ReplyDeleteThe cosmos it just an attempt to understand the implicit order within the whole of being.
I definitely agree with the above comments...one should have someone called GURU to progress towards GOD..
ReplyDeleteBut that would generate one more question that "Who can be the GURU?” or “how to find GURU?" as now-a-days everyone likes to be called guru in their respective fields !!!
Muktanand Swami, an ideal of Guru had all the qualities of being a Sadguru. He describes the characteristics of Guru in his Vivekchintamani Granth. He says that he is the real Guru . . . . . .
ReplyDelete1. Who is always engrossed in the service Divine of Shree Hari while being free from the influence of inner enemies like lust, greed, false sense of attachment, violence etc.
2. Who always resorts refuge at the feet of Shree Hari and always shows the path of devotion to Bhagawan Swaminarayan to the aspirant who approaches him for true guidance. And in no manner he would try to entertain the seeker to incline towards any saint to be the root cause of his salvation under the pretext of the importance of sainthood of the saint written in the Holy Scriptures.
3. Who never transgresses the commands of Shree Hari and behaves in conformity of the Holy Scriptures like Shikshapatri, Vachanamrut etc.
4. Who always advocates the knowledge that “Bhagawan Swaminarayan is above all and he alone must be the object for Meditation. He is One without the second.”
These all virtues were in the life of Muktanand Swami. So he has written what he had lived and believed. These are the important features of a real GURU.
Lalji Bhagat Jnan Baug Vadtal