Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 11)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

My Guru had asked for my time and efforts. I dedicated every moment of my life for His work. Well! in return, he bestowed on me so many boons, endowed me with gifts that could not have been attainable by tapa and upasana for several lives.

This is what I am entreating you to do. Please give me a fraction of your time and effort to disseminate the knowledge and ideals of spirituality.

If you expect to gain something, you will also have to give something. Higher attainments demand greater sacrifices.

The Shastric (ancient) Scriptures describe - "Ekada Naimisharanye" - referring to the conversation of Rishis - Shaunak and Soota - that focuses on the sagacious discussions of the saints, the thinkers, the Brahmins of that time, in the lush forest-fields of Naimisharanya. I had also wanted to develop a Naimisharanya for the present Age, where people would live for pure selfless love, enlightenment and high ideals; where they would amicably share each other's joy and sorrows; where they would happily sacrifice their selfish desires and comforts for the welfare of the world.

This is what I expect to happen in Shantikunj and its newer expansion Gayatri Nagar. I inaugurate the Gayatri Nagar with this expectation, and with full confidence in my Guru's assurance that all my aims devoted to attainment of divine goals would be accomplished gloriously.
                                      
        || OM SHANTI ||

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 10)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift) 

Your life should be such that I, the Guru himself, will come to you and ask for assistance, your active collaboration in his altruistic world-uplifting efforts.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa himself used to go to Narendra (Vivekananda), seeking his help in dissemination of devotion and knowledge, in transforming the society.

A tongue cannot work like a mike, and a mike alone is of no use without a tongue (voice), combination of both serves the purpose. The voice (message) of the Guru is spread through the mike (efforts) of the disciples. My Guru is the voice and I am his mike.

I want you also to be able to do the same in turn.

I would like you to be worthy of spreading divine message.

If you could cultivate this ability, there would be no delay in the working of His grace in your lives. God keeps the boons of shaktipata and kundalini ready in His hands to bestow them upon deserving souls. You could also receive them provided you have the desired level of shraddha (inner faith and dedication) and patrata (worthiness).

We have taken up the mission of revival of the Vedic knowledge and Rishi traditions of Yagya along with Gayatri Vidya.

We have now introduced the medium of "Gyan Rathas" to spread this knowledge through mission's publications.

You may devote two valuable hours per day for this noble task.

This would indeed be more virtuous than singing devotional songs or worshiping divine idols for the same time.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 09)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

I cannot describe in words the dreaded physical and mental ailments that I have seen people suffering from. Many come here to get rid of their beastly tendencies, the sinful life they have been living so far.

How to tell you, how contented (glad) I feel by helping them out, by liberating and uplifting their lives, by giving them happiness.

You see! All this is the astonishing power of awakened kundalini.

On the Vasant Panchami day every year I keep thinking that all of you present here should also share in my precious fortune and lead your lives to glorious heights; may your noble deeds and names become immortal on the golden pages of the annals of humanity.

Your life should rise above its present state of suffering and perversion.
You should be able to resolve all your problems yourself and also have the potential to help others in getting rid of their problems.

Then you will not have to come to me and beg - "Guruji! Kindly save me; remove my sufferings; etc."

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 08)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)  

This is how I could launch the grand missions of Vichar Kranti and Yug Nirman Yojna, to destroy the smog of evils and ignorance prevailing in the minds of people, and lay the foundation of an era of bright future for all.

It looks as if each and every part of my being is filled with immense vigor, valor and courage like that of Rishi Parashuram.

If people see any sign of a social reformer or a great personality in me, it is all an expression of the shaktipata bestowed by my Guru on that Vasant Panchami day in 1926.

The awakening of kundalini is said to bestow siddhis and riddhis (spiritual attainment of supernormal talents and angelic potentials). With the help of these, an accomplished sadhaka or siddha yogi can miraculously help others and also reach higher realms in his own spiritual ascent.

My Guru came, activated my inner consciousness and awakened my kundalini. This resulted in the flow of viveka (spiritually illumined wisdom) and karuna (saintly love and compassion) within me, and eventually filled me with enduring contentment, peace and bliss.

This is what we are blessed with, as we dedicate all that we have, in the performance of our duties, as per the enlightened guidance of viveka and saintly impulse of karuna.

People come here full of varied sufferings and tensions of worldly life; with tears in their eyes, they come to me for help. I experience limitless inner peace and blissful repose in allaying their agonies, resolving their problems, eradicating the adversities of their lives.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 07)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)  

I keep recalling these lines of Goswami Tulsidas; they generate an inexplicable joy and power in me.

The power of inner-self, awakened by such shaktipatas, is indeed immense. I have experienced it myself.

It is with this enlightened force that I have stood successfully for the divine ideals and principles, against even the great Mahamandaleshwaras, the Shankaracharyas - the so-called religious leaders of our times.

I have collided against heavy golden shields and broken them (routed all the adversities and avarice that tried hindering my ethical, altruistic path). Be that social reformation, revival of our Rishi Culture in scientific light, upliftment of women, mass awareness against unjust religious traditions - I have marched alone on every front; my inner courage, the light of my awakened soul, have enabled me to surmount all obstacles.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 06)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift) 

What happened in Meerabai's life is another example of shaktipata. This ardent devotee of Lord Krishna was under tremendous pressure from her in-laws - they were against her going out of the palace or calling satsang inside the palace; even her saintly life-style and engrossment in her devotion of Krishna was unbearable to many of them.

Helpless, Meera wrote to her contemporary saintly poet Goswami Tulasidas, to advise her about what she should do, what should be her duty in those circumstances?

Tulsidas explained to her that such was the law of the world - circumstances don't change according to one's ideals or resolutions. One has to change one's attitude and mental conditioning for the desired results.

In fact, he sent her a couplet of poetry that said:
"Jake Priya Na Rama Vaidehi, Tajiye Tahi Koti Bairi Sama, Yadyapi Param Sanehi."
Meaning: You should leave those who do not love Lord Ram and Sita, even if they happen to be your nearest ones.

These words worked like a shaktipata on Meerabai's mind, and gave her the spiritual guidance and inner-strength to pursue what eventually made her a true saint, an immortal example of supreme devotion.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 05)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

The shaktipata gave me the courage to come out of the house against all odds, and work for the freedom movement, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, at the young age of barely twenty years. I even had to go to jail and face tortures at the hands of the British government; but the inner power enabled me to continue my march on the path of self-realization, along with honest transaction of all the duties,  including familial and social responsibilities, assigned by my Guru.

There never was a looking back; no agony for the sufferings that came on the way.

This is what is called the marvelous power of determination inspired by shaktipata.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

 (Post 04)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

A tiny fish traverses the great depths and lengths of the oceans against the direction of the flow of water.

Similar is the case of awakened consciousness. No resistance, no obstacle, howsoever mighty, can ever hinder or deflect its chosen path.

In ordinary case, one can't even imagine how difficult it is to follow an ideal against the worldly trends of selfish pursuits.

One has to face uncountable obstructions, challenges, dangers and immeasurable resistance from multiple directions:
    - the pressures and attractions of attachment with family, friends;
    - the fears of society, and what not;
    - above all, one's own weaknesses, ingrained habits and intrinsic tendencies make it almost impossible for one to proceed along the path of noble ideals.

One who can do that is indeed spiritually empowered in my view. 

This is the spiritual force that my angelic master had bequeathed to me by his shaktipata.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

 (Post 03)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

You will find many such examples of the umang of Vasant in the history.

Fifty-five years ago (in February 1926), the day of Vasant Panchami had blessed me with enormous bliss and fortune. It brought my divine Guru to me. The angelic light of his aura appeared before me; it induced the divine impulse of self-realization and enlightenment in me. It was on this auspicious day that I had met my eternal guide and was blessed by his shaktipata (spiritual grace) upon me.

Today we are gathered here on this sacred day of Vasant Panchami.

I wish that it could bring the same good fortune for you all, bless you with the same inspiration.

What did my divine mentor do?

What is shaktipata?

Often people have misconceptions about shaktipata; that some electrical current like brilliance is transmitted from the eyes or hands of the spiritual master, which enters the body of the disciple and gives a shock like treatment.

No, this is not shaktipata.

It does not work at the level of the gross body.

It is in fact a sublime process of awakening, empowering and exalting the inner consciousness-force of the deserving disciple by the spiritual will of the Guru. The elevated power of consciousness is reflected in the enlightenment, sublime transmutation of the intrinsic tendencies, thoughts, convictions and inner sentiments; and not as any current of light experienced in the body. The force of evolved consciousness is that which induces immense courage and foresight of adopting and firmly standing for higher values and ideals.

The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 18)

(Source: http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Jul_Aug/v1.SignificanceGayatriMantra) 

Guru means the source of light. There can be no darkness once the light is switched on. You know how Virjanand had elevated his deserving disciple Dayanand, Samarth Guru Ramdas had empowered Shivaji, Ramkrishana had endowed Vivekanand with such remarkable siddhis. My guru had eliminated the darkness within me and enlightened me with the grace of Gayatri Mantra. What riddhis and siddhis I was blessed by its sadhana are all evident before you. I also want to annihilate all darkness from your lives, want to illuminate your inner selves by divine light.