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.

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

(Post 02)

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

Adi Shankaracharya's awakening umang was also born around Vasant Panchami.

His mother had lots of expectations from this bright child - "he would be a big officer, a prosperous, successful man; he will get married and bring a nice daughter-in-law for me, I will enjoy the company of my grand-children".

Sensing Shankars inclination towards ascetic life, she even used to warn him that he will have to suffer the pangs of hell for the sin of not obeying his mother.

The umang awakened in this child gave him the courage to face all hurdles; he was prepared to go to any hell during or beyond this life if it were a must for pursuing the goal of ultimate realization.

One day he entered the deep waters in the village-river and screamed for his mother's help. He told her - "I am about to be drowned and die this very moment; but I am seeing God standing to save me only under one condition - He (God) is asking you to offer my life to Him (for His work), then He would save and protect me forever". Now his mother had no choice; She agreed and said - "Okay! I am ready to make this sacrifice for saving your life".

Shankar jumped out of the swirling waters that very moment and touched her feet on the banks of the river. He said to his mother - "Look! God has saved me, but now I am His".

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

(Post 01)

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

Translation of Excerpts from the Discourse on Vasant Panchami Day February 1981: "वासंती हूक, उमंग और उल्लास यदि आ जाए जीवन में"

Let us begin with a collective chanting of the Gayatri Mantra:
"Om Bhur Buvah Swah, Tatsaviturvarenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat ||"

Sisters and Brothers,

"Vasant Panchami" (auspicious fifth day, of the month "Magha", of the Indian lunar Calendar) marks the emergence of Spring.

It is the day of enthusiasm, inspiration, inner illumination.

The advent of Spring sparks an awakening and exultation in Nature, in all living beings.

Such a Spring had brought about a sea-change in the life of Samarth Guru Ramdas (the noble Guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji) in his early youth.

"Can't I make a better use of my life?" - was what he was pondering over at that time.

There, his family was busy in preparations of his marriage, and here in some corner of the house, he began to see the consequences - wife, then children, then children of the children, their marriages and so on.

His awakened soul instantly warned - Is this what you are born for? Look at the dignity of your life; there could be another path, the path worthy of greatness! With this he began to realize the majestic value, the purpose of his life.

This was the moment of great transformation, quantum leap, in his life. Such was the force of this exaltation that he did not look back, and continued to rise higher and higher in his life. Nothing could stop him; he cast away the bridegroom's costumes from his body and ran away in search of the path of ultimate light.

So, what did this emotional splash of Spring do?

It transformed an ordinary boy, a teenager, into a great spiritual master, a saint, an immortal Guru.

Spring induces some kind of umang (inspiring enthusiasm and enchanting, enlightening emotional thrust) in every heart. Its nature and extent depends upon what we deserve.

The Practical Aspect of Dhyan Yoga (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 24)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Nov_Dec/v1.PracticalAspectDhyan_Yoga_II) 

People often tell me - "Guruji, I can't engage my mind in devotional practices, it keeps jumping towards the worldly thoughts".

I ask them in reply - "Does your mind ever get occupied in something with interest and attention?"

Obviously, the answer comes out to be "No, not really".

This is because you have not bothered to train your mind to focus. You do not recognize the potentials of a focused mind. You should train your mind to be alert and attentive, and cultivate the tendency to enjoy the work at hand.

In devotional or spiritual practices, you should have the deep mental absorption that emanates through the heart, like that of a yogi. If you sincerely practice the dhyan yoga I have taught you, and learn to meditate upon light with deep fervor, I assure you that your mental concentration will improve significantly.

This depth of mental concentration, together with your noble sentiments employed in this dhyan yoga, will bless you with all that a great devotee of spirituality deserves.

I wish you all success.