Mental Anguish and Silent Grief: Consequences of Actions - Guru Shyama Khyapa

But curses weren't just limited to Brahmins; even the gods were subject to them. Lord Brahma was cursed by Savitri, and Lord Narayanan was cursed by Tulsi and Ahalya. So, these curses have been around for a long time.

However, there is something even more significant than a spoken curse: monostap—the mental agony or silent grief of a person. Monostap is far more powerful. Let me give you an example. I knew a gentleman who bought a new car. He parked it by the road and went to buy cigarettes. A beggar happened to touch the car door, perhaps out of curiosity or to ask for alms. The man saw this, dropped his cigarette, rushed back, and kicked the beggar. Later on—and I know this because he became a disciple of mine—he lost everything. He was completely ruined. I told him, "Go and find that man you kicked; he is still alive. Fall at his feet and ask for forgiveness." Once a curse or the silent grief of a soul takes hold, no matter how much you pray or perform rituals, the consequences must be faced.

I saw another instance with a young man. A retiree had received seven lakh rupees as his pension. The young man, knowing this, convinced the old man to invest it in a scheme, promising better returns than a bank. The old man trusted him and handed over the money. The young man never returned it. Today, that young man is in jail. His wealth is gone, and he is suffering. Curses like that are real.

This is why I always say: never cause monostap to others. It is a dangerous thing. For example, some people evict an elderly woman from her home just to develop the property. They might use force or even black magic to get her out. But the mental agony of that old woman doesn't just vanish. I have seen many people who did such things; they are never truly happy. They come to me and ask what they should do, but the sin is already committed. You uprooted a helpless woman; where will her silent cries go?

Nowadays, people are constantly deceiving others—over money, land, and property. The urge to cheat is everywhere. But if you cheat someone who is simple, innocent, and a believer in God, the consequences are even more severe. I see this happening with my own eyes and it amazes me. Why do people do it? You cannot escape the consequences of your actions.

Then there is the way people treat their parents. Some people are eager for their parents to leave the house. A father works hard to raise his son, and a mother nurtures him, yet when they grow old, they are cast out. While parents may not vocally curse their children, their monostap—their inner sorrow—is devastating. I knew a man who used to beat his mother, sometimes with his shoes or a broom. Today, that man cannot even get out of bed. He was a tantrik himself, but even his powers couldn't save him from the grief he caused his mother.

On the other hand, I know another young man who is completely devoted to his mother. She is mentally unstable and elderly. He stayed unmarried just to care for her. He cleans her, feeds her, and only then does he go out for his work. He carries her blessings with him, and I have no doubt he will succeed in life.

In today’s age of conflict, people are suffering because of the curses and silent grief they have accumulated. People are cheating each other so much that no one can stand on firm ground anymore. I tell everyone: what is the need to cheat? Whatever is written in your fate will come to you. You cannot gain more by deceiving others.

We see it in families too—daughters-in-law who cannot tolerate their mothers-in-law. They forget that one day they will have sons who will marry, and they will face the same treatment. It’s a cycle.

Even the current suffering we see, like the pandemic—these are the fruits of our sins. When human behavior becomes intolerable to the Divine, these things happen. I knew a man who worked in an office and was trusted by his boss. He stole lakhs of rupees from the office and ran away. Despite having all that money, he couldn't enjoy it. Today, he begs for single rupees at the cremation grounds. God is watching everything. He has a system of punishment that we cannot perceive until it hits us. Whether out of ignorance or the pride of wealth and power, people don't realize how much harm they do by deceiving others.

I also see people mocking those who are mentally unstable or vulnerable. They don't realize that while the person might not say anything, God is taking note.

I'll tell you a story from Tarapith. A man was sitting there, and another man approached a tantrik, saying his younger brother wouldn't let him live in their house and was threatening to kill him using black magic. The tantrik asked for 5,000 rupees to "fix" the problem. The man paid and left. The very next day, the younger brother showed up! He told the same tantrik that his elder brother was trying to kill him and take the property. The tantrik recognized the name and realized it was the same family. He took 5,000 rupees from the younger brother too. When his assistant asked, "Whose side are you on?" the tantrik replied, "Both of them are my 'goats' to be slaughtered." That is the state of things.

Lastly, I must mention that even the way some religious rituals are performed today adds to the problem. Some Brahmins perform pujas in a minute or two just to get it over with. This kind of negligence and deceit in the name of God also brings a burden upon society. The Vedas say that the Brahmin must stay awake and alert; if the Brahmin sleeps, society sleeps, and the divine connection is lost.

So, I tell everyone: be honest. Have a clean vision and a pure mind. Do not cheat, and do not cause grief to the innocent. The silent agony of a soul (monostap) is a fire that will eventually reach you. Be honest, be truthful, and keep good company. That is the only way forward.