Student:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru:
Pranam, baba. Pranam. Tell me.
Student:
Nowadays, we see many who practice in the spiritual worldâthey are called Sadhaks (seekers). But Gurudev, my question is: in their spiritual life, how should they practice, and what should be their goal or purpose?
Guru:
Look, one does not become a Sadhak just by calling themselves one. If one does not have the "Sukriti" (merit from good deeds) of previous births, they cannot become a Sadhak. No matter how much they practice, this is not a matter of a single lifetime. It is a matter of many lifetimes. Not only that, you don't just suddenly start practicing in one birth and see the Mother (the Divine Mother). This is a matter of many lifetimes. Buddha said this; Krishna told Arjuna that this is a matter of many lifetimes.
Guru:
So, it's not like I just set up an idol and start worshiping, or do something casuallyâthat doesn't yield results. Those who come to me, who are practicing, tell meâmany educated young men are trying to enter the realm of God, but entering the realm of God is a distant dream. They talk about various difficulties they face. And difficulties will surely arise; this is "Abhyas Yoga" (the yoga of practice). The main thing is that those who practice should initially stay in a confined room and avoid social contact with people.
Guru:
You won't attain "Siddhai" (spiritual perfection) in a single day. It takes a lot of time. A lot of time. Attaining "Siddhai" is not a small feat. You have to receive "Siddhai" over time; time will grant you that perfection. It is, you could say, a divine instructionâto "take Siddhai." Now, like us, we received "Siddhai" much later. At the time of receiving it, we had to perform "Hom Yagya" (sacrificial fire rituals) and many other things. Then we received it, and I received it sitting on a deer skin. You will see the photo of me on a full deer skin. You cannot take "Siddhai" just by saying so; it doesn't happen anytime. It happens at a very specific auspicious moment.
Guru:
So, just as it is a matter of time, it is also a matter of God. Now, what are we doing? Along with our practice, we are trying to build a temple because we are looking at the future, and I am also looking at the financial aspect. But then it won't work. Nothing else should be considered here; here, it is only God and you. No second or third person can enter between you. Through constant practice, by awakening God, only then can you understand some indications that God gives. When you receive those indications, you will understand that you are moving on the right path.
Guru:
Many people, after a little worship and wearing saffron clothes, suddenly claim to have attained "Siddhai" and call themselves "Siddha Purush" (perfected beings). But one may or may not receive the internal tools and ingredients of Tantra practice. We, for example, have received them. We received tiger skin, upon which we performed worship. We received deer skin. Besides that, whatever is needed for Tantra practice, the Mother has provided everything. And through these provisions, a Sadhak understands that perhaps the time for "Siddhai" has come. Certain indications are found. Only after seeing those indications can you receive "Siddhai."
Guru:
Man does not grant "Siddhai"; God Himself grants it. After receiving it, when you perform work for the people and that work is done well by the Mother's instructionâunderstand that this won't happen without the Mother's command. Now, even if you want to do good for people, you won't be able to do it alone; it becomes an internal realization. To do that goodâlook at us, after how many years of practice are we working for the welfare of people? My goal was always there; I used to tell my Gurudev repeatedly, "Please give me a bit of your supernatural power so that I can show people something extraordinary." In that case, Gurudev granted me that much later. And today, the term "Gupta Sadhak" (secret seeker) meansâdo you know? I practiced secretly, so I am a "Gupta Sadhak." I never did it openly. Whatever I did, I did secretly. So, everyone knows me as a "Gupta Sadhak."
Student:
Gurudev, I am curious about what you just said. In that case, should spiritual practice be done secretly or...?
Guru:
It cannot happen without being secret. "Gopanam Prayatnena Savdhana Padharaya"âit must be maintained in three ways: secretly, carefully, and with effort. If the Mother is satisfied with that, it is very good. Otherwise, it might take many lifetimes. It doesn't end in one birth; it's a matter of lifetimes. How many of my births have passed just calling out to God? I am doing good for people; look, I am doing good without taking anything. Perhaps I gave someone a small shell or some other item, and through that, the person gets better. Again, many people come and say that just touching me will make them better, and so on. For instance, today two people came from Guwahati, and one came from Siliguri and Cooch Behar. Their only point was: "I came to meet you, please just touch me, and I will be fine. I don't need anything else."
Guru:
Slowly, a person reaches this stage. Then there is no need for material things. Whatever we give, it's not truly needed. We give to those who do not believe. Belief is a big factor here. If we place our hand on someone's head or body, many things get better. Common people don't know this, nor do they try to. They think that giving something will make things better. That is the stage we have reached here. People come and say, "Give us something, or we won't leave."
Guru:
The gentleman from GuwahatiâI told him, "Go home, you will see everything is fine." He couldn't even believe it. I gave him some things, and even after that, he said, "I will leave tomorrow, I have my ticket. I will come in the morning; if you could give me something, it would be very good." But we are sitting here, the Mother is sitting here; we tell them, "Go, visit the Mother and then come back to me. Tell the Mother your desires and wishes." Then come and tell me what your problem is. Generally, a time comes when nothing else is needed; automatically, people get better by visiting or by a touch.
Student:
Gurudev, you are talking about the stage after "Siddhai." When a Sadhak attains "Siddhai," you are describing what happens then. But my question, Gurudev, was this...
Guru:
How long can you use "Asiddha" (unperfected) things? You cannot use them for long; eventually, you will be caught. So, this is also God's grace that people are getting better when I give them something or touch them. People come from very far to see me. Someone came from Jaipur this afternoon and sat with me for an hour. We had some small talk. People are coming from distant places with the concept they've gained through YouTube. I cannot deny that; they come after watching YouTube. When I ask who sent them, they say they came after seeing YouTube. YouTube has reached every house now.
Guru:
As a result, people see and can judge whether a person is good or bad, useful or useless. They follow these things. People are not fools; there are clever people too. They follow and then decide, "Yes, this person can do good." That decision comes much later. One cannot simply "do good." There is a common saying among us Sadhus: "Kar bhala to ho bhala, tera khyal rakhega upar wala" (Do good and good will happen to you; the One above will take care of you).
Guru:
Every day, I have to "consume poison"âthe sins of others. I have to accept these, baba. As a result, when I do some heavy work, I fall ill. I am falling ill quite often now. There is only one reason: if I stop this work now, I might stay healthy, but the Mother will be displeased. Here, I cannot just think about my body. The Mother will be displeased and will take back my power.
Student:
Since the Mother has given you that power through practice...
Guru:
Can you do good? Can everyone here do good? They cannot. Now, the Mother has given me this power, and if I don't use it, she will be displeased and take it away. Those who are comingâGod is sending them all; I understand this very well. And later, they come back multiple times from different places. Now, since we hear their pleas, we start working as soon as we hear them. For example, day before yesterday, during a ritual here, news suddenly came that someone had a stroke. No doctor or hospital could be found. I was told to look into it. I sat here and performed the rituals. Then I asked someoneâI asked youâto check how that gentleman was. You said he is doing well; the doctors found two blockages, but it's no big deal and will be cured with medicine. We have to perform these rituals day and night. Many people are distressed; they cannot come from various places but they call me and say, "Baba, please look into this." Today also, someone came from another placeâit was far away, I forgot the name of the place.
Student:
You mentioned Guwahati...
Guru:
His father was very ill and had come to me. I gave him two things and said his father would be fine. Today, he came to thank me, saying his father is very well by my grace, and he came to visit me. These things are happening every moment.
Student:
But Gurudev, I had a question. As you were saying, after you attained "Siddhai," you work according to the Mother's instructions and the power she gave you, otherwise, she would be displeased. But Gurudev, my point is, we have seen many "Siddha" men who, after attaining perfection, get involved in wrongdoings. They don't seem to fear the Mother. What should happen to them?
Guru:
Their downfall is certain. Nothing else. Ramprasad said, "Kare dao ma Brahma-pad, kare koro adhogan" (You give the status of Brahma to some, and you cause the downfall of others). So, they will go towards downfall. And those who are helping people in the name of the Mother will continue to rise. A day will come when just seeing them will make people feel better. Step by step, it doesn't happen all at once. This is the Mother's way. And today, if I don't look after people, the Mother will be displeased and take away my power. That's it.
Student:
You are thinking about the power the Mother gave you, that she might take it away. Your goal must be fixed.
Guru:
The goal must be fixed. You must not deviate from it. You must keep your goal fixed.
Student:
You are thinking about the welfare of humanity. But there are many who don't think like that. They want abundance, they want opulence.
Guru:
The Mother gives that abundance beforehand so that they stay occupied with it and don't call her anymore. The Mother gives this "lollipop" to everyone and says, "Eat this and don't bother calling me." I have seen this in most cases. I saw many who, after a little practice, got busy with a temple and started collecting money. So, what happens then? Your freedomâthe way you were calling Godâgets hindered. You get busy with property. This happened in the case of Ramprasad too. When King Krishnachandra gave him some money and land, he said one thing: "Akhon tomar bishoy lagi, dangshiche mor joge jage" (Now, because of your property, it stings during my meditation). That is, whenever I try to perform rituals or practice, this property or money disturbs me. This was his realization, and he wrote it in his books. To perform rituals, you cannot have this money and such things. You have to do it by being completely detached. Detached from money, gold, or even womenâthey cannot be there. If they are there, various troubles will arise. It's called "Moni-Kanchon." So, women shouldn't be there either; their presence brings more danger. Many have gotten entangled and are struggling till the end. So, the only thing is, the goal should be clearâwhy have you come here? Have you come for the Mother, or have you come to build a temple and earn money? You have to think about this. If you earn money by showing the Mother, and build a temple with the Mother's money, your spiritual practice won't happen. A temple might be built, but there won't be any spiritual practice there, and the Mother won't be there either. The Mother wants to be awakened, she wants someone to talk to her, to sit with her in solitude. Many cannot do this; they get lost in the greed for money or in building temples and collecting funds. When will they practice? Practice is not a simple matter. It takes time, a lot of time. It's time-consuming. And if done methodicallyâlook, after how many years did we receive...
Student:
You received "Siddhai" after practice.
Guru:
After many years. Then, I have been doing good for people for a long time. Earlier, a few people used to come, but now many people are coming. There is nothing even to give them. They have this strong belief that I am God and if I say something, it will happen. Or if I give something, it will work. They tell me this repeatedly. Some even wait until I say "yes." I have seen people sitting from the morning until 4 PM, asking me, "If you say yes, I will go, otherwise I won't." So we also have to judge and say "yes" or "no" after careful consideration. We have to look at everything and then our action starts. This is a special action. It's not that everyone will get better; that's not the case. Among them, we pick the ones that are very important and do it. But those that are not as important, or can be done a year later, we delay them. They keep coming three, four, or five times. We don't work for them. Who we should work for, we decide that. If 100 people come, we pick two or four whose work must be done immediately, otherwise, there will be danger. In those cases, we don't say no. We do the work, and they don't even get to know. If I work, even their ancestors won't know that I have worked. The work is done very secretly. Taking the name and lineage, the work is done secretlyâwhat is called "Dharna" (pleading) before the Mother. That's the main thing.
Student:
So Gurudev, as we heard from you, the thing is, when people start their spiritual life, if they move on the right path, it is possible for them to attain "Siddhai."
Guru:
Certainly. If one can move forward in the traditional way that exists, then there is no difficulty. We received "Siddhai" after performing "Mora Sadhana" (meditation over a corpse). We received "Siddhai" after performing "Sava Sadhana" in the crematorium. Before that, we didn't get "Siddhai." We did "Mora Sadhana," and after that, the Mother gave us "Siddhai." We received it, and since then, people come and we do their work. We don't turn anyone away.
Student:
Rightly said, Gurudev. We learned from you; it felt very good. Because we see many Sadhus being made nowadays...
Guru:
They are getting lost. They are getting lost.
Student:
They are getting lost because their spiritual life didn't start beautifully.
Guru:
They didn't follow the spiritual life at all. Without a goal, it never happens. There's only one thingâI will visit the Mother, or I will talk to the Mother. And instead, someone just made a image, and their household runs, they get food and whatever else they need from the disciples. Many such people have come to me and said they spent a lot of money but nothing happened, "please give me initiation," and so on. I have to hear this every day. But actually, that's why it's said to test the Guru. You went and took a mantra, saw some saffron clothes and took initiationâthat won't do. You will receive a "Siddha Mantra" from a "Siddha" person. If you take it from an "Asiddha" person, you will get an "Asiddha" mantra. An "Asiddha" mantra is of no use. "Para Vidya" and "Apara Vidya"âthere is a matter here, many things are there.
Guru:
There is a difference between a "Tantra Sadhak" and a "Sadhak." A "Tantra Sadhak" has to perform many rituals, but a "Sadhak" doesn't have to perform any rituals. Automatically, their rituals stop. Then, if they just touch someone, they get better. So, there is a lot of difference between a "Sadhak" and a "Tantra Sadhak." A "Sadhak" doesn't have to do much, yet we did it. We had to spend nearly 35 to 40 years of life just practicing. And I didn't do it with any expectation that I would get a lot or find the Mother; I don't have that much expectation. I am free from desires. I have no desires, no wishes, and I never had any greed for money. Even now, I don't believe in the greed for money. I believe in the Mother. And look, honestly speaking, today I don't have any lack of food or clothing. Without cheating anyoneâI don't cheat anyoneâyet food is provided somehow.
Guru:
And this is the greatest thing for usâit's being provided somehow. I have a family, I have everything, but it's being provided somehow by the Mother's grace. I don't have to catch people and say, "Give me money, give me funds, only then I will work." I did the work, and someone perhaps happily cameâlike that lady you saw who came from Alipur. She got better, and she's asking me what I want to eat. I don't eat anything; why are you so restless? "No, I've become so well, and you won't take anything?" Such things happen. One has to boycott these; the way they should be boycotted.
Student:
So Gurudev, we heard your discourse. It felt very good. And I hope those who are becoming Sadhaks will listen to Gurudev's words. Surely, you will find the right path. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru:
Pranam, baba. Pranam.