________________
Aptavani-2
483
484
Aptavani-2
or does not beg for anything in this world.
What does the worshipper get out of it? He gets to ring the bells in the temple and eat the food offered to the Lord. They worship pictures of God. What does that do? You become like the one you worship. If you worship marble you will become like marble, if you worship a black stone, you will become like the black stone, if you worship a picture you will become like that picture and if you worship 'Dada', you will become like 'Dada. What is the nature of bhakti? You become the one you do the bhakti of. Bhakti shows the relationship between God and his devotee. As long as there is God, there is a devotee. God and the devotee are separate. What we do here in the satsang with 'us' is not considered bhakti. It is called niddidhyasan. It is higher than bhakti. During niddidhyasan you become one with the Self. In niddidhyasan the self becomes the Self. Such a state can never be achieved even through bhakti of countless lifetimes.
If you go searching for God believing this computer to be God, then you will miss out on the real God. Worship those who are higher than you. You cannot worship anyone without first knowing their attributes. However, the bhakti that is going on elsewhere is bhakti of prakrutik attributes, i.e. attributes that are temporary and exist in duality. One cannot do bhakti if there is no compatibility and in the absence of a strong liking for it. Bhakti cannot be done without a liking for it
The multiplication of three attributes defines devotion. These three are, worship of the name (naam), establishment of the one to be worshipped (sthapana- living or idol) and the visible evidences of the bhakti (dravya). Some worship an established image or idol. The true worship of the 'Gnani Purush' has four components. These are naam, sthapana, dravya and bhaav (inner intent of liberation only). When these four multiply in worship, then it is called the true bhakti of the
Gnani Purush.
Questioner : Is there a difference between bhakti (devotion) and faith?
Dadashri : What do you understand by bhakti? Is it considered bhakti when I eat?
Questioner : No. Is single-minded devotion not bhakti?
Dadashri : Faith is established in the words by reading scriptures. One will develop devotion for Lord Krishna if he develops faith in the words of Lord Krishna. He begins with an adjustment with a sentence from someone, then he develops faith on that, and then the bhakti begins. Then if he develops faith in someone else's writings, he will not be able to adjust with the former and his faith in him will become unstable. Here in Dada's satsang. the faith is established with you in the initial experience of the Self (nischay) and such faith is conviction (pratiti) which remains with you until final liberation Aradhana - Viradhana : Devout worship - Disrespect
Questioner : What is aradhana?
Dadashri : Viradhana is to hurt or disrespect someone. This is experienced by the person within the mind. The opposite of that is aradhana. Generally aparadha (gross hurt) is taking place in the world. If north is aradhana, then south is viradhana. Wherever there is aradhana, there is the presence of 'Radha' and so 'Krishna' is bound to be there too!
Questioner : Dada is constantly on my mind, what is that?
Dadashri : That is called niddidhyasan. With that you become like 'Dada' (the Self) and all the energies of the Self are attained. This niddidhyasan will increase through listening (shravan) and through contemplation (manan).