Categories of Life

There are two categories of life: one is trees and plants, and the other is creatures and animals, i.e., living beings. What is Bhog Yoni, i.e., the form of being meant for consummation? What is Ubhay Yoni, i.e., the form of being meant both for consummation and elevation? Which form of being is called Karma Yoni, i.e., the form of being meant for action? How many varieties or species of living beings are there in the world? What system or arrangement has God made for them? What is the principle of Karma-phal, i.e., the consequences of action? In which situation is a man dwarfed? What are the rules of Creation? It is necessary to know them.

The Meaning of Guru

NO other language of the world has a word such as ‘Guru’ found in Sanskrit and Hindi language. Guru is the power that takes you from darkness to light. ‘Gu’ stands for darkness, and ‘Ru’ stands for light. Therefore, Guru is one who takes us from darkness to light. The power that removes or eliminates darkness and ignorance from our lives is Guru. A teacher teaches. We address some as Master or Swami, but all of these words take us far, far away from guru. Guru does not have a synonym.

Likewise, there are a few other things which are worthy of our attention. When a person comes to an intense light or to a source of light, his aim is to get himself lit or to come out of darkness. People seeking light can be placed under four categories.

situations God has created

Now we have to see and determine as to which category we belong. One category is called coming near a Guru. There are four categories. Understand them one by one, and thoroughly. Those of you who come as students, come for learning, for knowing. They come with a spirit of curiosity. They come close to their Guru as his students. They make all efforts to assimilate all that they hear from their Guru. For this, they take down notes in a diary; they make a few rules for their own observance; they enhance their knowledge and bring maturity to what they have heard and understood. They are already grown-up adults. We should become wise, increase the scope of our understanding and enquire about all kinds of things. As students we should try to know what situations God has created for us to decipher and understand.

God made something

If God made something, He made rules also along with it He gave books He gave constitution also. What has been written in them? Because the knowledge, too, comes prior to creation. First, the world was created. Later on the plants and trees and after that, creatures, animals, insects etc. followed. Milk has been put at the disposal of mother before the birth of a child. She gives birth to her progeny later. Milk comes to mother months ahead of the birth of her child. Then her child is born. God has made this advance arrangement of food and drink so that the newly-born does not die of hunger. So, man should gain all kinds of knowledge and join Satsang. When he does all this, then he is a Vidyarthi, a student.

The second period is one of Sadhana. It is only after this that a disciple reaches the stage of an aspirant or Sadhak. He says, “I have heard all that I was supposed to hear, understand, and have known all methods, technique, strategy etc. Now I am a man of rules. I sit daily [for sadhana]. Mind is not allowed to waver or dither here and there. Now I belong to Him with Whom I was connected. I am going ahead according to the method I was told. I am getting benefited as well.” Colour has so well fused with the other colour [guru], that the mind does not waver in any unwanted direction.

The Disciple Obeys the Guru

After this comes the next stage which I call the stage of a disciple. The earlier stage was the one in which knowledge was acquired. Now, one becomes an aspirant, Sadhak, performs sadhana. Remember that a student is a disciple, an aspirant is a disciple; one who is performing sadhana is sitting in a laboratory. Now he is checking and testing in his laboratory – all that he has heard in his life. He sits down for sadhana regularly everyday. He follows strict rules of prayer and worship. And in practical field of life, he performs his actions well and takes care of his home and family. He earns money, he earns Dharma also; he experiences thankfulness also, and he expresses his gratitude to his God. He has both money and religion. Full of thankfulness and recognized by others he is forging ahead in life with cheerfulness.

Ready to dedicate himself to God

This is what we describe as an aspirant’s situation. Situation is nearly the same; but the situation or condition of discipleship is still a better condition. “When I would not be there, he would be there; he, who was my disciple till the other day is ready to sacrifice everything.” He is ready to sacrifice, ready to dedicate himself to God; he is ready to jump into the fire; he is ready to obey all instructions. Now you do not have to enquire if he is coming. If the Guru has ordered, then he is bound to come. Now, he has become a soldier.

Service Changes the Fate

When a person is fully dedicated to service, then the lines of his fate change. If earlier his luck-line was under pressure and that of misfortune was gaining ascendance, now it is his luck-line which is awakened and rising. Man begins to enhance his good fortune; man begins to bring about his own well-being. And when this happens then the mistakes of the service-man are ignored and forgotten. In that condition when a person is performing genuine service, he becomes the order of his guru. Now he becomes oblivious of everything except what he has to do, what his guru has asked him to do.

Kabir had said, “Jab mori chadar bankar ghar aayee. Rangrez ko deeni. Aisi rangi, lalo lal kar deeni.” When the weaver delivered my sheet, I gave it to the dyer. He dyed it so red, deep red, that it is now red and red all over. Everyone has come here to be dyed red i.e., to be coloured in the total and absolute colours of devotion, but these fellows have come to be Itwari Lals only. So we call them, ask them to come to us. And they come with their terms and conditions, otherwise not. Remember one thing about Satsang. Earlier I walked up and came for Satsang, but now it is your duty to come. We have framed these rules.

Bhakta and Vibhakta

The third is the position of disciple. He is the disciple of his Guru. He should be identified with and recognized as the disciple of his Guru. The fourth is the category or stage of a Bhakta or devotee, i.e., a Guru–Bhakta. The relation between Bhakta [devotee] and Bhagwan [God] is wonderful, in which one thing is unique: we are not Vibhakta [divided], i.e., Bhakta and Bhagwan are one and the same thing. There are only two categories of men: either they are Bhakta [devotees], or Vibhakta [divided]. Somebody is a devotee of wealth; someone is a devotee of his wife and you do not know about the third person – whose devotee is he? But you have to become the Bhakta of your guru. Once you are a Bhakta then you have nothing left in you, and it is from here you become yourself. But never become a Vibhakta or a divided self.

Vibhakta, Divided

Vibhakta, Divided, is the one who is fragmented and Bhakta [devotee] is one who is linked. A devotee is one who is thirsty. Suppose there is a man who has been counting and accumulating money. He would love to do something – he would keep money aside and leave other work as well. He would first look for water. He is thirsty for his guruji. He is prepared to put everything at stake. He needs his guru. He has to drink the Amrit [nectar-water] of his guru. So a Bhakta is one who is keenly thirsty or very hungry.

Most of the persons in the world are half or incomplete. If they go to God, they go half; if they live, they live incomplete; and when they die, again they are half inclined, irrespective of what people say about them. We are on a journey for completeness but we are leading an incomplete life.

Dry Wood catches Fire Quickly

Now try to understand that, if once you had a keen desire for fullness, it was not a chance affair. If the wood is not wet, it catches fire properly. I see that there are very, very few persons who can catch that fire. The saints say that one should love Hari [God], i.e., Hari-jan [men of God]; or in other words, those who are in the world of guru in Hari’s form. Such a person, having keen desire for Hari or guru becomes a living, burning fire. You should love them. It is further explained that Hari bestows wealth and grace on his devotees.

God will bestow wealth, money, goods and grace, and many other gifts for living in the world. One should take a few steps towards God, and He will begin showering His love, grace and riches.