(picture of rangoli-courtesy google image)
Today is 6th of May, the Akshaya Tritiya festival in India being celebrated all over India. It is one of the most auspicious days for Hindus and celebrated in various ways in different parts of the country and has many legends and stories woven around it. As per the Hindu traditions and culture, this festival is considered as the most significant day to perform sacred deeds, punya karyas. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the giver of bounty, prosperity, bliss, peace and liberation. Worshipping of Lord Vishnu on this day eradicates and removes one’s sins and makes free from all sorrows and one attains salvation, moksha.
During this whole morning there was intense calmness inside me and in spite of doing many tasks, I just could not disconnect my mind from the unbroken serenity lingering since I woke up. After all the daily cares were performed, I sat down to meditate again. The irrepressible calmness held on to me firmly. I plunged deep inside and became one with my Soul. The intense calling of my Soul quickly took me back again to one of my previous visions which I had on January the 21st, when I first saw Lord Vishnu in a white temple.
(You may find the complete narration of this occurrence in my earlier post titled Expand your consciousness-I.)
For some unknown reasons quite naturally, on every Akshaya Tritiya day, I in one way or another remember Shri Mahavatar Babaji more than other days. The ancient Badri Narayan temple in the Himalayas reopen today for all the devotees after winter. Before the fall of winter and heavy snow, the idol of Lord Vishnu in Badri Narayan temple is taken down to Joshimath and brought back today every year with much fanfare and colourful procession. As Mahavatar Babaji lives close to the temple in the caves, my mind always remembers him as if Lord Vishnu and revered Babaji are one and the same. Spontaneously, Vishnu Sahastranaam is churning in the back of my mind today as though the chants are being sung there and I hear the rhythmic chanting travelling from the mountains of Himalayas here. Perhaps some of you may find it queer, but that is what is happening.
I have decided to spend this auspicious day in compiling and finishing a new post as a mark of respect and devotion to Mahavatar Babaji and I dedicate this post on ‘The role of power of will in a seeker’s life-II’ at his sacred Lotus feet. I call upon Him to bless and help all seekers today so that they cultivate and increase their will and their minds get unclamped from the grip of worldly attachments. In addition to this, they may instill a desire in themselves to liberate their bonded souls from the gripping attachments of their smaller self.
His holiness Mahavatar Babaji who has unlimited compassion and mercy on all humans and every creature alike, responded to my prayers in no time during my meditation. Telepathically, he transmitted this liberating education or Moksha Vidya on this fortunate day. He thus began with a question and gave answers in the form of cryptic solutions to the crippling ignorance of humanity-
“How did Arjun get spiritual knowledge?”
“Because of detachment, vairagya.”
“When there is detachment or vairagya in life, there is a desire or will to know God. However, before those situations arise it is you who has to develop this will after which I shall help you. Kindle a yearning and will within you for liberating yourself. Detach, concede so that your future is laden with bliss, happiness and absolute peace.”
The power of will is a gift to us from God with which we accomplish all our undertakings and tasks. First comes the will to do something; God comes to our rescue later, he sends us help to accomplish all that we wish to attain. Prior to all this, it is you who should have the initiative in your heart to do something grand, something new, something huge.
Similarly, only if and when the human being is ready to get rid of his dimness and unawareness only after such a will is awakened in him, only after he possesses a will to liberate himself that such an aim is accomplished at an appropriate time.”
Acquainting about himself, Shri Mahavatar Babaji disclosed,
“Before my present incarnation, I had a burning desire to help mankind, to salvage them from ignorance and do good to all in the world. So when I was born this time I was born with the same power. Therefore, the spot at which I was born still radiates powerful rays of my power of will. There is a yantra or geometrical figure at this spot which till this date radiates powerful rays of my power of will. You must benefit from it by focusing your mind on this spot in your meditations and the power of will shall be ignited in you and you will be gratified.”
And about me he revealed, “You were born with a burning desire to free yourself from the bondage of the fruit of your actions. Therefore when the right time arrived, I quickly sent you to Yogananda(YSS), Nityananda and Shaligram (Ganeshpuri) and to The Mother (Pondicherry) for your spiritual education. They all are your gurus, Masters and I am your Param Guru, Highest Master. The will to cover up and complete your karmic obligations was so intense that you fulfilled it in the minimum time possible.
The time taken by any seeker or learner to accomplish and complete his spiritual duties and obligations is entirely dependent on the extent of will power possessed by him or the will generated, exerted by him.
It takes as much time as he decides to free himself. God is very merciful; God will not initiate or stop the help and cooperation that he sends through nature unless you want it. Therefore reduce that time and meditate on God and pray to Him right now.”
My prayer to You oh Lord!
Oh my Lord! Please accept my prayers lovingly. Clear the darkness and gloom of my infinite incarnations, bring my darkness to an end. Free me from the binding forces of my actions. Please reveal thyself, give me your glimpse because of whose power my darkness will fly away. Show me Light, my Lord! Show me your divine nature not by miracles but by your spiritual light. Light the flame of your Light, Jyot inside me. Lead me from darkness to Light by holding my hand, my Lord, I am your ignorant child!
May love, peace and brotherhood be my attributes and may I always serve all your children untiringly. Expand my heart so much that I include all your sons. Appear before me, my Lord, show me your attributes, reveal thyself, my Lord, reveal thyself, please!
Oh God! From this day on my attention and mind will be always fixed on you. May I always bow at your pious feet.
May your children live long at all times, may there be life on earth eternally, may there be greenery always everywhere and may your children spread the message of universal love, immortality and peace in all corners of the world. God, I shall also be a part of this sacred work and I wish for the well being, auspiciousness and goodness for all your children. I shall be your obedient child and serve you always. This is my wish, my will, please accept my wish on this auspicious day my Lord!!”
Asatoma sadgamaya
Tamsoma jyotirgamaya
Mrityorma amritamgamaya
Om shanti, shanti, shanti, Om!
Oh Lord! Lead us from ignorance to Truth
From darkness to Light and
From death to immortality
Om Shanti, shanti, shanti Om!!
This is a Shanti Mantra, a hym of peace from ancient Rig Veda.
Foot note- For beginners: In Bhagwat Geeta, the holy scripture of Hindus, Lord Krishna imparts the knowledge of Self and immortality in the battle field to Arjun, one of the Pandava brothers. In a state of complete remorse and detachment, Arjun wishes to renounce everything for the sake of peace and brotherhood. So it is implied that even before such a drastic stage appears in our life, we must kindle a will to liberate ourselves from the bondage of karmic compulsions so that we know God.
You may avail a rendition of Asato Ma Sadgamaya, the Shanti Mantra.