SURRENDER TO A GOD REALIZED SAINT

We should first faithfully surrender to a Guru (a God-realized Saint whom we have chosen to be our Spiritual Master). We should wholeheartedly follow His every instruction and teaching. This is the true beginning of Sadhana or spiritual practice. By surrendering ourselves to a Guru, we begin our spiritual journey.

In the material world, we gain knowledge by trusting the words of people with a higher intellect. Let us suppose that a person without any knowledge of law visits an advocate. The advocate teaches him how to tackle questions in a court to escape penalties. If the person does exactly as told by his advocate, he might win the case. We see that by having faith in the advocate's words, the person overcomes his challenges.

Similarly, when we are sick, we completely trust a doctor for our treatment without having any knowledge of medicine. We follow his instructions with full faith to get well. If we take medicine according to our wish, then it could be harmful to us. Even at school, we follow the words of people with a higher intellect (teachers), and complete our education.

We have to apply the same principle in the spiritual realm also. First, we have to search for a true Saint. Till we find a true Saint (God-realized Saint) we have to keep searching for Him. Once we find and accept such a Guru, we must stop searching and visiting other Saints. We have to surrender our mind to that Guru and do exactly as He instructs, without any questions or arguments. This is true or complete surrender - surrender of the mind.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A RASIK SAINT

Vaag Gadgada Dravat Yasya Chitah Rudtyabhikshanah Kvachicha|

Vilaja Udgaayati Nrutyate Cha Muhrvatichyutto Bhuvanaha Punaati |

- (Bhagavatam. 11/14/24)

It has been stated in the Bhagavatam that a True Rasik Saint who has already attained Divine Love and Divine Vision of His Beloved Shri Krishn, whose heart is always filled in Krishn Love, when he chants the name or sings the songs of Krishn leelas and virtues, his voice changes due to Divine excitement. The Rasik saint experiences the intensity of God's love and also the warmth of his own emotions.

Many times a Rasik Saint enters into Bhao. (Bhao is the ecstatic state where the Loving Devotee experiences mixed feelings of meeting and seperation). In Bhao, he yearns and cries to get God's vision and laughs in happiness when he receives it." These expressions are called sattvic bhao or the Divine expressions.

The feelings of love of the Rasik Saint deepens and he feels the close personal association of God and in this excitement, he sings and dances, but his physical consciousness remains fully absorbed in Bhao. Shri Krishn says that such a Rasik Saint, who is ever absorbed in My love, purifies the world with His Divine Love Consciousness and gratifies the surroundings with His presence."

It is such a Rasik Saint, who has already attained God's Love and Divine Vision and who has even scriptural knowledge, if we accept Him as our Guru and surrender to His Lotus feet, we can attain Krishn Love with His Grace.

UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN LIFE

A soul very rarely receives a human birth, and that too, is due to God's grace. Of those who have received a human birth, even more rare are those who are true seekers of God's love. But just possessing these two is not enough to succeed spiritually unless you also have the association of a true Saint. If all three occur in the same birth, that soul's spiritual success is virtually guaranteed.

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj says : Dear Souls ! Submit yourself to the lotus feet of Krishn. Your mother, father, sons, brothers and others, no one will help you at the time of death. You cannot achieve anything by indulging into the fields of lust, anger, greed, attachment and the egoistic activities of your willful likings. The happiness of this world is purely illusive. You cannot receive even a drop of true happiness in this world. The wealth and your youthful beauty (which you may be proud of) is transitory. It will disappear like camphor. Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj says, “ You will not receive this precious human life again and again, so surrender to Krishn immediately and restore your lost fortune.”

O my mind! Listen! This world is futile. Son, spouse, friends and all the worldly relatives are tied to each other in only self-interest. You are under the impression that your son, spouse, sister etc. really love you, and, in the same way, they all believe that you really love them. But your conscience very well knows that you like them for your own personal happiness, and thus (quite often) your behavior bears craftiness from inside. O my mind! Then why don’t you understand that they are also like you. Knowing this please turn to Radha Krishn Who are your true Divine Beloved.