|| Shri Hari ||

Generosity of God, the Preceptor of the World

Swami Ramsukhdas

|| Shri Hari ||

Generosity of God, the Preceptor of the World

tvameva mata cha pita tvameva

tvameva bandhuscha sakha tvameva |

tvameva vidyaa dravinam tvameva

tvameva sarvam mama devadeva ||

Swami Ramsukhdas

|| Shri Hari ||

Generosity of God, the Preceptor of the World

God possesses endless virtues. All that has been written in the scriptures and stated by sages about the unlimited virtues of God is not sufficient to describe the full dimensions of God’s virtues. Ardent devotee of the Lord, Goswami Tulasidasa also says -

‘Ramu na sakahin naam guna gaayi’ (Manas. Balkand. 26/4)

Some other saints have also stated that even God Himself is not fully aware of His infinite power. Out of infinite virtues, there are three main virtues of God. Omniscience, Omnipotence and all Compassionate One. It means that none else other than God possesses as much knowledge, power and grace (mercy). In spite of this strong support of God at our disposal, if we fail to attain salvation and continue to suffer, how can an ordinary Guru lead us to our to salvation ? Is a Guru more knowledgeable, powerful and generous than God ? This is nothing more than an illusion and deception. So long as a true yearning for salvation does not develop in yourself, even God cannot help you in attaining salvation, then how will a Guru (spiritual guide) lead you to the attainment of this goal ?

The virtues that you see in Gurus and saints are not their own, but they have been derived by them from God and have been assumed by you to belong to the saints and gurus. For example, sweetness found in any sweet dish is basically due to sugar in it, similarly any virtue or speciality that you see anywhere in this world springs out from God only. The Lord says in Gita -

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा।

तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसंभवम्।।10.41।।

yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaṁ śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā

tat tad evāvagaccha tvaṁ mama tejo-’ṁśa-sambhavam

‘All the grand, delightful and powerful beings and objects that exist, are outcome of my excellence.’

Even the evil beings like demons who oppose God, originally derive their strength from God alone. Hanumanji tells Ravana -

Jaake bal lavales ten jitehu charaachar jhaari |

Taasu doot mein jaa kari hari aanehu priya naari ||

(Manas. Sunder. 21)

Then shall the devotee of God be deprived of His strength ? The moment man comes face to face with God, he shall be freed from sins of millions of births.

Sanmukh hoyi jeev mohi jabahin |

Janma Koti Agh naasahin tabahin ||

(Manasa, Sundar 44/1)

But if you do not do so, there is no way out to be free from sins. The Almighty bestows strength on everyone whether he is His enemy, beloved or indifferent. God’s creation, the earth accommodates all alike whether noble or evil, believer or non-believer, sinner or pious. His creations - such as food fulfils everybody’s hunger, water satisfies everybody’s thirst and air helps everyone to remain alive. God’s grace is available in abundance for all beings even if some of them are most wicked and the vilest of sinners. We have to pay for electricity, water and living space, but God has provided sun, moon, rivers and plenty of space just free of charge. When his creations are so kind to human beings, you can imagine the infinite dimensions of His generosity for mankind.

There is a interesting story. A person observed a day’s fast on the occasion of Ekadashi (Eleventh day of either half of a lunar month). Next day he wanted to feed someone as per tradition, but due to heavy rains, he could not find a suitable person. After searching for a long time, he finally found an old monk. He invited the monk to his house for meals. He placed a plate full of food items before the monk, who started eating immediately. The person reminded the monk, that he should have offered the food to God, before eating himself. The monk abruptly said - ‘What is God? You are a fool, you do not understand all this.’ On hearing this the man, removed the plate of food and said - ‘When God is nothing, who are you to eat the food? I offer the food to you for the sake of God only.’ At the very same moment, a mystic voice was heard saying - ‘This monk has grown old while rebuking Me, but then too I have been providing him food all along. When you are refusing one day’s meal to him, how can you claim yourself to be My devotee? If I don’t arrange food for him, how long would he survive ?’ After hearing the divine command, the man felt very much ashamed and begged the monk’s pardon and thereafter gave him food with great respect.

Aiso ko udaar jag maahin |

Binu seva jo dravai deen par Ram saris kou naahin ||

(Vinay Patrika 162)

In spite of this divine presence of such a generous God, if we suffer and expect a Guru to give happiness and salvation, it is a stupid and deceptive proposition. It is more than sufficient if we prepare ourselves to attain salvation.

God is very compassionate. When He provides for all of us, will He not help us to attain salvation ? Therefore, we should develop a sincere and strong desire for salvation and pray to God ‘O’ My Lord ! Let me be free from the worldly bondage and let me realize the ultimate truth. I don’t know about any real bliss, help me not to be involved with anything else but to attain the real bliss. O’ Lord ! Guide me as to what I should do?’ God always responds to sincere prayers.

सच्चे हृदयकी प्रार्थना जो भक्त सच्चा गाय है ।

तो भक्त-वत्सल कानमें वह पहुँच झट ही जाय है ॥

Sacche hrdey se praarthnaa, jab bhakt saccha gaaya hai |

To bhakt vatsal kaan mein, wah paunch jhat hi jaaya hai ||

God, saints and sages are more concerned about our salvation than we are. A mother is always worried about her children more than the children themselves, but the children never realize it. Similarly, God and His devotees remain engrossed in our welfare without any selfishness.

Hetu rahit Hetu rahit jag jug upakaari |

Tum tumhaar sewak asuraari ||

(Manas, Utter 47/3)

You two are the only disinterested benefactors in this world - Yourself and Your Servant.

Saints and sages are very eager to help and support those who move towards God with full sincerity. Saints’ hearts are always overflowing with compassion for the welfare of others. Who does not feel like giving food to a hungry child ?

With all sincerity, if someone, is very keen for his salvation, God definitely helps him. A guru can never be such a well-wisher as God is -

Uma Raam sam hit jag maahin | Guru pitu maatu bandhu prabhu naahin ||

Sun nar muni sabki yeh riti, swaarth laag hi karahi sab preeti.

(Manas, Kishkindhaa 12/1)

Narayana ! Narayana ! Narayana !

From "Is Salvation Not Possible without a Guru ? " in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji.

Text Box: A Note to the Reader

The special quality of the original is difficult to capture in a translation. Readers are earnestly requested, that if they have the knowledge of the Hindi language, to read the original book in Hindi.