What contemplation ensures you meet the Lord at the final moment! // 31/08/26

A satsang of Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj — to listen to the full talk, watch the video above.

The Complete Discourse

Radhe Radhe. A discussion took place the other day that was not completed, but it is of great importance, so we are doing it again. This satsang is very worthy of contemplation; definitely reflect and contemplate on it so that your ultimate auspiciousness and ultimate welfare may come about. The world guru, Lord Sri Krishna Chandra is giving teachings using Arjun Ji as an instrument. He is saying:

Antakale cha maam eva smaran muktva kalevaram
At the time of death, remembering Me, leaving the body...

Whatever person at the time of death remembers Me while leaving the body—that is, abandoning the physical form—attains My form. There is no doubt in this. The Lord has said that the means of attaining Him is: even if there was no bhajan in life, if at the time of death the remembrance of God comes, then attainment of God happens. No matter how debased a person may be, if the remembrance of God comes at the time of death... but it is very difficult. The principle is: as we do, so our dreams come. Whatever karma we have done from the previous life until now, those same dreams come. So how will the remembrance of God come at the final moment? The one who has been in worldly entanglement throughout life, who has continued in worldly entanglement—at the final moment, they will only think of mental entanglement. The remembrance of God cannot happen.

Yes, by God's grace, if someone makes one hear the name of God, shows the form of God, narrates the story of God, gives God's charanamrta, or if one gets the company of a sant at that moment—surely, no matter how much sin one has committed in life—God is saying: at the time of death, remembering Me while leaving the body, when at the time of death someone remembers God while leaving the body, God says: they will attain Me. There is no doubt in this. Our people have put their stake down; we have won the game. We don't care whether the remembrance comes at the time of death or not, because we live in the Dhaam of Vrindavan.

It comes in the scriptures that Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Aravantika Puri, Dwaravarti—all these are bestowers of liberation. If the body drops here, no matter how sinful one may be, one obtains God through the glory of these sacred places. Just as if someone dies in Kashi or dies in Dwaraka or dies in Mathura or Ayodhya—these are the effects of the sacred abodes. Then among all sacred abodes, Vrindavan Dhaam is the supreme one. How? The dust of no other place has had its importance described. But the dust of Braj has been described. The glory of any sacred place or abode is indeed limitless, but the dust has not been described in the same way.

And the great souls have described the dust of this place so much that if even a single particle of Vrindavan's dust is placed in the mouth of someone dying somewhere else, or even if it touches their body, they will attain God's dhaam. Their suffering will not happen. We are living in this dust with our entire body.

Je renu par marbo mangal aay
On whose dust I will die, it will be auspicious

If the body drops on this dust, supreme auspiciousness happens. But note this: prarabdha (destiny from past karma) is also powerful. If you have not taken steadfast commitment to Vrindavan in a disciplined way, then prarabdha will make you flee at the final moment. We have seen many examples of this. Now commitment is necessary.

Pran bajo, ban naho, kaho baat ko labh
Give up life, don't give up the forest, speak the beneficial words

No matter how many ways you can convince us, we can give up our life but we cannot leave Vrindavan. So whatever final remembrance comes will be here—Kishori, who is very merciful through the grace of the sakhis, is even more merciful than the sakhis. The sakhis who are Sri Ji's companions—the eight principal sakhis, and then Vrinda Sakhi, then Yamuna Ras Rani, and many other sakhis—are more compassionate than Sri Ji herself because they nourish Sri Ji. So much is their compassion, grace, and maternal affection that the sakhis nourish the Beloved and the Beloved Lord.

When someone's body drops here, what should they not do? If they do, it will lead to their ruin. This is why we are saying: so that no one in ignorance thinks, "Yes, attaining God happens by leaving the body, so let us leave the body in any way." We do not have the authority to leave our body. We continue experiencing the fruits of our actions, and when the body naturally drops here, then by the indication of Vrinda Sakhi, some sakhi will inscribe Radha in their heart, will show grace, and they will attain Radha, the Beloved. But dwelling only on the dhaam becomes a great oversight. Even after many years, our attachment is not destroyed. Our attachment to the body is not destroyed. Therefore, in the end, the remembrance of God comes only to one who does bhajan throughout life.

Mad bhavam bhaavita— Filled with My feeling—one who is filled with My feeling, to remain in God's sentiment—this is the work of great perfected souls. This is not an ordinary task. To move the beads, to serve the Lord for a little while, to read scriptures—these can be done. But to have God's feeling at every moment, to have the Lord in your heart at every moment, to have only the Beloved and Beloved Lord in your inner feeling at all times—simply continuous.

As Sri Harivansh Mahaprabhu says:

Jagrat swapan sushupt me Radha pada chhata, Radha pada chhata
In waking, in dream, in sleep, the splendor of Radha's feet, the splendor of Radha's feet

In waking or in dream or in sleep, what authority do we have in sleep? In waking we have the authority to say "Radha Radha", but in dream, in sleep, it is according to that state. When you do bhajan continuously in waking, then your dreams will become good. And in sleep too, the remembrance of God will continue. One in whose waking, dreaming, and sleep the remembrance of God happens—such a one is a liberated soul while living, a great soul. For such a one, it is not a matter of "the final moment, the final moment"—at every moment they are devoted to God. So at the final moment too they will remain devoted to God. By God's grace they will attain the Lord.

In that place where the kirtan of the Lord's name happens, where the tales of the Lord are told, where satsang happens...

If death occurs in that place, your remembrance of bhagavat will not be taken into account. You will attain God realization through the influence of that place. In Puri, in the divine abode, or anywhere outside where satsang is held daily, where divine discourse happens, where naam kirtan happens—if death occurs there, one will attain God realization. Or if at the time of death, one receives the darshan of a Mahatma who has attained God. Now this is a very rare thing. The darshan of a sant is a very rare thing. Without Krishna's grace, one does not meet a sant. Similarly, without God's grace, one cannot find the company of a sant.

Then at the final time, even if someone has not done bhajan their whole life, but at the final moment they receive the darshan of a Mahatma—now they will attain God realization. At the time of death there are terrible circumstances. There is great suffering. "Janmat marat dusha dukh ho"—birth and death bring misery and pain. We have to experience this. All of us must die. If not today, then tomorrow. This body made of five elements will disperse. It will perish. Do not love it so much. While living, remove your attachment to it and develop love for God. Your birth will become meaningful. If you have only nourished worldly dealings and illusions until the time of death, then your downfall is certain.

But our people have gained good fortune. Vrindavan dhaam, Vani Path, naam jap, naam kirtan, satsang—all these are available. But be careful, because in Vrindavan, cows, dogs and other beings are also living creatures. If we commit an offense against them, then at the end it will all be spoiled again. And we will have to go to another life in another yoni, and then we will attain God realization. So why should one go to another life? Therefore in Vrindavan, without the bhajan of the couple's feet, do not forget even for a moment your beloved, Radha and Krishna, Shyama Shyam, Radhe Shyam, Radha Vallabh, Shri Harivansh, Radha Radha Radha Radha Radha. If you have love for the body, for family, for money, then at the end it will be spoiled.

While living, remove your attachment from the world. Do not love the body. Give the body proper food. Give it proper rest. Make it do bhajan day and night. Make it serve. Make it listen to the study and hearing of sacred texts. Do not become lazy. Through practice, everything can be attained. Through practice, victory over sleep can be attained. We slept at 8:00 and woke up at 11:00. Since then, not just us, but all 101 saints who live here—they all sit outside near the Kamal Kund at 11:00 and do bhajan. All are sitting, we are sitting in a chair, everyone around is sitting.

Rest a little during the day, but work day and night like a poor man works to earn money. Do not sleep too much. If you want to become spiritual, you have to gain victory over sleep. You have to gain victory over laughter and joking. You have to gain victory over hunger and thirst. And you must stay away from worldly attachment. Do not develop love for the world. Today I had the darshan of a very great Mahatma in a dream. They narrated some satsang to me. They were a very brahmaleen Mahatma. Shri Omkarananda Saraswati Ji—the first word they said was, "Son, as long as you have not attained Brahman realization, you should not give teachings."

The second thing they said: "Association with worldly men destroys their impurity. But that impurity comes upon the sant." They told me many sutras. Today I was greatly blessed in the dream. The company of great Mahatmas becomes available when one achieves pure surrender to Shri Ji's feet. The body has been given only for attaining God. Therefore use it well. Wake up and do bhajan greatly. If sleep comes, then walk about. They are telling us that there is great power in practice.

No one ever wakes me. I have never set an alarm in my life. We do not speak of five-minute differences. The eyes will open at the right time. You all should practice. Whoever has gained victory over sleep, food, and the senses—nothing is rare for them. When the firm conviction arises that "this is my house," then at the time of death, the mind becomes attached to the house. "I am dying, I am leaving." So that house will not be yours. You will become a lizard in that house. You will become a rat. Such creatures that cling to houses—you will become a spider, you will weave that same web. You will become a snake among wealth. There are many downfalls that come from thinking about material objects.

At the final time, if there was worldly thinking, then downfall has occurred. Whoever realized in this life that "Apart from God, I have no one. All of this belongs to God"—if you have accepted it internally, then the final time goes very well. Because at that time responsibility belongs to God. It becomes the remembrance of Bhagavati. So whoever believed in this life: "My beloved is mine. I belong to my beloved. Apart from my beloved, I have nothing." Just by accepting this, your welfare will happen. You don't have to give anything. Just by accepting this—"I belong to the Lord and the Lord is mine"—this is a very great mantra.

This should settle inside. It should come into the heart that apart from God, I have no one. It is very difficult to settle inside. Even when becoming a baba, the attachment to home and family remains. The attachment remains from inside. From outside, we can do the practice of harshness, not meeting them, but from inside the attachment remains. Meet from outside, but do not have attachment from inside. Not from your body, not from those related to the body, not from the house, not from wealth, not from dealings. It is very difficult for a seeker or any being to remember God themselves at the time of death. This is a very difficult thing because at that time there is the condition of karma.

There is a state of unconsciousness. There is a state of great suffering. So when in life we have done bhajan, at the final time our remembrance is of God. Whether we be in unconsciousness or in a coma. Therefore, do not abandon bhajan. Do bhajan at every moment. One who desires eternal joy and rest for the mind—firm in that—continue to do bhajan moment by moment, O Shyama and Shyam. Whether pure or impure, in whatever country, in an impure land—suppose your body has left. Whether it be Uttarayan or Dakshinayan, Shukla Paksh or Krishna Paksh, day or night, morning or evening, in any time whatsoever, awake, dreaming, in deep sleep, in unconsciousness, in any state whatsoever—one devoted to bhajan does not meet with a bad fate.

As they say, if you leave the body during Dakshinayan, then whatever may happen, any country, any time, whether pure or impure, whether Dakshinayan, Uttarayan, morning, or evening, even so, one who does bhajan attains God. None of these can prevent it. But if there is no bhajan, no remembrance of God, then even if you die on any auspicious date, during Uttarayan or other auspicious times, you may attain heaven and such, but you cannot attain God. God's attainment comes only through God-consciousness, through divine feeling—not otherwise. A sadhak, from the day he regards God as his own, his belief may be false, but God accepts him from that very heart and regards him as His own.

Therefore, remember this every day: I am the beloved's, and the beloved is mine. Even if my belief may be false, my words may be false, but the Lord is of the nature of Sat-Chit-Ananda. The Lord is Sat-Chit-Ananda. He will accept your words that 'I am Yours'—from this, salvation will come. There are many means of salvation. Dwelling in sacred places, keeping the company of saints, or living where satsang, naam kirtan, etc. happen, or making your own home such that there is satsang daily, naam kirtan, spiritual discourse, or continuously remembering God, loving the saints and great souls from within, keeping their company—there are many such means through which our salvation can be achieved.

Apart from sadhaks, in those humans who have even a little faith, God exists. Even if they have not accepted what I am saying, God is greatly compassionate. But even those caught in worldly attachment will have their elevation at the time of death. God will show such grace that whether or not liberation is attained, there will be another birth, and they will become one who finds joy in bhajan. The one who has simply accepted that God exists—God is greatly compassionate. Sri Bhagavan says:

यम यम वा स्मरन भावम तजतते कले वरम तम तमे कौते सदा तद भाव भावविता हे कुंती पुत्र अर्जुन
Whatever state of being one remembers when abandoning the body at the end, to that state one attains, O son of Kunti, always absorbed in that thought.

Throughout life, whatever state of being one remains absorbed in, that same state remains at the time of death.

The state of being that remains at the time of death, one attains that state. One goes into that very species. The Lord explained this with great compassion. Otherwise, we are lost in the world. Without God-consciousness, there is no salvation for us. And look, how inexpensive a thing it is: if we remember a rat, we become a rat, and if we remember God, we become God. We become God-like. Meaning, in the same measure that we can become a rat, you can become God. At the time of final remembrance, if your remembrance is of God—

यम यम वा स्मरन भावम तज तते कलेवरम
Whatever state of being one remembers when abandoning the body...

—whatever state of being you remain absorbed in, and when the body is shed, you will attain that very state. The Lord has given freedom to you. You can think of whatever you wish. You can think of sin, you can think of merit, you can think of God.

Now you must see what you contemplate. That has consequences. Don't think like this: 'I am contemplating for 10 minutes. 10 minutes of contemplation will bring my life into light. 10 minutes of bhajan will bring my life to heights.' God's bhajan is never wasted. Don't think 'my mind is not engaged, this is this, that is that, I cannot do continuous bhajan.' Do whatever you can, and gradually increase it. Even a little bhajan, even a small part of devotion—if it has entered your heart, we do not say that you will attain liberation, that you will attain God, but your elevation will happen.

Your next birth, God will grant such an opportunity that you will be able to do good bhajan. Even if you become an animal or bird, you will be born in the house of a bhakt, where you can hear discourse about God, where you can hear the Divine Name. God is saying that the final moment determines what you will become in the next birth. The time of the final moment is like the moment of taking a photograph. Absolutely, but it is for only one second. [Clears throat] Like a photographer who said to someone, 'Sit properly, smile a little.' Now as he tried to smile, a fly landed on his nose. He swatted it away. In that very moment, the photo was taken. The next day he went to get the photo. He said, 'I won't pay, you ruined the photo.' He said, 'Our camera didn't ruin it, you ruined the photo.' Exactly like that—at the final moment, Bharat had thoughts of a deer. He became a deer. Bharat Maharaj, who was the son of God, God made no exception. Look! He made no exception even for His own son. If the final thought was of a deer, he became a deer. Puranjana's final thought was of a woman, and he became a woman.

The time of our final moment—what our next birth will be—determines in this very life what we will become. And if there is absorption in God-consciousness, like this, we have said many times 'our work is done'—no written notice came from there saying 'your work is done,' but we know from within.

Looking at the inner state, we know from: exclusive shelter at the feet of Shri Ji, growing through guru's grace, and continuous effort at contemplating God—from this we know 'our work is done.' No desire, no craving, no longing, no attachment to anyone, no hatred toward anyone. By guru's grace, we say our suitcase is packed. Absolutely fit. Now nothing appears to us, by the Lord's grace, where the mind could get stuck here, because we see, we know from within. Whether it is bondage or liberation, no one else can know.

God knows it through the heart. Whatever nature you cultivate, whatever you contemplate, that is what your next birth will be. Otherwise this will be your final birth. If you remain constantly in contemplation of God, then controlling your final moment is the greatest benefit of human life. One who gets settled while still alive does not worry about the final moment. To become settled while alive means that in all circumstances—eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, rising, sitting, and performing actions—to constantly chant the naam in devotion to God and to dwell in that bhav. There is a difference between mechanical naam jap and dwelling in bhav. It is possible that your naam jap may not be flowing, but you are absorbed in bhav.

When absorbed in bhav—tad bhav bhavita bhagavat bhav—your highest welfare will be assured. Bhav is very difficult to attain. This body-consciousness, this world-consciousness, this desire-consciousness do not allow bhav to arise. They do not allow bhagavat bhav to arise. Bhav is not like hired labor; bhav is the wish-fulfilling cow, Shri Ji herself. This is why God says in the next verse: "Therefore, at all times, with mind and intellect dedicated to Me, remembering Me and fighting your duties—without doubt you will attain Me." God is commanding this. So at all times remember Me, worship Me. Even while fighting, remember Me, God commands Arjun. What will come of this? Your mind and intellect will be dedicated to Me, and without doubt you will attain Me. Vasana—whatever vasana one harbors, such dreams one sees. Just as we dream according to our desires, so too when death comes, vasana takes form. At the moment of death, vasana takes on a form, and that is the vasana that attains the next womb.

If you want to become a pig, then at that time a pig-like vasana, a pig-like memory will arise, and your mental form will become that of a pig, and your next birth will be in the form of a pig. We say: love all with devotion to God, but do not love in such a way that you have to become a dog next time. We must have affection for all beings, but with devotion to God. Namdeo Ji attained God in a dog. God dwells in all. We do not prohibit this—do not look at any being with disgust. God dwells in all. In the moving and unmoving world, in the animate and inanimate—know that God is in all. But everyone's conduct is different. If our conduct is not right, our downfall will result. To speak something that goes against scripture for the sake of gaining wealth or honor does not befit a sant in the guise of a sant. Because the guise of a sant is the status of a guru. Whatever sant one may be, they are in the position of guru from the household stage. The gurus of the household stage—every sant's words are heard by householders and adopted by them. So one should speak words that are authenticated by scripture.

Therefore, we must be careful here to serve animals and birds. This is what Bharat Ji neglected. He became attached to a deer. He walks about with it clinging to his neck. He carries it on his shoulder. He feeds it tender blades of grass. He loves it so much. He says, "May you prosper, my son." Read the Bhagavata—he shows such affection, calling it "May you prosper, my son. May all be well." And just like that, all bhagavat bhakti was lost. And the very Lord whom he had abandoned for wife and children, because of his love for the fawn, his next birth was as a deer.

So we must be careful that our closeness to the Lord is not compromised. Let no one enter into that relationship. "The love for the Lord is supreme"—what kind of love is it that causes our downfall? What kind of salve is it that harms the eyes when applied? From the Lord's perspective, from the Lord's connection, we must conduct ourselves, because we live in the world. We must use persons, things, and places. But with devotion to God. "At all times, perform your duties with mind and intellect dedicated to Me." Duties mean actions—farming, business, work—whatever actions one performs while constantly remembering God, bhajan, service. All these are devotees of God. All these will attain God. Constant remembrance of God—no action continues constantly. Action, whether warfare or business or farming, does not continue constantly. But remembrance of God can remain constant. While standing, sitting, walking, running, working—or even without action, say you are sitting—remembrance of God is possible. The purpose of saying "at all times" is that no action, no moment, no second should pass without remembrance of God. Sleep and waking—for instance, one who is a sadhak, when sleeping, does not truly sleep; absorbed in remembrance of God, they become unconscious, and when they wake, remembrance returns. So their sleep becomes a state of samadhi; their sleep is considered samadhi.

Similarly, if we are engaged in some action, in service, and naam slips away, and the service is performed, and then naam-remembrance returns, that too is considered naam-remembrance. It is still counted as continuous. Just as you are using a spade, wielding a shovel, and you are fully absorbed in the work. Naam slips away. Before, you were remembering naam, and when the action stopped, naam-remembrance came again. So the time that passed in between is still counted as naam-remembrance, as bhajan. That person is considered one in constant bhajan. God is very merciful. If we take shelter in God's grace, then bhajan will happen. Without God's grace, bhajan cannot happen. This is certain. Everything else may happen, but bhajan cannot happen without grace. This is why Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, having thought deeply, said: "Harivansh's grace, Harivansh's grace, Harivansh says, Harivansh brings grace. Only one upon whom Harivansh's grace rests can speak Harivansh. Only one upon whom Krishna's grace rests can speak Krishna, Krishna. Only one upon whom Kishori Ji's grace rests can speak Radha, Radha. We seek the Lord's grace. There is already abundant grace, yet we should beseech grace, and whatever actions we perform should be offered to God, and while constantly chanting the naam, we should prepare for our final journey—that we must go to Shri Ji.

We need to go to serve the divine Beloved in divine Vrindavan. Create such a feeling. As you feel, so God will fulfill your feeling.

जो इच्छा कर हो मन माही हरि प्रसाद कुछ दुर्लभ नाही
Whatever desire arises in the mind, nothing is rare through Hari's grace.

Therefore, remain devoted to bhajan. Bhajan alone is the supreme benefit of life. Glory to Shri Radha Vallabh Lal.

This text is taken from the video's auto-generated captions — there may be errors in the words. Please listen to the video for authentic words.

Original video: Shri Hit Radha Kripa (YouTube)