Does the Guru See a Distant Disciple?

At Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj, Vrindavan, in private conversation with Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj. Sadhaks place their questions about their life and sadhana, and Maharaj Ji provides solutions for them.

The Complete Discourse

Kapil Ram Ji to Shri Harivansh Maharaj Ji: Maharaj Ji, sometimes this thought arises within me - does the sadguru dev, Bhagwan, see each of their disciples who are far from them? In practice, a sadhak gets very few opportunities to meet them. In such circumstances - the guru has two forms. One is the form that dwells in the five elements, and one is the form of essence. That form which is in essence -

akhand mandlakar vyaptam characharam
The infinite, circular in form, pervading the mobile and immobile

• it dwells within you too. It hears everything within you. And you will only see the form composed of five elements when you go there.

Only when you speak will you receive an answer. But the one dwelling within is with you. Within your heart.

akhand mandlakar vyaptam characharam tatpadam darsh tasmai shri guruve namah
The infinite, circular in form, pervading mobile and immobile - that principle I recognize, salutations to the guru

• so this unbroken circle, this circular form that pervades all sentient and insentient - the guru dev dwells in all of it. You should give primacy to that guru. Because they are always with you. This body - today it exists, tomorrow it will not. But if you have seated your guru dev on the canvas of your mind, they will remain there until your liberation is complete, until your welfare is complete.

This guru dev in the body can depart anytime. But that guru dev whom you have held in your heart will never depart. Suppose today you are face to face with them. But when you are alone, you have the guru dev with you in your heart, don't you? You can even converse with them - see, Maharaj Ji, I am proceeding now, please protect me. So now we converse with the guru dev dwelling within, and we see that the guru dev has answered us. The guru dev is protecting us. So that guru dev who is present in essence everywhere - they know you.

They hear you. They see every feeling of yours, and they will give you the fruit of that. Is there any place above mother and father? Yes, because mother and father give birth to a body for the world, and the guru is the one who removes the body's attachment and unites us with Bhagwan. Therefore greater than mother and father -

matri devo bhav pitr devo bhav
Let mother be your god, let father be your god

• because they assisted in creating this body, in the work of the creator Paramatma. They performed the rite of conception and the child was born. They nurtured and raised them. When we were ignorant, they cared for us. That is the extent of their relationship. But Bhagwan created us even in the womb. Bhagwan protected us even in the womb. So Bhagwan is Bhagwan. No one is equal to Bhagwan. And the guru dev is the one who grants us Bhagwan. Therefore the guru dev is greater than Bhagwan. And Bhagwan himself said - I have seen seven equal to me in this world and I have counted the saints greater than that. Bhagwan said to Shabari Ji -

more man prabhu as vishwasa Ram te adhik Ram kar dasa
My faith is in the lord like this, and I consider the saint who grants me the lord greater than the lord

• Saints are infinite in number. Because the guru dev grants Bhagwan, no one is equal to the guru dev. There is no other. Maharaj, Sri - by your grace do not speak of departure. The heart is full. Who is there, friend? Whoever has come will go. Whether king or pauper, beggar - what is there to fear, brother?

jo aaya hai so jaega kya raja rank fakir
Whoever has come will go - king, pauper, or beggar

• Whether beggar, or ascetic, or king, everyone must depart from here.

Through your grace and strength alone.. We have received much love. Our society loves us very much. They listen to us. They are freed from poor conduct and are walking in good conduct. We give thanks to the youth and to society - those who have abandoned dirty conduct and are walking in good conduct. You are making our lives blessed. You are already making your own lives blessed. You are also making our lives blessed. Today you are practicing good conduct, so this is the fruit of our saintliness. This is the fruit of our lives - that we have been able to do something for our country, for our society.

Otherwise we would simply do bhajan alone and pass away, become liberated. Who would know? Thousands and millions of brothers are abandoning dirty conduct and walking in good conduct. So we too receive peace - that Bhagwan has made us worthy so that we could serve society. Through words at least, if not through deeds - yes, but we have been able to work. Our society is improving. In our country the youth are walking toward good conduct. We consider our lives blessed. Because of you - if you are improving, then we consider ourselves blessed - that our saintliness, our coming to Bhagwan's path has been meaningful, that we have been able to serve society.

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

Original video: Bhajan Marg (YouTube)