Private Conversation and Darshan #1399

Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj, Vrindavan. A private conversation with Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj. Sadhaks ask questions about their life and sadhana, and Maharaj Ji provides solutions.

Complete Discourse

Jai Prakash Prajapati Ji, Gaurav Ji, Guru Dev, Lord, my prostrations at your feet, Maharaj Ji. For the last two years I have been listening to you daily and doing naam jap as well. But for some months now, my mind has wanted to stay away from the artificial dealings of the world, and I remain internally irritable. Maharaj Ji, please provide me with a solution. What should I do now?

Like this, but keep that hidden and conduct your behavior in a proper way. That is what comes. When we engage in bhajan with such intensity, this unreal world does not seem good to us. In Narayan Hari bhajan, sensory pleasures, sleep, laughter, worldly attachments, many such things do not seem good to us. But even though they do not seem good, if you are in householder life, then all relationships and connections have to be maintained. So, hiding your inner feelings, conduct your dealings outside with a smile. Speak respectfully with everyone, speak appropriately. Let it not be seen by anyone that you are absorbed in bhajan or that these things do not seem good to you.

Thus your bhajan will continue to increase. When there is a fault in dealings, it creates an obstacle in the spiritual path. For example, if someone comes to us and we speak to them in such a way that they become dissatisfied, then God dwells in their heart. That will have an effect—distraction will come into my bhajan.

So, to protect your bhajan, Radhe Shyam, come sit. If someone is speaking, give a reply very calmly and thoughtfully. Okay, in just a moment, you will have even more joy from that. And to show that these are the unreal things of the world, that is the true nature of bhajan.

Hide your inner self and play a part. Just as on a stage we have to play a role for a while, in the same way we have to play a part here. This world is a play. Someone comes in the role of a brother, someone as a relative, someone as a wife, someone in various roles. We must treat them according to what dharma requires.

But understand from within that all this is false. The only truth is God. After a few days, all this will be left behind. This body will also be left behind. Only God's bhajan will remain. This is the inner understanding you must keep. Outwardly, conduct yourself in this way.

Because householder dharma is a dharma, right? If it were the path of renunciation, then brother, we could speak plainly. But even for one on the renunciant path, if God has given them the good fortune of serving society, they will have to do it.

Just as one might think "why speak to people?" but we have to, because God has given us service. Similarly, if God has given you householder service, then perform that service while contemplating God, keeping your bhajan and your inner nature hidden. Inside, your nature is one of renunciation, but outwardly present a nature of attachment. "Come, come, after so long you have come, how are you?" In this simple way he will become happy.

And if you were to agree with that, then this can never be the nature of a bhakt—to speak with irritation and anger.

हंस बोले बहुमान दे। हंसी बोले बहुमान दे। जब हरिवंश नाम जान है तब सबते लघु मान है। हंसी बोले बहुमान दे।
Speak with reverence and give honor. Speak with laughter and give honor. When one knows the name of Harivansh, one possesses the smallest ego of all. Speak with laughter and give honor.

Speak with great respect and honor, smiling. Even though the desire is not there. There is absolutely no desire to speak with anyone. But still the scriptures command it, because God dwells in everyone, and living in the world, we must fulfill the duties of the world.

Madhuri Kulkarni Ji from Maharashtra, Radhe Radhe, Radhe Radhe. Maharaj Ji, millions of prostrations at your feet. Maharaj Ji, sattva, rajas, and tamas—is there a quality beyond these that is unmanifested? Or do we call that quality 'prema' in simple language? Sattva, rajas, and tamas—prema. Is this the bondage of maya due to the three gunas? Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these are the bonds of maya's three gunas.

How can this be prema? This is the bondage of maya. Prema is beyond the three gunas.

गुण रहितम कामना रहितम सूक्ष्म तरम अनुभव स्वरूपम प्रक्षण वर्धमानम ये प्रेम के लक्षण है।
Free from qualities, free from desires, most subtle, of the nature of direct experience, ever-increasing—these are the characteristics of prema.

Free from qualities—one who is free from the three gunas, in such a person prema awakens. One who, overcoming sattva, rajas, and tamas, continuously contemplates God and remains absorbed in that, in such a person prema awakens.

Is prema within the three gunas? These three gunas are causes of bondage. In these, the whole world is wandering. The whole world is bound in the flow of the gunas.

We have to be free from these. Where did you read this? Where did you hear this? No, Maharaj Ji, those beyond the three gunas—it is like as we speak about Datt Maharaj. We are saying that as there is equanimous vision in saints, there is the state beyond the three gunas. What is that state?

First, do bhajan and then you will understand.

ब्रह्म भूता प्रसन्न आत्मा न सोचति न का समा सर्वेश भूते सुमद भक्ति लते पराम
One established in Brahman, peaceful in Self, grieves not...

One who has become a great soul complete in knowledge of Brahman has no grief, no desire, no pride, no dishonor, no happiness, no sorrow, no gain, no loss.

That is a state beyond duality. It is an indescribable state. Through words, only a little can be conveyed. For example, if someone gave you gulab jamun and asked "How is it?", you would say "Sweet." How sweet? You would say "Very sweet." After that, if asked "How much is very sweet?", now you have no answer.

You would say "Taste it and see." Through bhajan, the saints experience this nectar of sat-chit-ananda (existence-consciousness-bliss). It is a matter of direct experience, not of words. How can such a taste be described? It cannot be conveyed through words. For that, you must do bhajan and become beyond the three gunas. Through the grace of bhajan, then your state will manifest. Your question was flawed—you asked whether we call the three gunas themselves prema. No, not the three gunas. I said: beyond the three gunas. That which is beyond the three gunas—what quality is that? Does it have a name? Or is it completely free of all qualities?

He is the one without qualities, He is the one without desires, He is the most subtle, He is the embodiment of experience, He is ever-increasing - that is what is called love. Do naam jap abundantly. First, do naam jap steadfastly. Do naam jap steadfastly, step back, and do it steadfastly. When maya comes, step back from worldly affairs and do it with complete absorption. So when tamas guna comes, naam jap is happening. When rajas guna comes, naam jap is happening. When sattva guna comes, naam jap is happening. Gradually, gradually, gradually the influence of these gunas will become quiet. You will become beyond the gunas.

Through the effect of bhajan - without bhajan, then all these things can only be spoken in the assembly for the sake of learning. From this, Maharaj Ji - we consider you Shiva, so we think, we are not saying guru-disciple talk, we are speaking of bliss. Bliss will come from bhajan. Better ground in sand, better in oil, and without Hari bhajan - this philosophy falls short. Speaking high, transcendent talks, no one gets divine bliss. The Atman is not obtained through discourse, nor through great intellect, nor through much learning.

Even if you are very intelligent or a great listener, you still won't get it. That person who repeats constantly - Radha Radha Radha Radha - becomes simple-minded. Don't use too much intellect with the name. Like a small child holds his mother's finger and walks, hold the finger of the name-mother like that. Ram Ram, Hare Hare, Krishna Krishna Krishna - which is Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram - just don't need to read and write much. Don't need to know much. Take medicine, follow the diet, you will get well. Therefore do naam jap. The name itself is beyond the three gunas. Now you are saying Radha Radha - now it is beyond the three gunas. Now you are saying Ram Ram - now it is beyond the three gunas. Shri Harivansh Mahaprabhu says - this fear itself is fear, Harivansh, those who wander in the qualities and the juice of qualities in the world of auspiciousness - then delay in Hari bhajan. Fear, lest rajas guna and tamas guna corrupt you. Therefore, the Lord whose name brings auspiciousness to all three worlds, seek refuge at His feet and do naam jap. There is no time to talk much. Death can come anytime.

We must always be prepared for death. Now we are doing Radha jap. Now if the breath leaves, we have obtained Shri Ji. If the breath leaves while doing Ram, we go to the Lord's abode, we go to the Lord's abode. What do we need to confuse ourselves with? We need to come to the final point. So which is our last breath? We don't know. Therefore Ram Ram Ram, Radha Radha Radha Radha Radha - what a wonderful path! What is the state beyond the gunas? What is Brahma bodh? It will come by itself. Just as what is happening now in the sky - how can we tell you? Climb the stairs and take one look. Then you can get an idea.

Climb to a height once, then you will know. That is the climbing. Do naam jap. The more naam jap you do, the more you will ascend. Otherwise, except for Hari bhajan - the more naam jap you do, the higher you will climb. Do you understand? Dr. Sandhya Saxena from Haridwar - Radhe Radhe - Radhe. Maharaj Ji, Maharaj Ji, can one do naam jap of one's Ishta during menstruation, impurity, or suttak? Yes, you can do naam jap. You can do internal reading. Only you cannot touch the texts. You cannot touch the beads. You cannot touch the deity. You can serve the deity well in bhavna. You can do naam mantra jap in bhavna. You can do naam kirtan. You can sing the pads of the Lord that we remember. But we cannot touch the texts. We cannot touch the beads. We cannot touch the deity. For three days. After three days, bathe and return to your routine. Just as some mothers and sisters have such a prolonged state for many days, eight to seven days - but the restriction is only for three days. For three days, remain in your solitary practice. After three days, bathe and then you can go into the service of the Lord.

Maharaj Ji, she has raised another point. She is saying that she has been interested in counseling, she has been working in that for 12 years, in that same work. Maharaj Ji, she is saying what is happening nowadays - Maharaj Ji, many girls are coming to her who are in love marriages, meaning their boyfriends have left them. She is saying - yes, my question is this: I have been working in this field for 15 years. Many girls have come to me. She says to me that her boyfriend has gotten married.

Even after that, he says one day I will divorce my wife and marry you. So don't go anywhere. Keep talking to me. Such girls who are ruining their lives. A person who is not ours, who has accepted another's water, and also doesn't want to belong to that person either. Then he wants to exploit me. There are many such fraudulent people. Don't listen to the words of such people. They are not lovers. A lover is one who, once we have accepted you, even if a world beauty comes, we will not look at anyone else.

That is what is called love. Now he has accepted another and is saying he will abandon that one too. When he is not that person's, whose hand he is holding, and you are not his, when he held that person's hand, now he has held your hand, so then he is not that person's. Such a fraudulent person cannot be anyone's. Girls should understand this. They should keep their distance from such people. Yes, from such people - now we are saying you are right. Now what is the custom running? Boyfriend breakup, boyfriend breakup. What is this happening? This is an open invitation to adultery. Friendship with this boy, then after a month or two, breakup happened with him. Now it started with this one. Then breakup with this one. Then it's started with this one again. So all these things are spreading a lot of filth in our society. Now how can this be stopped? Children don't understand. They are playing with their lives, destroying their lives. And one thing - they have considered this as entertainment. They have considered adultery as entertainment. What used to be considered honor, what used to be considered dharma and propriety - let's say we are saying - friendship is not a sin.

Be friends with anyone. A girl can be friends with a boy. But remain pure until marriage. And once you are married, remain devoted to them for life. That is a good principle. But it is not right to make one person your friend today, another tomorrow, and yet another the next day. That is not proper. This causes great harm. This is why every person needs spirituality. If your thinking is even a little pure, how could you do such a thing?

Friend Sen Dayal Ji, Radhe Radhe, Radhe Radhe, Maharaj Ji, Maharaj Ji, countless prostrations at your feet, Maharaj Ji. Sita Ram, may my heart be devoted to your lotus feet day and night, through your great grace, Maharaj Ji. Sita Ram, how can we receive love for the feet of Sita Ram, Maharaj Ji? Sita Ram, Sita Ram, Sita Ram—chant the naam and worship Maharaj, Hanuman Ji, because the essence of Ram is in your hands. The love-essence of Lord Siya Ram is with Hanuman, Hanuman Ji, whoever he wishes to grant it to, he can. That is why worship Hanuman Ji and chant the Sita Ram naam and sing the Ramcharitmanas. You are reading the Ramcharitmanas. But do not read so much that it becomes an intoxication. Let it not become an intoxication of singing and listening to the Lord's divine play. When we sit idle, we just begin speaking of the Lord's deeds. In the Lord's deeds, love is hidden. In the Lord's deeds is surrender. From the Lord's deeds comes completeness. Great sorrows are destroyed.

रामचंद्र गुण वरन लागा सुनत सीता कर दुख भागा।
The Lord Ram's virtues were glorified, and hearing them, Sita's sorrow fled away.

When we describe the Lord's deeds, all our sorrow is destroyed. When someone praises the Lord's glory, Sita's sorrow vanishes—who came to this Lanka and uttered such nectar words?

रामचंद्र गुण वरन लागा सुनत सीता कर दुख भागा।
The Lord Ram's virtues were glorified, and hearing them, Sita's sorrow fled away.

So the singing of the Lord's sacred deeds—the Ramcharitmanas is the Vedas in simple language. Every principle, every philosophy—whether bhakti, Sankhya, yoga, karma yoga, practical dharma—everything resides in the Ramcharitmanas. And here in our India, since Hindi is spoken by everyone, and since it is written in such simple, simple language in the Awadhi language that everyone can understand it, we believe that you who are a Ram worshipper and want to receive love from the Lord Shri Ram should chant the Sita Ram naam, read the Ramcharitmanas, sing it, listen to it, contemplate it, and take shelter at the feet of Hanuman Ji Maharaj. Because through the grace of Hanuman Ji, love for the feet of Siya Ram is obtained.

Gaurav Kushal Ji from Meerut, Jai Siya Ram, Jai Shri Ram. Maharaj Ji, Maharaj Ji, I am very confused. I cannot leave you and I cannot leave the Ram naam. I have not even taken initiation from anywhere else besides you. Maharaj Ji, what is the problem? Chant Siya Ram, Siya Ram—chant Siya Ram, Siya Ram. Maharaj Ji, as you say, one must receive any Ram naam. When it comes to mantra, we say... You see, the Ram naam has immense power. Those who could not even say "Ram, Ram" became Brahmin sages when they said "Mara, Mara." So when you chant Siya Ram, Siya Ram, your welfare will surely happen.

So consider this your guru mantra, hold the feeling towards us that I am your guru, and chant Siya Ram, Siya Ram. There is no doubt. That's right. Tell me now—has any doubt remained? Maharaj, no—then chant. You yourself are everything. Through naam jap everything will be set right. You chant Siya Ram, Siya Ram. That's fine.

Nishika Gupta Ji, Radhe Radhe, Maharaj, Maharaj Ji, countless prostrations at your feet, Maharaj Ji. During bathing or immediately after bathing, if I silently chant the naam in the bathroom, like chanting the Ram naam internally, is this right or wrong? No, do it even in the bathroom. Even sitting in the toilet, do it. The mantra is forbidden, but the naam is not forbidden.

You see, when we are chanting the naam, we would not chant loudly like that sitting in the toilet: "Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram." We chant it internally. What is going on within us is the rule—whether impure or pure, in any state:

अपवित्र पवित्रोवा सर्वावस्था यह स्मरे पुंडरी काक्षम सवायाभ्यांतर सूची।
Whether impure or pure, in any state, whoever remembers the lotus-eyed Lord, Sri Hari, becomes supremely pure from within and without.

Whether impure or pure, in any state, whoever remembers the lotus-eyed Lord, Sri Hari, becomes supremely pure from within and without. In the toilet or bathroom, we cannot chant mantra. Not in any way. But we can chant the naam. The naam is always, at every moment. Let's say the heart fails in the toilet, there is a heart attack—so what will we do? Even there we chant "Ram, Ram, Hari, Hari, Radha, Radha"—chanting the naam, completing our bodily functions, bathing, and when we come outside, then we begin chanting the mantra. In the bathroom, in an impure state, the naam; in a pure state, we chant the mantra and read stotra. Maharaj Ji, can we read some stotra? No, without voice, silently. While bathing, there is the Yamuna Ashtaka, the Ganga Ashtaka. Like this, the purification ashtaka can be read.

Rajesh Kumar Ji from Chandigarh, Radhe-Radhe, Ji Radhe-Radhe, Maharaj Ji, Maharaj Ji, you are saying that you were on the path of nirakaar worship, but after hearing your satsang, I have developed interest in naam jap. Maharaj Ji, where are you stuck between saguna and nirguna? We are saying: where are you stuck? You are stuck in form, are you not? You are stuck in form. You say you are nirakaar. Brother, you yourself are nirakaar. Your essence cannot appear in an ultrasound, nor in an X-ray, nor in a CT scan. Not even the mind can appear in it. Then what to speak of essence—that is a much bigger thing. To this day, scientists have not made any machine that shows: "Look, the mind is made like this." We don't know even that. But you people—has any machine like this been made anywhere in the country or abroad yet? Look at the mind, the intellect, the consciousness, the ego. Because spirituality cannot be grasped by machinery.

Spirituality is the divine yoga path. When we contemplate our true nature through divine feeling, our true nature is formless—it has no shape. Divine power takes whatever form the instrument provides to it. Just as the AC's power produces coolness, the heater's power produces heat, the fan's power produces air, the halogen's power produces light. But that power itself is not the fan, not the AC, not the heater, not the halogen. It is power. According to the instrument where it is used, it manifests its nature accordingly.

Similarly, this Brahm power is such. When it entered the pig, it saw itself as a pig. When it came into the human, it saw itself as human. But this form is not its form, is it? This is not the shape of electricity. Electricity manifests its nature wherever it goes, according to the instrument, but electricity itself has no form. It is a power. Similarly, Brahm power, God's power, the jiva—it has no form. Have you ever read anywhere that the jiva is like this, black, fair, tall, broad, small, big? It has no form.

You too are formless. But you got trapped in form. So, just as when a thorn gets stuck, a thorn is removed by another thorn—you don't remove a thorn with a sword, nor does it come out with air. The thorn comes out only by an instrument shaped like a thorn. So we are trapped by form, trapped in shape. So we are freed from shape. Our true nature is indeed formless. And God—whether you consider him with form or without form—first see your own true nature. Even being formless, you got trapped in form. So now return from form toward the formless, like the formless itself.

When you worship God's name and God's form, forget this form, forget the bodily shape. And that form exists in Sat-Chit-Anand. When you become absorbed in that form, when worldly thoughts fall away, then whatever our feelings are—whether with form or without form—they manifest before us. Are you understanding? So chant the name abundantly. Listen to our words. Don't get caught in this confusion. Which name should you chant? If you ask us, we are devoted to Radha's name. We would say, "Yes, chant Radhe Radhe, ever Radhe." That's fine—ever Radhe, ever Radhe, chant like that. And keep studying the scriptures like the Bhagavat Gita. Then the intellect becomes purified, knowledge is gained, and you will progress on the true path. Avoid sinful actions. Avoid impure food.

Avoid impure speech, impure thoughts. If you wish to attain God, reduce sleep, reduce speech, reduce eating—these three things, practice restraint in them. Practice restraint in your speech; speak less. Observe silence. When you speak, speak appropriately. And sleep four to five hours—that is sufficient time. Don't waste it sleeping. And four hundred grams of food—in twenty-four hours, a person can live in health with that amount. So we are saying, eat a kilogram. Take one kilogram of food in twenty-four hours. But not that you keep pecking away like a bird, stretching your intestines however much you want.

You can manage with two rotis. You will get accustomed to two rotis. You eat six rotis—this is like a bag, keep expanding it as much as you want and then pack it together. So less food, less speaking, less sleeping—then sadhana will begin. With appropriate speech, pure food, pure thoughts, then the fitness to attain the supremely pure God comes, and chant the name abundantly. All right, Captain Sanjeev Kumar Sarsarth, Maharaj Ji—we live very far from Vrindavan, we live in Dubai. So Maharaj Ji, how should we progress in bhakti? What should we do? Bhakti cannot happen even while living in Vrindavan if one doesn't want to do it. If one wants to do bhakti, then even in Lanka, Vibhishana Ji did bhakti. Dubai is not as bad as Lanka. "Lanka is the home of terrible night-demons"—how can a virtuous person live there? We feel many Indians live in Dubai too, and there is no adverse condition for bhakti in Dubai. But in Lanka, there was adversity for bhakti—your head would be cut off if Ravana found out you were God's bhakt.

So when Vibhishana Ji did bhakti there, it means bhakti can be done anywhere. Bhakti is a matter of the heart. Bhakti is the feeling of the heart. Now you sit inside chanting "Radha, Radha." Who will know? And if your heart is distressed, "God, I live in such a country where your bhakti's light does not shine. Blessed are those who live in Braj, who live in Ayodhya, who live in Kashi. Lord, how will my bhakti happen?" This humility and remembrance of God—this will make you devoted.

Maharaj Ji, I have built a house. Should I go to Vrindavan from the house? Yes, that's fine. It's very beautiful. In every way, remembrance of God should come into us. The Lord is established in the home, yes. Mother also does seva, and the children and everyone are connected. Maharaj Ji, yes, that's right. Chant the name abundantly and serve Radha Krishna and dwell in God's feeling.
Sakl bhumi Gopal ki
There is no place where our Gopala is not. Hari pervades everywhere, everywhere. Just as he is in Vrindavan, so is he in Dubai. Hari pervades everywhere.
Prem te pragat hoey main jana
Through love, he manifests—I know. Lord Shankara is saying: if love awakens in the heart, then even in Dubai, Murali-Mohan will be visible. He is God. And if there is no love, then even in Vrindavan, you won't see him. You go, make eye-contact with Bihari Ji, make eye-contact with Radha Vallabh Ji. If there is no love, you will get no happiness. And if there is love, thinking of him, tears will come to your eyes.

Thinking of this, your heart will start becoming joyful. So love is revealed through this, I understand. And love is revealed through bhajan and bhajan comes from the company of saints. Bhajan doesn't happen without company. Without bhajan, love cannot flourish. Don't abandon bhajan—hold it as a steady practice. Take this rule: you will not forget the name of God even for a moment. Then even while living in Dubai, you will attain God. Is that clear? And abandon impure food. What I mean by impure food—you probably don't eat meat anyway. But we went with those who eat meat and they said, "We will make you kheer and puri for you." The vessels in which meat was cooked—if kheer and puri are made in those vessels, then we cannot eat that.

No, Lord, regarding this, my mother—I am a Captain in the Navy. Even if I go to Europe or anywhere in the world, my mother prepares home prasad for me. Yes, that's right—pure food. That's right. You are Nikhil Tiwari from Kanpur, Madam, Maharaj Ji. Shri Harivansh, Shri Harivansh Maharaj Ji—Maharaj Ji, you have always said that there is no difference between a soldier and a saint. Both serve the nation and humanity while remaining steadfast on their path of duty. My friends from the defense sector who are students and I have humbly asked you: what qualities should we develop within ourselves? What ideals should we adopt so that we can become excellent and duty-conscious military officers? Please give us divine knowledge.

As long as we are not in spirituality, our selfish intellect is not destroyed. And selfish intellect never allows us to become divine. Selfish intellect leads downward to ruin. When the feeling of service to others awakens, then divinity begins to come within us. The special power that awakens within us is awakened by the feeling of service to others. And the feeling of service to others comes from spirituality. And spirituality is awakened through naam jap of God and satsang. If we do naam jap, no matter where we are, no matter our condition—and if we listen to satsang—suppose you don't have the fortune to go to satsang daily. You are on your duty, engaged in your work, but you can listen through your mobile. If you listen to satsang daily and do naam jap daily, then you are awakening spirituality. You do not engage with another's wife. You do not drink wine, you do not eat meat. Then the sprout of spirituality within you has the help to become a tree. When a tree is grown, a fence is put around it so that a goat or such doesn't graze it, and it is watered. So the sprouting of spirituality happens through satsang and naam jap. And the fence for it is this restraint: don't eat meat, don't drink wine, don't harm others. Then divinity will come within us. Try to hold to these. Through naam jap, satsang, pure food, and pure conduct, divinity will be awakened in you. All those who have become great have done so by connecting with spirituality. The feeling of dedication to the nation comes only from spirituality. Otherwise you will feel frustration. Like your attachment to family is strong. It is. Everyone has it. Several months went by without leave. We request from the officer. They deny your request. Then we think, becoming spiritual means becoming patient. Come, this time they didn't accept our request. They will accept it next time. Next time we go, surely we will get leave sometime and go to family. If this intellect of ours becomes pure, then it becomes divine. And if intellect is impure, then everything is wasted. Now, when love for the nation comes, when the feeling of dharma comes, you will never betray your nation for money. You will never deceive our nation. But if your intellect is not spiritual, and someone gives you crores, then you will be tempted. So the feeling of service to others is awakened by spirituality. And spirituality comes from naam jap and satsang, and satsang and naam jap continue with us always. Therefore we should give up relations with another's wife, drinking wine, and eating meat. Maharaj, Maharaj Ji, my friend Brahm will also attain this in the coming time. Madam, Maharaj Ji, there are many postings where—we have heard from you—if someone even touches a drop of wine to their tongue, they lose their spiritual standing. Maharaj Ji, sometimes there is a posting in a place with tamasic food, or like in the Siachen Glacier. There, if even by mistake one were to do such a thing, is it necessary not to do it? Maharaj Ji, if that is the case, then without even doubt, don't do it. God has great strength, child. Every heat, cold, rain—to endure everything—aren't there such saints in the Himalayan region? Do they drink wine? Do they eat meat? Now think about it. They do sadhana sitting in snow, even going hungry for many days. So you are the same, aren't you. You are doing sadhana for the nation. You are doing sadhana for God. So you are carrying both nation and God with you. So I think if you are devoted, you should not drink. God will give you strength against heat. God will give you inner warmth. God gives the capacity to endure everything. It's not necessary that your body will be protected only by drinking impure substances. It's not. In the military too, we know of many people who have given their entire life to the army but have not drunk a drop of wine.

So were those people not stationed there? They were certainly stationed, but they maintained their integrity. Many Maharajas remain vegetarian, meaning they don't consume alcohol and such things. We feel that such integrity should be maintained because if we relax our standards even a little, thousands of people will become corrupted. So we feel we should hold firm. Life is but four days, dear friend. A life dedicated to the nation, dedicated to God, a bright future, a bright life—why make it dirty, brother? The nation will take care of all arrangements, but you—since you are righteous and a servant of the nation—you should not indulge in these things. There are other comforts available, but even without them, one can live. And strength comes from dharma. There is such great strength in dharma. How much strength our countrymen had that they sang "Jai Hind" and danced on the gallows! They did dance. We are their descendants. We are part of them. So we will make such effort for our nation that our nation will be victorious. Our nation will be happy. That is your aspiration, your well-being.

Chirag from Mathura sends Radhe-Radhe. Maharaj Ji, negative thoughts lead me into sin. Maharaj Ji, how do I remove such thoughts? Maharaj Ji, there are two types of intelligence within us—sattvic thoughts and false thoughts, good intellect and bad intellect. Where bad intellect grows, false thoughts and negative thinking develop. Yes, to remove this, first purify your food. Then do naam jap, study the scriptures, listen to satsang. This will bring great benefit. Purify your food. If there is intoxication, how can the intellect become pure? If we consume impure things, our intellect becomes impure. If we consume pure things, then as you eat grain, so your mind becomes; as you drink water, so your speech becomes. At first, we knew this was wrong and we didn't do it, but gradually—I don't know, perhaps seeing worldly people, the intellect becomes clouded. So now that you've come to us, take one rule: give up whatever intoxicant you consume. If you want to improve, then do it. If you don't want to improve, don't take it, because coming to us should bring some benefit.

The benefit of being in our satsang is that the things that would destroy you, the things that would lead to your downfall, the things that cause you suffering—these should end. So first, give up intoxication. Do it now. From today, give it up. Don't use any intoxicant. One can live. One can live without intoxication. Millions of people live without intoxication. It's only a clouding of the intellect when people say I can't live without intoxication. They think it will relieve stress, but according to the scriptures, that's not how stress is relieved. A motorcycle can't solve this. Stress will be relieved. A motorcycle! Those who drink alcohol—see the misery of those who drink alcohol! Alcohol is harmful to the body. It destroys dharma. It corrupts the intellect. Who ever achieved progress by drinking alcohol? Consider it from both spiritual and worldly perspectives. If you drink too much, you lie about urinating. Where are you lying? In a ditch? You have no awareness. To be free from stress, meditate on the name of Radha. You will be freed from stress. The stress of countless lifetimes will be destroyed. First give up the addiction, and purify your food. What makes food pure? I eat a lot from the market. Now start eating home-cooked food. Yes, purify your food. Only then can we control the negative intellect. Otherwise, when you consume food that is passionate or ignorant in nature, the negative thoughts will take over. And if this negativity increases, it can lead to depression. We have some experience of this. Yes, it's very dangerous. If this negativity increases too much, it can even lead you to harm yourself. It's very dangerous, negative thoughts. When people feel like this is not worth living, how many people poison themselves? How many people hang themselves? Do it. This is very dangerous. Correct this. Improve your food and from today, don't use intoxicants, because you are taking this vow in our presence. If you break it later, what then? The very place from which you must rise—if you abandon those teachings, if you abandon that discipline, then where will you rise from? There are countless chances to fall, but fewer chances to rise. God has given you this chance. Get up. Don't do wrong, and practice naam jap. Is that clear?

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

Original video: Bhajan Marg (YouTube)