First 8 10 Last

When one’s mind is confused regarding duty and responsibility one should seek guidance from higher authority. Prior to Mahabharat war, Arjuna got confused whether to take up arms against his enemies (who were also his kith and kin) or take to begging. Therefore, he fully surrendered unto the Lord and beseeched Him to instruct what was in his best interest to engage in. 
Two such instances came in the life of Narendranath, when he met his would-be Guru - Thakur, but could not accept him as Sadguru. At one instance, he sang a song prior to the discourse of Thakur at Ramchandra Datta’s home and also ate sweets offered by him. Second time, he met him through Professor William Hastie, but again he considered Thakur to be an ordinary man. When the urge for realizing God became intense in his heart, he sought the help of Thakur; and upon asking ‘what is God and how to realize Him’, he got a soul-satisfying answer, he could realize that Thakur was his Sadguru, that the crazy-looking man was Paramhans (The enlightened one). It is an extraordinary event in one’s life to accept Sadguru as the Lord. Normally, we consider Guru to be a knowledgeable person, saint, guardian, social reformer or a miracle man, but don’t consider him to be Sadguru. The day disciple surrenders unto him, a metamorphosis happens. 
It has been said – ‘Vande bodhmayam nityam gurum shankarroopinam’ (meaning – Guru is equivalent to Lord Shiva). If we worship Guru as Lord Shiva and become one with that Super consciousness, we become eligible for his blessings. Without this surrender, we will not get any benefit. Knowing the meaning of this shloka in this context is very important because one can achieve everything by becoming a humble disciple. Arjuna is saying – 
Yachchhreyah syannischitam bruhi tanme shishyasteaham shadhi mam twam prapannam||(2/7) 
Meaning: ‘Please tell me clearly what is best for me; because I am your disciple and a soul surrendered unto you. Please instruct me.’ 
It is easy to recite the Gita, but knowing its essence and considering it to be milk (sudhirbhokta dugdham gitamrutam mahat), drinking this nectar, i.e. imbibing its teachings into one’s life is very difficult. Having understood the meaning of this shloka, if we introspect and find that there is no diminution in our faith and devotion towards Gurudev and his mission, then even from the subtle-causal realm, we can receive all that which an ideal disciple should get. ‘Twenty first century – Advent of bright future’ is the slogan given by Pujya Gurudev. If we believe in Gurudev, then we should leave no stone unturned in achieving that goal. Gurudev has assured many times that the parijans working for the mission should not worry about their problems; they will be taken care of by him. 
The disciple should develop anguish akin to that of Arjuna. Such anguish was developed in the hearts of Narendranath and Moolshankar and it made them Swami Vivekananda and Maharshi Dayananda respectively. Pujya Gurudev too surrendered to his Guru. He writes in his autobiography titled ‘My life – Its Legacy and Message’ – “On that day, I wholeheartedly and completely surrendered myself to Gurudev and my inmost soul silently pledged: I hereby surrender to you all that I am and have. I have not seen God, but you are my God because you are guiding me towards my highest good. I will explicitly mould my life in accordance with the instructions imparted by you.” 
Elsewhere Gurudev has written – The disciple is born to fulfil the responsibility given to him by his/her Guru in accordance with yugdharma (the need of the prevailing times). Yugdharma has its own significance. Considering it to be the call of the time one should engage in it leaving aside even very important tasks in hand. This is similar to getting engaged in extinguishing fire leaving aside everything else. Lord Shri Krishna is talking of the same Yugdharma to Arjuna. The essence of entire Gita is hidden in this context. [To be continued]

First 8 10 Last