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Sixth Stage of Bhakti | RUCHI | Sri Vinod Babaji Maharaj

A sadhak cannot find pleasure in both the material world and in Radha Krishna at the same time. When we drive a vehicle forward, how do we know we have travelled a certain distance? By noticing our surroundings. The surroundings do not remain same. Similarly, when a sadhak progresses in bhajan, some changes in their perception ought to occur. The things that seemed pleasurable to us before would not seem pleasurable anymore. The attachment to material things and people is directly proportional to the attachment to our own body.  One cannot be indifferent to one’s material identity and be attached to 'dear ones'. Neither can anyone have no attachments in this world and be full of material identity. So, as the attachment to this body, pleasurable things and relationships (related to the bodily identity) that seem pleasurable decreases, the devotion to Radha Krishna increases. This happens automatically, they are not two different efforts. Once the sadhak realizes that this huma

Fifth Stage of Bhakti | Nishtha (Part 2) | Sri Vinod Babaji Maharaj

A sadhak has to struggle a lot to reach the stage of Nishtha. There has been no sadhak ever who started doing bhajan and easily achieved the divine love of Radha Krishna without any struggle. Sometimes you see certain devotees with good spiritual Samskaras. But they have also struggled in their past lives. Every jivatma has been sent to the Maya world by God. They have been roaming in this Maya from time unknown, taking birth in different forms of body, dying and then again taking birth.  Therefore, everyone has material Samskaras. When an enlightened devotee comes their way, His association sows the seed of Bhakti. The highly charged vibrations of an enlightened devotee gradually inspire Shraddha (faith) even in the heart of an atheist. This is when the vine of Bhakti sprouts buds. On watering it with Satsanga and nourishing it with bhajan, this vine of Bhakti grows eventually to achieve the Lotus feet of Radha Krishna. There it coils around their Lotus feet in such a way that They

Fifth Stage of Bhakti | Nishtha (Part 1) | Sri Vinod Babaji Maharaj

When a sadhak embarks on the path of devotion, he develops Shraddha (faith) in God, His devotees and the scriptures. Then he starts associating with devotees who are engaged in intense bhajan. Eventually, he accepts initiation from a Guru and starts doing bhajan himself. At first, the sadhak is not able to do bhajan with determination. Sometimes he gives priority to other things in his life, resulting in no fixed time and amount of bhajan in his life. If some other work crops up, bhajan takes a backseat. Hence, he might do only few rounds of Harinaam that day, that too while worrying incessantly about the work at hand and hardly thinking of Radha Krishna at all. (This is Namabhas and it causes purification of heart gradually, but it takes a lot of time, maybe several births, to reach Prem Bhakti.)  On reaching the stage of Nishtha (the meaning of the word is determination ) , the sadhak gives utmost priority to only bhajan. Then he never fails to complete his daily rounds, whatsoe

Fourth Stage of Bhakti | Anarth Nivritti (Part 5) | Sri Vinod Babaji Maharaj

There are four types of practitioners of Bhakti: Sthula, Pravartak, Sadhak and Siddha. 1.   Sthula devotee: The one who is largely attached to the body, worldly things and the material pleasures of the world is a Sthula devotee . He is attached to his wife, children and family. Accumulating worldly things for the pleasure of his family is the only definition of Dharma for him. He is happy in their happiness and sad in their sadness. He is not interested in knowing whether there is anything above and beyond this . (He performs external actions of Bhakti like Puja and Arati, but all his actions are performed for material pleasures only, and he is not interested in actual devotion to Krishna). 2.   Pravartaka devotee: When this Sthula devotee gets the association of a highly enlightened Sadhu, his life changes. He understands what a big mistake he has committed. For eternity, he has been captured in the cycle of life and death, burning in the fire of material pleasures, drinking the pois

Fourth Stage of Bhakti | Anarth Nivritti (Part 4) | Sri Vinod Babaji Maharaj

“Anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām” (Bhagavat Geeta 9.33) When a sadhak realises that this world is temporary, everything here has a beginning as well as an end, then their life takes a turn towards spirituality. Every action they do are centred around pleasing Krishna. They are Bhagwat Unmukha Jivatmas. They always try to think of the Lotus feet of Radha Krishna and turn their mind away from the worldly matters. In simple words, they take less interest in the material world and more interest in spirituality. They always yearn for satsanga, kirtan, etc. When a sadhak leads his life in such a way, all enlightened souls shower mercy on him. The good and bad deeds they have done in previous lives will surely come as Prarabdha in this life before them. Sometimes they have difficult Anarthas to face as the result of great misdeeds but with the mercy of enlightened souls, they are relieved of their Anarthas and pushed into the sea of divine love

Fourth Stage of Bhakti | Anarth Nivritti (Part 3) | Sri Vinod Babaji Maharaj

The time which has gone by, will not come back. What has happened, is past now. Nobody knows what future has in store for us. Pain, loss, disappointment, disaster - all are results of our past actions. We have to face what we have done, in future. Nobody can avoid it. Therefore, utilise the present. A sadhak must utilize his youth for bhajan. The childhood was spent in play and laughter. The old age will make your body weak and inflicted by diseases. Earn money, Dharma, education, material pleasure or yoga, whatever you want in your youth. If most of your youth has been spent in material pleasure, still do not look back and regret it. Start utilising your time from this very moment. That you have realised that this human birth is not for enjoying material pleasures, is the sign that the auspicious time to do bhajan you were waiting for, has already arrived.   Waiting for an auspicious time, when there will be no problem, the situation will be favourable for bhajan, everyone arou