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On the path of Truth, "Jignyasa" (inquiry) is an essential part of the process. Below are some questions recently posed to Baba, along with his responses.
Q. In this mantra "Pranamami Ahetuk KripaSindhu-hu Shri Lokenatham" - does it mean that Baba Lokenath gives Kripa (divine Grace) without any "Hetu" or cause ? ---- Ashish Khan, San Jose, California, USA.
Baba: Ahetuk kripasindhu is the expression of the lover intoxicated in love for the Beloved. That is the plane where hetu (cause) and ahetu (causeless) has no significance. It has all merged in the fusion of love for the Beloved. The lover feels that he has nothing, no eligibility, yet the Lord is kind and compassionate to choose him to be at His feet.
But those who have not seen that ecstasy of divine love, nothing happens without a 'hetu' a cause. Causelessness is the manifestation of the self in utter ecstasy of its annihilation. Where there is no 'ego' the false shadow, who is there to know the cause? Cause or causeless, thus are the myths of the mind.
The mind is a myth so long it is under the spell of maya that is ego. So, God is in true essence causelessly merciful and compassionate. As the Sun is spontaneously the giver of light. God is the cause of all causes and no causes. Within mind and beyond. Within word and transcendental.
Q. Does it mean that Baba gives Kripa without any "Hetu" or cause ?
Baba:Yes, and No. Yes, when you are lost in such divine love and ecstasy that you are forgetful of your separateness from Baba. No when you are bound by the desires of your mind.
Q. Does He shower this Kripa, even if someone has made many mistakes and He forgives everything ?
Baba:Yes, Baba Lokenath is the embodiment of compassion and forgiveness. The enlightened Master is forgiveness personified. The mistakes are not made by Baba but the souls in unawareness. The soul has to go through the process of mistakes and realization of the pains from the mistakes only to make sure that they do not repeat it. A day has to come the soul has to realize the purpose of the mistakes. Once the realization dawns, true seeking for peace and harmony happens to the soul in spontaneous consequence. If Baba is not forgiving us, how can we exist after millions of mistakes? But the purpose of the mistake has to be understood.
Q. Do you get this Kripa (Divine Grace) by feeling His Kripa every moment ?
Baba:Yes, that is the only way. Kri means 'doing' and 'pa' denotes receiving. You receive after doing. After you have put up your efforts and you have surrendered to receive His Grace, you receive it. To be conscious that His Kripa is manifesting through you every moment. That you are inseparable from Him.
All sufferance is due to the sense of separation. True kripa is the experience of the reality that He is the truth of your being. That can come only through continuous remembrance of His Divine Name and meditation. Japa is the path of Love and meditation the path of Janna. Let both go within you hand in hand for without being conscious and aware the Name is just a lifeless repetition. Keep doing this, practice being conscious and aware of most of your doing, and surrender to His divine Will in love and acceptance. This may be difficult. But the pain you could undergo by not doing this, is many more times deeper. Why not choose the easier course? His Kripa is working in you all the time, just become conscious of it. He is taking care of you.
QWhat is the difference between a Guru and a teacher?
Baba: It is very simple. A teacher fills you. The Guru or the Master empties you. A teacher helps you learn all the knowledge available. You become knowledgeable. The Master destroys that knowledge to allow intuitive wisdom to flower. The teacher helps you become a scholar and to become drunk with scholarly ego. The silent influence of the Master awakens you from the sleep of ignorance and ego into the world of self-transcendence. The teacher gives you the knowledge of the world. The Master helps you to transcend the world of change and to rediscover the living kingdom of your own Self.
Without the help of a true Master you cannot move on the path of the Spirit.
Q. That brings us to the very pertinent question, "Where are we to find such a Master?"
Baba: Where there is a will there is a way. This is not just a proverb; it is truth. If your inner cry is strong enough, if your longing to rediscover your divine home and your own pristine heart is relentless enough, then you are very near to your Master. He is sitting in the sanctuary of your own heart. He is not only the God of the Universe. He is also the Master of your mini-universe, your body-mind. As you long for Truth, as you burn away your childish desires for the world, as you let go of your blind clinging to the past and to worldliness, you grow in consciousness. Then, either you are walking toward the Master or the Master is walking toward you. It is just a question of time. Very soon you will meet each other.
If you are a casual seeker, just out to experiment, to see if anything exciting awaits you in some commune, with some guru, or in some monastery, then you will fall in the wrong hands. You will float from one guru to another, from one master to another. The guru or master is not to be blamed. It is just supply and demand at work. As long as the supply of false seekers is there, we see the demand for false gurus and masters. Ask yourself whether your cry is from your being or your superficial mind. If you are authentic, sincere, and if you have faith and trust in your longing, then you will find the authentic Master.
Q. Why do you say that we cannot do without a Guru or Master?
Baba: This is a mysterious path. You are not seeking the knowledge of the knowable. You are seeking the Unknowable! It requires tremendous courage and commitment. The path is full of pitfalls, peaks and valleys. Only those who have already traversed the path know the path. Only those who know the path by experience can guide you and hold you by the hand to lead you to the destination. If you seek by yourself, you may be misguided by the ingrained illusions of your mind. Only those who are blessed with a pure intuitive mind from birth, due to their extreme good karma of previous births, can do without the Guru or Master. For all others, it is safe to first find the Master. Once the heart says without a doubt that ‘Yes, this is the person who can help me cross the ocean of life,’ then just follow. Surrender. You will reach the shore.