Part Two
It is not necessary to cut yourself off from the world in order to realize God.
For Babaji, renunciation had little to do with wearing particular clothes, having a long beard, or even becoming a sanyassi. It meant to renounce the small ‘I’— the ahamkara (ego).
Jiva means individual soul. Soul is born from Brahman, in essence is one with Brahman. But the soul remains small (undeveloped) because of the little self or ego which conceals the Universal Self. The little self must go.
Some people say the body is destroyed at death, but not so, the bodily elements merge with their constituent components and continue to live as other life forms growing from the soil, such as rice or wheat. Nor does the soul die, as it comes from Brahman, which is eternal and one day returns to Brahman. So what is perishable, what experiences fluctuations? What is the relationship between Jiva and Atman? What is the source, and also ultimate end of the little self which keeps Jiva, soul, apart from Atman or Brahman? The qualities of the little self (ego) are sometimes called the six enemies - pride, lust, greed, envy, anger, and delusion. These are the personal possessions or pets of Jiva. If the soul did not feed these pets they would not be there. The analogy is a pet dog; you play with it, fed it, enjoy the dog's company. But if you had knowledge that the dog is not beneficial, you would renounce it and force it to leave. But you like the dog, keep it near you, fondle it, enjoy its company. So the dog stays with you. Very few people have the maturity of understanding to tell the dog—the six enemies—to leave them. Only then will the soul experience Brahman, the eternal state of awareness beyond happiness and grief.
Anger
Ideally, one should be free from anger, but, in practice, as long as one eats, one has the capacity for anger! When it arises, do not keep it in your stomach. Let it emerge, but without causing harm to others. Don't hold anger inside you, otherwise it will burn you up. Anger is a fire which burns if suppressed. The eyes become red, the body shakes, the heart quickens. You rapidly become like a fool. Your anger climbs up to the brain and wisdom vanishes. Anger always arises from ignorance, never from wisdom. Even if you have been very angry, this state does not last long. You soon become peaceful again, but your radiance has dimmed. Anger consumes your vital power, your wisdom. That is why it is not worth being angry. A wise man does not get angry with another. Laughing inside, he goes on his way, thinking, 'Who am I to teach this person a lesson. God is the real teacher.'
If you must be angry, let it be directed at another's bad qualities, not at them. Of course, sometimes anger is also necessary for self-preservation. If you never show it, others will dominate you. Haven't you heard the story about the snake?
A certain snake used to terrorize the villagers who passed along the path where it lived, until a holy man influenced it to become meek and kindly.Some time later, the holy man passed by and met the snake, which was now bedraggled and weak. Surprised, he asked the snake what the matter was and received the answer that now he was no longer a threat, the village boys took advantage and threw stones at him.
‘Brother snake,' said the holy man, 'I told you not to terrorize the others. I didn't tell you not to hiss when they tried to take advantage of you.’
Renunciation and Worldly Life
A young Australian arrived who had practiced meditation for some considerable time and was now visiting different teachers.
You don't have to run here and there looking for teachers and getting involved in their organizations. The Sadguru is within and you should seek and find him there. The path already shown to you is good and you can use the mantra given you.
Babaji told a story to illustrate that we have already been given everything we need if only we can perceive and accept it.
The Adivasi Girl
Once there was a simple Adivasi girl who decided she should marry as high up as possible and not one of her own caste. To find the highest was now her all-consuming object. Observing a likely looking businessman, she followed him to the collector's office (top local government official) where he paid his respects to the collector. Realizing that the collector was obviously higher than the businessman, immediately the girl decided to set her sights on him instead. Now, it so happened that the same day the collector happened to be visiting the king, whom he obsequiously greeted as one higher than himself. Following the king, she observed him call on a famous brahmin and give him dakshina and apply kum kum to his forehead.
‘Surely this brahmin must be the highest,' she thought. But the following morning the brahmin went to pay his respects to a Sadhu who in his turn went and prostrated in front of a stone Shiva lingam.
The girl sadly concluded that the stone lingam was the highest when a dog came and urinated on it. Amazed, she was staring dog when suddenly the dog's owner, a young Adivasi man, whistled and the dog went and obediently licked his feet.
Seeing this, she cried with joy and relief at the justice goodness of God's ways and married the Adivasi. Having gone full circle, she had found her way back to herself.
Babaji looked at the young Australian lovingly.
When you return to your country, do some service and do not run away from your responsibility to the world. It is the world which has given you birth and you should do something in return. For example, if you have a business, you might be able to give employment to ten people and support their families. This is real service to God. Just to fill your own stomach isn't difficult. Go out into the world, earn well, and do good. There is nothing wrong with earning well and we can do good for others. What we need we can use and the rest we can put to good use.
Action
You cannot escape performing actions. Whether you sleep, walk, eat, think, or write, all are actions. However, if you do something do it well! Don't worry about whether it will be of use to you. souls in this world are the same as yours, so even if a human doesn't benefit from your actions, then perhaps an animal or bird will.
Even if you try to do nothing, the inner controller will cause you + saying 'Now, go.' or 'Do this.' This is why it is said - salutations to the Goddess who dwells in all beings in the form of the intellect.’
It is not necessary to cut yourself off from the world in order to realize God. It is God who has become the world and to cut yourself from it is an insult to Him. It is attachment (moha) which has to be cut off.
Many saints have been married, so don't reject worldly life.
The Two Friends
Do you know about the two friends who set out together to find God?
For a while they moved place to place living on alms. Finally, they reached a small village and one of them said, 'I'm going to stay here. I'm tired of this life of roaming and begging.' So he did and in due course married a local girl, had several children, built a house, and had a flourishing business.
His friend, on the other hand, continued on his pilgrimage visiting many holy spots, performed many austerities and rituals, and some years later found himself in the same village as he had left his friend all those years ago. Upon making inquiries he was shown to a house, and knocking on the door, was greeted by his old friend. Embracing each other tearfully, they sat down to a welcoming meal cooked by his wife. The householder lovingly questioned his mendicant friend, who admitted, 'After all these years of searching for God, I really cannot say I have found Him. And how about you?'
'Well, yes, I can say that I found not only Bhagwan (the "male" aspect of God) but also Bhagwati (the "female” Divine energy)!
"Can you show me, too?' cried the mendicant. Of course,' replied his friend and called out, 'Ram! Krishna! Ganga! Saraswati!’
Immediately his wife, sons, and daughters came in from outside and he introduced them to his friend.
You see, Bhagwan has taken the form of my wife and children. I served Bhagwan and now He serves me. If I am tired and Bhagwan massages me and if I am hungry, cooks for me. In my old age I want for nothing and am happy.'
The Sanyassi
Sanyas is in the mind, not in the colour of the cloth a man wears or whether his head is shaven.
Although Swamiji was a Sanyassi for more than twenty-five years, he seldom encouraged his disciples to seek the robe of Sanyassa. In spite of that, he was highly regarded by sanyassis and sadhus who often came for his darshan. One day a Spanish Sanyassi arrived to see Babaji. His guru had died and he wanted to move on from the big ashram and organization which had given him sanyas. At the same time, he felt deeply indebted to it, which made it difficult for him to make the break. Babaji told him:
A sanyassi is a dead man. All his worldly obligations are served. He is free. In the old days a Sanyassi would not stay in one place but would keep moving, living off alms. Now, times have changed. I am not saying you should not stay and work for the ashram, nor am I saying to leave it. The important thing is not to feel attached. If you feel you have to stay in one place, then it becomes a jail. Does a man take sanyas to go to jail?
Shiva lives in a graveyard but gives everything to others."1
He is content to live in a graveyard. A great man is one who makes or creates something and then gives it away to another.
Significantly, Babaji did just this when in 1980, he handed over the Sapta Shringh Ashram he had founded with such hardship to Swami Omananda, his disciple. On occasions people would ask him why he seldom visited Sapta Shringh for more than a few hours after 1980.
Once a father has given away his daughter, does he then ask for her back?
The important thing is to take sanyas within oneself. Sanyas isn't given or taken, one becomes it. It is not a question of cloth! If a sanyassi comes to realize that he doesn't have the qualities of a sanyassi, then it may be better for him to avoid hypocrisy and shed the cloth.
The Sadhu and the Loincloth
Have you heard the story of the sadhu and the loincloth?
Once a Sadhu lived by himself in a little hut in the forest. He had almost no possessions, only one spare loincloth to his name, which he used to wash and hang up to dry. One day a family of mice arrive and took a liking to his spare loincloth! Finding it full of holes the next morning, he complained to a wealthy visiting disciple, who suggested that a cat should be kept in order to control the mice. So the Sadhu decided to keep a cat.
"But what about milk to feed the cat?' he asked the disciple. "Well, Maharaj, for that you will need a cow,' came the answer. So a cow was also provided and the cat had milk to drink.
‘But who will look after the cow?' demanded the Sadhu,
‘ Oh you will need a man for that, Maharaj,' came the reply. So a man was appointed to look after the cow and stayed in a nearby hut.
The arrangement worked well, except that the cowherd often be absent, explaining, ‘Maharaj, I have to go to my children.'
Finally, the Sadhu suggested, 'Why don't you bring your family here?' So the family came and lived in the cowherd's hut. After some days of observation, the Sadhu thought to himself, 'What a good life these people have! They seem happy and joyful whereas I am bad-tempered and sullen. Perhaps I should get married, too!'
So he did! From one loincloth to a full-fledged worldly life!
Babaji often talked of the characteristics of true sanyas and its opposite, cat sanyas, which he explained as follows.
Cat Sanyas
Once there lived a cat who was a relentless hunter of rats. All the rats in the house lived in mortal terror of him until one day one of the rats noticed him lying in a strange, immobile position. After some time, when the cat still did not move, the rat approached closer but there was no sign of life. Finally, the rat called his brothers and sisters and they all gathered in awed silence around their old enemy. Had he perhaps died? Finally, one daring rat reached out and touched him. Slowly the cat looked up and with a look of meek repentance, said, 'Oh, rats, how sinful I am. I have been killing and eating your family members for all this time. Such bad karma I have earned myself through such sinful acts. I am thinking that the only possible atonement is to go to Kashi and end my life in the Ganges, which they say washes away all sins.'
On seeing this astonishing change of heart, the chief rat said, ‘Oh, cat, please take us also so that we, too, can see holy Kashi and get moksha.’
The cat agreed and they all set off in a long line with the cat at the rear. One by one the cat killed and ate the last in line until at last the chief rat looked around and noticed the missing family members. "Oh, cat,' he asked, 'where are the rest of my brothers and sisters?' One look at the cat and he realized what had happened and escaped.
This is called cat sanyas and Babaji urged us to beware of the false prophets and teachings which abound. The public is in many respects gullible and foolish and a person must be careful when he chooses a spiritual path or a guru, for the spiritual path is full of charlatans, frauds, and assorted pitfalls.
It is sometimes good to keep a certain distance from things. If you see a mountain from a distance it looks beautiful. However, if you actually climb it you may find ravines, thorns, snakes, heat, and cold. Every difficulty of the place you will directly experience. So it is good to keep a distance from what may harm us.
A true sadhu should help others as much as he can. This is all the Lord's play. One should not see distinctions but rather see all with the eye of equality. This is the sanyassi's dharma. All religions must be seen to be as true as the other and their members as forms of the Lord Himself.
1 Shiva is often depicted as a renunciant or ascetic. A beautiful house was once built for him and all the Gods hoped he would live in it. However, Shiva presented it to Vishnu, saying it was fit for him as protector of the world.