Sharad Purnima Special – Always Feel the Presence of God and Guru

Speech by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

“Everyone comes into this world for just two days.”  This is a popular saying.  You must have heard it before. 

I have a humble request to make,  please listen. If you accept what I say, that is wonderful; and if not, there is no compulsion.

From the Vedas to the Ramayan, from great learned scholars to the simplest villagers – all have heard, spoken, and read that God resides in everyone’s heart. Call Him Bhagwan, Allah, Khuda, or God or some Supreme Power with infinite names and infinite forms; He lives in the heart of every being.

There are eighty-four lakh (8.4 million) kinds of living beings, and He resides in all. Secondly, He is all-pervading. Just as He is present in Vrindavan and Ayodhya, just as He is in the deities within temples, in the same way, He is also present in the most impure places – in the homes of sinners, in the houses of prostitutes, in the dwellings of demons, and in the hearts of all.

You must have heard how Hiranyakashipu once challenged Prahlad: “Is your God all-pervading?” Prahlad replied, “Yes.” “Then is He also in my demonic palace?” “Yes.” “Is He in this pillar too?” “Yes, He is.” In anger, Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar, and as it broke, God appeared, saying, “I reside everywhere, even in this pillar.”

Thus, God is within our hearts. When we perform bad deeds, He silently notes them down. He does not punish immediately; He only observes quietly. When we perform good deeds, He notes those as well but silently. “Karma” means the thoughts and intentions of the mind. God does not record the physical actions of the body, but the actions of the mind.

Arjun killed millions on the battlefield, but that was not noted as a sin. Why? Because his mind was absorbed in God and it is the state of the mind that God notes, not the physical act. The actions of the mind, the ideas of the mind; these alone are karma.

So, this point, which we already know, must be accepted. This is my humble request to all of you to accept it. How should we accept it? 

You might say, “Alright, I have accepted it.” But No, it must be accepted in practical life. Every now and then, every hour, for a few seconds,  one, two, or four – think: “Yes, He is sitting within me. He is watching me. I am about to do something wrong; He is noting it down.” Instantly, you will stop right there and refrain from doing the wrong act.

Out of fear of the world, we commit very few wrong deeds. Otherwise, people would devour one another. We refrain because we fear the police will catch us and the court will punish us. It is this fear that keeps us restrained in the world.

Now, if fear of the world can prevent us from committing crimes, then imagine  if we truly realise the presence of God, how could we ever commit a sin? Because in His realm, there is no witness who can be bribed, nor any judge who can be deceived. God Himself is the witness, He Himself is the magistrate, and He Himself is Yamraj (the Lord of Justice). He does not appoint anyone else for this service.

So we must keep practising (abhyas), again and again. For He resides within us.

Our mind has been tainted through countless lifetimes, and our attachment to the world has grown extremely deep. That is why with practice we have to gradually control our mind.  It must be done. There is no other way. If someone says, “I won’t do this; I’ll do something else,” there simply is no alternative.

We must remember this one truth that there are only two things: Maya and God. We have seen and experienced the material world in countless lifetimes. If there is no happiness here in the world, then it must be there with God.

We can get discouraged when something seems impossible, and in this world, discouragement is natural, because nothing here is certain. We may do our work very well and still receive bad results – that is how the world operates. But in God’s realm, it is not so. There, you receive results exactly according to the sadhana you have done.

So, as you work, think, “Ah, Shyamsundar is sitting here before me.” Then continue your work, and again think, “Yes, He is here.” Our work will not suffer. We must always realise: “He is with me; I am never alone.” And this is a fact. 

By practising this again and again, you will begin to experience immense bliss. Every moment, wherever you sit, know that wherever I am, He is there too. The soul and the Supreme Soul dwell together – the Vedas declare this.

If we truly accept this fact in our practical life, then there would be no need for governments, armies, police or courts in this world. All of that would become unnecessary. What we truly desire – the Grace of God, by which Maya is removed and bliss is attained – that too will be accomplished.

God says, “You are Mine, and I am only yours.”  Just accept this truth, and I will unite with you immediately. You don’t have to do anything. What can you do? Your mind is impure, your body is impure. What can you offer Me? I possess infinite, divine treasures. I am complete. I ask nothing of you; I only wish to give to you, because you are My child. 

But you must accept this fact.  This is exactly what we are not doing.  We are not accepting that He is sitting within us. We must realise this truth, that’s all. Just as we accept that our father is our father or our mother is our mother – though we have no proof; yet we keep thinking, “This is my mother, this is my father, my brother, my sister.” In this world, we keep thinking like this merely by ideas, without real knowledge or experience.

But in the realm of God, there is realisation – experience –  and it is the real truth. Think again and again: “God is mine.” Just as we constantly feel, “I am, I am,” in the same way we should feel, “My Lord is with me, noting down my thoughts at every moment.” As we continue to practise this awareness, our mistakes will gradually stop. 

God is silently recording our every thought and will give us the fruits accordingly. I want grace and freedom from Maya.  How will I achieve this then?

Look at a small child sitting before his teacher. Even a mischievous child becomes serious in class, controlling himself. But as soon as school is over, how joyfully he jumps and runs about! Our mind is exactly like that. So again and again and again, keep thinking of God and Guru. It will slowly become a habit, and one day, God will fill your mind completely.

Once, Narad Ji went to Braj, where a Gopi was sitting in deep meditation. Narad Ji thought she must be meditating on Shri Krishna. He stood there quietly watching her. When she opened her eyes, she greeted him. Narad Ji said, “I was observing your great devotion to Lord Krishna.” The Gopi replied, “Devotion to Shri Krishna? Please do not take His name before me! I am trying to remove Him from my heart. I am practising to stop thinking of Him, but I am unable to eat, drink, or even sleep!”

Narad Ji was astonished. He thought, “Great Paramhansas strive all their lives to bring Shri Krishna into their hearts and she is trying to remove Him from hers!” Everything, he realised, happens only through practice. 

It may sound very difficult. For example, an acrobat performs amazing tricks on a bicycle; riding upside down, sideways, and in every direction. Another person watching wonders, “How does he do that?” It seems impossible. But he has practised for years – that is why he can do it.

Even animals are trained through practice. Lions, cheetahs, and tigers bow their heads before a small goat or human in a circus. Girls perform breathtaking rope acts, and the audience gasps, thinking, “Oh no, she’s going to fall!” But she doesn’t because she has practised. In the same way, practice and detachment are the two essential supports of devotion.

So, if we have true faith that He is residing within us, how could we ever commit a sin? Naturally, our mind will constantly reflect on Him. He is seated in our heart. Just as we constantly think, “I am, I am the same person I was yesterday, the same today, the same tomorrow,” in the same way, we should think, “My Lord, Shyamsundar, is mine.” Both our own self and the Lord  must be realised together.

The one who practises this, he is truly the wisest, the truly ‘wealthy’, and the most ‘knowledgeable’. Such a person alone is truly clever – a real businessman. Those who do not practise may think, “I am a billionaire,” but when death comes, not even their body can accompany them. Countless billionaires have passed away – did any of them take their body with them? 

Start practising now.   Always Feel the Presence of God and Guru.

A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education.