Daaji’s own flat in Madhuvanam has been under renovation hence, after a visit to one of the apartments in F block, he went to Anila Reddy’s house, where he was joined by Haresh and Reema from Hong Kong. The couple had a few questions, which Daaji patiently answered.
Does bhakti mean we should completely obey the physical Master and do whatever he says without a question?
Bhakti is an outcome of your sadhana [practice]. Premature bhakti, premature faith, and premature love do not work in spirituality. Spirituality demands willingness from the heart. Bhakti is not about surrendering the mind; it’s all about surrendering the heart.
If you are a person with bhakti, even when you have no shelter, even when you don’t have clothing, you will say, "This is my tapasya [penance]. I am dedicating this life to the Lord." Similarly, if you don’t eat for two days because you don’t have food on the table, you will consider that God is helping you in your upasana [a higher form of worship coupled with devotion] through fasting.
What I’m trying to say is that in a state of bhakti, you’ll always give credit, even in adverse circumstances. Even when you drink water, it becomes charanamrit [water that becomes sacred by using it to wash the feet of a holy person or god]. Even when you are performing your duties in the business world, you’re connected with God, and your mindset is such that everything is dedicated to Him, so your business also becomes a sort of service.
If you are a preceptor and you have to travel from place to place to give sittings to people, such travel can become your own personal pilgrimage. It’s a matter of attitude, that’s all. Even when you are with your beloved, in your bedroom or living room, or watching a movie together, be in sync with the Lord. Develop the attitude that you are there because you want to make your Master happy. When you partake of food in His loving remembrance, in such a way that you vibrate like Him, you think like Him, you become Him, then that food can also become prasad.
So, it’s up to you how you convert your activities so that they are lifted to the next level. If you don’t have food, you consider it as a fast in remembrance of God. If you don’t have clothes or shelter, you consider it to be your tapasya. In simple words, you do not complain about anything. In bhakti, no one complains. A true bhakta [devotee] never complains.
We have to become grateful for everything that we have, truly grateful that we need nothing more. That doesn’t mean we don’t earn more money – this is a fallacy. People, especially those following spiritual paths or religious systems, relegate their abilities. They say, “Why should I do it? I’m on my way to becoming a saint. Somebody else will do it.” This is not a good idea.
If you don’t make money, you leave that opportunity in the hands of people who do not deserve it. Bad elements of society will continue to make more and more money. And when the bad elements gain more and more, then such a society goes through a lot of corruption and becomes weak. There will be a compromise on its moral values. So good people should make more and more money if possible but use it wisely. That’s it.
By doing anything in God’s remembrance, you take it to the next level. Even the very act of sex becomes holier. It is no longer profane.
Is it true that when you perform the act of sex, there is a fall in your level of consciousness?
It is not true, provided you develop this level of bhakti. In fact, with that attitude, the very act will take you to a different level.
In life, you are either passionate or compassionate. For example, a rapist is overpowered by passion. In that state, he takes advantage of the other person. In spite of disagreement, he forces his will upon the other for his personal satisfaction. In compassion, you don’t do that. Instead, you sacrifice yourself for the upliftment of the other person, for the happiness of the other person. That is compassion.
Sex can take you down when you think only of yourself. And, generally, this act is such that everyone is overpowered and they think only of themselves. So, consciousness drops a bit. But then you can do the cleaning. I don’t recommend cleaning at all when it is natural. There’s nothing wrong when it is legitimate. Just change the attitude, that’s all.
Later, Bernie from France met Daaji and gave him the things she had brought for him. Afterward, he left for home.
