(Excerpts from Self-realized Saint Shri Asharam Bapuji’s satsang)
Some people ask me, “What should I do?” They seem to me very innocent and ignorant. Day and night I clearly keep giving an answer about what to reflect and think, how to meditate, still they come and ask the same question.
I say, “Maintain equanimity at times of pleasure and sorrow. Consider the world to be illusory and the (Soul) Self to be your own. Be cheerful. Do selfless service. Take a deep breath and exhale it out forcefully through the mouth. Repeat this 5-7 times. Do Mulbandha, Uddiyanbandha, Jalandharbandha fixing the tongue on the upper palate. Do 10 praanaayaamas. Chant the pious mantra ‘AUM’. Look at the photograph of God or your Guru fixedly for 10-20 minutes. Count each incoming and outgoing breath. Read holy scriptures like ‘Ishwar Ki Ore’, ‘Narayan Stuthi’, ‘Jivan Vikas’ (published by Ashram), ‘Sri Yogavasistha Maharamayana’ etc. Cry, dance, sing or laugh in a closed room for the sake of the Lord for five minutes. If you have enough money, then contribute twenty percent of your income to charity work. If you have less money, then contribute only ten percent. Allot ten percent of your time to meditation, devotion, service to God and then if anyone asks – What should I do? Bring the person to me. Just show him or her this satsang cassette of ‘Main Kya Karun?’ (What should I do?).”
Now someone will say, “Baba! Everything that you have said is very nice but just tell me one more thing. What should I do for myself?”
“What should you do for yourself? First tell me what do you actually want?”
“Baba! I want to get only you, from you.”
“If you really wish so, then your devotion is complete.”
“Baba! But you are not easily accessible. What should I do so that you may be with me all the time?”
“I am never away from you, Lalu! I am not confined only to this body that you are seeing. If you obey all that I have told you above and practice it regularly then you will gradually come to know who I am. Then sometimes you will meet me in dreams and will also get darshan even while awake. Sometimes the questions in your mind will be answered in satsangs.”
“Bapuji! Just do one thing. Whenever I want I would like to be able to meet you.”
“Why do you ask for such petty things? Meet me in such a way that there may be no separation at all.”
“So Baba! What should I do for that?”
“Just leave this question itself.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Try to find out from within yourself, who is actually asking this question. Gaze fixedly at my photo. Be a witness to what emanates from the photo, what kind of light emerges from it. What do you experience within you?”
“Bapuji! After reaching this stage, what should be done?”
“Then read different topics like ‘Vairaagya Prakarana’ (Section on Detachment), ‘Utpatti Prakarana’ (Section on Creation) and ‘Sthiti Prakarana’ (Section on Stability) of ‘Sri Yogavasistha Maharamayana’ and become peaceful gradually.”
“Then what should I do after that?”
“Attend my Dhyan Yoga Shivirs (Meditation Camps) sometimes.”
“But my children don’t obey me, what should I do? My husband doesn’t listen to me, what should I do? My wife doesn’t obey me, what should I do? My husband consumes alcohol, what should I do?”
“If your husband is an addict of alcohol, then do this. Fix your eyes at the back of his forehead and taking his name repeat this, ‘…Leave alcohol…’ Then he will certainly leave it. If your sons don’t obey you, then let them do as they want. You just don’t worry and you will see gradually how they start obeying you. And how does it matter if they obey you or they don’t! Take refuge in wisdom.”
“My neighbour is jealous of me. What should I do? My sister-in-law, my relatives don’t behave with me properly; they are envious of me. What should I do?”
“Those who envy others invite trouble for themselves only. You interact with them lovingly so that they do not create misery for themselves.”
“I, on my part, behave lovingly but they behave like this only”
“They may be like that but deep inside them my Lord is sitting and watching my generosity. Think this way and shower your generosity upon them.”
“But they all fool me.”
“When you know that they fool you, then don’t be fooled. At the same time, you yourself don’t make fools of them.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Be patient! Everything will be alright with the flow of time.”
“They are jealous of me.”
“You should know that no situation or person is going to remain the same forever. Nothing is stable. Those people may sometimes fall sick or someday their minds may be transformed. Why worry at the current moment, when they are not harming you presently.”
“At this point of time, they may not be doing anything but may do anything anytime.”
“That shall be seen and taken care of, when they actually do something. Still as a precautionary measure, before stepping out of your house, do the japa of Mahamrityunjaya mantra: ‘Aum triyambkam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam’
This will ensure your safety.”
“This is fine but if suddenly some problem arises, then what should I do?”
“Be prepared to endure misfortune and still if an extremely adverse situation arises then do the japa of this mantra while making prayer offerings to the sacred fire: ‘Aum hrim Aum, Aum hrim Aum,Aum hrim Aum...’
This mantra will create an atmosphere which will block external disturbances and will nullify the obstacles.”
“Yes, this is worth-doing. Now please tell me whether I should get my child operated as advised by the doctor.”
“Consult my vaidya (ayurvedic doctor). Avoid getting operated as far as possible. If the vaidya says yes, only then get operated.”
“But my eyes have this problem. What should I do now?”
“If you have any problem in your eyes, then rub both palms against each other and place them on your closed eyes. Put ‘Netra-Bindu’ eye-drops in them.”
“If I face inconvenience in any organ of the body then can this formula be applied there also?”
“Yes.”
“Look! The people who ask, ‘What should I do?’ have been instrumental in making this new nice cassette.”
“Yes, you’ve made a good cassette but what should I do?”
“Take this cassette for your family and also for your neighbours. It will be of use to them.”
Now if anyone approaches you with this question, hand this cassette over to him.”
“Bapuji! You look so good!”
“So… You want to catch me and take me to your home.”
You reply, “Bapuji! What should I do? I know you will not come.”
“Oh! I am not going from here also. Keep watching and listening to this C.D. ‘Main Kya Karun’ and gaze fixedly at my photograph. Then you will understand how I neither meet you nor do I get separated from you.”