MIND AND JAPA (NAAM-SMARAN, જપ)

Mind's innate nature is to think something and instantly think its alternatives (sankalp-vikalp, સંકલ્પ-વિકલ્પ). It is an inherent characteristic. Mind needs to be stabilized by penance. It is a stupid fallacy to think that mind can be stabilized by itself with some miracle. There has to be some kind of effort to achieve this. It is a universal experience that mind can be stabilized in any subject that is interesting to it. It is said that we need to reverse the flow of River Yamuna. Do not think or be fixated on the idea that it is not possible to do it just because it appears unconquerable.

Japa means continuous bhava of the divine consciousness for ever. When the mind is kept motivated by the bhava of goodness towards the divine consciousness is called japa yagna. If the attitude of the mind towards the divine consciousness become like a natural tendency of the love of a child towards his mother, then mind does not need to be thrust into the task, constructive attitude flows from it. Mind will act as it pleases without any direction till the mind develops to a point where its attitude towards divine consciousness becomes full of humility and distress. So it is best if it is practiced with knowledge and heartfelt goodness (સદભાવ). Mind will get trained with this practice.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Pravesh
Edition 2; Pages 187 - 188.

LOVE AND INNER BEING

Perhaps the best tool for cleansing the inner being is cultivation of love. If bhava of love is cultivated with awareness and affection, nothing else will give you understanding and true knowledge like love. It is gained by appreciating the difference between love and feelings or passion by repeated observations of inner being. No one understands a child like a mother or a husband like a wife, the reason being love. If one wants to master any subject like spiritual or materialistic nature the first need is the interest (rasa, રસ) in the subject. If this interest is not love then what else?

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sandesh
Edition 3; Page 169.

SADHAK AND KNOWLEDGE FROM THE BOOKS

I have mentioned earlier that by the grace of God the work will be done better from the distance than being in proximity. I read about it just yesterday. I receive lots of such information but I do not think about it. For that reason I have advised you that there is no need for you to read about the path of sadhana at this time. We need to follow whatever is suggested with intense bhava of love, offering and surrender. This will lead to stability in these bhavas and God's bhava will develop within us. At this stage whatever we want to read can be read. I am not going to say no if you want to read about it. Whoever reads at this stage will be confused and can have obstacles in keeping his path open. He will be pulled by the mind in thousands of directions.Was my reading true? How about going for that thing? May be the other thing was good? Mind will speculate in multiple ways. Whatever we do should be done with complete understanding, faith, trust in God, surrendering and offering it to God. At the same time we need to be free of attachments, open minded and do it with ease and not as routine.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Pagaran
Edition 3; Pages 123 - 124.

ONE BIGGEST OBSTACLE

Karachi,
June 23, 1940.

Dear Bhai,

We carry with us variety of beliefs, ideas, understandings and insistences because of our atmosphere, relationships, influences of the work place in the form of thought process and methodology, past impressions, influences from our parents, worldly education, contact and relationship with the world, understanding from traditional methods, behavior of elders and respected persons , etc. These in turn try to influence and guide us secretly and in variety of ways. This is the biggest obstacle and it is not easy to be free from these influences. Only the grace of God can save us from these obstacles. For this reason I wrote you several times to not get entangled in these things. Stay separate from whatever  presents, happens or develops and perform appropriate action.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Pagaran
Edition 3; Pages 185 - 186.