Ekvastra

ARISE, My child, and go forth a man! Bear manfully what is your lot to bear; that which comes to thy hand to be done, do with full strength and fear not. Forget not that I, the giver of manhood, the giver of womanhood, the holder of victory, am thy Mother.

Think not life is serious! What is destiny but thy Mother’s play? Come, be My playfellow awhile,—meet all happenings merrily.

You murmer of need of purpose? You think the ball is purposeless, with which the Mother plays? Don’t you know that Her toy is a thunderbolt, charged with power to shatter the worlds, at the turn of Her wrist? Ask not of plans. Needs the arrow any plan when it is loosed from the bow? Such art you. When the life is lived, the plan will stand revealed. Till then, O child of time, know nothing!

My sport is unerring. For that alone set forth on the day’s journey. Think it was for My pleasure you came forth into the world, and for that again, when night falls, and My desire is accomplished, I shall withdraw you to My rest. Ask nothing. See nothing. Plan nothing. Let My will flow through you, as the ocean through an empty shell.

But this thing understand. Not one movement shall be in vain. Not one effort shall fail at last. The dream shall be less, not greater, than the deed. Thou shalt go here or there for some petty reason, and thy going shall subserve great ends. Thou shalt meet and speak with many, but some few shall be Mine from the beginning. With these thou shall exchange a secret sign, and they shall follow with thee.

And that sign?

Deep in the heart of hearts of Mine own flashes the sacrificial knife of Kali. Worshippers of the Mother are they from their birth in Her incarnation of the sword. Lovers of death are they,—not lovers of life—and of storm and stress.

Such shall come to thee with torch unlit, for fire. My voice cries out over the teeming earth for lives, for the lives and blood of the crowned kings of men. Remember that I Who cry have shown also the way to answer. For of every kind has the mother been the first, for protection of her flock, to leap to death.

Religion, called by whatever name; has been ever the love of death. But to-day the flame of renunciation shall be lighted in My lands and consume men with a passion beyond control of thought. Then shall My people thirst for self-sacrifice as others for enjoyment. Then shall labour and suffering and service be counted sweet instead of bitter. For this age is great in time, and I, even I, Kali, am the Mother of the nations.

Shrink not from defeat, embrace despair. Pain is not different from pleasure, if I will both. Rejoice therefore, when you come to the place of tears, and see Me smile. At such spots do I keep My tryst with men, and fold them deep into My heart.

Uproot every interest that would conflict with Mine. Neither love, nor friendship, nor comfort, nor home, may make its voice heard when I speak. Pass from a palace to plunge into the ocean of terror,—from the chamber of ease to stand guard in a burning city. Know that as the one is unreal, so also is the other. Meet fate with a smile.

Look for no mercy for yourself, and I shall make you bearer of great vessels of mercy to others. Accept bravely your own darkness and your lamp shall cheer many. Fulfil gladly the meanest service, and leave high places unsought.

Be steadfast in the toil I set you. Weave well the warp into the woof. Shrink from no demand that the task makes on you. Feel no responsibility. Ask for no reward.

Strong, fearless, resolute,—when the sun sets, and the game is done, you shall know well, little one, that I, Kali, the giver of manhood, the giver of womanhood, and the withholder of victory, am thy Mother.

Ekvastra

MOTHER! Far away, one whom I love is very sad to-day. His heart calls to mine for help, but though I tell him how I love him, I leave him still uncheered. How is it? I know he thinks towards me, I know I talk with him. Yet I long to see him, and hear him, and comfort him face to face!

My child, if this were not so, the sense-life would not be yours, or would not hold you. When you have reached that place where the communion of souls is enough, you will find that it is more than the knowledge of the senses, faith will already be swallowed up in sight.

But, oh Mother, what can I now do to ease this craving pain? I prayed for the vision of Râghunath and did not know that it meant torture multiplied a thousand fold. When one is in trouble oneself, one’s own little world lies in gloom; outside, the busy feet pass up and down beneath the windows, the birds build nests, and the children play in the sunshine, as before: but the universe becomes all black when the beloved suffers.

Cease, My child, from inordinate affection. Give Me your heart, and let Me govern it alone. Be the witness of earth’s joys and sorrows, sharing them not. Thus only can you keep yourself from entanglement, and attain to peace.

But peace for myself, dear Mother, why should I seek? How can I turn a deaf ear to his voice that calls me, adding another pang to the heartache of a life, and go away myself, and be at peace? Give him that inner peace! Let me win it for him, if Your will be kind! But I cannot will to fail him in his need and loneliness, even to gain Your blessing!

Ah foolish one! Every thought of love that you send out to answer his, becomes a fetter of iron to hold him in life’s anguish. Hide you yourself in My heart, My child, and he, too, will come home to Me. For your love’s sake, let your voice cease to be one with the voices of the world. Let it come to him only in Mine, when that is borne on the south wind at the time of sunset, calling him gently to worship at My feet. Let it be one with transcendent love, with infinite freedom. Only thus can you satisfy him. Only by withdrawing yourself can you bring him peace.

Mother! I yield. Take me, I pray You, into Your own heart. Let me not look back. If You will call me I shall find my way there, surely, though my eyes now are blind with tears.

And for those I love, shall I trust Your mercy less than I trust mine own?

Yet if at the last they seem to stumble, if the foot slip, or your voice fail them by the way, promise, dear Mother, once more to wake me from the dream of bliss. Cast me out from Your heart, I beg of You, and let those who so need You, go in before to peace!

Silly, silly child! Like a helpless bird you beat your wings of littleness against My grace! Look up and laugh! For already the cloud that seemed so black is passing. Already the clasp of hands about the heart is loosened. Two souls draw the long breath of strength and relief. The feet of two who come to Me are shod with gladness. The hearts of two beat high, for the conquest born of renunciation.

Ekvastra

जब मैंने श्री गुरु गीता पढ़ी तब कुछ नोट्स लिए थे, उनको यहाँ उद्धृत कर रहा हूँ।

वेदशास्त्र, सभी पुराण-उपपुराण आदि और इतिहास-रामायण, महाभारत, आख्यान-उपाख्यान आदि, स्मृतिशास्त्र, मन्त्र-यन्त्र उच्चाटन आदि की प्रतिपादक विद्याएँ, शैव-शाक्त आदि नाना प्रकार के आगम और अन्य विविध शास्त्र -ये सब नाना प्रकार की भ्रान्तियों में उलझे हुए व्यक्तियों को अधोगति में ले जाने के साधनमात्र हैं। इसका अभिप्राय यह है कि अपने भ्रान्त चित्त के वशीभूत व्यक्ति यदि इन शास्त्रों का दुरुपयोग करते हैं, तो निश्चित ही वे पतन के मार्ग की ओर अग्रसर होते हैं। अतः व्यक्ति को गुरु की कृपा प्राप्त कर उसके द्वारा उपदिष्ट मार्ग से ही निर्व्याज मन से इनका अनुसरण करना चाहिये।

यज्ञ-याग आदि, व्रत-नियम आदि, तप, दान, जप, तीर्थाटन आदिक्रियामा अनुष्ठान वे मूढ़ मनुष्य ही करते हैं, जो कि गुरुतत्त्व को ठीक से समझ नहीं पाते। इसका अभिप्राय यह है कि गुरुतत्त्व को जाने बिना किया गया कोई भी अनुष्ठान कभी सफल नहीं हो सकता।

यह गुरु अपनी निश्चयात्मिका बुद्धि से भिन्न नहीं है, अर्थात् गुरु की कृपा से ही मनुष्य की बुद्धि सत्कार्य में प्रवृत्त होती है, अत: इस तरह की बुद्धि गुरु का अपना ही स्वरूप है। यह बात पूरी तरह से सही है, इसमें किसी भी प्रकार का कोई संशय नहीं है। अत: निर्मल बुद्धि को देने वाले इस गुरु की प्राप्ति के लिये ही साधक को सतत प्रयत्न करना चाहिये।

ब्रह्मज्ञान गुरु के मुख में स्थित है। यह गुरु के प्रसाद से ही, गुरु के प्रसन्न होने पर ही मिल पाता है। इसलिये साधक व्यक्ति को गुरु के चरणों का ध्यान उसी प्रकार करना चाहिये, जैसे कि पतिव्रता कुलीन स्त्री अपने पति की सेवा में सर्वतोभावेन सदा लगी रहती है।

अखण्ड मण्डल के आकार वाला यह सारा चराचरात्मक संसार, अर्थात् यह सारा ब्रह्माण्ड जिस ब्रह्म पद से व्याप्त है, उस ब्रह्म पद का साक्षात्कार कराने वाले गुरुदेव के प्रति हम श्रद्धापूर्वक नमन करते हैं।

अपने ज्ञान के प्रभाव से अनेक जन्मों से, अर्थात् जन्म-जन्मान्तर से प्राप्त सभी प्रकार के कर्मों को भस्म कर देने वाले श्रीगुरुचरणों को हम नमस्कार करते हैं।

प्रात:काल मस्तक में विद्यमान श्वेत सहस्रार कमल में विराजमान दो नेत्र और दो भुजाओं वाले मनुष्य रूप धारी गुरु का नमन करते हुए नामग्रहणपूर्वक स्मरण करना चाहिये। ये गुरुदेव वर और अभय मुद्रा से सुशोभित हैं, अर्थात् सभी प्राणियों का मनोरथ पूरा करने की तथा अभय दान करने की सामर्थ्य इनमें है।

ऊपर वर्णित स्वरूप वाले गुरु का ध्यान करने से ज्ञान अपने आप उत्पन्न हो जाता है। इस लिये सद्गुरु के प्रसाद से मैं मुक्त हो गया हूँ, ऐसी भावना मुमुक्षु को करनी चाहिये।

हे महादेवि! मेरे द्वारा दिये गये इस सारे उपदेश को सुनने के बाद भी जो व्यक्ति गुरु की निन्दा करता है, वह जब तक इस धरती पर सूर्य और चन्द्रमा विराजमान हैं, तब तक के लिये घोर नरक में निवास करता है। जिस क्षण तक यह देह स्थित है, तब तक गुरु का स्मरण अवश्य करते रहना चाहिये। यदि व्यक्ति स्वच्छन्दाचारी हो जाय, अर्थात् अवधूतावस्था में पहुँच जाय, तब भी गुरुसेवा का लोप कभी नहीं करना चाहिये। इसका अभिप्राय यह है कि अवधूतावस्था या सिद्धावस्था में पहुँच जाने पर व्यक्ति के लिये कोई कर्तव्य कर्म नहीं बचा रहता, अर्थात् वह सभी प्रकार के कर्मकाण्डों से ऊपर उठ जाता है। ऐसी अवस्था में भी उस अवधूत सिद्ध को गुरु का स्मरण तो अवश्य ही करना चाहिये।