समाधान प्रकाश — भाग 5

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1. Why is Prem (Love) the first foundational pillar of SRM?

Question: While illuminating the path for every seeker at SRM, you have regarded Prem as the first foundational pillar. What is the nature of this Prem? 

Solution: Prem is born out of a steadfast belief that in this existence, Everything is Connected. Due to the ignorance accumulated over several lives, we have forgotten this fundamental principle. Our false sense of ego has built numerous unknown divisions. We have continued feeding our ignorance & ego by creating these walls based on caste, attire, religion, nationality, wealth and so on. ‘Love’ means to break down these walls, for all such divisions are extremely superficial. The core entity is the same in everyone and that entity unites us all. Thus, everything in this universe is connected.

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2. Why is Love not felt for everyone?

Question: Sri Guru, we are able to feel Love for most people, but there are one or two relatives for whom it is not possible, and thus Love does not reflect in our behavior towards them. It saddens us that we are unable to love everyone alike. What should we do in such a situation?

Solution: When you lack the feeling of Love towards one or two relatives, in both intention and action, introspect that there is some past knot of Dwesh (aversion) towards them, and hasn’t been removed yet. First of all, you should enter into Kshamapana (seeking forgiveness from God) to repent for that Dwesh. Next, you should seek forgiveness from the person directly if they are present, and accept it at the level of belief that it’s simply a file of your own past Karma. And if, despite following these steps with a pure heart, you are unable to naturally feel Love for that person, then you should accept that as well, considering it your own Karmic debt.

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3. Is it always necessary to express Love?

Question: It often happens that others assume our expression of Love as our weakness or dependence on them. Is it appropriate to express Love in this situation?

Solution: The reason for expressing Love should be within yourself, it shouldn’t be based on others. Yes, along with Love, one’s Vivek (discerning ability) also evolves on this path. And thus, a seeker should definitely ensure that their expression is such that it isn’t misconceived by anyone. Although, with the absolute experience of Self, one feels an abundance of Love for the entire existence. But, if one tries to express that Love, common people will likely consider it as madness. When the time is right, Love in its multifarious expressions will blossom in your heart on its own.

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4. Spiritual ‘Love’ or worldly love?

Question: What is the difference between worldly love and the ‘Love’ that you have explained?

Solution: The spiritual nature of Love is the only true Love. Worldly love is not Love but a mere attachment, attraction, delusion, desire. In spiritual Love, a seeker finds ways to become useful for the sake of others’ needs and happiness. When in this Love, you are always mindful of the Supreme Entity that resides within every being.  In the practical sense, when your heart is filled with this kind of Love, Vivek (discerning ability) also develops within. And thus, there is a natural understanding of what, where and how much you should say and do. In spiritual Love, Vivek, selflessness, and all-inclusiveness are the three principal qualities that blossom within the seeker.

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5. How to nourish Love?

Question: What should we do to nourish ‘Love’ within us?

Solution: Spiritual ‘Love’ grows in three ways:

• First: With clarity the Guru’s Samagam (congregation) about the nature of Self and this existence from, a seeker develops a firm belief that everything here is connected. This entire Universe is one massive indivisible family. Such a belief manifests Love at the level of intellect.

• Second: In the Satsang, the continuous stream of Love radiating from a Guru naturally invokes the same within us. This Love manifests at the level of heart.
• Third: Upon traversing the spiritual path, when a seeker experiences their true Self, it manifests Love within every fibre of their being! Since it flows through the seeker’s entire being, this Love becomes their very nature.

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6. Does our nature become loving through Sadhana?

Question: If our nature can become loving through the medium of Sadhana, then why is Sadhana not the Mission’s first foundational pillar?

Solution: Love can never become our nature, until it manifests at the level of intellect and heart. Our false sense of ego tries to deceive us – it appears to seek inner purity through Sadhana. But in daily life, it makes you rigid in front of others and doesn’t want you to become inclusive. Any Sadhana practised in the backdrop of such ego will only lead you further away from the goal. First and foremost, a seeker needs to develop their Vivek (discerning ability), develop selflessness towards the world, and allow their  heart to fill with compassion. This is possible only when you’re flowing in the Love for a Living Master. The seeker is ready for Sadhana only when this basic foundation is prepared within them.

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7. Does Love lead to comprehensive growth?

Question: Can a seeker advance to Seva-Sanyam-Sadhana only after 100% experience of Love, or can there be an all-round growth of all four foundational pillars?

Solution:Prem-Seva-Sanyam-Sadhana is a journey of comprehensive growth. We have to start with Love because our nature and conduct don’t transform until our belief system does. But this doesn’t mean that a seeker has to experience Love completely before they can do Seva. The more a seeker fills with Love, the more that Love is expressed in the form of Seva, and the more enthusiastic they become for discipline. When the seeker enters into Sadhana after this level of preparedness, they experience the true nature of Love. Only then are they able to truly realize that this entire Universe is connected and indivisible. Hatred or anger towards anyone here amounts to bringing pain and misery upon yourself, as what we sow is what we eventually reap.

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8. Is spiritual Love one-sided?

Question: When we love others spiritually, do they necessarily love us back, or is this Love one-sided?

Solution: Love is never one-sided; it is always all-inclusive. The concept of expecting love in return for love (attachment) exists only in the shallow worldly understanding of love. But one who is experiencing spiritual Love is brimming with these energies such that whatever they do out of Love is done without any expectations. Doing something to receive something in return is not Love. True Love is when we gain something so beautiful such that it compels us to give back. As a seeker, you should introspect to what extent has true Love manifested within you, compared to the wide presence of worldly attachments. One or two selfless actions won’t make you the bearer of Love. Rather, when selfless acts are done consistently, only then you truly gain the treasure of Love. It is this Love that serves as the first foundational pillar of SRM.

While reading these answers, it is natural that some new questions might arise in the seeker’s mind. We invite you to post those questions in the comments section below. Answers to questions related to your spiritual growth can be obtained from Sri Guru. Some of them shall be published in the next issue of Samadhan Prakash.

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Read previous blogs of Sri Guru’s Samadhan Prakash: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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Bliss of Wisdom is a blog for seekers who are in search of their true self. It is published by Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Delhi – a spiritual revolutionary movement founded by Sri Guru. She is a spiritual Master who has transformed innumerable lives through her logical explanations and effective meditation techniques. To know more, visit srmdelhi.org.