Appa’s Sacred Words — The Guru’s Word is Veda

Receiving this human body is itself a great fortune. Having obtained a human birth, one must strive to realize Paramatma. From this very day, every ounce of strength and every moment of time must be reserved for attaining God.
Again and again we have come and gone. At least now we must be freed from the creeper of birth and death. If, even in this precious birth, we lose our senses, sink into forgetfulness, abandon awareness, and live only for enjoyment — when will we ever be liberated? Is there any guarantee that a human birth will come again? Even if one toils like a beast in worldly life, sorrow waits at the end. By the time awakening dawns, the eyes grow dim, the body withers, and the legs lose their strength. Therefore only those who strive for Paramatma while body and mind are still strong can truly accomplish anything.
Jai Guru Deva Datta

Appa’s Voice

The untouched Supreme Reality alone
has created this entire world. In the form of the Trinity it continues to sustain it — just as from one gold are fashioned necklace, bangle, earring, and pendant.

What does the Guru do? The living being takes name and form as if they were real. The Guru erases that delusion and leaves only the solid gold of the One. That is exactly what the Guru does.
Jai Guru Deva Datta

Sadhana That Can Be Lived Every Day

“Leaving aside great spiritual accomplishments for a moment — there are many practices that can be woven into daily life. One of them is to live so as not to hurt another’s mind. That too is spiritual sadhana. Neither by word nor by conduct should we belittle another. If this is practiced steadily, it itself becomes tapas.

The Lord dwells in the heart of every being. To cause sorrow to another is to cause pain to God. The Sadguru within you sees every one of your actions. Understand this: the pain you give others returns to you a hundredfold.

Sri SatUpasi Jnana Nidhi

The Guru gives more than enough. If you ask, He gives what you ask — gives until you yourself cry “Enough, Appa,” until you realize that there is no lasting joy in it. Then He erases desire and turns your gaze toward the Principle of supreme bliss.

To true devotees He bestows the supreme Moksha that rests with Him. Therefore one must keep advancing as awareness grows. If people fail to hold awareness even when the Guru has come in form, will they then fear the formless Paramatma? He is not someone else! That One cannot be seen; this One makes Himself visible — that is all.

If you live so as to please the Guru with form, the formless Paramatma is pleased at once.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Paramatma’s Assurance for Noble Work

A human being struggles lifelong for wife and children. Yet even lifting a single stone for God’s work brings immeasurable merit.

God is not a mere idol, not a stone. Truly, Paramatma manifests there. Offer namaskar to God every day — He protects you. Even when terrible calamity comes, by Paramatma’s grace a remedy can appear within minutes. I speak only of what I have lived. Begging alms, preparing prasad, I used to give prasad to those who came near Kanneshwara’s shrine. Even today, though God has placed me in this state, I still help those who come with whatever my hands can do, and still offer a morsel of prasad. You too must live remembering God. Without effort a work may remain unfinished — but when one strives, Paramatma’s assurance for noble work is certain.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Remembrance of the Guru’s Name is not yesterday’s need.
Nor tomorrow’s plan.
Neither of those is in our hands.
Japa, Dhyana, Bhajan — these are the need of this day, of this very moment.
And this moment is in our hands, is it not?
That you will be here tomorrow is not certain. Do now what must be done in this moment.

Question — Some devotees serve without rest and receive Guru’s grace, yet they do not advance on the path of spiritual joy; they keep weeping and suffering. Why, Appaji?

The most revered Sadguru said — God waits, ready to bestow the path of Moksha upon His devotees. Even when the door is opened and they are told “Come in,” they do not step forward. “Remember Paramatma with a pure heart; when called, come at once” — yet they do not come. “My daughter’s hardship must end first; my son must still progress; my sister must still find peace; I will not come” — then what can the Guru Himself do?
By God’s grace all will be well. Each one manages their own affairs and will be fine. These devotees simply cling to attachment.
The Guru watches subtly. Whatever is in them — all of it becomes known to Him… The living being must become empty within. Leave the surrounding world to go its own way; do your duty and become light. On your own path, follow the truth of Paramatma. This is the subtle point.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Sri SatUpasi Jnana Nidhi

“One without shraddha is equal to a corpse.”

Whether Bhajan, worship, sweeping the floor, or any Seva — whatever you do, do it with shraddha.

When you do it, do it for its own sake. Let it be like snapping a twig, like releasing an arrow, like drawing a clean line.

If you do it, do it with shraddha. Done without shraddha, even the doing is fruitless — walking this path without faith brings no benefit.

Those who live only worldly life are householders. But those who live in the world and yet strive because they want God are “non-householders”! Theirs becomes a God-centered life — Bhagavajjivana.

Those who long to know the Self, even while remaining in family life, must do their duty quietly, practice sadhana without noise, grow light, and slip free of worldly bondage.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Ghananubhavasara

Who brought green to the forest?
Who painted color on the flower?
Who lights the red sun?
Who gave coolness to the earth?
Wherever the eye turns — there is Shiva, O mother.
See Shiva filling the whole cosmos.

Look at the blowing wind —
Who is the mighty One that pushes it?
Look at the sky beyond measure —
and the beauty of the twinkling stars.

After singing these lines, Appa said…

How far has the human mind lost awareness? He has created a life so busy that he has no leisure to savor the beauty of creation.
Morning sunrise, the charm of moonlight, the beauty of a million stars glittering in the blue sky — none of it moves him.

They say, “Why look at the sun that rises every day?” He is already submerged in what he has built around himself. He clings only to his post and power. Leave aside even the thought “I am the body” — he stakes his whole life on rank and prestige, things lesser than the body itself. How dead has his awareness become!!

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Appa’s Jnana Nidhi

Whatever Bhajan, Seva, or worship you do —
do it with shraddha.
When you do it, do it for that alone.
Let it be like snapping a twig,
like drawing a clean line,
like releasing an arrow.
If you do it, do it with shraddha.
Otherwise even the doing is useless.
One without shraddha is equal to a corpse.

Jai Guru Deva Datta.

Give Dhyana the highest place. Do not sit once or twice, say “the mind will not stay still,” and then give up. Whether the mind sits or runs, you must not abandon sitting for Dhyana. When your effort becomes boundless, the Guru Himself stills the mind.
Again and again we have been born and gone. Now that the Guru has been found in this birth, now that the truth is known — do not lose heart. Practice sadhana, raise the dust of this empty worldly bondage, and merge into the One Paramatma. You have come only for this!! For nothing else!!!
Jai Guru Deva Datta

By fulfilling the small wishes that arise in a devotee’s mind, Paramatma reveals His presence within and awakens awareness. These are not miracles. In such moments the devotee rejoices: “I wished for ice cream — and someone brought it at once; I needed a chair — and someone brought a chair.” God Himself has sent those parcels. The devotee happily says, “Appa, Paramatma fulfilled what I thought in my mind.” When small things are asked, Datta grants them. But He does not easily give the great thing. He considers how the devotee will use it.
Why does the living being not realize that every thought and every impulse of the mind is known to Paramatma?

To live with the awareness that the One who knows the desires arising in the mind also knows everything else that happens in that mind — that itself is direct experience (svanubhava).

God is always watching us. When we join satsang and do noble work, Paramatma watches the living being more closely. But when one is submerged in sense pleasures, He does not give as much attention. Even then He watches — yet thinking “let this be,” He does not look more intently.

When faults are few, He remains quiet. But when they grow excessive, He strikes.

When children play at home, scatter things, or roll in mud outdoors and pour dust on their heads, a mother stays quiet for a while. “Let the little one play,” she smiles and waits. But if the child puts mud into food, she does not stay quiet. She corrects with a firm hand and teaches. In the same way the Guru may even put a devotee through correction in order to teach. Yet the Guru never abandons His devotee. Even if the shastras, Vedas, and Puranas were to prove false, this word of experience will not.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Appa’s Words —

For the sake of the world, a human being struggles so much. He loses sleep, goes where he should not go, does what he should not do, and grasps the feet of those he should not. None of that helps his onward journey after he leaves the body. He toils lifelong for wife and children. Yet even lifting a single stone for God’s work brings immeasurable merit.

Why is there a village deity for each village, a house deity for each home, a border deity, a deity for each land…?
God is not a mere idol, not a stone. Truly, Paramatma manifests there.
Offer namaskar to God every day — He protects you. Even when terrible calamity comes, by Paramatma’s grace a remedy can appear within minutes.

I speak only of what I have lived. Begging alms, preparing prasad, I used to give prasad to those who came near Kanneshwara’s shrine. Even today, though God has placed me in this state, I still help those who come with whatever my hands can do, and still offer a morsel of prasad.

You too must live remembering God… Believe this..

Without effort a work may remain unfinished — but when one strives, Paramatma’s assurance for noble work is certain.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Sri SatUpasi Jnana Nidhi.

Birth comes according to karma.
Whoever, during this lifetime —
knowingly or unknowingly —
has done Guru-seva, bhakti, bhajan, dhyana, charity, and dharma,
never falls into a lower state.
Therefore preparation must be made
in this very lifetime.

Jai Guru Deva Datta.

Sri SatUpasi Jnana Nidhi

From service to God, only good fruit comes. Datta Himself chooses, gives the opportunity, calls one near, has seva done, and grants an extraordinary fruit.

The knot of merit earned through God’s work and God’s service brings you welfare that benefits others as well.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Prasad Must Be Partaken with the Feeling of Offering to the Self

Appa’s Word:

When I sit to partake of prasad, I give a command to the senses: whether taking each morsel of prasad or drinking water — “Offer it to Me first as naivedya, then receive it.” When prasad is received in that way, every morsel becomes an offering to the Self. Without that offering, not a single morsel of prasad should enter within. And if it does enter thus — will I not know? For I Myself dwell within. Thus fear has already arisen in the senses. Therefore whatever they do, they keep remembering Me. Then, as long as I am here, they keep remembering and become blessed. This is how prasad is partaken. What further sadhana is needed beyond this? A person must rise to this level. Apart from this, one must not eat like an animal. One must not take prasad while talking with someone, looking elsewhere, or scratching about.

Sri SatUpasi Sadguru’s Divine Message

Blessings to the gathering of devotees. That God Himself descends again and again through the ages and gives guidance — the divine Charitamrita of Sripada Sri Vallabha is itself the witness. For the uplift of living beings caught and suffering in the whirl of many doubts, He has made this scripture appear to us after seven hundred years. This is the fortune of us all. From the fruit of merit earned over many births, from seva done, His grace has flowed to us in this way. Taking this as the great treasure that has come for the uplift of our birth, making our life fruitful must become our aim. …….. Therefore I bless you all: firmly believe that this great scripture has been bestowed on us by our Sadguru-natha, Sri Datta Prabhu Himself, as Sripada Vallabha; receive it as His prasad; know the Guru’s glory within it and become blessed.
Do not fixate on the fruits described in it. Read this scripture seeking Him alone, for His grace alone — taking that as your only goal. For you have already become devotees of God. Of this there is no doubt. It is true that chapter by chapter it speaks of such-and-such fruits. That great charm of Sripada Vallabha is this: by offering fruits He builds faith, makes people devotees, draws them to read the scripture, and slowly pulls them toward Himself to uplift them.
Therefore you have no need of that charm. You have already drawn Him toward yourselves. This is true. Do not lose heart. Do not lose courage. Let everything end in this very birth. Let us put an end to birth and death. Nothing has come here to remain. Let whatever comes, come; let whatever goes, go — and saying, “Guru, for Your grace,” knowing there is nothing greater than attaining You — meditate on Him, praise Him, serve Him, and rush toward the self-manifest Sripada Sri Vallabha. May welfare be yours; may auspiciousness be yours; be ready for that ‘supreme sayujya’ — thus blessing, I become subtle. — Sri Sat Upasi

Appa’s Voice of Experience —

Every living being must practice meditation on the Self. The practice of watching the breath is the great sadhana for knowing Paramatma. Nothing is greater than this. This is a profound method for knowing oneself. This is a profound path. No one is understanding it. For those always submerged in the world, this is hard to grasp. Even when explained, they do not cooperate. The mind may wander here and there — keep striving firmly. Without letting go, keep trying, and again and again bring it back to the right path. Only when one remains in it — whether sitting or standing, whatever one does — does one come to know what greatness lies within. That which is nowhere else reveals itself within.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Sri SatUpasi Guru Vani

(Essence of Direct Experience)

How much Seva, remembrance, Dhyana, and service to others we have done; how deeply we have sunk in worldly life; how much we strive in the spiritual path — all of this is known to God through the breath itself.

Sadguru Vani

Every day the Guru pours His spiritual wealth upon worthy devotees.
This is the yajna He performs each day.

The Guru’s glance and speech are all of the nature of mantra.

Just as a king’s darshan becomes easy through a minister, so by the Guru’s grace the vision of God in the heart becomes easy.

Whoever keeps thinking only of others’ faults becomes that very thing.

Among all the fortunes God bestows on a human being, the supreme blessing is
“Guru”.

Paramatma is like the ocean; all divine forms are like its waves.

Whatever the Sadguru says — that alone is the right path.

In worldly matters be like a tortoise — think carefully and move ahead. In the spiritual, be like a snake..
Move swiftly and steadily forward.

Devotion to God and peace — that is true happiness.

The Guru is higher than the highest!
Light beyond light!
Subtler than the subtle,
the Supreme Truth that nothing can grasp!
He showers boundless grace.
He culminates in direct experience.

Appa’s Voice of Experience

Every living being must practice meditation on the Self. The practice of watching the breath is the great sadhana for knowing Paramatma. Nothing is greater than this. This is a profound method for knowing oneself. This is a profound path. No one is understanding it. For those always submerged in the world, this is hard to grasp. Even when explained, they do not cooperate. The mind may wander here and there — keep striving firmly. Without letting go, keep trying, and again and again bring it back to the right path. Only when one remains in it — whether sitting or standing, whatever one does — does one come to know what greatness lies within. That which is nowhere else reveals itself within.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Bhajan

Vibhajane means to divide. Bhajan means to become one — to unite with the Supreme who already dwells within us.

As long as a person holds the pride — in every action, every matter, every situation — that “I, by me, because I am here,” and that without me neither ordinary nor divine work can happen, that I alone am the cause of bhajan, satsang and sacred works, and therefore I am great and wise — so long he can never become truly great, nor draw near the Sadguru. He is smaller than the small.

“I am nothing. For all of this, God and the Sadguru are the cause. I am only a pretext; I am very small. For all this the Sadguru alone is capable. Before Him I am powerless. For everything that happens and is happening, for every coming and going, He alone is the cause; without Him there is nothing; He alone is the cause of my very existence” — the one who turns toward Him and folds hands is greater than all. Even if he is small, even if he is not clever, even if he sits in the last row, even if he stands apart from everyone — he alone is the greatest, the elder. He is near to God and Guru, close to them, dear to the Lord.

Whoever surrenders to God and lives in holy awe — he fears everyone, trembles, and lives carefully. Before one who has such fear of God, others themselves fear to stand. They feel awe before him and fold their hands.

When asked what to do when the mind is agitated, Appa said this.

In the village, buffaloes, unable to bear the heat of the sun, go down into the stream. When hungry they come out and graze. When the sun’s blaze feels too much again, they go back into the stream and stay there. In the same way, when a human being grows agitated and restless, he must keep some support.
It may be bhajan, or dhyana, or the company of devotees, or going to a temple, or taking the Guru’s darshan — something.
Find what suits you, what gives you peace. Whenever agitation rises, immediately take hold of that support.
After peace returns, one may again engage in daily life. If agitation begins again, again take the path that calms it. When the mind feels unsettled — bathe, play with children, or do some activity that softens the mind. Once one-pointedness comes, any sadhana done becomes fruitful. Japa, dhyana, and bhajan done with concentration grant the attainment of God far more than mechanical japa done for years.

Seva helps stabilize body and mind. Whoever serves with shraddha — whether sweeping dust or cleaning the wash area — then Dattatreya who dwells in the shrine runs near and stands with them. The fruit yogis obtain by sitting in tapas for a thousand years, Gurudeva grants to His devotees, won over by their devotion and seva. Once Guru’s grace comes, there is no delay — it may be a single sentence or a single word; He bestows grace.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Datta’s devotees have a relationship of devotion. By Datta’s command they have all come to Dodderi. Whatever is happening moves according to Datta’s sankalpa alone. As Shiva told me to bless everyone saying “May good come,” so I live. Everything moves in the hold of that light of knowledge.

Guru-Tattva Is One

If one thinks Shiva is separate, Shakti separate, Sri Chakra separate, Datta separate — such devotees struggle at one stage or another. When one surrenders to the Guru, He says, “All is One; you too are That; why wander here and there for nothing?” — and leads one toward direct realization.

II Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namah II
Jnana Nidhi
Shiva’s Test

In the world, to give any job or work, people examine and check in many ways. Everyone knows that hardship. In the same way God also tests us. Only when we pass in everything does He take us to that place — when we go seeking Him alone.

Once Shiva came to our house in the evening. That day He spoke many things. Afterwards, having hot rice prepared for prasad, I said,
“Swami, our daughter has cooked rice. If you say yes, I will serve.”

“Alright — if you would give me rice, give me cool rice. Is this hot or cool?” He said.

“It is hot rice, Swami. At this hour, where shall I bring cool rice from?” I said.

“If it is there, anywhere is fine. Give cool rice, Appa,” He said.

“There is none at all, Swami. What we have now is only hot,” I said.

“If there is cool, give it, Appa,” He said.

“If not, one must ask. Then one must fetch. Then one must cook. Have we agreed to that?” I said.

“When must you fetch? When will you cook?” He asked.

“When Shiva gives, one must fetch. When He says, one must do,” I said.

“Oho — is that so? You are quite clever, Appa.”

“No, Swami — why do You ask for cool rice? Will You not eat the hot?”

I asked, “Is it that something called ‘mine’ is being set down?”

“What does ‘mine’ mean, Swami?”

“That coolness itself is ‘mine’! ‘I made it, I earned it, I brought it’ — all that is nothing but cool (stale). Whatever is Shiva’s is hot. Do you understand? Take it — hot again!”

Afterwards He ate with full satisfaction.

See — however much we bow to God, in spirituality Shiva tests in this way the ‘I’ and ‘mine’ within us. Whatever is given as ‘ours’ is cool (stale). ‘I did it, I earned it, I am giving’ — all this is cool, leftover. Whatever is offered knowing it is the Lord’s — that, according to Shiva, is hot food. Such prasad becomes an offering to God. Thus the meaning of the words of the surrendered and of Paramatma is profound! 🌸🙏

Sri SatUpasi

The causal Lord Paramayya, the creator Brahmayya,
the protector Kamaladayya,
the dissolver Shivayya —
what then have You done, O Dasayya?

Appa uttered these lines.

He said that it is Parameshwara alone who is doing everything.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

For those on the spiritual path, first the ego must go. Keeping that one thing and doing any sadhana is useless. For if the sense of ‘I’ remains, knowledge does not arise. The moment that is lost, it is as if one is blessed — the fruit of sadhana has begun to appear. But losing it is not so easy. Even the rishis and munis of old struggled greatly to lose it. People today are the same — having renounced everything else, they keep that one thing and suffer much.

When they cannot drop the ego by themselves, God and the Sadguru bring some hardship or anxiety upon them. Then what remains for them is only to weep; they begin to cry out ‘Paramatma!’ and take refuge, shouting ‘You alone are my way, Appa.’ In this way God removes their ego.

Some read the Vedas, Upanishads, and Gita, learn to give discourses, and think all knowledge has come to them… Shiva, Shiva!! Does it ever happen that way? If it were so easy, why worry? You would have read the life-stories of great souls. How much they suffered, what tests they faced.
But it is not that everyone must suffer and be tested exactly like them. A mahatma who has practiced through great hardship can guide others so that they may be liberated more easily. God comes near the one He wishes to uplift, tests whether attachments are gone, whether one is free of all bonds — then uplifts, blesses, and goes.
Some blessed ones come into contact with such a mahatma and uplift their lives. The main thing is that such company be obtained!!

It is said that in a devotee’s dream Appa spoke words of knowledge. Eager to tell the Guru, he came to the ashram with great longing. When he took darshan and bowed in the field, before he could speak, Appa Himself uttered those very words…

Live in utter humility.
Labor like a superhuman being.
Knowing that Seva is karma and karma is Seva, bow your head to Guru Kanneshwara.

“Seva alone is true karma. Only through God’s work and Guru’s work can one be freed from bondage and attain joy. Other karma done for worldly life brings moment by moment anxiety, fear, and sorrow — it creates bondage. But Guru-seva has no bondage, no sorrow — only joy. Therefore live as the Guru’s servant, live humbly, and labor like a superhuman for Guru-seva. Your life will become fruitful.”

For Paramatma who bears the burden of the world and is Lord of the cosmos, the responsibility of our family life is like a grain of sand… Decide once and declare: the burden of my family is Yours alone… Speak it as firmly as writing it on bond paper… Then live a God-centered life without worry.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Appa’s Guidance

Devotee: Appaji, I have a mind for sadhana. But the people at home keep watching TV, talk with interest about serials, and discuss buying household things. I have little interest in that. Then I feel very disturbed. It would be good if they also lived according to my state of mind — but that is not happening. What should I do?

You yourself must balance your life.
Seeing to the body’s needs, when the remaining time, attention, and strength are given to sadhana for God, you can advance quickly.
You yourself must arrange the timing. No one else will do it.
In solitude and secrecy, practice sadhana at times that do not disturb other family members.
There is no need to display it to anyone.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Yogis may sit for a thousand years

in tapas —

yet that Paramatma whom they

cannot attain —

such a Paramatma,

by the Sadguru’s blessing,

devotees in a single birth

can attain.

The anxieties of worldly life are like a dog’s tail…

Just as a dog’s tail cannot be made straight, so no one can fully straighten the anxieties of worldly life.
Pleasure comes only so that sorrow may be experienced after it… When one anxiety ends, something like its father sits waiting.
Do whatever outer duties you have taken on; within, keep remembrance of God; live in this world as if present yet absent — and keep growing light.

From the moment the body is shed, no one belongs to anyone. Then there is simply no body — it is not that everything is finished!! The jivatma, and the merit one has earned — Guru-seva, remembrance, bhajan, dhyana, helping others, God’s work, noble thought —
these form the knot of merit that carries one upward. Birth comes according to karma done. But those who trust God and take refuge in the Guru never fall into a lower state.

Once a devotee came to Appa, bowed, and began to weep — so sorrowful she could not even say what the matter was. After some calm returned, she said: “Appa, my mind is very impure. Outwardly I take part in bhakti, bhajan, satsang — I trust You and walk this path. But impure thoughts arising in my mind have not stopped. This distresses me greatly. I feel I am unworthy and grow sad. What should I do? I do not wish to stay far from Your shelter either,” she said again and again in sorrow. Then Appa spoke many soothing words —

If unwanted imaginations, doubts, and even suspicion about the Guru itself keep arising — it means the Guru has begun to clean. Whatever is inside is coming out.

The small have a small drain; the great have a great drain. From above it may look clear. But only when cleaning begins does one see how much filth, rubbish, and mud has filled within.

When those things keep rising in the mind and you cannot stop them, pray to the Guru Himself. Remember His feet and cry to Paramatma, to that Sadguru: help me, deliver me.

Such rubbish keeps falling into the ashram every day!!! I must clean every day!!

By saying this, Sadguru Appa revealed one face of His work of uplifting devotees. What an ocean of compassion is Gurudeva! Mother-form itself!!

Afterwards that devotee grew calm and said, folding hands in namaskar: “Appa, it hurt me greatly to think I might grow distant from Your devotion-centered company, that I am not worthy of this — do not send me away from this Guru-path.”

Then Appa, casting a glance of compassion from eyes shining with divine radiance, uttered a great word. It is this —
“I have come only to take you to the supreme abode…!! You need only be ready to come with Me. For living beings drowning and floating in the ocean of worldly life, the Guru has brought a boat to deliver them. He says, Come, climb aboard, and cross. Whoever comes near, He draws them and seats them in the boat. Meanwhile, while calling four people, four who were already in the boat again fall for worldly interest and jump back into the ocean. Again, while awakening them to God’s glory and the purpose of human birth and calling them back, someone else jumps into the pit of the world. Once, twice, ten times, a hundred, a thousand times I keep calling. If they go again — what more can I do? I let go and grow silent.
Those who remain to the end in the boat of the Guru-path — those who walk the Guru’s way — are delivered.
Jai Guru Deva Datta

The Supreme Aim

What matters most in life is only to reach God. To attain that, constant remembrance of Him and surrender must become the supreme aim. For this, be ready to face anything. Do not hesitate to renounce worldly pleasures. Step by step try to drop body-pride. For no action or coming-and-going claim ‘I’; know there is One who bears responsibility, place everything on Him, and remain at peace. Stay in satsang, keep taking darshan of the holy, and always repeat the Name of God that is dear to you. Your life will become pure.

One day a gathering of devotees who came to the ashram sang bhajan with great devotion in Appa’s presence. Afterwards satsang was held. At that time devotees asked for some wishes of their hearts. Listening to the matters of their minds, Sadguru Appa revealed this profound teaching to the devotees.

“Do not deal with Datta as if trading with deities — giving and taking in this way. For Datta comes in the form of Guru precisely to bestow sayujya — to end birth and death. He protects, He shelters, He looks after whatever is needed for life. Ask Him for nothing. Say, ‘I want You alone.’
Do the anxieties of this worldly life ever end? People say, ‘If today’s trouble is resolved, that is enough — I will offer two more namaskars, O God.’ If all devotion is spent only on fulfilling one desire after another, when will the birth become pure? Datta is not here to fulfill whatever of this world exists — things that are as if present yet not. He stands ready to uplift the birth, to give uplift of the Self, to bestow sayujya. Be ready to receive what He is ready to give.

Today one affliction, tomorrow another; after a week a request; when that is settled, some other wildfire… Living like this one day you die… Have we come into birth only for this much? One must uplift the Self.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

How should we conduct ourselves when those who abuse the Guru confront us? What kind of devotees become worthy of the Guru’s grace?

One who has truly accepted the Guru and trusts the Guru must first know: my Guru alone is supreme. Apart from the Guru, all else must be known as equal to a blade of grass. A disciple, a devotee of God, must not mix with worldly crowds. Go and return only when necessary. When the true devotee and disciple hears those who abuse, insult, oppose, or scorn his Guru and God, the heart beats faster, the mind agitates, and the intellect loses its patience. The body begins to burn. These are the signs that come to a true Guru-devotee and God-devotee. Whoever does not feel such heat is neither disciple nor devotee — he merely looks like the Guru’s disciple while being a friend to the abuser. The Guru knows such Guru-bhakti. Fruits come to each according to what they are. Such people do not have Guru’s or God’s grace. A true disciple — even if one who abuses the Guru is very great — will not turn his face toward where that person is. He will not lay his head to sleep in that direction; he will not even let that person’s shadow fall on him. He will not let even the wind from that side touch him. If words of Guru-abuse accidentally fall on his ear, he immediately bathes and the like, feels repentance, and bowing to his Guru says, “Hearing Guru-abuse I have become a great sinner — Guru, forgive me.” Only such are disciples of the Guru; only such are worthy of Guru’s grace. Their birth is fulfilled! They are worthy of mukti and sayujya!! Seeing such a devotee and disciple, Datta rejoices greatly and makes them like Himself.
Jai Guru Deva Datta…

Sri Sat Upasi Maharaj…..

Pearl of Words

First lose the ego; afterwards the remaining faults can be lost. When one believes that what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen are all Shiva’s will, and lives under His lordship, the ego is dissolved.

Satsang Is My Life

*It pleases Me when everyone adjusts to one another, lives in trust, and continues in bhakti, bhajan, and Seva.

*Those who treat the work of satsang as their own work, and those who forget home, family, business, and time, and become absorbed in Paramatma while singing bhajan — they advance quickly on the spiritual path. How can those who think, when sitting for bhajan or satsang, that time is being delayed, ever advance?

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Do as Much Seva as Your Hands Can

While serving, do not think
“this is small work,”
or “what will those who see me doing this think?”
Do not waste time in idle talk.
At that time rest may be taken.
Otherwise strive to do
whatever seva your hands can do.

Whatever work we do, we must do it with love. Do it as if there is no other work left to do, as if this is the last work one must do. Then whatever joy is in it comes of its own.

Sri SatUpasi Jnana Nidhi

Let the feeling “I did it, I sang, I wrote, I served” not arise. Remain in a humble state. God alone does everything. We merely… keep thinking “I did it” — that is all… We can do nothing!
Those who go about saying “I, I” must later lose everything and suffer greatly until they become “nothing”…
All devotees are fine… But this mind will not stay quiet… That is why I am saying this.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Appa said —
Whoever faces extreme neglect in the world is drawing near to God. Why? Because such people do not try to please worldly folk. Others will do anything to win the world’s approval… But God’s devotees will not do such things; therefore devotees become unfit for the world’s trust. Yet Datta chooses them.
He does whatever He wills. Through those whom the world thinks useless, He gets anything done. He is cunning beyond cunning, skilled beyond skill.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

Sadguru Vani Selected from the Paratattvamrita Scripture

A human being must never have ego. If it comes, it is great hardship — for from ego and ignorance comes total ruin. Ego enters unnoticed and destroys from within. We must never forget the path by which we came. Remember it often. In life one must always remain the same — like one who has nothing, without wanting or asking for anything.

Those who say “I did it, it happened through me” get nothing. Those who live for God — even when they say “enough,” God keeps giving and does not leave them. The Guru makes the impossible possible and shows wonder to the devotee. To obtain Guru’s grace, to retain it, and to live by it is not easy. For if anyone, out of the sense of “I,” says “I will beg at three houses and eat,” and goes begging — even if he goes to a hundred houses, no one will give, and even if they have, they will not give. Even for alms to come, Paramatma’s grace is needed. Without His compassion nothing is possible. Therefore without losing His compassion, remain in His meditation and seva with reverence and devotion. Live in the world as if present yet absent. As one leaves things one by one, when detachment comes, nothing more is needed. Place all burdens on the Guru, remember His Name, and rest at ease. Then the anxieties of worldly life are no longer anxieties. Guru is an immense power. No one knows that it exists. For those who attain God and keep attaining Him, He protects at the right time. Somehow He carries life through times of hardship.

Jai Sri Guru Deva Datta

Scripture — Paratattvamrita, containing divine teachings bestowed by Paramahamsa Sadguru Rajayogi Sri SatUpasi

Question — Appaji, we worship God and Guru every day. How should we know that our worship has reached them?

Appa — If the worship you do has reached God, first your mind must find peace. When you feel inner fulfillment, it means the worship done has reached Paramatma.

Jai Sri Guru Deva Datta

Scripture — Paratattvamrita

Everything Is God’s Will

As long as God, as the Inner Dweller in this body, keeps giving breath, we breathe. In His light, by His consciousness, we do everything. Even when we sleep He gives breath; while eating, while worshipping, while angry, while living family life — at all times He keeps giving breath. Every single breath goes within, touches Him, and only then comes out. Therefore know that for everything the doer-cause is Paramatma alone. Everything moves by His will, through Him alone. That is why, if attention is given to the breath He is causing to move, He draws us toward Himself and unites us in Himself. We become Him, and He becomes us.

When the pride of “I” goes far away, you draw near to God.

As long as a person holds the pride — in every action, every matter, every situation — that “I, by me, because I am here,” and that without me neither ordinary nor divine work can happen, that I alone am the cause of bhajan, satsang and sacred works, and therefore I am great and wise — so long he can never become truly great, nor draw near the Sadguru. He is smaller than the small.

“I am nothing. For all of this, God and the Sadguru are the cause. I am only a pretext; I am very small. For all this the Sadguru alone is capable. Before Him I am powerless. For everything that happens and is happening, for every coming and going, He alone is the cause; without Him there is nothing; He alone is the cause of my very existence” — the one who turns toward Him and folds hands is greater than all. Even if he is small, even if he is not clever, even if he sits in the last row, even if he stands apart from everyone — he alone is the greatest, the elder. He is near to God and Guru, close to them, dear to the Lord.

Whoever surrenders to God and lives in holy awe — he fears everyone, trembles, and lives carefully. Before one who has such fear of God, others themselves fear to stand. They feel awe before him and fold their hands.

Appa said —
Whoever faces extreme neglect in the world is drawing near to God. Why? Because such people do not try to please worldly folk. Others will do anything to win the world’s approval… But God’s devotees will not do such things; therefore devotees become unfit for the world’s trust. Yet Datta chooses them.
He does whatever He wills. Through those whom the world thinks useless, He gets anything done. He is cunning beyond cunning, skilled beyond skill.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

The Great Word Appa Spoke

Only by the presence of the Inner Self does the body keep moving. Because That is, mind, intellect, and body all are. Without It the body is only a corpse… That being so, how can you think “I am the body”? Therefore attend to the breath. Then He draws you toward Himself.

How Long Must One Practice Sadhana?

How long should one keep repeating the Name? How long do dhyana? How long serve? How long worship? — such questions arise in devotees’ minds..
Does the question “How long should I breathe?” arise? Do we think “How long must I cook and eat every day”?
This is the same… Keep doing as long as you are… Keep doing as long as you breathe. As long as the body is here — sadhana, observance, Name, and remaining in satsang.
Above all, Guru-seva is most necessary.
Seva itself becomes sadhana;
Guru’s compassion makes one blessed.

In the tattva-padas of Ghananubhavasara everything is contained. By remaining in daily bhajan and satsang, knowledge reveals itself of its own.
Guru-bhakti has great power. When the Guru bestows grace, it means the devotees have become fulfilled. That does not mean nothing more need be done. One must travel until the town is reached. After the town is reached, one need not travel. Likewise, after becoming fulfilled it is complete. Even after that, as long as one lives, sadhana must continue.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

The Greatness of Parayana

For those who are wounded by sorrow, who feel aversion toward worldly life — parayana of the Guru’s life-story grants worldly and spiritual knowledge and awareness, and gives peace, contentment, and joy.

Appa’s Guidance

Live for the Uplift of the Self

If you become the servant of the Master called Guru, He Himself bears the burden of ours, of our children and family, of all comings and goings.
Live spiritually. Do God’s bhajan and satsang; also live family life. Live in the family with peace and contentment; do your duty and live without troubling others, while continuing sadhana. Dhyana, bhajan, satsang — all must be done for the uplift of our birth. When we strive for the uplift of the Self, God is quickly pleased, is won over, and manifests. When any hardship comes, pray: “You alone look after it, Appa; protect us; everything belongs to You.” Then He protects us and those around us.
Spiritual life means giving first priority in our life to the truth of the Self. The life of devotees who give priority to God becomes spiritual.
It becomes filled with God. If this much is done, it is enough — God is well pleased.

Appa’s Sayings —

Immerse in the ocean of the Self;
do not immerse in the ocean of worldly bondage.

Just as sugar is sweet in whoever’s house it may be, so the nature of the Self is the same in every state — this is the mark of a knower’s direct experience.

Awareness of one’s true nature is purity.
Ignorance that lacks that awareness is impurity.

Jai Guru Deva Datta

God has made us householders and placed us in this world. Here we must do our worldly duty. While doing that, keep practicing sadhana as much as possible.
And from within the mind, firmly decide that all the world appearing before us is impermanent, not lasting — and practice slowly letting go. If you do this, do your duty, and keep remembering Him — that is enough; then we surpass even the rishis in the Himalayas.

In daily life enough time is available. In that time — going to the shop, to the office, coming and going — keep remembering God. Do every work thinking it is God’s work. In business and in life, whether there is gain or loss, see God in it. Then our breath, our conduct, our life — everything becomes filled with God. Then everything has become that very Existence-Consciousness-Bliss!

“Some place boundless attachment on wife, or children, or money. Then the Guru causes sorrow and opposition to come from that very thing. He makes that devotee move away from that attachment. If the devotee has understanding, he thinks, ‘Guru has taught me rightly.’ Then knowledge dawns for him. But if he lacks understanding, he grieves. ‘Why did this happen? I trusted the Guru so much — can that Guru do all this? Can this happen to a devotee who trusted?’ — he begins to grow feelings of opposition toward the Guru. He begins to wonder whether his faith is false, or the Guru Himself is false.

The Guru knows all of this one’s blaming and abusing. He is ready even to be abused. Even after that He does only good for the devotee. He never lets go of the devotee’s hand. Sooner or later every devotee comes to know truly what the Guru did for his welfare and how much He labored. No mere human in the world can erase another’s faults. That work is possible only for the Guru. He does it while remaining hidden. His wish is to make the devotee complete. How many efforts the Guru makes to make the devotee like Himself. Likewise He awakens awareness of the Truth!”

See the palanquin — they adorned God for it;
“What beauty this is,” they say, and keep making display.

Thus the human body itself is the palanquin; the Inner Self within it is Shiva in the palanquin. Just as those who bear the palanquin remain with reverence and devotion — so, while this body, which is itself a Shiva-temple where Paramatma dwells, and is itself the palanquin, still remains — a human being must always remain absorbed in meditation on Sadashiva and make the birth fruitful, Appa taught.

One must learn to remain content with whatever is available. Whatever opportunity comes, take it as Paramatma’s compassion, and learn to remain in joy. There should be no despair. Remaining in joy, without worry, in contentment — this helps spirituality.

“If you do worship, Seva, and Dhyana so that God is satisfied — if He becomes content — your birth has become pure!”

It is not that everyone must do every kind of Seva. Those who love Dhyana should meditate freely. Those who love worship and bhajan should do that with shraddha. Those to whom Paramatma has given abundantly should give charity and dharma freely — each according to their convenience, happily. And in that, devotees should help one another, live in mutual affection, and continue devotion without giving room to envy and hatred. If they keep those, they themselves will know the result. Every day I pray to God,
“May all these devotees be well; look after them well, Appa”!!!

Jai Guru Deva Datta

The Family of Guru-Devotees Is Like a Beehive

When differences arose among devotees, Sadguru-natha gave this guidance to remove the impurities in their minds and lead them forward with one heart on the right path.

“That formless Paramatma alone enters into all and, through them, has divine works and Seva done. The Guru’s devotee-family is all like one beehive. Whoever throws even a small stone at it — it rebounds upon them. One must strive to increase the welfare, success, and glory of Guru’s work and to continue devotion — not disrupt God’s work by thinking ‘he is like this, that one is like that.’ Paramatma is in everyone; I too am in everyone. I am fond of all; in all I have love and affection. Because that is so, you all, as children of one Father, as God’s devotees, keep doing Seva. May welfare come to you all; may good come. May that formless Light — Parvati-Parameshwara who came by the path of light and gave darshan — look after you all without a moment’s pause. Let doing as much Seva as your hands can be your only aim. Wish only good for all.. Speak only good. Do not go to do harm to another. May victory and good come to all.

It Is Very Hard to Bend Sattvic Ego

One in tamas knows nothing spiritually. Rajas runs about barking as if it knows something. But it does not know what is true and what is false. When one is frightened — “If you do that you will fall; do not take that path” — rajas grows quiet. But one in sattva who thinks “I know the country and the treasury, I know everything of dhyana, homa, and japa” — bending such a one is very hard. One in tamas can be made quiet, but making such people quiet is very hard, for that is ignorance greater than ignorance! Knowing a little, beyond their power they answer everything and advise everyone.

Those who have learned worldly knowledge invent and research all kinds of things. They have ego about their achievement. According to their merit, awards and titles keep coming. One who believes he got all this by his intellect and effort alone listens to no one. Generally such awards and titles become a cause for those who receive them to grow intoxicated. Whoever they meet, they keep speaking only of their achievement and the awards they received. No one can make such a person humble. Even if listeners have little interest and no leisure to look at those awards, they keep praising themselves in their own way.

You cook and eat using grown crops — but can you create the seed-grains? Who created all animals, birds, water-creatures, insects and worms? Did man make and place the sky, sun, and stars? Reflect on this… Through that, bow to the all-protecting Inner Dweller.
We did not buy the air;
the earth is not our grandfather’s property; we
did not manufacture water — therefore must there not be One who created? Bow to that Power.
When one lives seeing God’s presence everywhere, God reveals His presence. One must learn to remain content and joyful.

In the ashram devotees do bhajan every day with observance. Sometimes Appa teaches a bhajan. Afterwards He guided the devotees by speaking some beneficial words.

1) Do not waste any things through neglect. Remain with the feeling that all belongs to Datta, with reverence and devotion. Even for bathing I use only as much water as needed. I carry out works with the responsibility that whatever is here belongs to Datta.

2) Even if someone comes and speaks gossip, do not let feelings of opposition arise toward the one about whom they gossip. Remain even-minded. That is called the state of sthitaprajna.

3) Not lying, not stealing, not cheating, not abusing, not gossiping, not lending ear to gossip — it seems to Me that those who keep these deserve mukti.

4) All devotees are My soul-kin. I have no feeling of ‘these are more, those are less’ toward anyone. You are all particles of My life.

5] Bhajan and Seva done so that someone may see never reaches Paramatma. If one calls, it must reach Kailasa; if one sings, He must be won and grant sayujya itself… Worship, japa, and bhajan must be done thus. Even if it does not come at once, one must practice.

6] Those who use the body completely and engage the mind completely in worship and Seva obtain the very fruit that comes from practicing dhyana, yoga, and such sadhana.

Sadguru Vani
Question: Appa, which place can devotees trust as the suitable refuge for the fulfillment of their own spiritual and worldly life?

Appa:
Wherever your mind feels joy, wherever there is peace — know that as the suitable and praiseworthy place for you. It must bring contentment to your mind, be pleasant, and appeal to you.

Question: Appa, whenever we try japa, dhyana and the like, restlessness comes to the daily observance. Eating something, watching TV or mobile, going somewhere — our senses keep running outward. What should I do?

Appa:
If the five senses were closed, that itself would be hard… Because the eye is open it must keep seeing; because the ears are open they must keep hearing; the nose must keep breathing. Tongue and skin must keep doing their work… Therefore from seeing, speaking, hearing — restlessness comes, does it not?… In that case close the eyes. Then see — the mind within begins to writhe and struggle. Sensing that this one is going toward Paramatma, it panics. It will not let one go toward Paramatma.

The air that is everywhere has become prana and, through the breath, has given life. It is toward that that we must give attention. While sitting quietly, observe it; even while bathing one may keep attention on the breath. While lying down, before sleep comes, one may watch the breath; whenever there is leisure in the day, one may practice this. But what do you do? In the many free moments of the day you spend time thinking about this person and that. They may have no relation at all — yet you keep thinking about them. By wasting time thus you turn away from the effort that awakens awareness toward the Truth. Therefore decide firmly and try to keep attention on the breath. And do not look down on those who are with you. Conduct yourself according to your duty; keep your aim only toward attaining God; and uplift yourself.

Only by the presence of the Inner Self does the body keep moving. Because That is, mind, intellect, and body all are. Without It the body is only a corpse..

That being so, how can you think “I am the body”? Therefore attend to the breath — then He draws you toward Himself.

What Appa Said During an Eclipse

Today the full moon has its complete radiance, yet an obstacle has come to its nectar-light giving vitality to the plants, trees, and living beings of creation… A curtain has come. It is like maya standing across one’s true nature.

Truly we too are complete like the full moon. But having come under maya, a veil of ignorance has covered it.

This moon regains its true nature in a few hours. But for the human being, because of the eclipse regarding one’s true nature across birth after birth, one still cannot come out.

Take up an observance and live bound to it

For attaining God, for drawing near to God, for preparing for His presence, for becoming pure — one must take up some Seva, or bhajan, or dhyana, or satsang, or ethical dharma-steadiness and one-pointedness, and keep it. Through daily observance it must gain weight. Do not say, “God, for Your sake I do this bhajan, dhyana, worship every day,” and then afterwards spend time casually as if clearing a slot. One must grow the feeling that this is the main aim of our life, that we wait for this alone, that every breath must be an offering to Him.

“The living being must practice meditation continuously. While striving, one must discover God’s presence and who one truly is. It is not enough to stay where one is, thinking devotion alone is sufficient. One must strive until the tenth door opens. Spiritual knowledge does not dawn until the sixth chakra between the eyebrows opens. Therefore do not sit thinking ‘today, tomorrow’ — without becoming slaves to the senses, meditate without pause.”

Sadguru’s Beneficial Words to Satsangis

The untouched Supreme Reality alone
has created this entire world. In the form of the Trinity it continues to sustain it — just as from one gold are fashioned necklace, bangle, earring, and pendant..

What does the Guru do? Whatever the living being has taken as real in name and form — He erases that delusion and leaves only the solid gold of the One. That is exactly what the Guru does!!.

Long for Paramatma’s Grace

Simply pray to Paramatma.. There is no need to say much more.. For He knows everything. He knows what to give this living being and what to withhold. Do not ask for small things; say, “God, I want You alone.” Ask for nothing of the world; ask for that Paramatma alone. Do not ask for the small items in the shop.. When the shop itself is Yours, what is there to ask?

Hold the Guru’s feet;
walk as the Guru has taught;
bear every hardship and receive the boon of not returning….

I Myself have become everything

I have pervaded all

I have filled everywhere

I am all-pervading

Madness for the Spiritual Is Sacred

Madness for the spiritual, madness to attain God, madness to stay far from the worldly, madness for the intellect to remain pure — whoever is seized by these is in a lofty state. For one who has forgotten worldly sense-matters there is no desire, no ambition, no worry. He has firmly decided that this body — when it remains, when it goes — is unknown; that it is impermanent.

Taking part in satsang is like a wealthy man adopting someone! Just as the adopted person easily receives the wealthy man’s estate, those who take part in satsang easily obtain the Guru’s grace.

Sadguru’s Beneficial Words to Satsangis

When devotees arrange Guru-puja and satsang in their homes, Appa spoke some points that must be kept in mind and followed.

*Remain humble, knowing that Paramatma alone is causing everything to be done.

“The living being must practice meditation continuously. While striving, one must discover God’s presence and who one truly is. It is not enough to stay where one is, thinking devotion alone is sufficient. One must strive until the tenth door opens. Spiritual knowledge does not dawn until the sixth chakra between the eyebrows opens. Therefore do not sit thinking ‘today, tomorrow’ — without becoming slaves to the senses, meditate without pause.”