Sermons Given by Lord Srimann Narayan to Shri Lakshmi Ji

Those devotees who keep remembering and meditating reverently on the lotus feet of their respected Guru manage to develop divine vision in their hearts, as described in the verse:

श्री गुरु पद नख मणि गण जोती
सुमिरत दिव्य दृष्टि हिया होती।
Shri Guru pad nakh mani gan jyoti
Sumirat divya drishti hiya hoti

The divine light of the Guru’s feet, like precious gems,
When remembered, bestows divine vision and purity of heart

• A devotee who seeks the Guru’s protection should, upon waking, first prostrate at the Guru’s lotus feet while meditating upon him. He should place the imprint of his lotus feet on his forehead, making the sacred tilak, and then, constantly meditating on them, should start his day with prayers recited internally or mentally. He should always apply the ‘pundra tilak’ given generously by the Guru. He must always stay away from those who criticize the tilak, rosary, holy symbols, and tribidi, Guru, God, or Holy Scriptures such as the Bhāgwat.
• He should always keep his Guru’s divine picture with him for the service of darshan. If the Guru decides to visit his place, he must serve him well with food grains, clothes, money, etc., with due veneration. After washing his lotus feet in a nice vessel, he should offer flowers and sandalwood paste, perform the ritual of ‘aarti,’ and bow down at his Guru’s lotus feet. Thereafter, he needs to consume the ‘charnamrit’ (the holy nectar of the Guru’s lotus feet). He should never shy away from the Guru’s service. If for some reason the Guru is unable to come to his place, the devotee must go to the Guru’s place for his blessings, grace, and darshan. There, he must serve the Guru reverently in the above manner with all his means and capability.
• If the Guru has left for his heavenly abode, even then the devotee must devotionally visit his Guru’s home occasionally, considering it a holy pilgrimage, and show his reverence towards the family members of the Guru.
• While at the Guru’s divine abode, one need not think about his own honor or dishonor. He should never expect his Guru or his family members to honor him and must at all times maintain simplicity and humility.
• While at the Guru’s place, he needs to keep in mind that he does not cause any inconvenience to his Guru or his Guru’s family members. He should not feel belittled in doing even the smallest of services for his Guru or his Guru’s family and should not shy away from doing even the meanest of jobs.
• Instead of feeling ashamed in picking up the Guru’s shoes or slippers, he should consider himself to be very fortunate in doing so. He should neither try to find shortcomings in his Guru or his Guru’s family members, nor should he ever criticize them.
• Come what may, a devotee should never let his belief in his Guru dwindle. He should never develop feelings of jealousy, enmity, hatred, or distrust towards his Guru or his Guru’s family members. It has rightly been said:

जो नर गुरु सन ईर्ष्या करहिं
रौरव नरक कल्प सत परहिं।
Jo nar Guru san ershya karahin,
Raurav narak kalp sat parahin

Anybody who feels jealous of his Guru is doomed to stay in the lowest regions of hell for seven eras

• Anybody who criticizes his Guru or even listens to his Guru’s criticism from others is condemned with the sin of killing a cow:

श्री गुरु निंदा सुनै जो काना
होये पाप गोघात समाना।
Shri Guru ninda sunai jo kana,
Hoye paap gau ghat samana

One who listens to the slander of the Guru with their ears,
Will accumulate sin equivalent to killing a cow

• Even the God Almighty is swayed by a devotee who is forever eager to have a glimpse of his Guru, who always longs to be near his Guru, who forgets about whatever service he has done for the Guru and always looks forward to doing more, whose eyes well up with tears by the mere recollection of his Guru’s name, and whose heart swells with pride and joy on receiving the news of his Guru. Devotees should never do anything that goes against the wishes of the Guru. They should try and avoid doing anything that may cause annoyance to him.
• However great and saintly a man may be, he has to bear whatever destiny has in store for him. So, it is imperative for all devotees to keep their courage and faith firm in the Guru even in the worst of times and not be afraid; they should just stick to their goals and completely trust their Guru.

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of unwavering devotion and discipline towards one’s Guru in the spiritual journey. It outlines the various practices a disciple should follow, such as meditating on the Guru’s lotus feet, offering services with humility, and maintaining a sacred connection through rituals like applying tilak and keeping the Guru’s image close. The text stresses that the disciple should avoid criticizing the Guru or his family and must serve with utmost dedication, viewing every opportunity to assist as a blessing. The Guru, seen as a divine manifestation, offers protection and guidance, and the disciple’s faith in the Guru is paramount, especially during challenging times.

Furthermore, the article warns against allowing doubts, jealousy, or criticism to tarnish the sacred relationship with the Guru, emphasizing that such actions can lead to severe spiritual repercussions. The importance of continuous faith, even in the face of adversity, is highlighted as a key to spiritual growth and the attainment of divine wisdom. The relationship between the Guru and the disciple is portrayed as the cornerstone of the disciple’s spiritual development, with the Guru being the guiding light towards enlightenment and liberation.

Important Points

1. Unwavering devotion and discipline towards the Guru are essential.
2. Meditating on the Guru’s lotus feet helps develop divine vision.
3. Daily rituals like applying tilak and keeping the Guru’s image close are important.
4. Serving the Guru with humility and without expecting honor is crucial.
5. Avoid criticism of the Guru or his family, as it leads to severe spiritual consequences.
6. Faith in the Guru must remain strong, even during difficult times.
7. The Guru is seen as a divine manifestation and protector of the disciple.
8. Criticism or jealousy towards the Guru can lead to spiritual downfall.
9. Serving the Guru’s family with respect is important.
10. A true devotee never doubts the Guru’s words and follows them wholeheartedly.
11. The relationship with the Guru is central to spiritual growth and enlightenment.
12. The disciple should view every opportunity to serve the Guru as a blessing.
13. Continuous meditation and prayer are recommended for spiritual progress.
14. The Guru’s teachings and guidance are the disciple’s pathway to salvation.
15. Trust in the Guru is paramount, especially in times of adversity.