Self-Realization & Liberation
Vijayalaxmi: Will I have another birth?
Sage Agastya: Mother, it is God’s duty that when a devotee
asks for a boon, he must grant it immediately. However, sometimes if the boon
that is asked gives rise to a little reluctance, then it creates a difficult
situation.
We are not allowed to normally give a clear response to such
questions, because it is against the wishes of fate. You have a question
arising in your heart, on why I gave a clear response to your husband (Gajaraj
Swamigal) regarding this, but not you. His situation is different from yours.
Yet, let me answer the question. A situation may arise when
others ask your husband that same question. You did not ask this question for
your own sake. I made you ask this question for the sake of the people of the
world.
If anyone asks a question on whether this is their last
birth, the response is the same for everyone. If a person desires that he
should attain the state where this shall be his last birth, then what are the
characteristics that the person needs to have?
The philosophy is this - the microcosm is a small particle
that has come out of the macrocosm. The microcosm that has emerged out of the
macrocosm yearns to return to the state where it can merge once again with the
macrocosm.
When a man is born, his actions and thoughts are desirous of
committing unrighteous acts. His soul will not be freed and attain liberation
unless he completely forgets these unrighteous ways. Once he does that, his
birth is complete, and he will not have rebirth.
I will now explain what a person has to do to attain
liberation through his efforts, behavior, intellect, and practice of
meditation.
Who am I? What is soul? Where has it come from? Where does
it need to go? First, this needs to be understood. To understand this people
need books and lectures. This is what is known as knowledge or higher
understanding. Once that understanding comes, then such a person must pray to
God, and find a Guru.
After experiencing materials, physical intimacy, and gold as
allowed at the stipulated age, man must get rid of his desires for these
things. He must reflect on each one of them.
It is natural that man must have a desire for each of these,
based on the phase of life. However, despite having experienced them, if one
wants it repeatedly, that will give rise to repeated births.
Desire multiplies in the place where there is a hankering to
fulfill excessive wants. Certain people, after acquiring something, do not want
to give it up. They want to hold on to it all the time and hence keep fueling
their desire for it. When such people refuse to part with those things and try
to hold on to those things, desire keeps building up.
Lust is that which comes from attachment, that turns to
desire. Lust occurs when one has obtained something and wants to experience it
excessively.
Next is greed. When one holds on to something more than the
norm, then that person loses power of discernment. Which means, they will not
understand the difference between right and wrong. Righteousness is lost when
greed comes to the fore.
For example, seeking money is a desire. Looking at money
constantly and finding joy in it is an attachment. Enjoying it without sharing
it with others is lust. In such a situation, when one tries to gain money
through wrong means, it becomes greed.
When one’s money increases, and the person doesn’t want to
give it to another; and when that another tries to steal it from him; then
getting displeased with him, when one acts out, that is called anger.
As one accumulates more and more money, and sees someone who
is wealthier than him, and gets jealous of him, then that leads to the delusion
of the mind.
Hence, the one who wants this to be the last birth, must not
have the following: desire, lust, anger, greed, delusion, and arrogance.
The response to your answer is for you to reflect on each
one of these. What is needed to end this cycle of life and death is the
Vazhipaadu given to you all.
Have you followed all this? You have achieved a lot of
purity. However, you still have a couple of blemishes that are present in an
ordinary man.
If one has excessive and unnecessary desire or anger, then
that person does not have the blessed opportunity to find liberation.
One must only think good in thought, words, and action.
Reflect only on the good. Do only good. There is no good or bad in the creation
of God. You yourselves have created these characters. That is why you look at
another and judge them as good or bad. There is nothing bad or good for the Gnani.
He does not consider anyone good or bad. He has neither affection nor hatred.
Why? At the end, he even forgets the ‘I’ at the very end.
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