"SUCH A BHAKTA IS DEAR TO ME"
By HH Sadyojat Shankarashram Swami
उदासीनो गथाव्यथः Udaaseeno Gathavyathah
सर्वारम्भा परित्यागी Sarvaarambha parityagi
यो मद्भक्तः सा में प्रियः Yo Madhbhaktah Sa Me Priyah
" He who is free from vain desires, who is pure in thought, word and deed, who is dexterous in his duties, who can judge correctly with an intellect bereft of prejudice, whose heart is peaceful, who eschews all actions born of self-aggrandisement - such a Bhakta is dear to Me. "
So declares Lord Krishna to Arjuna as He takes him along the turbulent path to God-realisation. This description of a Bhakta is to enable us to shed any misconceptions of Bhakti that we may be clinging to. Meditate on these qualities which are present in a Bhakta and which make him so dear to the Lord. And to help you in your meditation, meditate on one to whom these divine qualities have become natural.
The very first meeting with Pujya Swami Satchidanandaji impresses one with his self-possession. This quiet dignity, far from intimidating, calms the mind of those who come in his contact. It is born of Anapekashata - neither giving in to the demands of the world nor demanding of it. A little further into conversation and you are aware of the clarity of perception and the neatness in presentation of ideas - indications of Suchitwa, purity of the mind. The manner in which the heavy responsibilities of the Ashram, the correspondence etc. are handled calmly and dexterously displays Dakshata in work. The inevitable quarrels, petty jealousies that crop up in any institution have been settled by him without any touch of favouritism. This Udaseenatha is the mark of a Bhakta who is led by the Lord and seeks His affirmation only. The inner serenity so distinctly reflected on his calm countenance is again that of a Gathavyatha - one whose heart has been cleansed of the frustration of failure and the excitement of success. Seeking guidance from and at every step working only on the prompting of the Innermost Dweller of the heart, this saint has been living the life of an ideal Sannyasi, a life of Sarvaarambha partityagi - a giving up of all actions prompted by the ego.
Such a saint whose love for the Lord and Papa and Mataji has inspired innumerable aspirants to tread the path to God-realisation, completes 50 years of total dedication to the Lord. On this auspicious occasion of Pujya Swamiji's Sannyasa Deeksha Swarna Jayanthi, we pray to Lord Bhavanishankar to grant Swamiji good health and inspire him to continue to bless and guide Sadhakas for many more years to come.
( Source - Pujya Swami Satchidanandaji's Golden Jubilee Souvenir )
( The Vision - September 2009 issue )
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