Post Aarathi Talk 24 on 14th Jan 2018

Full Transcript(Not Corrected)

Come on Radhika. You are keeping well? Soundar, how are you? Happy Pongal. Happy Pongal. Today is Pongal, you know? Yes. Ah, Sankranti. How special. What is it? I brought you a book. Oh. Oh my God. It's so heavy. Yes. Multi-Faced Jeevan Mata. Oh, Priyavar. Yes. Abhinava. Yes. I just published it. These Great Souls. But how come it is so heavy? Yes. Oh my God. Can you imagine how heavy this book? Yes. Yes, hold it. I cannot believe. I have never seen a book like this. Apart from reading it, we can do some exercise with it. On oneself or on others? So, Sri Hari, how are you? When did you return? Last weekend. Last Saturday. We went to the mutt there on the first. We attended the lecture. It was the singing. It was magical. Ah. So, there must have been how many thousands of people? Yes. Everybody singing together. Full. I think more. Because the temple can only hold so many. And afterwards there was a talk by Gautam Anandaji? Yes. On Kalpataru? No, on Swami Turiyananda. Because that happened this time. The significance of this first. Yes. First January. Did you come on first January? No. So, it is a New Year's Day. English New Year's Day. It is according to us Kalpataru day. It is a very special significance, Kalpataru. Then it is also, Swami Turiyanandaji is one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna's birthday. And we also celebrated Swami Vivekananda's birthday, which had actually fallen on the 8th. We should have celebrated it on 9th. No, it fell on 9th. We should have done it on 8th, Sunday. It fell on a Monday. But it is so near, that's why we celebrated it on first. But the most significant thing is the New Year. And for us it is Kalpataru. You know Kalpataru? No, no. There is a special event on first of January, 1886. Sri Ramakrishna was very ill at Kasipur Garden House. And he was diagnosed with throat cancer. And so, many days he was taking medication, but somehow he became slightly better on that day. So, towards the afternoon, around 3 o'clock, he walked after many, many days. And then he saw two devotees. One was called Girish Chandra Ghosh. He was a greatest dramatist, etc., in those times. And he was also one of the greatest drunkards, and humanizer, and all those things. But he came under the spell of Sri Ramakrishna, completely changed his life. So, he was sitting there, and they were very happy to see Sri Ramakrishna coming out. Some people felt that maybe he is going to become a better person. But of course, it was all an illusion. A short, you know, like the lamp that burns brightly before it goes off. So, Sri Ramakrishna went straight to Girish Chandra Ghosh. By that time, Girish Chandra Ghosh was preaching that Sri Ramakrishna was an incarnation of God. So, he went and asked him, Girish, what did you understand that you started preaching that you are an incarnation of God? Girish Chandra Ghosh had faith. We will come to the point later on. Nobody can understand, let alone an incarnation of God. Even you cannot understand your wife, even after 50 years of marriage. Even Google cannot understand you. You are still searching. It is a fact. We will come to that point later on. But faith. So, he said, what can I say about a person? Come on, Gayathri. We said something very interesting. Kalpataru day. We were talking about the significance of 1st January. Why do we celebrate? It is all because of this concept of incarnation of God. So, Girish Chandra Ghosh was asked, what did you understand? You are trying to preach. He and one doctor, Ramachandra Datta. Ramakrishna was an incarnation of God. Of course, they were a bit fanatical. So, Girish Chandra Ghosh replied, what can I understand? I am an insignificant person. Even great sages like Valmiki and Vyasa could not understand. Who are the people? Valmiki, he was the writer of biography of Rama. Who was the person? Vyasa, what did he write? Bhagavatam. Because the life of Krishna was only in the Bhagavatam. That is the most wonderful book in the whole world. It is a harmonious combination of karma, bhakti and yoga. That is why Ramakrishna has considered Bhagavatam as the greatest scripture in the world. And it is understandable by everybody. If today Hinduism is what it is, it is all because of this Bhagavatam. Three scriptures have influenced India. How did religion spread in India? We will come to that point later. So, Girish Chandra Ghosh said, what Veda, Vyasa and Valmiki could not express? How could this insignificant mind really understand what is an incarnation of God? That reply threw Sri Ramakrishna into an ecstatic mood. He became divine and he touched every devotee. There were about 30 devotees there and said, may your consciousness be awakened. The moment he touched, every one of them had a tremendous mystical experience. Some went into ecstasy. Some had visions. Some had auditory experiences. Some fell down totally unconscious. Some were shedding tears. Some were dancing. Some were shouting, hey, wherever you are, come and get the blessings of Sri Ramakrishna. Ultimately, after a few minutes, we call it Bhava. That ecstatic state has come to an end. Then Sri Ramakrishna slowly returned and so the disease did not subside. On August 16th, he passed away. Throat cancer. Now, here is a wonderful thing. According to Hinduism, saints, means God-realized souls, are divided into four categories. I hope you remember it. We have discussed it earlier. Who are they? The first lowest category, realized souls, we are talking about, is Jeevan Muktas. They are realized, but what is the difference? The knowledge is the same, but their capacity is severely limited. A Jeevan Mukta cannot give liberation to other persons. He can give advice, he can inspire, and he can guide. But he cannot liberate because he himself got liberation through God's grace. This is a wonderful philosophy which is applicable universally for all times. Nobody can get liberation excepting through the grace of Bhagavan. Why is it? Because what is the power that really binds us? Whose power is that? God's. This is what Bhagavad Gita also says, This Maya is mine, consisting of three Gunas, Sattva, Rajas, and Brahma. So, collectively, the highest expression of Sattva is called Brahma. The highest expression of Rajas, universal Rajas, is called Vishnu. I will tell you why. This is not to denigrate, this is to understand creation. And the highest power of Tamas is Shiva. Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, Srishti, Stithi, and Laya. So, Brahma doesn't have weapons. You know why? Because he is only creator, creativity. So, he doesn't need, all that he needs to do is something. But it is left for Vishnu to protect his devotees, to sustain this universe. So, he needed both Vara and Abhaya. So, he has to give to people and he has to take away also from people. So, he needs this Chakra, Gada, Sarna, and all those things. But never think of these things as weapons as we understand, inert things. They are all divine powers. Chaitanya, all Chaitanya, that is the expression of Chaitanya. But what about Shiva? He has to help us to obtain a new body. So, when you say he is an embodiment of Tamas, we should not think from the individual level. Tamas also is most wonderful quality. People do not understand, Sattva is also worst quality, Sattva is also best quality. We will come to that later on. So, universally, Srishti, Stithi, and Laya is represented by Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara. So, what is it? According to Vedanta, there is nothing called death. There is nothing called destruction. There is nothing called birth. Birth means manifestation. Death means non-manifestation. That's all. And it is cyclical. Whatever is born, is born out of death. A seed dies, gives birth to a plant. Plant grows as Stithi, and it reaches its maturity, gives flowers and fruits. And then, what does it do? It dies. Dies means what? It lives through the seeds. And again, this cycle eternally goes on and on and on. And incidentally, it is said, why does God create evil? Just now, if you have heard what we have read, God is not to blame. Who is to be blamed? We ourselves. So, then we see the evil. Then, who created the evil? The answer is, we created. But when did we create? From the last birth, individually. From the last creation, universally, after Pralaya. So, Brahma creates. Means what? He doesn't produce anything new. All that he does is, any Jeeva who doesn't try for heaven, on church bulletin, hell is full. Try for heaven. Anybody who doesn't try for heaven, and if this Pralaya happens, then he will be born exactly what he has been left with. Like 4,000 years back, lotus seeds have been left behind in the pools of Harappa and Mahamjodhara. 4,000 years. And these archaeologists who dug them up, they wanted, they became curious, lotus seeds. So, they planted. Within two months, a new sprout has come. See the power of the seed. And that's what we call in Vedantic language, Samskara. So, we are all born with Samskara. So, Ramanasura, if you have seen, small baby, smiling like that. How lovely. But as he grew up, the Samskara also is growing. So, the Samskaras are awaiting our proper instrumentation. And the moment the instrument is ready, the Samskara comes out. What is beginningless ignorance? That is to say, you cannot say at this moment it began. If you want, rationally, the meaning is, you go back in time as much as you can, you won't get the starting point. Philosophically, if you want to understand, Maya means time, space and causation. Maya started. Srishti means what? Time, space and causation. If you want to create anything, that creation comes at a particular point of time, at a particular point of space, and with some cause. Desha, kala, nimitta. Nimitta means you want to produce a pot. There must be clay. You may be ready. Like one tribal leader, you know. Indira Gandhi, when she was President, Prime Minister of India, visited Nagaland. She visited one tribal leader. Soon after she left, the tribal leader had printed a wedding card. I am going to marry Indira Gandhi. Somebody asked him, Arre, what is this? Why did you print it? He said, I am going to marry Indira Gandhi. But, did she agree? He said, I don't know, 50%, I am ready. So, like that, the samskara is awaiting the growth, maturity of the instrument. So, as soon as the body, the mind also, attains to a certain stage, the samskara is ready to spring out. Swamiji, there must have been some point when everything was without any faults. No. There is no such point. According to Hinduism, Srishti is eternal. It is like a cycle. But, if it is karmic, then we have done certain things, which is leading to that. But, there must be, in the beginning, there has to be a beginning, where we actually didn't do anything. You see, this is the point I was trying to tell you. Philosophically, you see, what is Maya, time, space and causation. So, you are asking, what is the beginning of Maya? You are asking, what is the beginning of time? What should be before time? What should be before time? Timelessness, isn't it? So, is timelessness time? You are asking, when did timelessness, when did time begin? So, human reason cannot pass beyond that level. So, that is the meaning of beginningless Maya. Beginningless for two reasons. First of all, you cannot find out when it started. That is rationally. Philosophically, the whole creation, for you to start, has started when? Any birth. Birth means Maya. Maya means time, space and causation. Srishti means time, space and causation. Within Srishti, within time, your concept is not timelessness. You cannot think of timelessness within time. You can only think. Otherwise, go on asking, before that, what was there? That is not going to be answered. So, the idea of infinity is impossible for a human mind. So, that is the meaning of beginning. And it is a totally useless question. Useless because, supposing you come to know, at this time it started. What are you going to do about it? A fellow is not having food. He is on the verge of death. What does he need? Because he is a stupid philosopher. When did this hunger start? What is the point in it? Even if somebody says your hunger started, like one schoolboy was asked, how old is your father? He said, six years. How can a father be six years old? He said, that fellow became a father only when I was born. I am six years old. So, these are completely useless questions. Time waste. We are here. Is there any way out? Yes, there is a way out. What is the way out? So, we have to start our spiritual quest. And that is where the scriptures come into being. This is where Bhagavatam comes into existence. One question we raised, how does any Hindu, he knows the highest philosophy, especially if it is in Punjab, you know. The world does not exist in the past, present and future. That is the Shankara's followers. I added to that, you know. Accepting breakfast time, lunch time and dinner time, that time definitely time exists. Jagat Jagat exists. This is, you know, certain roads, way of... Some good things are also there. Like, you know, when one sadhu meets the other sadhu, there is a way of greeting. Sadhus, they greet in two ways. One is Namaste or Om Namo Narayanaya. But even better than that, Darsh Kya Darshan Saaf Hai? Is your vision clear? Are you able to see Bhagawan inside? Or are you seeing X, Y, Z, individual, so and so? This is the most important thing. That is why India is so great. Every corpse is taken. Behind, a big crowd goes. What do they chant in North India? Ram Naam Sat Hai. Ram Naam, Ramas Naam, alone is the truth. Everything else is temporary. We don't say it doesn't exist, we say temporary. That's an important concept. Maya means what? Not non-existence, temporary. That is the idea. So how did every Hindu, he may be totally academically illiterate, how did he know so much of the highest Vedanta? Only because of three scriptures. Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatam. And of these, Bhagavatam is the sweetest. And it is said it is sweetest because Bhagavatam is like a very sweet mango. Shuka Mukha Dravam Galitam That which came out of Shuka's mouth. Shuka means two meanings are there. Shuka Deva and Shuka means parrot. So it is said when a parrot finds a beautiful mango, it pecks. Some belief is there that mango which has been pecked by the parrot becomes sweetest. But here the meaning is Bhagavatam was really, it was composed by Vyasa, but it was preached to Parikshit. He was cursed to die in seven days and Shuka Deva goes there and then Parikshit was only an instrument. All the people killed. And this, there is no scripture equivalent to Bhagavatam. Of all the, it has got eleven chapters. Of the twelve chapters, twelve skandhas, of these, eleventh skandha, tenth and eleventh skandhas are most important. The tenth skandha, dashama skandha is all about Shri Krishna's life and leelas. Eleventh skandha contains the greatest teaching of Bhagavan Krishna. You know there are two works of Krishna which have, one has attained universal prominence, another is only prominent among devotees. One is called Bhagavad Gita, Mahavartam you get. Another is his message to Uddhava. Shri Krishna Uddhava Samvada. And this is full of bhakti, this is completely, in a way, completely different from Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita is a philosophy. He doesn't expound the nuances of bhakti. In Bhagavad Gita, it is just, you know, confirmation of the highest truth, which comes in the second chapter. Then how to attain to this self-knowledge? Through either Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga. And how to look at God through his greatest manifestation, which is the tenth skandha, dashama skandha. adhyatvibhutimatsatvam srimadurjitamevava tattvadevavagacchatvam mamatejo amsa-samhah Do you know what it means? Wherever we see any excellence, know that it is me manifesting as that greatness through that person. So supposing you see a great musician, so that music belongs to whom? God. But that body becomes the instrument. So according to us, Saraswati is the embodiment of knowledge. What knowledge? How many knowledges are there? Knowledge is only one. Knowledge per se is only one. That is called intelligence. Medha. Paravidya or Aparavidya? Both. Saraswati is both. Because whoever wants Aparavidya, she will give. And those who want Paravidya, she has to give. But Saraswati means what? Chit. When you say Sat, Chit and Ananda, you apply to Brahma, you apply to Vishnu, you apply to Maheshwara. So Brahma is the embodiment of Sat and Ananda. Saraswati is the embodiment of Chit. So same thing, Vishnu also. Sat is also embodiment of Chit because for maintaining, first he has to know that here is my devotee and he is in this trouble and this is the trouble, this is the remedy and where is the remedy? All those things come only from Chit. That is why Chit is the one which connects Sat and Ananda. Can you understand the concept? Be very clear about it. What is it? What is the purpose of life? Why do we live? To attain Satchitananda. Sat means what? Existence. Ananda means what? Bliss. But how do we know we are existing? Do you exist when you don't know, when you don't think? For example, do you exist in your deep sleep? So far as you are concerned, you do not exist because to know that I exist requires one element. What is it? I have to be aware that not only I exist, but I am aware that I exist. If I am not aware, a comatic person or unconscious person, deep sleep person and a dead person, what is the good? That is the most important. Other persons may know you exist, but what good does it do to you? That's why two questions we can never ask other persons. Am I existing? You cannot ask because even to ask, you have to exist. And not only that, am I a happy person? This is a question you should never ask anybody because everybody will tell, yes, yes, you are a very happy person. You alone know that you are not happy. What is the good of it? So to know that I exist and to know that I am happy, we require that middle, chit. Not only that. Then who makes us aware of chit? It is self-aware. That is the characteristic of light. What is it? Light not only illumines everything else, but light itself lets us know I am light. So you don't take one torch light and say whether it is sun-risen or not. The moment you see light, you become aware of two things. What is it? Here is light and here is something that is revealed by light. Both. That is why it is called self-illuminating. So that is why about chit you don't ask the question, am I aware of myself? So to know that I am existing and to know that I am happy or unhappy, whatever it is, chit is necessary. And the most important thing is that awareness that I am a happy person or unhappy person has nothing to do with any external thing. How do we know? Because the external source of happiness is limited. No, no, that is not the point. The point is that even if the external things are the most favourable, we fix, we talked about it on one Sunday, we fix values of happiness, percentage of happiness. From this person, I derive so much happiness. From this object, Rasagulla gives me 95% happiness. Jalebi gives me, today jalebi is there. Jalebi gives me 80% happiness. And this fixation of the percentage of happiness also differs from time to time. Say, suppose you like a certain type of food, you are very hungry. The first handful fixes you 100% happiness. The second handful, only 95%. Have you noticed it? And if you are forced more, then not only it doesn't give, it is minus. So what is the point? If we can make our mind, make happy, fix 100% happiness, irrespective of whatever happens, that is called Jeevan Mukti. That is called Jeevan Mukti. Okay, I forgot the topic. Jeevan Mukti is the first. The second is called Acharya. Madhvacharya, Ramacharya, they can give liberation, but to a few number of people. The third category is called Ishwara Koti, like Swami Vivekananda. They can give liberation to most people. I will give elaboration later on. They can give liberation to most people. And the highest is Avataras. They are called Kapala Mochana. Means they simply say, may you be liberated, be liberated. So what is the difference? All of them know I am God. But the expression of power is very limited in a Jeevan Mukta and a little more in Acharya, a little more in Ishwara Koti or Nitya Mukta, and full capacity, means not 100%. Even an Avatara has a limitation. That's why he has to come again, top up. You know, he gets exhausted, then he comes and then he tops it up, and every time he comes up, he has a new instrument, you know. Next time, this time, when Sri Ramakrishna Avatara came, he came with a private secretary to take down this thing. Next time he will come with a choreographer and it will be videotaped and all those things. So now you see the difference? No difference in knowledge. No difference in liberation. Difference in the power. That is how Hindus divide it. But according to Swamiji, there is one category, he is even greater than an Avatar, of whom nobody hears. They are completely hidden. The world knows nothing about them. They just sit somewhere and think, and those thoughts, ideas, will influence the whole world. Anyway, if you don't know anything about them, you cannot even talk about them. This is what Swami Vivekananda told, there is even a higher category, and always there will be some such people. This is the speciality of Hinduism. Every true Hindu, and many Hindus probably don't know what that teaching is. This universe, at any given age, is governed by one particular Manu. That is why it is called Manvantara. So this Manu manifests himself by one of these Saptarshis, seven Rishis. So this time, the Manu came in the form of Sri Ramakrishna, and in the form of Swami Vivekananda. He is one of the Saptarshis. So somebody asked me, which Saptarshi, which of the seven? I said he is Vishwamitra. Must be, rationally, I don't know. Because Vishwamitra was short-tempered, Swami Vivekananda was short-tempered. And both of them loved the whole universe. Vishwamitra was a very, very compassionate person. But if you know a bit of Sanskrit, it is an anomaly. You know anomaly? This Vishwamitra is composed of two words. Vishwa, no, no, Amitra. Vishwamitra means Vishwa Akara, and unless another Akara joins, it doesn't become Dergha. Vishwa Amitra means the most unfriendly person in the whole universe. But he was the most compassionate person, really. We believe, and a little tiny bit of it. Anyway, these things rationally we cannot prove. It is a matter of faith. So this time again, God incarnated to propagate two things. First, the teachings of Bhagavatam. Specially, the teachings of Sri Krishna Uddhava Samvatam. This is the first. Second, to prove the promise of Bhagavan Krishna. What is it? Ananyas chintayanto mam e janah paripasate Tesham nityabhiyuktanam yogakshemam vahamyaham If somebody totally relies upon God, whatever that person needs, and whatever things are brought to that person, we are both bringing what is needed and protecting the things which have been brought to him. Yoga means to bring things which are needed for that person. And so there is no need for a refrigerator, because God will bring to him when it is needed. So for us, we don't rely upon anybody, you know. We know that Bhagavan has come in the form of Internet of Things. Yeah, you know that? An intelligent refrigerator. So your milk is getting depleted. Then it will phone, and it knows your favourite milk, whether it is 20% fat or 30% fat, and how much sugar or whatever it is, and it will order, and in future they will be delivering through drones. Yeah. So this is going to come. Already it is coming true. Anyway, what is the point? Bhagavan promised that whoever depends totally upon me, I will look after him, I will protect him, and I will do what is good for him. So people have lost faith in that promise. That's why Sri Ramakrishna was specially born. How do we justify it? This is the truth. Sri Ramakrishna never went anywhere outside Dakshineshwar. But he needed things, he needed guidance. And when he needed things, and when he needed guidance, the Gurus came all by themselves, proving that this is not a vain promise, but Bhagavan's promise will always be Satyam. It is because he is only Satya Sankalpa, Satya Kama. It will all come true. But now it is up to us whether we depend upon God. I depend upon God. Prospective son-in-law saying, I depend upon God. You see, there was a man who had a girl to be married. Marriageable age. So he heard of a young man. So he went to interview the young man. He interviewed the young man, and he came back. His wife was waiting for the result of the interview. And she asked, how did things go? He said, there is good news and there is bad news. She said, first of all, what is the bad news? The bad news is, I asked him, what about further studies? He said, I depend upon God. What about maintaining your wife? If you marry my daughter, I totally depend upon God. For everything, he says, I totally depend upon God. What is the good news? The wife asked, what is the good news? He says, he thinks I am God. Even to be considered as God is something unique, you know. So, this has been proved in the life of every great saint. So, what is the teaching of this Sri Krishna Uddhava Sambhavan? Bhakti, devotion, is the only way. That's what Sri Ramakrishna had come to confirm. Yes, you can be a Jnani, you can be a Karmi, you can be a Yogi, but without the grace of God, you are not going to realize God. The easiest path, at least for this Kali Yuga, is Bhakti Marga. What type of Bhakti Marga? The Bhakti preached by Narada. Narada, I think I sent you once. Swami Gutesandi, did you have a time to glance? Ananyas Chantayantam. Okay, wonderful. It is the very essence of Bhagavad Gita. Narada Bhakti Sutra. You know, he was the greatest devotee of God. And in India, he is notorious. Kalaha Priya, Kalaha Bhojana. But his very name is very symbolic. You know what is the meaning of Narada? Naram Dada Teti Narada. The word in Sanskrit, the letter Da, always means one who gives. So, Dhanada, Jnanada. So, this is, Nara means Jnanam. One who gives Jnanam. What is the Jnanam? You are a puny Jiva. You have to depend upon God. There is no other way. Even if you take to the path of knowledge, it is only the grace of God who has given you that strength. So, every Jnani ultimately becomes the greatest Bhakta. This was what Ramanujacharya expounded. Once I spoke about it. According to him, according to Shankaracharya, Karma Yoga leads to Chitra Shuddhi, purification of the mind. And in a purified mind, Viveka arises. Viveka means discrimination. Discrimination means, this is real and this is unreal. They always harp on reality and unreality. Duniyatrikalmehainai, accepting for breakfast time and lunch time and dinner time. And Jnana Nishta brings one to the knowledge, I am you, I am Brahmasmi. This is their emphasis. Whereas, Ramanuja, what he said, that Karma Yoga is common. Karma Yoga brings Chitra Shuddhi. That means our wrong conclusions, wrong thinking, wrong reasoning, this will be purified. Right intuitive knowledge will come. What is the knowledge? That God is the whole, I am a Jiva, part of Him. This is the knowledge. Karma Yoga gives not only Chitra Shuddhi, Chitra Shuddhi gives knowledge. What is the knowledge? Not real and unreal. God is the whole, I am the part. The moment we realize, this is my parent, this is my mother, this is my father, then that is called Bhakti. Jnanam must always give Bhakti. Whereas, according to Shankara, Bhakti must lead to knowledge. And we disagree with him, with Shankaracharya. We disagree with Ramanujacharya, it ends only in this relationship. But we say, you go until that time, then you know God, if that is the final stage, of course that is the final stage. If it is not, God will let you know that there is a further stage. Let us not quarrel about it. This is the special teaching of Sri Ramakrishna in this age, Narada Prokta Bhakti Yoga. And the very first definition, these are called Sutras. Sutra means, you know what is Sutra? The whole teaching has been compressed, zipped. And you know zipped means, even if there is so many files, they can be zipped into the, compressed into the smallest. So what is this Sutra? It is a mnemonic. Mnemonic means, you know, an aid for remembrance. So, in the olden days, there was no way of writing, there was no way of recording. That is why it is called Shruti. You hear it and you remember it. And what you heard, God alone knows. But what you remember, that is what remains with you, that is what influences you. Harikatha, when I was a small boy, I was very fond of Harikathas. In those days, TVs and all those things were not there. One Harikatha, very nice Bhagavathas, for three, four hours, they will mesmerize you. So, now and then, they will tell small stories also to make it. So, there was one, the son-in-law, he went to visit his mother-in-law, father-in-law. And the mother-in-law, naturally, you know, she prepared very nice things, and it is called Bhaji. So, he liked it very much. And that is also true, because after walking such a long distance, if somebody does not appreciate, nowadays it is all Karki, you know. It is Karki, you know, walking in a car, that is called Karki. So, in those days, they had to walk. That is why Aditi, like Deva, that means they come, they cannot tell you when they are reaching there. So, you have to receive them, give them. And then, first, you have to give Padhya, water for washing the feet. Then, you have to give some cool drink. Usually, you know, Majhige, we call it, buttermilk, like that. Nowadays, Ayye, Appu, Somapan Toda Karenge. You understand, Somapan? Sanskrit name, Somapan. So, these are the common things. That is called Argya. In Puja, that is called Argya. First Padhya, then Argya. This is all based upon how we are supposed to treat patients. And then, other things. So, this fellow, he stayed three days, and he liked this Bhaji very much. You know Bhaji? Like pakoda, like that, very much. And then, he wanted to tell his friends how it was. So, he was crossing. He had to cross. He would jump. He was trying to remember this, remember this, remember this. And he came there. Icy jump, icy jump, icy jump. He had to jump. So, he reached his home, and he was thinking, oh, my mother-in-law prepared such a wonderful dish. Now, this Bhaji he forgot. Icy jump, icy jump, icy jump. What is the name of that icy jump? What he heard was Bhaji. He had to jump. And he forgot this name Bhaji. It became jump now. So, this is called Smriti. Yes, Guru tells something, and this fellow, he remembers something. That is why so much of Sankara, Smriti Sankara has come. That is how people have come to misinterpret so many things. That is why this Islam, you know, they have got two, Shias and Sunnis. The Sunnis are the largest. The Sunnis, they always go by Hadith, they call it. Hadith means the legends. What Mohammed had done, it has become like reminiscences. And that is what they take as authority to text. But the Shias, they want only directly the people whom Mohammed had taught, and then their descendants. That is why they always revere their head of the Imam, etc. Anyway, this fight is going on between these two. So, reminiscences are good, but not reliable. Direct teachings are good, but we have to depend upon that. That means you go directly to the source of the scriptures. And if the reminiscences reinforce our understanding, it is good. But don't take because these miracles and these things and so many things, they unnecessarily emphasize so many things. So, that is why Shruti means a disciple hears and he wants to memorize it. That is called Sutra. So, Narada was supposed to have written a beautiful book called Narada Bhakti Sutras. And they are very brief. Now we will expound what is called Bhakti. They are very straightforward. And Narada has to define what is Bhakti. What is Bhakti? Sādhu asmin parama prema svarūpa. Sā means Bhakti. According to Narada, what is Bhakti? Asmin, Paramātmani in Paramātmā. What is it? Parama prema svarūpa. The supreme devotion to the Supreme Lord is called Bhakti. Not anything less. So, why these two? What is called conditional agents? Supreme Lord and supreme devotion. Because we can be supremely devoted to... A husband can be devoted to his wife, at least he pretends to be devoted to her. It's a different issue altogether. He says, I love you, I love you. That's a different issue. And you don't hear also properly, mumble sometimes. I love you, I love you. You understand, I love? Opposite of? Of love. A love. Shocha, ashocha. Tushti, atushti. Himsa, ahimsa. I love you, I love you becomes what? So, this Shruti is very important. Sa means that Bhakti. That alone is fit to be called Bhakti. What is it? Asmin. Supreme Lord, not any object in this world. But Supreme Lord also, OK. You understand it is Supreme Lord. I want to love. But what type of love you are giving to him? Under 1%, 10%? Where is the list? So that's why human beings are divided into three categories. The first category, bucket list. You know what is bucket list? Have you seen a film? Very nice film, I like it. So, all of us must have a bucket list. You know what is my first priority bucket list? To die in Varanasi. So, this Asmin means Supreme Lord. Not any other Devata. Any other Devata like Lakshmi, like Saraswati is meant for fulfilling certain lower desires. You want to become a Pandit, you want to become a scientist, etc. It must be Parabrahman, Supreme Lord. And Supreme Devotion, Bhakti. That means what? There is no place. This Bhakti, even this much will not be diverted towards anything else, excepting God. So, three types of people. The first, lowest category, all desires are there, but there is no name of God there. Second type of person, he becomes a devotee, 5,900 list of desires, the bottom list will be God. On one of the bucket list, you go on ticking outwards, at the end, it is God. But the supreme category, first category, there will be some desires, but the first in the list is only God. But, even these three are not to be counted. There is one Parama Bhakta, Raga Bhakta, in his list there is only one name, and that is God. That is the definition he is giving. Parama Bhakta asmin is supreme God, and supreme devotion to Him. This devotion has no deviation. That is the definition. All these old wars, every one of these old wars, their mind is only fixed on God, and nobody else. That's why they shine among, there are so many devotees. Of all the devotees, these twelve shine. And to such an extent, especially old wars, it's a very enlightening story. She was a lady, and she was the daughter of one of the greatest devotees. So, there is a very, very interesting story. Her father was a garland maker, only for God, not for anybody else. And then he used to prepare the garland, and keep it there, and go and quickly take a bath. Because in South India, only three seasons are there. You know that? So, by that time he collected the flowers, made the garland, and then he went, he will take bath before going to the temple. This lady, she will take it, put it around her neck, and going on. And one day her father discovered it, and he was very sad. So, that means this is already offered to somebody, which is, we call it, polluted. Then, sadly, that day he went and collected flowers again, and he asked his daughter, since how long you have been doing? You know, a man went mad. He thought he was a dog. He was taken to a psychiatrist. Psychiatrist asked, since when did you start? What do you mean by when? Ever since I was a puppy. There is a method, even in madness. So, this Andal said, I have been doing it for a long time, ever since I grew up a little, and I decided the Lord alone will be my husband. So, Vishnuchitta made a second garland and straight took it. But that night the Lord appeared. Today, I didn't appreciate. I want that garland, which has been worn by your daughter only. Every day you bring it, only after she wears it. Why? Because she is the greatest devotee. That is the point. Why was she wearing? For her pleasure? No, it is said a wife decorates herself only for her husband, for pleasing her husband. A devotee, whatever the devotee does, whether it is cooking or dressing, whatever he does, is only to express his love for God. There is no place for anything else called self. And that is what is represented by Andal. What a great story in Mirabai. Mirabai was like that. Her husband sent her poison. He sent a cup of poison. She drank it and laughed. She drank it. I have no fear because the mirror does not exist. So, if you have given poison to Bhagavan Krishna, then that poison also will turn into nectar. What could Kaliya do to Bhagavan Krishna? It will turn into nectar. Who did it turn into nectar? How did it turn into nectar? No, no, not like that. Kaliya was a great devotee of God. So, he was under a curse. And he cannot live anywhere because Garuda was waiting for him to kill him. So, here in Yamuna, Garuda cannot come. He had a curse. Kaliya is helpless if he goes out of that. Like Sugreeva, he can only stay at Shri Shrimshrunga. He cannot come down. Otherwise, that Vali will come and finish him off. So, like that, this Kaliya had come. Krishna wanted to make him free. Otherwise, do you think that anybody can do anything when Krishna is there? So, he jumped into the waters and danced on the hoods of Kaliya. Then Krishna asked, Why are you poisoning this one? Why don't you go out? He says, I didn't come here to poison. But if I go out to your Garuda, you know, between two attendants, always there is quarrel. Human nature, you know, there also. He said, Don't worry. Now I have danced upon your head. My footprints are imprinted upon your head. The moment Garuda sees, he will do Namaskaram, Pradakshinam also if possible, and then he will go away. So, Kaliya then left. Then the question came, What did Kaliya offer to Bhagavan Krishna when he was dancing on his head? What could he give? Only poison. It is created, this story. That's true. What did he offer? Vishak. Then Krishna said, You are offering to me poison. How come everybody is giving nectar and you are giving poison? He said, You know, Krishna, Do I have anything of my own? You gave me poison. And with compound interest you get. So, this applies to everybody. The truth is, who has given poison to any serpent? Only God. Is it a poison? Is it the purpose of creating evil to other people? No. You see, we are so much fuzzy, our human intelligence. No snake wants to kill anybody, excepting for food. So, that poison is food for the serpent. And it is such a sattvika thing, once in a year, if it eats a little bit, whole year everybody is free. What about me and you? We must have breakfast, we must have... One Swami was asked, Do you fast? He said, I always fast, in between me. So, you know this python? How many times does it eat? Once in a year. Yes. Because it doesn't expend any energy. So, this is the symbolism. If there are wicked people in this world, who created that wickedness? There is a lot of philosophy there. Wickedness means what? Giving trouble to other people. Now, can anybody give trouble to other people, unless they deserve it? I am only talking. You have to understand and you think rationally, then you have to accept it. If you accept the law of karma, can somebody give you unhappiness? But we don't want to accept. We think that the problem is the devotees. A non-devotee cannot blame God. Only the devotee who blames God. What a paradoxical thing it is. Because he doesn't see anybody else. First victim is God. I am your devotee. And he has that arrogance to say, every day I am paying so much of insurance premium. Morning and evening. You know? What are you paying? What is the insurance premium you pay? Your goodie goodie jaffa and a little bit of puja. We think this is insurance. That is why another epithet I have created. This thousand names of Vishnu, another name I have it. Interloka Insurance Company. Because this insurance company works only in this loka. World annual travel insurance. For one year, whatever happens anywhere, you get it. But even if you pass away to the other world, there is a branch there. In fact, the headquarters is only in the other world. So, this is our problem. We don't trust what God tells us. What does God tell us? God gives us this knowledge through what? Scriptures, Vedas. Who gave the Vedas? And who talks about the law of karma? Scriptures are telling. So, my question to you is, can anybody give either happiness or unhappiness to anybody if that person doesn't deserve it? Cannot. Even if you feel like giving, the other person, if he doesn't deserve it, he won't be able to receive it at all. This is the truth. You experiment it. Now, supposing there is a person who is very unhappy. You want to make him happy. So, you will ask, what is this? This person is not having food. So, you give him food. Will that guarantee that that person will be happy? Happiness has nothing to do with it. Because unhappiness has many resources. So, he will be grumbling also. You gave okay, but salt was less. You should have added a bit of pickle. So many other things he will tell you. This is our point. We have to not only discuss about it, not only hear about it, not only intellectually understand, you have to think and say, is it truth or not? Then only the scripture becomes real to you. Otherwise, it is only intellectual understanding. We play a big part. In fact, we don't receive anything. It is true of God's grace also. Now, is unhappiness God's grace or not? If you are a devotee, whatever a devotee receives is what? God's grace. Suppose there is unhappiness in that person's life, is it God's grace or not? Because we judge by double standards, you know, like Indian accounts. You know double booking? You know what it means? You know double booking? There will be two pages. Here is the income, here is the expenditure. But Indians keep at least two. One for the income tax, this is called double bookkeeping. I heard they keep three copies of it. I don't know what is the third copy meant for. So, we have to be convinced about it. Shri Ramakrishna had come to reinforce Ram Anujacharya's method, Bhakti Mahatma. Also Madhvacharya. Only thing is some of his philosophical views are not rational. One of them prominently is that God created people not equally. Some are doomed to hell even before creation. So, somebody challenged Madhvacharya. Others are doomed to go to God. I should not use that word, doomed to go to God. They are destined to go to God. Some are, even if you practice spiritual disciplines, you will go only to hell. Then somebody challenged him. If that is so, what is the point of doing all those things? Better enjoy whatever you can enjoy and kick the bucket. Bucket list will finish, then kick the bucket. So, what is the good? Anyway, if I am going to go to hell, I am going to go to hell. The clever answer he has given is nobody knows who is who. So, if you are a bhakta and do not do spiritual practice, then you will go to hell. Only after you complete all your spiritual practices, then you will come to know whether you have to enter through the left door or the right door. It is a defective philosophy. There is a counterpart here. It is called Calvinism. Here also, you know, Protestantism and Calvinism. They have got exactly the same philosophy. Some souls are doomed before creation to hell. Anyway, there was one of these Calvinists who met a Vedantist. And this argument is going on. Then the Calvinist said, you know, you are a Hindu, you are a Vedantin. Definitely, you will go only to hell. And Vedantist said, even if I am offered heaven, since you will be there, I prefer to go there. It is a very funny, you know, argument was there. There were two people here. One was Huxley. Another was a bishop called Berkeley. These two, Berkeley was a bishop, means believed in God, heaven and earth, but they were great friends. So there is a story in the Bible of Joan who was swallowed by a whale and then after that she went to heaven. This was the topic they were discussing. Huxley never believed in God and these things. Then Huxley said, no, no, no, it is all untrue. These are all your stupid superstitions. Then slowly the topic progressed and said, how to find whether Joan went to heaven or hell? So the bishop said, you know, the only way is when I go to heaven, I will find out and ask what happened. Then this Huxley said, supposing you don't find Joan in heaven. Bishop said, then you can ask her. Then you meet her. What happened after that? Very funny things happened. This idea that somebody is due to go to hell, only has seven levels of Patala, Mahakalpala and all that. You want to add something? She said only seven. I sort of think that it is possible because if we have done really bad deeds, then even if we are redeeming ourselves, we would still go to one of those seven categories of hell. Sorry, repeat again. So let's say I did terrible things and I am doomed to go to hell and the only thing is that I redeem myself to some extent with spirituality. But still, because of the Prarabdha, it is still possible that I would go to one of those seven levels of hell. Yes, yes. What is the point? What is the question? I think Madhvacharya was right. Madhvacharya was right. That some people are doomed to go to hell before they are born. No, no, no. The thing is, when he says somebody is doomed to hell eternally, no chance of coming back. That is where the contradiction is. Vedanta says there is nothing called eternal heaven or eternal hell. These are like first class hotels and worst class hotels. That is all. Some funny thing happened, you know. My last but one trip, we all went to India and we all went to one place called Ponampet. And the Swami had arranged a guest house. We have a guest house and they lived. And there they saw these rats moving all over. So immediately they came to me and said, we cannot live here, there are rats. I said, what can be done? There is a hotel nearby. We would prefer to go there. We phoned to them and they also have a room. I said, okay, you go. And then immediately, it is only about one and a half miles, there was a car. So they took the car, went there and next morning they came. And they asked, how was your stay? I said, there was bandicoots. We would have been far better. I am sure they are going to that hotel. Anyway, these are nice jokes out there, you know. One man went to a hotel, ordered a cup of tea. And there was a fly. This fellow called the waiter and said, waiter, there is a fly in this tea. Waiter looked and said, for one nana, do you expect an elephant there? So, for this age, bhakti is the only path. Not only that, Ramakrishna said, for any age, devotion is the only way. Then this controversy, jnanis, like Shankaracharya's followers, they say, accepting through jnana, you cannot attain liberation. How did Sri Ramakrishna counter it? He said, the Divine Lord is everything. What you call Parabrahma is what we call Saguna Brahma. Is He not capable of giving devotion to you? Yes. And is He not capable of giving knowledge to you? So the point is, the controversy is, to get to jnanam, you have to follow jnanam arga. We don't agree with it. We have to get to jnanam. But jnanam could be got through bhakti. God can give you everything. In fact, He alone gives, and nothing else. And this was also proved in the life of Shankaracharya. You know, Rinkuji, those lines that Rajaji says before Sahasranama, those four lines, it's something on those points, isn't it? I also don't remember now. Yes, bhakti and one and the same thing. That is what Swami Vivekananda says at the end of the Bhakti Yoga, Parabhakti and Parajnanam as exactly one and the same. Supreme devotion and supreme knowledge is one and the same thing. What is it? The moment you come to know that you are Brahman, then you become one with everybody. So, what is Narayana? It is Parabrahma with particular name and form. But really speaking, is He an individual? He is not an individual. For the facility of thinking, meditating, puja, we imagine God in a particular form. That is all that is the thing about it. Otherwise, His name Vishnu is meaningless. Vishnu living in Vaikuntha is a contradictory statement. Vishnu is everywhere. But then we can't see. This is what Sri Ramakrishna says, water is everywhere. But somebody takes the trouble to dig and make a well and many people could go there and quench their thirst. So, Vishnu is like that well. This is the idea of Tirtha, holy place. When God is everywhere, what is an unholy place? There cannot be any unholy place. When we say God is everywhere, it is not our concept of now I am here and then I go home. God is everywhere means God is everything. Everything is God. If everything is God, then which person, which thing is not God? That is the ultimate realisation we have to come to. Then why do we go to holy places? We go because so many sages have made that place so that we can feel the presence of God much more intensely than before. So, this is human limitation. So, when you go to shrine room, you feel God. But here you don't feel that much. You know why? Otherwise, I can't tell the jokes. Sri Ramakrishna is listening. Sri Ramakrishna is listening, you know. He may not appreciate. That's what we think. He used to tell jokes. He divided jokes into two categories. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Vegetarian jokes he used to tell to his householder devotees. Non-vegetarian jokes he used to tell to his monastic disciples. They are, you know, paramaguhya, guhyam, guhyataram. You are very dear to me. That's why I'm imparting these special jokes to you like that. Non-vegetarian jokes. We all know non-vegetarian jokes, you know. You understand? Little bit naughty. Little bit naughty. You want to hear one naughty joke? Not too naughty, but naughty. Very interesting joke, you know. There was one, he's Christian, young man. And he went to a confessional. You know, these Catholics have confessionals. So he went to the confessional. Father, I have committed a sin. And the confessor said, What sin have you committed? I am too ashamed even to tell you. No, no, come on, tell me, what is it? No, no, I am too ashamed. Then the father suspected and said, Was it Mary? No, no, no, father, not Mary. He said, was it Juwan? No, no, no, father, it's not Juwan. Was it Helen? No, no, no, not Helen. Like this, five names he mentioned. And for all he said, no, no, no, no, no. How can I express? All right, one dozen Hail Marys for the sin. And the young man went out. And he rushed out. His friend was waiting there. How did the confessional go? Terrible, tremendous success. We got the names of five girls. Naughty, naughty, non-vegetarian jokes. So, God enjoys everything. We should not limit God. This is one of the greatest teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, which should be the guideline for everybody. It is a sin to limit God. Means what? God could have only this form. God could have only this name. God could have only this quality. God could only be here. And God could do only this. These limitations are our sins we are imposing upon God. God is unlimited. So, he can appear before any devotee in any name, in any form, in any quality, which means even evil quality. What some people call evil quality. So, I will tell you, this is also what is called a learned conditioning. For example, there are people who do not like non-vegetarian. It is a sin to kill goats, sheep, buffaloes, chickens and offer it to God, etc., etc., isn't it? So, how did you become non-vegetarian? When did you become non-vegetarian? Have you ever become non-vegetarian? Can you become non-vegetarian? You are eating potatoes. You put potato in the... So, is it having life or not? Non-vegetarian means what? That which has no life, you eat. A living creature can never live without eating living things. Non-living things means like eating mud, wood, and then stones and metals, etc. Can a living creature eat and survive? Not possible. Whenever we eat anything, it is all living things. So, when did we become... South Indians, you know, they always think they are purest vegetarians. What is your yogurt? One cup of yogurt means what? Bacteria. One billion? One billion bacteria. Bacteria. It is a comparative sin, which is higher order of sin to commit and lower order for your own hunger. No, no. The point is, it is not that. The point is, all of us are not at the same level of evolution. So, does a tiger commit sin by eating wood, etc.? God has created. Who has created? God has created. So, also there are some people, in fact, they cannot live, even human beings. Suppose there are people living in an architecture and you eat pure potatoes. It is not going to be possible. So, that is not a sin. But, no, no, it is not a sin. Whatever we have to do for living is not a sin. Whatever we do, if it is unnecessarily killing, that is a sin. So, Yajnas, Yagas, Poshubali is there. You know, animals are sacrificed. So, the question came that if these people who kill animals and offer it to God, first of all, is God a vegetarian or non-vegetarian? We don't know. Neither. He is beyond. No, no, as we worship. Yes, we think he is vegetarian. No, no, who thinks he is vegetarian? Vegetarians only think vegetarian. There was, you know, this great debate going on, vegetarianism or non-vegetarianism. Two tigers were sitting under a tree, one was a vegetarian, one was a non-vegetarian. The vegetarian tiger was looking down at the non-vegetarian tiger. So, the non-vegetarian tiger felt a little bit, it is justifying. No, no, I am also a vegetarian like you. I eat only vegetarians. So, the point is, why did the scripture allow people to give offering? It is approved in the scriptures. No, no, no, no, no. I am trying to tell you, there are some people who like to eat non-vegetarian. And if you tell them, don't eat, they are not going to listen to you. So, the scripture has devised, okay, you want to eat because it wants to elevate them. Whatever you want to eat, first offer it to God and then you eat as prasada. In the course of time, this devotion to God or Goddess slowly transforms your mind, then you yourself will feel, it is really bad, I should not kill, unless it is absolute necessity. So, I should not kill. That feeling should come from within oneself, it should not come and it won't help. So, that is the idea, that is why they are called Tamasika Bhaktas. For Tamasika Bhaktas, Tamasika Puja, which is killing and offering. When he becomes a little elevated, evolved, then he becomes a Rajasika Bhakta. Then, this becomes less and you know, so many Dadyodhana, Pulihogare and all those things will become more, varieties become more, he is quite happy, then his manner of Puja changes. So, as a man evolves, his type of Puja also, his understanding of God evolves, his relationship with other society evolves and his relationship with God also evolves. So, it should come from within as a natural progress, which is called natural evolution. And scriptures are very wise, scriptures means wise people talking, they understand, you can't force anybody. So, that is the reason why the scriptures permit this killing and offering, not that they want it, they are not saying, thou shalt kill. There is a commandment, about ten commandments, you know. What is the commandment with regard to your mother and father? Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother. What is the commandment with regard to your sisters and brothers? Thou shalt not kill. Somebody parodied, you know. So, Hinduism recognises, as we evolve, then automatically our outside behaviour also evolves. Now, coming back to one point, Sattva guna is the best guna, Rajoguna is less best guna, and Tamoguna is the worst guna. That idea we have to remove from our minds. Sattva guna can be worst guna. When we are doing non-Sattvic activities, then Sattva guna is not good. For example, when you have to do a lot of driving, should you be Sattvic or Rajasic? Rajasic. Rajasic, Sattva guna, and I will not be worried, I will drive at the same speed, even if the front car stopped also. For puja, for meditation, when you study scriptures, it is very good, that is best quality. When you are involved in various activities, Rajoguna is the best guna. When you want to sleep, which guna is the best guna? Tamoguna. At that time, if Rajoguna comes, what happens? Not only you will be a problem to yourself, you will be also a problem to your neighbours. And some of these people, you know, this Rajoguna problem, you know, in other words, it is called sound sleep. Sound sleep means, you know, sleep for the person and sound for others. That is called sound sleep. So, Tamoguna is best while sleeping, etc. Tamoguna is worst if you want to study something, if you want to meditate, if you want to listen to something nice, it is worst guna. Even Rajoguna is bad. While performing activities, Rajoguna is best. And while doing puja, meditation, etc., Satvaguna is best. So, with regard to the cosmic level, there is no such thing called, as we understand, Tamoguna. Tamoguna, Shiva is Tamoguna. That means, he has to do, somebody has to do the job of this thing. So, I will end today's topic with a beautiful story. There was a kingdom and the king ministers, there will be some criminals. So, what happened? One day, there would be a drummer, night watchman. So, the night watchman was a very faithful old man. And he would very conscientiously discharge his duties, he would never sleep and he would go. So, people were very peacefully, they could sleep. Now, once this watchman had to go on some urgent work to his relatives, which was a distant place. And he had a 14 years old boy. So, he went to the king and said, for few days I want to leave. But there was nobody else. Somebody substitute should be there. So, the watchman said, my son, 14 years old, very good boy, he will do the job. The king had no option, said, alright, be careful. But the king was apprehensive. So, that night, he wanted to watch the boy, how he is watching, watchman. So, he was following incognito behind. This boy was a sage. So, every few minutes he says, I don't remember the shlokas, You see, hey prajas, there are six great thieves ready to steal all your wealth called kama, krodha, lobha, moha, madha, matsarya, tasmat, jagrata, jagrata. This is the refrain and every few minutes he will shout this one. This is your problem, tasmat, jagrata. Therefore, be awake, be alert and protect yourself from these thieves. All night he was going. The king was mesmerized. I never knew in my kingdom such a great sage was there. Every day until this boy's father has returned, the king was following. Every day he was getting the spiritual wisdom and he was enslaved. When the old watchman returned, he reported and the king said, you bring your son to me. The watchman suspected maybe the boy neglected the duty. So, the king wants to punish him. He was trembling, but he had to bring. He brought the boy. As soon as the boy came, the king rose and embraced him and said, my son, I have been following you, watching you and I am highly pleased. I want to give you anything you ask. You will be granted anything you want. You want to become a prime minister? You want to become a commander in chief? Anything you want. And all the other fellows, whether this boy will ask. The boy said, oh king, I am honoured. I want only one thing. You make me your chief executioner. You know when criminals are caught, that is the job of that person, take them outside and chop off their heads. The king was surprised. This is the worst job. Nobody wants it. But he said, are you sure? He said, no, I don't want anything else. I want only this job. So, the king had no option, but granted him. Okay, since he wanted and he was made the chief kotwal, we call him. So, he was there. Then the king called him and asked him, you could have got anything you wanted, but why did you choose this worst type of job? He said, I will show you. I cannot explain to you. So, when I have to execute somebody, you just hide yourself and you watch what I am doing. Because he was a sage. So, then after a few days, some thieves were caught and they were sentenced to death. They were handed over to this boy, who was the chief executioner. The boy treated them very nicely, very lovingly. He said, my brothers, this is your last day. I want to talk to you about God. And he was an excellent storyteller, excellent singer, and he started praising Lord Hari, talking about Lord Hari, singing about Lord Hari. Hearing his melodious voice, and really he was one of the greatest devotees of God, all these cruel thieves, they totally became absorbed in thinking of God. When they were absorbed in it, he would quietly go and chop off their heads. Because that was his faith, that whatever they thought, they will go to God. The king was watching the whole lot. He came and prostrated and said, you are one of the greatest. Do you wish to be one of those thieves to be executed? All right, thank you. I hope there is some nice jalebi outside, still waiting.