Radhe Shyam - I am Harmony

"The human body and the infinite Brahman are similar in their creational structure. The materials for formation of both are the same. The resemblance is not in the physical body of the five elements only, but also in the subtle and causal bodies...

"If any part of the body is broken, one feels pain and consequential want. So also it is an indubitable fact that if there be any injury in any part of the universe, its effect - whether we know it or not - is sure to fall on the entire Brahman, in the natural course of events. [Italics mine.] Just as our affairs in our short lives are to some extent hereditary, in the same way actions in the vast universe are also determined and well organized. In the activity of our bodies, the cooperation of the sense organs is necessary; it is the same in the operation of the cosmos through the basic elements of Creation." 55

Mahendra Baba wrote about the 'Jivatma' (the individual soul, or atma) and the 'Parmatma' (the universal Soul, or Brahman), noting that "the nature of both Jivatma and Parmatma is wholly identical. They are the manifested states of the same Being, just as the limited intelligence of childhood and the experience of old age are of the same person."

"Whether separately or unitedly - that is, individually or in association - a harmonious and genial cordiality is beneficial for all. If the literary man assigns to harmony a proper place in his realm; the administrator and politician conform to a harmonious way of thinking; the religious preceptor - keeping in view one truth in all religions - on seeing the same ideal in the infinite number of practices, preaches a religion of harmony to mankind throughout the entire world; then, surely, all demoniac and evil propensities, like man­made worries, envy, and vindictiveness, will very soon be banished from our society.

"We should begin this harmonious practice of general usefulness in our homes. We should regard all members of our family as parts of our body. We should entertain the same pure feeling of affinity toward our families as we have toward the organs of our bodies. Just as our pleasure and pain affect our minds and we feel worried and uneasy under those circumstances, we should be moved similarly in their weal and woe.

"From this stage, we shall learn to do service to the whole universal brotherhood. Mean selfishness has kept us dissociated from the universal fraternity: in reality, we are children of the same parents. Our wants are the same; we are inhabitants of the same earth; and the same God is the object of worship by us all. " 56[Italics mine.]

Mahendra Maharaj, following Lord Shiva's counsel, urged people to follow the path of Truth, Simplicity and Love (Satya, Saralta, and Prem). Mahendra Baba described Truth as "Whatever the mind thinks, the voice should tell and the organs should do." In "Blessings and Precepts," he stated it this way:

"In all the religious books of the world, Truth has been given the highest veneration for the reason that there is most excellent harmony in it. Whatever the mind thinks, the eye should see the same, the ear should hear the same, speech should speak the same; in other words, perfect harmony and cooperation are necessary in mind, speech and action. That all these should remain in their proper place as complementary to each other is conducive to good."

Leading a simple, natural life develops the 'simplicity' that is helpful to walking this Path. To be 'simple', in this context, requires a clear conscience and detachment toward (not rejection of) the materialistic world. The practice of Truth, as defined above, helps in the development of Simplicity. Greed and lust and resultant anger, hostility, sorrow, and the strengthening of feelings of separateness are not compatible with Simplicity. To lead a simple life, one should consider practicing voluntary poverty. This is not a directive to renounce activity or wealth (which often comes to those who practice Truth, Simplicity and Love), but a standard against which to consider one's personal demands or one's criteria for personal "needs" in life.

Love is the basis of devotion. According to the Hindu scriptures, physical or sexual love does not lead beyond itself; but when the same love, or passionate desire, is directed toward God alone, it becomes devotion.

Mahendra Baba taught that will power supports Truth; physical power is involved in the control of Simplicity; the power of the heart controls Love and devotion. By practicing Truth, Simplicity and Love, one can gain control over mind, body and the feelings of the heart. By the harmonious use of these 'controls' and by practicing tolerance and the remembrance of God's name, one can reach God. Walking this Path leads to a happy, useful, and contented life in the material world in which we live, based on realization of what life is all about. 57

Vishnu Dutt Mishra -"Shastriji"

Vishnu Dutt Mishra and Giridhari Lal Mishra were two brothers from the present Indian state of Rajasthan. Their father and father's fathers before them were the raj gurus (gurus of the kings) of the Alwar state, and Vishnu Dutt has also held this title. Vishnu Dutt is a "shastri" - a scholar with an "acharya" degree in Sanskrit from Benares University (the equivalent of a Ph. D.) - who taught Hindi and Sanskrit in the secondary school at Rajgarh, District Alwar, in Rajasthan. His younger brother, Giridhari Lal, was a highly respected judge in the Rajasthan Judicial Service.

In 1951 or 1952, when Vishnu Dutt was about 43 and Giridhari Lal was about 37 years old, and when Giridhari Lal was performing his duties and living in Bandikui (not far from Rajgarh), Mahendra Baba visited Bandikui. Giridhari Lal met Mahendra Baba during that visit. On the same day, Vishnu Dutt felt called to go to Bandikui and he also met Mahendra Baba, through Giridhari Lal, at the railroad station, as Mahendra Baba was leaving Bandikui. As the train was about to move, Mahendra Baba told Vishnu Dutt that when the two brothers lived in the same town, he would come to them. After about one month, Giridhari Lal was transferred from Bandikui to Rajgarh, and Mahendra Baba started visiting them frequently.

Vishnu Dutt (known as "Shastriji") had a remarkable memory for the scriptures, in both Sanskrit and Hindi, and could recite long passages from memory. Mahendra Maharaj used to ask Shastriji to recite various scriptures to him. One day, in 1954, Mahendra Baba remarked, "You recite so well; why can't you write some literature?"

The next day, Mahendra Baba had Giridhari Lal take him to a place outside of Rajgarh for his bath. When Shastriji, at home, took his bath, as he poured the first pitcher of water, an original sloka (a religious verse of praise) came into his mind, and he spoke it as he bathed. He wrote it down and when Mahendra Baba returned, Shastriji showed him the sloka. Mahendra Baba was delighted and said that a gift of 10,000 rupees could not make him so happy. He told Shastriji the sloka - and the ability to compose it - was the blessing of the Divine Mother and that he now had Her full blessings.

The next day, when Shastriji went to school, in a free period he started writing slokas - and they flowed easily, almost automatically. When he showed them to Mahendra Maharaj that evening, Mahendra Maharaj was so excited that he literally jumped for joy, and then put his hand on Shastriji's head in blessing. Ever since this time, Shastriji has been able to compose easily whatever he wishes. He had never written anything for publication before, nor had any thought of doing so.