Death

Publisher : Mr. Ajit C. Patel on behalf of Dada Bhagwan Foundation 5, Mamatapark Society, B/h. Navgujarat College, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad-380014 Tel. : (079) 27543979, 27540408 E-Mail : info@dadabhagwan.org © : All Rights Reserved - Dr. Niruben Amin Trimandir, Simandhar City, P.O.-Adalaj-382421, Dist.:Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India Edition : 2000 copies, March, 2005 Price : Ultimate Humility (leads to Universal oneness) and Awareness of "I Don't Know Anything" Rs. 20.00 Printer : Mahavideh Foundation (Printing Division), Basement, Parshwanath Chambers, Nr. RBI, Income Tax Area, Ahmedabad. Tel. : (079) 27542964, 27540216 DEATH Before, During And After… - Dada Bhagwan Editor : Dr. Niruben Amin QRRRRRRS O O O O O O O O O O LMMMMMMN O O O O O O O O O O NOTE ABOUT THIS TRANSLATION Ambalal M. Patel, Gnani Purush, also commonly known as Dadashri or Dada, always used to say that it is not possible to exactly translate his satsang about the Science of Self-Realization and the art of worldly interaction into English. Some of the depth of meaning would be lost. He stressed the importance of learning Gujarati to precisely understand all his teachings. Dadashri did however grant his blessings to convey his teachings to the world through translations in English and other languages. This is a humble attempt to present to the world the essence of the teachings of Dadashri, the Gnani Purush. A lot of care has been taken to preserve the tone and message of the satsang. This is not a literal translation of his words. Many people have worked diligently for this work and we thank them all. This is an elementary introduction to the vast treasure of his teachings. Please note that any errors encountered in the translation are entirely those of the translators. Trimantra (The Three Mantras) Namo Arihantanum I bow to the Lord who has annihilated all the inner enemies of anger, pride, attachment and greed. Namo Siddhanum I bow to all the Lord who have attained final liberation. Namo Aayariiyaanum I bow to all the Self-realized masters who unfold the path of liberation. Namo Uvazzayanum I bow to the Self-realized teachers of the path of liberation. Namo Loye Savva Sahunum I bow to all who have attained the Self and are progressing in this path in the universe. Aiso Pancha Namukkaro These five salutations. Saava Paavappa Naashano Destroy all the sins. Managalanum cha Saave Sim Of all that is auspicious mantras. Paddhamum Havaii Mangalam This is the highest. \ Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya I bow to the One who has become the Supreme Lord from a human being. \ Namah Shivaya I bow to all auspicious beings of this universe who are the instruments of salvation of the world. Jai Sat Chit Anand The Awareness Of The Eternal Is Bliss vvvvv Introduction to The Gnani On a June evening in 1958 at around six o’clock, Ambalal Muljibhai Patel, a family man, a contractor by profession, was sitting on a bench on the busy platform number three of Surat’s train station. Surat is a city in south Gujarat, a western state in India. What happened within the next forty-eight minutes was phenomenal. Spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. During this event his ego completely melted and from that moment onwards he became completely detached from all Ambalal’s thoughts, speech and acts. He became the Lord’s living instrument for the salvation of mankind, through the path of knowledge. He called this Lord, Dada Bhagwan. To everyone he met, he would say, “This Lord, Dada Bhagwan is fully manifest within me. He also resides within all living beings. The difference is that within me He is completely expressed and in you, he is yet to manifest.” Who are we? What is God? Who runs this world? What is karma? What is liberation? Etc. All the world’s spiritual questions were answered during this event. Thus nature offered absolute vision to the world through the medium of Shree Ambalal Muljibhai Patel. Ambalal was born in Tarasali, a suburb of the city of Baroda and raised in Bhadran, Gujarat. His wife’s name was Hiraba. Although he was a contractor by profession, his life at home and his interaction with everyone around him was exemplary even prior to his Self-Realization. After becoming Self-Realized and attaining the state of a Gnani, (The Awakened One, Jnani in Hindi), his body became a ‘public charitable trust.’ Throughout his whole life he lived by the principle that there should not be any commerce in religion, and in all commerce there must be religion. He also never took money from anyone for his own use. He used the profits from his business to take his devotees for pilgrimages to various parts of India. His words became the foundation for the new, direct and step-less path to Self-Realization called Akram Vignan. Through his divine original scientific experiment (The Gnan Vidhi), he imparted this knowledge to others within two hours. Thousands have received his grace through this process and thousands continue to do so even now. ‘Akram’ means without steps; an elevator path or a short cut, whereas ‘Kram’ means an orderly step-by- step spiritual path. Akram is now recognized as a direct shortcut to the bliss of the Self. Who is Dada Bhagwan ? When he explained to others who ‘Dada Bhagwan’ is, he would say: “What you see here is not ‘Dada Bhagwan.’ What you see is ‘A.M.Patel.’ I am a Gnani Purush and He that is manifest within me, is ‘Dada Bhagwan’. He is the Lord within. He is within you and everyone else. He has not yet manifest within you, whereas within me he is fully manifest. I myself am not a Bhagwan. I too bow down to Dada Bhagwan within me.” Current link for attaining the knowledge of Self-Realization (Atma Gnan) “I am personally going to impart siddhis (special spiritual powers) to a few people. After I leave, will there not be a need for them? People of future generations will need this path, will they not?” ~ Dadashri Param Pujya Dadashri used to go from town to town and country to country, to give satsang and impart the knowledge of the Self as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interaction to all who came to see him. In his final days in the fall of 1987, he gave his blessing to Dr. Niruben Amin and bestowed his special siddhis upon her, to continue his work. After Param Pujya Dadashri left his mortal body on January 2, 1988, Dr. Niruben continues his Work, traveling within India to cities and villages and abroad in the USA, Canada, UK and Africa. She is Dadashri’s representative of Akram Vignan. She has been instrumental in expanding the key role of Akram Vignan as the simple and direct path to Self-Realization for modern times. Thousands of spiritual seekers have taken advantage of this opportunity and are established in the experience of the pure Soul, while carrying out their worldly duties and obligations. They experience freedom, here and now, while living their daily life. Powerful words in scriptures help the seeker in increasing the desire for liberation. The knowledge of the Self is the final goal of all one’s seeking. Without the knowledge of the Self there is no liberation. This knowledge of the Self (Atma Gnan) does not exist in books. It exists in the heart of a Gnani. Hence the knowledge of the Self can only be acquired by meeting a Gnani. Through the scientific approach of Akram Vignan, even today one can attain Atma Gnan, but it can only occur by meeting a living Atma Gnani and receiving the Atma Gnan. Only a lit candle can light another candle. Contents Page 1. The True Nature ofDuring, Before and After Death 1 2. Every Religion Mentions Pratikraman 6 3. These Are Not Lord Mahavir’s Pratikramans 11 4. The Gnani Purush’s Awareness 16 5. The Way of Akram Vignan 21 6. The Thorns Vanish And The Blossom Remains 25 7. Thus The Business Runs Clean 35 8. Freedom From Human Bondage 37 9. Pratikramans In Varying Situations 40 10. When Conflicts Arise 44 11. Purushaarth Against One’s Negative Qualities… 47 12. Destroying Addiction With Gnan 49 13. Liberation From Artadhyana and Raudradhyana 52 14. Release From Bondage Of Inner Enemies 56 15. On The Path Of Cause Ahimsa 60 16. Vengeance of Enmity Is Unbearable 63 17. Removal Of The Root Cause Of Opinions 65 18. He Who Conquers Sexual Impulses is The King of Kings 68 19. Addiction Of Compulsive Lying 71 20. Awareness While Speaking… 71 21. Faults Of The Prakruti Will Leave In This Way…. 77 22. Solution for Sticky Files 83 23. When The Mind Goes Haywire…. 87 24. Gnan Rescues Those Drowning In The Ocean Of Life 90 25. Understanding The Principles Behind Pratikraman 105 Editorial Many people have fear of death. Death makes people melancholy and they sink into misery. Everyone has to witness death some point in time during his or her life. During such a time hundreds of questions regarding the true nature of death may arise in a person’s mind. When he does not find any answers, he becomes perplexed. People have an ardent desire to discover the mystery surrounding death. A lot has been written on the topic, but it is all mere intellectual exercises. What is death? What was before this death? What is happening in the dying process? What happens after death? Who can talk about the experience of death? The dead cannot speak of their experiences. Those who are born do not have knowledge of their prior existence. No one knows what happens before birth and after death. That is why the mystery of how one passes through the time before, during and after death remains unsolved. Dadashri, through his Gnan, has exposed all the mysteries of death exactly as they are. When one learns about the facts surrounding death, his fears will be eased. What should one do when a beloved one is dying? What is our real duty? How can we improve their next life? What should we do after the death of our loved one? With what understanding should we remain calm and balanced? What is the truth behind the people’s common belief of ceremonial offerings to the dead relative? What is the significance of the various socially prescribed ceremonies after death? Will all these rituals benefit the dead? Should one perform such rituals? This book clarifies all these questions succinctly. When the mysteries of death, which create fear in people, are exposed, one finds an unfailing consolation when facing such situations in life. A Gnani Purush is someone who remains separate from his body and every event related to the body, separate from birth and separate from death. He constantly remains the ‘knower and observer’ of his body. He experiences the eternal state of the Self, free from the bondage of birth and death. Gnani Purush, through His Gnan, sees it all as it is, and candidly tells us about the mystery of life and death and freedom from both. The Soul is eternal. It is beyond birth and death. It is Absolute Knowledge. The Self is the absolute knower and observer. The Soul has no birth or death. Despite this, through his intellect, man perceives and experiences the cycle of birth and death. Naturally then the main question that arises is how do birth and death occur? During birth and death, what other things besides the Soul are present? What happens to them all? Who is it that goes through rebirth? How does it happen? Who is it that goes and comes? How are the sequences of ‘cause and effects’ and ‘effect and cause’ established? How can that be stopped? How is life span determined? What does life span depend on? Who except the Gnani Purush can give exact scientific answers to such eternal questions? Furthermore, what are the laws governing the entry of a worldly soul into various other life forms? What are the causes and consequences of suicide? What are spirits? Are there such things as ghosts? What are the laws governing the change of place of worldly life? What supports all the different life forms? How can one attain liberation from a particular planet? Where does the soul that attains liberation go? What is Siddha Gati? All such details are being uncovered here in this book. No one other than the Gnani is able to explain with such exactness and detail, the understanding and qualities of the Soul and the ego. One can achieve a state free from birth and death through clarification of all mysteries of life and death. Such facts are to be found in this booklet and it will benefit the reader from worldly and spiritual aspects. -Dr. Niruben Amin Death Before, During and After.... Part One Freedom From the Cycles of Birth and Death Questioner: How can one escape the painful cycles of birth and death? Dadashri: That is a very good question. What is your name? Questioner: Chandubhai. Dadashri: Are you really Chandubhai? Questioner: Yes. Dadashri: Chandubhai is only your name, is it not? Questioner: Yes. Dadashri: Then who are you? We all agree that Chandubhai is your name, but who are you? Questioner: I have come here to know all that. Dadashri: Once you find the answer to this question, you will break free from the painful cycles of birth and death. Until now everything you have done, has been done in the name of Chandubhai. Should you not have kept at least something 2 During, Before and After Death During, Before and After Death 3 for yourself (pure Soul)? Beware and be prepared to face the great betrayal. At the time of death, nature strips you of your name and all that belongs to that name: your bank balance, property, family and even the clothes on your back. Everything. So then if you ask, ‘What will come along with me?’ The answer is ‘All the conflicts you created with those you met in this life will accompany you.’ Everything is confiscated by nature when you die, therefore should you not do something for your real Self: your Soul? Send Gift Packages For Your Next Life When you do things for people other than your own relatives, when you give them happiness through your donations of food, medicine, or knowledge, you bind merit karma (punya) and will reap the rewards of such deeds in your next life. If you have lived a life of non-violence such that no single being experiences fear from you, this again will reap great merit karma for your next life. If it were possible for anyone to take material things with him into his next life, people would take everything. They would even take out a loan of millions of dollars. So it is a good thing that no one can take anything with him or her. The Illusion Called Maya Maya makes you take birth, get married and it also causes your death. Whether you likes it or not, you do not have a choice in this matter. But it is certain that it is not maya that dominates. You are the owner and so everything has been played out according to your own wishes. This life is the net result, balance sheet of all that you had wished for in your previous life and based on that, maya is now running everything. So there is no point in complaining now. You had endorsed this final balance sheet and placed it in the hands of maya. Maya is the force that makes you forget the Self. Life Is A Prison Questioner: What is life in your enlightened view? Dadashri: Life in my enlightened view is a prison. There are four kinds of prisons: Those who are in heaven are in the prison of simple surveillance with all the comforts. The human beings are in a simple prison. The animals are in a prison of intense labor and hardship. Those in hell are in a prison of hell with life long pain and torture. The Saw Is Cutting This Log (Life) From The Moment Of Birth The body is slowly dying every second, but do people realize this? It is not until a log completely falls apart in two pieces that people say the log has been cut. Nevertheless it was in the process of being cut from the moment the saw first touches it. Fear Of Death There is constant fear in this world. The world is never void of fear for even a moment. And for whatever time one does not have any fear, he is living in ignorance of the real nature of this world. This happens because people are asleep even when their eyes are open (i.e. people are in a state of ignorance of the reality of this world). Questioner: It is said that the Soul never dies. It is eternal. Dadashri: The Soul never dies, but as long as you have not become the Soul (Self-realized), you will experience fear. Do you not fear death? If something were to happen to your body, 4 During, Before and After Death During, Before and After Death 5 you will begin to have fear about dying. It is because of your conviction and belief that you are this body and that you are Chandulal, that there is death. But if that focus and belief was not one with the body, then death cannot touch you. Yamraj - God of Death or Destiny? I want to get rid of all these superstitions and false beliefs in India. Our entire country is plagued and ruined because of superstition, false beliefs and rituals. I assure you that there is no such being as Yamraj (God of death). When people ask me what it is, I tell them that it is simply destiny, the law of karma, which results in death. I say it exactly as I see it in my Gnan. It is not based on anything that I have read. I am saying this through my vision of Gnan, not through these physical eyes. What Happens After Death? Questioner: Which form of life will there be after death? Dadashri: During the time of death a balance sheet of all one’s deeds throughout life arises. This happens one hour prior to death. If one has accumulated in his life by taking what does not rightfully belong to him, be it money or woman, he will go to the animal kingdom. Anything that he acquired by devious use of intellect will take him to the animal kingdom. If he has been decent and humane, he will come back in a human form. After death, there are only four different life forms that one can be born into. Those who destroy people’s homes and lives for their own gain will go to hell. Those with super-human qualities, who despite being hurt by others, do not retaliate and remain benevolent, go to heaven. Total Engagement In Service Of Others Use your mind, speech, body and soul for others. If you use them for your own self, you will reincarnate in lower life form as a tree. In your imprisoned form you will be forced to serve others. People will enjoy your fruits and use your wood. You will suffer as a tree for hundreds of years. That is why God tells you to use your mind, speech, body and soul for others. Having done this if you have any problems, turn to Him. Other Life Forms To Visit Questioner: After leaving the body do you have to come back here? Dadashri: There is nowhere else to go. Right here around us, all these oxen and cows, dogs and cats are none other than our own uncles, aunts and other relatives from our past life. See how they stare at you and sometimes even lick you with love? So do not hurt or harm them. Take good care of them. Return Ticket Questioner: Why is the animal life form, for example, cows and buffaloes an integral part of the cycles of birth and death? Dadashri: For endless lives people have passed through animal kingdom as they rise towards human birth. Of these only about fifteen percent will rise higher. The rest have come here with a return ticket to go back to the lower life forms. People who cheat their customers by selling adulterated goods and those that take enjoyment from things that do not belong to them, all earn a return ticket. All such tendencies will lead to life in the animal kingdom. Awareness Of Past Lives Questioner: Why do we not remember anything from our past lives and what would happen if we did? 6 During, Before and After Death During, Before and After Death 7 Dadashri: Those who have no suffering at all at the time of their death are the ones who may remember their past lives. Those with virtuous thoughts and conduct may also remember. There is tremendous suffering in a moth