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Seeking and Finding the Kingdom of Heaven
Talk #609
Devotee: I feel that I am transplanted into some other land than the Earth.
Sri Bhagavan, while looking into some correspondence, heard it,
smiled and said:
“This is the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven
mentioned in the Bible, and this world, are not two different
regions. ‘The Kingdom is within you,’ says the Bible. So it is.
The srealized being sees this as the Kingdom of Heaven whereas the others
see it as ‘this world’. The difference lies only in the angles of vision.”
The close disciples of Sri Bhagavan said that he shunned theoretical explanations and kept turning the questioner back to consideration of sadhana, the path to be followed. Furthermore it was said of him
“It was sadhana, and sadhana alone, that he came to teach."
His efforts in teaching those who came to him can be summed up
in guidance toward transforming their lives to abandon the old (ages old) habits,
both physically and mentally Many who found themselves in his presence were
satisfied in just hearing 'the Kingdom of Heaven is within you'.
They would glibly smile with self-confidence and then return to their old ways without even a glimmer of introspection regarding the condition of their minds and hearts. But some wanted more. And to them Bhagavan gave more, and is still giving much more!
He would watch them as they meditated and would notice every detail of
their lives, both within and without. To those who sought change Bhagavan was
relentless in keeping not a single stone unturned. His success was not just
changing their angles of vision; he changed them.
The root definition of the Sanskrit word “sadhana” means the method by which
the instrument of transformation is applied. The Saints speak of sadhana being
like a chisel carving rough stone into a work of perfection. We should take this
simile to heart, and begin our spiritual ‘realization’ from the ground up, in order
to secure a strong mind able to grasp the subtle and merge into it. To this end Sri
Bhagavan’s teaching is ready and waiting: “Physically the digestive and other
organs are kept free from irritation. Therefore food is regulated both in quantity
and quality. Non-irritants are eaten, avoiding chillies, excess of salt, onions, wine,
opium, etc. Avoid constipation, drowsiness and excitement, and all foods that
induce them. Mentally take interest in one thing and fix the mind on it. Let such
interest be all-absorbing to the exclusion of everything else. This is dispassion
(vairagya) and concentration. God or mantra may be chosen. The mind gains
strength to grasp the subtle and merge into it.” Talk #2
"I will tell you a secret. This truth is that every man's will and mind
lead him progressively toward good. Some are lead along thorny paths
and some are lead along smooth paths, but all reach the same goal...
But always keep vigilant watch. Be the witness."
Swami Brahmananda in The Eternal Companion
Wisdom Bytes of Bhagavan
Sri Ramana Maharshi (Section #2)
“If you are firm in your belief in the guidance of God,
stick to it,
and do not concern yourself with what happens around you.
Furthermore, there may be happiness or misery.
Be equally indifferent to both and abide in the faith of God.
That will be so only when one’s faith is strong
that God looks after all of us.”
Talk #596
Devotee: “Are we to keep anything against a rainy day;
or to live a precarious life for spiritual attainments?”
Maharshi: “God looks after everything.”
Talk #377, p. 357
