Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

by kids.baps.org

Observance of niyams means obeying moral and spiritual commands. 

OBSERVACNE OF NIYAMS – Gem 1 

“Whethere or not one has vairagya, if one diligently observes the niyams prescribed by God, then the desires for the panchvishays can be conquered.” (Vachanamrut: Gadhada II-16) 

OBSERVANCE OF NIYAMS – Gem 2

“… One should indulge in the vishays only as prescribed in the scriptures; but one should never indulge in them by transgressing the regulations that are described in the scriptures.” (Vachanamrut: Gadhada I-8)

OBSERVANCE OF NIYAMS – Gem 3

“If Brahma and all the other demigods follow God’s commands, than how can I not follow His injunctions? Bearing this in mind, he always abides by the niyams prescribed by God.” (Vachanamrut: Vartal-3) 

OBSERVANCE OF NIYAMS – Gem 4

“Like a village that has a fort, life too has forts in the form of five-cardinal vows. And in that, like the sentry point, we have niyams. Just as the sentry point protects the fort, the niyams protect the vows. So know the laxity in niyams as breaches in life.” (Swmini Vato: 5.100)

OBSERVANCE OF NIYAMS – Gem 5

“The bonds of dharma do not bind, but are the means to liberation.” – Pramukh Swami Maharaj

The highlights of the Satsang Experience-India Trip-2006 (by U.K.Bal-balikas) was a 5-day shibir in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Atladra. On the final day, the fourth special session with Swamishri, the balaks made presentation.

The presentation by the balaks included one balak dressed casually in worn out jeans, a T-shirt, dark sunglasses and a cap – which he had worn backwards. Swamishri singled out his rough appearance and based his blessings on it.

Swamishri said, “The first thing we have to do is to remove the black glasses and cap because by wearing them bad thoughts arise and our life becomes bad. By wearing such glasses and caps, everything is seen as black. That which is good is not seen, only the bad is seen.

“In school you have to obey the teacher. At home, you should obey your parents when they tell you to go to the mandir, to perform puja and to practice satsang. But some say that they will only do what their friends say.

“Even after student life there are many obstacles. Bad company leads to one’s ruin. When money is gained gambling, partying and other immoral habits enter. Our path is that of satsang, of God. What does it teach us? It teaches us to be constantly alert. One’s mind is attracted to TV, internet and other immoral things. Then all that you have done goes to waste. But one requires resolve not to go that way.

“Dharma and adharma, satsang and kusang – all these things are learnt about from sadhus. Daily read our shastras. Always be constantly alert so that our kalyan is not jeopardized.

“India is not dirty. India is very nice. God and His holy Sadhu are very nice. Otherwise, the whole world is spoilt. The entire universe is bad, since there is immorality everywhere. Peace and happiness is attained only from God and His Sadhu.”

USED DATAN STICKS

In 1971, the 51^st birthday celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj was organized in Dharmaj. The sadhus and devotees were eager and excited about the celebration. On the morning of the birthday celebration, Swamishri was brushing his teeth with a datan. He noticed used datans lying outside a nearby dustbin. Many devotees had brushed their teeth earlier and, out of negligence, thrown them outside the bin. After brushing his teeth, Swamishri picked up all the dirty datans with his own hands and put them in the bin.

Swamishri could have told someone to pick up the datans and throw them in the bin, but he humbly performed the service himself. Though it was his birthday, he did not hesitate in doing the seva himself.

Swamishri’s spirit of seva and humility is an inspiring message for all to dedicate themselves in doing seva.

One should serve God and His devotee with body, mind and spirit. Service means to serve with glory and with the motive to please God only.

1. …in order to please God, I desire only to serve devotees of God in this life and all subsequent lives. Furthermore, just as this is My resolution, all of you should also make the same resolution. (Vachanamrut : Gadhada II-28)
2. Just as Uka Khachar has become addicted to serving the sadhus, in the same way, if one becomes addicted to serving God and His sant to the extent that one would not be able to stay for even a moment without serving them, then all of the impure desires in one’s antahkaran will be destroyed. (Vachanamrut : Gadhada II-25)
3. …only those who have accumulated a great number of merits from performing good deeds receive the opportunity to serve God’s Sant, but those who have a few merits do not. (Vachanamrut : Gadhada II-59)
4. …by performing with extreme affection such similar service of God and the Sant who possesses the highest qualities, even if he is a devotee of the lowest type and was destined to become a devotee of the highest type after two lives, or after four lives, or after ten lives, or after 100 lives, he will become a devotee of the highest caliber in this very life. such are the fruits of the similar service of God and God’s Bhakta. (Vachanamrut : Vartal-5)
5. Real worth lies in two things: in serving God and His Devotee. (Swamini Vato : 5.347)