English translation of Prem Satsang Sudha (excerpts of few letters and spiritual guidance by Radha baba given to various followers)
(This is not a word by word translation but only translation of meaning ,from the best knowledge of english I can do .Please forgive me if it is not up to your expectation , but it is for those who don’t know english and willing to read some spiritual material by Radha baba).
1- You may be physically anywhere ,but your existence is where your attention is. If you are in Delhi and thinking of Calcutta,in spiritual sense you are in Calcutta.This is also true in spirituality. You can be physically at some place,but if your mind is in Vrindavan remembering the Divine Leela (life events) of Lord Krishna , you are actually there. One day mortal body may leave you and you will be placed in the divine Leela of Lord Krishna .Therefore, remembrance is a very good tool for spirituality.
2 I don’t know the real condition of your mind. This is my firm conviction that the real cause of slow growth in spirituality is lack of firm determination . If we have firm desire that we should always remember the life of lord krishna ,all the time, it is not difficult. With the strong desire, we will learn how to control our mind .It will teach us the tactics of how to remember the Life of Lord Krishna and forget the worldly things. Therefore , if you are not able to remember Him all the time, it is lack of strong will. Sometimes we have strong will ,but it is like Soda water,which eliminates all gas after some time. So real strong will is key to success in spirituality.
3- It is true that Lord Krishna is at the same place where you are seeing wall clock. But the problem is that Lord Krishna can not be seen ,unless we stop seeing wall clock. So you have to divert your mind towards Lord Krishna and the Wall clock will cease to be visible. Our mind is designed like this that either we can see wall clock or Lord krishna . So you try seeing lord Krishna and the clock will cease to exist. You can either remember Him or this world. More over this world is all his creation . So you have to make up your mind to remember him ,see him , feel him everywhere. It is very practical and possible . The problem is only of lack of desire.If you say , it is not possible for you , then be sure it is lack of your commitment . Otherwise it is easily possible for everyone.
4- Though it is very difficult to control mind and concentrate on the pios feet of lord krishna but there are several methods to be used and it is possible to apply mind on the almighty.The Leelas of Lord Krishna and Radha are worth reading ,but it will give you immense pleasure when you are able to feel it. I can tell you one very simple technique of concentrating mind on the Lord Krishna and radha rani. Suppose you recite the name of Hare Ram . Now you imagine that a beautiful road is passing through Vrindavan . There is a beautiful road and it is surrounded by trees on both side. Now you recite a name of Lord Rama and start imagining that Radha Krishna is standing below a tree. Now you recite the name of Lord Rama again and again think that the duo is standing below another tree. In this way if you recite the 300 name , you will imagine the beautiful image of God three hundred times.
Initially you start with 3 Mala (108 names in one Mala),but later on you can increase it up to 16 Mala (16X108 times).Now your mind will be disciplined slowly and slowly and you have to incline it towards Lord Krishna . This is easily possible ,but you have to do it with firm determination.
There is also one more method. But it will be better if you start practicing first the method mentioned above. But I will tell you the second method also. You make a list of 5000 things connected with Brij Bhoomi(the pious place where lord Radha and Krishna lived),|Now you make a practice of everyday reading these 5000 things . It may take 3 hours. After reading a item,you also imagine that thing for 2 to 3 seconds.It will also help you concentrate your mind.
It is also my conviction that the things are not pleasant . Suppose you are very hungry and feeling to eat something delicious. Now when you eat desired food in a very hunger state, your mind just relaxes and you feel the shadow of joy of Soul. Therefore , the pleasure is not in that thing ,but you get pleasure when your mind is calm and satisfied with the desired thing. At that stage you feel the pleasure which is from inside , a shadow of soul. Therefore it is said that Atma is Anandmay (joyful).This is very difficult to believe that the pleasure is not embedded in worldly things but the pleasure is coming from inside,which is true nature of Soul.
Therefore ,I wish to share my firm conviction that the true Anandam can be achieved by the peace of mind. In the state of peace of mind , inner joy starts outflowing. And by the grace of God if you are able to merge your mind in the state of Godliness ,you will be blessed with incomparable bliss of joy. This is not comparable with any joy of the world. This joy is everlasting and everybody should aspire for it. But if you think, it is not possible for you, I can not help, this is the thing you have to start yourself.
5-We have got impressions of worldly matters in our heart from the last thousands of years in our different lives.Therefore , the attraction towards the materialistic things are quite natural. We seek immense pleasure in these things.With the desire of any thing, our mind become restless to achieve it. When the things are achieved , restlessness is relieved. But again with the next desire , mind again become restless. Whenever the mind is relieved of restlessness,the image of soul starts reflecting in our mind ,which gives joy. We misconceive that we got pleasure from the things,but really it comes from inside. As we can not see the image in shaking water , in the same way , mind can not feel the joy or Anand of soul while the mind is restless. So the pleasure is in composed mind, which is able to perceive the pleasure of Soul. This is the ultimate God. Everybody should aspire to achieve it.
6- We have to make firm conviction to practice the Sadhana (method)of remembering the divine life of Lord Radha krishna.We can start with making a list of items of divine Leela .Suppose you start reading the list of items of Leela .Read one item and imagine it for a second. Then read another item and imagine for a second. Then read the third item and imagine that story.If you remember 5000 items of Radha Krishna Leela, you can practice it for 6 hour i.e.
1- The water of Radha Kund in Brij Bhoomi is shining.
2- It is full with lotus flowers.
3- the wide petals of Lotus are spread in the Radha Kund.
4- Blue ,Red and White lotus flowers are in the Radha Kund.
5- The insect Bhanwara are flying on the Lotus.
6- A white Goose is sitting near the lotus flowers.
7- The Goose is beautiful
8- Goose is shouting .
9- Radha Kund is a very large pond .
10- It is spread more than 100 yards in the east.
You have to practice in this way for 5 or 6 hours. It may be possible that you will feel some time very bore ,but you have to discipline your mind on this method of worship and later on after some practice you will find that the mind become disciplined.
This method can also be applied while reciting Shri Madbhagwat or Srimat Geeta. After recitation of every SHLOK (stanza) you remember Lord Radha Krishna once. Thus by reciting 12 Adhyaya(chapter) you will be able to practice Radha Krishna for 3 hours.You can also read 18 chapters of Geeta and remember Radha krishna for 3 hours. These are very simple method ,but to be done with practice with devotion.
(to be continued)