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Adapted from a Satsang in response to a question
by ‘Pitaji’, Param Pujya Ma’s father
Mr. C. L. Anand, Principal of
Law College, Lahore, was deeply respected also for his profound
knowledge of the Scriptures. He came repeatedly to Param Pujya
Ma, his daughter, to gain an understanding into the practical
application of the Scriptures. He called his daughter ‘Ma’
which reflected the immense respect he held for Her spiritual
insight. His every visit provided a wealth of spiritual practicality
for all the seekers...
We reproduce here a translation of his question regarding devotion,
and Ma’s divine reply... rendered as an offering of prayer
at the Lord’s feet.
Pitaji’s question: What is that state in which
a bhakta merges with the Lord?
Pujya Ma focused Her attention on
the Lord and uttered His Name in a Divine chant before answering
Pitaji’s question.
They ask, Lord, about a bhakta’s
bhakti or a devotee’s devotion.
When does he merge with Thee? How does he merge with Thee?
O listen, my mind, consider the state of the devotee. Love
for the Lord flowers in his mind; his love grows to such an
extent that he gives his mind and intellect to the Lord.
Identification with the Beloved Divine
The world remembers his name, but
he has forgotten his own name. Or we can say that that entity
which he termed his own, his own ‘I’, becomes one
with the Lord’s Essence. His attachment to the Lord grows
to such an extent that his body and mind now belong to the Lord.
The devotee places at the Lord’s feet, his intellect that
was fashioned through contact with the gross world.
He gives his all to the
Lord
The ‘I’ which is produced
through the union of the body, mind and intellect is given to
the Lord. His ‘I’ merges with the Lord.
The world does not realize the transition which occurred in
that devotee. That body which stands before its very eyes now
belongs to the Lord. The world does not recognize this change.
When he speaks, the Lord’s words issue forth from him.
He bears the onslaughts of the world in silence... like the
Lord Himself would. The intellect remains silent... expecting
no subservience from the other. Some may claim him as their
own and others may discard him, but the ‘I’ no longer
protests.
Earlier the ‘I’ desired the establishment of its
own intellect. But now the ‘I’ merges with the Lord
and forgets the entity that was called ‘I’.
The identifying marks of
love
The above are marks of a devotee’s love. The same will
inevitably happen to me if I too delve into the ocean of devotion.
If my ‘I’ falls in love with the Lord, then that
which the world calls ‘I’ no longer has any place.
The ‘I’ now merges with the Lord and then the
Lord claims the body as His own. This takes place when the
‘I’ gives up identification with the body.
Now the ‘I’ identifies itself with the Lord and
has indeed merged in the Lord. At this moment the Lord has
taken back what belonged to Him. Whatever residue remains
after the ‘I’ merges in the Lord is Brahm Himself.
Whatever is left has no trace of the ‘I’ and ‘mine’.
The differentiation in attitude of ‘mine’ and
‘yours’ has now gone. The devotion of a bhakta
consists of his forgetfulness of what is his. As he forgets
himself, the Lord reigns supreme in his place.
A practicant’s thoughts
It sounds extremely simple. All I have to do is forget myself
in an all-consuming love for the Lord. Where can I find this
love which will bring about a sea change in my angle of vision?
I can only pray that the Lord opens up the way for me!
Pujya Ma’s prayer describes the intensity of yearning
that I need:
O Lord, give me devotion
and strength in that devotion
Let me remain at Thy feet, Beloved
Pray give me intense attachment to Thy feet.
Let my mind be filled with faith
Let me remain at Thy door
When my eyes see with concentration
I see Thee once more.
Let desire for the world wane
And my heart be filled with desire for Thee
I wander all over the world
Bearing within me desire for Thee.
Make the desire in my mind intense
So I can set forth on this path today
This mind which is coloured with worldly hues
Let it be imbued with Thy hues today.
Without Thy help none can select Thee
Who can come to Thee, without Thy aid?
My mind may make a million efforts
But the mind does not remain steadfast
or sing Thy songs.
I am weak O Lord
I cannot come to Thee without Thy strength
I do not understand about being worthy
I can come with the help of Thy power.
Come and show me the way
Hold my hand and take me with Thee...
Tell me the method Divine One
By which I can come to Thee. 
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