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A Lesson in Desireless Acceptance

A spiritual story illustrating the principle of desireless action through a lesson given by Mahāprabhujī to Holy Gurujī.

"Gurujī replied, 'Well, staying near Mahāprabhujī, there are always so many halvās and sweets. I would like to have a bajrā kī chapātī... and guāphalī sabjī.'"

"Mahāprabhujī said, 'Why are you moving up and down? When you eat selfish food, then this condition will arise.'"

The narrative recounts how Holy Gurujī, after delivering a message for Mahāprabhujī, requests a specific meal from a devotee, which causes him physical discomfort. Upon his return, Mahāprabhujī chastises him, explaining that the food became "sakāmī" (selfish) because Gurujī expressed a personal desire without considering the devotee's circumstances. The story concludes with Gurujī's vow to never again make such a request, learning to accept whatever is offered naturally.

There is a story from the time of Mahāprabhujī and Holy Gurujī. When Mahāprabhujī was residing in Jodhpur, Holy Gurujī was serving him. Among Mahāprabhujī’s many devotees was one who had a duty at the local prison. Mahāprabhujī instructed Holy Gurujī, “Go and give him a message that he should come in the evening for satsaṅg.” Gurujī went early in the morning, around eight or nine o'clock, walking a distance of about five or six kilometers. The devotee at the prison was very happy to see him and asked, “Anything you want to eat? What can we cook for you?” Gurujī replied, “Well, staying near Mahāprabhujī, there are always so many halvās and sweets. I would like to have a bajrā kī chapātī, you know, the millet chapātī, and guāphalī sabjī.” The man said, “Okay, no problem.” He went to the market, bought bajrā flour and guāphalīs, and prepared a nice meal. Gurujī ate it. While eating, he developed a stomach pain. Gurujī told the man, “Please do not tell Mahāprabhujī about this. Otherwise, Mahāprabhujī will be angry.” But Mahāprabhujī knew. When Gurujī returned, Mahāprabhujī asked, “Did you inform him?” Gurujī said, “Yes.” However, Gurujī had a stomach ache and was sitting restlessly. Mahāprabhujī said, “Why are you moving up and down? When you eat selfish food, then this condition will arise. You only had to move two lips to say, ‘I want to eat this,’ but you did not consider whether this person had these items at home or not. He had to go and search to fulfill your desire. This food was not niṣkāma food. It was sakāmī food. And when you have something sakāmī, then there will be this problem. Why do you divide your feelings?” Gurujī then said, “Please pardon me. I will never have sakāmī food again.” From that time onward, whenever someone asked Gurujī, “What would you like to eat or have cooked?” Gurujī would say, “Always now, as you like.” Whenever anyone asks Gurujī what he would like to eat, the picture of Mahāprabhujī immediately appears before him. “If I ask that I would like to have this and that, it will become sakāmī.” It means selfish. What you get naturally is good, but if you ask for it, then it becomes sakāmī.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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