Guidance from the Guru

(Letter 10)

Swami Tapovan Maharaj

Om Narayana Smriti

Uttarkasi,
25-10-1952

Writing with good wishes.

In the Himalayas winter has set in. It is some days since I returned to Uttarkasi. The letter has reached here redirected from Gangotri.

All is well. Everything that reminds me of God deserves praise: everything that tends to make one forget Him deserves blame. No doubt, reading and hearing of sacred scriptures will enhance the faith of a devotee; of a jnani it augments the jnana . The far sighted rishis of the past have devised various helps and initiated certain rites to attain the highest state of jivanmukti in which one naturally and without artificial aids like reading, hearing etc.., engages oneself in perpetual, unbroken contemplation of God. However these and other group activities, though godly at the start, get polluted on account of association with rajoguna, especially in these days and therefore, such acts should be performed with utmost care and attention to avoid contamination. Only then can one gain the full benefit to be derived therefrom.

According to your predilection and qualification worship God and meditate upon Him either in groups or in solitude. After all, what is most significant is the contemplation of God; everything else is only contributive to it.

I take it that your love of divine worship and activities in that direction are daily on the increase bringing you nearer and nearer to God. I advise you again and again to exert yourself with ever increasing vigour to reach Him.

With love,

Swami Tapovanam