Vachanamrut Essence

Gadhadā II-4

1. During adverse times, among dharma and bhakti, which one should be maintained and which one forsaken:

1. When God is manifest, if He is pleased by upholding bhakti, then bhakti should be upheld; and if He is pleased by upholding dharma, then dharma should be upheld.
2. When God is not manifest, one should constantly contemplate upon God.

2. When one realises the greatness of God and has shraddhā, then one will be able to constantly contemplate upon God.
3. One should understand the greatness of the manifest form of God in this manner: Despite that God may come into contact with māyik vishays, those vishays are not able to affect Him.
4. One who thoroughly understands the greatness of God:

1. He is not enticed by alluring vishays.
2. He views all of the attractive and repulsive objects in this world as being equal.
3. If he understands this way, then he can maintain his dharma:

1. I want to constantly contemplate upon God and become an ekāntik bhakta.
2. If my vrutti is drawn towards vicious natures such as lust, anger, avarice, etc., then that will be a hindrance in my contemplation of God.
3. He remains extremely wary of treading the wrong path.

5. One who does not thoroughly understand the greatness of God:

1. He will become attached to insignificant or worthless objects, such as a torn waistcloth or a gourd.
2. He may endeavour in a million other ways, he will still not be able to constantly contemplate upon the form of God.