Since the last celebration of Navaratri, Babaji has been asked several questions regarding the proper way of understanding the relationship between God as the Great Unknown, the Divine Mother, Guru, and a meaningful life. Here we have transcribed some of his words collected during different satsangs (spiritual talks with seekers) in the last month at Sonoma Ashram. ... Editors

"...in aghor way of thinking, we know that the most proper way to address God is through the expression 'Great Unknown'. That 'Great Unknown' is the most extreme concept our mind can conceive. Whenever we want to speak about that which is greater than all else, beyond form, we use the expression 'Great Unknown'. Even so, it remains a concept of the mind, something elusive in its nature, something about which nothing can be said, completely mysterious to our human experience. Through our mind we come to understand that It must be formless, beyond any name, gender, color, race, and place, yet that It permeates everywhere and everything. This is called the Nirgun, the no-qualities (guna), the no-attributes, the nondistinct aspect of God, the God without a face. This is the way of knowledge, jnana marga.

But what happens when we start listening to these deep and strong emotions arising from our hearts as we close our eyes to be in the presence of our mantra? To express our devotion, we give that 'Great Unknown' a name, a form, a figure. This way of approaching the 'Great Unknown'- by giving a name and a form - is called sakar-bhakti, devotion with name and form (namrup-sakar). It is from sarkar-bhakti that we are able to establish ourselves into nirakar-bhakti, that state in which the heart itself acknowledges the 'Great Unknown' How is this shift possible? How does it happen? Above all, why are there so many different, sometimes even contradictory features of Gods and Goddesses?

The Formless permeates everywhere, and out of compassion takes form depending on the intensity and bhava of the call of the seeker. As an analogy, consider the all pervading light of the sun. It is equally distributed in every part of the solar system, and even beyond. Yet we have the capability of concentrating that vast light into a very small point in which that very light becomes fire. We can decide where to focus our lens, what degree to concentrate that available power, even what to transform. So, that power, that Great Unknown can take any form, according to the lens of our intention.

The 'Great Unknown' possesses the potential of taking this or that form, and at the same time to not take any form at all; this principle holds true also in our understanding of the nature of the Guru. Every time we chant Arati, in the first stanza we are reminded of this, "Om jai Aughar daani, niraakaara saakaara niraamaya". Om, hail to the generous Aghor Guru. You are formless, as well as with a form.

We have to remember that any step in developing this relationship, any act of bhakti, any devotion that we do, never goes to waste. Never! No matter how we call, if our heart is open and pure, it is always heard, though we may not notice or recognize it when the response to that call comes. The Divine Mother may come in the form of a friend or a stranger, or even in the form of an inspirational thought. She may come in a totally unexpected form, but always She comes.

For example, Maha Lakshmi, the auspicious one, who is also known as the Goddess of wealth, comes in many disguises. First, She may come in the form of contentment. At any given moment one may think he needs a million dollars; he craves one million dollars and becomes restless. The next moment another thought may emerge, "Oh, I have enough. I am so happy with what I have!". This thought is a manifestation of the grace of the Divine Mother, Maha Lakshmi, the greatest wealth one can have. It is called santosh dhan, the wealth of contentment.

Maha Lakshmi also comes in the form of happiness. Whenever I am inspired to do something new with enthusiasm, this is also emergence of Maha Lakshmi.

Maha Lakshmi preys upon despair. Whenever we find ourselves in a state of despair, we should know that Maha Lakshmi has removed her protective shade from us. Then, what can we do? We call upon Her, "Oh, Mother, help me! Come to my side!". Despair should always be dealt with in this way.

Maha Lakshmi comes where there is joy, to a home where incense and a ghee lamp are burning every night, to where there is reciting of Maha Lakshmi stotra. Doing havan with your mantra on full moon is also pleasing to Maha Lakshmi. Maha Lakshmi says, "A home where incense and a ghee lamp are burnt in the evening, a home which is free from squabble and quarrel, that abode, that home is very dear to me. I go there. I enter very quietly and take my place! In a home where there is contentment, I reside permanently with all my friends, my entourage of countless virtues".

This is what puja of Maha Lakshmi teaches us, to go deeper, and give those virtues - those friends of Maha Lakshmi that reside within us - a chance to emerge. Have faith in Her. She always encourages us to keep moving, to move ahead with enthusiasm.

If we have Maha Lakshmi's grace, we live a very happy life. If Her grace is not there, we may have plenty of wealth but are unable to enjoy it; someone else enjoys it. You have seen examples of this in our society; some people have many homes and possessions, yet run around without rest. Servants live in their homes. It is the servants who enjoy it all. The owners are never at home. They are running, running, running...and worrying, worrying, worrying. Some, who have all kinds of money cannot even eat tasty food; they have been put on strange diets, or have become addicted to anti-depressant drugs .

If we have the grace of Maha Lakshmi, we are able to enjoy what we already have. We are happy, we cherish, we appreciate what we have, even if it is very little. When this contentment is found in our home, we should know that Maha Lakshmi resides within. It is good to have aspirations, but not to be caught up with them. Real success is to have enough for my family... to have a roof over the head, food for today, clothing and a little extra for the guest who might drop in unexpectedly. Anything more is just desire, which is followed by discontent or fear, the cause of suffering.

Book Review:

Oasis of Stillness: Life and Teachings of Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ramji
a book by Hariji.