Priti na angwala maté
Bhagatji Maharaj maintained that all devotees (sambandh-wala) should be viewed and accepted as an ‘image’ of Shreeji Maharaj himself and should be served accordingly with devotion. Yogi Bapa took this principle one step further and through experience provided us with the following spiritual wisdom.
Those who are led by their hearts and emotional minds should constantly practice japyagna and remain submerged in the murti of Maharaj so that they can easily recognise Maharaj in those whom they like as well as dislike. If a thought crosses their minds regarding the actions or behaviour of someone they dislike, this must be accepted whole-heartedly as their own fault. They should continue to pray until it becomes clear that Maharaj is using that ‘disliked’ person to reflect their own failings and weaknesses. Eventually, they will be enlightened and the prejudice toward the unfavoured characters will lessen – indeed they will become fond of those characters.
A close friendship will develop. At this stage you will be able to see if they are ‘swerving’ from their swardharma – the path laid down by their Sudguru . As a friend, do whatever is necessary to point this out and alert them that they are breaching their own principles and conviction. However, it is of prime importance to note that whatever you have witnessed in them, has only been inspired by Bapa who has used them, to illustrate what you yourself would have done in a similar situation. Thus you should feel indebted to them for having taught you such a great lesson. This is characteristic of true spiritual friendship (suhrad-sathi). If we practice this earnestly in our sadhana, we will be freed from our egos.