A Living Example – The Satpurush

A sthitapragna satpurush is continuously in this state of ‘param drushtvã’. His whole life is spent on a stable platform of realization of Paramãtmã. As a result of attaining Paramãtmã, his life overflows with bliss. Therefore, the senses or pleasures cannot hinder him. He is so immersed in the bliss of Paramãtmã that no mundane desires arise at all.
This state of ‘param drushtvã’ described in the Gita can be seen very clearly in the life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
In September 1998, Ronald Patel, the renowned editor of the Philadelphia Enquirer and Pulitzer Prize winner, interviewed Pramukh Swami Maharaj at Edison (New Jersey, USA). Swamishri had recently undergone heart bypass surgery and Ronald Patel was eager to hear about the experiences of Swamishri at the time.
Ronald asked, “When you recovered consciousness after your bypass surgery and you realized that you were still in this world, what was the first thing that came to mind?”
“Bhagwan,” Swamishri said instantly.
“Weren’t you somewhat disappointed that you came back and did not reach God,” asked Ronald, with eyes squinted.
“No, God is constantly with us,” replied Swamishri naturally. These words of realization touched Ronald deep in his heart.
On 28 February 1985, a reporter of the Janambhoomi-Pravasi newspaper, Shri Sompura, asked Swamishri, “When did you have your first experience of God?”
“From the beginning,” Swamishri replied. This was an unexpected answer for Shri Sompura, but it reflected Swamishri’s true state.
On 2 November 1991, Rajkot, a youth asked Swamishri, “Have you seen Paramãtmã?”
“That is why we are so happy. I talk of him because I have seen him,” Swamishri said, casually.
“So Paramãtmã is as if before your very eyes?” The youth asked to confirm.
“Yes, before our very eyes,” replied Swamishri. Everyone present heard Swamishri’s conviction of attaining Paramãtmã.
In this manner, the heart of a sthitapragna satpurush is ever filled with the conviction of Paramãtmã. As a result he is naturally wed with detachment from all other things.
Once, while Pramukh Swami Maharaj was taking lunch in Jamnagar, Pujya Bhagavatcharan Swami told Swamishri, “I have inspected the whole building; everything is satisfactory, splendid in fact. How do you like it?”
“Everything is the same for us. What is a mansion and what is a hut? Whatever we get by Paramãtmã’s wish is well and good,” Swamishri replied, reflecting his sthitapragna state.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj was in Atlanta, USA. The volunteers helping in the kitchen department brought before Swamishri a dish full of the day’s food items that were going to be served to the devotees. One volunteer asked Swamishri, “Bapa, which of these items do you like?” Swamishri immediately answered, ‘Whatever Paramãtmã eats; we should accept whatever is offered to Paramãtmã.’
One can only hear such answers from someone who is truly experiencing the bliss of Paramãtmã.
Once, in London, Swamishri went to sanctify a shop. The devotee who owned the shop asked Swamishri, “Do you like the shop?” Swamishri replied, “What is there to like? Everything will one day become dust. How much we worship Paramãtmã is what counts.”
Once, in Bochasan, some sadhus were sitting around Swamishri and having a light discussion. It was the last day of their stay at the current location. Janmangal Swami asked, “You have stayed here for this long, so you must have become settled. Do you feel like going elsewhere?”
“Why not? We are settled wherever we go! There is no question of ‘getting’ settled,” Swamishri replied. He then said softly, “Wherever we go we worship and speak about Paramãtmã. As long we are settled in that, we are settled. What need is there to be settled with regards to accommodation and other things? We should never believe that we will only be comfortable in certain places. However much we serve and speak about Paramãtmã is how happy we are; that is true comfort.”
These are the words that echo from one who has realized Paramãtmã as stated in the words ‘param drushtvã’.

Conclusion

Thus, the words of the Gita direct us to imbibe detachment and indifference in our lives. It reveals the characteristics of the sensual pleasures, the senses of action, the senses of perception, and the antahkarans (internal organs). By giving us an indication of their strength, it warns us and shows us the importance of self-control. Moreover, with the words ‘param drushtvã nivartate’ it shows us the technique to overcome them.