Swamiji is my Param Guru (grandfather guru), the guru of my guru (Swami Narayan Tirtha). He was born in 1888 in India. As a young man, in the midst of India?s struggle for freedom from the British, Swamiji was wholly consumed by a burning desire to find his inner freedom. Eventually he was led to his guru, Sri Narayan Dev Tirtha who inducted him into the Siddhayoga meditation tradition. Later, with the blessings of his guruji, Swamiji became a sanyasi (monk) under the Shankaracharya, Swami Bharati Krishna Tirtha. In time, Swamiji found himself with an ashram in the Himalayan village, Uttarkashi, where he looked after the welfare of his disciples. It was there that he wrote this book, Guru Bani. In the 1990?s it was translated into English by Swami Narayan Tirtha?s disciple, Uma Sanyal. Swamiji wrote several other books, among them was Yoga Vani: Instructions for the Attainment of Siddhayoga, which influenced some of the modern Siddhayoga traditions. He left his mortal body in 1958.

Below are some of his thoughts. They are as relevant today as ever.

Any discussion that leads to quarrels and ill feelings towards one another should not be entered into by true devotees, as it goes against their quest of knowledge. Heated discussions arise because of vanity and the feelings of superiority. Such person are prone to anger and other vices. Avoid pride, but you can be proud to say, ?I am a devotee, He is my guru.?

Useless and worldly talks should be avoided. Persons should not censure others; they have no right to do so. Those who censure others take in the others sins and lose whatever pious work they have done.

A true devotee is never worried about the necessities of life or acquiring things for the future. They leave all their worries to God. In fact, what does a true devotee really need? Merely some food to satisfy their hunger, a few clothes to cover themselves, and protect them from the cold, and shelter from the elements. So why worry? After all, the Supreme Controller, who is controlling the whole universe, took enough care to place the right temperature of milk in a mother?s breast for the new born baby to drink. Won?t He (or She) look after His (or Her) own devotee?

            In the Bhagavad Gita, God Himself (as Lord Krishna) has declared, ?Those who place their trust in Me and think that they are always with Me, I am their shelter. I promise to take care of such devotees.? So a true devotee just performs their responsibilities in life and does not worry for the basic necessities. They know God will provide for them; ?He (or She) is there to care for me.? Turn your good into better and your better into the best. But the results always with the Almighty rest.