Question: Maharaj Ji! A lot of modern gurus claim to offer knowledge through courses, what would you say about it?

Answer: Most affectionately Maharaj Ji turned to them and said, “Nothing to say nor it is needed now to say anything. Everybody claims to know everything. Vedanta is being sold just at the price of two paise. People read it and also write about it. But the means Sadhan, the technique cannot be but in black and white, some accomplished Mahapurush activates it only in the heart. Instead of wasting time in fruitless wanderings hither and thither, it is better to go to the shelter of any Mahapurush. Only by serving him, by living in his close company and attending his discourses, you can pave the way of your well-being. Tulasidas confirms this in the following conflate:

एक घड़ी आधी घड़ी ,आधी की पुनि आध ,
तुलसी संगत साधु की ,काटे कोटि अपराध

The company of a saint for an hour or for half an hour or even for the quarter of an hour snaps the shackles of thousand sins.

Question: Maharaj Ji! Is it not possible to perform Bhajan at home?

Answer: See! Nobody can leave his house out of his own sweet will. There was a thief who became a Sadhu when he found himself beset with the possibilities of impeding punishment. At ashram, he continued to engage himself in mischievous act of searching belongings of fellow saints while they were asleep. When he failed to find anything, he started shifting the Kamandals (jars) from one place to another and thus was addicted to his evil traits. Every night he used to do it. The Mahatmas faced obstructions on account his mischief. The regular vigil revealed the truth and he was caught red-handed. When he was asked about his antecedents before becoming Sadhu, he gave the detailed information about his previous stealing and thefts. Since he had been a thief, his Sanskars were not leaving him. So, by quitting your home, you should not think that your nature would change. The real household lies in the mind of man and it is held back by its mental state. External renunciations would never lead to internal one until God ordains you to leave the house, you should not do it because it is sin. When He orders you to take of, it is great sin to stay at home any more. So live in your houses and wait till the permission is granted. If you leave abruptly the clutch of the mind would not release, the old habits/Sanskars would chase you.

गुण स्वभाव त्यागे बिना दुर्लभ परमानन्द

Without abjuring the old habits and nature, the Supreme Bliss is only an El Do Rado.

बिना विचारे जो करै, सो पाछे पछिताय।
काम बिगारै आपनो, जग में होत हंसाय॥

If a man does anything without calculations, he is sure to repent. He bungles his own business and becomes ludicrous in the eyes of others.

If you want to haste at all, you should be in haste to do prayers. Otherwise, you will make the mess of everything.

Question: Maharaj Ji! Bless me so that I may perform Bhajan.

Answer: Maharaj ji asked – Do you know what Bhajan is? You can perform bhajan only when you know its true meaning

One should first fix his/her Swaroop (identity) in the heart. Everything should be seen as preparation what we call as beginning stage until it is fixed. Gradually when it is fixed it becomes perceptible, the soul starts plying the vehicle of heart and know its way onwards. Then you would be able to know, what Bhajan is and how it works! To sit with closed eyes is not the real Bhajan, it is only the primary stage of it. When God (Isht) explains what is good or bad, what is acceptable or what is unacceptable, Bhajan begins. It should not be forgotten, that the primary efforts are also important because they hold the key and lead to Bhajan. Try to understand that Bhajan cannot be performed by anyone, it actually happens by Sadhguru’s grace.

(Source: Jeevanadarsh Evam Atmanubhuti)