Practical Teachings for Life “Based on the Shikshapatri”

EternalReligion.org

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Introduction

The Shikshapatri was personally written by a pure devotee of

Lord Krishna, Shri Sahajanand Swaminarayan, in 1826, in the

small village of Vadtal (Gujarat). There are 212 verses in total

and here we shall cover some of the verses. His followers claim

him to be an incarnation of the Supreme.

By obeying the commands in the Shikshapatri, we will become

righteous, disciplined, devoted, and of unbreakable character. These

qualities will help you to serve God, your parents, your children, your

relatives, your country, humanity, and other living beings.

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1. Worship Lord Krishna – He is the Supreme

This Isha is Lord Shri Krishna, is Supreme Brahman, is Bhagwan and is

the source of all incarnations. (108)

Lord Shri Krishna, His incarnations and His forms, only shall form the

objects for meditation. One shall never meditate upon Jivas-men as

well as deities, however great, as Bhaktas and knowers of Brahman

they may be. (115)

All my followers shall daily go to the temple of Lord Shri Krishna, in the

evening and shall sing loudly the name of Lord Shri Krishna. (63)

None shall ever hear or believe in the Shastras which clearly refute (the

name, glory, form and existence of) Lord Shri Krishna and his

incarnations. (29)

Then they shall offer food to him and then shall partake of it as His

prasad, they shall thus always remain in service of Lord Krishna with

love. (58)

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2. No Killing or Hurting

My followers shall never kill any living being under any circumstances, knowingly, not even small insects like lice, bugs, etc. (11)

None shall ever kill a human being for obtaining women, wealth or even sovereignty. (13)

They shall never associate with nor even touch women who practice

abortion, nor shall indulge in or hear amorous talks regarding males.

(170)

3. No animal killing (no meat eating)

(My followers) shall never kill goats and/or other living beings in

sacrifice performed for the propitiation of deities and Pitris (ancestors),

for non-violence is declared (by the Shastras) as the highest Dharma of

all the Dharmas. (12)

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4. No Intoxications (Alcohol, drugs, tobacco)

None shall ever eat meat, even if it be an offering in a sacrifice or shall

ever drink liquor or wine even if it be offered to a deity. (15)

5. No Adultery, no gambling

All my followers, males and females, shall never practice adultery

and/or gambling and such other bad habits, nor shall eat or drink

intoxicants like hemp, opium etc. (18)

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6. No Suicide

None shall ever commit suicide even in a place of pilgrimage or through

anger or on account of some untoward action by taking poison or by

hanging or by falling into a well or from a hill-top or by any other

means. (14)

7. No Stealing

None shall ever commit theft, even for the sake of performing an act of

Dharma. Even articles such as firewood, flowers, etc. owned by others

shall never be taken without their permission. (17)

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8. Don’t make false accusations and don’t use bad Language

No one should level false accusations against anyone, even for the sake of achieving some self-interest or shall utter indecent words/abuses to

others. (20)

9. Don’t insult anyone

None shall ever speak or hear ill of deities, places of pilgrimage,

Brahmins, chaste women, Sadhus and the Vedas. (21)

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10. Respect all, disrespect none. Bow down to all Deities

When (my followers) on their way, come across temples of Shiv, and other deities, they shall bow down to them and have their darshan

respectfully. (23)

11. Keep good association, and stay away from bad association

None shall speak even truth which is likely to cause fatal misery to

oneself or to others and shall avoid company of ungrateful persons or

shall ever except illegal gratification from anybody. (26)

No one shall ever associate with a thief, an addict, a hypocrite, a debauch, and a deceit. (27)

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12. Use clean water

None shall ever drink water and/or milk (including all kinds of edible

oils) unfiltered nor shall use water containing many insects for purposes of bath, etc, (30)

13. Respect all and insult none

None shall insult a guru, superiors, persons of higher social status,

learned men and those who are armed. || 35 ||

All my followers who are prudent shall receive their Guru, a king, a

very old man and a person who has renounced the world, a learned

man and an ascetic, respectfully, by rising from their seat going

forward, by offering them proper seat by sweet words. (69)

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14. Think before responding in all situations

One shall never act under sudden impulse in haste; but an act

pertaining to Dharma shall be done all at once. One shall impart

knowledge, acquired by oneself, to others and shall always associate

with saintly persons. (36)

15. Give to worthy gurus and Temples

None shall go with empty hands for darsan of Guru or of a deity or of a

king or shall ever commit breach of trust or shall praise oneself. (37)

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16. Assign work based on qualifications

One must always entrust, after proper consideration, a person with

work just befitting his aptitude and ability but shall not act otherwise.

(66)

17. Take good care of workers

One shall always provide one's servants with food, clothing etc.,

according to one's means and according to their worth (merit). (67)

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18. Serve the parents, gurus, and those in need

All my followers during their lifetime shall serve their parents, Guru and

ailing person, according to their ability. (139)

19. Keep Proper documentation

They shall never enter into any transaction regarding land and/or

money even with their own sons and friends, without putting it in

writing with proper attestation. (143)

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20. Keep proper financial records and be accountable

Recollecting their income and expenses incurred during routine and/or

special transactions, they shall daily write clearly in their own hands, an

account thereof. (146)

21. Be charitable

They shall offer to Lord Shri Krishna one tenth part of food-grains and

or money, derived as income from their vocation, but those who are

financially weak shall offer one twentieth part instead. (147)

22. Service to spouse

Female followers who are married shall serve their husbands like God,

even if they are blind, sick, poor or impotent and shall not speak harsh

words to them. (159)