However, this is not true of all. There are souls that are ready to do all they can and eradicate the evil once and for all. Such are the courageous aspirants or seekers that have undauntedly resolved to follow the path in all its disciplines, trials and tribulations and reach the aim – Peace.
In olden days, an aspirant had to resort to quiet abodes in mountains or jungles where undisturbed by prying people and avoiding the worldly temptations and pitfalls he got immersed in a path or Sadhana, according to his natural inclinations under the benign guidance – of his Guru, A master who himself had trodded the path and reached the supreme goal.
Today things have changed substantially from those days, Mode and outlook on life, living conditions and environments, the stress and strain of these on human beings have all undergone cataclysmic changes. One can no longer retire from or renounce the world as simply before. Fortunately, however, every country has even today, as ever before, its adepts and masters who can lead the lost and the confused to the path of Peace. India is perhaps more fortunate in this respect, for all along, every generation had its Masters who guided their disciples on this path of Peace,. Basing their guidance on the conditions prevalent in their days.
Gujarat has produced a number of sages like Akha Bhagat, Narsinh Mehta, Swami Jalaram and many others. Amongst the eminent sages of Gujarat is Shri Mota, (1898-1976) “The Elder” as he is lovingly called by his disciples.
Shri Mota recommends ‘Namsmaran’ or Japa as the most suitable mode of Sadhna in these times. He himself has undergone very rigorous Sadhna over many years, but all though he had carried on with his worldly duties and social responsibilities. Even after attaining the highest stage, he continued to devote his life to various social activities connected with educational movements and for developing a spirit of adventure and courage amongst the youths of our country.
Mota has made a novel and important contribution to society by starting a series of ashrams or hermitages where an earnest aspirant can get every facility to carry out his spiritual Sadhna in a ‘sattwik’ (pure) atmosphere. These ashrams, called ‘HariOm Asharam’ are located at Surat, Nadiad, Naroda and Ambaji in Gujarat and Ferozpur city in Punjab.
In each of these ashrams there are rooms equipped with bare requirements of life, like a wooden broad swing useful for sitting as well as for sleeping, an attached bath with water tap and a w.c. etc. The room is sparsely ventilated by brick grills, usually above the head level, and convered both inside and outside by wire meshing to avoid insects, etc. from coming in.
These grills provide a hazy source of light, just enough to make out bare outlines of things inside, as well as to provide air passage and ventilation. In all places electric lamps provide extra illumination for reading etc. The rooms are usually 22’x20’x10’. A double-door window in a wall provides facility for serving food, tea and hot water (if needed) for bath. Because of controlled airflow, the room usually remains at a comfortable temperature. Thus an inmate is well provided with the essential needs and can carry on his spiritual Sadhna without any outside disturbances.