Sadguru Sthavan by Tulas Amma

Hymns on Learning to Live in the World

1. संसार विचार न करावा फार । त्याने दुःख निज खरोक्खर ॥

1. Sansār vichār na karavā phar | Tāyāne duḥkha nij kharokhar

Do not keep thinking excessively about the world.
Constant worldly thinking only brings real sorrow.

२. प्रारंभीच हा संसार रे नश्वर । तेथे मग काईचे चित्त शिर ॥

2. Prathamāchī hā Sansār re nāshvar | Tethe māg kāiche chitt shir

This world, from the very beginning, is temporary and perishable.
Then why should we bow our mind to it, giving it so much importance?

३. आदि मन हे मार्केट । नाना कल्पना दुर्गाआहत । जन्म–मरण दोहीत बुडे व्यर्थ ॥

3. Ādi man he market | Nānā kalpanā durgāhat | Janma–maraṇ doheet budevyarth

The mind is a markat — like an ape/monkey, very fidgety and full of imagination and desires.
Caught in this turmoil, one sinks helplessly into the cycles of birth and death.

४. आदि जा सद्भावे सद्गुरु शरण । होता शुद्ध अंतःकरण परिपूर्ण ॥

4. Ādi jā sadbhāve Sadguru śaraṇ | Hotā śuddha antaḥkaraṇ paripūrṇa

Instead, take sincere refuge at the feet of the Sadguru.
Through His grace, the inner instrument (mind–heart–intellect) becomes pure and complete.

५. निश्चिंत करावे त्याचे स्मरण । न लागे मायेचे आकर्षण ॥

5. Niśchint karave tyāche smaraṇ | Nā lāge māyec’e ākārṣaṇ

Remember the Guru without worry or doubt.
Then the attraction of Maya loses its power over you.

६. व्हावे मानवाल प्रथम साधन । अंतरी करावे मग ध्यान ॥

6. Vhave mānavālā pratham sādhan | Antare karave mag dhyān

First, the man must practice – sadhana,

Then turn inward and practice meditation.

७. लक्ष रहाताची आपल्या स्वस्स्थानी । निशीदिनी मिळे शांती माई ॥

7. Lakṣh rahātāchī apulyā swasthānee | Niśhīdini mile śhānty māī

By keeping your focus on your own breath and inner center,
Day and night, you will slowly receive the Mother of Peace within.

८. कल्पना करिता होय चित्त भ्रम । भोगेल तो सत्य बहो श्रम ॥

8. Kalpanā karitā hoy chitta bhram | Bhogel to satya bahu śhram

Indulging in imagination leads the mind into confusion.
Certainly, the seeker suffers and struggles unnecessarily by treating imagination as truth.

९. न जाणता सूक्ष्म काईचा रे आराम । भेटेल कसा तो आत्माराम ॥

9. Nā janatā sūkṣhma kāichā re ārām | Bheṭel kasā to Atmārām

Without knowing the subtle path or the inner stillness,
How will one ever meet the indwelling Self—Atmaram?

१०. नको नको रे अहंता सर्वथा । मृत्तिके समान देह व्यर्था ॥

10. Nakō nakō re ahantā sarvathā | Mṛttikēsaman deh vr̥thā

Give up ego completely.
This body is merely a lump of clay—do not cling to it.

११. महिमा अपार तुझी रे समर्थ । विचारबुद्धी देसी ह्या अनाथ ॥

11. Mahimā apar tuzi re samartha | Vichārbuddhi desī hyā anātha

O All-powerful One, Your glory is beyond measure.
Please grant the right understanding to this helpless one!

Everyone in the world deceived me —
But that one Sadguru never abandoned me.
Even when I heard worldly criticism,
my inner heart became purified through His Grace.

2. Since childhood, I endured hardship from my own mother.
There was no freedom even in my own home.
Later, more responsibilities came upon me —
And I alone bore every burden.

3. Working and suffering endlessly,
my mind became confused and exhausted.
Like a stray dog, I wandered;
Like a donkey, I was beaten by life.
People insulted me,
and no one in the family cared to ask how I was.

4. Without understanding my own true nature,
I faced unbearable pain.
A heavy sorrow filled my heart,
and I even felt that death would be easier.

5. But You, O Guru,
ran towards me when my home was collapsing in suffering.
With compassion, you stayed close
and taught me the light of discrimination.
But the worldly people misunderstood everything
and turned even meaning into meaninglessness.

6. To bring peace into my heart,
You asked me to open my inner story.
You taught me every night
how to walk beyond sorrow and happiness.

7. In many ways, You taught me truth,
and revealed the value of simple purity.
By living within my heart, You stabilised my mind —
But the people at home did not understand
and never truly returned to me.

8. Just as a small fever troubles a patient weakened by tuberculosis,
So too even a small separation from You
caused deep agony.
They said I was wrong —
But you taught me the power of Nishkama Bhavana.

9. A great calamity struck me suddenly,
yet I did not let courage leave my heart.
I placed my full trust in You,
and stayed steady in thought.

10. Everyone claimed to love me,
yet no one gave me a moment of peace.
So I remembered Lord Raghuram
while doing all worldly work.

11. Parents exist for their children.
A husband protects his wife — this is the way of the world.
But without You, what protection do I have?
Now I long only for Your compassionate glance.

12. If my mind forgets You,
it will fall again into delusion.
So You brought me once more into this world
to find You again.
I do not feel bound by motherly affection;
With a clear understanding, I see You everywhere.

13. Even though I am tired of worldly life,
Give me peace within, O Lord.
Let Your remembrance remain until my last breath,
And may I finally rest at Your sacred Lotus Feet.

1) “One should not think about the worldly mundane life excessively. It really causes a lot of grief.”

Over-thinking the world means living mostly inside mental stories — worries, comparisons, past regrets and future anxieties. The mind repeatedly replays the same scenes until the emotions becomes real: restlessness, sorrow, and resentment. When thought becomes habit, it not only disturbs the peace of heart but also distorts our actions: we react from fear, not from clarity. The spiritual way is not to become indifferent to the world, but to refuse the habit of compulsive rumination. Notice the difference between responsible attention (doing your duty) and obsessive thinking (replaying, forecasting, fearing)—the first grounds you; the second drains you.

2) “First of all, this world itself is temporary and perishable. As a result, how can the mind remain stable in that?”

Everything we see and hold in the hands of time — relationships, possessions, social status, even health — is transient. If we pin our peace to what shifts and breaks, our mind will forever be tossed like a boat in a storm. Real stability cannot come from the unstable. This is a practical insight: treat worldly things with appreciation and care, but do not bind your identity or peace to them. Cultivate an inner refuge — not to escape responsibilities, but so that when loss or change comes, you remain intact and compassionate rather than shattered.

3) “This mind is also fickle like a monkey. It is full of many disastrous concepts and ideas. It drowns in the pool of life and death in vain!”

The “monkey mind” image is vivid: restless, leaping from one thing to another, attracted by every new idea or fear. Left uncontrolled, the mind creates fantasies and attachments that appear important now but are the seeds of future suffering. Those seeds feed repeated patterns — expectations, disappointments, desire, aversion — which keep the soul bound to samsara (the cycle of birth and death). See the mind’s movement, name it, and do not take every passing thought as your truth. A mind trained to observe loses the power to drag the heart into needless drama.

4) “Therefore, surrender yourself to the Sadguru first. When your mind is purified completely, assuredly remember him quite positively. Then you will not feel any attraction for the illusion.”

Surrender to the Sadguru means entrusting your search and your heart to the living light of guidance. The Guru’s grace works like medicine: it cleanses deep impressions, so the mind slowly becomes steady. As remembrance of the Guru becomes natural and confident (not anxious or doubting), the glamour of illusion — glittering but empty — loses its pull. This is not coercion; it is an inner re-ordering: the heart learns a truer priority and naturally lets go of deceptive attachments.

5) “The man must practice spiritualism. He should meditate in his mind. When his attention is fixed on his own place, his mind will get peace during the day and night.”

Spiritual practice is the discipline of returning — again and again — to what is real in us. Meditation is not a luxury; it is a daily habit that trains attention. “Fixing attention at his own place” means resting at the heart-centre or the quiet witness within. When attention learns this home, two things happen: actions become calmer and clearer, and an abiding peace is felt not only in formal sitting but while living, during work, sleep, and waking. Regular practice builds a reservoir of peace you can draw upon in difficulty.

6) “It is really quite true that, if he imagines more, his mind will get caught in the delusion. He will suffer a lot of trouble and pain due to that.”

Imagination itself is a tool for creativity, for planning, for devotion. But untrained imagination becomes fantasy and falsehood. When we mistake imagined stories for reality, we suffer: jealousy, false hopes, anger, pride. The remedy is discernment: ask whether this thought helps lead you to clarity and compassion, or whether it feeds restlessness and separation. Replace fanciful rehearsal with mindful presence; replace speculation with loving action.

7) “If you do not understand and realise anything minutely and subtly, how can you get relaxation? How could that great soul, that God will meet you?”

Spiritual realisation is subtle — it happens in quietness, in attention, and in inner purification. Without a careful, subtle understanding of the workings of the mind and heart, one cannot find true rest. The Great Soul, or the Divine, meets the sincere heart that has prepared itself: a heart that is clear, humble, and steady. Preparation is practical: self-inquiry, practice, study, and surrender. Meeting the Divine is not a one-time dramatic event for most of us; it is the gentle recognition that dawns when we are ready.

8) “It is better not to have that sense of pride and ego at all. This physical body is meaningless — that earthly matter.”

Ego and pride are obstacles because they identify “I” with transient accomplishments and roles. The body and its accessories are instruments for action, not the Self. Honouring the body as useful does not require clinging to it as the ultimate. When pride softens, humility opens the door to learning, grace, and real love. Humility is not self-deprecation; it is clarity about limits and openness to the Divine.

9) “O powerful Sadguru, your greatness is really unlimited. Give the consciousness of reason to the intellect of this poor orphan devotee like me!”

This is a heartfelt prayer — a surrender mixed with a practical request. The devotee asks not merely for miracles but for the gift that makes transformation possible: right discernment, clear intellect, steady mind. It is an invitation to the Guru to work in the deep faculties so that the seeker can walk the path with wisdom. It models the posture we are invited to take: candid humility plus steady aspiration.

Closing prayer (to use in your narration)

O powerful Sadguru, whose compassion has no end, grant this heart the vision to see through illusion. Purify the mind, steady the attention, and teach me to live in the world with integrity and love. Let my actions be humble, my heart fearless, and my remembrance constant. Om Guru — may your grace be mine.

अनेक जन्मांची होती मी पापीनी;
काही उरकले नाही आत.
भोगिता भोगिता झाली पाषाण,
दु:ख वाढले की आठवे फक्त तव चरण.

I have been a sinner across countless births.
So many lifetimes have passed that nothing now remains in my memory.
Through endless hardships and relentless labour, my heart hardened like stone.
Only when unbearable pain rose within me did I remember Your sacred feet, O Lord.
In that remembrance alone was my one refuge.
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2. सकळांनी केले माझे छलन,
पण एक त्या सद्‍गुरूने कधी सोडले नाही मन.
ऐकता लौकिक दूषण,
शुद्ध झाले माझे अंतःकरण.

Everyone in the world troubled me, hurt me, and deceived me —
Everyone except the one true Sadguru.
Even when I heard the harsh criticism and unkind remarks of people,
Your grace purified my mind within.
From my very childhood, I had to endure suffering in my parents’ home.
Even after marriage, in my own house,
I had no freedom, no independence, no space to be myself.
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3. लहानपणी सहन केले माहेरी त्रास;
स्वगृहात नव्हती स्वातंत्र्याची आस.
नंतर येऊ लागले पोरे अनेक —
सगळे भार मीच उचलले एकटे एक.

Later, I gave birth to many children.
But one by one, You took them away from me, O Lord.
Repeated suffering broke my heart again and again,
and my mind fell into confusion and delusion.
Life became a blur of sorrow, exhaustion, and unanswered questions.
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4. भोगिता भोगिता झाले श्रमित मन;
मध्येच झाली चित्ताची भरकटण.
श्वानासारखे फिरविले देह;
गाढवासारखे झाले मरणासवे.
जनीं मला निंदिले,
गृहस्थांनी कुणी न विचारिले.

I wandered and worked like a stray dog,
and carried the unbearable burden of labour like a donkey.
I was beaten, scolded, and insulted in public.
People mocked me, slandered me, and spoke ill of me everywhere.
And at home —
no one asked, no one cared, no one even tried to understand my pain.
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5. न कळता निजस्वभाव,
दु:ख झाले देहात दारूण आव.
हरपले मनावरचे भान —
वाटे जीवाला येवो मरण.

Not knowing my true Self,
unaware of the divine spark within,
I became deeply sorrowful and restless.
The suffering was so severe, so unbearable,
that I reached a point where I felt:
“In this condition, death would be easier than living.”
Such deep despair overtook my mind.
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6. गृहापातळा धावून आला,
तव कृपाळू हातांनी मला कवटाळला.
विवेक सांगत राहिला जवळ,
पण लौकिकांनी पाहून केले अनर्थ अधिक पलळ.

But then —
the compassionate Sadguru came running to my home.
He stood by me, guiding me lovingly,
teaching me the light of discrimination and inner wisdom.
Yet the worldly people misunderstood even this divine grace.
Instead of seeing the truth, they condemned me further
and spread more blame and suspicion.
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7.शांती मिळावी मनाला,
सांगितली अंतरीची कहाणी उघडून टाकायला.
रात्रंदिवस दिला बोध,
सुख-दु:खातून निघण्याचा शोध.

To restore peace in my heart,
Sadguru explained the inner indications,
the deeper truths, in detail.
Day and night He taught me,
showing me the path to rise above both pleasure and pain,
to transcend the dualities that trap the mind.
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8. नानापरी सत्य दाखविले;
सहज महत्त्व हृदयात रुजविले.
अंतरी राहून चित्त स्थिर केले;
गृहस्थांनी मात्र कधी न समजले.

He tested me in many subtle ways,
measured my sincerity,
and then taught me the profound value
of moral instruction and inner purity
in the simplest, gentlest manner.
Once my mind became steady and calm,
He no longer visited my home —
for now His presence had entered my heart.
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9. क्षयरोग्याला जसा लहान ताप,
तसा तुझा विछेद झाला अनुताप.
माझे ना म्हणती, टीका करिती सर्वत्र;
तरी तूच शिकविला निष्कामत्वाचा मंत्र.

But this separation was terribly painful —
like how even a small fever
creates unbearable discomfort
for a patient already weakened by tuberculosis.
People around me never accepted their mistakes;
they did not say, “This suffering is because of our actions.”
They blamed me alone.
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10. एकाहुनी एक आले संकट थोर,
तरी न सुटले मनाचे धैर्य कोर.
संपूर्ण भार तुझ्यावर ठेविला;
विचार वेगळा शांत ठेविला.

Great calamities came one after another —
storms that shook my life again and again.
Yet I did not lose courage.
I placed every burden, every worry,
at the feet of the Sadguru.
With His support,
my mind remained anchored in a different, higher understanding.
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11. सर्वांचे म्हणे माझ्यावर प्रेम,
पण क्षणभरही न मिळे विश्रांती नेम.
चिंतीत राहून रघुराम,
मी करीतसे संसारधाम.

Everyone claims to love me,
but in truth I find no peace in the house.
So I remember Lord Raghuram in my heart
and continue to do all my worldly duties.
In remembrance alone I find strength to keep moving.
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15. मायबाप असती संततीसाठी;
पती असतो पत्नीसाठी.
पण तुझिविण मी कोणास ठायी?
आता पाही कृपादृष्टी तुझी.

When the Master of the entire universe stands behind me,
What need have I of worldly parents or relations?
Without You, O Lord,
My heart becomes full of sorrow and loneliness.
Please look upon me once
With your compassionate and loving glance.
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13. विसरू नये तुला मनाने,
म्हणून दिलेस पुन्हा जन्म या जगण्यात पुनः.
मायेमुळे न बांधले मी;
कारण बुद्धी सांगते — तू सर्वत्र हरी.

You even gave me another child —
to test whether I would again lose myself in worldly affection
and forget You.
But now I am no longer caught in the tricks of Maya.
Your remembrance alone fills my thoughts;
my intellect sees You everywhere and in everything.
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14. श्रमले शरीर या संसारात,
आता दे शांती अंत:करणात.
अंतकाळी राहो तुझे स्मरण,
आणि विसावो मी चरणकमलाशी शरण.

Though I am exhausted by the endless struggles
and responsibilities of worldly life,
I pray to You:
Give me peace in my heart now, O Lord.
Let Your remembrance remain with me until my very last breath.
And when this life comes to an end,
grant me a place —
a peaceful resting place —
at Your sacred, compassionate Lotus Feet.
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