॥ શ્રી સ્વામિનારાયણો વિજયતે ॥

ભગવાન સ્વામિનારાયણનાં

॥ વચનામૃત ॥

Gadhada II-8: Ekādashi; ‘Gnān-Yagna’; ‘Antardrashti’

Summary

1. How to observe the Ekādashi fast:

1. Shun the indulgences of the eleven indriyas.
2. Prevent the mind from having thoughts related to lust, anger, etc.
3. Not let the physical body engage in immoral activities.
4. Observe all of the other niyams.
5. Listen to discourses of God and sing bhajans; and stay awake at night.

2. The principle of all scriptures is that liberation cannot be attained without performing sacrifices.
3. Yog-yagna means: withdrawing the ten indriyas and the mind - the eleventh indriya - from whichever vishays they have become attached to and then offering them into the brahma-agni.
4. Gnān-yagna [antardrashti] means:

1. Physical God-related activities, such as having the darshan of God, performing His puja or engaging in discourses, devotional songs, etc.
2. Behold the form of God within one’s heart, to perform its puja, to bow before it, etc.

5. The fruit of yog-yagna and gnān-yagna is having a divine vision of Parabrahma within one’s own self, which is Brahma.
6. Manifest form of God:

1. Everything that has a relation with God is called nirgun; anything that is not related to God is called sagun.
2. Attaining the manifest God is itself the highest state of enlightenment.