Dada Bhagwan, born as Ambalal Muljibhai Patel in 1908 in India, was a revered spiritual leader and the founder of the Akram Vignan movement, a spiritual science focused on self-realization through grace rather than traditional practices. A humble and devout man, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening in 1958, which led him to share his insight into the nature of the Self and the path to liberation. Emphasizing non-violence, equanimity, and inner purity, his teachings have inspired thousands. He passed away in 1988, leaving behind a legacy of peace and practical spirituality.
"Anger-pride-deceit-greed; they are the ones giving you pain and only they are your enemies. There is no other enemy out there. There is only a nimit (evidentiary doer) outside. Wrong vision makes you accuse the nimit. When you attain the right belief (samkit), know that you have found the solution."
"That which gives detailed analysis of anger-pride-deceit-greed and puts them aside and doesn't allow any clashes to occur at home, is known as intellect. It makes one do 'everywhere adjustment'."
"Not to be able to find one's 'own' faults, this is called the world."
"If we protect the 'underhand' [those working under us], then the 'boss' will protect us. If we constantly reprimand the 'underhand', then the boss will constantly reprimand us."
"The worldly life means a market place of sensual pleasures. Worldly life means false (temporary) happiness all the time. And moksha (liberation) means permanent happiness all the time."
"Do not have so much fear of this world that it will ruin the next incarnation."
"Why does one ruminate about the past? He is treating his wounded egoism."
"If one sides with pickpockets by saying, 'what's wrong with what he is doing? He doesn't have any food so of course he'll pick pockets!' Now even when he is not a pickpocket himself, by supporting such actions, he will become a pick pocket in his next life. The poor man, although he makes the mistake in ignorance (in darkness, within), the price he will pay in brightness [that can be seen with 5 senses, the outer world]."
"Once you understand the innate nature (relative self, prakruti) of the other person, you can remain in an attachment-free state with that person. It is Knowledge (Gnan) to understand the innate nature of a person, and once Knowledge arises, so will conduct."
"If you met the robbers and they robbed you, you should not cry. Think 'how will I go on [do progress] now?' You will get all the help you need. What does one gain by crying 'what will become of me?' Who is the one suffering, the robber or the one who was robbed? The fault is of the sufferer."
"If your monetary wealth accumulates naturally and spontaneously, then let it accumulate, but do not lean on it for support. You may take its support and feel a sense of relief, but there is no telling when that support will move away. Therefore, conduct yourself with caution from the beginning so that you are not shaken up during time of painful experiences."
"Acceptance of ignorance (of reality) is the true knowledge path."
"This world is not at fault, the world is beautiful. If your understanding is wrong, what can the world do?"
"To become a leader through one's merit karma is not a big deal. One should become a leader through his virtues [innate qualities]."
"When Self (Khuda) is realized, egoism (Aap-khudi) goes away."
"Those who have become vitarag (free from all worldly attachments), will have no intent of ownership (maliki bhav)."
"One who experiences prasantta [blissful happiness] within, he will have prasantta [blissful happiness] externally. The mind is a mirror (reflection) for the external."
"Those who are in vyavahar (worldly interactions), and who are indeed conducting themselves in the vyavahar; are known as worldly people [sansaari]. And 'Siddha' (absolutely enlightened Ones without a body) are not in the worldly conduct whatsoever. Therefore, they are known as the 'non-worldly' people [asansaari]! Then there are those who are in the worldly life and yet whose conduct is not in the worldly life at all; such 'Gnani Purush (the enlightened ones)' are called, 'non-worldly' (asansaari)."
"Nothing is free in this world. That which comes before you is your very own."
"The belief of Gnan (Knowledge of the Self) is known as samkit (Right belief). Ignorant belief is known as mithyatva (illusion)."
"The mind can be won over if it is kept separate from things that appeal to it."
"When the outside intent (other than the intent of Pure Soul, Parbhaav) stops, he attains enlightened bliss of the Self (samadhi)."
"If there is an essence to this wordly life, then it is the basis of honesty [morality]. If you have little wealth but have honesty even then you will attain peace. And if you do not have honesty but lot of wealth even then restlessness will remain within."
"Where there is any kind of doer-ship, there is karmic bondage, and where there is knower-ship and inner understanding, there is Moksha [Liberation]."
"Happiness lies with us only. Desire for experiencing interactive pleasure is because of the association with the ignorance (of the Self). The one who does not have such association, he will 'realize' true happiness."
"God had said to listen to what five people tell you and don't hold on to your own opinion. The person who holds on to his opinion is isolated. If you insist upon it, it will harm you as well as others. This true-false is a relative truth; it is a mundane [worldly] truth. One should not insist upon it."
"Every spoken word carries great risk. Therefore, it is better to remain silent if one does not know how to talk. Talking about religion carries religious risks, talking about worldly matters, carries worldly risks. The worldly risk will go away, but religious risk is very heavy; it creates grave obstacles in regards to religion."
"There is 'Soul' even in other living beings. 'Lion', or 'deer', is the ego, but within them is the Soul. Therefore, if you take into consideration the type of ego of every living being and interact accordingly, your work will get done. A lion cannot be provoked but if you provoke a dog, it will run away."