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.
"One becomes independent (free) from the moment one realizes the principle that, 'No living being is able to interfere with another living being to the slightest'."
"To have contrary [negative, wrong] intellect has become an odd rule in this current era, hasn't it? The one who proceeds with caution will win."
"Self-serving-pride (swamaan) means to take precaution against being insulted."
"One will become shameless if he does not fear insults in the worldly life. And in nischay [determination in the spiritual life] if one does not fear being insulted, he becomes independent."
"In this world, there is no such sternness like that of maintaining silence. Verbal sternness will be wasted."
"The rule is that when one's mind is controlled in a specific subject, he can control the other person's mind in that subject."
"To say 'I' where I' is not - is the greatest illusory attachment (raag)."
"When is bliss of the self (Samadhi) experienced? It is when one does not want anything, when all the tubers of one's greed goes away, then the bliss of the self (Samadhi) is experienced. Give away, how much you give (your things to others), that much (happiness) will be yours !"
"For men, women are their 'counter weights' and when that is not enough, their daughters are their 'counter weights.' One can't do without a counter weight. Otherwise, he will fall over."
"All these objections are raised by people, has God raised them? He who wants to be free (attain Liberation) has no objections, and he who wants to be bound, he will have nothing but objections. People become addicts of objections."
"If one attains only the faith in the Self, he will not experience fear anywhere at all, fear will go away."
"He who has never imitated anyone is known as one with intelligence."
"Moksha (ultimate liberation) means that you just have to change your vision."
"What is the nature of the Self (Soul)? To 'see' the dharma (function) of everything, to see 'who is performing what function, and how that function is being performed.' To 'see' it, is called the function of the Self (Soul)."
"No difficulty can come to you (your way). If the mind wavers, difficulty will embrace you! That is all, the law of the universe is just this."
"Become 'tested' in such a way that not a single word in this world can shake you up."
"When you understand that [in reality] the bitter fruit [unfavourable result] is sweet and the sweet fruit [favourable result] is bitter, then you will go to moksha [the ultimate liberation]!"
"What is the nature of human beings? When someone does something wrong to them, they will go after him [to punish, to fight]."
"The mind's nature is worldly. If someone comes late, the mind will say 'Why did you come at this wrong time?' And this will create [bondage with] an iron shackle."
"Is it wrong worldly interaction (avyavahar) when someone insults you? It is (correct) worldly interaction (vyavahar). Gnani (Self-realized person) will be pleased that he has become free from karma bondage, when someone insults Him; while a non Self-realized person will fight back."
"This' path is not to be followed through force. It is to be followed through understanding."
"Accept only as much 'cleanliness' that it won't cause you to worry if it became dirty. Maintain 'cleanliness' such that and only to the point that it does not burden you into bondage."
"No one asks about the truth and non-truth. Should one not think 'why don't others accept it even when I am right?' It is because there is insistence and nagging behind that truth."
"Where there is religion (religious following), there are no worries and where there are worries, there is no religion there."
"One first celebrates a 'silver jubilee', then a 'golden jubilee', then a 'diamond jubilee', but even then he goes back again into a pile of wood (cremation)."
"To be inactive while engaged in activity is the real inactivity (non-doership)!"
"Self Effort (Purushartha) is that which will bear fruits, without fail."