The Architecture of Peace: Navigating Ego, Suffering, and True Happiness with Shri Premanand Ji Maharaj

Nilesh Jadhav
3 hours ago
4 min read

In a world that equates success with accumulation and peace with external circumstances, we often find ourselves asking the same restless questions: Why do I still feel empty despite my efforts? Why do the "good" suffer? And is it actually possible to find stillness in the middle of a chaotic life?

Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj answers several spiritual questions from devotees. Here are the questions asked and the summaries of his answers:

Key Themes Explored:

The Myth of External Renunciation: Why a king in a palace can be more "detached" than a monk in a cave.
The Ego vs. The Intellect: Who is actually making your decisions?
The "Exam" of Life: Why God allows challenges even when He knows the outcome.

1. What is the easiest and most beautiful path to reach God?

Answer: The easiest path is to practice Bhagwat Dharma by surrendering all social and worldly roles (being a father, son, etc.) to God [04:32]. Since this is difficult, one should serve saints (Sadhu Sang), which means following their instructions [06:21]. One must give up the desire to repeat past pleasures (Trishna) and the desire for new worldly experiences (Kaam) [08:34]. Avoiding the habit of finding faults or virtues in others and focusing solely on God leads to success [09:20].

2. Who makes decisions when the ego (Ahankar) is dissolved and doership (Kartapan) is gone?

Answer: Decisions are made by the intellect (Buddhi), not the ego. Ego’s role is simply to accept or reject the action as "mine" [11:56]. When the ego dissolves, one becomes "Jivan Mukta" (liberated while alive), but the physical body and intellect continue to function according to God's grace [12:15]. Dissolving the ego is extremely difficult and requires intense spiritual practice and the grace of a Guru [13:54]

3. Why do great devotees like Mira Bai and Prahlad face so much opposition and suffering? Is it their destiny (Prarabdha) or a test from God?

Answer: It is not their destiny; it is a divine play (Lila) [14:36]. Just as God has His Lila, His pure devotees also have theirs to show the world the power of devotion. Their bodies become divine and are not harmed by physical elements like fire, poison, or weapons [16:29]. These "tests" are actually meant to make the devotee's greatness known to the world [21:44].

4. Is there a process to transfer your (Maharaj Ji's) physical pain to us so you can be healthy?

Answer: No such process exists. Everyone must undergo the results of their own past actions (Karmas) [20:00]. Maharaj Ji explains that while the body may experience pain, his mind remains in bliss because he is a devotee of God [20:30].

5. Why does God take "exams" or tests of His devotees if He already knows the past, present, and future?

Answer: The purpose of a test is refinement and maturity, not for God to gain information [20:53]. Just as a student moves to the next grade after an exam, these spiritual challenges prove the devotee's level to themselves and the world, eventually making them fit to be God's close associate (Parshad) [23:26].

6. Should we differentiate between a saint (Sant) and a practitioner (Sadhak)?

Answer: We should try to see God in everyone—the sinner, the virtuous, the seeker, and the saint [25:05]. If we start judging who is a "true saint," our own vision becomes faulty because our criteria are based on nature (Prakriti), while a true saint is beyond it [26:32]. Keeping a pure vision by bowing to everyone as a form of God is best for one's own spiritual progress [26:40].

7. What is the greatest sorrow and the greatest happiness in the world?

Answer: The greatest sorrow is ignorance/foolishness (Moorakhata), and the greatest happiness is wisdom/discernment (Vivek) [26:56]. Even the king of heaven, Indra, is unhappy if he lacks wisdom, whereas a wise person can be happy even in poverty or illness [29:34]. True peace is found in God's name and form, not in material wealth [31:46].

8. What is true renunciation (Vairagya)—leaving the world or leaving mental attachment?

Answer: True renunciation is leaving mental attachment (Asakti) [49:30]. Even if someone lives in a forest but thinks of worldly pleasures, they are not a renunciant. Conversely, someone like King Janak or Vibhishan could live in a palace and be a great saint because their minds were attached only to God [53:50]. Internal detachment is the goal [55:47].

Watch the full video here:

The Next Step: From Listening to Living

Shri Premanand Ji Maharaj often says that thousands listen to the truth, but only a "birla" (a rare soul) acts upon it. The architecture of peace isn't built in a day; it is constructed brick-by-brick through small, conscious shifts in our daily perspective.

You don't need to change your clothes or your location to start your journey. You only need to change your direction.

How to Apply This Today:

Audit Your Attachments: Identify one thing you are "clinging" to today. Practice the mental mantra: "This belongs to the Divine; I am merely its temporary caretaker."
Observe the 'I': The next time you succeed or fail, observe your mind. Catch the ego before it says "I did this," and instead say, "The intellect acted, and God provided the strength."
Find Your 'Sang': Commit to 15 minutes of daily spiritual study or listening to satsang. In a world of digital noise, let your ears hear the frequency of truth.

What is the one "mental attachment" you are ready to surrender today? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s support each other on this path to inner stillness.

The world is a house of sorrow only if you seek happiness from it. If you seek happiness from within, the world becomes a playground of Divine Grace."