As discussed in earlier two parts (Parts XII & XIII), Tantra like any other sadhana has two aspects, Sakaam (aspect which deals with material things in life like health, child, relationship, financial well being etc.) and Nishkaam (leading to freedom from ‘I’ and ‘mine’ or becoming one with the reality).
No doubt that the gains of Sakaam sadhana are impermanent as is the case with everything in the material world, in many a case this leads one to Nishkaam form of sadhana (as discussed in previous article on my blog about my co-brother who went for relief in stomach problem but soon got into Bhakti with no aspirations in the external world). In fact most of us approach the Gurus or undertake some form of sadhana with Sakaam Bhav and that is fine. In this respect there may, perhaps, not be any difference between Tantrik form or other forms of sadhana except that the Tantrik form requires greater discipline and close guidance and may work faster.
But when one takes assistance from a Tantrik – does not do anything on one’s own – perhaps, the benefit may come at the cost of something else (even the Tantrik may not know this). If one has read Shakespeare’s drama “Monkey’s Paw”, in that the Paw can grant any wish. A person throws the Paw as he realized that fulfillment of a wish results in some other loss. He warns the person who picks-up the Paw, but she does not believe him – one who had experienced it’s consequences (greed does not allow one to see the truth). She happily asks for a million pounds. Soon after her husband dies and she gets a cheque for one million pound from insurance company!
While on the issue I may narrate one of my observation also. One of the person known to me asks for a child from a Guru, he does not respond. Person again asks, Guru again does not answer (this, perhaps, meant that the couple was not get a child because of some Karma). Then they contacted a Tantrik and got the child. After a few months the husband died. It could be a coincidence. I asked Supeji, if death of husband could be related to birth of the child, he said that he would not say anything in respect of this particular case, but it could be so.
This ended my brush with Tantra.
I feel that one may seek material things in life through Sakaam sadhana (writing ‘Sri Ram Ram Ram’, chanting Tarak Mantra etc. or any other form prescribed by a Guru) but intervention by a Tantrik may not be desirable.
Now coming to one aspect of our (wrong) perception of Gurus, many of us tend to down-rate the Gurus who show miracles or heal persons approaching them – and thus loose opportunity to benefit from their grace. It is not that these Gurus are interested in these things and that they are interested in name, fame and material gains [Guru is too big for these – they may accept material things either for others (creation of infrastructure for devotees) or to respect the feelings of their devotees] but do it out of compassion for us. Miracle or healing is a device used by a Guru to put the mind (mind is extremely limited but thinks too much of itself) in awe. Mind put in its place, person starts realising that the Guru, though looks like us, is not one of us – he is too vast. This may lead to trust, surrender and Bhakti – dissolution of ego – fulfillment.
No doubt that the gains of Sakaam sadhana are impermanent as is the case with everything in the material world, in many a case this leads one to Nishkaam form of sadhana (as discussed in previous article on my blog about my co-brother who went for relief in stomach problem but soon got into Bhakti with no aspirations in the external world). In fact most of us approach the Gurus or undertake some form of sadhana with Sakaam Bhav and that is fine. In this respect there may, perhaps, not be any difference between Tantrik form or other forms of sadhana except that the Tantrik form requires greater discipline and close guidance and may work faster.
But when one takes assistance from a Tantrik – does not do anything on one’s own – perhaps, the benefit may come at the cost of something else (even the Tantrik may not know this). If one has read Shakespeare’s drama “Monkey’s Paw”, in that the Paw can grant any wish. A person throws the Paw as he realized that fulfillment of a wish results in some other loss. He warns the person who picks-up the Paw, but she does not believe him – one who had experienced it’s consequences (greed does not allow one to see the truth). She happily asks for a million pounds. Soon after her husband dies and she gets a cheque for one million pound from insurance company!
While on the issue I may narrate one of my observation also. One of the person known to me asks for a child from a Guru, he does not respond. Person again asks, Guru again does not answer (this, perhaps, meant that the couple was not get a child because of some Karma). Then they contacted a Tantrik and got the child. After a few months the husband died. It could be a coincidence. I asked Supeji, if death of husband could be related to birth of the child, he said that he would not say anything in respect of this particular case, but it could be so.
This ended my brush with Tantra.
I feel that one may seek material things in life through Sakaam sadhana (writing ‘Sri Ram Ram Ram’, chanting Tarak Mantra etc. or any other form prescribed by a Guru) but intervention by a Tantrik may not be desirable.
Now coming to one aspect of our (wrong) perception of Gurus, many of us tend to down-rate the Gurus who show miracles or heal persons approaching them – and thus loose opportunity to benefit from their grace. It is not that these Gurus are interested in these things and that they are interested in name, fame and material gains [Guru is too big for these – they may accept material things either for others (creation of infrastructure for devotees) or to respect the feelings of their devotees] but do it out of compassion for us. Miracle or healing is a device used by a Guru to put the mind (mind is extremely limited but thinks too much of itself) in awe. Mind put in its place, person starts realising that the Guru, though looks like us, is not one of us – he is too vast. This may lead to trust, surrender and Bhakti – dissolution of ego – fulfillment.
