I was once told by Gaur Saheb that he saw a major transformation in one Ms. Kalpana Vora working in Mumbai after she came in contact with Shri Raj Supe, an advanced sadhaka, residing in Bangalore.
In October, 2005 my elder daughter, her husband, sister-in-law (Chetna) and mother-in-law (Artiji) were with us in Bangalore. We went to Supeji. He saw some merit in Artiji (she was a devotee of Sri Sri Ravishankarji for last few years), gave her a few copies to write “Shri Ram Ram Ram” and a photo of Thakur Sitaramdas Omkarnath and asked Chetna to keep in touch with him through email (rajsupe@hotmail.com).
Before proceeding further let me first briefly introduce Shri Raj Supe. He has a Masters degree in Management (BSc & MBA) and is a writer. He worked in advertising and film world and also ran an advertising company. Then one of his friends persuaded and took him to meet Shri Vitthal Ramanuj Maharaj and he got initiated against his wishes. Shri Supe did not chant the mantra given to him as he was not interested in it. But in few months, the mantra arose from within and swept him away – he got submerged. And now he himself is a Guru working for his Math – mainly engaged in sadhana (Japa) and translating works of his Guruji from Bengali to English.
Shri Vitthal Ramanuj Maharaj is Guru in the lineage of Thakur Sitaramdas Omkarnath. Their principal place is known as Mahamilan Math. It is located near Dakhshineshwar in Kolkata.
They mainly propagate writing of “Shri Ram Ram Ram” (this way both, body and mind, get engaged in the practice and the effort is measurable – the scope for mind to wander elsewhere is reduced) and chanting of Tarak Mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”. This tradition believes that if one writes “Shri Ram Ram Ram” in 12 copies in a year, whatever wish one has it will come true. It also makes one eligible for Deeksha (initiation) by Guruji. As for Tarak Mantra, it is considered as panacea for every ill in this Yuga – a fastest and surest way for one’s spiritual evolution.
Coming back to Chetna, at that time she had shifted to work in Gurgaon, primarily to avoid her husband who was living with them in Lucknow. Obviously she was going through difficult times and needed some support. She kept in touch with Supeji through email and sometimes talked to him on phone also. Supeji advised her to quit the job and immediately go back to Lucknow. Chetna complied. Few months later, as mentioned in my earlier post, with the blessings of Mungale Sir, their problem was resolved and they started lovingly living together. Later, on being asked by Artiji, he accepted that while recommending her to shift to Lucknow, he knew that this will help them live together soon.
Later on, a number of my friends and relatives went to him with me seeking solution to their problems. Shri Supeji is precise in his expressions and he is very convincing. Apart from recommending writing of “Shri Ram Ram Ram” and chanting of Tarak Mantra with full authority and conviction (recently being asked about solution to the problem of another friend of mine, he wrote to me "I will never get tired of recommending writing of 'Shri Ram Ram Ram' and chanting of Tarak Mantra"), in some cases, he tells specific remedies for specific problems and guides one in selecting course of action in a given situation in the external world as well. Many took to them with wonderful results.
Once he told one of my friends (his son had a few serious problems) who had revolutionary kind of ideas and did not believe in Pooja, Prarthana etc. that everyone wishes well for one’s child but it is merely a ‘wishful thinking!’ To give something to someone, one should have it in the first place. One has to acquire that through Sadhana. I was surprised, my friend took the copies and sincerely started writing “Shri Ram Ram Ram”. Problems were soon over and the boy completed his studies got settled.
Wife of one of my friends used to often feel depressed lamenting death of her father and brother and the fact that one of his brother had serious mental illness. She also had problem with her husband as she apprehended that there was negative energy in her bedroom and he did not permit her to change the bedroom. She was taking four or five medicines to keep herself up and going. Her friends were obviously fed up with her complaining nature and asked me to help her.
I took her to a few masters. On being advised by Supeji, she took to writing “Shri Ram Ram Ram” (also took healing through me for few days) and in a few months she not only came back to normal (except one, all other medicines were stopped) but her friends gave her compliments on her beautiful smile.
After a few months, she found a living Guru (Shri Virajeshwaraji – I will discuss my experiences with him in some subsequent post). She visits him every week even though it is an arduous journey involving travel of about 4 to 5 hours. Guruji is very happy with her devotion – she continued visiting him even when many a time, in the beginning, he talked to her only for a few minutes and sometimes he merely peeped from his room and closed the door again. While waiting on Guruji, she used to continue sitting in the veranda writing “Shri Ram Ram Ram”. Her patience and devotion earned her his blessings and she is now happily settled in Sadhana.
Wife of one of my close relative was quite aggressive and not hospitable and did not bother about the needs and convenience of others. Consequently she became quite unpopular in the family. Her mother is a selfless, loving and devoted lady. May be because of her Punya Sanskaras, this girl started writing “Shri Ram Ram Ram” when advised by Supeji. In few months, her temperament and attitude changed dramatically and she is now loved by everyone in the family.
Sometimes, Supeji could be very harsh. Another friend of mine is living apart from her husband and often goes in depression. She did not write “Shri Ram Ram Ram” and also did not chant Tarak Mantra with regularity, as advised. When next time she went to him with her problems and on being asked as to why she did not do it, she told him that “she believes in taking the life as it comes and does not believe in forcing herself doing a thing. Supeji was in a rage! He said something like “These are intellectual escapades of ignorant mind …. an excuse to avoid discipline in sadhana …. sheer escapism …”
This is very true. We have double standards. When it comes to worldly things like health and education of a child, one is worried and makes all possible efforts and do not sit back and say, I will take the things as they come! Similarly, while catching a train, going to take an examination or for going to office one forces oneself to get up, be ready and reach in time. But when it comes to sadhana, people have absurd idea of following the mind and not forcing oneself into it.
Discipline and application in sadhana is at least as important as it is in other worldly aspects of life. Initially one has to force oneself into spiritual practices and persevere – tamas (inertia, lethargy) has to be overcome – there is no easy way out. The body and mind have to fall in grove. Of course, once the mind tastes the inner nectar (love and joy), sadhana becomes an enjoyable occupation.
Only an evolved saint can take the life as it comes (as there is nothing desirable or avoidable for him). For him it is an experiential reality – not for us. Let us not be fooled by that. That is why they say higher truths (Vedas) should not be uttered (recited) before the ignorant (Shudras) – they will make a mess out of it and will suffer even more.
While all these aspects of sadhana used to be discussed, I used to just keep sitting, sometimes introducing my friends, articulating their problems and sometimes even (foolishly) intervening in their conversation. Though I was convinced of the efficacy of the practices given by him (and that is why I became instrumental in convincing a number of persons to go to him with me), I myself, did not take to these practices for long thinking that they are not for me. Supeji also did not directly ask me to take to these practices – knowing that my time had not come! Masters have infinite patience and wait for the disciple to be ready.
I will revert back to Supeji again in my coming posts.
To be contd. …
In October, 2005 my elder daughter, her husband, sister-in-law (Chetna) and mother-in-law (Artiji) were with us in Bangalore. We went to Supeji. He saw some merit in Artiji (she was a devotee of Sri Sri Ravishankarji for last few years), gave her a few copies to write “Shri Ram Ram Ram” and a photo of Thakur Sitaramdas Omkarnath and asked Chetna to keep in touch with him through email (rajsupe@hotmail.com).
Before proceeding further let me first briefly introduce Shri Raj Supe. He has a Masters degree in Management (BSc & MBA) and is a writer. He worked in advertising and film world and also ran an advertising company. Then one of his friends persuaded and took him to meet Shri Vitthal Ramanuj Maharaj and he got initiated against his wishes. Shri Supe did not chant the mantra given to him as he was not interested in it. But in few months, the mantra arose from within and swept him away – he got submerged. And now he himself is a Guru working for his Math – mainly engaged in sadhana (Japa) and translating works of his Guruji from Bengali to English.
Shri Vitthal Ramanuj Maharaj is Guru in the lineage of Thakur Sitaramdas Omkarnath. Their principal place is known as Mahamilan Math. It is located near Dakhshineshwar in Kolkata.
They mainly propagate writing of “Shri Ram Ram Ram” (this way both, body and mind, get engaged in the practice and the effort is measurable – the scope for mind to wander elsewhere is reduced) and chanting of Tarak Mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”. This tradition believes that if one writes “Shri Ram Ram Ram” in 12 copies in a year, whatever wish one has it will come true. It also makes one eligible for Deeksha (initiation) by Guruji. As for Tarak Mantra, it is considered as panacea for every ill in this Yuga – a fastest and surest way for one’s spiritual evolution.
Coming back to Chetna, at that time she had shifted to work in Gurgaon, primarily to avoid her husband who was living with them in Lucknow. Obviously she was going through difficult times and needed some support. She kept in touch with Supeji through email and sometimes talked to him on phone also. Supeji advised her to quit the job and immediately go back to Lucknow. Chetna complied. Few months later, as mentioned in my earlier post, with the blessings of Mungale Sir, their problem was resolved and they started lovingly living together. Later, on being asked by Artiji, he accepted that while recommending her to shift to Lucknow, he knew that this will help them live together soon.
Later on, a number of my friends and relatives went to him with me seeking solution to their problems. Shri Supeji is precise in his expressions and he is very convincing. Apart from recommending writing of “Shri Ram Ram Ram” and chanting of Tarak Mantra with full authority and conviction (recently being asked about solution to the problem of another friend of mine, he wrote to me "I will never get tired of recommending writing of 'Shri Ram Ram Ram' and chanting of Tarak Mantra"), in some cases, he tells specific remedies for specific problems and guides one in selecting course of action in a given situation in the external world as well. Many took to them with wonderful results.
Once he told one of my friends (his son had a few serious problems) who had revolutionary kind of ideas and did not believe in Pooja, Prarthana etc. that everyone wishes well for one’s child but it is merely a ‘wishful thinking!’ To give something to someone, one should have it in the first place. One has to acquire that through Sadhana. I was surprised, my friend took the copies and sincerely started writing “Shri Ram Ram Ram”. Problems were soon over and the boy completed his studies got settled.
Wife of one of my friends used to often feel depressed lamenting death of her father and brother and the fact that one of his brother had serious mental illness. She also had problem with her husband as she apprehended that there was negative energy in her bedroom and he did not permit her to change the bedroom. She was taking four or five medicines to keep herself up and going. Her friends were obviously fed up with her complaining nature and asked me to help her.
I took her to a few masters. On being advised by Supeji, she took to writing “Shri Ram Ram Ram” (also took healing through me for few days) and in a few months she not only came back to normal (except one, all other medicines were stopped) but her friends gave her compliments on her beautiful smile.
After a few months, she found a living Guru (Shri Virajeshwaraji – I will discuss my experiences with him in some subsequent post). She visits him every week even though it is an arduous journey involving travel of about 4 to 5 hours. Guruji is very happy with her devotion – she continued visiting him even when many a time, in the beginning, he talked to her only for a few minutes and sometimes he merely peeped from his room and closed the door again. While waiting on Guruji, she used to continue sitting in the veranda writing “Shri Ram Ram Ram”. Her patience and devotion earned her his blessings and she is now happily settled in Sadhana.
Wife of one of my close relative was quite aggressive and not hospitable and did not bother about the needs and convenience of others. Consequently she became quite unpopular in the family. Her mother is a selfless, loving and devoted lady. May be because of her Punya Sanskaras, this girl started writing “Shri Ram Ram Ram” when advised by Supeji. In few months, her temperament and attitude changed dramatically and she is now loved by everyone in the family.
Sometimes, Supeji could be very harsh. Another friend of mine is living apart from her husband and often goes in depression. She did not write “Shri Ram Ram Ram” and also did not chant Tarak Mantra with regularity, as advised. When next time she went to him with her problems and on being asked as to why she did not do it, she told him that “she believes in taking the life as it comes and does not believe in forcing herself doing a thing. Supeji was in a rage! He said something like “These are intellectual escapades of ignorant mind …. an excuse to avoid discipline in sadhana …. sheer escapism …”
This is very true. We have double standards. When it comes to worldly things like health and education of a child, one is worried and makes all possible efforts and do not sit back and say, I will take the things as they come! Similarly, while catching a train, going to take an examination or for going to office one forces oneself to get up, be ready and reach in time. But when it comes to sadhana, people have absurd idea of following the mind and not forcing oneself into it.
Discipline and application in sadhana is at least as important as it is in other worldly aspects of life. Initially one has to force oneself into spiritual practices and persevere – tamas (inertia, lethargy) has to be overcome – there is no easy way out. The body and mind have to fall in grove. Of course, once the mind tastes the inner nectar (love and joy), sadhana becomes an enjoyable occupation.
Only an evolved saint can take the life as it comes (as there is nothing desirable or avoidable for him). For him it is an experiential reality – not for us. Let us not be fooled by that. That is why they say higher truths (Vedas) should not be uttered (recited) before the ignorant (Shudras) – they will make a mess out of it and will suffer even more.
While all these aspects of sadhana used to be discussed, I used to just keep sitting, sometimes introducing my friends, articulating their problems and sometimes even (foolishly) intervening in their conversation. Though I was convinced of the efficacy of the practices given by him (and that is why I became instrumental in convincing a number of persons to go to him with me), I myself, did not take to these practices for long thinking that they are not for me. Supeji also did not directly ask me to take to these practices – knowing that my time had not come! Masters have infinite patience and wait for the disciple to be ready.
I will revert back to Supeji again in my coming posts.
To be contd. …
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