At Ajmer

About a decade ago we had gone to Ajmer to attend a wedding. Most of the baratis went to the Dargah, Pushkar Mandir and Pshkar Lake. Me and my wife preferred to stay back and enjoyed chit chat with our friends. 

It so happened thereafter that about a couple of years ago I was presented with books on the lives of three saints of Chisti Silsilah, namely, Shaikh Nasiruddin Mahmud (Chirag-i-Delhi), Nizamuddin Auliya and Baba Farid by one of my friends Mr Abrar Ahmad. Thereafter, once Mr Ahmad asked me if I read the books, I had to answer him in the negative at that time. 

About a month and a half back when I had finished reading one of the biographies of a saint, I looked into my small collection of books (collection is small because normally I give books to others after I have read them) and I happened to pick up and started reading the first one - book on the life of Shaikh Nasiruddin. I read it in about three weeks time.

I found his life of renunciation, absolute devotion to his Guru, surrender to HIS will and his teachings to be absolutely similar to the greatest of Hindu mystiques. It was an inspiring and nourishing experience. 

When I was half way through the second book, I happened to visit Rajasthan and decided to visit Ajmer mainly to visit the Dargah. 

It was clear to me that it was not a mere coincidence that when I started reading the books on the lives of these saints of Chisti Silsilah, I could visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah. It was their blessing that they made it happen. 

Our visit to the Dargah was wonderful - when our heads were under the chadar and the priest was praying for our happiness and well being, peace and positive vibes ran through bodies and minds of all of us.

I remember these saints on this auspicious day of Eid today and feel blessed.

After the visit to the Dargah, we visited Pushkar Temple and Lake. Pushkar is said to be the best place for performing Shraddha. It was again no coincidence that we happened to be there during Shraddha paksha. There I remembered all my friends and relatives who are no more there while offering sacred water to them. 

This is also the place for Bhagwan Brahmaji, Maa Saraswati and Gayatri.  For a while I chanted Gayatri mantra there. After that we witnessed evening arati and left. 

Another wonderful day. 

Being judgemental leads to intolerance

A few days back, I was in Delhi.  My brother-in-law was with me with his wife and son.

His son, Kanha, is extremely active, fond of eating and an affable boy of about 7 years of age.  He continues to play and jump whole day – never gets tired, never sits.  He makes friends with everyone and whenever visiting a Guru, a temple or any religious place; his devotion shows in his facial and body expression.  Gurus and priests show a great affection to him.  His personality thus reflects some characteristics of his name.

Once we had gone to the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura.  There was a huge crowd.  When we were trying to bend by the sides of railings to have darshan of Banke Bihari from a close range, the priest suddenly lifted him (him alone) and took inside to the Sanctum Santorum.  He offered sashtang pranam.

Another time we were in Srisailam Mallikarjun temple near Hyderabad.  There men, not the children, are supposed to take off their upper garments.  He insisted on taking off his upper garments and once inside the Sanctum Santorum, he did sashtang pranam and while doing so, spontaneously he put his head on the Shivlinga – nobody has ever told him to do that.

He must have come here with accumulated Punyas of many many lives.

At the level of conscious mind, I am convinced about the reality that everything which we perceive is HIS leela.  HE alone manifests in all forms – no one can therefore be considered as virtuous or otherwise.  This consciousness coupled with sadhana and, above all, blessing of Gurus has enabled me to have ill will towards none – making me quite at peace with myself.

But still behavioural and response patterns set in the mind, i.e., sanskaras, cause irritation and sometime make me respond in an intolerant way.

When in Delhi this time, Kanha was with us.  As usual, true to his nature, he was jumping in the bed and as usual ...  I was not liking this.  After a while, he picked up my book (which I am reading now a days with great reverence) – a book on the life of a great saint Nizamuddin Auliya – wherein the saint emphasises universal acceptance and having ill will against none.  And I could not control my reaction (caused by intolerance and reflex action) – I slapped him.  Puzzled, he asked me, "kyun?" (meaning why did I slap him – what wrong did he do? – he was just playing with no intention of irritating anyone).

I immediately realised my shortcoming – intolerance.

Though I am aware of my intolerance in certain situations, but this awareness is certainly not deep enough.  Till one is judgemental (mind classifies actions into good and bad or right and wrong or moral and immoral) irritation / intolerance will continue.  This incident – slapping an innocent and pious soul – has made me acutely aware of it.  I was moved.

It reminded me of another incident, sometime in the year 1983 when I became angry with my wife (this time it had persisted for a few hours) and she was trying to cajole me.  I had pushed her from the bed (she was pregnant).  Immediately thereafter I had to leave for training to Mumbai.  It provided me an opportunity for contemplation.  This, perhaps, led me to seek solution for extreme anger and fear in me and force / motivation for sustained sadhana since then.

As I have mentioned in a few of my earlier posts, understanding through conscious mind is not enough – transformation through sadhana and devotion (sharnagati) is what is required.

All of us have deeply ingrained sanskaras accumulated over a number of lives.  We need to be aware of them and pursue our sadhana with that awareness.

Sharpened awareness on account of contemplation over this incident of slapping, with blessings of Gurus and HIS grace, will perhaps lead me, in due course, to acceptance for everything and everyone and thereby get over my intolerance!

How we met ... Part - XX ... with Swami Vishuddhanandji and Amar Jyotiji

This time 5 of us (family members) went to Palampur. 

Of course, when I am attempting to write about my experiences and share the views of the Gurus we interacted with, there is always a danger of errors creeping in because of wrong understanding on my part and lack of skills of expression.  Readers will kindly excuse me and bear with my shortcomings.

First we visited Swami Vishuddhanandji.  He rarely speaks but his smile has some sublime quality about it.  One of the visitors, a lady, asked him for cure of some health problem.  With a beautiful smile he responded by saying, “Dava le lo (take some medicine)”.  Lady insisted for cure through his blessings.  He again smiled and said, “Prarthan Karo (pray)”, making it clear that he is there for spiritual evolution of sadhakas and not for resolution of some temporal worldly problems.  This also wards off non-seekers crowding his place.

Those who understand the meaning and significance of satsang and are open to communication through silence can benefit from his presence.  He is a worshipper of Kali and a photograph of Ramkrishna Paramhamsa and Sharda Devi adorns the place where he gives darshan and prasad.  We were there with him for about an hour and this satsang would have had a subtle transforming effect on all of us.

Coming back to the instruction to the lady for ‘prayer’ for resolution of health problems, I am reminded of a number of such instructions in a book titled “Madman’s Jholly” written on the basis of scribbling of Bhagwan Shree Sitaram Omkarnath.

Thereafter we went to Vaidyanath temple and performed abhishek in usual way with ingredients like milk, honey, curd, ghee, water etc.  Of late, I have started enjoying these processes.

And thereafter we reached the Ashram of Swami Amar Jyotiji.  In the hall where he usually gives darshan and where havan is performed every morning and evening, among others, there is a black board.  While waiting for Swamiji to come to the hall, we noticed a very educative article written on it, covering issues which are on the mind of every seeker – issues like separation of soul from parmatma, how it gets caught up with worldly distractions (maya) and how, after good deeds and efforts of a number of lives, it comes in contact with saints and starts working for merging / being with parmatma again.

After a while, he entered the hall.  As usual he was absolutely fresh, smiling and energetic and when we tried to touch his feet, he blessed us in his usual inimitable style by hugging us.  For a while we sat on the floor in the hall where he talked to us.  He beautifully narrated one of his poems echoing yearning of a seeker who finds it difficult to break the contact with the shore (attachments) and get going with the river (eternal life).

Thereafter, I and Artiji (my samadhin) were asked by him to participate in havan in the hall where we were sitting and rest of us were asked to meditate in another hall meant for that purpose.

When havan was over, he took us to a wide verandah outside the hall where we sat with him in chairs.  He called for tea, biscuits and namakeen.  And he himself lovingly served biscuits and namakeen to all of us (there were about 15 persons). 

Referring to one of us (son of my friend and relative), I told Swamiji that the boy has been into sadhana for a number of years and that he is at a stage where he needs support of a Guru.  Swamiji told us that best Guru is one’s mother.  I informed that she is no more in this world.  To that he said that it is the body alone which goes and that the person never dies.  He (the boy) could recall sweet memories of his mother and take inspiration / instructions from her. 

He went on to add that nature is a Guru too.  One should just see how a seed sprouts, grows into a plant or tree, bears a bud which blossoms into a colourful flower with a unique fragrance – experienced directly (without veil of thoughts), it is a profound mystery – it will overwhelm the mind (and help dissolve ego).

This reminded us of a discussion which 5 of us had in the morning on our way to Ashram of Swami Vishuddhanandji that very day.  Noticing that my samadhin was questioning, becoming apprehensive or commenting on practically every situation, my co-brother advised her to gaze into nature or even traffic on the flyovers which are visible from balcony of her flat for about two hours a day – this will, he told, would silence her mind and bring peace to her.  This suggestion got echoed in the instruction of Swamiji.

Perhaps addressing the predicament of the ‘boy’ who felt deeply drawn to sadhana and was apparently not much interested in material pursuits, Swamiji went on to add that in the life of a householder there has to be a balance between work, being with the family and sadhana.  He said that one should work for 8 hours or so for earning livelihood.  And use rest of the time for being with one’s family and doing sadhana.  One should leave one’s office in office – should not carry it home and similarly one should not carry one’s home or sadhana to office.

Continuing with this issue, he thereafter shared two anecdotes relating to common and familiar issue – issue of ‘human greed (and possessiveness)’.  He started with questioning as to how much of our resources we actually use in our lifetimes – answer is obvious, a small fraction.  People go on buying clothes and other items most of which are seldom used.  People go on working for amassing wealth which they do not actually need – it remains in deposits and investments – it is left behind.

An anecdote – a big industrialist had a driver.  After his death, wife married the driver.  After another few years, wife also died leaving all the property to the driver.  The driver was amused to understand that all his life he used to feel that he is working for the industrialist and his wife.  The fact, however, was that they were working for him – they used very little out of their wealth.

The moral of the story is that one should work for only that much which would satisfy his needs and devote rest of the time for sadhana.

Another time, Swamiji noticed extreme greed in one of his visitors.  To make him aware of that and to show how low one can fall on account of greed, Swamiji created a situation.  He asked someone to get a bright glass with cuts resembling that of a big diamond – got it tied on the neck of his big dog.  While sitting with the visitors, he made his dog sit by his side.  The visitor’s eyes were on the diamond and he wanted to ask for it.  Swamiji was talking on something else and visitor’s mind was stuck with the diamond – the talk appeared to be very long to the visitor.  At the end of it, visitor asked Swamiji that he wanted to talk to him in privacy.  Swamiji asked him to say whatever he had to say before everybody.  But the visitor continued to insist on talking in privacy.  Swamiji asked him to come the next morning. 

In the morning again the visitor had to wait for discussions to be over and for everyone to leave – wait appeared to be long and endless.  Finally the moment came and the visitor said that it does not look nice that such valuable diamond should be on the neck of the dog.  If he could get it, it would take care needs of his lifetime.  Swamiji told him that since he has already given it to the dog, permission of the dog is necessary.  Then Swamiji said that dog is asking that he can part with the diamond if the visitor shares food with him in the same plate.  Initially the visitor was reluctant but ‘greed’ made him agree to the condition.  Then he asked Swamiji that no one should come to know of it, it should be private affair.  Swamiji said but the cook will in any case know it.  The visitor asked for permission to cook the food himself, permission was refused.  Swamiji asked the cook to prepare khichdi with lot of water.  When khichdi was served, the visitor tried to draw a line demarcating food for the dog and himself but since it was watery, everything got mixed up but he ate with the dog.  One stoops so low because of greed.

‘Greed’ has been made use of by kings and persons in power to use, demean and enslave others throughout the history of mankind.  One has to be aware of it and remain content with what one gets according to one’s prarabdha and thus retain one’s freedom and dignity.

Coming back to our discussions and outpourings (gyan ganga) of Swamiji, a lady asked Swamiji that she is having pain in her knees since last two years or so.  His advice was plain and simple, “thoda chalo aur khane ka thoda dhyan rakkho (have regular walk and observe moderation in food)”. 

This advice hits the nail on its head – brings us back to the basic issue afflicting us in these times – we seek cure and remedies from the doctors and Gurus for health problems which have their roots in our life style.  We need to correct that (I have put a few posts on health on this blog earlier where this issue is discussed in some details).

Swamiji then narrated one of his experiences when he used to live in a cave not known to people living around in that area in those times.  The cave has a Shivaling comprised of a large number of saligram shaped stones over which white lime water (this appeared like milk) drips from the rocks above.  Swamiji (some others also who visited the cave later) used to hear sounds of mridang and other musical instruments associated with Shiva in the cave.  Swamiji used to blow conch at sandhya  time.  Some local people guessed that some mahatama may be living in that area.  One day, when they found Swamiji wandering in some nearby area, they asked him about his abode in the cave and were curious to have a look at it.  They requested for his permission to accompany him to the cave.  Swamiji accepted their request.  Fearing attacks by the animals in the forest, they equipped themselves with pistols, spears, rods etc. even though Swamiji advised them against it.

On reaching mouth of the cave, Swamiji sat there in meditation.  Not knowing when will Swamiji would get up, the villagers entered the cave.  Half way through in about a 100 meter long cave, they heard loud voice of ferocious beers.  With fear, all of them ran out of the cave.  All weapons fell from their hands.  When out of the cave, Swamiji asked them why did the go in and where are their weapons.  They were embarrassed and narrated what happened.  Swamiji went in and brought their weapons and informed the visitors that seven big beers and one of their offspring was there in the cave.  He made some peculiar sound and one-by-one all of them came out of the cave.

Swamiji told us that these beers loved him immensely and provided him warmth in cold weather by sitting close to him.  Later, he got message from within that this was time for him to leave the place and he left it.

He also told us that later once two of his devotees went with him to the cave.  That time because of heavy rains and huge seepage of water from somewhere the cave was flooded with water and way to Shivalinga got blocked.  He asked his devotees to go with him but they could not muster courage.  Swamiji dived in and came out about an hour later – he was blessed by Shiva and his body was glowing with light – the devotees because of lack of faith lost on this rare opportunity.

Now that cave, known as ‘Shivakhedi”, situated about 120 kms. from Jammu,  is a crowded tourist place.  He has asked me to accompany him to the cave some time.

Swamiji had earlier asked us to have prasad (dinner) in the Ashram, knowing significance of it (nourishment of the body and soul), I was more than willing to accept the offer.  We had Prasad and returned.

A great day!

How we met ... Part - XIX ... with Vishuddhanandji and Amar Jyoti Ji

Guru – destroyer of our beliefs and mental barriers

I had been to many a part of Himachal Pradesh from 11^th to 18^th of July.  It was a fascinating experience – ever changing mountain panorama and much more.

First day we stayed in a Circuit House in Narkanda.  It is in deep forests – very tranquil.  Cooks prepare delicious cuisines for the guests.  Next morning we rose in our beds and as usual me and my wife started meditating – the experience was deep – perhaps an effect of peace of deep forests and may be something mysterious likely in a place which has been a place of sadhana of large number of seekers.  Before breakfast we went to a beautiful temple (Hatu) on the top of a nearby (8 Kms) mountain.  It is neat and clean and has beautiful carvings of many a deity.  Its beauty is further enhanced by the beautiful view of thick forests and mountains all around.

On way to Sangla, we had our lunch at Sarahan and visited ancient Bhadrakaali temple located there.  Sangla again is beautiful valley and from there we went to Chitkul – last village on Indian side and then proceeded to Kalpa near Recang Peo.  Recang Peo is the headquarter of district Kinnaur.  It is surrounded by snow clad Himalyan peaks and if one is lucky one can see a 30-40 feet long Shivling (known as kinner Kailash) located on a distant mountain (these peaks are normally covered with clouds) across a deep valley.  We had the fortune of beholding beautiful view of Kinner Kailash.

Next on our itinerary were Nako, Tabo and Kaza – these places are situated in almost barren mountains with different colours and textures and offer a rare scenic beauty.  In the morning we went to Komic village – highest village (14,700 feet) with a population of 114 and a nearby village Langza – highest polling station in Asia.

Near Kaza, there is Key – a Buddhist monastery headed by 19^th incarnation of a master.  We had the fortune of having his blessings (he had returned to the monastery only a day before), photographs with him and had lunch in the monastery.  In the night we stayed at Losar (at a height of about 13,500 feet).

Road from Losar to Rohtang paas is very rough and flowing mountain streams with large stones cross the road at about a dozen places – it was a difficult day accompanied with light drizzle from time to time.

The best was yet to come. 

We reached Palampur on 18^th evening and straight away drove to an Ashram as the saint there does not give durshan after 4 pm – we reached there at about 3.45 pm.  This is the Ashram where a 137 year old saint, Sri Sri 1008 Sri Vishuddhanand Saraswati lives.  At this age (though he appears quite old) he prepares Khir as a prasad for his devotees every day.  People say that this Prasad is not exhausted irrespective of number of devotees visiting him and that the patra in which it is kept is an akshay patra.  He does not talk much and when time was up and his assistants asked us to rise, he indicated to us to sit for some time more.  Me and my wife sitting just in front of him had eye contact with him for quite some time.  We must have surely been purified by his glance – a rare grace.

That evening we then went to Baidyanaath temple.  Elaborate pooja was performed by the priest.  We were sitting around the Shivlinga in the Garbha Graha.  The priest also narrated to us the legend behind this temple.  He explained that the place where I was sitting, Ravana did his tapasya sitting there for 1200 years.  When Shiva did not give him darshan, considering no use of such a body, he cut his head and offered it to Shiva.  It got joined again.  Since such surgery can be done only by a Vaidya, this temple came to be known as Baidyanaath.  Since Shiva did not give him darshan even after that, he continued cutting his head and offering it and that is how he came to have 10 heads and became dashanan.  On the request of devatas then Shiva gave him darshan.  He requested Shiva to go with him to Lanka.  He agreed with the condition that on way to Lanka he should not keep him down.  And as the legend goes, as he was on his way to Lanka, devatas conspired to create strong urge for urination in him and he had to request someone to hold the Shivlinga for a while.  And as he could not come back within agreed time, the person kept the Shivlinga down at Deoghar, Bihar and Ravana could not then lift it from there.  That is how Baidyanath temple came to be established at Deoghar as well.

Then it was time for us to visit another saint, Swami Amar Jyoti, who is said to be 148 years old.  When we went in an exquisitely built hall a little after 6.00 pm, havan, which is a daily practice there, was being performed by five persons.  The hall is adorned with a painting of legendry Mahaavtar Baba with beautiful garland over it.  Swamiji is one of the disciple of Mahaavtar baba (many others initiated by Mahaavtar baba or his disciples include Lahiri Mahshaya referred to in the Autobiography of a Yogi and Shri ‘M’, a saint living at a place 3 hours drive from Bangalore on Andhra border).

A little while later a stoutly built agile tall man in white choga (looked around 55 years of age) entered the hall – a breathtaking spectacle.  There was no mistaking that he was Swami Amar Jyoti.  We offered pranam and charan sparsh to him.  He did not allow any of us to bow down fully and touch his feet, instead he took us in his arms and kissed our foreheads – an unusual and rare way to bless.

He took me by hand and made me sit by the side of the main persons performing havan and asked him to make me participate in the performing havan.  Rest of us were taken by him outside the hall in a beautiful verandah overlooking beautiful landscape and mountain ranges.  After performing havan, I joined others sitting in chairs with him in the verandah.  We had nice tea, dry fruits and biscuits and got back into the hall as it was dark by then and mosquitoes started troubling a few of us.  We sat on the floor in front of him.  Sensing that my wife may have problem in sitting on the floor for long, he asked her to take a moodha.

At that time one Sardarji came to visit him in connection with creation of a statue of Nandi to be mounted on a 45 foot high pole in Gaushala.  Swamiji has been offered about 100 acres of land in district Hoshiarpur by a devotee.  He has plans to plant mango trees on that land and have a Gaushala in shades around a 100x100 meter lawn.  He showed us the outlay.  Swamiji elaborately discussed the deficiencies in the cast for the statue prepared by Sardarji and asked me to visit his Gaushala where truly beautiful cows and a bull were there.  He also asked one of his foreign devotees who is an artist to make a sketch of Nandi from the photograph of the young bull in his Gaushala to assist Sardarji.  He was discussing all this for long as a normal businessman would do.

No preaching.  Conducts himself like anyone else.  Great.

When I was performing havan, others were chit chatting with Swamiji outside.  Later, my wife narrated some of this to me. 

Around 1938 he lived in Amarnath cave for about 5 years.  His passport, for many years, bore that address.  He also told my wife and others that earlier he was not wearing his present white robe, had very long hairs and that he used to keep half of them in front part of the body and other half on the back and tied them with a rope.

He also shared one incident when he was proceeding towards a forest.  People around told him not to venture into that forest as a ferocious lioness kills everyone who goes that side.  On being asked about the reason, they told him that one shepherd had taken her two cubs.  He asked for the cubs and wanted to proceed with the cubs towards the forest.  People around were apprehensive but he told them not to feel concerned as he is going there to return the cubs and that no harm will come to him.  He went to the forest and was confronted with the lioness in an aggressive posture.  He let one of the cubs go towards her.  She was calmed.  He then let another cub go.  Both started having her milk.  Swamiji also joined in and had her milk.  Later the thought of taking one of her cubs arose in his mind.  Sensing that, the lioness threw one of her cubs towards him like a football.  He took the cub and proceeded back.  He and the lioness were turning around from time to time to see and continued departing till they could no longer see each other.

Swamiji brought up the cub on milk and vegetarian eatables.  Once he had to leave for some pilgrimage and left the cub with army personnel with the request to give him milk and vegetarion food only, but they started giving him meat.  Soon, the cub grew large and started hunting for goats and sheep from the nearby villages.  When Swamiji was back, on complaint from the villagers about the attacks of young lion, he got gold rings and silver kadas made for him.  Rings were put in his ears and kadas in his feet (Nath sampradaya has this kind of tradition) before Swamiji took him back to the forest and left him there.

My colleague who is in contact with him also told me that he has been going to Kailash Mansarover twice a year since 1902 and that he has visited it from every possible rout.  One of his disciple showed me one of his photographs sitting on the frozen Mansarover lake in his usual white robe (choga).  He also said that he does not eat anything and also does not take water – consequently no need for toilet.  When we were there with him and were taking tea, dry fruits and biscuits; my wife offered these things to him also, he declined saying in lighter vein that there should be someone to see also when others are taking – no assertion and no pretensions.

My wife asked him for allowing us to take a photograph with him, again in a lighter vein he gracefully declined by saying that if he did so, we will not visit him next morning.  While departing, he asked us to have prasad in the Ashram.  We took prasad and came back. 

I obviously have strong desire to visit him as many times as possible before I leave Chandigarh on my retirement this December.

Whenever I meet a saint, I usually narrate my experience to my Guruji, Shri G V Mungale.  To share the truth, I had a little doubt if he really does not take any food or water.  When I told Guruji about it, sensing my doubt, he said people have doubts or get surprised when they hear something like this.  And setting my doubts to rest, he said that the fact is that saints (yogis) like these have everything directly from Panch Mahabhootas and have no such needs as we have.

On coming back I also reflected on one of the happenings – he took me alone by hand and made me take part in havan.  Many years back (sometime in 2006 or so), I was asked by Nithyanandji to take part in three day long Yagnas (havan) at Salem.  I went there but left the place in half a day.  Swami Virajeshwaraji used to celebrate three events in his Ashram (Ram Navami, Guru Poornima and Geeta Jayanti) and elaborate havan was part of each of these functions as well.  There appears to be an indication for me in these exposures / happenings.  When Gurus in such exalted states find havan to be necessary, how long can my resistance last?  In fact I come from a family of Arya Samajis and performing havan was common happening in our house when I was a child.

In my earlier posts I have shared my experiences as to how my reservations / resistance to japa and writing Ram Nam had to give way to these useful practices.  Performing Havan may be next in line.

Real freedom (moksha) is when we are free of all beliefs and mental barriers.  In a subtle way (even without our knowledge) and with infinite patience Guru alone does it to us! He is the destroyer of ignorance!!  His compassion is boundless!!!

Immerge in HIS remembrance and dissolve Satvic Ahankaar

In my last post I had mentioned that Swami Satyamitranandji was to come to Shimla for opening of one of his temples on 6^th June. On being prompted about it by my wife (even though she was out of Chandigarh at that time), I got in touch with Swamiji. I got to know that he was to stay on seventh evening in the house of one of the devotees of his disciple (Swami Awadheshnandji).  

Immediately on reaching the house of the devotee that evening, I was ushered into the room where he was staying.  I was offered a chair near him. After Charan Sparsh, I sat in the chair.  

It was a great day for me.  I had the fortune of being alone with Swamiji for about 50 minutes.  By that time, it was time for dinner and when food was offered to God (a photograph of a deity – Rama or Krishna), Swamiji asked me to have prasad with him.  I grabbed the offer and was with him for another 30 minutes on the dining table.  After dinner, he partook small portion of a Pan and offered the rest to me which I gratefully took as a part of his blessings.

Being with him that day, I could have further glimpses of his greatness.  He, like a lover, shared his insights into mechanics of his own mind which are invaluable lessons for me and many a sadhakas.  

He first started by telling me about his recent visit to Ahmedabad in connection with setting up of a facility of dialysis for kidney patients.  Some money was to be raised for the facilities.  Guruji announced donation of Rs. One lakh and was expecting announcement by business persons.  In lighter vein he told me that God tells him about black money kept by others and if he makes use of that information, he can earn reward of crores of rupees every month.  Soon, when that thought crossed his mind, one such businessman announced donation of Rs.  50 lakhs.  

While he was in Ahmedabad, Shri Narendra Modi won the elections with vast majority.  Modiji is in contact with Swamiji for last about 30 years and Swamiji was invited to his oath taking ceremonies as PM as also as Chief Minister earlier.

While in Ahmedabad, Swamiji also met mother of Modiji and felt as if she were an avtar of Sabri.  Lives in such a simple manner.  She told Swamiji that she always told her sons not to use any ill gotten money.  When after winning elections her son came to take her blessings, she gave him hundred rupees.  Swamiji took her blessings and she gave him one thousand rupees. Swamiji asked her that when she had given only one hundred rupees to her son, why has she given one thousand rupees to him?  She responded by saying that at that time she had only one hundred rupees and she gave all of that to him.  But while leaving, her son gave her five thousand rupees saying that after becoming PM he will get much higher salary.  It is out of that that she has given him one thousand rupees.

After sharing about a few more of his interactions with Shri Narendra Modiji, he switched over to spiritual matters.  

On being asked, I told him about the practices I am following.  While appreciating my endeavours, he said when a sadhaka slowly gets over external attractions, satvic ahankaar still remains.  Giving an illustration, he said that when during the course of his pravachans, there is repeated clapping from the devotees, he feels very nice and there is a tingling sensation (gudgudi) in his chest.  

Every sadhaka will continue to have it.  For example, when I draft a letter or report and feel that it is excellent, I feel so joyous and have urge to share it with others.

He went on to tell that there is no way one can get over this satvic ahankaar on one’s own.  One has to pray to HIM alone to take this away.  Then he shared that he tries to loudly sing bhajans and chant his name while alone in his room and that he is waiting for the day when he will be fully immerged in HIS remembrance.

That is the way – getting lovingly immerged in HIS remembrance all the time!

How we met ... Part - XVIII ... with Vithalji and Satyamitranandji

On 19^th April, I had to attend a marriage reception in my family at Haridwar.  While I was planning for that, I received a message from Supeji that Shri Vithalji would be there in Rishikesh on 18^th morning.  Besides, 18^th, 19^th and 20^th were closed holidays.  Things fell in place and I planned my visit to Rishikesh and Haridwar.

On 18^th, we were the first to reach the bungalow in the Rama Mandir compound in Rishikesh where Supeji and family of his Gurubhai, Shri Kishore Rao lives.  This is an architectural marvel – so beautiful.  Supeji later explained that it has been designed so as to have all the five elements in it. 

Many a people were initiated by Guruji.  This was followed by chanting of “Hare Krishna … Hare Hare” and question answer sessions.  Supeji has e-mailed these questions and answers to us – obviously they are profound for seekers – I will try to put them on the blog.  I am, therefore, not repeating them here.

Answer to one of the questions particularly struck me.  I have the temptation to mention it here.  The question was something like, “Is not manav seva and madhava seva same?”  Answer was something like (for exact question and answer readers may refer to the e-mail which I would put on the blog soon), “If service is done with the realization that the person served is madhav, manav seva would be madhava seva.  But if it is done to alleviate poverty or suffering of someone, it is just giving alms and would not be a step forward in one’s spiritual evolution.” 

I had always thought so and could not appreciate organizations built by Gurus for service – they should stick to their area of core competence – spiritual evolution of their disciples, I thought. 

Of course, even service without considering the person served as madhava, would be good karma and would unfold in the form of some reward.  But, on a higher plane, any karma including a good karma is not good inasmuch as a good karma brings with it power and position (and consequent ahankaar) which provides wider opportunities for doing bad karmas.  And cycle of life and death caused by karmas (good and bad) goes on and on.

Another purpose behind service set-ups created by Gurus is that many a disciple has strong rajasik guna and they are made to work for dissipation of this guna – before they can be led towards their evolution.  Service provides an opportunity for that.

After taking prasad at Rishikesh, we came back to Haridwar in the afternoon on 18^th.  Marriage reception was in the evening on 19^th and I had free time on 19^th morning.  We (I and my wife) had earlier (a couple of years back) met Satyamitranandji in Mumbai – our experience with him was a wonderful one and I had a desire to be with him again.  He is having an Ashram and a Mandir with the name Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar.  I thought of making a good use of this time – to meet him, if he were there.  Fortunately he was there and I got an appointment for next morning.

He started by telling me about how he started his spiritual quest.  I am putting here what I can recall now (not exact reproduction of what he said).

"As a young boy I was told by my father, a Vanprasthi, to read literature of Vivekanandji.  Few years of reading and desire to become a Sanyasi arose in me.  I asked for permission to go.  Initially my father suggested that there is no need to leave worldly life to pursue one's spiritual quest.  But being a Vanprasthi himself, he did not insist much and allowed me to go my way.  While parting, he gave me 100 rupees (his savings of about 6 months).  I kept the money inside a spiritual book and boarded a train.

After a while, a TC asked me to show ticket and I had none to show.  He told me that being an educated man are you not ashamed of travelling without a ticket (I had done my MA by that time)! I told him that though I have money with me, I have kept it for some emergency.  I told him that I am going on a spiritual quest and at this stage do not have that much of trust so as to believe that HE will take care of my needs.  In case I do not get anything for my survival at some point of time, I would use this money.  Anyway, you can issue me a ticket - I will pay for it.  He said OK, leave it!

At the next station the TC brought me milk in a big Kulhad and some Jalebis.  He also told me that after a while train will reach Nemisaranya and that he will see me out of station.  He also gave me name of an Ashram and a Swamyji who could perhaps help me.

I went to the Ashram and met Swamyji.  I told him that I have not done any Sadhana and have no other attainments to qualify for being in the Ashram but I do have a sincere desire for search.  He was kind and told me that I could teach some students in a Gurukul run by his trust for about 4 hours a day and that I can be in the Ashram and pursue my Sadhana.  I could not have asked for more.  At that stage, I also thought that I should be earning my living.  Within three hours of leaving my home, God provided me what I needed then. 

I started teaching in the Gurukul and did Japa for 6 hours standing in Gomti River every day.  I used to sleep on the ground and used brick for pillow.

After some days my grandfather came to know that I had left.  He scolded my father and said that he should have told him and that he could have stopped me from leaving.  My father responded by saying that I would not have gone far off and that he could search for me in Allahabad, Varanasi or Nemisaranya.  And soon my grandfather found me in Nemisaranya.  He asked me to go back with him.  I requested him to be with me for a few days and that thereafter I will do his bidding.  After a few days I told him that I would do what he said but I would not be of any use to the family and that when they get me married to someone, the girl will unnecessarily suffer as I have no interest in worldly life.  He saw me doing Japa for 6 hours standing in water and sleeping on the ground.  He was convinced of my determination and of everything I said and left me there to pursue my calling."

Thereafter, as he had told us (my wife was also with me) in our last meeting in Mumbai a couple of years ago, that he was appointed as Shankaracharya – he did not elaborate and I did not ask as to how he rose to that position.  While in that position, he wanted to visit a few African countries.  He was told by the group of priests around him that he cannot do so as a Shankaracharya is not supposed to cross the sea.  And that in that position he was also supposed not to eat food prepared or offered by a person other than a Brahimin.  Swamyji gave up the position saying that he cannot accept these restrictions – and if were true, saints like Paramhamsa Yoganand and Vivekanandji would be put to eternal hell.  He added that if he had to do that, what was wrong with the life as a householder and a worldly man (they too have so many restrictions which prevent their lives from blossoming).  He was also threatened about the consequences of a fall from that position.  But that did not deter him from leaving.

In that meeting, I was mentioning to him about the way Mungale Sir and Swamy Vrijeshwaraji conducted themselves (I have written about them in earlier posts).  He remarked that they have reached a stage of Akarma (a stage where Rajo Guna is gone and person reaches a stage of realisation that life in this universe unfolds as per HIS Sankalpa and that none in this world can do or really does anything) but his mind still tricks him into believing that he should use God given gift of power of expression and knowledge of scriptures to the benefit of public at large and makes him sit before TV camera everyday (he regularly appears on TV Channels – may be this power of expression and knowledge of scriptures elevated him to the position of Shankaracharya earlier).  And he had the humility to add that he would try to give up this temptation in a year or so.

Coming to the present meeting, he further narrated a few happenings in his life.  It was something like :

"In my younger days, somebody mentioned my name to Birlaji and he invited me.  I met him a few times.  In one of those meetings he mentioned it to me that he being a billionaire, every priest or saint coming to him asks for money for performing a marriage, constructing a house or for some project which they propose to undertake but you have not asked for anything so far.  I told him that after listening to what I am going to say, you may not invite me next time.  He asked me to go ahead and say whatever I wanted to say.  I told him that please tell me who is bigger, you or the God? God of course, he said.  That is why I pray to God every day that HE should not raise any Sankalpa in me and if he does so, HE has to arrange for resources – I am not going to arrange for any.

And God made me an instrument in creating 12 Mandirs, two of them abroad.  What is important for a Sadhaka is not have Apeksha (expectation) from anyone – HE provides for everyone."

I mentioned to him that I have a little glimpse of this state – not having expectation from anyone – wherever or to whichever post I have been posted in my career, I accepted that happily and never represented against that – enjoyed working in every place and post.  I came to believe that no one can help or harm anyone, whatever has to happen will happen.  To this he said, yes if this is not believed, very foundation of principle of Karma would be gone.  As Tulsidasji beautifully says in Ramcharitmanas, "Kahu na kou sukh dukh kar data, nij krit karam bhogu sabu bhrata (No one is the cause of happiness or sorrow of anyone, everyone undergoes consequences of one's own actions)."

During our meeting he also told me that one of the Mandirs is going to be opened in Shimla on 6th of June this year.  He has invited me to be there that day – such a blessing.  And he will be going to Seattle this July where my younger daughter lives.