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.

 

Depression – how to come out of it

To a friend who sent me a SMS – “Owing to domestic reasons, I am depressed and have developed suicidal tendency ...”

First thing to understand is that depression is not caused by the circumstances but it manifests in us when our life energy (Pran Urja) is low – we wrongly attribute it to circumstances.

If we blame it on circumstances – changing circumstances not being solely in our hands – there will be no way out – one would be a helpless victim.
But fortunately, it is not so.  Even the word 'depression' is synonym with 'low level' of life energy.

If we understand that depression is a consequence of 'low level' of our 'energies', we can do something to 'raise' them.

This can be done by any activity involving fast and deep breathing – brisk walk (jogging by the young ones) for at least 40 minutes, Kapal Bati for about 10 minutes or any other similar activity. If we can do them twice a day, it will be still better.

Another thing to understand is that if we continue to brood over our circumstances – continue blaming persons concerned – it triggers feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, guilt etc. in us.  More we brood over the circumstances or blame others, these feelings are strengthened by the nourishment they get from our attention to them.

One has, therefore, to take off one's mind from them by engaging it in some kind of spiritual practice such as reading autobiographies of saints, reading spiritual texts like Ramcharitra Manas, Shrimadbhagwat etc.; doing japa of some mantras like "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare" or "Shri Rama Jai Rama Jai Jai Rama".

One needs to devote as much time on these activities (physical as also mental activities described above) as possible – one has to force oneself in doing them and not to give up if one does not feel like doing them – mun ko buddhi se control karane ki zarurat hai (mind has to be controlled through intellect).

And most important of all – Satsang, being with the Gurus and the Sadhakas, helps a lot in remaining on the path – it helps us to persevere (create and maintain motivation and continuity of efforts in us).

One may also consult a person practicing Batch Flower Remedies or refer to books on the subject (Google search will help find books).  These medicines available at big Homoeopathic Shops are very effective in dealing with such conditions.