Proximity with Guru

Scriptures highly extoll the virtue of being near a saint.  This makes us, who have realised the expanse of Guru, greedy and we want to be with our Guru  time and again at short interval without giving sufficient time to allow his teachings to get absorbed and without living in accordance with his instructions.

In this regard, an answer by Nisargadatta Maharaj is very relevant to all sadhakas (page 126 of the book 'I am that') :

"Q :  It is a part of Indian spiritual tradition that mere living in proximity of a saint or sage is conducive to liberation and no other means are needed. Why don't you organise an ashram so that people could live near you?

Maharaj :  The moment I create an institution I become its prisoner. As a matter of a fact, I am available to all. Common roof and food will not make people more welcome. 'Living near' does not mean breathing the same air. It means trusting and obeying, not letting the good intentions of the teacher go waste. Have your Guru always in your heart and remember his instructions - this is real abidance with the Guru. Physical proximity is least important. Make your entire life an expression of your faith and love for your teacher - this is real dwelling with the Guru."

While on the issue, I would also like to share response of my Guru when, a few days back, I wanted his appointment for next visit to him (I had been with him on 24th of last month). Perhaps sensing my anxiety about getting from him everything I can till he is there, he said something like (not his exact words), if I remember correctly, "अरे मैं हूँ आपके साथ, और अगर मैं आपसे पहले चला भी गया, तो भी मैं आपको गाइड करुंगा। ऐसा आश्वासन है गुरू तत्व का।"

Continue Sadhana till manifest world is dissolved

To a friend who after a bout of depression took to antidepressant drugs and underwent courses of ‘Art of Living' – felt that he had attained to universal love (apanapan with all living beings and prakruti), became a watcher (sakshi) and developed confidence and that his ‘mission’ now is to help others to come out of their suffering.

Your intellectual understanding of state of meditation – of being a watcher – is perfect. This is a very significant first step in the process of one's evolution. 

But a little caution here – mind is very cunning and tends to make one believe that one is established in what one intellectually understands. 

In this context, I would like to share what transpired in my recent meeting with Mungale Sir. I asked him if the awareness of body and / mind which I experience is the experience of mind – one part of the mind observing body or another activity of the mind – or is it the observation through consciousness or witness or Sakshi. He replied by saying that as of now it is observation and experience of mind only. After 5-7 years (I feel, he may have actually meant 5-7 lives) witness may become a reality and at that stage, mind has no role to play - observation will be effortless. I am very happy if it can come so soon – in 5-7 lives. 

I would also like to share experience of another close friend of mine who experienced love towards everyone and everything around and felt like hugging them all on taking a drug called Ecstasy. You are aware that excess or deficiency of certain chemicals in the brain can cause different behavioural attributes like aggression, depression, hatred, hallucinations, fear, love etc. Production of certain chemicals and hormones in adolescence creates irresistible attraction towards member of opposite sex. 

It may perhaps also be useful to refer to a post by Shraddha on Facebook and my response to that. Both are reproduced below. 

Shraddha : "I have just began my quest into "spirituality" with great Sufi poets, Rumi and Hafiz. Not that I didn't understood what "being spiritual" means. But never tried to explore it in its real meaning. The growing emotions of  anger and fear in individuals across societies and nations and their manifestation into violence and crime that we are witnessing in our daily lives led me into thinking if the erosion of spiritual and human values from our lives contributing to the present state of anxiety and misery. I never ardently believed in the existence of God so never found Sufism (as a school) very appealing, perhaps for the simple reason that I confused it being confined to "union of man with God". But as it unravels before me and I am thinking beyond  narrower meaning, I am mesmerized by its essence and its application in all walks of life, both personal and political. The need is to understand and imbibe the deeper meaning of "Spirituality" and be a better and truer human. This requires immense soul – searching, will-power, and character -building through self analysis and reasoning. ...

...

My response : As usual, beautifully written! 

'Understanding and imbibing' spirituality through mind is only the first step in experiencing mysteries of life. Gurus like Rumi inspire us to go on an unending journey. 

Deeper one goes in one's search, one is overwhelmed with freedom and joy and at every stage one finds that this is just a beginning! This is what infinite or eternal means. 

Love and best wishes!"

The actual experience of oneness of everyone and everything – comes only after repeated experiences of Samadhi – state of transcendence of mind. 

Swami Virajeshwara Ji had his first experience of Samadhi after intense one-pointed Sadhana under his Guru. When he narrated his experience to his Guru, the Guru remarked that yes your experience was real but it was only a first glimpse of reality / God and now you are back in your mind – now you are seeing this table, trees and persons around as real. He asked him to continue his sadhana till manifest world (a projection of one's mind) permanently dissolves and one is always established in the experience of oneness of everyone and everything. Thereafter, Swamiji sat almost alone steeped in sadhana for next 30 years before guiding a handful of his disciples in last few years in his body here – all through he continued to stay alone and did not allow anyone to stay in his Ashram. 

His instruction to us was : always chant "Shri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama" and "enjoy your solitude". 

While on the subject, I would like share a basis truth - His creation is perfect. What it means is that no one can and no one needs to try to improve upon it.   

Mun, buddhi and ahankar (ego) are the works of Maya. Illusion of 'Mission'  of one's life – helping others to come out of suffering and making this world a better world to live in – arises from one's ego. It is also a work of Rajoguna (urge for action and ambition). 

Very idea of helping others is also a trick of the mind to shift attention from itself and avoid its transcendence / annihilation through Sadhana / prabhu smaran. 

Before I conclude, one thing more, shastras unequivocally proclaim that doing good to others is Punya Karma and one gets its reward in this life or lives hereafter. That privileged position allows one to strengthen one's ego and indulge in action resulting in accumulation of negative Karmas. The cycle of birth and death thus continues to reap their fructification. Positive Karmas are thus also bad. 

When one transcends mind and reaches state of being a watcher mentioned in your write up, he finds His creation to be perfect and reaches a state of Akarma – whatever happens through such a person is not his doing – it is just like fragrance of a flower – he has no "mission". 

Focussing attention on mechanics of our minds and Prabhu Smaran alone has to be the "Mission" of our lives – rest all is deception created by our mind or His Maya.