Inspiring Talks of Gurudev Sivananda
10th July, 1949
GURU POORNIMA SANYASINS CHOICEST GROUP
Very early in the morning, in Brahmamuhurtha, in the traditional fashion, out of the mortal sheaths of Sridhara Rao, Natesa Iyer, R.V. Sastri and Brahmachari Satchidananda, arose the effulgent immortal torch-bearers of wisdom, the spiritual children of Sivananda and the messengers of Siva’s Wisdom—Chidananda, Brahmananda, Mounananda, and Satchidananda.
They shone in a lustre that at once gladdened the hearts of those who had the Darshan of the rising suns. At the very touch of the master, at a word of supreme wisdom from his lips, at the omnipotent Sankalpa of Lord Siva’s universal heart….their life-spark had burst into a conflagration of immortality, burning away at once the finite, little self clothed by the five sheaths, and limited by the phenomena. Sacred thread and tuft of hair consigned to the Ganges, they shone in garments presented to them by Guru Siva as the four great Sanatkumaras in the presence of Dakshinamurthy. The shower of rain turned the barren landscape of Himalayas, scorched by the heat of summer, into a rich bed of greenery. Ganga Matha roared along OM OM OM blessing the children of Her Lord. The rising sun smiled, happy to witness the renunciation of the four great spiritual giants. The great Rishis and the Brahma Vidya Gurus who (naturally on the Guru Purnima day) joyously greeted the dawn of the day, were infinitely pleased that a Blessed Four had joined their group to carry the banner of Wisdom Service Renunciation.
Siva beamed with joy. ‘A select group,’ he said. And, added: ‘Kings, Prime Ministers and millionaires should come and embrace Sanyas. They should stay here for some days: listen to Krishnanandaji’s Vedanta lectures, do Akhanda Kirtan, listen to the chanting of the Rudram and Chamakam in the temple, take Bhiksha of roti and dhal from the kitchen, serve lepers at the dispensary and attend Satsang at night and there listen to the study of Upanishads, etc. One man’s heart will soon be changed: he will embrace Sanyas. Others will soon follow.’
Siva is a Prophet. His vision is not impaired by time or space. What he has said today, the most auspicious day of the year, will surely come to pass soon. India will be spiritually ruled by Sanyasins very soon.
There is another difference. There is a real link between the first laconic expression and the second one. The Select Group who got themselves initiated today are indeed Kings, Premiers and leaders of men. Very soon they will lead the leaders, rule the kings, and will be primates guiding premiers, at whose feet millionaires will shed their vanity of wealth and bowl. Such is the glory of renunciation.
YOUR SPIRITUAL WORTH?
A very high dignitary has come. Siva seated him in the office, entertained him with sweets and tea, gave him some books and quietly left him and his party there and walked off, without even putting on his shoes and taking the umbrella. One would run about and dance around these people, for their material worth.
Pannalalji’s Gurudev is his God. He worships his picture. He repeats his name. His faith in Siva no one can excel. He is not very rich. But at a single mention of any of the Ashram needs he would sacrifice his all to fulfil. He quietly whispered into my ears: ‘Write to the Lahore Press. As soon as the book, ‘All About Hinduism’ is ready, I shall pay for the entire consignment and take delivery. I have just now got some money, by Gurudev’s grace. I shall spend it all on this book.’ He is the man who increased his monthly donation to the Ashram when his salary was cut. And, he firmly believes that all his material prosperity and spiritual advance he owes to Siva’s grace.
The great official party was proceeding towards the Ganges Ghat for a boat to cross the river. Siva asked them: ‘You cannot walk on the water?’
Meaning: renounce the vanity born of your high official position. Treat your servants and subordinates with more considerateness. You can command them to obey, but can you command the Ganga?
T.V. PURUSHOTTHAM
Yet, all millionaires are not arrogant, and to those who have a spiritual worth, Siva runs unasked. This is the sign of God. T.V. Purushottham, a millionaire of Madras, had expressed a desire to be initiated by Siva into the Ishta Mantra. He is old, and is unable to walk. Siva arranged for the Puja in connection with the initiation to be done in P.’s own room in the Ashram. Siva, too, went to the Kutir in which P. was lodged and performed the Diksha.
Look at this: Guru condescending to go to the disciple and initiating him. If you have a spiritual thirst, Siva is your own….and he is ever eager to serve you.
During the entire day hundreds of devotees prostrated before him and worshipped him. Siva, too, offered flowers to them and worshipped them always, uttering: ‘Sahasra Sheersha Purushah’. This is Virat worship. This is the sign of a sage of Self-realisation. He sees That everywhere. To Siva the entire world is his own Form. His own manifestation—the Virat.
12th July, 1949
WHO IS A SAINT?
We saw how Siva arranged for the Mantra Diksha of Sri T.V.P., the aged devotee, and himself went to the disciple’s room to initiate him.
P. wanted to attend the night Satsang in Siva’s Kutir. And, at night he took a wearisome few steps from his Kutir to Siva’s across the road, on two human crutches provided by Siva. He cannot sit on the ground. It is physically impossible. Siva noticed this and at once provided a chair for him, whereas he himself sat on the ground along with the other Satsangees. Siva is a strict disciplinarian and would sweetly and kindly train even Europeans to sit cross-legged whenever they happened to attend the Satsang. But, where the real need arises, the one supreme importance given to the fulfilment of the pious wish of the devotee swallows all other minor observances.
P. had almost reached the verandah where the Satsang is held with his shoes on before his son could remind him of the custom to leave the shoes at the threshold. P. tried to turn back, apologetically. Siva perceived the situation at once.
‘No, no. It is perfectly all right. Come on; sit down on the chair. You can have the shoes on. Why, all of us have this filthy ‘shoe’ all over the body and we take it with us wherever we go.’
P.’s tears of joy rained gratitude that filled his heart to overflowing.
As P. left the Kutir after the Satsang, he was filled with a strange sublime emotion, a queer revelation.
He said: ‘This Swamiji is a real saint. I have never met the like of him ever before in my life, even though I have met great spiritually advanced persons. How kind he is. I had the idea that Swami X was a big saint. But, would he ever have taken all this trouble to initiate me in my own Kutir? Did he ever give me so many books, and so freely, to read? He attends to my physical needs as though he is my own mother. He selects books for me and gives them to me for my study, free. He places a chair for me to sit while he sits on the ground. And, most of all, imagine the wit and wisdom with which he permitted me to enter the Satsang with shoes on. What a mind of wisdom he is! He compares the skin on our body to the shoe. What a perfect simplicity of truth. How much Vairagya this one idea creates in our mind. People would give up adorning this skin and beautifying it with ornaments and cosmetics if they know how this man-of-God looks upon it: as a mere shoe. This man is a saint. No one else that breathes on this earth today. I can’t compare Swami R….or for that matter, anyone I have seen, and I have seen quite a lot of them, with this child-like saint who is God Himself.’
20th July, 1949
SERVICE BESTOWS MOKSHA ON YOU
Srimathi Bhagavathi Devi, wife of Rai Saheb Ram Prasadji of Delhi, has ‘donated’ a well on the bank of the Ganges for the use of the population of Muni-ki-reti during the rainy season when Ganges-water gets too muddy to be used for drinking purposes. Sri Swami Sankaranandaji of Ram Ashram had sponsored the move and had supervised the construction work also. The well is now ready. Sri S. had arranged for a Kirtan to be held in the Ram Ashram last evening to celebrate the opening of the well for public use. Siva graced the function with his august presence, with his disciples. His inspiring Kirtan-Dhwanis thrilled everyone present.
This morning Siva performed the actually opening ceremony of the well. He drew the first bucket of water with his own holy hands and distributed Prasad to those who had assembled there. During the course of this function, Siva said:
‘Srimathi Bhagaathi Devi and Rai Saheb Ram Prasadji, as also Sri Swami Sankaranandaji have earned the gratitude of us all and of the people of the entire locality by this great humanitarian service. Now people will get crystal-clear water even during the rainy season. Diseases will be averted. They have earned the love of the Sadhus and pilgrims, too.
‘Service purifies the heart and makes it fit for the reception of divine light. Not only that, service bestows Mukti on you. Service motivated by desires obtains heaven for you: and after the merits are exhausted in heavenly enjoyments, the Jiva returns again to this mortal earth to undergo pain and pleasure, and to strive for Moksha.
Selfless service, on the other hand, releases the soul from transmigration. From here the Jiva goes to Brahma Loka and there enjoys unending bliss. It attains Krama Mukti. At the end of the present Kalpa, the Jiva gets its final release or Moksha. There is no return to this mortal plane, to this world of pains and sorrows, to this burning hell-fire of Samsara, for the Nishkamya Karma Yogi. It is verily Moksha here and now: release from birth and death here and now. Therefore, serve selflessly and free yourself.’
25th July, 1949
PATRIOTISM: FIRST STEP IN VEDANTA
The death anniversary of Suman, one of the foremost patriotic leaders of Tehri-Garhwal, was observed in Muni-ki-reti: and, as usual, the venue was the Ashram itself, and the chairman, the soul of Sivanandanagar, Siva himself.
Kirtan was conducted and there were a few speeches and songs in praise of the heroic Suman by men of the locality.
Siva’s Pranava-Nada reached out to Suman in the other world and gladdened his heart. And, Siva said:
‘Patriotism is the first step in the ladder of Vedanta. It is only when you annihilate narrow selfishness that you are fit to learn Vedantic Truths and to meditate on the Supreme Self. Zeal for service and emancipation of the nation expands the heart, kills the narrow selfish instinct, and in a way attunes man to the Divine Will. The Lord’s Will always brings good to the whole world. The patriot yearns for the good of the nation to which he belongs. Soon he will go beyond this, too, and yearn and work for the good of mankind the entire creation: he will then have Liberation.
‘One of the surest distinguishing marks of a Vedantin is his fearlessness, bravery, daring. So long as there is the least trace of selfishness, man cannot have fearlessness. When you realise that you represent a Cause and not any egoistic desire, you acquire the bravery which laughs at death. The Cause is not subject to the limitations to which this body is: the Cause survives this body: when you identify yourself with the body, there is conquest of death itself. Be you all brave and fearless like Suman, the hero whose anniversary of death we observe today.
Strive, strive every moment to become like him. You can.
‘We pray for the peace of the departed soul of Suman who died a martyr’s death, fighting for the cause of the nation’s freedom. In reality, there is no need for this prayer. Suman has attained the Veera Swarga: no more is there a return for him. When selfish, egoistic desires have been annihilated the Jiva does not have to transmigrate. From Veera Swarga or Brahma Loka, the Jiva will have Krama Mukti: there is no return to this world of joys and sorrows.
‘Therefore, this prayer-gathering is in reality intended to remind us all of Suman’s life of complete dedication, and to inspire in you all that selflessness and that devotion which filled Suman.
‘You should also celebrate his birthday every year. You should organise his admirers and try to bring out a short biography of Suman’s life. This will provide enduring incentive to the young men of all times to follow the footsteps of their leader.’
PERENNIAL ZEAL FROM WITHIN
A young Ashramite who was working hard and with great zeal had gradually grown melancholy and unwilling to work for want of enthusiasm. Siva heard of this and quickly remarked:
‘How long can anyone buttress another’s enthusiasm? Each worker will have to draw his own inspiration from within and keep the fire of his zeal ever alive and bright. We are all engaged in the service of humanity, in the practice of Karma Yoga. We serve ourselves through such service: we purify ourselves and we will attain Moksha through service. If we grow Tamasic, no one except we ourselves, would be the losers.
‘The work Sri X was doing will now be taken up by others. Work will go on. But his talents will get blunted out of disuse. I am ever-ready to develop everyone’s talents at any cost. I always encourage young people with talents and bring out their hidden talents. If you all lend yourselves to that treatment then you will all become world famous.
If you refuse to adapt yourselves to circumstances and adjust your ways and thus deprive yourselves of the opportunity to grow, then you can’t blame anyone except yourselves for your stagnation.’
Inspiring words, these: coming as they do from one whose own life is a more eloquent illustration of this philosophy, they have a great force. We who live under the shelter of his lotus feet, in his protecting care, and his ever-appreciative heart, cannot even imagine that gigantic will that resolutely kept the flame of zeal for service of humanity alive in Siva during his Swarg Ashram days, especially, and that conquered every kind of privation and suffering, and, after extracting their deadly teeth through Vichara and an abiding spiritual yearning, used their very hide for ascending to the summit of God-realisation.
AUGUST, 1949
5th August, 1949
ANANDA KUTIR, EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD
‘For,’ said Sri Swami Satyamanandaji, of Tulsi Mutt, during his conversation with Siva on the Viswanath Ghat this evening, ‘you have captured here several Vibhutis of the Lord. He is Himalayas among mountains: you have Him here towering all round. You are living at His feet. He is Ganges among rivers; and here He is perennially flowing alongside the Ashram, and eternally humming the Pranava: and this Pranava is also He Himself. The blue expanse of the Akasa ever reminds us of the Infinite. The resplendent sun which is His Vibhuti shines in all His glory on the Ashram without any obstruction whatsoever: so does the Moon, another Vibhuti. You have installed Lord Vishnu and Sri Sankara in our temple and the Pratishtha of this temple you have performed in the divine month, Margasirsha.
The temple of Siva is in the midst of a bael-forest where Siva loves to dwell. In the Ashram there is a continuous Japa of the Maha Mantra—in that Japa Yajna He is manifest. The crowning glory is that you have enshrined here the Adhyatma Vidya which is His manifestation: and from your Ashram issues a perennial current of wisdom of the highest kind. Tejas and Satwa shine on your countenance: the very rapidity with which the Ashram has grown indicates that you have Java (Victory) as a part of your being the result of ceaseless endeavour which is also His aspect.
Swamiji, you are silent. This Mouna, too, reminds me of His Vibhuti: you are a Jnani and your Janana, too, is He Himself!
‘All the Vibhutis of the Lord are here. See: even the perceptible Vibhutis are so many. Who knows how many subtle Vibhutis there are here? This indeed is the Eighth Wonder of the World.’
7th August, 1949
SECRET OF SUCCESS
A few of us were sitting on the floor of the D.J. Hall despatching Birthday invitations. Siva peeped in, and as though on second thought, walked into the Hall and greeted us: ‘Tat Twam Asi.’
We saluted him silently.
‘How many have you despatched so far?’
‘Nearly a thousand, Swamiji.’
‘This year it has not been done scientifically!’ This nearly startled us. ‘The invitations should reach the people in the first week of the month. The ground should have been prepared previously, by the despatch of leaflets and pamphlets.
The average householder is busy nowadays with his own bread-winning activities.
‘He needs constant reminders, constant encouragements, and constant opportunities should be offered to him at his door for his evolution. We should not sit back on the chair and think, ‘If he has a charitable temperament, let him find out ways and means.’ No. We should voluntarily place before him opportunities of doing charity. And that, too, in a scientific manner. If the invitations reach the people in the first week, many would avail themselves of the opportunity to perform charity. If it goes late, they might have spent the money, and thus an opportunity would be lost.
‘And, by this scientific approach the institution also will grow. Why do we want the institution to grow? Not for our own glorification. But, for the service of humanity only. Such should be the attitude of every one of you. Then you will take greater interest in work, for with the change of mental attitude the work becomes a Sadhana and the surest way to purify yourself and attain Self-realisation.’
With the blessing, Siva left us to resume his work. After a few minutes he came back with a few addressed copies of ‘The Divine Life’ and his ‘Bible’—the huge book in which he notes down addresses of people and associations of every description.
‘Please post this.’ He gave the copies of the magazine. Here are some of the addresses on the wrappers, written in Siva’s own hand:
1. The Rawal Saheb, Badrinath.
2. The Officer-in-charge, Free Dispensary, Badrinath.
3. The Post Master, Badrinath.
4. The Secretary, Badrinath Temple Committee, Badrinath.
5. Free Reading Room, Badrinath.
You and I will not do this. None of these people have asked for the Magazine: and there is no knowing whether such addresses exist at all. Especially the address ‘The Officer-in-charge, Free Dispensary, Badrinath’, beat my intelligence.
‘This also, Swamiji?’ I asked.
‘Oh yes, yes. Why? You suspect that there may not be any such person in Badrinath. I have a faint idea that there is a free dispensary or some such thing for Yatris in Badrinath. But, don’t worry about the exact name and all that. It must reach someone. And, that Someone will be benefited.’
Siva has lived up to this precept—to the very letter and spirit. Recently a stranger walked into the Ashram, stayed there for a couple of days and requested Siva’s permission to despatch a few hundred packets of books, etc. to high officials, Ministers, business men and Ambassadors. I had known a few of these ‘great’ personalities: and I was sure that most of them will not look at spiritual books. Yet, the visitor was boisterous in his enthusiasm: and Siva was even more! When it was announced that nearly Rs. 800 worth of books had been sent free, Siva’s face showed supreme satisfaction. Here was an opportunity of sending a book free to one man (some man), one prospective Sadhaka (in this birth or the next!), and Siva would never let it slip.
Money? It will come. Books? No, they never go to waste: someone must read them: and we will bring out new editions! When such is the attitude, I think failure would flee before his undertakings.
WHAT IS INDIVIDUAL SADHANA?
In the office, Siva’s gaze fell on Rajan.
‘Oh, Rajan, you do not attend either the morning class or the evening Satsang? You are not feeling well?’
‘I am all right, Swamiji. But, I do Japa and meditation in my room. I never waste a single moment. I am always engaged morning and evening in my personal Sadhana.’
‘No, no. It should not make you neglect attending morning and evening classes. In what way is this personal Sadhana superior to common meditation, Japa and study? You will learn many new things from the morning lectures. Your mind will be alert. People generally imagine that they can meditate in seclusion. Very few can. Do not delude yourself with wrong notions. I have seen what sort of individual Sadhana people do. They only sleep. You will get up at 4 in the morning and so some vigorous Japa for a few minutes. Later, you will slightly relax….and you will only know when the tea bell rings at 7 a.m. Who prevents you from doing your Japa? Even during your work you can do Japa. If you cut short your gossiping programmes, you can do a lot of Sadhana. Please attend the morning and evening classes hereafter.’
12th August, 1949
THE BOUNDARIES OF DIVINE LIFE
All was quiet in the office: everyone, including Siva, intent on the work on hand.
Quietly, a thick, short, young and toothless youth stepped in, clad in full Khadi. It was Panikker.
And quietly, he touched Siva’s feet and sprinkled the dust on the crown of his head, worshipped the feet with a 100-rupee note and sat down on the bench.
This has been a routine with him for a few days past.
‘Are you married?’ queried Siva.
‘No, Swamiji, I came across your writings much too early in life to commit that error. I have remained single: but you have always been with me.’
‘But, you never wrote to me.’
‘Swamiji, my only desire was to have your Darshan. I never wrote to you, but the letters of your name I had inscribed on the tablet of my heart. I do not say that I have not had my struggles.
But faith in you has always been my staff and difficulties have melted away the moment I thought of you.’
Siva was by this time engrossed in his letters. As Panikker got up to leave, Siva quietly picked up two Prasad packets from the table and handed him. After touching Siva’s feet in reverence again, P. left.
And perhaps, there are millions like him who have taken Siva as their Guru and God, worship him and lead the divine life, but whom the Society might not have known at all. Where are the boundaries of Divine Life, of Siva’s influence? The Society’s records cannot show.
THE AUTOGRAPH THAT SAVED
It seems we are in for a good treat today. Krishnayya enters the Hall the moment P. left it. Siva made the usual enquiries.
‘Swamiji, my health is completely all right now. Two months ago I was laid up with typhoid. My condition was very bad. It almost looked that I could live only for some days more. A parcel arrived from here. The Doctor had forbidden me to read. But, I asked my people to let me see what it was. Unwilling to refuse my request, they showed me….and it was a book by you. I took it in my hand, pressed it to my eyes and head, and opened it. My eyes rested for a few minutes on your autograph and blessings. I did not read the book then; I could not. But that very moment there was a turn for the better in my health. And, I am here today. It is only your blessing that has enabled me to fulfil my great ambition in life—to have your Darshan.’
SILVER SANDALS FOR THEE
Even while K. was talking, a Sadhu had come into the office, holding in his hands a pair of silver-plated sandals of the orthodox type. He placed them near Siva’s feet and sat down gazing on Siva’s lotus feet in silence.
Siva turned to him: ‘Where from do you come, Swamiji Maharaj?’
‘Bhagavan, I have come from Banaras. I am in a Mutt there. I had an intense desire to take Sanyas. A Grihastha devotee in Banaras with whom I was living performed Viraja Homa for me.
Then he asked me to go to you for Diksha and Upadesha.
‘You will stay here for some days?’
‘If I have your commands, Swamiji, I would like to leave tomorrow morning after Diksha.’
‘Come, then. I will initiate you now itself.’
‘Bhagavan: please place your lotus-feet on these sandals. These will be my refuge and protection throughout my life. They will represent you for me, even as Rama’s sandals represented Him for Bharata.’ Siva stood for a few moments on the silver sandals, uttering ‘Sivoham, Soham, Satchidananda, Swarupoham’.
Then both of them left the Hall. Siva took him straight to the Ganges Ghat and initiated him into the holy order of Sanyasa.
10th July, 1949
GURU POORNIMA SANYASINS CHOICEST GROUP
Very early in the morning, in Brahmamuhurtha, in the traditional fashion, out of the mortal sheaths of Sridhara Rao, Natesa Iyer, R.V. Sastri and Brahmachari Satchidananda, arose the effulgent immortal torch-bearers of wisdom, the spiritual children of Sivananda and the messengers of Siva’s Wisdom—Chidananda, Brahmananda, Mounananda, and Satchidananda.
They shone in a lustre that at once gladdened the hearts of those who had the Darshan of the rising suns. At the very touch of the master, at a word of supreme wisdom from his lips, at the omnipotent Sankalpa of Lord Siva’s universal heart….their life-spark had burst into a conflagration of immortality, burning away at once the finite, little self clothed by the five sheaths, and limited by the phenomena. Sacred thread and tuft of hair consigned to the Ganges, they shone in garments presented to them by Guru Siva as the four great Sanatkumaras in the presence of Dakshinamurthy. The shower of rain turned the barren landscape of Himalayas, scorched by the heat of summer, into a rich bed of greenery. Ganga Matha roared along OM OM OM blessing the children of Her Lord. The rising sun smiled, happy to witness the renunciation of the four great spiritual giants. The great Rishis and the Brahma Vidya Gurus who (naturally on the Guru Purnima day) joyously greeted the dawn of the day, were infinitely pleased that a Blessed Four had joined their group to carry the banner of Wisdom Service Renunciation.
Siva beamed with joy. ‘A select group,’ he said. And, added: ‘Kings, Prime Ministers and millionaires should come and embrace Sanyas. They should stay here for some days: listen to Krishnanandaji’s Vedanta lectures, do Akhanda Kirtan, listen to the chanting of the Rudram and Chamakam in the temple, take Bhiksha of roti and dhal from the kitchen, serve lepers at the dispensary and attend Satsang at night and there listen to the study of Upanishads, etc. One man’s heart will soon be changed: he will embrace Sanyas. Others will soon follow.’
Siva is a Prophet. His vision is not impaired by time or space. What he has said today, the most auspicious day of the year, will surely come to pass soon. India will be spiritually ruled by Sanyasins very soon.
There is another difference. There is a real link between the first laconic expression and the second one. The Select Group who got themselves initiated today are indeed Kings, Premiers and leaders of men. Very soon they will lead the leaders, rule the kings, and will be primates guiding premiers, at whose feet millionaires will shed their vanity of wealth and bowl. Such is the glory of renunciation.
YOUR SPIRITUAL WORTH?
A very high dignitary has come. Siva seated him in the office, entertained him with sweets and tea, gave him some books and quietly left him and his party there and walked off, without even putting on his shoes and taking the umbrella. One would run about and dance around these people, for their material worth.
Pannalalji’s Gurudev is his God. He worships his picture. He repeats his name. His faith in Siva no one can excel. He is not very rich. But at a single mention of any of the Ashram needs he would sacrifice his all to fulfil. He quietly whispered into my ears: ‘Write to the Lahore Press. As soon as the book, ‘All About Hinduism’ is ready, I shall pay for the entire consignment and take delivery. I have just now got some money, by Gurudev’s grace. I shall spend it all on this book.’ He is the man who increased his monthly donation to the Ashram when his salary was cut. And, he firmly believes that all his material prosperity and spiritual advance he owes to Siva’s grace.
The great official party was proceeding towards the Ganges Ghat for a boat to cross the river. Siva asked them: ‘You cannot walk on the water?’
Meaning: renounce the vanity born of your high official position. Treat your servants and subordinates with more considerateness. You can command them to obey, but can you command the Ganga?
T.V. PURUSHOTTHAM
Yet, all millionaires are not arrogant, and to those who have a spiritual worth, Siva runs unasked. This is the sign of God. T.V. Purushottham, a millionaire of Madras, had expressed a desire to be initiated by Siva into the Ishta Mantra. He is old, and is unable to walk. Siva arranged for the Puja in connection with the initiation to be done in P.’s own room in the Ashram. Siva, too, went to the Kutir in which P. was lodged and performed the Diksha.
Look at this: Guru condescending to go to the disciple and initiating him. If you have a spiritual thirst, Siva is your own….and he is ever eager to serve you.
During the entire day hundreds of devotees prostrated before him and worshipped him. Siva, too, offered flowers to them and worshipped them always, uttering: ‘Sahasra Sheersha Purushah’. This is Virat worship. This is the sign of a sage of Self-realisation. He sees That everywhere. To Siva the entire world is his own Form. His own manifestation—the Virat.
12th July, 1949
WHO IS A SAINT?
We saw how Siva arranged for the Mantra Diksha of Sri T.V.P., the aged devotee, and himself went to the disciple’s room to initiate him.
P. wanted to attend the night Satsang in Siva’s Kutir. And, at night he took a wearisome few steps from his Kutir to Siva’s across the road, on two human crutches provided by Siva. He cannot sit on the ground. It is physically impossible. Siva noticed this and at once provided a chair for him, whereas he himself sat on the ground along with the other Satsangees. Siva is a strict disciplinarian and would sweetly and kindly train even Europeans to sit cross-legged whenever they happened to attend the Satsang. But, where the real need arises, the one supreme importance given to the fulfilment of the pious wish of the devotee swallows all other minor observances.
P. had almost reached the verandah where the Satsang is held with his shoes on before his son could remind him of the custom to leave the shoes at the threshold. P. tried to turn back, apologetically. Siva perceived the situation at once.
‘No, no. It is perfectly all right. Come on; sit down on the chair. You can have the shoes on. Why, all of us have this filthy ‘shoe’ all over the body and we take it with us wherever we go.’
P.’s tears of joy rained gratitude that filled his heart to overflowing.
As P. left the Kutir after the Satsang, he was filled with a strange sublime emotion, a queer revelation.
He said: ‘This Swamiji is a real saint. I have never met the like of him ever before in my life, even though I have met great spiritually advanced persons. How kind he is. I had the idea that Swami X was a big saint. But, would he ever have taken all this trouble to initiate me in my own Kutir? Did he ever give me so many books, and so freely, to read? He attends to my physical needs as though he is my own mother. He selects books for me and gives them to me for my study, free. He places a chair for me to sit while he sits on the ground. And, most of all, imagine the wit and wisdom with which he permitted me to enter the Satsang with shoes on. What a mind of wisdom he is! He compares the skin on our body to the shoe. What a perfect simplicity of truth. How much Vairagya this one idea creates in our mind. People would give up adorning this skin and beautifying it with ornaments and cosmetics if they know how this man-of-God looks upon it: as a mere shoe. This man is a saint. No one else that breathes on this earth today. I can’t compare Swami R….or for that matter, anyone I have seen, and I have seen quite a lot of them, with this child-like saint who is God Himself.’
20th July, 1949
SERVICE BESTOWS MOKSHA ON YOU
Srimathi Bhagavathi Devi, wife of Rai Saheb Ram Prasadji of Delhi, has ‘donated’ a well on the bank of the Ganges for the use of the population of Muni-ki-reti during the rainy season when Ganges-water gets too muddy to be used for drinking purposes. Sri Swami Sankaranandaji of Ram Ashram had sponsored the move and had supervised the construction work also. The well is now ready. Sri S. had arranged for a Kirtan to be held in the Ram Ashram last evening to celebrate the opening of the well for public use. Siva graced the function with his august presence, with his disciples. His inspiring Kirtan-Dhwanis thrilled everyone present.
This morning Siva performed the actually opening ceremony of the well. He drew the first bucket of water with his own holy hands and distributed Prasad to those who had assembled there. During the course of this function, Siva said:
‘Srimathi Bhagaathi Devi and Rai Saheb Ram Prasadji, as also Sri Swami Sankaranandaji have earned the gratitude of us all and of the people of the entire locality by this great humanitarian service. Now people will get crystal-clear water even during the rainy season. Diseases will be averted. They have earned the love of the Sadhus and pilgrims, too.
‘Service purifies the heart and makes it fit for the reception of divine light. Not only that, service bestows Mukti on you. Service motivated by desires obtains heaven for you: and after the merits are exhausted in heavenly enjoyments, the Jiva returns again to this mortal earth to undergo pain and pleasure, and to strive for Moksha.
Selfless service, on the other hand, releases the soul from transmigration. From here the Jiva goes to Brahma Loka and there enjoys unending bliss. It attains Krama Mukti. At the end of the present Kalpa, the Jiva gets its final release or Moksha. There is no return to this mortal plane, to this world of pains and sorrows, to this burning hell-fire of Samsara, for the Nishkamya Karma Yogi. It is verily Moksha here and now: release from birth and death here and now. Therefore, serve selflessly and free yourself.’
25th July, 1949
PATRIOTISM: FIRST STEP IN VEDANTA
The death anniversary of Suman, one of the foremost patriotic leaders of Tehri-Garhwal, was observed in Muni-ki-reti: and, as usual, the venue was the Ashram itself, and the chairman, the soul of Sivanandanagar, Siva himself.
Kirtan was conducted and there were a few speeches and songs in praise of the heroic Suman by men of the locality.
Siva’s Pranava-Nada reached out to Suman in the other world and gladdened his heart. And, Siva said:
‘Patriotism is the first step in the ladder of Vedanta. It is only when you annihilate narrow selfishness that you are fit to learn Vedantic Truths and to meditate on the Supreme Self. Zeal for service and emancipation of the nation expands the heart, kills the narrow selfish instinct, and in a way attunes man to the Divine Will. The Lord’s Will always brings good to the whole world. The patriot yearns for the good of the nation to which he belongs. Soon he will go beyond this, too, and yearn and work for the good of mankind the entire creation: he will then have Liberation.
‘One of the surest distinguishing marks of a Vedantin is his fearlessness, bravery, daring. So long as there is the least trace of selfishness, man cannot have fearlessness. When you realise that you represent a Cause and not any egoistic desire, you acquire the bravery which laughs at death. The Cause is not subject to the limitations to which this body is: the Cause survives this body: when you identify yourself with the body, there is conquest of death itself. Be you all brave and fearless like Suman, the hero whose anniversary of death we observe today.
Strive, strive every moment to become like him. You can.
‘We pray for the peace of the departed soul of Suman who died a martyr’s death, fighting for the cause of the nation’s freedom. In reality, there is no need for this prayer. Suman has attained the Veera Swarga: no more is there a return for him. When selfish, egoistic desires have been annihilated the Jiva does not have to transmigrate. From Veera Swarga or Brahma Loka, the Jiva will have Krama Mukti: there is no return to this world of joys and sorrows.
‘Therefore, this prayer-gathering is in reality intended to remind us all of Suman’s life of complete dedication, and to inspire in you all that selflessness and that devotion which filled Suman.
‘You should also celebrate his birthday every year. You should organise his admirers and try to bring out a short biography of Suman’s life. This will provide enduring incentive to the young men of all times to follow the footsteps of their leader.’
PERENNIAL ZEAL FROM WITHIN
A young Ashramite who was working hard and with great zeal had gradually grown melancholy and unwilling to work for want of enthusiasm. Siva heard of this and quickly remarked:
‘How long can anyone buttress another’s enthusiasm? Each worker will have to draw his own inspiration from within and keep the fire of his zeal ever alive and bright. We are all engaged in the service of humanity, in the practice of Karma Yoga. We serve ourselves through such service: we purify ourselves and we will attain Moksha through service. If we grow Tamasic, no one except we ourselves, would be the losers.
‘The work Sri X was doing will now be taken up by others. Work will go on. But his talents will get blunted out of disuse. I am ever-ready to develop everyone’s talents at any cost. I always encourage young people with talents and bring out their hidden talents. If you all lend yourselves to that treatment then you will all become world famous.
If you refuse to adapt yourselves to circumstances and adjust your ways and thus deprive yourselves of the opportunity to grow, then you can’t blame anyone except yourselves for your stagnation.’
Inspiring words, these: coming as they do from one whose own life is a more eloquent illustration of this philosophy, they have a great force. We who live under the shelter of his lotus feet, in his protecting care, and his ever-appreciative heart, cannot even imagine that gigantic will that resolutely kept the flame of zeal for service of humanity alive in Siva during his Swarg Ashram days, especially, and that conquered every kind of privation and suffering, and, after extracting their deadly teeth through Vichara and an abiding spiritual yearning, used their very hide for ascending to the summit of God-realisation.
AUGUST, 1949
5th August, 1949
ANANDA KUTIR, EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD
‘For,’ said Sri Swami Satyamanandaji, of Tulsi Mutt, during his conversation with Siva on the Viswanath Ghat this evening, ‘you have captured here several Vibhutis of the Lord. He is Himalayas among mountains: you have Him here towering all round. You are living at His feet. He is Ganges among rivers; and here He is perennially flowing alongside the Ashram, and eternally humming the Pranava: and this Pranava is also He Himself. The blue expanse of the Akasa ever reminds us of the Infinite. The resplendent sun which is His Vibhuti shines in all His glory on the Ashram without any obstruction whatsoever: so does the Moon, another Vibhuti. You have installed Lord Vishnu and Sri Sankara in our temple and the Pratishtha of this temple you have performed in the divine month, Margasirsha.
The temple of Siva is in the midst of a bael-forest where Siva loves to dwell. In the Ashram there is a continuous Japa of the Maha Mantra—in that Japa Yajna He is manifest. The crowning glory is that you have enshrined here the Adhyatma Vidya which is His manifestation: and from your Ashram issues a perennial current of wisdom of the highest kind. Tejas and Satwa shine on your countenance: the very rapidity with which the Ashram has grown indicates that you have Java (Victory) as a part of your being the result of ceaseless endeavour which is also His aspect.
Swamiji, you are silent. This Mouna, too, reminds me of His Vibhuti: you are a Jnani and your Janana, too, is He Himself!
‘All the Vibhutis of the Lord are here. See: even the perceptible Vibhutis are so many. Who knows how many subtle Vibhutis there are here? This indeed is the Eighth Wonder of the World.’
7th August, 1949
SECRET OF SUCCESS
A few of us were sitting on the floor of the D.J. Hall despatching Birthday invitations. Siva peeped in, and as though on second thought, walked into the Hall and greeted us: ‘Tat Twam Asi.’
We saluted him silently.
‘How many have you despatched so far?’
‘Nearly a thousand, Swamiji.’
‘This year it has not been done scientifically!’ This nearly startled us. ‘The invitations should reach the people in the first week of the month. The ground should have been prepared previously, by the despatch of leaflets and pamphlets.
The average householder is busy nowadays with his own bread-winning activities.
‘He needs constant reminders, constant encouragements, and constant opportunities should be offered to him at his door for his evolution. We should not sit back on the chair and think, ‘If he has a charitable temperament, let him find out ways and means.’ No. We should voluntarily place before him opportunities of doing charity. And that, too, in a scientific manner. If the invitations reach the people in the first week, many would avail themselves of the opportunity to perform charity. If it goes late, they might have spent the money, and thus an opportunity would be lost.
‘And, by this scientific approach the institution also will grow. Why do we want the institution to grow? Not for our own glorification. But, for the service of humanity only. Such should be the attitude of every one of you. Then you will take greater interest in work, for with the change of mental attitude the work becomes a Sadhana and the surest way to purify yourself and attain Self-realisation.’
With the blessing, Siva left us to resume his work. After a few minutes he came back with a few addressed copies of ‘The Divine Life’ and his ‘Bible’—the huge book in which he notes down addresses of people and associations of every description.
‘Please post this.’ He gave the copies of the magazine. Here are some of the addresses on the wrappers, written in Siva’s own hand:
1. The Rawal Saheb, Badrinath.
2. The Officer-in-charge, Free Dispensary, Badrinath.
3. The Post Master, Badrinath.
4. The Secretary, Badrinath Temple Committee, Badrinath.
5. Free Reading Room, Badrinath.
You and I will not do this. None of these people have asked for the Magazine: and there is no knowing whether such addresses exist at all. Especially the address ‘The Officer-in-charge, Free Dispensary, Badrinath’, beat my intelligence.
‘This also, Swamiji?’ I asked.
‘Oh yes, yes. Why? You suspect that there may not be any such person in Badrinath. I have a faint idea that there is a free dispensary or some such thing for Yatris in Badrinath. But, don’t worry about the exact name and all that. It must reach someone. And, that Someone will be benefited.’
Siva has lived up to this precept—to the very letter and spirit. Recently a stranger walked into the Ashram, stayed there for a couple of days and requested Siva’s permission to despatch a few hundred packets of books, etc. to high officials, Ministers, business men and Ambassadors. I had known a few of these ‘great’ personalities: and I was sure that most of them will not look at spiritual books. Yet, the visitor was boisterous in his enthusiasm: and Siva was even more! When it was announced that nearly Rs. 800 worth of books had been sent free, Siva’s face showed supreme satisfaction. Here was an opportunity of sending a book free to one man (some man), one prospective Sadhaka (in this birth or the next!), and Siva would never let it slip.
Money? It will come. Books? No, they never go to waste: someone must read them: and we will bring out new editions! When such is the attitude, I think failure would flee before his undertakings.
WHAT IS INDIVIDUAL SADHANA?
In the office, Siva’s gaze fell on Rajan.
‘Oh, Rajan, you do not attend either the morning class or the evening Satsang? You are not feeling well?’
‘I am all right, Swamiji. But, I do Japa and meditation in my room. I never waste a single moment. I am always engaged morning and evening in my personal Sadhana.’
‘No, no. It should not make you neglect attending morning and evening classes. In what way is this personal Sadhana superior to common meditation, Japa and study? You will learn many new things from the morning lectures. Your mind will be alert. People generally imagine that they can meditate in seclusion. Very few can. Do not delude yourself with wrong notions. I have seen what sort of individual Sadhana people do. They only sleep. You will get up at 4 in the morning and so some vigorous Japa for a few minutes. Later, you will slightly relax….and you will only know when the tea bell rings at 7 a.m. Who prevents you from doing your Japa? Even during your work you can do Japa. If you cut short your gossiping programmes, you can do a lot of Sadhana. Please attend the morning and evening classes hereafter.’
12th August, 1949
THE BOUNDARIES OF DIVINE LIFE
All was quiet in the office: everyone, including Siva, intent on the work on hand.
Quietly, a thick, short, young and toothless youth stepped in, clad in full Khadi. It was Panikker.
And quietly, he touched Siva’s feet and sprinkled the dust on the crown of his head, worshipped the feet with a 100-rupee note and sat down on the bench.
This has been a routine with him for a few days past.
‘Are you married?’ queried Siva.
‘No, Swamiji, I came across your writings much too early in life to commit that error. I have remained single: but you have always been with me.’
‘But, you never wrote to me.’
‘Swamiji, my only desire was to have your Darshan. I never wrote to you, but the letters of your name I had inscribed on the tablet of my heart. I do not say that I have not had my struggles.
But faith in you has always been my staff and difficulties have melted away the moment I thought of you.’
Siva was by this time engrossed in his letters. As Panikker got up to leave, Siva quietly picked up two Prasad packets from the table and handed him. After touching Siva’s feet in reverence again, P. left.
And perhaps, there are millions like him who have taken Siva as their Guru and God, worship him and lead the divine life, but whom the Society might not have known at all. Where are the boundaries of Divine Life, of Siva’s influence? The Society’s records cannot show.
THE AUTOGRAPH THAT SAVED
It seems we are in for a good treat today. Krishnayya enters the Hall the moment P. left it. Siva made the usual enquiries.
‘Swamiji, my health is completely all right now. Two months ago I was laid up with typhoid. My condition was very bad. It almost looked that I could live only for some days more. A parcel arrived from here. The Doctor had forbidden me to read. But, I asked my people to let me see what it was. Unwilling to refuse my request, they showed me….and it was a book by you. I took it in my hand, pressed it to my eyes and head, and opened it. My eyes rested for a few minutes on your autograph and blessings. I did not read the book then; I could not. But that very moment there was a turn for the better in my health. And, I am here today. It is only your blessing that has enabled me to fulfil my great ambition in life—to have your Darshan.’
SILVER SANDALS FOR THEE
Even while K. was talking, a Sadhu had come into the office, holding in his hands a pair of silver-plated sandals of the orthodox type. He placed them near Siva’s feet and sat down gazing on Siva’s lotus feet in silence.
Siva turned to him: ‘Where from do you come, Swamiji Maharaj?’
‘Bhagavan, I have come from Banaras. I am in a Mutt there. I had an intense desire to take Sanyas. A Grihastha devotee in Banaras with whom I was living performed Viraja Homa for me.
Then he asked me to go to you for Diksha and Upadesha.
‘You will stay here for some days?’
‘If I have your commands, Swamiji, I would like to leave tomorrow morning after Diksha.’
‘Come, then. I will initiate you now itself.’
‘Bhagavan: please place your lotus-feet on these sandals. These will be my refuge and protection throughout my life. They will represent you for me, even as Rama’s sandals represented Him for Bharata.’ Siva stood for a few moments on the silver sandals, uttering ‘Sivoham, Soham, Satchidananda, Swarupoham’.
Then both of them left the Hall. Siva took him straight to the Ganges Ghat and initiated him into the holy order of Sanyasa.
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