Inspiring Talks of Gurudev Sivananda
29th September, 1949
SECRETS REVEALED
A newspaper cutting from one of the Burmese papers, sent by a devotee from Burma, surprised us all. It contained the report of a gala opening ceremony of a Divine Life Society’s branch at Singapore.
‘One more lively centre for Divine Life!’ commenced Siva. And, as he pushed up his spectacles above his forehead, we were ready and eager to listen to him.
‘There should be at least three people, able and energetic, to attend to the work of stirring up branches into intense activity. Regular despatches should go to the branches every month. Letters from branches should be answered promptly. Messages should be sent for the opening ceremony, anniversary, etc. Someone should keep track of the progress and inspire the branch office-bearers every now and then to greater and greater peaks of activity.
‘The institution has grown more rapidly than anyone could have anticipated. However many efficient workers come, we still find that we are short of workers and that everyone who works here is over-worked.
‘The most important thing is to keep constant track of the work that is going on, and the persons that we come into contact with. My address-book helps me in that. You see: I have put the address-book under lock and key nowadays. It is the most precious thing for me. It is the channel through which I can serve the world. I have asked Purushotthamji to take particular care of the two trunks of manuscripts in my Kutir.
Even if there is a flood and all other things in my Kutir are destroyed, I will not allow these two trunks to be destroyed. Put me in a forest a hundred miles away from here: but give me my address-book and those two trunks, I shall begin all over again and build up the institution from there.
‘In the address-book I have addresses of every sort of person—Ministers, Maharajahs, Mutts and Ashrams, Professors, Philosophers and Scientists. As soon as I get an address, my work begins. I may get the address in any manner— through letters I receive from so many people, from the corners of journals that I get, from books that we get for review or as gifts for the library. I am always watchful for addresses. And the moment I get an address, I at once enter it in the register. Now, the man is registered. At once I write a letter, send a packet of leaflets, some books also, have the address entered in the magazine register and the issues of ‘The Divine Life’ despatched to him, enter the name in the Prasad List, etc. etc. Previously, the moment I got an address, I will start a regular campaign with letters. On one day the man will receive three letters. And, for the first two weeks there will be a regular flow of divine life into his house. One day he will receive the magazine; the next day, a letter; the third day, a packet of leaflets; another day, Prasad; then, books and so on.’
OCTOBER, 1949
1st October, 1949
YOU LIVE HERE?
Sri X desired to get Mantra Diksha from Siva. He went to Siva’s Kutir on the bank of the Ganges early in the morning. Siva took him to the Ganges which flows kissing the walls of Sivas Kutir, and initiated him into the Lord’s Name. Later the new disciple was entertained by the Guru (!) to a light repast.
Siva took him round the Kutir. ‘It is a beautiful Kutir,’ explained Siva before they entered Siva’s apartments. ‘It has a splendid view of the Himalayas and the Ganges. If you sit here on the veranda or even if you are within the room, you will constantly hear the Pranava-Nada of Ganga.’
They both went in and came out in a few minutes.
‘You are living in this Kutir, Swamiji?’ the visitor asked, obviously astonished at the fact.
‘Why….it is as ill-ventilated as a prison-cell. You cannot get any light in the rooms, except at midday. They are not rooms: they are caves, and too small even for that. And, you work in that room which is not sufficient to accommodate your manuscripts and books. You cannot move in it without treading on something else. The bed-room is damp and one cannot even breathe in it. I wonder how you live in it?
‘Though I get a positive feeling of spiritual elation when I am in the room, I think I will not be able to keep body and soul together for six months if I lived in this Kutir. Why don’t you change into a better suite of rooms, Swamiji?’
‘No, no. I am all right here,’ replied Siva, the Mahatyagi and Mahatapasvi. The visitor bowed again in bewildered amusement, and left.
2nd October, 1949
SANYAS AND THE WORLD
Sri Sabha Ratnam Iyer, M.A., B.T., LL.B., of Nagpur, who came here to attend the birthday celebrations and who stayed on till Navaratri, met Siva early in the morning while the latter was coming to the office.
‘When you go back to Nagpur, consider that you are already a Sanyasin and behave as such. Be unattached to the family. Are you ready for Sanyas? Will you actually embrace Sanyasa now?’ asked Siva characteristically taking the conversation to a climax.
‘I am ready, Swamiji. But, I have a few daughters to be married. That is the only responsibility. I feel it is a great burden, Swamiji. This family hinders my wholeheartedly plunging into Nivritti Marga.’
‘The world is no hindrance. Lord Krishna assures you in the Gita that one can be a true Sanyasi and a true Tyagi even while remaining in the world of active life. Live in the family, but let not the family live in you. Let your house become an Ashram. It will be your headquarters for the present. From there you will spread the message of divine life. Take Ram Nam from Mohalla to Mohalla. Inspire everyone. Conduct common meditation. God has given you a very good voice. You can address an audience of 50,000 without a loud-speaker. Goddess Saraswati lives on your tongue. You have vast knowledge of the Puranas, the Gita, and other Sastras, too. You are a Sri Vidya Upasaka, too. Mother will surely bless you with Moksha. You have been here for some time. You know how to conduct Sadhana classes.’
‘Yes, Swamiji: I shall certainly conduct classes in Nagpur on the same lines as the classes are conducted here. Especially, I liked very much the Ram-Nama Japa Kirtan that you conducted last night. The whole Hall was filled with Ram-Nama vibrations only. Everyone felt elevated. Incidentally, I saw on your forehead the digit of the moon, too, as is to be found on the forehead of Lord Siva. I have no doubt in my mind that you are Lord Siva Himself, Swamiji.’
(Incidentally, during his lecture-tours in the Punjab, as he was doing Kirtan and dancing one night, several devotees of the place saw a brilliant aura surrounding Siva. It was clearly visible to the naked eye of the devotees. All were thrilled. Their devotion towards Siva increased, and Siva’s divine life message, too, found ready receptacles in them.)
BHIKSHU REKHA ON THE FACE
‘OM Namo Narayanaya’, Siva was at the office entrance. A few of us were just then coming out of the office on our way to the Kshetra for Bhiksha.
Though we did not mention the fact, Siva somehow knew it.
‘What about the Bhiksha programme?’
‘We are just now going, Swamiji.’
‘No, no. You need not go. Your health will suffer, and consequently the work will suffer. I see the Bhikshu-Rekha on your forehead. You need not worry now. Training or no training, you will always be prepared and capable of begging your Bhiksha.’
‘As you wish, Swamiji,’ we said and the idea dropped out of our head.
Incidentally, Siva told us a very interesting anecdote of his own life.
‘When I was coming away from Malaya, bound for Banaras, someone met me on the ship and suddenly exclaimed: ‘You have got the Bhikshu Rekha on your forehead.’ Even then he could find out that I would soon beg for alms and wander about. Soon afterwards, I reached Banaras and found that the man was right in his prediction.’
Sri Swami Chidanandaji had also joined us, then.
‘Money or no money, you must take care of your body. If you are not looking after this instrument of the Lord, then you are not worshipping Durga properly. The best worship of Durga is to maintain this body in a proper condition, to enable it to work out His Will in the best manner possible.
‘When I was at the Swarg Ashram, I never touched oil. Now, I must keep several kinds of oil. All the cells are vibrating so fast that there is intense heat in the body. When I was at the Swarg Ashram I slept on the floor. But, now I have got a nice bed, for that is essential for the work that has to be turned out. I do rough the body sometimes; and for the same of keeping up the Titiksha, I rub the body against the walls. But often, I do not have time even for that. There is work to do. Service has a great and more pressing demand on our attention. All that your body needs you must give. You have practised enough Titiksha. If you go on in the same fashion, your body will break-down; you will become useless. You must take nutritious food. You are all gigantic brain-workers. You must have barrels of fruit-juices. Now, I have got twenty bottles of various medicine: some for my diabetes, some for my stomach, etc. etc. I have got different things for cleaning the teeth—tooth-paste, tooth powder, mouth gargle, etc.
‘Nowadays we are not making any arrangement for people who would like to spend their days in exclusive meditation. Krishnanandaji, Achyutanandaji, and others like them should be at once provided with Kutirs where they can carry on their meditation in seclusion. Premanandaji should also be given a room somewhere up the hill. He is greatly overworked. He needs immediate relief and rest. Food, milk, fruits, biscuits, coffee and tea—everything that they need should automatically reach their Kutirs without their asking. We know their requirements and these should be provided.
‘Money will come; money must come. Very soon there will be crores and crores. You won’t be able even to count the money. Big Seths and Zamindars will pick up the currency notes thrown away by you. Believe me: such a time must come. You can best help that if you all work hard. Every day our work is increasing. Every day more and more people are contacted by us. The message is spreading.
‘Previously, I myself used to keep accounts. All the first account-books are in my handwriting only. In those days, I myself used to prepare the packets of leaflets and pamphlets for dispatch. Every day we used to work far into the night, tying the packets. Now there are half a dozen people for this work. Those days, if someone gave us Rs. 25 we used to sit up the whole night and prepare a pamphlet for printing. Three petromax lights were burning in the Ashram when there was hardly enough food for all the inmates, when several inmates had to take Bhiksha from the Kshetras. Paramanandaji, Narayanaswamiji,
Nijabodhaswamiji, Saswatswamiji—all of us used to work the whole night, and early next morning we would post all the packets.
‘Those days we had no accommodation either. The Dharmashala verandah was our Satsang Bhavan. One or two dilapidated Kutirs were all that we could live in. Slowly, we began to occupy the other disused rooms. It was all East India Co. business. We just got into the Kutirs and they were ours. We had then an income of about Rs. 50 a month. We had a debt of Rs. 17. When the income grew to hundreds, the debt also grew to hundreds. When the income grew to thousands, the debt-position also proportionately grew to thousands.
We should not be discouraged. He is only training us. Later on, He will shower so much money on us that we will not be able to count it.’
3rd October 1949
WHERE IS THE SCORPION?
Someone noticed a scorpion outside the office. A few visitors crowded round the insect. One wanted it to be killed: another was too compassionate to allow that and said: ‘Cut its tail and let it go.’
Siva heard this: ‘Cut whose tail? The scorpion’s? But, why don’t you cut your tongue? Man’s tongue is more poisonous than the scorpion’s tail. See, the scorpion will not sting a man unless the man places his foot on it or in some way, intentionally or unintentionally, tries to harm it. But look at man himself. Without any provocation whatsoever, he will go out of his way and abuse someone, ridicule someone, vilify someone, injure someone. Man’s tongue is much worse than the scorpion’s sting.’
Everyone was thrilled to listen to this inspired talk. And the scorpion (perhaps heaving a sigh of relief at Siva’s advocacy of its cause) went its own way.
TENNIS AND SANYASA
Winter has slowly set in, with its pleasant mornings and evenings. It is the time for games and body-building exercises. Siva and a few of us were on the terrace opposite the office hall.
Govindaswamiji was coming towards the Ashram from Rishikesh. Siva remembered at once that he was one of the badminton players of the Ashram and that we used to play during the winter.
‘Oh Govindaswamiji, it is time now to start badminton. Please arrange the court, and for the bats and balls. You are the captain.’
Then he turned towards us and said: ‘Some people imagine that Sanyasins should not play tennis. I have no such notions. Sanyas has nothing to do with what you need to keep this body the temple of the Lord, and the instrument for doing Karma Yoga. And Sanyas should not prevent you from giving, within limits, what this body needs. Previously, I used to take a long evening walk. Work has increased and this became impossible. And, even while doing the work the pressure was too great and I needed relaxation every now and then. I got a tennis ball and a racket. I used to play on the wall for a few minutes. After these few minutes, I would be ready for another spell of work. Play, exercise, practice of Asans and Pranayama—all are necessary. Even today, I do not miss my Asana and Pranayam. Sitting on the bed, I perform some exercises. Sitting on the bed, I do some simple Asans and some Pranayam also. These things keep my body fit for the work that the Lord has entrusted to me. I keep His instrument clean and healthy.
‘Titiksha and self-denial are necessary. They are the most essential parts of one’s Sadhana. Otherwise, one will be prone to commit mistakes, and one will become a luxury-lover. I have chronic lumbago. If you ask a doctor for his advice, he will forbid me from touching Ganges water. But I cannot live without bathing in the Ganges. I swim in the Ganges also. God knows my heart. Therefore, He has somehow arranged that this Ganges bath should not affect my health.
‘This lumbago trouble does not allow nowadays to serve food in the Pangat every day. But as a measure of Sadhana, and also as an exercise, I would often imagine a Pangat sitting on my verandah and begin serving them out of imaginary buckets of dhal and vegetable in my hands, bending before each diner: ‘Dhal, Bhagavan’, ‘Vegetable, Bhagavan’. Sadhana should be intelligent. You should know what you wish to achieve through Sadhana. Then alone will Sadhana be fruitful. Be sincere in your aspirations. Then God will guide you from within what you should do.’
DOG OR GOD?
Swami Yoganandaji joined the party of Sanyasins listening to Siva’s words of wisdom. Behind him ran a dog—also eager to join the group. Siva noticed the dog, and enquired: ‘Is the dog all right now?’
‘Yes, Swamiji: the wound on its neck has healed completely.’
‘Why not? Thanks to the ever-compassionate Chidanandaji, the dog received such treatment here as a Maharajah will not get at the hands of his own doctor and nurse. Every day he used to bandage it with his own hands, cleaning the wound with his own hands, unmindful of the nasty smell that the wound emitted. No one but he could have done this. To him it was not a dog, but God Himself. His is a unique example of a saint seeing the same Atman in the Brahmin, the elephant, horse, pariah and a dog, as described by Lord Krishna in the Gita. All of you should learn this wonderful method of developing the heart and cultivating the Adwaita-Bhavana. Only then is Self-realisation possible.’
Swami Yoganandaji then related how Siva himself used to do such Seva to cows, dogs and donkeys as an essential item of his Sadhana. ‘Swamiji would invariably feed the monkeys of the locality, and the dogs and the cows that would all crowd round him when he took food. Before he even sat for his dinner, he would take some food and feed the fish of the Ganges. Only then could he have his own dinner.
‘Service has ever been Swamiji’s passion in life. Swamiji would handle dangerous cases of cholera and typhoid and serve the patients day and night, remaining with them and cleaning their bed-pans with his own hands. Lepers, too, are his favourites; he takes the keenest interest in their welfare. By example and precept, he has taught us that serving every living being, without the last trace of Ghrina, hatred or ill-feeling, with heart full of love and Atma-Bhava, alone can purify the heart rapidly and make it a fit receptacle for Atma-Jnana.’
THE GLORY OF THE THIRD EYE
Next to join the group was Hari Badri Narayan, the youngster from South Africa who is now studying medicine at the Lucknow University.
‘Hariji, your lecture in the morning was wonderful. How fluently you speak both in English and in Hindi. You were too shy to speak even with friends when you came here. Now you have become an orator. As soon as you go back to Lucknow, this time you should organise the students of the Medical College and form a youth Section of the Divine Life Society. Hold Sunday classes. Teach the other boys Asans, Pranayam and physical exercises. You will be doing a great service to these boys. And, you will also be getting the training necessary for you to become a first-class propagandist when you go back to Africa. You will be able to clarify your own ideas, too.’
‘Yes, Swamiji: I shall certainly do so. With your blessings, I am sure of success.’
This young lad arrived at the Ashram in September 1947, along with Sri S.R. Padayachie of South Africa. He wanted to study medicine, but did not know what to do about it. Siva gave him shelter in his own Ashram, and then wrote letters to several professors to get him fixed up in an Indian University. And, he was able to get a seat in the Medical College at Lucknow.
Siva found out his spiritual Samskaras, at the first sight. Through his ‘third-eye’ he was able to detect that he would one day turn out to be a good preacher and so trained him in the art of speaking. Siva found out, too, that he was a good actor and gave him frequent opportunities of taking part in the dramas staged at the Ashram. What we see now with our two eyes, Siva could see long ago with this third eye.
Here is Bhat, our new inmate. He, too, took part in the Devi Mahatmya Drama. He acted wonderfully well. He is a first-class comic actor. Siva greeted him and said:
‘Bhatji, you are the director of the dramatic society here. Don’t feel shy to act in the Ashram plays. Don’t think that it is against Sadhana to act in dramas. Think of the good that you are doing to the vast multitudes of spectators when you act in a spiritual play. What a great learned man cannot do by a year’s lecturing, you can do in a minute. You can drive your lessons directly into the spectator’s heart and it will forever remain embedded there. That is the secret. The whole world is a big drama, a play kept up by the Lord Himself. You and I are already actors in this Play. We dance and sing as He makes us do. For a wise man, the world provides daily lessons. Why should you then feel shy to act a drama within this huge drama? Develop this faculty. You should hereafter organise a drama for every occasion.’
The rapidity with which Siva sees through the Third Eye the inner contents of everyone, the hidden faculties, is really amazing. The moment he perceives the hidden faculties, he will do everything to bring them out, and a genius is born.
RESPECT AND REVERENCE: THEIR SEAT
Subramaniam was coming along the road on a bicycle when he found Siva emerging from his Kutir. At once, S. alighted from the cycle, took off the towel which he had wound round the head as a turban, and adjusted his Dhoti!
Siva smiled and said: ‘All these formalities are not necessary for me. Love and respect have their seat in the heart: and you should have love and reverence for elders in your heart. That I will know! These external formalities do not have much significance for me.’
LARGE HEART ATTRACTS AND ENCHANTS
And, Siva continued: ‘You are going about in the hot sun, making purchases at Rishikesh and supervising the construction work. Do not hesitate to take all that you need. You must have a cool drink now, and half an hour later you should take a hot drink. If you feel like taking some fruits in the bazaar, do not hesitate. You need not submit any bills even. You have perfect liberty to do everything to keep your body in perfect health.’
It is this freedom that Siva gives to everyone, and it is this Heart that treats every living creature as its own self. It is this universal love and cosmic consciousness that does not exclude any living creature—that attracts and enchants. Not like the big men who, as soon as they come to power, place themselves on a high pedestal of their own construction and others on a lower level. If this great man takes the milk with almonds, he will not allow his subordinates to take even a cup of tea. He must take halwa, but his workers should be content with ground-nuts. Not so with Siva. Every worker in the Ashram is as important as his own self to him. Therefore, he treats everyone with the greatest consideration. This love, when it blossoms forth in the heart, attracts and enchants.
Incidentally, we are reminded of what Prof. Ganga Saran Seal said once. Prof. G. was a double-M.A. and a professor in Chandausi College. He was a great admirer of Siva, having known Siva during the latter’s lecture tours in the Punjab. Once he remarked: ‘Swamiji knows hypnotism. That is why thousands of people sit spell-bound, in pin-drop silence, listening to his lectures and Bhajans. Otherwise, it is impossible nowadays to command the attention of such large audiences.’ When this was brought to the notice of Siva, he merely said: ‘I have not even read a book on hypnotism.’
And, in fact, he knows nothing about hypnotism. And he does not encourage anyone to learn this art, either. Siva does not like Siddhis; and he warns his student from running after occult powers. The one and the only secret of his is the secret of the heart—the love that he has in the heart. And that attracts people to him, and enchants them.
TELEPHONES AND FLOWER-VASES
Siva has decided to spend more time in the office; his work has tremendously increased. His bag is full of letters which he has to answer. There is a huge list of people that is always on the table, to whom he should send books. He has a register, a ledger with a leaf for every devotee to whom he sends books free. As the number grew, he prepared an index of these persons. And, as the number grew further, it was a problem. This register goes on serving its purpose; but now, a consolidated list of the most important among the names in the register has been prepared and that is right in front of him on the table. On his left are the Big Address Book, the Free Issue Register and the Manuscripts Register. To the left of him, on a small table, is a rack full of leaflets and pamphlets, wrapped up copies of the magazine, packed copies of photographs—all ever-ready to leap into his hands and to pass on to the world at large. These are his telephones—the Registers that connect him to anyone he likes. And these are his flower-vases—the magazines, the leaflets and the photographs that adorn his table. And Siva has decided to spend some more time at the table, unmindful of his own personal discomfort.
CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS
And, so he emerged from his Kutir at 3 p.m. today, instead of the usual 4. He found Purushotthamanandaji’s Kutir closed and bolted from inside. Siva will not knock, nor call out to P. No. He very quietly opened the outer gate and slipped out, lest P. should be disturbed. He had to dress the wound on his left-hand, but that he postponed to 4 p.m. when P. will get up. ‘Purushotthamanandaji is taking rest. I will have it dressed when he gets up,’ said he. What consideration he shows towards those who serve him. Anyone else in his position will shout from his own Kutir for the attendant.
This happened in October 1945, when I had just joined the Ashram. We were sitting in the office and chit-chatting. I occupied the room just adjacent to the office. This room I had bolted from inside and gone over to the office. It was past noon. It was a very hot day, and so we had partially closed the office-door also. Someone else was taking rest in my room. Siva came with his usual ‘Prasad’. He found my Kutir bolted inside. He did not call out, but he quietly went to the kitchen, handed over the Prasad to someone else: ‘Give it to Parthasarathy when he wakes up. He is taking rest.’ I was stunned when later I was told of this. What love and what consideration. The chela is treated with respect and consideration that is due to the Guru. The Guru carries Prasad on his own head and goes out in the hot sun to the chela’s Kutir. And when the chela is taking rest, has the patience, tolerance and love not to disturb the young boy, but to ensure that the Prasad reaches him when he wakes up. I think no other man in the world will do that.
SECRETS REVEALED
A newspaper cutting from one of the Burmese papers, sent by a devotee from Burma, surprised us all. It contained the report of a gala opening ceremony of a Divine Life Society’s branch at Singapore.
‘One more lively centre for Divine Life!’ commenced Siva. And, as he pushed up his spectacles above his forehead, we were ready and eager to listen to him.
‘There should be at least three people, able and energetic, to attend to the work of stirring up branches into intense activity. Regular despatches should go to the branches every month. Letters from branches should be answered promptly. Messages should be sent for the opening ceremony, anniversary, etc. Someone should keep track of the progress and inspire the branch office-bearers every now and then to greater and greater peaks of activity.
‘The institution has grown more rapidly than anyone could have anticipated. However many efficient workers come, we still find that we are short of workers and that everyone who works here is over-worked.
‘The most important thing is to keep constant track of the work that is going on, and the persons that we come into contact with. My address-book helps me in that. You see: I have put the address-book under lock and key nowadays. It is the most precious thing for me. It is the channel through which I can serve the world. I have asked Purushotthamji to take particular care of the two trunks of manuscripts in my Kutir.
Even if there is a flood and all other things in my Kutir are destroyed, I will not allow these two trunks to be destroyed. Put me in a forest a hundred miles away from here: but give me my address-book and those two trunks, I shall begin all over again and build up the institution from there.
‘In the address-book I have addresses of every sort of person—Ministers, Maharajahs, Mutts and Ashrams, Professors, Philosophers and Scientists. As soon as I get an address, my work begins. I may get the address in any manner— through letters I receive from so many people, from the corners of journals that I get, from books that we get for review or as gifts for the library. I am always watchful for addresses. And the moment I get an address, I at once enter it in the register. Now, the man is registered. At once I write a letter, send a packet of leaflets, some books also, have the address entered in the magazine register and the issues of ‘The Divine Life’ despatched to him, enter the name in the Prasad List, etc. etc. Previously, the moment I got an address, I will start a regular campaign with letters. On one day the man will receive three letters. And, for the first two weeks there will be a regular flow of divine life into his house. One day he will receive the magazine; the next day, a letter; the third day, a packet of leaflets; another day, Prasad; then, books and so on.’
OCTOBER, 1949
1st October, 1949
YOU LIVE HERE?
Sri X desired to get Mantra Diksha from Siva. He went to Siva’s Kutir on the bank of the Ganges early in the morning. Siva took him to the Ganges which flows kissing the walls of Sivas Kutir, and initiated him into the Lord’s Name. Later the new disciple was entertained by the Guru (!) to a light repast.
Siva took him round the Kutir. ‘It is a beautiful Kutir,’ explained Siva before they entered Siva’s apartments. ‘It has a splendid view of the Himalayas and the Ganges. If you sit here on the veranda or even if you are within the room, you will constantly hear the Pranava-Nada of Ganga.’
They both went in and came out in a few minutes.
‘You are living in this Kutir, Swamiji?’ the visitor asked, obviously astonished at the fact.
‘Why….it is as ill-ventilated as a prison-cell. You cannot get any light in the rooms, except at midday. They are not rooms: they are caves, and too small even for that. And, you work in that room which is not sufficient to accommodate your manuscripts and books. You cannot move in it without treading on something else. The bed-room is damp and one cannot even breathe in it. I wonder how you live in it?
‘Though I get a positive feeling of spiritual elation when I am in the room, I think I will not be able to keep body and soul together for six months if I lived in this Kutir. Why don’t you change into a better suite of rooms, Swamiji?’
‘No, no. I am all right here,’ replied Siva, the Mahatyagi and Mahatapasvi. The visitor bowed again in bewildered amusement, and left.
2nd October, 1949
SANYAS AND THE WORLD
Sri Sabha Ratnam Iyer, M.A., B.T., LL.B., of Nagpur, who came here to attend the birthday celebrations and who stayed on till Navaratri, met Siva early in the morning while the latter was coming to the office.
‘When you go back to Nagpur, consider that you are already a Sanyasin and behave as such. Be unattached to the family. Are you ready for Sanyas? Will you actually embrace Sanyasa now?’ asked Siva characteristically taking the conversation to a climax.
‘I am ready, Swamiji. But, I have a few daughters to be married. That is the only responsibility. I feel it is a great burden, Swamiji. This family hinders my wholeheartedly plunging into Nivritti Marga.’
‘The world is no hindrance. Lord Krishna assures you in the Gita that one can be a true Sanyasi and a true Tyagi even while remaining in the world of active life. Live in the family, but let not the family live in you. Let your house become an Ashram. It will be your headquarters for the present. From there you will spread the message of divine life. Take Ram Nam from Mohalla to Mohalla. Inspire everyone. Conduct common meditation. God has given you a very good voice. You can address an audience of 50,000 without a loud-speaker. Goddess Saraswati lives on your tongue. You have vast knowledge of the Puranas, the Gita, and other Sastras, too. You are a Sri Vidya Upasaka, too. Mother will surely bless you with Moksha. You have been here for some time. You know how to conduct Sadhana classes.’
‘Yes, Swamiji: I shall certainly conduct classes in Nagpur on the same lines as the classes are conducted here. Especially, I liked very much the Ram-Nama Japa Kirtan that you conducted last night. The whole Hall was filled with Ram-Nama vibrations only. Everyone felt elevated. Incidentally, I saw on your forehead the digit of the moon, too, as is to be found on the forehead of Lord Siva. I have no doubt in my mind that you are Lord Siva Himself, Swamiji.’
(Incidentally, during his lecture-tours in the Punjab, as he was doing Kirtan and dancing one night, several devotees of the place saw a brilliant aura surrounding Siva. It was clearly visible to the naked eye of the devotees. All were thrilled. Their devotion towards Siva increased, and Siva’s divine life message, too, found ready receptacles in them.)
BHIKSHU REKHA ON THE FACE
‘OM Namo Narayanaya’, Siva was at the office entrance. A few of us were just then coming out of the office on our way to the Kshetra for Bhiksha.
Though we did not mention the fact, Siva somehow knew it.
‘What about the Bhiksha programme?’
‘We are just now going, Swamiji.’
‘No, no. You need not go. Your health will suffer, and consequently the work will suffer. I see the Bhikshu-Rekha on your forehead. You need not worry now. Training or no training, you will always be prepared and capable of begging your Bhiksha.’
‘As you wish, Swamiji,’ we said and the idea dropped out of our head.
Incidentally, Siva told us a very interesting anecdote of his own life.
‘When I was coming away from Malaya, bound for Banaras, someone met me on the ship and suddenly exclaimed: ‘You have got the Bhikshu Rekha on your forehead.’ Even then he could find out that I would soon beg for alms and wander about. Soon afterwards, I reached Banaras and found that the man was right in his prediction.’
Sri Swami Chidanandaji had also joined us, then.
‘Money or no money, you must take care of your body. If you are not looking after this instrument of the Lord, then you are not worshipping Durga properly. The best worship of Durga is to maintain this body in a proper condition, to enable it to work out His Will in the best manner possible.
‘When I was at the Swarg Ashram, I never touched oil. Now, I must keep several kinds of oil. All the cells are vibrating so fast that there is intense heat in the body. When I was at the Swarg Ashram I slept on the floor. But, now I have got a nice bed, for that is essential for the work that has to be turned out. I do rough the body sometimes; and for the same of keeping up the Titiksha, I rub the body against the walls. But often, I do not have time even for that. There is work to do. Service has a great and more pressing demand on our attention. All that your body needs you must give. You have practised enough Titiksha. If you go on in the same fashion, your body will break-down; you will become useless. You must take nutritious food. You are all gigantic brain-workers. You must have barrels of fruit-juices. Now, I have got twenty bottles of various medicine: some for my diabetes, some for my stomach, etc. etc. I have got different things for cleaning the teeth—tooth-paste, tooth powder, mouth gargle, etc.
‘Nowadays we are not making any arrangement for people who would like to spend their days in exclusive meditation. Krishnanandaji, Achyutanandaji, and others like them should be at once provided with Kutirs where they can carry on their meditation in seclusion. Premanandaji should also be given a room somewhere up the hill. He is greatly overworked. He needs immediate relief and rest. Food, milk, fruits, biscuits, coffee and tea—everything that they need should automatically reach their Kutirs without their asking. We know their requirements and these should be provided.
‘Money will come; money must come. Very soon there will be crores and crores. You won’t be able even to count the money. Big Seths and Zamindars will pick up the currency notes thrown away by you. Believe me: such a time must come. You can best help that if you all work hard. Every day our work is increasing. Every day more and more people are contacted by us. The message is spreading.
‘Previously, I myself used to keep accounts. All the first account-books are in my handwriting only. In those days, I myself used to prepare the packets of leaflets and pamphlets for dispatch. Every day we used to work far into the night, tying the packets. Now there are half a dozen people for this work. Those days, if someone gave us Rs. 25 we used to sit up the whole night and prepare a pamphlet for printing. Three petromax lights were burning in the Ashram when there was hardly enough food for all the inmates, when several inmates had to take Bhiksha from the Kshetras. Paramanandaji, Narayanaswamiji,
Nijabodhaswamiji, Saswatswamiji—all of us used to work the whole night, and early next morning we would post all the packets.
‘Those days we had no accommodation either. The Dharmashala verandah was our Satsang Bhavan. One or two dilapidated Kutirs were all that we could live in. Slowly, we began to occupy the other disused rooms. It was all East India Co. business. We just got into the Kutirs and they were ours. We had then an income of about Rs. 50 a month. We had a debt of Rs. 17. When the income grew to hundreds, the debt also grew to hundreds. When the income grew to thousands, the debt-position also proportionately grew to thousands.
We should not be discouraged. He is only training us. Later on, He will shower so much money on us that we will not be able to count it.’
3rd October 1949
WHERE IS THE SCORPION?
Someone noticed a scorpion outside the office. A few visitors crowded round the insect. One wanted it to be killed: another was too compassionate to allow that and said: ‘Cut its tail and let it go.’
Siva heard this: ‘Cut whose tail? The scorpion’s? But, why don’t you cut your tongue? Man’s tongue is more poisonous than the scorpion’s tail. See, the scorpion will not sting a man unless the man places his foot on it or in some way, intentionally or unintentionally, tries to harm it. But look at man himself. Without any provocation whatsoever, he will go out of his way and abuse someone, ridicule someone, vilify someone, injure someone. Man’s tongue is much worse than the scorpion’s sting.’
Everyone was thrilled to listen to this inspired talk. And the scorpion (perhaps heaving a sigh of relief at Siva’s advocacy of its cause) went its own way.
TENNIS AND SANYASA
Winter has slowly set in, with its pleasant mornings and evenings. It is the time for games and body-building exercises. Siva and a few of us were on the terrace opposite the office hall.
Govindaswamiji was coming towards the Ashram from Rishikesh. Siva remembered at once that he was one of the badminton players of the Ashram and that we used to play during the winter.
‘Oh Govindaswamiji, it is time now to start badminton. Please arrange the court, and for the bats and balls. You are the captain.’
Then he turned towards us and said: ‘Some people imagine that Sanyasins should not play tennis. I have no such notions. Sanyas has nothing to do with what you need to keep this body the temple of the Lord, and the instrument for doing Karma Yoga. And Sanyas should not prevent you from giving, within limits, what this body needs. Previously, I used to take a long evening walk. Work has increased and this became impossible. And, even while doing the work the pressure was too great and I needed relaxation every now and then. I got a tennis ball and a racket. I used to play on the wall for a few minutes. After these few minutes, I would be ready for another spell of work. Play, exercise, practice of Asans and Pranayama—all are necessary. Even today, I do not miss my Asana and Pranayam. Sitting on the bed, I perform some exercises. Sitting on the bed, I do some simple Asans and some Pranayam also. These things keep my body fit for the work that the Lord has entrusted to me. I keep His instrument clean and healthy.
‘Titiksha and self-denial are necessary. They are the most essential parts of one’s Sadhana. Otherwise, one will be prone to commit mistakes, and one will become a luxury-lover. I have chronic lumbago. If you ask a doctor for his advice, he will forbid me from touching Ganges water. But I cannot live without bathing in the Ganges. I swim in the Ganges also. God knows my heart. Therefore, He has somehow arranged that this Ganges bath should not affect my health.
‘This lumbago trouble does not allow nowadays to serve food in the Pangat every day. But as a measure of Sadhana, and also as an exercise, I would often imagine a Pangat sitting on my verandah and begin serving them out of imaginary buckets of dhal and vegetable in my hands, bending before each diner: ‘Dhal, Bhagavan’, ‘Vegetable, Bhagavan’. Sadhana should be intelligent. You should know what you wish to achieve through Sadhana. Then alone will Sadhana be fruitful. Be sincere in your aspirations. Then God will guide you from within what you should do.’
DOG OR GOD?
Swami Yoganandaji joined the party of Sanyasins listening to Siva’s words of wisdom. Behind him ran a dog—also eager to join the group. Siva noticed the dog, and enquired: ‘Is the dog all right now?’
‘Yes, Swamiji: the wound on its neck has healed completely.’
‘Why not? Thanks to the ever-compassionate Chidanandaji, the dog received such treatment here as a Maharajah will not get at the hands of his own doctor and nurse. Every day he used to bandage it with his own hands, cleaning the wound with his own hands, unmindful of the nasty smell that the wound emitted. No one but he could have done this. To him it was not a dog, but God Himself. His is a unique example of a saint seeing the same Atman in the Brahmin, the elephant, horse, pariah and a dog, as described by Lord Krishna in the Gita. All of you should learn this wonderful method of developing the heart and cultivating the Adwaita-Bhavana. Only then is Self-realisation possible.’
Swami Yoganandaji then related how Siva himself used to do such Seva to cows, dogs and donkeys as an essential item of his Sadhana. ‘Swamiji would invariably feed the monkeys of the locality, and the dogs and the cows that would all crowd round him when he took food. Before he even sat for his dinner, he would take some food and feed the fish of the Ganges. Only then could he have his own dinner.
‘Service has ever been Swamiji’s passion in life. Swamiji would handle dangerous cases of cholera and typhoid and serve the patients day and night, remaining with them and cleaning their bed-pans with his own hands. Lepers, too, are his favourites; he takes the keenest interest in their welfare. By example and precept, he has taught us that serving every living being, without the last trace of Ghrina, hatred or ill-feeling, with heart full of love and Atma-Bhava, alone can purify the heart rapidly and make it a fit receptacle for Atma-Jnana.’
THE GLORY OF THE THIRD EYE
Next to join the group was Hari Badri Narayan, the youngster from South Africa who is now studying medicine at the Lucknow University.
‘Hariji, your lecture in the morning was wonderful. How fluently you speak both in English and in Hindi. You were too shy to speak even with friends when you came here. Now you have become an orator. As soon as you go back to Lucknow, this time you should organise the students of the Medical College and form a youth Section of the Divine Life Society. Hold Sunday classes. Teach the other boys Asans, Pranayam and physical exercises. You will be doing a great service to these boys. And, you will also be getting the training necessary for you to become a first-class propagandist when you go back to Africa. You will be able to clarify your own ideas, too.’
‘Yes, Swamiji: I shall certainly do so. With your blessings, I am sure of success.’
This young lad arrived at the Ashram in September 1947, along with Sri S.R. Padayachie of South Africa. He wanted to study medicine, but did not know what to do about it. Siva gave him shelter in his own Ashram, and then wrote letters to several professors to get him fixed up in an Indian University. And, he was able to get a seat in the Medical College at Lucknow.
Siva found out his spiritual Samskaras, at the first sight. Through his ‘third-eye’ he was able to detect that he would one day turn out to be a good preacher and so trained him in the art of speaking. Siva found out, too, that he was a good actor and gave him frequent opportunities of taking part in the dramas staged at the Ashram. What we see now with our two eyes, Siva could see long ago with this third eye.
Here is Bhat, our new inmate. He, too, took part in the Devi Mahatmya Drama. He acted wonderfully well. He is a first-class comic actor. Siva greeted him and said:
‘Bhatji, you are the director of the dramatic society here. Don’t feel shy to act in the Ashram plays. Don’t think that it is against Sadhana to act in dramas. Think of the good that you are doing to the vast multitudes of spectators when you act in a spiritual play. What a great learned man cannot do by a year’s lecturing, you can do in a minute. You can drive your lessons directly into the spectator’s heart and it will forever remain embedded there. That is the secret. The whole world is a big drama, a play kept up by the Lord Himself. You and I are already actors in this Play. We dance and sing as He makes us do. For a wise man, the world provides daily lessons. Why should you then feel shy to act a drama within this huge drama? Develop this faculty. You should hereafter organise a drama for every occasion.’
The rapidity with which Siva sees through the Third Eye the inner contents of everyone, the hidden faculties, is really amazing. The moment he perceives the hidden faculties, he will do everything to bring them out, and a genius is born.
RESPECT AND REVERENCE: THEIR SEAT
Subramaniam was coming along the road on a bicycle when he found Siva emerging from his Kutir. At once, S. alighted from the cycle, took off the towel which he had wound round the head as a turban, and adjusted his Dhoti!
Siva smiled and said: ‘All these formalities are not necessary for me. Love and respect have their seat in the heart: and you should have love and reverence for elders in your heart. That I will know! These external formalities do not have much significance for me.’
LARGE HEART ATTRACTS AND ENCHANTS
And, Siva continued: ‘You are going about in the hot sun, making purchases at Rishikesh and supervising the construction work. Do not hesitate to take all that you need. You must have a cool drink now, and half an hour later you should take a hot drink. If you feel like taking some fruits in the bazaar, do not hesitate. You need not submit any bills even. You have perfect liberty to do everything to keep your body in perfect health.’
It is this freedom that Siva gives to everyone, and it is this Heart that treats every living creature as its own self. It is this universal love and cosmic consciousness that does not exclude any living creature—that attracts and enchants. Not like the big men who, as soon as they come to power, place themselves on a high pedestal of their own construction and others on a lower level. If this great man takes the milk with almonds, he will not allow his subordinates to take even a cup of tea. He must take halwa, but his workers should be content with ground-nuts. Not so with Siva. Every worker in the Ashram is as important as his own self to him. Therefore, he treats everyone with the greatest consideration. This love, when it blossoms forth in the heart, attracts and enchants.
Incidentally, we are reminded of what Prof. Ganga Saran Seal said once. Prof. G. was a double-M.A. and a professor in Chandausi College. He was a great admirer of Siva, having known Siva during the latter’s lecture tours in the Punjab. Once he remarked: ‘Swamiji knows hypnotism. That is why thousands of people sit spell-bound, in pin-drop silence, listening to his lectures and Bhajans. Otherwise, it is impossible nowadays to command the attention of such large audiences.’ When this was brought to the notice of Siva, he merely said: ‘I have not even read a book on hypnotism.’
And, in fact, he knows nothing about hypnotism. And he does not encourage anyone to learn this art, either. Siva does not like Siddhis; and he warns his student from running after occult powers. The one and the only secret of his is the secret of the heart—the love that he has in the heart. And that attracts people to him, and enchants them.
TELEPHONES AND FLOWER-VASES
Siva has decided to spend more time in the office; his work has tremendously increased. His bag is full of letters which he has to answer. There is a huge list of people that is always on the table, to whom he should send books. He has a register, a ledger with a leaf for every devotee to whom he sends books free. As the number grew, he prepared an index of these persons. And, as the number grew further, it was a problem. This register goes on serving its purpose; but now, a consolidated list of the most important among the names in the register has been prepared and that is right in front of him on the table. On his left are the Big Address Book, the Free Issue Register and the Manuscripts Register. To the left of him, on a small table, is a rack full of leaflets and pamphlets, wrapped up copies of the magazine, packed copies of photographs—all ever-ready to leap into his hands and to pass on to the world at large. These are his telephones—the Registers that connect him to anyone he likes. And these are his flower-vases—the magazines, the leaflets and the photographs that adorn his table. And Siva has decided to spend some more time at the table, unmindful of his own personal discomfort.
CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS
And, so he emerged from his Kutir at 3 p.m. today, instead of the usual 4. He found Purushotthamanandaji’s Kutir closed and bolted from inside. Siva will not knock, nor call out to P. No. He very quietly opened the outer gate and slipped out, lest P. should be disturbed. He had to dress the wound on his left-hand, but that he postponed to 4 p.m. when P. will get up. ‘Purushotthamanandaji is taking rest. I will have it dressed when he gets up,’ said he. What consideration he shows towards those who serve him. Anyone else in his position will shout from his own Kutir for the attendant.
This happened in October 1945, when I had just joined the Ashram. We were sitting in the office and chit-chatting. I occupied the room just adjacent to the office. This room I had bolted from inside and gone over to the office. It was past noon. It was a very hot day, and so we had partially closed the office-door also. Someone else was taking rest in my room. Siva came with his usual ‘Prasad’. He found my Kutir bolted inside. He did not call out, but he quietly went to the kitchen, handed over the Prasad to someone else: ‘Give it to Parthasarathy when he wakes up. He is taking rest.’ I was stunned when later I was told of this. What love and what consideration. The chela is treated with respect and consideration that is due to the Guru. The Guru carries Prasad on his own head and goes out in the hot sun to the chela’s Kutir. And when the chela is taking rest, has the patience, tolerance and love not to disturb the young boy, but to ensure that the Prasad reaches him when he wakes up. I think no other man in the world will do that.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
No comments:
Post a Comment