Inspiring Talks of Gurudev Sivananda
5th October, 1949
TO YOUNG WIDOWS
Srimathi X, a young North Indian lady who had recently lost her husband in tragic circumstances, has come to Ananda Kutir for a brief stay in the belief and conviction that Siva’s Darshan and Upadesh will remove her grief. She is a highly educated young lady, with advanced views on social matters. Yet, she has to observe Purdah imposed upon her by family tradition.
Siva spoke to her as follows:
‘You are an intelligent lady. The purpose of intelligence is proper discrimination. Try to discriminate between the Real and the unreal. Then, study Gita, especially the second chapter. You will clearly see that the physical love that you had towards the physical form of your husband was misplaced and had to come to an end one day or the other. But if you love him in spirit, if you have spiritual communion with him, if you feel that your Self and his are one and the same, this love will be enduring, and the bliss that you obtain from it also will be ever-lasting. Then, you realise that he has only changed his costume and taken a new suit. You will not grieve.
‘Once you have laid this foundation of a spiritual understanding truly and well, the rest of the work will be easy. You have to keep yourself busy in humanitarian work, in selfless service of humanity with Atma-Bhav. Keep your body and mind constantly engaged in noble, divine and humanitarian service: this is the best way to ensure peace of mind and to remove grief.
‘Study Bhagavatam. You will find that the Lord has Himself stated there that He removes the pleasure-centres of Jivas when He chooses to shower His grace and blessings on the devotee. The mind will refuse to believe that what is generally considered a calamity is in fact a great blessing. The calamity shatters your belief in the permanence of things of the world: it points out clearly that everything here is fleeting and transitory. And, the calamity eventually turns your mind Godward—which, in turn, bestows peace and happiness on you. By diligent study of the Gita and other scriptures, and by proper discrimination, however, it is possible to bring your mind to believe in the existence of the Eternal Atman, and in the fact that all that happens here has the grace of the Lord behind it and so happens for your own good.’
‘Therefore, plunge yourself in selfless service. Conduct common meditation classes. Organise Gita study circles amongst the people of your locality. Spread the glory of the name of the Lord.’
‘But, Swamiji, even against my will, I have to observe Purdah. My family people will not allow me to move about freely. It was with great difficulty, and in the teeth of heavy opposition, that I could get through the B.A.’
‘Well, even that need not worry you. Do what you can do within the limitations imposed by external circumstances.
Gather together a few girls of your locality and educate them, mould their character, and divinise them. Teach them Gita, Ramayan, etc. Make a beginning thus. When the Lord knows that your heart yearns to expand and to render selfless service of a divine nature to all humanity, He will Himself provide you with golden opportunities.
‘Above all, be brave. Be cheerful. Develop the faculty of discrimination. Study and keep yourself absolutely busy, training your children properly. Give them a spiritual turn of mind from the very beginning of their career. God will help you and guide you on your onward march.’
6th October, 1949
MEET BANERJI OF KALIBARI
Judge Gauri Prasadji, Swami Chidanandaji, Swami Omkaranandaji and myself were leaving for Dehra Dun this morning.
Siva was on his way back to the Kutir from the morning class. We took leave of him and were about to get into the tonga. Siva then mentioned casually:
‘There is one Banerji of Kalibari. I was in that Kali Mandir for some days and performed Kirtan also. Do meet him and conduct Kirtan there. He is a very nice man.’
And, we left the Ashram.
As we entered the Rishikesh railway station, we were greeted by Sri Mamraj Singh of the Tehri Government. And he joined our party, as he, too, was going to Dehra Dun.
We reached Dehra Dun.
M. Judge Saheb and Omkarji left immediately for the Court. At the Court, Judge Saheb could not find his own advocate-friends. Casually, M. took G.P. to an advocate whom the former had known, and everything was fixed up.
In the evening, G.P took Swami C. and myself to see the Advocate. We met the young man, talked the matter over with him for over half an hour. His face clearly indicated that he was at the point of bursting forth with joy and with something that he wanted to say. At last he said it: ‘I know Swamiji Maharaj.’ We were surprised. ‘I saw him when he was in the Satyasevashram at Lakshmanjhula. I was a young lad then.’ His name, which we had casually heard of, assumed a new meaning for us. Instantly we shouted: ‘Are you the Banerji of Kalibari?’ He calmly said:
‘Yes.’
Now we could connect up everything that had happened since this morning. How well Siva arranges every event in proper sequence. How miraculously his hidden hand guides us.
Mamrajji, whom we never expected, accompanied us to Dehra Dun. Why? In order to introduce us to the man whom Siva wanted us to meet. The two Advocates that Judge Saheb wanted to meet were not in the Court. Why? Because, we were to meet the man whom Siva wanted us to meet.
The subject of the conversation then centred entirely on Siva and Benerji’s meeting with him, twenty years ago.
‘How hard he used to work,’ B. continued. ‘Seva for him was second-nature. Seva was his great Yoga. Seva was the Open Sesame of the Door to Liberation. Subsisting on the meagre Kshetra rations, he used to serve, serve and serve throughout the day. I met him along with my brother and family. During the course of the conversation we had with him, he asked me not to marry. I am now over forty, and I am still a bachelor and hope, by his blessings, to continue to be so. So strong was the impression created by his commands.’
We had Kirtan that night in the Kali Bari of the Kali temple.
12th October, 1949
COLINS TURNBULL
Yet another student from the West—Colins Turnbull—has come to the Ashram to drink deep from the fountain of Light.
After the night Satsang, Siva turned to C.T. and said: ‘Learn Sanskrit. Study the first and second books of Bhandarkar. They will give you enough knowledge of the language to enable you to read the Vedantic texts in their original and appreciate their grandeur. You can do it in six months.’
‘Yes, Swamiji. I have already begun learning Sanskrit.’
T. is leaving tomorrow and told Siva so.
‘Come again. Come here whenever you want to take rest. This is your own home. From Banaras you can come here and spend your holidays here. Even from Scotland you can fly to Rishikesh for a period of rest and meditation.’
As we were walking down the Bhajan Hall, Siva said: ‘All the leaders in the West should learn philosophy. Even if they acquire a theoretical knowledge of philosophy, that will be sufficient to impel them to put into practice at least a little of it. That itself will enable them to give the proper lead to the people and to govern their countries properly.’ After a moment’s pause, he resumed: ‘Philosophy must be made a subject of compulsory study in the schools. Only that can solve the problem. But, what an irony of fate. Whereas, India ought to have given the lead in this respect and by example inspired the western universities to introduce philosophy as a compulsory subject, she has herself banned the teaching of philosophy in her schools.’
16th October, 1949
RECIPE FOR PEACE OF MIND
Sri R., an officer of the Government of India, has come. He wears a worried look. A look at him will suffice to show that his mind is greatly perturbed.
Siva greeted him and made him sit. He found out the trouble that afflicted the visitor.
‘I come from….’ began R.
‘Please have your bath in the Ganges,’ interrupted Siva, unwilling to let R. remind himself of his mental condition while he is in the Abode of Bliss. ‘Then, kindly go up the hill. There is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Viswanath. Chant Rudram there. Recite Stotras, also. Then go to the Bhajan Hall where the Akhanda Maha Mantra Kirtan is going on for the last five years. Do Kirtan for an hour. By that time, food will be ready.’
R. was amazed at the programme that Siva had chalked out for him. Without another word, he left the Hall.
In the afternoon, R. met Siva in the office. He was a thoroughly changed person now. He was cheerful and in a very happy mood. As he came into the office, some Ashramites were taking Roneo-copies of the Forest University Weekly.
R. took part in the work. When Siva came, he prostrated at his feet.
‘Swamiji, this is really Ananda Kutir. Peace and Bliss reside here only.’ Then he related his story. His duty is to bring to books bribe-takers and corrupt officers. In the discharge of his duty, however, he has to proceed against high officials. They dislike him. They make it impossible for him to carry on his work. They have forced him to go on leave. And, his conscience does not allow him to countenance dishonesty.
Siva told him: ‘Lay your burden on His shoulders. He will help you. Be honest. Be truthful. If you feel that you cannot carry on due to unfavourable circumstances, resign. Take it as God’s hint that you are to evolve rapidly in the spiritual path and that He intends you to do something worthier than toil in a Government office. Dedicate yourself to some spiritual institution. Through the institution, serve humanity. You will attain Moksha.’
19th October, 1949
COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND CALCULATING BRAIN
An official of the Government of India, and another from the Bihar Government, were having an interview with Siva.
The Govt. of India man wanted to know the essence of Vedanta and Siva’s method of attaining cosmic consciousness.
Siva said:
‘Infinite expansion of consciousness is the goal of Vedanta. ‘Aham Brahma Asmi. I am the infinite Brahman—Bhuma.
Besides me, nothing else exists. I am the Soul of everything that exists’. The actual realisation of this great truth is the goal of Vedanta.
‘Mere study of texts dealing with Vedanta will not do. We must introspect and find out the draw-backs in us. A man will come to the Ashram and will stay here for three days. At the end of his stay, he will calculate thus: 4 as per meal, 6 meals come to 1.8. Tea and milk will cost me 1.8. And, then boldly come forward with a donation of Rs. 3!
The very same man will not hesitate to spend 200 rupees on the purchase of a single saree to his daughter-in-law.
‘That is ‘my’ daughter-in-law; this is ‘an’ Ashram. I should not spend on something which is ‘mine’ but not on something which is other than ‘mine’.’ So long as this attitude is there, how can cosmic consciousness dawn in him?
Practical realisation of Vedantic truths is possible only if you give up all this petty-mindedness. Give your all to some good institution. Renounce. Renounce. Renounce. Give. Give. And give. Then and then alone will your eyes be opened, and then alone will you have cosmic consciousness or Brahma-Jnana.’
Surely, one who lives with Siva—even for a few days—moves closely with him, watches every movement, every action of his closely and with inquisitive vision—he will not need a word from Siva’s lips, for Siva is a living commentary on the bold utterance of the Upanishadic seers. His very life and every-day actions will provide one with ample illustration of what those sages must have meant when they uttered those great truths.
And when Siva talks on Vedanta, he always gives it a practical turn. He has no patience for polemics.
HOW TO SERVE THE SICK?
‘Oh Madi Swamiji, did you take the temperature of Balammal in the evening?’ Siva asked, as he was coming out of the Bhajan Hall after the night Satsang.
‘I did not go there in the evening, Swamiji.’
At once Siva went to the patient’s room. And, he would not leave the place until every minute detail in connection with the patient’s requirements had been attended to.
Siva, then, said: ‘Put yourself in the patient’s place. That is the best way to ensure attention to the minutest details. If you consider that you are the doctor, you will neglect some things. Even if you consider yourself a nurse, you will miss or forget some things. Think for a moment that you yourself are the patient. What are the things you will need? See that all those things are available to the patient. You must enter into the patient’s spirit. That is real service.
‘There must be a bed-pan. This is most important, especially in the case of aged patients like this lady. There should be light, matches, water in a bucket and a tumbler. All these things should be neatly arranged in the room so that the patient can reach out to them without much difficulty. You should pay particular attention to the arrangement of the bed. Even the slightest carelessness in this regard will deprive the patient of nature’s most powerful remedy—sleep. Haphazard making of the bed will not do. What might be a mild discomfort to a healthy man will be unbearable horror to a sick man. Bear this always in mind.
‘Viswanathan and Ramakrishnan are training themselves in service. They have willingness to learn. They have eagerness to serve. You should not lose one opportunity of service. Then and then alone will this selfless service become a part of you.’
‘Lord Dattatreya says in the very first Sloka of the Avadhuta Gita that Adwaitic realisation is impossible for one unless there is God’s grace. God’s grace can be obtained only through sincere, untiring selfless service and Upasana. Service of the sick is the greatest form of selfless service, which will at once clean the heart and invoke God’s grace into it.’
24th October, 1949
THE LESSON WOMAN NEEDS MOST
Three Siamese girl-students of Banaras University have come to the Ashram to stay for a couple of days and learn what they could of Siva and his philosophy. Siva entertained them nicely on their arrival; gave them several books with his autographed blessings. And after they had listened to the Gramophone records of Siva’s Kirtans, had them taken round the Ashram. They were shown the Yoga Museum also.
In the course of their conversation with Siva, he told them: ‘The impact of Western civilisation on Eastern culture has had the baneful result of making the Eastern men and women worship their body instead of the soul. This is especially true of the ladies. They spend all their time in beautifying their body. In spite of all the beauty-aids, no one will be able to prevent old age and death. In a moment all this physical beauty will vanish. Feel and realise that real beauty is in the Soul or the Atman alone. All other beauties are evanescent. Therefore, do not attach much importance to them. Meditate on the Atma, the Beauty of beauties. This Atma is imperishable. Therefore, the attention that you bestow on It will be really worthwhile. The Atma never ages; It never dies. Realise this Truth. Then, and then alone, have you learned to beautify yourself really and truly.’
FOOD AND THE EATER ARE ONE
During the night Satsang, a South Indian devotee recited a Mantra from the Sama Veda: ‘Aham Annam, Aham Annadah’. After he had concluded, Siva explained the significance, in a few words, especially for the benefit of the Siamese visitors.
The Vedic seer has, at a moment of Cosmic Consciousness, ecstatically sung: ‘Oh I am the food. I am the eater of the food.’ This only goes to prove that in reality the objects and their enjoyer within are one and the same, and that the duality and plurality that are perceived through the senses are false and illusory.
‘Once this truth is recognised, and one comes to feel the oneness of the objects and the enjoyer, then desire for objective enjoyment will vanish. True Vairagya will dawn in man. He will yearn to perceive and realise that Seer within, that Enjoyer within Who Himself is All. When desires have vanished and Para Vairagya dawns in man, he soon crosses beyond Maya and Samsara and attains Nirvana very soon.’
OM MANI PADME HUM
Such is the catholicity of Siva and his consideration for the views and feelings of others, that today, at the end of his Kirtans and Bhajans (in the course of which he had chosen to include many of his songs and poems on Vairagya and Vedanta) he included along with his Maha Mantra Kirtan, the Buddhistic Mantra, also (in the same tune)….
Om Mani Padme Hum, Mani Padme Hum,
Mani Padma Hum, Mani Padme Hum
25th October, 1949
ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS
Sri Swami X’s eagerness for the Parivrajak life brought forth the following Upadesha from the lips of Siva:
‘An occasional spell of Parivrajak life is no doubt very good as a measure of discipline. If you are vigilant, you will be able to learn many good lessons during the wanderings, and you will be able to cultivate perfect and unconditional self-surrender to the Will of the Lord.
‘But the present-day world is not suitable for a Sanyasin taking forever to the Parivrajak life. In days of yore, Paramahamsas who had had Atma Sakshatkara wandered about fearlessly: their bodily needs were attended to by the householders, and they, in their turn, blessed the householders, gave them spiritual instruction, and thus carried out the Will of the Lord and preserved Dharma. Such Self-realised Parivrakjakas are rare nowadays. The people, too, have lost the reverence which their ancestors had towards Sanyasins. Therefore, such Parivrajaka life nowadays is fraught with dangers and temptations.’
‘You cannot practise much Sadhana during your Parivrajaka life. Morning till evening you will be concerned about yourself. Walking and walking will make you tired, and the rest of the time you will only worry about your food.
You cannot do much selfless service. You cannot practise much Dhyana, either. Stick to one place. Serve the humanity from there. Purify the heart through service and worship. Meditate and realise.’
WHY SIVA CAME TO RISHIKESH?
‘When I came away from Malaya and took to the wandering life, I was soon tired of it. I wanted seclusion and meditation, which were hard to get during the wandering life. I wanted books for study. I found out that these three things were essential for a Sadhu if he was to carry on his spiritual practices—service, Bhajan, and meditation—uninterruptedly, viz., food, medical care and library. I went to many places on the way. But none of them satisfied me till I reached Rishikesh—where I found all the three, besides a most wonderful and delightful place for Dhyan. When you find such a place, always stick to it and never move from there. Find out every opportunity of serving humanity. Watch, watch, and watch. Serve, and then do Bhajan; then, serve again; then, meditation. Go on rotating these three. You will have rapid spiritual progress.’
27th October, 1949
SADHU ELEMENT vs. BABU ELEMENT
Sri S. and Sri J. have left the Ashram. Another Ashramite had also been instigated by Sri J. to leave the Ashram, but had a miraculous escape as he had to go to Dehra Dun on the appointed day. When the matter was brought to Siva’s notice by this Ashramite, with the request that he, too, might be allowed to follow them for a short while, to help them settle down somewhere, Siva gave us the following Upadesha:
‘I thought that Sri J. was a quiet worker and efficient. He appeared to be very good, simple and humble. But now, he has proved that his inside was filled with venom. It was God’s grace that has saved you. He has not only ruined himself, but has done a great disservice to Sri S. and the Ashram, too, by enticing Sri S. also away.
‘Only people with good, spiritual Samskaras will stay here. Others will go away. You will not find a place like this anywhere else in the world. You have all conveniences here plus Ganges, Himalayas and seclusion. A good library, a dispensary, temple, Bhajan Hall, food and clothing—everything you have here. You have splendid opportunities of serving humanity. Identify yourself heart and soul with the institution. Make it your own. If they have gone, do not bother yourself now. What have you to do with them? If they have been courageous enough to go away, they will have the capacity to settle themselves down. You need not run after them. Why, I am here and your own institution is here, which serves humanity. Why not help it instead of trying to help runaways?
‘God knows who are to stay here. He is the Antaryamin. People like Sri S. and J. may be good workers, but they do not have spiritual Samskaras. They have not got the Sadhu element.
‘You may be a very good worker. You may be a brilliant scholar. You may be able to recite the Gita, Upanishads and Brahma Sutras from end to the beginning. You may be an expert in Hatha Yogic Kriyas. All these are no good if you do not possess the Sadhu-element. What is the use of study, meditation, and bead-rolling? What is the use of standing upside down for three hours? Remember this point very well: if you do not have the Sadhu-element, you are a failure as a Sanyasin.
‘The Sadhu-element is a peculiar mixture of various noble qualities. It is an indescribable something which you will recognise at once when you see the man who has it. It is comprised of humility, fortitude, forbearance, forgiveness, tranquillity, spirit of service, adaptability, cheerful surrender to the will of the Lord, freedom from anger, lust and greed, and complete absence of the complaining spirit. One who has the Sadhu-element in him will be ever joyful and he will take everything calmly—‘Everything is God’s grace’. He will have no occasion to complain.
‘The Babu-element on the other hand will have nothing but complaint. If there is a little less sugar in the tea one day, if tea is given late one day, he will fly into a rage. He will be a cut-throat. His heart will be full of hatred, jealousy, greed and lust. He always hankers after power and prestige. He is fond of back-biting, scandal-mongering, plotting and diplomacy. He has a vigorous scheming brain. He is selfish, selfish and selfish to the very core of his being. When you move with him for a couple of days, you will at once know his nature: beware of such people.
‘All your Sadhana should be directed towards the development of the Sadhu-element in you, and the eradication of the Babu-element. You may be an illiterate man, unable even to talk a few words: but, if you have the Sadhu-element preponderant in you, you are a sage!’
We were all thankful to Sri J. who was instrumental in providing us with this rarest treat from Siva’s lips.
5th October, 1949
TO YOUNG WIDOWS
Srimathi X, a young North Indian lady who had recently lost her husband in tragic circumstances, has come to Ananda Kutir for a brief stay in the belief and conviction that Siva’s Darshan and Upadesh will remove her grief. She is a highly educated young lady, with advanced views on social matters. Yet, she has to observe Purdah imposed upon her by family tradition.
Siva spoke to her as follows:
‘You are an intelligent lady. The purpose of intelligence is proper discrimination. Try to discriminate between the Real and the unreal. Then, study Gita, especially the second chapter. You will clearly see that the physical love that you had towards the physical form of your husband was misplaced and had to come to an end one day or the other. But if you love him in spirit, if you have spiritual communion with him, if you feel that your Self and his are one and the same, this love will be enduring, and the bliss that you obtain from it also will be ever-lasting. Then, you realise that he has only changed his costume and taken a new suit. You will not grieve.
‘Once you have laid this foundation of a spiritual understanding truly and well, the rest of the work will be easy. You have to keep yourself busy in humanitarian work, in selfless service of humanity with Atma-Bhav. Keep your body and mind constantly engaged in noble, divine and humanitarian service: this is the best way to ensure peace of mind and to remove grief.
‘Study Bhagavatam. You will find that the Lord has Himself stated there that He removes the pleasure-centres of Jivas when He chooses to shower His grace and blessings on the devotee. The mind will refuse to believe that what is generally considered a calamity is in fact a great blessing. The calamity shatters your belief in the permanence of things of the world: it points out clearly that everything here is fleeting and transitory. And, the calamity eventually turns your mind Godward—which, in turn, bestows peace and happiness on you. By diligent study of the Gita and other scriptures, and by proper discrimination, however, it is possible to bring your mind to believe in the existence of the Eternal Atman, and in the fact that all that happens here has the grace of the Lord behind it and so happens for your own good.’
‘Therefore, plunge yourself in selfless service. Conduct common meditation classes. Organise Gita study circles amongst the people of your locality. Spread the glory of the name of the Lord.’
‘But, Swamiji, even against my will, I have to observe Purdah. My family people will not allow me to move about freely. It was with great difficulty, and in the teeth of heavy opposition, that I could get through the B.A.’
‘Well, even that need not worry you. Do what you can do within the limitations imposed by external circumstances.
Gather together a few girls of your locality and educate them, mould their character, and divinise them. Teach them Gita, Ramayan, etc. Make a beginning thus. When the Lord knows that your heart yearns to expand and to render selfless service of a divine nature to all humanity, He will Himself provide you with golden opportunities.
‘Above all, be brave. Be cheerful. Develop the faculty of discrimination. Study and keep yourself absolutely busy, training your children properly. Give them a spiritual turn of mind from the very beginning of their career. God will help you and guide you on your onward march.’
6th October, 1949
MEET BANERJI OF KALIBARI
Judge Gauri Prasadji, Swami Chidanandaji, Swami Omkaranandaji and myself were leaving for Dehra Dun this morning.
Siva was on his way back to the Kutir from the morning class. We took leave of him and were about to get into the tonga. Siva then mentioned casually:
‘There is one Banerji of Kalibari. I was in that Kali Mandir for some days and performed Kirtan also. Do meet him and conduct Kirtan there. He is a very nice man.’
And, we left the Ashram.
As we entered the Rishikesh railway station, we were greeted by Sri Mamraj Singh of the Tehri Government. And he joined our party, as he, too, was going to Dehra Dun.
We reached Dehra Dun.
M. Judge Saheb and Omkarji left immediately for the Court. At the Court, Judge Saheb could not find his own advocate-friends. Casually, M. took G.P. to an advocate whom the former had known, and everything was fixed up.
In the evening, G.P took Swami C. and myself to see the Advocate. We met the young man, talked the matter over with him for over half an hour. His face clearly indicated that he was at the point of bursting forth with joy and with something that he wanted to say. At last he said it: ‘I know Swamiji Maharaj.’ We were surprised. ‘I saw him when he was in the Satyasevashram at Lakshmanjhula. I was a young lad then.’ His name, which we had casually heard of, assumed a new meaning for us. Instantly we shouted: ‘Are you the Banerji of Kalibari?’ He calmly said:
‘Yes.’
Now we could connect up everything that had happened since this morning. How well Siva arranges every event in proper sequence. How miraculously his hidden hand guides us.
Mamrajji, whom we never expected, accompanied us to Dehra Dun. Why? In order to introduce us to the man whom Siva wanted us to meet. The two Advocates that Judge Saheb wanted to meet were not in the Court. Why? Because, we were to meet the man whom Siva wanted us to meet.
The subject of the conversation then centred entirely on Siva and Benerji’s meeting with him, twenty years ago.
‘How hard he used to work,’ B. continued. ‘Seva for him was second-nature. Seva was his great Yoga. Seva was the Open Sesame of the Door to Liberation. Subsisting on the meagre Kshetra rations, he used to serve, serve and serve throughout the day. I met him along with my brother and family. During the course of the conversation we had with him, he asked me not to marry. I am now over forty, and I am still a bachelor and hope, by his blessings, to continue to be so. So strong was the impression created by his commands.’
We had Kirtan that night in the Kali Bari of the Kali temple.
12th October, 1949
COLINS TURNBULL
Yet another student from the West—Colins Turnbull—has come to the Ashram to drink deep from the fountain of Light.
After the night Satsang, Siva turned to C.T. and said: ‘Learn Sanskrit. Study the first and second books of Bhandarkar. They will give you enough knowledge of the language to enable you to read the Vedantic texts in their original and appreciate their grandeur. You can do it in six months.’
‘Yes, Swamiji. I have already begun learning Sanskrit.’
T. is leaving tomorrow and told Siva so.
‘Come again. Come here whenever you want to take rest. This is your own home. From Banaras you can come here and spend your holidays here. Even from Scotland you can fly to Rishikesh for a period of rest and meditation.’
As we were walking down the Bhajan Hall, Siva said: ‘All the leaders in the West should learn philosophy. Even if they acquire a theoretical knowledge of philosophy, that will be sufficient to impel them to put into practice at least a little of it. That itself will enable them to give the proper lead to the people and to govern their countries properly.’ After a moment’s pause, he resumed: ‘Philosophy must be made a subject of compulsory study in the schools. Only that can solve the problem. But, what an irony of fate. Whereas, India ought to have given the lead in this respect and by example inspired the western universities to introduce philosophy as a compulsory subject, she has herself banned the teaching of philosophy in her schools.’
16th October, 1949
RECIPE FOR PEACE OF MIND
Sri R., an officer of the Government of India, has come. He wears a worried look. A look at him will suffice to show that his mind is greatly perturbed.
Siva greeted him and made him sit. He found out the trouble that afflicted the visitor.
‘I come from….’ began R.
‘Please have your bath in the Ganges,’ interrupted Siva, unwilling to let R. remind himself of his mental condition while he is in the Abode of Bliss. ‘Then, kindly go up the hill. There is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Viswanath. Chant Rudram there. Recite Stotras, also. Then go to the Bhajan Hall where the Akhanda Maha Mantra Kirtan is going on for the last five years. Do Kirtan for an hour. By that time, food will be ready.’
R. was amazed at the programme that Siva had chalked out for him. Without another word, he left the Hall.
In the afternoon, R. met Siva in the office. He was a thoroughly changed person now. He was cheerful and in a very happy mood. As he came into the office, some Ashramites were taking Roneo-copies of the Forest University Weekly.
R. took part in the work. When Siva came, he prostrated at his feet.
‘Swamiji, this is really Ananda Kutir. Peace and Bliss reside here only.’ Then he related his story. His duty is to bring to books bribe-takers and corrupt officers. In the discharge of his duty, however, he has to proceed against high officials. They dislike him. They make it impossible for him to carry on his work. They have forced him to go on leave. And, his conscience does not allow him to countenance dishonesty.
Siva told him: ‘Lay your burden on His shoulders. He will help you. Be honest. Be truthful. If you feel that you cannot carry on due to unfavourable circumstances, resign. Take it as God’s hint that you are to evolve rapidly in the spiritual path and that He intends you to do something worthier than toil in a Government office. Dedicate yourself to some spiritual institution. Through the institution, serve humanity. You will attain Moksha.’
19th October, 1949
COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND CALCULATING BRAIN
An official of the Government of India, and another from the Bihar Government, were having an interview with Siva.
The Govt. of India man wanted to know the essence of Vedanta and Siva’s method of attaining cosmic consciousness.
Siva said:
‘Infinite expansion of consciousness is the goal of Vedanta. ‘Aham Brahma Asmi. I am the infinite Brahman—Bhuma.
Besides me, nothing else exists. I am the Soul of everything that exists’. The actual realisation of this great truth is the goal of Vedanta.
‘Mere study of texts dealing with Vedanta will not do. We must introspect and find out the draw-backs in us. A man will come to the Ashram and will stay here for three days. At the end of his stay, he will calculate thus: 4 as per meal, 6 meals come to 1.8. Tea and milk will cost me 1.8. And, then boldly come forward with a donation of Rs. 3!
The very same man will not hesitate to spend 200 rupees on the purchase of a single saree to his daughter-in-law.
‘That is ‘my’ daughter-in-law; this is ‘an’ Ashram. I should not spend on something which is ‘mine’ but not on something which is other than ‘mine’.’ So long as this attitude is there, how can cosmic consciousness dawn in him?
Practical realisation of Vedantic truths is possible only if you give up all this petty-mindedness. Give your all to some good institution. Renounce. Renounce. Renounce. Give. Give. And give. Then and then alone will your eyes be opened, and then alone will you have cosmic consciousness or Brahma-Jnana.’
Surely, one who lives with Siva—even for a few days—moves closely with him, watches every movement, every action of his closely and with inquisitive vision—he will not need a word from Siva’s lips, for Siva is a living commentary on the bold utterance of the Upanishadic seers. His very life and every-day actions will provide one with ample illustration of what those sages must have meant when they uttered those great truths.
And when Siva talks on Vedanta, he always gives it a practical turn. He has no patience for polemics.
HOW TO SERVE THE SICK?
‘Oh Madi Swamiji, did you take the temperature of Balammal in the evening?’ Siva asked, as he was coming out of the Bhajan Hall after the night Satsang.
‘I did not go there in the evening, Swamiji.’
At once Siva went to the patient’s room. And, he would not leave the place until every minute detail in connection with the patient’s requirements had been attended to.
Siva, then, said: ‘Put yourself in the patient’s place. That is the best way to ensure attention to the minutest details. If you consider that you are the doctor, you will neglect some things. Even if you consider yourself a nurse, you will miss or forget some things. Think for a moment that you yourself are the patient. What are the things you will need? See that all those things are available to the patient. You must enter into the patient’s spirit. That is real service.
‘There must be a bed-pan. This is most important, especially in the case of aged patients like this lady. There should be light, matches, water in a bucket and a tumbler. All these things should be neatly arranged in the room so that the patient can reach out to them without much difficulty. You should pay particular attention to the arrangement of the bed. Even the slightest carelessness in this regard will deprive the patient of nature’s most powerful remedy—sleep. Haphazard making of the bed will not do. What might be a mild discomfort to a healthy man will be unbearable horror to a sick man. Bear this always in mind.
‘Viswanathan and Ramakrishnan are training themselves in service. They have willingness to learn. They have eagerness to serve. You should not lose one opportunity of service. Then and then alone will this selfless service become a part of you.’
‘Lord Dattatreya says in the very first Sloka of the Avadhuta Gita that Adwaitic realisation is impossible for one unless there is God’s grace. God’s grace can be obtained only through sincere, untiring selfless service and Upasana. Service of the sick is the greatest form of selfless service, which will at once clean the heart and invoke God’s grace into it.’
24th October, 1949
THE LESSON WOMAN NEEDS MOST
Three Siamese girl-students of Banaras University have come to the Ashram to stay for a couple of days and learn what they could of Siva and his philosophy. Siva entertained them nicely on their arrival; gave them several books with his autographed blessings. And after they had listened to the Gramophone records of Siva’s Kirtans, had them taken round the Ashram. They were shown the Yoga Museum also.
In the course of their conversation with Siva, he told them: ‘The impact of Western civilisation on Eastern culture has had the baneful result of making the Eastern men and women worship their body instead of the soul. This is especially true of the ladies. They spend all their time in beautifying their body. In spite of all the beauty-aids, no one will be able to prevent old age and death. In a moment all this physical beauty will vanish. Feel and realise that real beauty is in the Soul or the Atman alone. All other beauties are evanescent. Therefore, do not attach much importance to them. Meditate on the Atma, the Beauty of beauties. This Atma is imperishable. Therefore, the attention that you bestow on It will be really worthwhile. The Atma never ages; It never dies. Realise this Truth. Then, and then alone, have you learned to beautify yourself really and truly.’
FOOD AND THE EATER ARE ONE
During the night Satsang, a South Indian devotee recited a Mantra from the Sama Veda: ‘Aham Annam, Aham Annadah’. After he had concluded, Siva explained the significance, in a few words, especially for the benefit of the Siamese visitors.
The Vedic seer has, at a moment of Cosmic Consciousness, ecstatically sung: ‘Oh I am the food. I am the eater of the food.’ This only goes to prove that in reality the objects and their enjoyer within are one and the same, and that the duality and plurality that are perceived through the senses are false and illusory.
‘Once this truth is recognised, and one comes to feel the oneness of the objects and the enjoyer, then desire for objective enjoyment will vanish. True Vairagya will dawn in man. He will yearn to perceive and realise that Seer within, that Enjoyer within Who Himself is All. When desires have vanished and Para Vairagya dawns in man, he soon crosses beyond Maya and Samsara and attains Nirvana very soon.’
OM MANI PADME HUM
Such is the catholicity of Siva and his consideration for the views and feelings of others, that today, at the end of his Kirtans and Bhajans (in the course of which he had chosen to include many of his songs and poems on Vairagya and Vedanta) he included along with his Maha Mantra Kirtan, the Buddhistic Mantra, also (in the same tune)….
Om Mani Padme Hum, Mani Padme Hum,
Mani Padma Hum, Mani Padme Hum
25th October, 1949
ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS
Sri Swami X’s eagerness for the Parivrajak life brought forth the following Upadesha from the lips of Siva:
‘An occasional spell of Parivrajak life is no doubt very good as a measure of discipline. If you are vigilant, you will be able to learn many good lessons during the wanderings, and you will be able to cultivate perfect and unconditional self-surrender to the Will of the Lord.
‘But the present-day world is not suitable for a Sanyasin taking forever to the Parivrajak life. In days of yore, Paramahamsas who had had Atma Sakshatkara wandered about fearlessly: their bodily needs were attended to by the householders, and they, in their turn, blessed the householders, gave them spiritual instruction, and thus carried out the Will of the Lord and preserved Dharma. Such Self-realised Parivrakjakas are rare nowadays. The people, too, have lost the reverence which their ancestors had towards Sanyasins. Therefore, such Parivrajaka life nowadays is fraught with dangers and temptations.’
‘You cannot practise much Sadhana during your Parivrajaka life. Morning till evening you will be concerned about yourself. Walking and walking will make you tired, and the rest of the time you will only worry about your food.
You cannot do much selfless service. You cannot practise much Dhyana, either. Stick to one place. Serve the humanity from there. Purify the heart through service and worship. Meditate and realise.’
WHY SIVA CAME TO RISHIKESH?
‘When I came away from Malaya and took to the wandering life, I was soon tired of it. I wanted seclusion and meditation, which were hard to get during the wandering life. I wanted books for study. I found out that these three things were essential for a Sadhu if he was to carry on his spiritual practices—service, Bhajan, and meditation—uninterruptedly, viz., food, medical care and library. I went to many places on the way. But none of them satisfied me till I reached Rishikesh—where I found all the three, besides a most wonderful and delightful place for Dhyan. When you find such a place, always stick to it and never move from there. Find out every opportunity of serving humanity. Watch, watch, and watch. Serve, and then do Bhajan; then, serve again; then, meditation. Go on rotating these three. You will have rapid spiritual progress.’
27th October, 1949
SADHU ELEMENT vs. BABU ELEMENT
Sri S. and Sri J. have left the Ashram. Another Ashramite had also been instigated by Sri J. to leave the Ashram, but had a miraculous escape as he had to go to Dehra Dun on the appointed day. When the matter was brought to Siva’s notice by this Ashramite, with the request that he, too, might be allowed to follow them for a short while, to help them settle down somewhere, Siva gave us the following Upadesha:
‘I thought that Sri J. was a quiet worker and efficient. He appeared to be very good, simple and humble. But now, he has proved that his inside was filled with venom. It was God’s grace that has saved you. He has not only ruined himself, but has done a great disservice to Sri S. and the Ashram, too, by enticing Sri S. also away.
‘Only people with good, spiritual Samskaras will stay here. Others will go away. You will not find a place like this anywhere else in the world. You have all conveniences here plus Ganges, Himalayas and seclusion. A good library, a dispensary, temple, Bhajan Hall, food and clothing—everything you have here. You have splendid opportunities of serving humanity. Identify yourself heart and soul with the institution. Make it your own. If they have gone, do not bother yourself now. What have you to do with them? If they have been courageous enough to go away, they will have the capacity to settle themselves down. You need not run after them. Why, I am here and your own institution is here, which serves humanity. Why not help it instead of trying to help runaways?
‘God knows who are to stay here. He is the Antaryamin. People like Sri S. and J. may be good workers, but they do not have spiritual Samskaras. They have not got the Sadhu element.
‘You may be a very good worker. You may be a brilliant scholar. You may be able to recite the Gita, Upanishads and Brahma Sutras from end to the beginning. You may be an expert in Hatha Yogic Kriyas. All these are no good if you do not possess the Sadhu-element. What is the use of study, meditation, and bead-rolling? What is the use of standing upside down for three hours? Remember this point very well: if you do not have the Sadhu-element, you are a failure as a Sanyasin.
‘The Sadhu-element is a peculiar mixture of various noble qualities. It is an indescribable something which you will recognise at once when you see the man who has it. It is comprised of humility, fortitude, forbearance, forgiveness, tranquillity, spirit of service, adaptability, cheerful surrender to the will of the Lord, freedom from anger, lust and greed, and complete absence of the complaining spirit. One who has the Sadhu-element in him will be ever joyful and he will take everything calmly—‘Everything is God’s grace’. He will have no occasion to complain.
‘The Babu-element on the other hand will have nothing but complaint. If there is a little less sugar in the tea one day, if tea is given late one day, he will fly into a rage. He will be a cut-throat. His heart will be full of hatred, jealousy, greed and lust. He always hankers after power and prestige. He is fond of back-biting, scandal-mongering, plotting and diplomacy. He has a vigorous scheming brain. He is selfish, selfish and selfish to the very core of his being. When you move with him for a couple of days, you will at once know his nature: beware of such people.
‘All your Sadhana should be directed towards the development of the Sadhu-element in you, and the eradication of the Babu-element. You may be an illiterate man, unable even to talk a few words: but, if you have the Sadhu-element preponderant in you, you are a sage!’
We were all thankful to Sri J. who was instrumental in providing us with this rarest treat from Siva’s lips.
*********************************************
No comments:
Post a Comment