Reminiscences

Bapusaheb Sathaye's fondness for his son Rajabhau was boundless, for Rajabhau was an only child, a weak­ling, of a delicate constitution, from his childhood. Later, when ShriMaharaj went on a pilgrimage to Kashi, Bapusaheb was among the persons accompanying him. Baburao Gadre had also accompanied the party with his parents. After the pilgrimage to the three main holy places-Prayag, Gaya, Kashi - ShriMaharaj said to him, 'Baburao, your parents have now made their pilgrimage to Kashi, now let them return. But you should remain with us for the sake of Bapusaheb.' Accordingly Baburao stayed on, with the journeying party.

By stages the party arrived at Harda. During the stay there, one day Bapusaheb got stricken with cholera. Baburao diligently tended to him, but the illness went on worsening. Then, sitting by his side, ShriMaharaj said to Bapusaheb, 'Bapusaheb, on the whole the condition ap­pears serious. Should Rajabhau be sent for by a telegram?' But at this last moment, Bapusaheb's attachment for physical matters had been completely eradicated. He said, 'No, Maharaj, it is good that he is not here. If he happens to be before me, who knows, my soul may not find release because of attachment for him.'

After a short while Bapusaheb's life came peacefully to an end.

Reminiscences

What is the best kind of life ? In answering this question ShriMaharaj said, 'It is good to lead a life of activity in worldly affairs, with the object of chanting nama. To live for doing nothing but chanting nama is better; and to live so that one remembers nothing else but nama, for­getting oneself in it, is the best.'

Reminiscences

The wife of a railway official came to see ShriMaharaj. She said, 'Maharaj, how much suffering need one bear in one's life! My father passed away soon after my wedding. Two years later, I had my first son; he died. Last year, married daughter died in an accident. Now my husband is suffering from blood pressure. What is all this?' On . listening to the lady's story, ShriMaharaj said, 'Madam, there are many wonders in this world. Of these, a great one is that a person in domestic life is unworried, though he is as it were sitting on top of a volcano. There is no telling when it will erupt. There is no telling what sorrow will fall, to whose lot and when. Not to let things turn out the way one wishes, to be ever changing, is precisely the nature of worldly life. Therefore, one should be active in the uncertain worldly life, but lean upon God for support; only then contentedness will endure. One feels the sup­port of God by chanting nama.'

Reminiscences

An affectionate devotee used to visit Sri Maharaj often, but he always used to come alone, without his wife.()nce ShriMaharaj called him aside and asked him the reason for not bringing his wife. He said sadly, 'Maharaj, my wife is a kleptomaniac; she has the bad habit of tak­ing other's belongings. It cannot be called stealing, for she is not aware that she has taken someone else's thing; unabashed, she vaunts it even before the owner of the article. But not only people are unnecessarily inconve­nienced by this fault of hers; in addition, she becomes a laughing - stock, and I too feel ashamed. So I avoid tak­ing her anywhere.' On hearing this, ShriMaharaj said, 'It does not matter, since she does not do it with the idea of stealing. Rama will manage. Bring her along next time.'

The next time, the devotee went to Gondavale with his wife as ShriMaharaj had advised. When, the lady bowed to touch ShriMaharaj's feet, he whispered to her 'Never forget that Rama constantly watches everyone here !' For her in effect, this was a conferring of initiation. It was indeed an impartation of moral strength. The couple stayed at Gondavale for nearly a month, but not a single incident of Kleptomaniac stealing by the lady took place. Her husband was greatly surprised. Before returning both formally received an impartation of nama from ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj merely said, 'Now both of you uhould chant nama in all sincerity. You should act with Rama as your witness. He will not let you suffer humilia­tion.' The lady lived for nearly twenty years thereafter, but the woman was cured of her kleptomania,

Reminiscences

ShriMaharaj asked an eminent lawyer, 'All lawyers' have studied law, but while only some earn a name for themselves as good lawyers, the others lag behind. Why does this happen ?' The lawyer said, 'Maharaj, my experi­ence is that while studying a case and presenting the client's side before the court, an identification with the client's position is needed. One then fully grasps the cor­rect situation and the legal pros and cons. Consequently one can present the client's position capably.' Upon this ShriMaharaj said, 'But what if this identification is main­tained all the time ?' The lawyer said, 'How can it be? It will be sheer foolishness!' Then Shri Maharaj said, 'I, too, tell people the same thing. While presenting a client's point of view, the lawyer temporarily identifies himself  with the interest of the client. Likewise, one should con­duct worldly affairs, temporarily imagining that one's body belongs to oneself, but, instead of actually being one with the body, one should become one with God. By acting thus, a person will be able to manage successfully both worldly affairs and attainment of God.'

Sri Brahmananda Maharaj's letter on Manasa Pooja

Some time back, Sri Brahmananda Maharaj's letter written in Kannada was published. Thinking that non-kannadiga devotees of Sri Maharaj may be interested to know the content of the letter, it has been translated in to English, and presented here.Many Sanskrit words are retained finding no appropriate English words to substitute,and thinking that, as the readers are mostly Indians, the mix of Sanskrit words may not hamper the understanding.    

Shri Sadguru Brahmananda Maharaja’s Divine Message

Phalguna shuddha Panchami                                             Sri Rama Samartha                                     camp:Harda                                                  

                                                                                                                                                          Date: 22-3-1913

Salutations and Blessings of Sri  Brahmananda Ramadasi,Sri Rama samsthan, Beladadi to Shri Rama Bhakta paraayana  Sarva bhakta mandali

Received your letter and noted the contents. As per the letter, eight lakhs twenty thousand Ram Jap was offered at the feet of Sri Samarth and conveyed the Dandavat Sashtaanga Pranams of all of you. Sri Samarth felt very happy. He blessed with his Poorna  Ashirvad to all of you. Continue to do Ram-Jap like this. How much to write about the immense Mahima of Sri Samarth! How much ever we write can only be a very little. We have heard Sadhus like Ramadasa Swamy, Jnyanoba Maharaj, Purandara Das, Kanaka Das, Chidambara Deekshit took avathaar, uplifted many people, and performed Super human deeds. Now, Sri Samarth has taken re-birth. How can I describe His immense greatness! I am not talented enough. Everyday, miracles are happening! One cannot understand His greatness unless one sees personally. He sowed the seed of Ram-naam all over the country.

 You are now in Betegeri. Sri Samarth is 500 Haridari (1500miles) away in Harda. You are doing Sri Rama namasmarana. Is this by your own strength or by the Grace of Sri Samarth? Like this, people from all over the country do Sri Rama namasmaran. There is no one who can uplift the mankind like Sri Samarth. His talk is sweeter than Amritha. On hearing his Niroopan, even a hard minded atheist will be tempted to do Sri Rama Namasmarana. His charisma is Divine. On seeing Him, every one will know that He is God. He has no ordinary man-like behaviour. Dhairya, kshamaa, shaanthi, vichaara, viveka, vairaagya, jnyaana all are fully abounding in him. All of you have seen Him. Having taken darshan of Sri Maharaj,  do naamasmaran, as per his advice and be blessed. During the time of death, when Yamadeva drags, father, mother, wife, children, relatives and friends, wealth, nobody can free from his clutches. None can guard, except Sri Ram-nam. Yama Deva, cannot come near one who is doing Ram namasmaran always. This is true. Do not think this as false. This has to be deliberated in a very subtle way. No one  tells as much, with concern..

There is one necessary action. Who ever may be, and whatever his profession, he must be doing his job, but while going, while coming , while he sits, while he stands, while he lies down till he gets sleep, let him be chanting Sri Ram, Sri Ram. He should not sleep early in the night. Sit chanting Sri Rama, Sri Rama for half an hour. Again, wake up two hours before Sun-rise, and after finishing morning ablutions, sit with concentration on a mat. Do manasa – pooja. Imagine a Mantap in your heart in which a gem clad Throne is placed. Meditate on Sri Ram sitting on that throne. The dark skinned handsome person, with his body shining like Agase (flax ?) flower, dressed in Peethaambar, with Crown, Ear drops, Bhuja keerti, and Sri vatsa kousthubha vanamaala in the neck, holds bow and arrow in the hand.

Seeta Devi is sitting on Sri Ramachandra’s lap. Lakshmana is standing behind holding an umbrella. Bharata and Shatrughna are  standing, fanning from left and right sides. Maaruti Raaja is standing in front folding his hands in humility, chanting Sri Rama Sri Rama; Vasishtji, Naradji, and saints led by Sanaka are chanting keertans. Meditating like this in mind, do Pooja.

Anoint the God Sri Rama with Perfumed oil. Bathe him with the hot water from Bhaageerati (river), wipe him with clean shining cloth, Dress him with Peetaambara, Anoint him with Saffron scent, and Musk mixed Akshata. Put many types of flower garlands and Tulasi garland. Put Kireeta, Kundala and other Jewels. Decorate Seeta Devi with jewels and female decorations. After Dhoopa, Deepa, desirable eatables like Pancha bhaksha pakwaanna should be served in a golden plate to Sri Rama. Imagine that the God Ramacandra is eating. Then, wash his hand, wipe it, and put Tamboola in his mouth . Do arati chanting Jayadeva Jayadeva Jaya Seetha Rama. After doing Pradakshina, prostrate holding his feet firmly and pray ‘ Sri Rama, Deena Dayaala, Protect me’,

Imagine that God Sri Rama has put his assuring hand on your head. Getting up, look at the smiling face of  the God Sri Rama. The mind should not wander that way or this way. Should be chanting Sri Rama Sri Rama, till day-break. After Sunrise, one should carry on his professional duties. Women while doing their household chores should be chanting Rama Rama. Should not waste the time. Should always be doing Rama Smarana.  Life is transient. Nothing comes with us in death. Always be chanting Sri Rama Sri Rama Sri Rama Sri Rama.       Blessings.

                                                                                                      Brahmananda

Reminiscences

A disciple had conducted ShriMaharaj to the inaugu­ral ceremony of the construction of his house. When that was over, he requested humbly, 'Maharaj, please be present to grace the house-warming too. Thereupon ShriMaharaj said, '1 will surely come if it is possible. But do bear in mind that wherever I go, I go to stay forever. I am always near him whom I have once called my own'.

Reminiscences

A very old gentleman started narrating his unfortu­nate tale with tears in his eyes. He said, "Maharaj, my wife died when I was young, leaving me three sons who were very young then. People urged me to marry again, but I did not, lest there be the risk of the children's being ill-treated by the step-mother. I raised them, paying per­sonal attention to their food, clothing, and education, even disregarding my own comforts. After the children had grown up, I opened independent businesses for them, supplying adequate capital to each. I got them married. The sons are doing well. But they and their spouses now say to me, 'Go away. We do not want you. Get away from here'. Somehow suppressing the sobs bursting forth while narrating this, he added, 'Maharaj, giving up all my hap­piness I discharged my duty in regard to my children so sincerely. Why should I obtain such an undeserved fruit?' The people around also felt sorry on hearing the tale of the suffering of the old man. ShriMaharaj said affection­ately, "Alas, it is quite wrong indeed for the sons to act thus; nor is it in their interest. But the question you asked in the end is not rational. Consider this: what is duty ? Whatever one is bound to do is termed 'duty'. Now if one is bound to do something, then where does the consider­ation as to how the other person behaves, crop up ? That is, the resultant fruit may not bear any relation to perfor­mance of duty. The fruit of any action is obtained in ac­cordance with one's accumulated lot. So be content that you have done your duty excellently; and realizing that the present condition has befallen in accordance with your accumulated lot, do not brood over it. Provide a diversion for your mind by engaging it in nama, and secure your real welfare."

Reminiscences

An officer who had retired after serving on a ship placed before ShriMaharaj his genuine difficulty. He said, 'Maharaj, I feel like chanting nama, but I cannot bear to sit still in one place; and if I do, I feel bored of nama.  What can be done about it ?' ShriMaharaj smiled and said, 'In what standard is your grandson studying ?' After replying, 'He is in the first standard', the man added, 'I do not know what to do, Maharaj, he plays truant. One has to get him to study by forcibly making him sit in one  place.' Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "That is also what I would say to you. Your mind plays truant. It just does not have the habit of remaining still. It should be made to  chant nama by the use of a little force. As the power of God is embodied in nama, chanting nama gradually di­minishes the awareness of the body, and nama takes root.'

Reminiscences

ShriMaharaj was engaged in a friendly discussion in the temple of Rama at Jalna. Just then an official accom­panied by his wife came for darshana. They requested that both be granted initiation. When asked what they wanted to achieve by receiving initiation, the official said, 'We want it so as to obtain love for Rama and His nama.' Upon this, addressing the gathering, ShriMaharaj said, 'How many years have passed since each one of you re­ceived initiation ?' Some said five years, some ten, some seventeen, and some said twenty-three years. After lis­tening to all that, ShriMaharaj asked, "In that case all of you must have developed love for nama; can you say, yes, to that ?" But no one would say 'yes'. Then ShriMaharaj said, "You all worship your guru every day, peruse reli­gious books, practise namasmarana a good deal; and yet you have not been able to develop love for nama. What is the reason? You do not feel that nama is everything in life. You do not live for nama. To develop love for nama, one should either chant it because one's guru likes it, or alternatively, one should chant it with a firm conviction that in chanting nama lies one's welfare. One can pre­sume that love for nama is born when one feels restless without nama. Then a person's mind will not get involved in anything else."

Reminiscences

A conscientious person commenced professional prac­tice of law. He did not like the jugglery between truth and falsehoods that has to be perpetrated in the profes­sion of a lawyer. He met ShriMaharaj and said, 'This profession cannot be run without juggling with falsehoods. What can one do about it ?' ShriMaharaj said to him, "Although to discover the truth is the aim of the law, in a court a case is decided upon the evidence presented; that is, if someone has committed a theft or a murder, but it is not established by evidence, then he is discharged as be­ing not guilty. On the other hand, if enough evidence is fabricated, even an innocent person may be convicted and sentenced. What this means is that everything depends on evidence. Therefore, there can. be no objection to doing such dishonesty as is required to establish the truth in the eyes of the law. That is necessary precisely for attain­ing the objective of the law. But one must first make sure what the truth is.

Reminiscences

Once, in a casual conversation, ShriMaharaj asked a doctor whom he knew, 'Doctor, how is the weather in the town nowadays ? How much illness is there ?' The doctor said, the weather is relatively good. But man eats more than is necessary, and thereby he falls ill. If man had the facility for ruminating like domestic cattle have, a great many illnesses would have been avoided.' Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "Doctor, God has granted only to man a unique capability for rumination, though not of food. Man can chew the cud of thoughts; it is called 'reflection'. This is an amazing facility. If it is put to use in attain­ment of God, man may attain divinity. Many people regu­larly listen to scriptures and religious treatises on attain­ment of God, but they do not reflect upon what they lis­ten to, and so it does not prove beneficial for them; it only leads to a swelling of pride. In spite of encounter with God being easily possible, man misses it because of lack of reflection and translation into action."

Reminiscences

A fruit-dealer said to ShriMaharaj, "An ordinary per­son immersed in domestic life, and saints leading domes­tic life, like Ekanath, both appear to be involved in worldly affairs. What then is the difference between the two?  ShriMaharaj quickly said, "Saints appear to be involved in worldly affairs, while an ordinary person is involved in worldly affairs. No matter how much a mango-stone is squeezed, a trace of juice keeps sticking to it. Likewise, a person in domestic life remains involved, if only a little bit, in some matter or other. But the seed of a chikoo comes out clean, with nothing sticking to it. Similarly, a saint in domestic life lives detachedly in worldly life. He seems to be involved in worldly affairs but is actually not."

Reminiscences

A lawyer by profession studied saints' writings as a hobby. He had a genuine desire for saints' society. He met Shri Maharaj and asked, 'Maharaj, the supreme im­portance of saints' company has been described every­where in religious books. But simultaneously it has also been said that one needs to be a saint to know a saint. How can we, ordinary humans, know a saint ? And how can fellowship with a saint result without having recog­nized one ?' In reply ShriMaharaj said, "There is a very simple feature useful for identifying a saint. He who does not grant one what one wants, but who is still wanted and sought after, must be a saint. His being is so full of contentment that one's mind finds contentment in his com­pany. One feels joyous in a saint's company without an apparent reason. Where worship of a concrete God is prac­tised uninterruptedly, where all callers are served food lovingly, and where namasmarana is practised sincerely, there, one should take for granted that a saint exists

Reminiscences

A teacher of Arithmetic met ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj said to him, "Worldly life, too, can be viewed in terms of arithmetic. Marriage should be looked upon as an addi­tion. To enjoy worldly pleasures except as a duty or a debt to the organs should be called subtraction. To have children is like multiplication, and dissipation of life that occurs with every breath should be looked upon as division. When the remainder reduces to zero with continu­ing division, one has to go, leaving worldly life. The con­summation of all this arithmetic is in one's recognizing of God. That recognition comes about by namasmarana. "

Reminiscences

A lady practising namasmarana regularly was very ca­pable but quick - tempered, and, once she became en­raged over an incident, her tongue set off on delivering a lashing. Just about then one day ShriMaharaj acciden­tally came  there. As soon as she saw him, not only was her tongue silenced, but tears welled up in her eyes. She said, "Maharaj, what can I do about this tem­per of mine ? This is how it lets me down." ShriMaharaj said, "Gangutai, seek the origin of anger and the six en­emies of the soul. Desire is their mother, and Pride is the father. The interesting thing is that, if one of them dies, the other automatically succumbs. There is no remedy like nama to eradicate Desire. There is no remedy like saying 'Rama is the doer' to eradicate Pride. To get hold of both, there is no means like surrendering to a sadguru. One should understand that in surrender lies the seed of eradication of the six enemies of the soul."

Reminiscences

Retired Postmaster Balwantrao Pathak once raised a query, 'How could the food served at a shraaddha (anni­versary of death) be reaching one's deceased relatives ?' ShriMaharaj replied, "Balwantrao, at least you should not have this doubt. Someone comes to you to send a money order for a hundred rupees. You do not transmit his hundred rupee note to the other end. But does not the amount of one hundred rupees reach the proper person?. Similarly, if a man gratifies someone by serving him food, with the departed person in mind, and with a sincere conviction, then what is the objection to presuming that that departed soul is gratified ? Shraddha is to be per­formed with sincerity. He who is so disposed, will certainly find gratification in shraaddha."

Reminiscences

The day before he passed away, Shri Maharaj said to Bhausaheb Ketkar, "Bhausaheb, I will pass on tomorrow Morning." On hearing this Bhausaheb said, "To die in your lap would be a joyous occasion. It was with that in my mind that I came here ."Bhausaheb, it is not fated to be so." Then Bhausaheb asked, "Where should I stay ?' ShriMaharaj told him, "Stay right here for twelve years.' Accordingly Bhausaheb stayed in Gondavale for the next twelve years. In those days there were many inconveniences there. During that pe­riod Bhausaheb had typhoid. The fever would not lessen even after ten days. On the whole the condition turned precarious. Adequate medical treatment was not pos­sible in a village like Gondavale. But not a thought of leaving Gondavale touched his mind. The fever lessened on the twenty - first day, and eventually he recovered. When asked about his state of mind then, Bhausaheb said, 'The influence of His love was so great that it did not even enter my mind to disobey His word,'

Reminiscences

A person used to meet ShriMaharaj off and on. Every time Shri Maharaj used to say to him, "You should practise chanting nama." Once the person said, "Maharaj, I unfailingly chant two hymns every day after my bath. In that  case what is the additional need for nama ?" Shri Maharaj told him, "Chanting a hymn is like meeting God through a letter. Chanting nama is like meeting God In person. As such nama is a must.'

Reminiscences

Shri Maharaj's Omnipresence

This is a story of the time when Baburao Gadre was a teacher in Kolhapur. He used to perform aarati every evening after placing milk for naivedya in a bowl before a picture of ShriMaharaj. The only water he used was at the time of offering naivedya. Later, on meeting him, ShriMaharaj said, "Baburao, even if naivedya consists of only milk, along with it drinking water is needed !" Since then he began providing a cup of water along with the bowl of naivedya.

Navarathri Programmes

ಶ್ರೀ ನಾಮದೇವಾನಂದ   ಸ್ವಾಮೀಜಿ ರವರು ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾರಾಜರ ಪ್ರವಚನವನ್ನು ಕುರಿತು ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವರು.

Reminiscences

A. prominent official had retired. He began conducting research on Mahabharata to pass his time. In one work on Mahabharata he came across a statement that the incident of stripping Draupadi of her dress in the open court of King Duryodhana never took place. As he could not find anyone else's support for this view, he was un­settled. He could not unravel what the truth was. So he came to ShriMaharaj through a friend. On learning about his doubt ShriMaharaj said, "I do not know about re­search. I cannot summon knowledge of occurrences of the past and of the future. But you yourself say that saints can summon knowledge of past and future occurrences. , JnyaneshwarMaharaj, Namdeo, Eknath, Tukaram and  Samartha have been the universally accepted saints amongst us. There can be no objection to drawing upon their testimony. All of them have cited Draupadi's ex­ample to show how to call out to God with ardency. On the occasion of being stripped of her dress she called out to Shri Krishna exceedingly helplessly, and she came out of the occasion unscathed. But what I wish to tell you is that Death is dispossessing you, and you should pay attention to that. It is true that today everything is favourable to you. But when it is time for you to depart, nothing of this will answer your call, only God will help. Chant His nama and secure your well - being." The gentle­man did not give up his preoccupaton with research but, he passed away soon afterwards.

Navarathri Programme -8-10-2010

Reminiscences

A gentleman came and stayed at Gondavale to acquire love for God. Two months passed well. Then one day there was an altercation with the priest on a trivial matter and he had to listen to very bitter words. Thinking that he had been needlessly insulted, and that there was no point in continuing to stay there, he decided to leave Gondavale and return to his village. He went to ShriMaharaj in order to apprise him of his intention. As soon as he saw him, ShriMaharaj said, "One plants a variety of flower - plants. There are many types amongst them such as marigolds, daffodils, zinnias, roses. Plants like a rose plant being of importance amongst them, one feeds it the best dung- manure. What if the rose plant were to complain why it alone was being fed the nauseous ma­nure ? Attainment of love for God is valuable like a rose plant If one wants it to bear the flower of love, then pride and ego have to be destroyed, for which the manure of insults has to be fed. This is the dung-manure So if an occasion arises to face an insult, swallow it, taking it to be an occurrence of God's grace. Nama helps one do it. The gentleman was convinced by the reasoning, and cancelled his plan to leave.

Reminiscences

While talking with ShriMaharaj, Chintubuwa once said, ''Maharaj, I want to ask you for favours.' ShriMaharaj said, 'Go ahead. If Rama wills, can there be anything difficult for Him ?' Chintubuwa said, 'Firstly, my death should take place in Gondavale; and secondly, that every year a thousand persons be dined on the day of my death.*' The intention in asking for this was, to ensure that his descendants should remain accordingly wealthy. On hear­ing the request ShriMaharaj said, 'Rama will grant your wish !'

Chintubuwa's end came in Gondavale seven years af­ter ShriMaharaj cast off his body. That year had an intercalary month** of Margashirsha. He died on the tenth day of the dark fortnight of the month. As this was an intercalary month, there was no interruption in the cel­ebrations of Shri Maharaj's death anniversary on the same day of Margashirsha; and from then onwards Chintubuwa's death anniversary fell every year on the day of celebrations of ShriMaharaj's death anniversary, and dining of over a thousand people would positively take place on that day.

* day of death every year -   shraddhatithi ,  the death anniversary of a person when a ceremony is observed by his descendants, offering gifts and food made to relations and Brahmins.

**intercalary month - adhikamaas - an intercalary month formed of the aggregate days omitted in reckoning the lunar year. (Thus every three years, the lunar calendar is brought up with the solar.)

Reminiscences

While talking about death- at- will, ShriMaharaj said, "One who says that he will abandon his body only when he wills, disregarding the natural order, is not an ichchhamarani. * Only a person who has merged his will with God's should be called ichchhamarani. Whenever God sends for him, looking upon that as also his own wish, he gladly abandons the body. In truth, he has com­pletely parted from his body at the very moment his con­sciousness of his body has completely vanished. This is exactly what TukaramMaharaj describes in the line 'With mine own eyes have I seen my death.' When conscious­ness of one's body has disappeared, he is left with no attachment for the body. That is, he becomes an Ichchhamarani. This is accomplished by nama."

*Ichchhamarani - One who can die only when he wills it.

Reminiscences

A gentleman in the dairy business asked, 'What should be the proportion between wordly business and sadhana for the attainment of God ?' ShriMaharaj said in reply, "When milking, you take a little water in the milk - pot to wet the teats. After milking is done you pour the milk in all the milk pots into a large vessel. To remove the milk remaining in every milk pot, you rinse it with a little water. It is proper to maintain a similar proportion of business of life to Sadhana for attainment of God.

Reminiscences

A doctor explained his problem to ShriMaharaj thus : "Sometimes a patient, on reading an advertisement or on the advice of his relatives, demands, by himself, 'Doctor, give me this medicine or injection.' It is not possible to decide upon the action without a proper examination of the patient. Quite often it is also not advisable to pre­scribe the particular medicine he asks for. What should one do  under these circumstances  ?" Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "There are three reasons why a pa­tient recovers. One, the coming to an end of the effect of what he was destined to suffer; two, the effect of the medi­cine; and three, the faith the patient has in the doctor and the medicine. Of these, no one knows what he was destined to suffer. As regards faith, the patient generally comes with it. It is not correct for one  pointlessly to of­fend or disregard it. What is left is the property of the . medicine. If it appears to be clearly harmful, refuse to give that medicine. If there is not going to do any harm, do as the patient desires. It is not impossible that his faith itself may bring about recovery. But tell me, what is the proportion of such patients ?" The doctor said that such persons are about five to ten per cent of his patients. Smiling a little, ShriMaharaj said, "You are fed up with only this much ! Then what should I do ? Amongst the persons coming to me, this proportion is exactly the re­verse. Ninety to ninety- five per cent persons bring with them a worldly wish or problem, and expect that I should confirm what they have in their mind. Now what I do is that I first tell them what I honestly feel they should do. But if it seems that someone is doggedly holding on to his opinion or wish, then I am compelled to say, vaguely, "Try doing that'. It is obvious that his destiny is dragging him. Realizing that all this is a display of God's doings and the illusory world, I do not let my mind be affected by either joy or sorrow."

Sri Brahmananda Maharaj's Aradhana (7-10-2010), in Chinthamani

ಚಿಂತಾಮಣಿಯ ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚೈತನ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮ ಮಂದಿರದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾನಂದ ಮಹಾರಾಜರ ಆರಾಧನೆ ಪ್ರಾತಃಕಾಲ ೫-೩೦ ಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾಕದಾರತಿ ಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ಪೂಜಾದಿಗಲೊಡನೆ ಜರುಗಿತು. ಸಂಜೆ ಶ್ರೀ ಜಿ.ಹೆಚ್. ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ್ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ರವರಿಂದ ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾನಂದ ಮಹಾರಾಜರನ್ನು ಕುರಿತು ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸ ಜರುಗಿತು. ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾನಂದರು ರಚಿಸಿದ ಹಲವು ಭಜನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿದರು.

Sri Brahmananda Maharaj's Aradhana (7-10-2010)

ಸದ್ಗುರು ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚೈತನ್ಯ ಮಹಾರಾಜರ ಸಚ್ಚಿಷ್ಯರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾನಂದ ಮಹಾರಾಜರ ಆರಾಧನೆಯನ್ನು ಮಹಾಲಯ ಅಮಾವಾಸ್ಯೆ (ತಾ|| 7-10-2010) ಗುರುವಾರ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚೈತನ್ಯ ಮಂದಿರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಆಚರಿಸುವರು.

Reminiscences

"I have kept only one observance, and that is, never to hurt anyone's feelings," ShriMaharaj used to say. While enumerating His manifestations in the Bhagavadgeeta, the   Lord  has   said,   'The  mind  is   an   aspect  of Mine.'Therefore ShriMaharaj believed that to hurt someone's sensibility is to hurt God. Once a good sadkaka asked, 'Maharaj, I earnestly try to act without hurting anyone's sensibility as you have advised. But I have a short temper and I am a stern disciplinarian. Because of this many a time another's feelings are hurt by what I say. What can I do about this?¹ Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "Practise sincerely and you will certainly succeed. You are bound to err sometimes while practising. When you err, ask for forgiveness of the person whom you have hurt, and be on guard that this does not happen again. If you do this, success is bound to be yours."

Reminiscences

A newly - qualified doctor opened his dispensary in a poor locality. He soon became popular there. The number of patients swelled rapidly. Because of this he had to spend much of his time in the dispensary. He could find little undisturbed time for chanting of nama. Placing this diffi­culty before ShriMaharaj, the doctor said, 'refusing new patients hereafter seems to me to be the only solution. Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "Well, doctor, won't this be a departure from good practice ? When it becomes known everywhere that this doctor does not accept new patients, new patients will stop coming. Yet, because you will natu­rally not like your income to decline, your heart will wish that old patients should keep coming; that would almost mean that they should never get well. This is not good. I would say, let the patient be an old one or a new one, you should feel that he has come because of God's wishing so, and it is your duty to examine him and give him medica­tion; that it is service rendered unto God. If you remem­ber God and then examine the patient, you will be able to diagnose his disease quickly and correctly, and the cor­rect medication will occur to you. Do not think of money. Inform the patient of the charges but do not corner him.

If you act with a sense that you are treating the disease and not the patient, everyday dealings will be within lim­its of propriety, and the mind will not get stuck in greed. Besides, you will have the satisfaction of having done your duty while remaining honest to your profession."

Reminiscences

Tatyasaheb Ketkar once narrated a reminiscence. Around 1912, while he was at Gondavale, Shri Maharaj gave him a rupee coin, saying, 'Keep this with you, and give it to me when I ask for it.' As Tatyasaheb's sense of obedience to the guru was absolute, his interpretation was that 'when I ask for it' meant that he should be able to produce it at any given moment. So he used always to keep it on his person. He used to mind it when changing clothes or when dressing after a bath. At night he used often to feel it with his hand lest it might unknowingly get dropped. Later, when ShriMaharaj suddenly once asked for it, Tatyasaheb immediately produced it.

Recounting this reminiscence, Tatyasaheb said, "It was a very minor matter, but as a result I had a constant memory of ShriMaharaj during that period; a continual awareness of him was thereby maintained. Even now any­one can maintain awareness in a similar manner. For example, if one makes it a habit to set aside, say, one per cent of one's income for offering to the guru, then, when­ever one receives such income, every day or every month according to one's profession, awareness of the sadguru will be re-awakened. But, one should not let a feeling arise that one is helping the sadguru in this way, for as he is literally the master of all creation, what can he want from any one? That one should remain aware of him, and that one's fondness for money should steadily decrease, is the true aim. One should not let conceit take root that one has earned the money by one's efforts and smartness; one should nurture a feeling that all this is his beneficence. Also, one should not harbour a fear that there might be a shortfall for meeting one's domestic needs because of this gifting. How can it happen that one will fall short for running one's household when it is a law of nature created by God, 'Sow one grain and reap a thousand' ? However, one should be practical in this matter." After saying this Tatyasaheb said, "Experience has been that faith in and love for the sadguru go on increasing, and fondness for money and the fear of falling short go on decreasing, by chanting of nama."

...123 ...

Reminiscences

Once a group of persons returned from visiting shrines of some saints. At some places they had met with good facilities, while at others the facilities were the barest minimum. The persons felt some misgivings about the saints at whose shrine they had been inconvenienced. Speaking about it, ShriMaharaj said, "The saintliness of saints is not to be looked for in these externals. It is to­tally wrong to presume that a saint at whose retreat one met with good facilities is better or higher than the saint at whose retreat one was inconvenienced. One should un­derstand that the shrine where the mind becomes tran­quil and quickly turns inwards is hallowed. It is not a saint's task to provide bodily comforts. But even then they look after the comforts of callers as much as is possible. How can they help it if even then there is a little inconve­nience ?"

Reminiscences

"What is the difference between the path of knowl­edge of God, followed by ShriShankaracharya, and the saints' path of love for God, or devotion ?" While answer­ing this question ShriMaharaj said, "Both ways lead to the same God. Which way to follow depends upon a sadhaka's preparation and disposition, A sharp memory is required, and the intellect needs to be subtle, for per­sons to follow this way. But the way of devotion is a way of love. Not every one has a subtle intellect, but everyone is capable of love. Worship can be practised when one switches one's love from worldly affairs to God. In love there is tenderness. Intellect is relatively stern, unbending. God can be attained speedily by the use of intellect; longer time is required by the practice of worship. But ordinary persons find the way of love convenient. Love for God is generated readily by namasmarana

 end-

Reminiscences

God has endowed man with certain faculties which are
truly useful; forgetfulness is one such boon by which life
loses much of its sting, its sorrows and unpleasantnesses. Man, however, practises this boon on God Himself by for- getting Him; he uses his boon of intellect to argue, and tries to prove that God is a myth, does not exist at all. "Is this not outdoing Bhasmasura?" Shreemaharaj asked.

(Bhasmaasura: a Demon who sought to use a boon on the granter himself)