The Lessons from the Lives and Teaching of Great Men
(Excerpts from a lecture by Pandit Mahabhagavat of Kurthakoti, Shri Shankaracharya ,Nasik delivered in
Shankara Mutt, Bengaluru.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I became restless as the idea of realisation took hold of my mind and no one could offer any solution. In such a state of mind I had the fortune of having approached a blessed soul (Sri Brahmachaitanya Maharaj of Gondavale), whose sight was a great delight to me and attracted unknowingly my heart and faith. Being encouraged by his kind look, I begged to be excused for the enquiry as to whether he had attained perfect happiness and could secure Peace of mind for me , if I yielded up myself to his feet . The reply smilingly given by him, “Hear” said he , “I cannot tell you whether I am myself joyful or miserable. Look at the hundreds of people coming to me and complaining of something that ails them. I am naturally sorry to hear their grievances and wish that I were myself subjected to all their sufferings rather than seeing them in such a state, but at the same time I am so ignorant as to be unconscious of any sorrow that afflicts me. If you think you will be benefitted by the company of such a man, I have no objection.
I was greatly impressed by this sort of indirect assurance. His
self-confidence with humility was something quite novel to me. It was then I
remembered how the simple words of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa should have
produced such effect on the mind of Swami Vivekananda combined with all his
modern learning and culture. The inspired nature of teaching rather than the
learning displayed by the intelligent discourses produces the desired effect on
the minds of the taught. A word from great men is really enough to brush aside
a good deal of scepticism.
It is no wonder, then, that I should be so impressed as to apply myself
to the service of his revered feet with all pleasure. It is a plain truth that
after serving him for a little time, my whole nature became changed. My health
improved a great deal and I experienced a better frame of mind. Just as some
disease spreads from person to person, so also a blissful surrounding and a
strong spiritual mind can transmit good qualities when we are susceptible of
receiving them. Though I had the good fortune of enjoying the blessed company
for some years, I was never able to get much information about the personal
career of the Guru as he himself scarcely, if ever, alluded to it. All that I
could gather from his old uncle, who was alive when I paid my first visit to
his native place Gondavala, a village in the Satara District, was that after
going away from home when yet a boy, the same was seen returning as a young
Sadhu. Almost nothing was known of his career during the interval, but somehow
the rumour spread that he had realised God during this period under the
guidance of a reputed Mahatma in Berar(Aurangabad Distridt). With this conviction, a number of people
began to flock round him and worship his holy feet.
Miraculous accounts have gathered round all great sages either ancient
or modern, and I remember how ordinary events, of which I was an eye witness,
have, in the mouths of people, received embellishments of an incredibly
miraculous nature. In my opinion, the greatest of miracles that can be
performed is to cross Avidya or ignorance which is the cause of all misery.
Though the Guru referred to here, was far from being a miracle-monger, I was
convinced by experience that he had attained to direct and immediate communion
with God and that was enough for me. Although he always tried to live according
to the tradition of our land, he was not hostile to new views. He welcomed all
opinions and reconciled them as far as possible in his own wonderful manner.
The methods of teaching adopted by such teachers have always been
adopted to the needs of the people and suitable to the times in which they
lived. Almost all great teachers from Shri Ramanujacharya downwards have laid
special stress in Bhakthi as leading to the highest goal of life. The sage of
whom I am speaking, likewise taught divine love and among the preparatory means
to such devotion he accorded the very first place to the repetition of the name
of God. I remember, a learned pandit once came to the sage I have already
mentioned and asked him to explain why he taught all the people to repeat the
name of Shri Rama, though among them were many, who had ever neglected the
Karma, prescribed by the Shastra. The guru said, “I do not preach any doctrine.
When people come to me and ask what I like best, I mention the name of the
Lord”. Then again, when the shastri challenged him to argue out the question
with him, he observed, “Kindly see if
you gain anything by defeating me in argument. Would it not be a more glorious
conquest to control your mind which has overpowered you and is thus instigating
you to an intellectual discussion? It seemed to me as if a terrible blow had
been dealt to the shastri’s egotism . After a while, the Guru smilingly said,”
Do you really think that the repetition of the names of the Lord cannot
gradually induce everyone to take his respective Karma?”.
I never saw this great teacher arrogate to himself a high position. On
the other hand, he was very active in ministering to the wants of his visitors
in such a manner that they soon learnt to feel quite at home when with him.
Some of them brought their friends also, never suspecting that they would be
affecting his purse. His expenses thus exceeded his income, though some of the
wealthy visitors, appreciating his selfless work, no doubt, sometimes assisted
him. That he was thus providing his guests with food might appear to some like
fostering laziness and indolence. But others may take it as the expression of
unbounded love he felt for all, especially the helpless. However, it was
certain that for those who were willing to take advantage of it, a very
valuable lesson was available.
As an illustration of what has been said above, one incident may be
noted. Once on a special feast day, it happened that a complaint was brought to
him that some unscrupulous persons had stolen some of the choice dishes that
were specially prepared for the day’s dinner, and the answer he gave was very
characteristic of his attitude towards such matters. “What do you think, “he
asked,” was that right or wrong?” “If that is right, there is clearly no room
for complaint and you may also do likewise. But if you think that such a
conduct is to be condemned, then you had better not behave like that. After
all, the food was meant to be distributed. Would it not be a great consolation
to think that these men have only lightened our labours by freely taking the
food instead of waiting for it to be served by us? .A noticeable feature of his
character was that he was highly solicitous not to injure anyone’s feeling and
his teachings though simple in language were pregnant with inspiring thoughts
and full of illustrations which were in themselves the best explanations
possible on many an occasion.
He was an embodiment of the truth so often reiterated in our shastras
that man can be perfect even in this very life. However, it cannot be expected
that he should have been free from blemishes for, with what great man has
humanity ceased to find fault? But a discerning eye ever saw the real state of
things, being unaffected by the views of the censorious people. There are many points common to the lives of
all great men of the type we have been considering. One of these common
features that however, stands out so prominently is their intense love of
humanity and highly disinterested service to the helpless. So strong is the
similarity of missions of their lives in this respect that any one life may be
taken to represent all others. Though such ”Gods on Earth” have made human life
wholesome, there is some sense in the
observation, “The world knows nothing of its great men,” for, as regards the
secret of their lives, little or nothing real is known to the ordinary man.
From what is heard or seen of such great men, many valuable lessons can
be learnt, the chief of which is that God and not the world should be our aim,
We should make ourselves instruments in the hands of God. ...
