Reminiscences

Two persons were due to superannuate at about the same time. Of them, one was in sound health, had a wife and children, and was in every way fit. His superior offered him extension of service. His reply was that, as heretofore, he would consult his sadguru and follow his advice. So he asked ShriMaharaj, and, as advised, declined to accept the extension.

The advice was surprisingly against dictates of practical 'common sense¹ and the employer pitied the man who blindly obeyed such a Sadguru . As it turned out, the man's son got employed, and there was no loss in the total earning of the family.

The other man who was superannuating about the same time was a widower, without children, and a weakling. ShriMaharaj advised him to apply and try for an extension, and after a deal of importunity got it.

There was, in the eyes of a common, worldly man, a clear contradiction in the advice given by ShriMaharaj. A devotee later sought an explanation. ShriMaharaj ex­plained, ' The second party, already a bereaved one with a frail body, would have only brooded over his ' poor' luck, and made himself more miserable, so it was in his interest to have some occupation in old age; whereas it was only proper for the other person, comfortable in all ways, to spend his leisure in contemplation and service of Rama, rather than continue to serve and employ his physical strength in earning more and superfluous money.

Reminiscences

A Sadhaka once said, to ShriMaharaj, We approach you for advice in case of difficulty. Sometimes, however, the matter is pressing, and there isn't time to consult you. What should we do in such a case ?"

ShriMaharaj replied, " In practice we often tender cor­rect guidance to a friend or relative. It is often correct because our view of the situation is objective, impartial. There was a young man who entered business, and was prospering therein. However, a ship which was bringing his merchandise was seized by the enemy's navy, and so he suffered a crushing loss, and became very despondent about the financial loss he was unprepared for. He had an elderly uncle, also in business, in another town. When the uncle came to learn of the young nephew's plight, he wrote to pep up the young man. The letter had a salutary effect, the young man gathered courage, and, eventually, he became a successful businessman.

"A number of years passed, and by coincidence, the elderly merchant suffered a great loss, involving both money and reputation which had been built up over the years. Aged, and therefore seeking security, he was com­pletely floored, and thoughts of suicide entered his mind. He despondently turned over the papers in his records. He chanced to come across the copy of the letter he had written to the nephew. Idly he read it again and found himself pondering over it. It struck him that the advice he had given to his nephew years ago equally applied to himself 

now. So he took courage, and eventually he regained his 

former status."

After narrating this, ShriMaharaj added, ' If one learns to look at oneself objectively, there will be a proper assess­ment of any situation, and the correct solution will suggest itself,'

Reminiscences

ShriMaharaj narrated this story to illustrate the point that a 'seeker' should always beware of the possibility of ever being touched by lust:

"In a certain town there lived a god-fearing man whom many took to as a guru. Among them was a man who lived elsewhere, but had a sister who was a young, comely widow living in that town. Once the man felt that the sister, like himself, should accept his guru's discipleship and ensure her future welfare. He mentioned this idea to her; on which she said,' Brother, I agree with you, but in my condition I am apprehensive.' The man thought it strange that she should show lack of faith in the good man, and eventually he mentioned it to his guru. The guru only said,' I note what you say." Later, when the time came for the guru to bid the world the final farewell, he told his disciples accordingly, instructing them to place his body untied to the bier, and carry it along a particular street —— the one in which the widow lived. Everything happened as the guru had pre­dicted and instructed . The whole town turned out, and those living on the route of the funeral, stood in the doorways, balconies, windows, etc. to have a last darshan of the saint. So, too the disciple's sister, stood in her doorway. As soon as the funeral procession came to that point, the ' dead ' saint sat up on the bier, and asked the bearers to stop. He jumped down, made straight for the doorway where the widow stood, and touched her feet in salutation, saying,' Mother, it was extremely correct of you to have said to your brother what you did, and a good caution that reminded me of the care I ought to take. Now I am really on my last journey, and you can place trust in me.' So saying, he returned to the bier and lay on it, really lifeless."

reminiscences

Around 1904, ShriMaharaj one day called Tatyasaheb Ketkar to his room. ShriBrahmanand Maharaj saw this, and later asked Tatyasaheb what he had been told. Tatyasaheb said,' I have been told to worship Shree Rama in the 'Manaspuja ( Mental Worship ). ShriBrahmanand clarified the point and said,' That means you should wor­ship ShriMaharaj himself. This is his way of speaking; remember, he is identical with Shree Rama.¹

Reminiscences

The intercalary month was in progress, and so a devotee presented ShriMaharaj with a silver bowl, which he kept in a niche. Next day, the barber came to shave him, and ShriMaharaj asked him to use not his usual brass bowl but the silver one in the niche. The barber docilely obeyed. As usual, he kept the bowl in the usual, convenient place, namely, at his right hand, that is, to ShriMaharaj's left. The poor man's mind naturally dwelt on the silver bowl with a covetous feeling, which ShriMaharaj easily divined. When the shaving ended, ShriMaharaj picked up the bowl, which stood on his left, with the nearest, that is, left hand, and immediately handed it over to the barber, with the words,' Take this as yours.' This was watched by a learned pundit who was standing there, and he raised the academic objection that a grant with the left hand is ultra vires. ShriMaharaj said,' It may be so, but I did it lest, during the brief time of transferring the bowl to the right hand,my mind yielded to covetousness and changed the action.'

Invitation from Gondavale Samsthan for Sadguru's Aradhana

ಶ್ರೀ ಸದ್ಗುರು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚೈತನ್ಯ ಮಹಾರಾಜ ಗೊಂದವಲೇಕರ  ಸಂಸ್ಥಾನ, 

ಗೊಂದವಲೇ  ಬು|| ತಾ.ಮಾನ, ಜಿ.ಸಾತಾರಾ, ಪಿನ್.415540

ರವರಿಂದ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗಾಗಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾರಾಜರ ಆರಾಧನಾ ಆಹ್ವಾನ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ.

22-12-2010 ರಿಂದ 30-12-2010 ರವರೆಗೆ .

Reminiscences

Once the manager of a match-manufacturing factory saw ShriMaharaj. In the course of conversation, he asked, ' Is it absolutely necessay to have aSadguru ?' ShriMaharaj replied, ' You need a special quality of wood to make matches from. You then treat it in a particular way. Then you split it to a particular size and impregnate the pieces in a particular solution. In a similar manner, one must first observe a certain discipline to train the mind, and saturate it with devoutness. You then provide a particular inflam­mable tip to the matches. Even that, however, needs a roughened surface against which it has to be 'struck'. Your supervision to ensure all this is necessary. In a similar manner a Sadguru's direction and supervision are neces­sary in the spiritual quest.¹