Reminiscences

A well - educated man said to ShriMaharaj, "These days, everywhere, but particularly in the Hindu society, fake saints are rampant. While it is true that there can be no attainment of God without a guru, if one comes upon an impostor in trying to choose a guru, both worldly life and attainment of God are ruined. So can one do with­out choosing a guru  ?" In reply to this question ShriMaharaj said, "Some women die after marriage in their very first confinement. But has anyone given up marrying ? Or, because some women die from getting burnt while cooking, has anyone stopped cooking ? Like­wise, because one came upon an impostor on one occa-sion, one should not entertain the thought of not at all having a guru. Primarily, one should find out whether one has a need for God in one's worldly life. If one decides that there is no such need, one should conduct one's worldly life as best as one can. Then one should not at all think about the spiritual path. But if one is convinced that lasting happiness cannot be obtained without God, one should place before oneself a picture of one's favourite deity and set about practicing chanting its nama. Later one will feel a deep yearning that one should encounter God. When that happens the sadguru* will himself come to him, and one's mission will be accomplished. In the meantime, if someone tells one that some place is first -rate, one should go there and minutely observe the so -called guru there. One should observe whether or not detachment from money and women prevails. Besides, if one's mental attitude undergoes a change for the better in the company of that person, one should presume that there is something uncommon there. If someone performs im unusual trick or works a miracle but speaks against nama, one should definitely conclude that he has not encountered God. It is to a person who passes all such tests that one should decide whether or not to assign the position of a guru. After having taken so much care, there is no fear of coming across an impostor."

Sadguru ( a spiritual instructor and director)

Reminiscences

The number of ShriMaharaj's disciples was very large, and a good deal of food happened to be served regularly at Gondavale. Noticing this, a skeptical person said to Shri Maharaj, 'This is a time of shortages, but even then food is being served here as well as at any time before. This must be taking place not naturally but by the use of siddhis (supernatural powers). The tenets of religion deprecate the use of supernatural powers. How is this admissible?' Upon this ShriMaharaj said, 'A supernatural faculty is not being used here as you claim. Whatever takes place here is entirely by Rama's will. If you conduct your worldly affairs with a like sentiment, your worldly life will also keep going the same way it keeps going here. But let us assume for a moment that a supernatural fac­ulty is being used here. When one pilgrimages to a holy place one affirms a resolve. In the ritual, one returns to the Ganga the water one has taken from her. In a like manner, there is no wrongdoing in taking help of God to fimd and satiate the God residing in the hearts of the multitude. This suspicion of yours is a product of your identity with the material self, Dehabuddhi.'

Reminiscences

The marriage of the youngest daughter of an elderly, not-too-rich couple with love for Nama, had been delayed. In the meanwhile, there was a theft in their house, and ornaments were stolen. The lady was especially distressed. Upon their meeting Shri Maharaj, he said to the lady, 'What has happened is certainly distressing; it should in­deed not have happened. But tell me one thing; for what purpose had the ornaments been kept?' The lady said, 'They had been kept for our daughter to wear when she would be given away in marriage.' Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "Jf you get a better son-in-law in the absence of those Ornaments than the one you would have got if those ornaments were there, then this loss will have been am­ply compensated for. So wait and see what happens." As chance would have it, they got an excellent son-in-law later on. After some days ShriMaharaj happened to meet the parents. At that time ShriMaharaj said to them jocu­larly, "Just now there are only the two of you in the house ! These days, after marriage, a couple lives as two-some,And  goes for a while to a hill station for a honeymoon.You have such an opportunity now. But now you have to strive for everlasting joy rather than the short - lived joy of a  honeymoon; for which, both should set about chant­ing name vigorouusly and sincerely.'

Reminiscences

He who does not obey his Parents is evidently undeserving of initiation

A youth who had done his M.A. met ShriMaharaj and requested him to impart Nama to him. ShriMaharaj said, 'You are well-educated. You should undergo initiation af­ter you have studied what it implies.' The youth said, 'I know all about it.¹ ShriMaharaj asked him, 'Have you sought your parents' permission to receive initiation ?' He said that he did not think it was necessary to obtain any such permission. Upon which Shri Maharaj said, 'Sacred tenets enjoin that both mother and father be looked upon as akin to God. It is necessary to ask them about initiation beforehand. How is it possible that a son who does not obey his parents, will obey me ? In this situa­tion, what use is it to confer initiation ? So, first minister to your parents, and when you please them, then come to me for initiation with their permission and blessings.'

reminiscences

The Sadguru alone is the doer and the prime mover of all deeds, we merely serve as  instruments.

There are many persons in Karnataka who seek attainment of God by practising Namasmarana. In order that it may be convenient for them to assemble for worship, it was decided that a place be consecrated by installing ShriMaharaj's podukas* there. ShriMaharaj gave a coin of a rupee to Shri. Huchchurao and directed him to commence the work. Shri. Huchchurao said, ‘Maharaj, building a temple is a huge task. It will require a great deal of money. How can this work possibly be get done through my frail hands? Upon which Shri Maharaj said, 'It will get done as God got a war fought by Arjuna. One should merely serve as an instrument'

* Paduka : ('J^jf) a shoe or a slipper : but popularly clogs or wooden shoes; also an impression of a foot or both feet on stone, worshipped as the trace of some deity or guru.

Reminiscences

How a Kirthan ought to be performed

A lady performed kirtan* as an amateur, not as a pro­fessional. After one such performance ShriMaharaj said to her, "You do not perform kirtan for earning money or public recognition but as one of the nine kinds of worship. That saves it from being just a kind of religious concert, which in no way serves to attain God. One should always remember Narada's stance that he performed kirtan for the sake of God. One should constantly assess how much of the subject matter of the first half of the kirtan, which is of the nature of a sermon on the text, has become part of ones own nature. Remember, the listeners are influ­enced only to the extent to which something has become a part of the preacher's nature."

Another such performer of kirtans, but as a profession, visited ShriMaharaj, and said, 'Maharaj, I face the audi­ence during kirtan. Naturally I notice what effect what­ever I am telling them has on them. How can I disengage my mind from them and turn it on God?' ShriMaharaj answered.' "Sir, it is not incorrect that one's mind is on what is the effect of whatever one is saying, on listeners' minds. But one should take the mind off it and give it to God, whereby the kirtan will be rendered as worship unto God. One should keep one's mind on the idol of God. One should practice listening to the subject matter of one*s assertions. When one listens to one's own kirtan one re­flects upon it well. Besides, it is highly effective with the audience. This is just how saints perform kirtan."

* Kirtan fafafa) A prose - cum - musical opera about God or a saint. ... 

Reminiscences

The Verses of 'Manaache shloka' are unfailing, like Rama's arrow

There was a retired engineer who had diabetes. The ,„,„. of sugar in his blood had risen up. As a remedy for this, every Sunday and Thursday he used to take meals only after taking injections of insulin. He used to take the (injections himself. He met ShriMaharaj and told him about his ailment. Upon this ShriMaharaj said, 'The two hun­dred and five verses of Manache Shloka*  by Samartha Ramadasa are like two hundred and five injections for the mind. Hereafter, learn one shloka by heart at the time of taking each injection, and reflect upon it till the time for the next injection. Take up the next shloka at the time of the next injection. At the rate of two injec­tions per week, you will have learned one hundred and four shlokas in a year. When two years have passed thus, all the shlokas from Manache Shloka will have been as­similated. When your mind receives the injections in the form of the verses, the sugar in the form of love of worldly things will be automatically under control. This will be of great help in attaining God.'

* Manache Shloka _ { *M% *$fai )   a set of two hundred and five verses or stanzas written by Saint Ramadas in the form of advice to the