Reminiscences

Once ShriMaharaj had gone to a village called Hulkoti in Karnataka. There a prostitute came to see ShriMaharaj. On seeing ShriMaharaj a sublime sentiment sprang up in her heart. She said, "Maharaj, please impart nama to me. I will conduct myself the way you tell me." Obtaining an assurance from her that she would give up the ignoble profession, and turn a florist, ShriMaharaj imparted nama to her. A bigoted pandit objected that this was in contra­vention ofShastric dictates. ShriMaharaj said in reply,' Believe me, Panditjee, I never disregard the Shastras. Let us remember, however, that the Shastras exist for man, not the other way round. Let us first give this woman a human status, and then apply the Shastric rules to her. Show me the person whose mind has never conceived sin; but the person who does not give in to it by using human discrimination and controls action on the desire is, practi­cally, considered a good person. By practising namasmarana unholy desires gradually weaken, and one begins to feel that one wants God. When that goes on in­creasing, sublimity increases, and ultimately desire gets eradicated.' Later that woman used to work at selling flowers and garlands made out of them. But because of her constant chanting of nama, her condition became like that of a sadhaka.

Reminiscences

A doctor asked, 'Maharaj, may I practise performing ajapajapa* ? How is that japa performed?' Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "Ajapajapa is not to be 'performed', it 'takes place¹ spontaneously. Saints are always in ajapajapa. You know how blood circulates effortlessly in the body .Ajapajapa goes on in the same way; japa takesplace throughout the body."

* Ajapajapa -    repeating nama where there is no formal performance

... 157 ...

Aradhana of Sri Sadguru Brahmachaithanya Maharaj - invitation

Reminiscences

A well - educated, only son of a devotee had secured a good job. He was to be married. The devotee asked ShriMaharaj, 'I have no experience in arranging marriages. Please tell me how to choose a daughter - in - law.' ShriMaharaj promptly said, 'Accept the girl whom all three of you like at first sight. Do not get into any further criti­cal examination.' After advising thus ShriMaharaj further added, 'In my opinion marriage of a son is of a more diffi­cult nature than that of a daughter. The effect of a daughter's marriage is felt at her in - laws.' The effect of a son's marriage is felt in one's home. If everyone at home behaves with a sentiment that he should mind and take care of others, comfort, and contentment will prevail . Also, the elders should act in the manner of elders, and young­sters should act in the free manner of youngsters. There­after, what scope can exist for arising of misunderstand­ings?'

Reminiscences

ShriMaharaj used to tell his followers, "Take refuge in Me." A sadhaka who had stayed with him for several years dedicatedly asked him, "Maharaj, what is the true sense of Take refuge in Me?"  Upon this ShriMaharaj said "Here, Me refers to God. To take refuge in Him means to surren­der to Him; that is, mentally to offer oneself to Him. To offer oneself is to merge one's will with His will. To merge will means to look upon Him as the controller of one's life, For this, one should conduct oneself the way He likes. To do one's duty in domestic life and practise namasmarana, is what He likes."

Reminiscences

A young man from another village met ShriMaharaj. He said to him whatever was to be said, accepted prasad, and returned. Later he remembered that his father had  told him to convey his salutation of regard to ShriMaharaj, and he had forgotten to convey that. Next time he met ShriMaharaj, he said, "Maharaj, please forgive me. Last time I forgot to convey my father's salutation to you.". Upon this ShriMaharaj promptly said, "Convey my blessings to him'; and added in a low voice, "What is the charm in conveying a salutation to him, whom it does not reach the very moment it is spoken ?"

Reminiscences

ShriMaharaj casually asked one teacher, ' Is there a shrine of a Muslim saint near your school?' The teacher said, ' Yes.' ShriMaharaj further said, " Balwantrao Ghanekar, who had studied at the same institution, was once asked the same question. His answer was, ' I do not know'' ' But, 1 said, ' everybody says so.' Balwantrao re­plied, ' Maybe it's so, but I used to go straight to the class,and when school was over, I returned home. I never rambled idly nor aimlessly.' I liked this reply, for the reason that it shows how single - mindedly one should                            pursue one's Sadhana ."