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The Recluse |
Chapter - 4 from the book "The WholeThing - The Real Thing" |
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Posted On: 24/09/2005 |
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Author: Admin [Shrigurudevji.com] |
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Twenty-five was the age when Shri Maharaj accompanied by his Guruji descended from Uttarkashi having completed his study of the scriptures and having discovered the truth about his innermost Self. For about a moth, they stopped over at the small picturesque village of Kajliwan, near Rishikesh. Set amidst a dense jungle that supported many wild carnivorous animals, it was a place that nevertheless held a special welcome to the Sadhus and Mahatmas. Maharaj Shri and Guruji were given a rousing reception by the people of Kajliwan and other surrounding villages.
Among the throng of darshan-seekers was a Brahmin milkman, whose practice it was to offer milk to the holy guests that visited the place. Maharaj Shri arranged with him to bring everyday half a litre of milk which he would boil and serve to Guruji every night. One day, it so happened that the Brahmin's wife said, "The cow has given very little milk today. It will not be enough even for the children."
The Brahmin, however, paid no heed to his wife and supplied half a litre as usual to the honoured guests. When Maharaj Shri warmed up the milk and served it to Guruji, he said, "There is the woe in the milk today. I shall not drink it. Please return it to milkman and tell him to stop giving it." Maharaj Shri did as he was told. About fifteen days later, as fate would have it, the milkman's son died. The whole plac was agog with the rumour that Guruji was displeased with the Brahmin milkman and therefore he had lost his son. Maharaj Shri conveyed this to Guruji, who merely said, "When the people take the boy's corpse to the cremation grounds tell them to send for me before making the funeral pyre."
That was done. The corpse was placed on the ground pending Guruji's arrival. Guruji came. He had the strings securing the shroud removed the kicked the lifeless head gently with his foot, saying, "Why do you sleep so much?" And lo, the boy was on his feet! It was a miracle that dazed everyone present. Wonderstruck, they bowed to the great Mahatma in their midst.
On reaching their hut, Guruji said to the Maharaj Shri, "It's better to leave this place right now before all the dead people here start pestering us for life!" And with that Guruji left - leaving Maharaj Shri alone!
The Ganga was in furious flood, rising every minute. All the low lying spots threatened by the gushing waters had already been vacated. But two Sadhus, caring two hoots about their safety, continued to sit calmly on their wooden planks that were tied by ropes to two separate acacia trees. Maharaj Shri saw them and wondered why they were so unconcerned about their lives when they could, like the other Sadhus, have easily found shelter elsewhere. In order to probe their fate, he climbed up a tree situated at a higher point and kept a constant vigil on the Sadhus. Three days thus passed but the three of them remained rooted to their precarious spots, unmindful of the danger. On the fourth day, the torrential flow of the flooded Ganga uprooted one of the acacia trees and set it afloat. The wooden plank tied to it, with the Sadhu still sitting on it, was also afloat! But what did Maharaj see? Not the least trace of worry on the floating Sadhus's face. No anxiety. No perplexity. Clam, composed , unperturbed he gave a beaming smile to the other Sadh, "Glory to the Lord of the Universe. At last, I'm on the move." The other one unmoved by the situation returned the smile and said, "Glory to the Lord of Universe. Wherever you be, in whatever circumstances, remember Him and remain steadfast."
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CHAPTER - II |
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Excerpts from book - THE WHOLE
THING - THE REAL THING
Chapter II - Brahma Chaitanya Brahmachari:
On reaching home he tried to win over his elders to his ideas of world renunciation and God-knowledge. They dismissed his talk as childhood obduracy. To the extent that he entreated them not to bind him to the materialistic life, they went ahead with matching speed to entwine him in wedlock. They were afraid that he might again slip out of their hands. On the child’s side, however was his unshakable faith and steadfast resolve. He stood firm on his earlier decision and totally refused to get himself hooked. It worried the elders very much, even though they realized that God willing, the elevated path which the child wanted to traverse would one day benefit not only him but the whole family, perhaps the whole world. But lifelong celibacy, the rigours and tribulations of the ascetic life and at his tender age – just this one thought was enough to make them shudder. They tried their level best to dissuade him but the young Mahatma was not to be swayed. Without God-perception, without intrinsic self realization was anything of any use? |
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