4 OTHER INCIDENTS
4.1 WAITING to MANIFEST
Once when Tirthankar and I went to
drop him off at the DFW airport, we still had some time on hand and we started
strolling through the airport. Maharaj always liked strolling for a bit. In
those days, one was allowed to be near the gate and press their nose on the
glass windows to bid the goodbye. Just then we chanced upon a young mother with
about a four month old child in a stroller. We all looked at the quiet child
with big blue eyes. I blurted: “Look Maharaj, how innocent..!” Immediately came
the grave reply in the deep voice: “No, Not innocent, waiting to manifest!”
4.2 GURU
Quite a few years later, maybe in
2002, Monidip and Alpana Sengupta along with Ranjana had taken initiation from
Revd Swami Swahanadaji Maharaj of Vedanta Society of Southern California,
Hollywood.
Right after this event, within couple of months, Prabuddhanandaji Maharaj came to Dallas for a retreat. Alpana, newly initiated, keeping in mind Swahanandaji’s advanced age, very emotionally asked Maharaj: “Maharaj, what will happen if guru leaves his body?”
Immediately came the thunderous reply: “Discard that guru who dies!” Perceiving the stunned faces, he continued on a softer note: “Who is Guru? Guru is Satchidananda and no one else!”
Right after this event, within couple of months, Prabuddhanandaji Maharaj came to Dallas for a retreat. Alpana, newly initiated, keeping in mind Swahanandaji’s advanced age, very emotionally asked Maharaj: “Maharaj, what will happen if guru leaves his body?”
Immediately came the thunderous reply: “Discard that guru who dies!” Perceiving the stunned faces, he continued on a softer note: “Who is Guru? Guru is Satchidananda and no one else!”
4.3 HOW DO WE DEVELOP LOVE?
Often, sincere spiritual aspirants have this eternal question: “How do we develop love?” we are all supposed to be loving towards all but we don’t feel so. Many swamis have their own technique. Maharaj’s reply to this question was poignant: “ Expand..! expand yourself, include all; your family, friends, neighbors, countrymen, all human beings, all living creatures; include the whole Universe.”
4.4 CAUGHT !
One funny incident I am going to
narrate here. Usually Tirthankar would drive him and I would sit at the back.
Sometimes I did seize my chance tooJ.
Once I was driving Maharaj back in my own car and Tirthankar was bringing other
devotees back home in his car. This is when I was talking about Dallas traffic,
its speed limits and complained that Tirthankar drives fast and breaks the
rules. Maharaj heard patiently but didn’t comment. Next day with Tirthankar in
the driver seat, the following conversation happened:
Maharaj: “Look
Nandini, he is driving so properly. Yesterday you were complaining he doesn’t
obey
the rules and drives fast.”
the rules and drives fast.”
Me:”Oh that’s because you are sitting next to him Maharaj!”
Next day I brought some devotees back in my own car and
Maharaj came with Tirthankar. I had reached a tad bit early and just as I was
opening the door lock,
Maharaj got out of the car and called out: “Nandini, Nandini.. I have caught him. You were right. He did not stop at the stop sign..!”
Maharaj got out of the car and called out: “Nandini, Nandini.. I have caught him. You were right. He did not stop at the stop sign..!”
No comments:
Post a Comment