Anecdotes

• I am on the right path
• In your sorrow
• Taking trouble on himself
• Ideal Person
• All Krishna's Leela..
• Taming an arrogant mind
• Reading The Mind

I am on the right Path

Erika Proelss first met Gurudev at the Bircher-Benner Private Clinic at Zurich, Switzerland where he was convalescing after a heart attack. She was certainly thrilled by his unique speeches in which she found answers to her many soul-searching questions and doubts. So she would spend all her spare time in Gurudev's presence.

One day, towards the end of his stay at the clinic, Gurudev was going through the mail that had just been brought in by the nurse. There, on top, was the bill of the clinic. Seeing the figure on it, Gurudev's eyes opened wide and he murmured, 'Who will pay this?' Erika knew that Bircher Clinic was a rather expensive place, yet she was shocked by the sum. But Gurudev, the saintly philosopher from India with no money of his own, continued reading his letters. Her mind worked feverishly. . .. Whom to ask - churches, welfare organisations. . .? The hopes were dim since Gurudev was quite a stranger to most people in Zurich.

Suddenly Gurudev exclaimed, 'Here it is.' And he passed the letter to her. It was from two devotees, businessmen from Hong Kong who wrote that they had heard about his illness and would like to help meet his hospital expenses. Enclosed with the letter was a cheque for almost the same amount as the bill. Excited, she said, 'Oh! that is a real wonder. Aren't you much relieved Gurudev?' But his answer was quite simple as ever, 'I was never worried. It just shows me that whatever I am doing is right. Krishna, Krishna! Hari Om, HariOm!'

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In your sorrow

Life offers many different experiences - joys as well as sorrows. Swamiji's devotees were no exception to the laws of nature. But to their succour, they had their ever-loving Gurudev, who would always heal their sorrows with his loving words; and give them a message that would lift them from their state of sadness to an elevated state of divine understanding.

A young man had just lost his father and was in a terrible state' of shock. He found himself as the lonely witness of that inevitable, terrible incident called 'The Visit of Death'. Worried and brooding over the responsibilities of his whole family that suddenly broke on him, he ventured to write to Gurudev. Gurudev's soothing reply healed his pain, and also inspired him to face the hard facts of life with a brave heart.

Gurudev said, 'I am sorry to hear the news at home; but if we really think over it, what is so strange in what has happened to you? Is it not the same thing that happens to everyone, always? Father departed leaving Ma and family on you. So did your Grandpa, who left your Pa alone to take care of you all!

Religion doesn't promise that Nature will stand still around you! All these; you too can get. Hence, renounce all your regrets and expectations, and work as diligently as you can. Be Bold. Discover the divine strength of courage through  Japa and Dhyan. I am always with you. '

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Taking trouble on himself

Sarva-rakshak

In Sidhbari, a group of devotees were expected to come. Vivek and a small group of devotees were with Gurudev, singing Bhajans. Gurudev was sitting in the kutia when he suddenly got up and walked up to the window and looked out impatiently. After a while he came back to his seat and sat down. Then a little later, the bus with the expected devotees arrived. All excited, the devotees narrated to Gurudev, how they had narrowly averted a major accident. Gurudev smiled without a question on his face. The time of the accident coincided with the time when Gurudev suddenly got up to look out of the window.

Taking Trouble On Himself

It was one of Pujya Gurudev’s camps at Siddhabari in June 1990. The camp had ended and many of the campers continued to stay back and spend some time with Gurudev. However, some enthusiastic campers wanted to go for sightseeing to Mcleodganj and Dharamshala. Inspite of Gurudev's initial unwilling­ness, they persuaded him and took his permission to go for the outing. The rest of the campers assembled next to Gurudev's feet, as he sat outside his kutiya, lovingly narrating incidents during his gurukul days under Swami Tapovanji Maharaj.
Suddenly Gurudev's body became blue, and his face became terribly pale. He stopped talking and closed his eyes, resting his head on the back of his easy-chair. No one knew what to do. Dr.Kshama Metre rushed to get the insulin injection. Meter few minutes, Gurudev opened his eyes and smiled at everyone. 'Ha! I scared you all.. ..right? Don't worry. I am fine.' And he continued to narrate the events.

A few hours later, the group that went for the sight­seeing trip returned to the ashram. They bowed at Gurudev's feet and asked for his forgiveness. One of them said, 'Swamiji, we are sorry that we went in spite of your initial refusal. Somehow, we narrowly escaped a major head-on collision with another bus. If the accident had happened, all of us were sure to die with the bus falling into the deep valley. It was then that we realised why you refused to permit us.' Gurudev smiled at them with all his pouring love.

Later on, they came to know that Gurudev had suddenly fallen ill, and actually he had averted the accident by taking the trouble on himself

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A youth meet was organised during the Vile Parle camp in 1987. After addressing them, as Gurudev was leaving, all youngsters flocked around him. One young Sikh boy came up to Gurudev and asked, 'Swamiji, who is the ideal person that we should follow?'

Gurudev paused, removed his spectacles and while wiping them, he looked directly into the boy's eyes and said, 'Don't search for the 'ideal person'. Instead, search for the 'Ideals' in every person you meet.'

As though to clarify, he pointed at himself and humorously said, 'See this Swami's terrible temper!' And replacing his spectacles, he walked off

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All Krishna's Leela..

In her early days of association with the Mission, Pushpa Adhyaru used to wonder why people go to meet Gurudev so much. Why did they wait unnecessarily and trouble him? Why did a Swami need money? Why do Missionary workers need money?

With her mind filled up to the brim, one day she went to meet Gurudev in his kutiya. It was a rainy day and his flight had got cancelled. Gurudev was explaining to a Brahmachari and the devotees assembled around, 'I started with Fifty Paise in my pocket. The rest is all Krishna's Leela.' As people were forcing Gurudev to go for the Suvarana Tulabhar, Gurudev replied, 'No, nothing is mine. It is all Narayana's glory. But since you insist, do it... keeping Him in your heart.'

He then continued, 'As long as the body is, work, you must. If there is nothing to do, take a broom and sweep the lawn. When you turn around, you will find there are more leaves. You continue sweeping. People will think you are mad. You will think they are mad. From the standpoint of the Ultimate Reality, both don't exist. But the work is purifying you, that is important.'

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Reading The Mind

Pujya Gurudev was talking about the youth in general and particularly in Western countries, as few Chyks had been to the Powai ashram to have his darshan. Parindra Kadakia was also sitting in this group of youngsters. Gurudev was talking about licentiousness and freedom. He said, 'True freedom will lead man to the glorious heights of perfection. And for that three values should be cultivated - Satyam, Ahimsa and Brahmacharya. Brahmacharya at Body level, Ahimsa at the Mental level and Satyam at the Intellectual level should be practiced. The benefits of these are plenty. May it be a material career or a spiritual one, these values lead man to supreme success in the chosen field. '

As everyone was listening to him, Parindra was wondering, 'How would Brahmacharya (self-control) be useful to us at the body level? They say Brahmacharya cultivates tremendous power of memory, is it so?' But he did not raise the questions openly to Gurudev, and continued to listen and watch him meet visitors as they came. One of those visitors happened to be a middle-aged man who came and prostrated at the feet of Pujya Gurudev. While greeting he asked, 'Do you remember me, Swamiji?’ Pujya Gurudev said, 'Oh yes! Do you still live in Delhi? How is the hand of your wife now?' The visitor was shocked! He explained, 'How do you remember an incident which took place some 15 years ago? I have not met you since!'

On hearing this Pujya Gurudev smiled. Then he turned around & looking towards Parindra, he said, 'Brahmacharya!' There, his teaching was over. He did not elaborate further nor did Parindra ask further about the values of life.

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