Nirvana Satakam

…contd…

Who knows how many scriptures she had explained and how much we had brushed aside as ‘oh, these….’ without actually understanding them or their worth.

I didn’t know for whom I should feel bad more – for ‘her’ or for us. For her because she took so much of pain to explain and all her efforts fell on deaf ears.

Or on us – for we received what we didn’t deserve and yet let go of all the priceless treasure mistaking them to be useless and waste.

But it never seemed to bother her. She was neither sad that we didn’t understand nor joyous when we did. She was ‘chidananda rupam Shivoham Shivoham’. She did her duty and didn’t assign any weight on its return. Did she actually live all that which she preached?

“That’s why I always say I am not anyone’s son nor is anyone my parent or relative. I am Shiva” said Vandana proudly.

“True. True. Even I feel so detached. Even I don’t think I have any Guru as I am pure consciousness and I don’t need to salute or seek blessings from anyone. I am Shiva” added Aparna.

“When Guru Adi Shankaracharya’s student started reciting these lines without it being taught to him and kept saying “Shivoham” i.e., I am Shiva, Shri AdiShankaraacharya took him to an iron smith, took a cup full of molten iron and drank it. Nothing happened to him. Then he asked his students to do the same. The student didn’t do it. He couldn’t as he knew the molten iron would burn his mouth and digestive tract. Then Guru AdiShankaracharya said “I’ve realized so there is no difference between me, body and iron. So it can’t harm me. don’t say “I am Shiva” without realizing it. His disciple felt ashamed of his act and sought his forgiveness”.

So remember 'don't do what your master does, do as your master asks you to'.

...contd....