Perception

 On the blank wall, what you read is what you are!

…contd……

You may say ‘oh, it happens in stories, but in today’s world, how can it happen’?

Well, I won’t talk about others but will share some of my learning’s with you. People in my life taught me how to be and how not to be. Each incident and person in my life gave me clarity of thought and also conducive atmosphere to practice what I learnt.

Once my brother was in hospital and few reports had to be brought immediately – say in 30 mts and I was the only one who could do it as my mom was with him. His friends were at the hospital and one of them who had bike suggested we go in his bike and get the reports. Because, Dr. said only 30 mts we drove really fast.

Next day, a family friend and (so called) well-wisher came to our house and told my mother to be careful with me as I am going wayward (I am sure you all can guess what wonderful language she must’ve used to describe me on the bike with a boy). My mother started shouting at me even without telling me what it was all about. Incidentally, those boys were there at home and even that day I was packing lunch to go to hospital along with the same boy. One of them intervened and questioned my mother and that aunt and asked the boy who dropped me to come forward. He asked her “Did you see didi with him?”. She was surprised to see that boy at our house. When she nodded her hear, they explained “our friend is in hospital and didi is managing home, college and hospital single-handedly and so one of us is dropping and picking her up. That’s the least we could do for didi and our friend who’s in hospital. What’s wrong in this?”. The woman feeling embarrassed started blabbering “I didn’t know they were her younger brother’s friends. They all look so grown up and you know how the world is … blah…blah…blah…” and she left.

We all did have a hearty laugh after she left. But I learnt one thing. Everything that you see is not real. What we presume because of what we see talks about our character and doesn’t reflect the Truth as it. So, it’s better never to ‘assume’ – whatever you see.

Two people going together – need not be lovers or married couple. They can be in any relation or even complete strangers just being together for that moment.

This is a very common experience that most of you must have had. But, the difference is I didn’t feel insulted, angry, depressed or hatred towards that lady. Id didn’t see it as ‘my character’ is being tarnished. No. it was for me ‘an insight’ which I started applying everywhere from that day onwards. Result – I stopped judging people, stopped imagining about their life-style and character. I wasn’t cooking up stories and images about others in my brain. I became free to a large-scale thereby – mentally. If I saw two people in cinema, it meant they had come to cinema – nothing else. If I saw them in a restaurant, it meant they are eating – nothing else. In short I understood ‘Raju-gari china bharya andanga undi’ means his second wife is beautiful – that’s all!

…contd….

The Ideal student

…contd…

This fakir was none other than the Adi-Guru Swami Dattatreya. He was born son of Sage Atri and his wife Anasuya know for her chastity. Students and children of sage Atri were called Atreya – hence the name Datta atreya – Dattatreya. He was the vara-prasada (born of boon) given by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and hence went on to become Adi-Guru. But, he called himself ‘student of Nature’ when asked by King Yadu as to who he was. That is the quality of discipleship. It is not something that can be bought. It’s a pre-requisite quality that lets the flower bloom when the bud is ready. Sun is ever present for all but only the flower ready to boom blooms. Likewise, God in the form of knowledge is available to one and all in various forms teaching us at all times. 

But, the important question is ‘am I available to learning’?

Availability is possible when I am open to learning. Being open means accepting I don’t know and I need to learn and know. It humbles me. It should also mean I have no conditions with regards to receiving from any source as long as I receive all that is divine. Only a person who keeps his ego in lock and key is available and open enough to receiving all that comes his way. If Swamy Dattatreya can learn from a courtesan, can’t we learn from people in our life? Can’t we learn from people who are giving discourses? When he can thank a courtesan, wasp, elephant for being his Guru and giving them due credit for his learning can't we be fearless enough to accept our Guru in public - whoever it be.

Since this quality cannot be directly developed, work to dropping negative qualities and do intention reiki to develop qualities of discipleship and then when it happens, you’ll find Gurus teaching you from every aspect of nature.

...contd....

Swamy Datta - The Ideal Student

….contd…..

So, how will I know if I am following ‘real Guru’ or a ‘fake one’? What will become of me if I follow a ‘fake one’?.

For me these questions don’t matter because I asked the right question. “how to benefit even from a fake Guru?”

King Yadu once found a beggar totally at peace with himself and so blissful that he was surprised. He went to that beggar and asked ‘you are just a beggar and yet so blissful and I being the king am so unhappy. Please tell me your secret. What’s that you have that gives you so much of happiness.’ That fakir replied ‘I am happy because of who I am and not because of what I have’. Then king said ‘tell me about it’ and to that fakir replied “I am a student of Nature and my 24 Gurus have taught me all that I know.”

King asked “where can I find them and how to approach them and what did you learn from then?”

Fakir replied “one of my Gurus is wasp. The wasp is said to take an insect, keep it in its nest, and keep stinging it every now and then until the insect becomes one-pointed with fear. The insect is almost meditating on the wasp in its terror, until it takes on the characteristic of its tormentor and itself become a wasp. "Brahma vidya brahmeva bhavati," ("To know Brahman is to become Brahman.") The situation is so reminiscent of Sambhrama yoga that Kamsa practised. His fear of Krishna made his mind so one-pointed that he attained liberation. So, I learnt to meditate on the name of the God from Wasp.

My other Guru is a courtesan name Pingala. One day Pingala was desperately waiting for her lover and as time proceeded her anguish increased and at a point of time she could bear it no more. At that time, she just went within (herself) and looked at her anguish and pain. She decided not to suffer anymore because of her lover and out of sheer (detachment) vairagya, dropped her attachment and turned her feelings towards God and the insight she had, the transformation she had was so profound that she became divine totally. Her story and her commitment to outgrow her pain taught me that when the realization happens, it transforms anyone completely and then he is nothing related to his past.  This I learnt from her and I also learnt how to be ‘committed’  from her.” Like this he goes on to explain about his 24 Gurus

….contd…..

qualities of disciple

...contd....

How do I develop ‘student’ qualities in /through action apart from Sadhan?

Simple. As already stated talk about insights given by your Guru. Talk about his words – be it writings, books or discourses. You can distribute few of the books occasionally of your Guru to people interested in the related topics. If fear grips you, don’t stand up to defend your Guru. Let be! You need not wield a sword for Him. Either he is real Guru or a fake one. If he is ‘smart fake one’, then he’ll show that he is not hurt by what others say about him. So, since you wouldn’t know that he is hurt, you need not feel bad. And if he is ‘real Guru’ and then what people say about him couldn’t bother him. Then also you need not do anything. So, either way, he’ll deal with what others say about him his way (this is if you are afraid of facing wrath of people who dislike him or who are having complaints against him).

Even Lord Krishna had been called “Mayavi” (illusionist) by Duryodhan and gang, Jesus was condemned and crucified. Like wise, the men who say ‘kill all who don’t follow our religion’ also have supporters in thousands! What a irony! 

A person who spreads hatred in the name of religion too is considered a God-man by his followers. So, remember, even the right can be wronged and the wrong considered and glorified as right. Even the right can be condemned and his integrity questioned. But still, these external noises cannot make the right wrong. Similarly, the numbers and the followers cannot make the wrong right.

Just the same, though the wrong is followed by thousands, the might doesn’t become right. Wrong can not be right. Wrong can be assumed as right but it is never right! These things will continue to be so as long as the world exists. So relax!

….contd…..

Guru shishya

….contd…..

But those type of Guru’s don’t exist now so what’s the use of doing seva and to who can we do such seva? Guru’s are ever present in our midst – only we can’t know them due to our ignorance. That’s the curse of Kaliyuga – that the real Guru remains hidden in plain sight and the dubious, fake and cheats get followed as Gurus.

Then how are we to know real Guru’s? No need to know. When the student is ready, the ‘Real Guru’ enters your life. Now what does ‘when the student is ready mean?’.  A  student is said to be ready when he has NO ego and arrogance and HAS humility, bhakthi, respect for Guru, eagerness to learn, purity of intent and earnestness.

Only a student who wants to be guided by a master and has purity of such intent meets a Master who will guide him accordingly. Now this master may be one who just gives discourses enmasse. But after listening to 1000 such masters who give  discourses and having tried and applied atleast few of their advice one comes across a master who’s good with few techniques to outgrow one’s limitations. After doing seva (100%) for 1000 such Masters, one is qualified to meet a Guru who knows what he says and who’s walked the path that he is teaching. Only when having done seva to 100’s of such Gurus, does one come across a Sadguru like Adishankaracharya or a Paramahamsa.

So, instead of trying to gauge the qualities of a Master develop purity of intent and humility. This is so very easy especially since you are a reiki channel and various techniques taught to you if used regularly will yield result thereby moulding you into a ‘student’ and then Guru will find you. Relax till then….but be in regular sadhan! Yes, Sadhan once again. Nothing beats sadhan. Remember that always!

....contd.....

Shankaracharya and his disciples

….contd….

Adi Shankaracharya had few shishyas with him learning from him. One among them was Giri. He was a slow learner and couldn’t understand most of what was taught by Guru Adi Shankaracharya. So, he would seek clarification after the class from his seniors and his fellow students who were adept at grasping all that was taught. He was made fun of by one and all. He did not feel bad about it. He did not feel insulted or dejected. Instead he would think he may be a shame to his Guru because of his dullness. He had one quality that no one had - Guru Bhakthi. He would do all that was to be done even before it was told to him by his Guru. He was so much tuned to his Guru’s need. For eg. He would feel his Guru is to get up in 10mts and would immediately get up (I am taking about early morning 2.45am or so..) and keep light ready outside Guru’s room and his staff, clothes to take to the river. He would be ever ready standing outside the door, when his Guru would open his door ready with lamp.

Once he had gone for washing his Guru’s clothes and it was time to start the class. All other students had gathered. Adi Shankaracharya said “Let’s wait for Giri to start the lecture.” Everyone laughed and said “What’s the use? Even if he listens, he wouldn’t anyhow understand. So, let’s continue.” Guru felt very bad for his dear shishya that day. He closed his eyes and said “Giri, here take all the knowledge that I wish to give you – now Giri who was on his way to ashram stopped as he heard his Guru’s voice and closed his eyes as per his Guru’s order. When he opened his eyes, he rushed towards ashram with tears of joy flowing from his eyes and as he looked at his Guru he started singing “Throtaka Ashtakam“.  Everyone was stunned. That day they realized what they lacked and what he had. They realized that they wanted to learn with their ego and here was a simpleton working on cleansing his ego and got everything in a fraction of a second. Adi Shakaracharya named him Throtaka and hence the Ashtakam was called so.

….contd…..