Visions

Jai Ma

It was a wonderful day on 26th April, when at the usual Satsang, something divine and poignant happened.

To aid in concentration and help meditate, I started focussing on the photo of Periya Swamiji, His Holiness Swami Sri Vidya Dos. Just as I was reciting the Guru Mantra, i suddenly was overcome by a nice vibration and saw that instead of Periya Swamiji's face, I could see a face of Ramakrishna Paramahamsar. During this period my vision was very focussed and the whole field of vision was blank and covered by a green tint. Only the photo of Swamiji remained in my vision. I could feel how Arjuna saw only the eye of the Bird. This was the first time that I had such a single minded concentration.

Surprised as I was, I immediately mentally venerated to Sri Ramakrishnar. While this was done, the image slowly dissolved in the green tint. Again, another face emerged out of the tint, and I was able to recognise the face of Sri Ramanar. I was indeed awed. I again paid my mental obeisance. Slowly, like a slide show, I could see a stream of faces of great spiritual leaders. Each appearing and upon a mental veneration slowly fading away. It was like a parade. I could see, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Adi Shankara, Sri Bharathi Theertha Maha Swamigal of Sringeri and Sri Jayendrar of Kanchi, Sri Vijayendrar of Kanchi, Kundrakudi Adigalar, Aurobindo, Sri Trichy Swamigal of Mysore, and a host of faces in Sanyasi attire whom I could not recognise. More to my surprise, I saw Mother Teresa. That was a profound moment. Tears started to flow from my eyes. I also saw, Sri Yogi Ram Surat Kumar, Mata Amritanandamayi, Sri Jaggi Vasudev, Shridi Sai Baba. I even saw Guru Nanak, Guru Hargobind Singh. I could not recognise a few muslim saints.

Overall, it was a wonderful moment. I could feel that everyone blessed me with that vision.

After the satsang, I sat thinking about what happened.

The first thoughts were that I just realised that all the above great souls were giving the teachings and blessings through Periya Swamiji who acted through My Venerable Guru, Swamiji, Swami Sri Gomathi Dos.

So I could see my Guru as the one who could provide me with the whole summation of all divine teachings. I need not seek for anything beyond what my Guru teaches me. What I need to know - is taught by my Guru. What I deserve to know is imparted promptly by my Guru.

I once again prostrated to Swamiji mentally and made a resolution once again to totally surrender and dedicate myself to his lotus feet. I also thanked him mentally for having bestowed on me such a vision.

Jai Ma.

Mantra is energy.

Mantra is energy. It can be used for good or for evil, depending on the intention of the person using it, but the energy itself is neutral. If you recite mantra for your own sake, it will help only you, if you will pray for others, it will help both you and the other party, if you recite to harm someone, the mantra will harm you as well. Be responsible, it is a power tool.

The mantras came from Indian spiritual tradition. Mantra is the essence of the God and each mantra calls upon a certain aspect of him, known by a different name. According to all new and ancient science every thing in Universe is nothing but a field of vibration with different rates of intensity. We are all different because we vibrate at different rates. Any force, or god is also can be represented by a vibration with specific formula, that is mantra. Therefore, mantras of each God connects us directly to this source of energy, and to a corresponding aspect within us, helping to activate and empower it. Anything or anybody in the world can be affected and changed by a vibration, this is mantras work: reciting mantras creates a vibration that affect you and those you target.

Nature of Atman

Drops of rain when they condense in the clouds are colourless and odourless. But upon landing on this land, they take up the colour appropriate to the place of landing. If it has landed in the red sand, it takes a red colour, if it lands in clay soil it takes a blackish colour. The drop that lands in the sea tastes salty, and that which landed in the gutter gets a displeasing stench. But take that drop of water and boil it and once it evaporates it leaves the characteristics it took on while here and vapourises to become pure water vapour which when condensed forms pure water. Similarly, we began from Paramathma, and upon taking this birth imbibe the characteristics and become impure. To become pure and to realize the Paramathma, we must undergo severe tests and hope to loose the acquired colour and odour. By constant Sadhana, we have to get rid of the impurities accumulated in this birth and become one with Paramathma again.

Guru Mahima

Guru mahima. Swamiji yesterday narrated a story of the parrot. How to understand the directions of a Guru. Also illustrating the subtle guidance shown by a Guru.

There was this Guru and his sishya. Everyday the sishya goes around town taking Biksha and then brings back what he gets and shares it with his Guru. One day when he was at a big house, he saw a Parrot in a Cage just at the entrance of a Big house. He found out that the Bird could speak. Immediately as the Parrot spoke, he entered into a conversation and informed the parrot that he was here in that town along with his beloved and great Guru. Upon hearing this, the parrot directed the sishya to ask one question to his Guru. That was, “When will I escape from this prison of mine”? The Sishya too said ok and after receiving Biksha returned to the Gurukul and narrated the incident to the Guru. The moment, the Guru heard the Question, he went into a big fit of paralysis and immediately lay unconscious. The sishya then frantically tried to revive him, which he succeeded in an hour or so. This upset the Sishya. He became angry at the parrot for putting such a question to his Guru and endangering him. He wowed that he would never speak to a parrot again. The next day, when the sishya again went to the house for Biksha, the parrot started to speak to him. But the Sishya did not even venture a reply. But the parrot kept on insisting. At one point of time, the sishya lost his cool and started yelling at the parrot. Saying because of the parrot, yesterday, his Guru’s life was put in danger and narrated whatever happened at the Gurukulam to the parrot. And it was foolish for him to have acted at the behest of a lowly parrot. Immediately the parrot went into a fit of paralysis. Stunning the sishya, who called nearby for help. When the owner of the house came out and saw the parrot unconscious, he asked the sishya what happened? To which, the sishya replied that he was talking to the parrot and suddenly it went into a fit of paralysis and fainted. The owner took the bird out of the cage to inspect the bird. As soon as the bird saw an opportunity, it immediately took wings and said to the sishya to thank the Guru. For through him he had given the parrot a wonderful teaching on how to escape.

Thus, in mysterious ways, the Guru acts. His actions seemingly innocent, but carry a wealth of knowledge.

Compassion

It is said, “He who has drops of compassion (karuna) is Human and he who hasn’t is no better than an animal”. Just a few drops are enough to qualify to be human (Nenjil Eeram irundhal manidhan). But our Guru - Swami Sri Gomathi Dos is one who has the Ganges flowing in his heart incessantly. He is ever compassionate.

By taking our place in his heart – we will be cleansed by his karuna. Just like a bath in the Ganges.

He is so filled with compassion that he can fulfill everyone who comes to his fold.

But during our daily interactions with Swamiji, we find that many a time he scolds one among us, he acts irritated and he is angry. Many a time, I have been at the receiving end of his tirade. Does that mean that he shows different Karuna to different people or different Karuna at different times? How are we to take this in our stride?

I can only think that I am blessed to be the object of his scolding. Because he only scolds those who can take it. He only scolds those whom he loves and likes. He only scolds those who will learn from his words. He only scolds those who respect him for his true opinion. More importantly he never scolds without reason.

But isn’t it oxymoronic that he scolds whom he loves?

Well, our Guru is a person, whose Karuna knows no bounds. He can love incessantly. He can love blindly. He can love everybody. But to what effect? What good will come out of loving somebody who doesn’t deserve it? For all we know, such blind love has often gone unrecognized. The receiver neither realizes nor recognizes that he has been loved – that too undeservedly. Therefore it becomes necessary to love those who only deserve it.

Taking this further – Do we deserve his love?

I say no – we don’t deserve an iota of his love. Surprised? Well, that is the truth!

Why, you may ask? Well, because we are not perfect!

So whenever we are with Swamiji, out of his karuna he endeavours to make us better.

Most of us come to Swamiji with a host of problems. If we were to be rid to the problem by the mere sight of him, then we will keep returning to him with the same problem.

Whereas our Guru is such a person that he goes to the root of the problem and remedies it by whatever means required. Resorting to either Sama, Bedha, Dhana, or Dhandam.

It is our naïve rosy wish that whenever we come to him, he will be ever loving and show his unbounded Karuna and bless us that we be relieved of our problem. Believe me, it will be solved. Unfortunately, because we – the imperfect ones – are the root of the problem, we face the same problem again and again we come to Swamiji with the same problem. Does that help you? Has his Karuna really helped you? I would think not.

That is why when he takes recourse to what is the root of the problem and even resorts to Dhana or Dhandam, it doesn’t mean that he is being less compassionate. Or he is not showing his Karuna. Infact it is the opposite. The more he advices, the more he loves you. That his way of showing his Karuna. He cannot show less Karuna, for the Ganges of Karuna in his heart never runs dry. And like the Ganges, he doesn't see distinction of place, time, or person - he cleanses - whoever it is.

If you are at the receiving end of his tirades, you only have to understand it that he is being a Mother. A mother who feeds her child bitter medicines that the child may grow strong. A mother who despises to give bitter medicines, but does it for the betterment of the child. Like that mother, our Guru gives us bitter medicines – albeit reluctantly, but unfortunately, we like a child are adamant and spit it out and make a commotion out of it, even criticizing the medicine.

We as disciples should take that medicine without commotion. In whatever way it is given and follow His instructions to the letter. In that way, we can repay his Karuna by becoming closer to perfection.

Most of the people who come to meet Swamiji, come with Fruits, Betel Leaves, Flowers and a Dakshina. And they expect his Karuna in return. Are they trying to buy his love? Are they trying to bribe him to show his Karuna? Are they buying his Karuna? Well, I don’t think it will work. Unless we really bribe him with real love – he will not give us his Karuna. Our Guru is no astrologer who predicts the future for a fee. He is no soothsayer who tells your fortune for a fee. The only fee our Guru expects is Love. Love of the Divine. Love towards Ma. And She through her unbounded Karuna, through our Guru will bless you with Goodness.