Many many years ago, a few thousand to be precise, in a beautiful hermitage in the middle of the forest, lived a learned Guru. We will leave speculation about his name and the exact time to the historians, and focus instead on the knowledge he gave us. Among his many talented disciples, perhaps the most talented was his own son, though the Guru showed him no special favours.
One day, the boy approached his master with due respect, and, when granted permission to ask a question, reverentially asked, “What is God?”
The Guru replied, “Food is God,” and was silent. The boy correctly surmised this to mean that he must study not only food but all things corporeal in the environment, and to understand the true nature of matter. Long years passed as his observation deepened, and at last he concluded that there was more to God than matter.
The Guru replied, “Food is God,” and was silent. The boy correctly surmised this to mean that he must study not only food but all things corporeal in the environment, and to understand the true nature of matter. Long years passed as his observation deepened, and at last he concluded that there was more to God than matter.
Once more he approached his father and asked, “What is God?” This time the sage replied, “Prana (the life force) is God (Brahman).” The boy plunged this time into an intense study of prana, mastering the techniques of controlling the life force energy through pranayama and related disciplines. But some years later, there came a day when he went to his father once again and reverently repeated his query, “What is Brahman?”
“Mind is God,” intoned the Guru, and sank once again into the depths of his meditative bliss. Living up to his talent, the disciple wasted not a moment but plunged into a deepening experience of mind and consciousness through meditation. Stilling the modulations of the mind, he prepared himself once more to receive the best that the master had to offer. “Intelligence is God,” was the next message he received from the Guru a few years further on. By this time he was able to plumb the depths of intuitive perception and unravel the mysteries of self-knowledge which have formed the basis of Indian spiritual thought for centuries.
But there was still another step to take; and once more he asked his father, this time with the confidence of the true seeker, “What is God?” With a satisfied smile and infinite love, the master replied with an air of finality, “Bliss is God!” When the ripened seeker delved into the experience of bliss, he dissolved in it totally – the ecstasy of Divine realization became his very being, and thus he was enlightened.
This episode underlines the basic premise of Hinduism, the realization of the Self and of the unity of all of creation through a combination of knowledge, discipline, intuition, experience and devotion. Of these, much has been discussed about knowledge, discipline and even devotion for that matter, but the key lies perhaps in the remaining two factors – experience and intuition. In our culture, a student has always been encouraged to trust his own experience and sharpen his intuitive perception. This path is the path of experience, of subtlety and of beauty; it is not the realm of dry theorization and rhetoric. In fact, through the ages, the self-realized souls have sung out in bliss and danced in ecstasy; they have showered love on all around them.
In addition, they have also shown a keenness of perception and sharpness of logic that would put the greatest intellect to shame. The icing on this cake has been their focus on social reconstruction and rural development; from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda to Aurobindo, the sages have expressed selfless service and love with equal passion and commitment, and sought to mould not just a nation but a generation of young minds through their message.
The gurus sought to inspire their disciples by giving them not just ideals but a genuine experience of their true nature. They also became role models for the youth; role models who would never shatter or get mired in controversy. These beacons of humanity shine bright as ever today, and hold out a ray of hope for a generation that is constantly starved of yet craving for idols and ideals.
Wonderful, Was expecting something like this through you on this blog and it happened.
Thanks a lot.
Vikram bhai! My mom did her basic course from you, maybe 10 yrs back in kolkata. She was estatic to see your blog. JGD !
Wow!
Definitely meant for sravana, manana and nidhidhyasana.
Thank You!!
Wow, very nice
Happy Friendship’s Day.. :)) :)) :))
Jai Gurudev Bhaiya
I am totally flat over your voice.
Now, must say your writing style is very alive and quick.
Keep sharing
smilesss
Mind blowing!!!!
Wonderful post!!
Jai Gurudev 🙂
Thanks a Ton for sharing the links of such wonderful blogs, I was looking for such links.
Jai Gurudev!!
amazing…. yes today , Guruji is that ocean of compassion, beacon of hope and love, ray of light and an inspirition of idols and ideals for not only the youth but also people accross many age groups and cultures….
simply superb…!
today we have a really bliss full day starts with rudrapuja at ashrama after this story, simply amazing….!!!!!
Jai Gurudev
feeling so much grateful for being born in a country where there is a wealth of vedic knowledge, guru shishya parampara,devotion….. and off course Guruji! who is there with us always!
Jai Gurudev Bhaiya,
The very fact that you would be reading this gives me pleasure…:)
Really nice article:)
Jai Gurudev..
With Lots of Love
Siddharth
For a seeker true knowledge comes only through meditation which has to be experienced and not learnt from any Guru. Just like Buddha. Only when one realises that everything in this world is an illusion that one gains knowledge.
I agree mamuni; in fact, if a guru ever tells you, “Come to me and I shall reveal the truth to you” you shd run as far and as fast as you can. The Guru shows you the way, it’s still entirely your responsibility to walk on the path, and you wd be surprised how many actually don’t! Its easy to listen to the guru’s words; it’s tougher to live by them; and toughest to listen to His silence, coz that’s when He really communicates the Presence to you. Wish you and your family the very best. 🙂
Vikram
woow, reading your reply Vikram Bhaiya, hairs on my body stands, a mark of words coming from real understanding and not just mere book reading.
BTW your physical presence also makes me feel the same. Charged with …………
On the other hand Guru’s Grace is a vital force that helps one to realize the world as illusion.
Without Guru’s grace the journey is like rowing the boat through the waters,(as i am writing Vikram Bhaiya appears on Sanskar television serial sing Aum Namah Shivay with His deep vocals :)) With the Guru’s Grace (the wind) one just have to take care of few things and enjoy the safe ride.
And it’s very difficult to escape one’s one is under Guru’s or God’s grace. Shri Ramakrishna Paramhamsha in Gospel of Sri RamaKrishna puts it symbolically very beautifully about Guru’s or God’s grace, “If you enter your name in a hospital register, the doctor will not discharge you until you are cured. Those who are held by God have nothing to fear. The son who holds to his father, while walking along the narrow ridge of a paddy-field, may slip if he absent-mindedly lets go his father’s hand; but if the father holds the son by the hand, there is no such danger.”
Yeah the genuine experience that you said about.. that happened to me in nov 2006 during PDS.. You had guided the batch through Yog Nidra and I cannot forget I had come to test Guruji since my best friend loved him so much, i was jealous.. But when I opened my eyes with a guided smile 🙂 .. and there He was right in front on the screen too.. something happened.. I think that was my first experience of such unconditional love as an adult.. I could not help myself.. tears rolled down in satsang.. and they keep rolling every satsang now and then..
wow knowledge put so beautifully in words. bhaiya its amazing :))
jai gurudev
manjula
too good bhaiya!! knowledge put in words just so immaculately
Jai Gurudev
Manjula
love your style of story writing… esp the “lets look at the knowledge and not fight over the name and the date” was a slap in the face for many who loose out on the knowledge and get lost in the insignificant things.
very informative. i used to tell it in course but first time i realized it. will u please tell that we also say these sheaths are inside out so what does it mean or how to explain it..
Jaigurudev!
Am going thru this Blog for the first time… and its Amazing!
Thanks Vikramji.