Bhakta-sakha Bhagawan
A child told its mother when it went to bed at night, "Mother! Wake me up when I get
hungry." The mother answered, "There is no need, your hunger will itself wake you." So
too, when the hunger for God comes, it will itself advise you and make you seek the food
you need. God has endowed you with hunger and He supplies the food; He has endowed
you with illness and He grows the specifics you need. Your duty is to see that you get the
proper hunger and the right illness and use the appropriate food or drug!
After days of intense negotiations, Kauravas left no options for the Pandavas but to engage in the war.
For Duryodhana, giving Pandavas an ultimate humiliating defeat was going to be final indignation. Shri
Krishna who is always on the side of Dharma, still had to play the role of a neutral person, an ally to both
Pandavas and Kauravas.
“What do you brothers want from ME?”, asked Krishna to Duryodhana and Arjuna. Krishna also was the
king of Dwaraka and leader of Yadava. “Come and see me later after you think about it ..”.
Both brothers arrived at Krishna’s palace in the afternoon. Krishna was sleeping. Without hesitation,
Duryodhana sat next to HIS head and same way, Arjuna took a seat next to HIS feet, as always. They
both waited there for Krishna to wake up. Every act of HIS carries a message for the humanity .. is there
sleep for the ever vigilant Lord!
As Krishna, opened HIS eyes, Arjuna was the first one HE saw, directly in front of HIM, sitting by HIS feet.
Never saw Duryodhana! “O’ Arjuna, you are here!” HE said. Duryodhana saw the advantage slipping
away, “Krishna, I am here too. I was here first!”. Krishna, gently smiling let this leela continue. “So, what
do the Kauravas want from ME?”
“Krishna! You have the finest warriors in your army. They have the finest weapons and skills to use
them. To defeat the Pandavas, I am sure our army itself will be enough. But, my brothers and generals
feel that your army will add to our strength, and we can bring a much quicker end. So, please give us
your army and weapons, horses, elephants and chariots”
Krishna turned to Arjuna, “Arjuna! How would you like my help? I have many things to give. I have to
share my resources with both Pandavas and Kauravas, alike.”
“Krishna! I just want YOU by our side. Through inquiry, through direct perception and experience, I
believe that YOU are the basis of all that is. Having YOU by our side … your mentorship and guidance is
infinitely more valuable to us than Your worldly resources. Krishna! We don’t want anything else, please
accept my prayers and be my charioteer!”
Krishna was a generation older than Arjuna, but because of this, Krishna called him, HIS true friend –
companion of the Lord!
This collection of stories, anecdotes and is about the journey of a devotee who has resolved that the
Lord, who is the giver of the boons, is far more interesting than the boons HE grants, gifts that HE
bestows. As he goes further in this spiritual endeavor, he begins to compile experiences … with each,
he gains wisdom, feeling HIS presence more and more … until he becomes Arjuna, companion of the
Lord!
Think of ME – a poem by our most loving Father!
The very presence of love for ME in your heart is a sign of MY love for you. None can
love ME without MY loving them!
There is no one dearer to Bhagawan than the bhakta himself. HE is waiting for the bhakta to love HIM
back the way HE loves him. Out of this unbounded love HE has for the devotee, Swami wrote a poem
– addressed to the devotee who is anguished by the distance that always seem to remain between
him and the Lord. Am I near YOU, Swami? Are YOU near me, Bhagawan?
You ask, “How will you know when I am near You?”
When on a sultry night, everything is hot and still
The first cool breeze .. brushes your cheeks ..Think of ME
When the pangs of hunger are satisfied,
and lonesome is pierced by happiness … Think of ME
When your mouth is parched, and you can hardly speak
The first sip of cool water … I am soothing you … Think of ME
When I sprinkle your face with cold rain
And wash the earth, the dry brown leaves,
The first smell of clear rain …
I am cleansing you … Think of ME
When pain dissolves, And tears disappear … Think of ME
When steadfast eyes are horrified, by the cruelties of life,
The first glance of the silent setting sun
I am comforting you … Think of ME
Then you ask, “How will you know when you are near Me?”
When the burning sun
Has scorched you and the earth,
the sand and dust fill your eyes
Not a silver of shade about … And you love ME
When loneliness is accomplished by
Hunger and not one can be satisfied … And you love ME
When your lips are cracked, your tongue feels like clay
Your throat seals up, there is no water about
Not even a mirage in sight … And you love ME
When pain becomes unbearable,
you smile … And you love ME
When I take from you, your most cherished possession
On the first loss of sight
Darkness envelops … And you love ME.
For, everything that you see, hear, smell, taste or touch, belongs to ME. So how can you give to ME what
I already own but your love. And that, I gave to you before time began as your soul’s possession. When
you return it to ME then I will know you are truly Mine and I will dissolve your sorrow and happiness
into ME – that one being ME, I will place you in bliss forever. For, I love and think of you constantly.
HIS Assurance
I will protect you like the eyelids protect the eyes.
Providing for the worldly and spiritual needs of the devotees, re-establishing righteousness, coming to
rescue of the devotees … these aspects of Bhagawan have been attributed to the Vishnu principle.
Vishnu is described to have Sudarshana Chakra. Swami says that Sudarshana symbolizes the
assurance … promise to the devotees, “If you look to ME, I will look to you!”
There is a story about how Vishnu obtained the Sudarshana Chakra.
At the time of creation, Vishnu performed penance to please Easwara, in order to obtain this valuable
Sudarshana Chakra. At the conclusion of this tapa, He was required to offer 1008 lotus flowers to
Easwara, whose symbol is Lingam. One by one, he offered 1007 lotus flowers. Alas! There were no more
flowers left. Without the 1008th flower, offering is incomplete … Now, Vishnu’s eyes are compared with
Lotus flower – always pure and unsullied. Realizing this, He offered his eye to complete the offering. This
is how the Sudarshana aspect became part of Vishnu.
Faith blossoms, when intellect ends
If you have MY anugraha, no graha can harm you!
Devotee, taken to the path of wisdom, understands the concept of surrender. But, can he
demonstrate that in practice, when Bhagawan sends out tests? In the beginning, intellect is the
greatest challenge to building unqualified faith in Lord’s powers to provide for our worldly as well as
our spiritual needs.
“Narayan, Narayan, Narayan …” So chanting, a Brahmin boy was crossing a river. In Vaikuntha, Vishnu
and Lakshmi were enjoying a game of chess. Hearing the chanting, Vishnu said to Lakshmi, with pride,
“See MY devotee … how he always has MY name on his lips.”
Now, there were some thieves in the area, who found a nice new silk shawl on this boy’s shoulder very
appealing. They fell upon him in a group, shouting that it belonged to the palace and had been given to
them to be washed. We could not find it until now. You must have stolen it. The poor Brahmin yelled
'Narayan, Narayan,' when the blows rained on him and so, Narayana rose from His Seat in Vaikuntha
and proceeded forward; “Lord! Where are you going? Let us finish the game”, said Lakshmi. Vishnu
replied, “My devotee is in trouble. I must go and help him without wait. He is counting on ME.”
But in a moment, He walked back and resumed His Seat much to the surprise of Lakshmi who asked Him
the reason for the strange behavior. Vishnu said, "I wanted to help that poor Brahmin who has fallen
into a den of scoundrels, but he has started beating them, blow for blow; My Help is no longer needed."
The shawl in this case is Lord’s ever protecting rays that offer perfect security to the devotee. Thieves
are the attractions and illusions caused by the Maya. With Lord’s name always in our hearts, we can
fight the enemies and cross the river of samsara.
Knowledge without practice is a burden
What is there in Pustaka which is not there in Mastaka? … Bhakti is the best way to let
the ego dissolve in the infinite depths of Divinity. It is also the easiest path for the
common man in Kaliyuga.
Is there a mark of scholarship needed to gain HIS grace? Is there a specific mode of worship required
to please HIM? Bhagawan came to the rescue of Draupadi, Sudama, Gajendra … how do I gain the
divine courtship with the Lord?
There was once a scholar who needed to take a boat ride to cross a river. During the ride, he looked at
the boatman and asked, “Do you know Kalidas’s Meghduta?” Poor boatman, only knew one Kalidas and
he was a barber in the village! Scholar said, “I must say, dear fellow, one quarter of your life is wasted if
you don’t know this beautiful piece of literature.” After a while, scholar asked, “Have you heard about
the stock-market crash today? I am sure you read the newspaper.”
“Sir! Only market I know is the vegetable market from where I buy vegetables in the evening.”
Scholar quipped, “If you don’t know about the financial markets, I must say, you have wasted a quarter
of your life.”
Boatman didn’t seem to mind this discussion. Sometime later, Scholar asked, “I am sure, you at least
read about the new satellite we are launching …”, Boatman didn’t even know what the satellite meant!
Scholar said, “It does not look like you have really done anything in life. Most of it seems to have gone to
total waste.”
There was silence in the boat after that. After a while, boat came across some heavy currents which kept
tossing it up and down. Scholar was really afraid and held onto the rails for his life!. “Hey, boatman!
What is going on?” He shouted. Boatman looked at him, and said “Sir! These are some very heavy
currents. We might get turned over. Do you know how to swim?” Scholar was now completely white
and shaking, “No!”. “Well, Sir! If you don’t know how to swim, your whole life is going to be wasted”,
exclaimed, the boatman amusingly.
The worldly life is like a river with raging waters and desires are like currents. Conquest is gained, not
by applying oneself to scholarly learning of texts and scriptures, but, by practicing what is learnt.
Save me to save Your own reputation!
God is not Bahyapriya, HE is Bhavapriya. God is all ears for the person who prays, “Lord!
Don’t you hear my prayer?” God keeps in HIS sight the person who prays, “Should YOU
not see me with Your compassionate eyes?” God lends both HIS feet to the person who
prays, “I am holding Your feet, don’t abandon me.” God offers both HIS hands to the
person who prays, “Let Your abhaya-hasta save me from all dangers.” As you feel, so HE
graces. HE loves feelings. HIS grace will flow according to the intensity of your feelings.
At some point in the spiritual quest, devotee wonders if his prayers are getting through. Focus of
Sadhana changes and it becomes conversation with the Lord. “You say you are antaryami, so I am sure
You know my plight. Why are You ignoring it for so long?” This dialogue finally ends in, “I am Your
devotee … and the whole world knows that. So, don’t let me down … help me out. Help me not for my
sake, but to save your own reputation.”
Once there was a farmer who was going through very difficult times … always blaming his fortune. One
day he overheard a saintly person giving a discourse on Ganesha’s powers to remove all obstacles and
make everything a success. Hearing this, the farmer went home and installed an idol of Ganesha. From
next day on, he started performing puja and worship to Ganesha, hoping for some change in fortune.
Several days of puja, and no change in the bank account! As he was ready to give up on puja, worship
etc, his neighbor told him how they benefited from worshipping Krishna. Next day, Ganesha idol found a
spot in the cupboard and a brand new idol of Krishna was in the altar. Our farmer spent a few days
intensely offering puja to Krishna’s idol, and, waiting for Krishna to remove his troubles.
No change … He started to lose faith in Krishna. Just then, in the newspaper he read a story about a
devotee of Siva getting rescued by offering worship to siva lingam. Needless to say, our farmer’s luck
would still not turn, even after siva lingam puja. So, Siva too joined Ganesha and Krishna in the
cupboard. A new idol of Rama and Sita found a place in the altar. One day farmer lit the incense stick in
the altar, and sat in front of the altar with his eyes closed. He started talking to Rama and Sita, to not be
like other Gods who had failed him. When he opened his eyes, he saw the smoke from the incense stick
was going in the cupboard. He opened the cupboard and shouted at the idols in the cupboard that this
beautiful fragrance was not meant for them. “You don’t deserve it”, so saying, he wrapped their faces
with clothes, making sure that they could not smell the fragrance. He returned to the altar and lo and
behold, Rama and Sita were standing there, together with Ganesha, Krishna and Siva. “Today We are
pleased with you. In the intensity of your prayers, you have found us to be real, and not idols. We are
here to grant you all your wishes.”
Divine Vantage Point
“I am starting a Seva Samithi. The persons who become members of the samithi and
perform self-less service will be liberated from the cycle of birth and death; not only
they, but also their children, grand children and their great grand children. But the test
will be severe. I will see how many will withstand the test and be victorious at the end.”
Divine Declaration – Dasara, 1961
What we want from our prayers, and what is good for us, may not be same. Swami, who is beyond
time, has a Divine Vantage point – HE can see our past, present and future. For the devotee, every
experience, good or bad, is due to HIS grace.
A king was born with a defect – one of his legs was shorter than the other. This made him walk with a
visible limp. King was always lamenting over this one defect, because he was perfect in every other way.
Every day he would pray to God that somehow this can be cured. But, his prayers never seem to be
answered and that made him sad. One time, he and his minister went to the forest for recreation.
Somehow they lose their way and, became very tired and hungry. Minister was in a better shape, so he
left the king to rest while he went searching for some food and water. While he was gone, the local
tribal people showed up and captured the king. The king was too weak to put up a fight. Next day
morning, there was preparation going on in the village for a big ceremony and the king was going to be
used as a sacrifice to the tribal god. King was being prepared for the sacrifice per priest’s requirements.
Chief Priest came in to see if everything was ready for the ritual to begin. As soon as he saw that king
had a limp, he became angry at his people. “This man has a defect – how can you expect me to use him
for the sacrifice? Go and get someone else.”
Thus, the defect saved king’s life. On returning, king told this entire episode to his minister and
concluded that God always means well. Hearing this minister added, “There was a hidden purpose
behind my leaving you. I was not very happy to go find food and water alone in that strange place. But, if
I were to be with you, both of us would have been captured. When they released you because of the
limp, I would have been next in line for the sacrifice! God saved us both.”
Good in, Bad out
The bullock shouts 'ham hai' 'ham hal' (I am, I am), in its egoistic pride. And so, when it
is just a few days old, you tie it to a post, apart from its mother; you work it to skin and
bones; but yet, the animal does not learn the lesson of humility. Even its skin when
drawn tightly across a drum resounds egoistically,’ Ham Ham Ham. And so, the skin has
to be cut into slender strings and then when the strings are pulled, the bullock reveals
that it has benefitted by all the punishment it has undergone; it murmurs thum thum
thum, (you you you), and its ego is gone.
“Without MY sankalpa, even a leaf does not move …” says Swami. Every challenge, difficulty, struggle
is HIS test to bolster our foundation of faith. Sometimes, HE miraculously saves us from troubles …
sometimes, the difficulties are meant to teach us unforgettable lessons. All happens per the plan laid
out by the Divine Master HIMSELF.
Sunder Iyer was a student in Swami’s college. He was also blessed to be near Swami in HIS residence, as
one of HIS attendants. Once, his father ran into difficult situation and had to undergo suffering. It was
very hard seeing his father in such trying circumstance, so, he wrote an emotional letter to Swami.
Letter was titled – Why bad things happen to good people? In the letter, he wrote that why people who
try to stay on the right path … who try to do good; still have to face difficulties. Later, he was thinking
about the same while cleaning dirty pots and pans. “Hey”, suddenly he hears Swami’s voice calling him.
Swami was standing right behind him. There was only one tumbler left to be cleaned. Swami, turned the
tap full on, and water started gushing in the tumbler. Dirty food started coming out of the tumbler as
the water from the tap forcefully went in. Swami pointed at that, and said, “Good goes in, bad comes
out … Good goes in, bad comes out.” Finally, the tumbler was clean. Swami said, “Only good remains.
Good is God, God is good … Good is God, God is good.” Swami explained, “The body holds vasanas,
tendencies, pre-conceived notions from previous births, like the tumbler holds dirty food. Meritorious
acts, spiritual sadhana and other good actions, like clean water, help cleanse the body and mind of
karmic consequences. Once bad is out, only good remains”
Radha, Krishna & Murali
Persons who come to see ME here, repeatedly, have some relationship with ME over
many births…. Before I shed the mortal coil, I will distribute MY spiritual assets equally
among MY true devotees. I will not deny anything to anyone. Even for the aspirants of
Moksha, I will give all the heavenly experiences and grant them Mukti. Instant grant of
Mukti will not be interesting.
Swami says that Radha had no more desires left. She did not even care to go to Mathura to see
Krishna. She saw Krishna in every atom of Creation. When bhakti reaches this height, who is calling
and who is responding? Bhakti binds the Lord in an unbreakable, inseparable bond …
Swami HIMSELF recounts last days of Radha in the following story …
Radha lived for 10 more years after Krishna left Brindavan. Towards the end, her body had totally
emaciated and had become a mere skeleton since she did not desire to eat any food. She was lost
completely in thoughts of Krishna. On the last day of her life, she was in a bower near bamboo-groove at
the banks of river Yamuna. She had met her Lord many times in that bower.
She prayed to Krishna, “Lord! I preserved You in the lotus of my heart for a very long time now. When
that lotus faded, I shifted You to my eyes. Now the eyes too have dried up. I cannot keep you there
anymore. I can no longer live separate from You anymore. I dedicate my life to You”.
Then Krishna manifested in front of her and asked her what she wanted. Her last desire was to listen to
the music of His flute. Krishna said, mischievously that He did not bring His flute; Thus Krishna tested her
even in her last moments.
But, Radha was a match for her Lord; she just smiled at Krishna. Her silent smile was a profound
response to Krishna’s mischievous prank. He picked up a reed from the bamboo-groove and turned it
into a flute. As His breath filled the reed, celestial music filled the air. Radha gave up the body
responding to the call of the magic flute of her beloved Lord and merged in Him. Krishna threw the flute
into the waters of Yamuna and never again played the flute.
Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti