When I was studying in Calicut,
going to an occasional foot-football match was part of the curriculum. Not because I was a die-hard fan of the game.
Enjoying the spectator’s reaction was big fun. For people in Malabar,
especially in Malappuram and Kozhikode, foot-ball was more than a feeling!
Their response was boisterous and instantaneous. Difficult to believe, they
didn’t have a favourite team. ‘Let the better side win’ – was the motto. Teams
from other states, unaware of the sportsman spirit of the Malabaris, did
some popular tricks like kicking the ball high enough to please the
gallery-sitters was greeted with a stunning response! The viewers including a
sizable crowd of women booed with all their might!
Sadly enough, this is the
scene in Indian Spirituality today. The so-called Gurus and Sadgurus are
playing to the gallery carefully so that uttering an unpleasant word is out of
question. Unpalatable advices would not go down well with their disciples and
admirers. A win-win situation is a must for the Guru as well as his/her bhakts
(followers).
Who knows, one gets the guide
one deserves perhaps. We are not ready for the real Master.
A lot of genuine seekers
arrive in India from all parts of the world searching for a “path with a heart”
and wind up as interns in the ashrams of impostors.
This is the disappointment of
India.
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| "Varanasi" by S.H.Raza |
I would like to cite just two examples. They claim themselves as nearly perfect or even perfect Gurus.
One even prefixes the title
“Sadguru” before her name! The other was a scientist with a PhD in
bio-chemistry. After serving 25 years
with the Government, he turned an Acharya
(teacher with an exalted
status) lured by Indian spirituality. He
runs a National Institute for Scientific Heritage from his home. An NGO, to be
precise. He says he is spreading “Sanatana Dharma” the world over.
Recently he elaborated on his
impoverished background of his formative years. He had assisted his father who
was employed with a caterer with a measly sum of Rs.15 per month. His sons also
assisted him in cooking and serving with paltrier wage of Rs.3. Our man was
dissatisfied and he became a part-time priest in temple. He learnt all those rituals, mantras etc. He ran
the entire family with the money he saved from the monthly stipend of Rs.400 as
a Research Scholar!
He is feeling a terrible loss
now as he could not enjoy the objects of desire when he was young. Looking
back, he feels he forgot to live for himself. Thrift is not a virtue. Now he
has got all the money and his children are successful professionals in their
own right! What’s use of money which he has in plenty now. He can’t kick off
the old habit of parting with it.
His final advice is simple.
Live for yourself first. Others, including your children should come second.
There should not be a feeling
a loss during the fag-end of one’s life.
Learn from today’s youth. They
are good role-models. They work hard, switch jobs and make money. They eat
well, travel to exotic locations, have plush houses and still have enough money
left to take care of their remaining fancies.
In fact, Rishi Kapila advised
this to Devahuti in the sacred texts. That means, Vedic sanction is already
given for this kind of life-style!
This is the advice you longed
for.
We would take the second
example now. The so called sadguru who tours the world for six months in a
year, has nearly as many ashrams outside India as the members of UN.
She advises in a sat-sang,
“Love towards your wife is not
enough! Show it!”
The answer to the
gallery-bound advices of both of these enlightened beings lie in the first mantra
of ‘Isavasyopanishad’.
 |
| "Varanasi" by Satish Kanna |
ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् ।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्य स्विद्धनम् ॥ १ ॥
īśāvāsyamidaṃ sarvaṃ yatkiñca
jagatyāṃ jagat |
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ
kasya sviddhanam || 1 ||
All this-whatsoever moves in
this universe (and those that move not) is covered (indwelt or pervaded or
enveloped or clothed) by the Lord. That renounced, enjoy. Do not covet
anybody’s wealth (Or – Do not covet, for whose is wealth?).
Everybody knows that the
Perfect Master does not need any promotional activities because he/she has
travelled the entire range of the path and reached at the finishing-point. A
perfect Master (‘Sadguru’ or ‘Qutub’) is a Self-realised person and has got absolutely
no desires left. He is already liberated (“Jeevan Mukta”).
This doesn't mean that the
popular Gurus of India neither had any longing for finding the Truth nor they
did any ‘Upasana’ (devoted learning process) in the right way. Unfortunately,
they are stuck somewhere below the Forth Plane of Consciousness. There is a
formidable barrier between the fourth and fifth planes of Consciousness and the
seeker’s desires and urges come out breaking all self-imposed barriers. Wealth
creation and fame become the single-point agenda. Naturally, the half-ripe Guru
will have to play to the gallery! Poor person does not even understand that
he/she is being relegated to lesser planes, losing the siddhis (extra ordinary
powers one gets while going steady with the spiritual path) one by one.
Real Guru is one who has crossed
the chasm between the fourth and fifth planes. There is no risk involved in
following him and he’ll take you to the end-point if the disciple is
transparent and sincere.
Now, where to find such a
Perfect Master. If you’re feeling overwhelmingly happy and fulfilled in the
presence of somebody who is just keeping ‘arya maun’ (noble silence), you can
be sure that you’re in the company of the right Guru. Listen to what he/she
says. Read his/her books, if authored any. If you’re convinced, go ahead.
There are places in the
Himalayas where you can try your luck.
And that’s the glory of India.
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