GLIMPSES
DON’T TEACH OTHERS, FIRST LEARN YOURSELF
Param Sant Pujya Pandit Ji Maharaj used to say, “Don’t preach others, first reform yourself. Fill yourself with positive thoughts. If you are filled with positive thoughts, others will change on coming into contact with you. You need not tell them anything.” (From ‘Darshan’, Part-2)
LAUGH AND FIGHT TENSION
Param Sant Pujya Pandit Ji Maharaj used to tell us about one cure for tension.He used to say, “Laugh a lot. Laughing is essential for good health. It is not essential that you laugh when it comes to you naturally. Laugh when alone. Laughter releases various internal tensions and disorders that have accumulated in our system. You are refreshed.” (From ‘Darshan’, Part-2)
PARAM SANT PUJYA PANDIT JI MAHARAJ AND GURU MAHARAJ
Once Param Sant Pujya Pandit Ji Maharaj went to meet Guru Maharaj. Often Pandit Ji used to take along with him pure ghee for Guru Maharaj. But this time he did not bring any ghee. Guru Maharaj asked, “Pandit ji, have you brought ghee?” He answered “Maharaj you did not ask for it in your letter?”. Guru Maharaj replied, “Do I still need to write to you?”. Both of them had become one at the soul level and there was no need for words--spoken or written--between them. (From ‘Darshan’, Part-2)
Urge for Guru Darshan
Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj used to visit Guru Maharaj every month. He would travel a distance of 60 kms from his village to Etah. The road was unmetalled, and dusty. There was no conveyance. All that he had was an old bicycle. Never theless he would go for darshan of his Guru every month. Once the cycle broke ndown on the way, and there was no repair shop available nearby. He carried the bicycle on his shoulders to the residence of the Mukhiya (Headman) of the nearby village. And he continued his journey on foot. Guru Maharaj who was waiting was very happy to see him but seeing him come on foot asked, “where is the cycle?” On knowing the story he was greatly moved. (From ‘Darshan’, Part-1)
Spreading the mission of Guru Maharaj
Those of us who are engaged in spreading the mission of Guru Maharaj must first love people and win their trust. Only thereafter should we tell them about the teachings of Guru Maharaj. This nectar will provide peace and bliss to people. It will fill them with strange consciousness and fill their lives with fragrance. (From ‘Darshan’, Part-1)
Devotion to Guru
Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj had been operated for hernia. The entire Guru family had come to Tundla with Jagadjanani Jia Maa to see him. On seeing them he was overcome with emotions. He asked for Gangajal that had been brought from Gangotri, washed the lotus feet of mother with the Gangajal, drank it, and touched the feet of all the members of the Guru family, while tears kept rolling down his cheeks. (From ‘Darshan’, Part-1)
Entitled only to Rs. 36 per month
Once during Tundla bhandara, there was scarcity of funds. Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj ordered to sell the house and all his belongings as they belonged to Guru Maharaj. He said that he was entitled only to Rs. 36 per month which he received as salary as a Government school teacher. (From ‘Darshan’, Part-1)
Complete surrender
Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj went to Rameshwaram.
The priest asked, What is your name?”
He replied- ‘Mihilal’,
‘Father’s name?’
‘Dr Chaturbhuj Sahay’
‘Caste?’
‘Kayastha’.
(He was a Brahmin by caste and his father’s name was Pandit Keerat Ram. But he had reached a state of complete surrender to his MASTER or Guru – Param Sant Brahmaleen Dr Chaturbhuj Sahay Ji Maharaj). (From ‘Darshan’, Part-1)
Simplicity
Param Pujya Panditji Maharaj always travelled in third class compartments of the Indian Railways and regretted non-availability of any lower class. During journeys he carried very few belongings. In the Hold-all he used to keep a few kurtas and dhotis tied in a bundle and a bag. He never used leather items. Always wore khaddar. He remained untouched by luxuries of life. (From ‘Sompan’, 249-50 )
Transfer of Param Pujya Panditji’s ‘Officer’
On the night of 21-22 September 1957 i.e. 3 days before Guru Maharaj left for his heavenly abode, Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj saw in a dream that someone was telling him that his ‘Officer’ was going to be transferred. He had resigned from Govt. service and therefore his only “Officer” was Guru Maharaj. Therefore he reached Mathura
Resigning from service
In 1946, Guru Maharaj told Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj “Panditji if you want to progress in the spiritual field, you must resign from service.” Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj had been promoted to the post of Head Master only some time back after serving as Master for decades. The children were very young. There was no other source of income. It was a very difficult test for Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj. But he resigned from service in 1946 in obedience to the orders of his Guru. (From ‘Sompan’,page 246 )
Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj’s first meeting with Guru Maharaj.
Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj went to several religious denominations in search of answers to his spiritual queries, but did not find satisfaction anywhere. In 1931 he met Param Sant Brahmaleen Dr Chaturbhuj Sahay Ji Maharaj. He was fully satisfied in the first meeting itself. Guru Maharaj explained the process of meditation. He asked “Where should I meditate?” Guru Maharaj lifted his kurta, touched his heart and said “Here!” That touch gave him a strange experience. He lost the consciousness of his body. The mind became fully peaceful and began savouring the taste of that experience. The meditation ended. That touch had given him complete inner peace. (From ‘Sompan’, page 245 )
Egolessness
Bhandara was being held at some place in India. Here the bhandara is organized on a big scale and all acharyas had come--Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj, Param Pujya Dr Brajendra Kumar Sahab and others. The stage had a single seat at the top below which there was seating arrangement for several others. The single seat was meant for Dr Sahab. The programme started in the morning. Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj came, saw the seating arrangement and sat on the lower level alongwith others. Param Pujya Dr Brajendra Kumar Sahab arrived. Everybody asked him to occupy the single seat at the top. Param Pujya Pandit ji asked him to take that seat as he was son of Guru Maharaj, the most eligible one to occupy that seat and revered by all. But he requested Panditji Maharaj to take that seat. Ultimately no one sat there and it remained unoccupied. Both were great but were free from the ego of being great. (From ‘Sompan’ page 237)
“You have saved my life”
One person who was fully drunk came to Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj at his residence in Tundla. He said. ‘I have heard your name and come here with lots of hope. I am unable to quit drinking. I drink a lot. Even now I am drunk. As a result of this habit, I have lost my government service, and my wife and children have deserted me. I don’t know what to do, how to kick this habit. I seek your blessings and guidance.’ Pujya Panditji Maharaj asked him to wash his hands and feet and then sit in silence. He obeyed. Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj did not tell him that wine was bad and that he should quit drinking. He took him through the process of satsang. He took him to the state of meditation where his body, mind, and intellect reached a state of peace. In that peaceful state he reflected – ‘Oh my God, where am I going? The path I have chosen is wrong.” And that changed his life. After some time he came back. He touched the feet of Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj and asked if he recognized him. Panditji Maharaj said “Yes, I recognize you.” He said “Maharaj, you blessed me. The habit of drinking is gone. I have got back my job. My family has come back. I have no words to express my gratitude to you. You have saved my life.” (From Sompan, page 224)
Two prophecies of Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj
Prophecy No 1 - A day will come when the whole world will savour peace under the umbrella of Ramashram Satsang, Mathura. (heard in a pravachan)
Prophecy No 2 – This is the age of science, age of development. The world is moving towards great changes. A wonderful age is going to arrive. It will be of multifarious dimensions. We would neither have heard nor read of such wonderful times. Science is forging ahead at speeds greater than even electricity. It refuses to pause or stop, refuses to be satisfied because it is to reach that plane where man gets fully satisfied. Our Rishis operated from that very plane. Science will ultimately reach and operate from that plane. And only then there will be peace and balance in this world. (from ‘vigyan ka Dera’)
Taking the Ganga from the north to the south
A person named Shri S.S. Jayagovind of Madras (now know as Chennai) who is popularly known as ‘Madrasi Baba’ prayed to a ‘Sant, “Lord, I am under a debt of my family members, friends and relatives. I want to get rid of this debt. And that can be possible only if you come to Madras Ganga from the north to the south. Today my duty is over. Now it is upto you to take the maximum benefit from him.”
(This incident relates to Param Pujya Pandit ji Maharaj.) (From ‘Sompan’)
When Jia Maa fell seriously ill
It was 1914-1915. Jagatjanani Jia Maa had two children. Both died. Jagatjanani Jia Maa suffered from prolonged fever, which refused to go. In those days there was no cure for T.B. Guru Maharaj was in Agra Agra
When Guru Maharaj fell ill and thought his end had come
Once I fell seriously ill. I had lost the hope to survive. The money that I had were all spent in the last few months. It was a difficult test for me. I wrote a letter to Guru Maharaj in which I narrated my situation and lack of money and requested him to come and give me ‘darshan’ before I died. Guru Maharaj did not come but he sent a letter which assured me and led me to firmly believe that I would not die, that these suffering had come with a purpose, and would go away soon. I began to suffer them happily. I was suffering them earlier too but now there was complete peace in my heart. The letter read as follows:
“Got you letter, and came to know about your condition. I pray to God that he may make you free from all mental turbulence. Penury and ill health lead to spiritual progress. They should be considered to be God’s blessings. May God bless.” (From Sadhana Ke Anubhav)
Transferring age from one person to another
It is not impossible to give to someone a part of one’s life-period (total no. of years one is destined to live in human body) and vice versa. I have got such transfers effected through some ‘sadhaks’. There are many procedures for effecting such transfers………… But all powerful saints need not undertake such time taking procedures. They can do this in a fraction of a second only by raising such a desire. Shri Swami Shankaracharya transferred his soul into the body of a dead king by simply desiring. Our Shri Guru Maharaj, out of love for one of his disciples, transferred a substantial part of his life to him at two o clock in the night while walking in his house Doctors had given up on this disciple and he was almost breathing his last. At that time there was no one with Guru Maharaj, except this servant. Before transferring he sought my views and considering his deep desire for the transfer I expressed my support. Miraculously just at that point of time, the disciple’s condition took a ‘U’, turn and no sign of any disease was to be seen in him. That disciple has left this world only recently. This incident took place around 28 or 29 years back and no one except me knows about it. Possibly that disciple too did not know about it but I am not very sure. (From Sadhana Ke Anubhav)
Transferring pain and disease from one person to another
Sometime Shri Guru Maharaj used to suffer from a toothache. It was a nervous pain and sometimes would become unbearable. Once the pain was extremely strong & unbearable. Many disciples were sitting around him. One of them could not bear to see Guru Maharaj in such pain……… He prayed with folded hands…. “I cannot bear to see your pain. Please allow me to take it upon myself.” Guru Maharaj refused permission. He requested again. Guru Maharaj said, “You wont be able to bear the pain. But this fellow who was a young, physically well-built and healthy person began to attract the pain. After some time that pain appeared in him and Guru Maharaj was cured.
But only in half an hour time our young man started writhing in pain. Guru Maharaj smiled and said, ’I had told you, you wont be able to bear the pain, Give it back to me.
FIRST LESSON THAT GURU MAHARAJ GOT
Dada Guru Maharaj said to Guru Maharaj, “Sit before me face to face so that the images fall directly inside you. Lightly close your eyes and watch all that your mind (man) does.” Now I was not seeing anything except what my mind was doing. In the beginning, for 3-4 minutes, thoughts kept coming one by one in a long series. When this ended, a black curtain appeared. Sometime later the curtain began to disintegrate and a bright sun appeared before my inner eyes. I was enjoying a state of bliss, totally unaware of the world outside me. The state of bliss was increasing. Thereafter it appeared to me that I was in some other world. Many divine planes of existence, different types of divine souls, were in front of me. I could hear various types of divine sounds. The force of attraction working on me intensified further, and I felt the presence of the power which controls everything in the universe. Someone indicated to me - This is omnipotent God, it is this very power which is known differently as ‘Ishwar’, ‘Khuda’, ‘Adi Prakriti’, ‘Moolmaya’, ‘Surweshwari Jagdamba’, etc. It is both- power as well as the powerful. The games played by nature end here. This is the limit of Brahmand. All these happened in 40 or 45 minutes. (From Sadhana Ke Anubhav)
Second experience
I was practicing in Agra and used to go for ‘darsan’ of Guru Maharaj every third month. Several years went by but I remained as blank as the first day. People who joined after me had attained high levels of spiritual progress but neither did my mind attain peace nor did I experience anything. This caused me great mental agony.
Once during summer season I reached Fatehgarh at 5 pm. Guru Maharaj had not come from the court. I sat waiting for him. Other satsangis began to arrive and we all sat on the mats spread out on the ‘chabutra’ (a raised platform). Guru Maharaj arrived. He took off his clothes and lay on a charpoy (a type of Indian bed made of bamboo poles and ropes) below the ‘chabutra’ and relaxed. I touched his feet. He asked me to sit and take part in satsang. Since I found myself full of impurities I quietly hid myself in the last row behind other disciples. While others went deep into meditation enjoying spiritual bliss, I sat like a stone unable to concentrate even for a second. I was full of repentance.
After about 45 minutes the satsang ended. Guru Maharaj stood up from his charpoy and called me. He said, “Doctor sahib come and lie down on your back with your hands straight on this charpoy, and do ‘dhyan’ (meditation). I lay down on the charpoy and Guru Maharaj went inside the house to take food.
As soon as I closed my eyes I could see the colours and forms of all the ‘tatwas’ (elements that make up this universe – earth, water, fire, air, space, man, buddhi and ahankar) before my eyes. I could see the blissful ‘chaitanya Atmas’ separate from there tatwas. It was a most wonderful and blissful site to behold. I drowned in the bliss and lost all consciousness of the physical body.
After an hour Guru Maharaj came out of his house chewing pan and said, “Now sit up. You must ensure that you don’t lose what you have got now.” I began to weep and prayed “Lord this is beyond my powers. You will have to do this also for me.” Guru Maharaj smiled and kept quiet. This is what Saint’s do -- transform a dust particle into a mountain in a moment. (From Mahatma Ramchandraji ki Jeevani)
The golden moments of Dada Guru Maharaj
Dada Guru Maharaj used to go for evening walk with his Guru Fazal Ahmed Khan Saheb. One day they went walking on Fatehgarh road. Ahead of Burpur they reached near the houses of Christians. Guru Maharaj said “Turn back”. Dada Guru Maharaj wanted to turn back. At this point his ‘Hriday Netra’ opened up. He could see Brahm before him. The whole universe stood dancing in a naked form before his eyes. He experienced the entire divine powers working in the various planes of existence. Guru Maharaj said, “Son be alert. This is ‘Didar Khuda’ (of muslims) and ‘Brahma Darshan’ of Hindus. (From Mahatma Ramchandraji ki Jeevani)
Shri Maulana Fazal Ahmed Khan Saheb and Dada Guru Maharaj
Shri Maulana Fazal Ahmed Khan Saheb taught Urdu and Persian in a mission school in Farukhabad. Guru Maharaj lived in the neighbourhood. One dark night when it was raining. Dada Guru Maharaj, then a young boy was returning all drenched in the rain. Shri Hujur Maharaj saw him. Dada Guru Maharaj greeted him. Sri Hujur Maharaj said, “Son change your clothes and come here and warm yourself in the fire.” Dada Guru Maharaj came back. The moment there was eyeball to eyeball contact between the two, a current ran down the body of Dada Guru Maharaj from head to toe. He lost consciousness of his body and experienced a strange bliss. Sri Hujur Maharaj covered Dada Guru Maharaj with his quilt and asked him to relax for sometime. Dada Guru Maharaj was enjoying a heightened state of bliss, his body was weightless and he could see light all around. He went back home after sometime and lay down in bed. He was no longer hungry. In that state of bliss he dreamt that Shri Huzur Maharaj presented him before a Mahapurus sitting on a high throne surrounded by several fakirs. Next morning he related the dream to Sri Huzur Maharaj who said that it was not a dream but truth that he had seen. (From Sadhan April 2011 issue)
What prayer can achieve
Perhaps this incident is of the year 1956. One of our Satsangi brother had a case against him in court. The opposition was very clever and to implicate him they filed another case against him. Warrant was issued and he was arrested. Bail amount was Rs 10,000. He had no money. Neither had he any bail. So his lawyer could do nothing. The opposition prayed that since he was unable to obtain bail, he should be sent to jail. The court said that he would be sent to jail after 4 pm. All these events happened around 3 pm. This Satsangi brother told us that ‘I found myself all alone and helpless. In this state of hopelessness, I remembered Guru Maharaj, and started praying. My prayers were not being said by my tongue but from the depths of my heart. They were continuous and intense and being said in a very loud inner voice. And my eye lids were going down. Just at 3.55 pm a person came into the court rooms, and pointing towards me said, I am giving bail for him. Court did not ask anything, accepted the bail and told me that I was free. I had never even seen that person and was left amazed and wondering who he was and how I was released. I went outside and started searching him so that at least I may know him, and thank him. But despite searching a lot, I could find him nowhere.’ (From Sadachar aur Jeevan, page 77)
The magic of a Sant’s company
I had a friend who was an advocate. His family consisted of 3 persons he, his wife and 3 years old daughter. His wife suffered from some disease and after suffering several months, she left this world. My friend became hopeless. He was drowned in despair and sorrow. He forgot to even smile. He would neither eat nor sleep, just lay on the bed in his room. His practice was finished. Friends and relative came, stayed for sometime and went back. Everyone tried to persuade him to come back to normal life but they failed.
In this state of utter sorrow, and hopelessness one day he went to Shri Gurudev. He touched the feet of Shri Gurudev and sat in a corner. Shri Gurudev threw a glance on him for a few seconds. I fail to understand what that glance did in such a short time of a few seconds. Because after 2-3 minutes my friend changed completely. His heart his mind, and even his body- all changed. Now one could see happiness on his face. He was quiet, cheerful and peaceful. Sorrow, despair, darkness were no longer to be seen. When one would talk about his unfortunate plight, he would answer as if he was a sagacious person who was detached from worldly matters. This was the result of a minute’s satsangs which lifted him to Heaven from the depths of Hell (From Adhyatmik aur Sharirik Brahmacharya, page 97)
Plague and Bhandara
The annual congregation (Bhandara) of Ramashram Satsang was to be held on 25.26.27 December, 1933. The programme was published in November 1933 issue of ‘Sadhan’. From the beginning of December, 1933 there as an outbreak of plague in Eta. Men, women, children, birds, monkeys, dogs, rats etc all just 10 days before the Bhandara, the plague assumed colossal proportions. People were dying in dozens. We started discussing what to do. Whether to cancel the Bhandara and if not, the alternative location to hold it. Shri Ray Bahadur Rayji who was Chairman, District Board, Eta, offered to hold the programme in Jirsmey and make all arrangements. But the 5 mile long approach road to that place was unmetalled. So this idea was dropped. Efforts were made to inform as many satsangis as possible not to come in view of the plague. Ultimately people began to arrive. In the evening of 20 December, three satsangis arrived with 80 kg ‘dal’ and 2 canisters full of ghee. On seeing them tears swelled in my eyes. My heart cried out – ‘Lord, the time to test us is over. Your ‘bhakts’ have started arriving. Now you will have to protect us.’ From 21 December, things calmed down and the plague was non-existent. The Bhandara went off successfully. Lots of satsangi came and the last person went away on 31 December. And thereafter the plague has now re-surfaced. (Amulya Nidhi Part 5, page 35)
Beyond awakened, dream and deep sleep states
We exist in three states - awakened state, dream state and state of deep sleep. The sorrow we suffer when awake goes away when we sleep, whether in dreams or in deep sleep. The sorrow that grips us in dream state goes away as soon as we enter deep sleep state or immediately on awakening. But unless we are able to get rid of pain and sorrow even while in awakened state, we cannot get lasting peace.
There is one more state above those three states. When we reach that state we experience neither pain nor sorrow despite being afflicted with them. Once Guru Maharaj had a carbuncle, when he was in Eta. A village surgeon who came to treat him, said that the carbuncle needed to be slit open and that it would cause him great pain. So he suggested that some medicine should be prepared (for numbing the area to be operated upon). Injections were not easily available in those days. Guru Maharaj said, “You need not do anything, just go ahead and carry on the operation while I enjoy my hookah. The physician went on with his operation and Guru Maharaj sat enjoying his hookah. Sometimes he would read the newspaper.” (From Amritam, page 32)
God is nothing but pure love
Once Guru Maharaj was travelling by rail. A muslim traveller who had live in the company of fakir’s asked him, “I am feeling greatly attracted towards you. Why is it so?”. Guru Maharaj said that he was not doing anything to cause this attraction. Before leaving, he asked Guru Maharaj, ‘What is God.’ Guru Maharaj replied- ‘Love God is nothing but pure love.” This is what Lord Krishna also said. (From Adhyatm aur Vyavhar, page 84)
Bade Bhaiya’s service and kindness
He (Param Pujya Brahmaleen Paramsant Dr Brajendra Kumarji) would never let go an opportunity to serve satsangis. He had immense love and respect for satsangis. Once two satsangis came to him from Shahjahanpur. They had not brought enough warm clothing- blanket etc. Param Pujya Bade Bhaiya personally made arrangement for their bed and blanket and they slept in cosy warmth of their beds. Later on it was learnt that in that cold PPBB spent the whole night setting on a wooden ‘takht’ and little warm clothing. (Saral Hriday Sant – Pujya Bade Bhaiya, page 8)
What we can get from a Sant even in a moment cannot be achieved by million years of penance and sadhana
This incident relates to the Mathura Bhandara of 1986. A satsangi of Bhilai went to have darshan of Param Pujya Bade Bhaiya. He touched his feet. On being asked to sit, he sat down. He was being pestered lay lad thoughts which kept on coming back again & again despite his best efforts to stop them. He was hugely saddened by this and with tears in his eyes he said with folded hands, “ with your and Guru Maharaj’s blessings, I am not inclined towards bed Karmas but I am being greatly harassed by bad thoughts. PPBB assured him ‘Koi baat nahin,’ (Its OK). But the satsangi again said, “Lord, I have spent so many years in you satsang……’ Param Pujya Bade Bhaiya was greatly moved. He closed his eyes for a moment, looked at him with intense peering looks & said- “Go, Now bad thoughts will not trouble you.” And that satsangi accept that thereafter bad thoughts did not trouble him. (Saral Hriday Sant – Pujya Bade Bhaiya, page 48)
Bade Bhaiya is still with all of us
Vakil Sahab one of the bhakts of Param Pujya Bade Bhaiya, lives in Bareli. After the ‘mahaprayan’ of Param Pujya Bade Bhaiya, it occurred to him that just as the sun always rises in the east, in the same way. Truth flows from saints. Then he painfully remembered that our Param Pujya Bade Bhaiya from whom truth flew has since departed. And tears rained from his eyes. After some time he saw- on the horizon golden picture of Param Pujya Bade Bhaiya emerged. He was saying- “I drank all the poison and I have left the nectar for all of you. Now there’s nothing to worry.” The voice again ringed out- “I have left footsteps for you. If you follow them you can find me. I am not far from you, I am nearest to you. These footsteps are of honesty, purity of heart, keeping away from duplicity, simplicity and pure love.”
“Don’t forget that GM, JM, and PM also left behind similar footsteps for you to follow. They asked you to follow them with truth and devotion. It is these very footsteps that I have refreshed for all of you. If you follow them, you will definitely come to me, but if you get attracted by wealth, women, selfishness, untruth etc, and leave this path, then it is your look out. If you honestly move your steps in this path, I will assist you in your every step. (Saral Hriday Sant – Pujya Bade Bhaiya, page 65-66)
Guru Maharaj’s compassion
A priest in Kota was very impressed by Guru Maharaj. He regretted his inability to travel beyond Kota
Dr Hafiz Saiyyad’s faith and devotion
It was 24 February, 1952. Bhandara was being held in Mathura Allahabad University
Guru Maharaj’s compassion
Once Bhandara was to be held in Eta. Guru Maharaj got a letter from Shri Behariji, It read -- Maharaj, my mother is very sick. She has typhoid. The fever hovers around 104-105 degrees. I have great desire to come for Bhandara. But that is possible only if my mother becomes well. Please bless me so that I can attend the Bhandara. Behariji’s mother got well, and from that very day her disease appeared in Guru Maharaj. On being repeatedly asked for the reason of his sudden sickness, Guru Maharaj told that Behariji had wanted her mother to get well so that he could attend the Bhandara. (From Adhyatm Rahasya Part 2, page 31-33)
Eating stale bread
The daughter of a Satsangi was married into a miser family. They would not give a single penny to anyone. Neither would they feed a hungry person. One day a beggar came and asked for a piece of bread saying he was very hungry. She said, ‘Baba, we ourselves are all eating stale bread. From where can we give bred to you?’ Her mother-in-law was listening and told her husband about the words of their daughter-in-law. The Father-in-law called her and asked if she really had to eat stale bread. She replied, ‘Father what you gave to others in your previous birth is coming back to us in this birth. When that old stock is finished, we will have to die of hunger. We are not giving anything in this birth, so we will not get anything as well. (From Adhyatm Rahasya Part 6, page 142)
Guru Maharaj’s compassion
These are the words of Guru Maharaj - Those who give themselves up to me, if they do not even listen to me, do not meditate as per instructions, do not attend satsang, always keep desiring for worldly things, I don’t tell them anything. When they are in deep sleep and their mind is at rest, I change the direction of their mind upwards (towards Atma). I never tell them anything, but I do keep a watch on their minds continuously. When I see their minds moving ahead away from worldly affairs and towards God, I feel very satisfied and happy too.” (From Adhyatm Rahasya Part 7, page 179)
Mother – Our best refuge
Dada Guru Maharaj was in Fatehgarh. There was a satsangi who used to visit Dada Guru Maharaj’s house often. He was a good ‘Sadhak’. Dada Guru Maharaj loved him. But something happened and Dada Guru Maharaj was unhappy with him. He expelled him from his satsang. At the time of satsang and in front of all satsangis, he was asked to leave immediately. He quietly got up and left weeping. But he had nowhere to go. He came inside Dada Guru Maharaj’s house from another door, went to Maa (Dada Guru’s wife) and fell at her feet weeping inconsolably. When Maa asked the reason, he said that Dada Guru Maharaj has expelled me from his satsang. She asked him to go into one room. He got up and went to that room and sat there quietly. After sometime, Dada Guru Maharaj came to Maa and said, ‘I have expelled ----- from satsang today.’ Maa sad, ”Well you are his Guru, and his father, you can expel him, but I am his mother, how can I expel him?” These words filled Dada Guru Maharaj’s heart with love and compassion for that satsangi. He said, “He has already left. What should be done now?” Mother replied, ‘He is here. Where else can he go to seek refuge! You are his only refuge?” Mother called him and he fell at the feet of Dada Guru Maharaj. It was a wonderful scene to behold. Very high waves from an ocean of love leapt up to the skies. Dada Guru Maharaj not only forgave him but also bestowed upon him untold spiritual wealth. Where else cane we get such love and compassion of a Mother. (From Adhyatm Rahasya Part 10, page 27)
Divine powers in service of Guru Maharaj
One satsangi told me that once he was sleeping in the verandah of Guru Maharaj’s house in Eta. At around 2 o’clock in the night he saw some young girls (perhaps they were seven) carrying sitar, veena, and other musical instruments enter Guru Maharaj’s room. Sound of wonderful music and singing was heard for a long time. I was amazed and listened with rapt attention. I had never heard such melodies. In the morning, Guru Maharaj looked very different. Rays of bliss were emanating from him. (From Adhyatm Rahasya Part 11, page 27)
When Guru Maharaj did not want to ‘come down’
Guru Maharaj was perhaps in Pratapgarh. He was in a great mood that day. It was the residence of a senior officer. The people present were all highly educated and well placed. We were hoping to hear some great words from Guru Maharaj. But he quietly asked me to conduct Satsang that day. After Satsang was over he went away quietly. His eyes were raining tears and his face was red. He sat quietly in his room for about an hour. There were only one or two persons in his room. On being asked why he did not conduct Satsang, he replied – Today I was sitting at a great height. I did not feel like speaking. I would have had to come down to a much lower level to speak. Even if one desires for anything one has to come down. (From Adhyatm Rahasya Part 11, page 103)
Why we don’t progess on the spiritual path
Once one of the disciples of Guru Maharaj wrote to him that despite having spent a long time in his Satsang, he had not benefitted much. Guru Maharaj replied, “I send beams of light to you everyday but they come back to me and inform me that you are not accepting them. I find you repeating those ideas and thoughts that you acquired before coming to Satsang. Had you, for even a moment, taken your mind away from those thoughts and focused your empty mind towards me, you would have found yourself full of spiritual wealth, and there would have been no need to write this letter.” (From Adhyatm Rahasya Part 11, page 127)
Seeing Swami Ramkrishna Paramhansa in Pujya Panditji Maharaj
This incident is of 1973-74. Pujya Panditji Maharaj had gone to Kolkata Bhandara. On the second day he went to have darshan of Maa Kaali at Dakshineshwar alongwith some other satsangis. After having Maa’s darshan they went to the place where Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans Dev had worshipped Lord Shri Hanuman. There he climbed down the steps leading to Ganga, drank Ganga jal and offered his prayers to Maa Ganga. All the satsangis began to take charanamrit of Pujya Panditji Maharaj. While this was going on a bengali woman aged around 35-40 began washing PUJYA PANDITJI MAHARAJ’s feet with Gangajal and like the satsangis stored the charanamrit. Thereafter she lay on his feet. One of the satsangis present was Shri Ram Pujan Singh of Asansol. He knew Bengali. I asked him, who is this woman? He said he did not know. Then he asked her in Bengali, ‘How do you know him (Pujya Panditji Maharaj)?’ She replied, “I have been rewarded today for my penances and worship done over several births. My long pending desire has been fulfilled. I have been coming to this temple for several years seeking ‘darshan’ of Thakur (Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans Dev). Today Thakur gave me darshan. Today is the most fortunate day of my life, because I saw Thakur.” (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 125)
Seeing Lord Shiva in Pujya Panditji Maharaj
This incident relates to Asansol. On the way to Gaushala, the venue of satsang, there was a Shiva Temple Shiva Temple
Pujya Panditji Maharaj’s seva at the age of 8-9
Pujya Panditji Maharaj was a child of 8-9 years. One day a Mahatma asked him to bring some food as he was hungry. Pujya Panditji Maharaj had no money and it was night. He stole some ‘pedas’ from the shop of a ‘halwai’ and walked away. The halwai saw him stealing. He caught him. Pujya Panditji Maharaj dropped the ‘pedas’ on the ground. The ‘halwai’ brought a lantern and searched and searched but did not find the ‘pedas’. Pujya Panditji Maharaj was very sad and with a heavy heart went back to the Mahatmaji. Before he could say anything Mahatmaji said, ‘Bachcha, I got them and I ate them. PUJYA PANDITJI MAHARAJ says, “I could not understand what he had got and what he had eaten.” (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 10)
Service of anyone is service of God
On the outskirts of Pujya Panditji Maharaj’s village there was the house of a sweeper. He was very poor. He and his family had little to eat, almost nothing to wear and no proper hut to protect them from rain, wind etc. He was passing a life of penury alongwith his wife and three children. He was poverty personified.
One day Pujya Panditji Maharaj passed by his house. He saw the children weeping. On inquiry the sweeper told him that the children had nothing to eat. He had taken a loan of Rs 25 from another sweeper and given him as security the rights to the colony he worked in. Since he had no work, he had no money to buy food. This was in 1947. Pujya Panditji Maharaj had already resigned from Govt. service on the orders of Guru Maharaj. Rs 25 was a big amount those days. But he decided he must do something to end the pitiable condition of this poor family. Somehow he managed to arrange Rs 25, gave it to the sweeper who had taken over the colony of that sweeper as security and told him, “Take your money and give him back his colony.” The next day the poor sweeper went to his colony and seeing his miserable condition people gave him food, clothes etc. That day evening Pujya Panditji Maharaj went strolling near the sweeper’s hut and saw the family and the children very happy. The husband and wife greeted him with tears of happiness and gratitude.
A few days later Pujya Panditji Maharaj got a letter from Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj had written -- I am very happy with your service to God. I have bestowed upon you complete spiritual wealth and permit you to do the work of teaching others. (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 35)
Remembering Guru’s instructions
Once a satsangi of Agra, who was a guard in the Railways invited him. He reached his house in the evening. At night the satsangi had to leave for duty. Pujya Panditji Maharaj quietly slipped out of the house. He remembered the words of the Guru Maharaj that one should meet a woman only in the presence of her son or husband. (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 38)
Purity of heart is necessary
Once a leper, a person known to Pujya Panditji Maharaj came to his house. He took full care of the guest but arranged his bed in a room away from his own and his children so that they may not get this disease. He thought this is a communicable disease and I must not touch him or be in his company for long. Two months after that person had gone away, Pujya Panditji Maharaj noticed two small white spots on his chest. He heard within him, “This is because of your feelings not to touch the leper.” The spots did not increase but did not go away either. Once Pujya Panditji Maharaj even thought of going to him to seek forgiveness. But he learnt that the person had passed away. (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 39)
Someone is always watching us
Pujya Panditji Maharaj was very particular about time. He would try to reach Satsang venue in time. He would say that we must be present at the time we have invited God. Once during Gorakhpur Bhandara some Satsangis got delayed and could not reach Satsang venue in time. The organizers asked Pujya Panditji Maharaj to delay his reaching the Satsang venue. But Pujya Panditji Maharaj said that he was a servant whose attendance was being marked. He stressed that we must reach in time. (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 70)
Humility
This happened in a Gaya Bhandara. Pujya Panditji Maharaj was ready in time. But those with him got delayed. So their arrival at the Satsang pandal got delayed. At this one of the Satsangi’s said, ‘Maharaj we are sitting here for a long time. It is not proper that you should come late’. Pujya Panditji Maharaj folded his hands and replied, “You have pointed out my mistake in time. In future, I will never make this mistake.” (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 70)
Studying before teaching
Before going to the Satsang venue, Pujya Panditji Maharaj would sit in silence for some time. During this period he would not speak. It would appear that he is lost in something. He would not close his eyes and meditate but with eyes open he would drown himself in something. During one of the Bhopal Bhandaras he sat in this state at some distance away from the quarters where he was staying. People saw that it was time to leave but Pujya Panditji Maharaj was sitting in a strange state. One of the satsangis walked upto him and very respectfully pointed out that it was already time to go to the Satsang venue. Pujya Panditji Maharaj began saying on his own, “It is not proper to suddenly get up and go to the Satsang venue. It is necessary to study before teaching. The teacher should keep himself drowned in Guru Maharaj from sometime prior to going to Satsang venue.” (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 71)
The Magic of sweet words
A person had heard that Pujya Panditji Maharaj knew of some mantra by which he could influence people. It was because of this mantra that thousands of men and women became his followers. He came to Pujya Panditji Maharaj and asked him, “Do you know some mantra to control and influence others? He said ‘Yes’, I know.’ ‘Can you tell me?’ Pujya Panditji Maharaj remained silent for sometime and then said, ‘The mantra is that I speak to others with lot of respect, warmth and love and secondly I wish everyone well from the depths of my heart. If you can practice these two things then you ca also benefit from them.’ (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 76)
Service of any living being is service of God
Once one satsangi of Jodhpur wrote to Pujya Panditji Maharaj. “I want to send a blanket to you. Please let me know where and how I should send it to you.” Pujya Panditji Maharaj wrote back, ‘I don’t need a blanket. Please don’t send it here. Go to the station early in the morning and give it to the first person you see shivering in cold. I will get it.’ (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 78)
What happens in a Bhandara
One sadhak had been wondering for a long time as to what is Bhandara; what power descends upon the satsangis; and how satsangis draw power. His concept was not clarified by pravachans he had heard. It was Varanasi Bhandara. Pujya Panditji Maharaj spoke on this very issue. During meditation (dhyan), it appeared that the Atma of all persons present (of thumb size only) had come up to their heads; the mouths of these Atmas faced upwards; and they were drinking from a strong beam of light coming down from the skies. Even after the meditation had ended, the people continued to enjoy a strange blissful state. (From Param Bhagvat Pandit Mihilalji, page 110)
God is always caring for us
I was a teacher and posted outside my home town. One day I returned late at night after meeting one of my colleagues. I was hungry. There was nothing to cook. I thought I should spend sometime reading the Ramayan. I hoped I would . fall asleep soon. But that did not help. I did not fall asleep. I remembered my family back at home. At around 11 pm I put out the lamp, closed the doors and lay on my bed. Just when I began to fall asleep, I heard a knock on my door. I enquired, ‘who is there?’. ‘Sir, I am ---- your student.’ ‘Why have you come at this hour?’ ‘Please open the door.’ I opened the door and found him standing with a big laddoo and a glass of milk. I asked, ‘why did you bring these?’ ‘Mother has sent for you.’ I was amazed. I was speechless at His kindness. What could I say except express my gratitude? (Param Bhagwat Pandit Mihilalji, page 43)
God eats the Prasad offered with love and devotion
It was 19th August, 1946, the second day of Bhandara at Chulhawali. Param Pujya Panditji went to pray in the Shiv Mandir in the Dharmshala with some flowers and Prasad. He kept the Prasad, bowed his head, and came out. He closed the door from the outside. Subsequently satsang was held. After satsang, Guru Maharaj said, ‘Today is Monday, did you offer Prasad to Lord Shiva?’ He answered, ‘Yes, My Lord. I came here after offering Prasad to Lord Shiva.’ Guru Maharaj asked him to go and see if Lord Shiva had accepted the Prasad. When Pujya Panditji Maharaj went inside the temple, the Prasad was not there. He asked if anyone had come to the temple after him. Everybody said that no one had come. When he heard of all this, Guru Maharaj asked Pujya Panditji about the matter. While Pujya Panditji kept quiet with hands folded, some people expressed the opinion that a dog might have eaten the Prasad. When this view was echoed by some old satsangis, Guru Maharaj was enraged. His eyes became red with fury. He chided them, ‘ This is what you have learnt till today. You have wasted your entire lives in arguments. You could not appreciate that God does accept what is given to him with love and devotion. Today Lord Shiva has accepted the pooja of Panditji and eaten the Prasad. (Param Bhagwat Pandit Mihilalji, page 44-5)
A visit to the land of ATMA
Once I slept near the cot of Guru Maharaj in his room. At night I saw a dream. Hardly had I slept for a few minutes, when I saw a beautiful white bird, whose eyes were very beautiful and red in colour. It appeared that a swan had come inside the room. He sat there for a while, looked at me and then flew away. I also took the form of a bird and flew after him. I was small and my power to fly was much less that that of the big bird. But somehow I got enough power to fly behind him. We crossed thousands of miles of land. Then there was a mountain. The big bird continued to fly through that mountain as if it was plain land. I followed. Ahead was a mountain of fire from which huge flames erupted non-stop. We flew through the fire. Then we found wind blowing at enormous speeds and with great force. It was so strong that nothing was visible. We flew through this also. Then we got some respite. It was open space. The scenery was enchanting. Thereafter we crossed some more levels and reached a land where there was neither sun nor moon but the sky was very pleasant. Everyone looked the same. There was a beautiful halo around the face of everybody. Their bodies were lighter than flowers. There was no concept of births or deaths in that land. Everyone was full of love for all. Thereafter my dream ended and I opened my eyes. When I narrated this to Guru Maharaj, he said, ‘The big bird was me and you were the small bird. Once you desired to see the various other worlds/planes of existence. That is why this happened. First you went through the 5 tatvas – earth, water, fire, air and space. Then you passed through the regions of ‘man’, ‘buddhi’ and ‘ahankar’. Every region/plane of existence was different. Finally it was my country where we stopped flying; where there was complete peace; everyone was full of love. You have achieved this with my assistance. Henceforth you will have to travel all the way through your sadhana. Then you will get accustomed to all these places. You will be able to go wherever you want.’ (Param Bhagwat Pandit Mihilalji, page 46)
‘She is happy’
Param Pujya Panditji Maharaj’s wife (i.e. our Param Pujya Guru Mataji) left for her heavenly abode. Guru Maharaj went to visit Panditji. After meditating for 5 minutes, Guru Mahraj said that ‘Panditji, she will certainly take away half of fruits of your tapasya. She is happy.’ (Param Bhagwat Pandit Mihilalji, page 57)
Spending nights below trees
Once in Jammu arrangements had been made for Pujya Panditji Maharaj’s stay in a temple. For some reason the accommodation had to be vacated. It was a piquant and unpleasant situation. But Pujya Panditji promptly said that he would lay his bed below the peepal tree in the Mandir campus. He gladly spent nights under trees in order to spread the mission of Guru Maharaj.
(Param Bhagwat Pandit Mihilalji, page 66)
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