Most of us wish to walk on the spiritual path. We somehow imagine or conjure up wrong notions about what spirituality is. We think that spirituality means living in seclusion in a Himalayan cave or roaming through the length and breadth of a land. We are blissfully ignorant that no spiritual knowledge can be attained unless and until we surrender our ego at the lotus feet of a Guru, who alone can lift us from the quagmire of our materialistic environment onto the spiritual path.
The word Guru means dispeller of darkness. We are all submerged in a tunnel of ignorance and darkness and only a Guru can pull us out of this tunnel. The Guru is God. A word from Him is a word from God. He need not teach anything. Even His presence is elevating, inspiring, and stirring. Just His company provides self-illumination. Living in His company is spiritual education.
Our holy scriptures are flooded with examples of the Guru-Chela relationship. Our Gods whom we worship today had at some time or the other sought the assistance of a Guru when they adopted a mortal form. Lord Krishna sat at the lotus feet of His Guru Sandeepani. Lord Rama had Guru Vasishtha who gave him
upadesa (spiritual counsel). Lord Jesus sought John for his baptismal on the banks of river Jordan. Even
devas (celestial beings) have Brahaspati as their Guru.
We are very fortunate that in our quest for a Guru, we have been blessed with Guruji, who is divinity personified and is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient.
A shower of blessings
In 1991, I suddenly developed a knee problem. The pain used to be excruciating and unbearable. I tried all allopathic, homeopathic, and grandma's lines of treatment but to no avail. Despite heavy doses of painkillers, the agony at night would keep me from sleeping. I told Guruji of my problem and the Compassionate One decided to heal me. He asked for a spoon from the kitchen and placed it on my knees while chanting a mantra. The pain simply vanished and till date I have never ever had the slightest twinge even though I live on the third floor and have to climb a flight of stairs to my flat. I go for a two-hour walk every day and there is not an iota of pain.
While on a posting to Kolkata, I got typhoid which left me with a low-grade fever for a month and a half. I underwent all the medical tests to diagnose the cause for the low-grade fever, but despite a plethora of medicines from physicians the fever continued. On hearing of my ailment, Guruji asked for betel (
paan) leaves and placed them on me. Incredibly, that very moment the fever vanished and has never reappeared.
On learning of our impending move to Delhi, I was determined to open a beauty salon, as I have had formal training to be a beautician and had earlier worked in a beauty parlour and had also trained in hair dressing. But, Guruji turned down the proposal, saying the parlour would cause me asthma, which was not at all desirable.
To my horror, I discovered that in due course of time, I did become asthmatic. One day, my condition became precarious and I was battling for life, as I had immense difficulty breathing and felt my life was ebbing out. I was rushed to the hospital. All the time I was holding Guruji's photo close to my heart and praying to Him to save me. Immediately, I was put on oxygen and administered steroid injections. The doctor in the hospital later told me that even a delay of two minutes could have proved fatal.
When I went to meet Guruji, before I could say anything, He said: "
I have pulled you out of a morass." That was the gospel truth. Subsequently, I would complain to Guruji that the inhalers and medications were very strong and requested Him to help me get rid of the disease. He got annoyed and reprimanded me for reminding Him. He knew exactly what the problem was. A month passed and I realized that I had no asthma, which meant no usage of the inhaler. Now, the asthma has been gone for three years. When going on a journey, I still buy an inhaler to be on the safe side. Invariably after the holidays, I return the inhaler, unused, to the chemist. The asthma has been eradicated from my system.
Once we were at a gathering of devotees with Guruji. He suddenly placed both His hands on a gentleman's head and amazingly we saw rose petals shower down. Guruji repeated the same on a lady's head and again the shower of petals fell. The lady immediately pulled out her
duppatta (a scarf used to cover the head) to collect the petals, as the quantity was large. This was a beautiful miracle.
On my birthday, Guruji called me forward and in the presence of the
sangat asked me to extend my hands. Suddenly, a
sari fell on my palms. Guruji ordained that I should keep it in a clean place without wearing it. The
sari had the rose fragrance so typical of Him and even though 10 years have passed, the fragrance remains. Moreover, Guruji predicted two years ago that my daughter would get married to a wonderful man. Without me getting sleepless nights over her marriage, it happened. Today, she is happily married with two beautiful sons, thanks to the full blessings of our Guruji.
Guruji showers His blessings in the form of
prasad. I have on numerous occasions seen Him create a
prasad of pure
ghee (clarified butter) dripping from His hands. Once He gave
kada prasad to one of His followers. And many times we have beheld
laddoos (sweets) emerging from nowhere, but full of His fragrance.
My earnest advice to everyone is: Do not dig shallow wells here and there for getting water. The pits will dry up soon. Dig a very deep pit in one place. Centralise all your efforts here. You will get good water that will supply you throughout your life. Try to imbibe spiritual teachings thoroughly from one preceptor alone. Drink deep of the wisdom of one man. Sit at His lotus feet for some years. There is no use of wandering from one man to another, out of curiosity, losing faith in a short time. Follow the instructions of one Guru only. If you go to several people and follow the instructions of many persons, you will be bewildered. You will be in a dilemma.
Remember, from one doctor you get a prescription. From two doctors, you get a consultation. From three doctors, you get a recipe for your cremation! Even so if you have many Gurus, you will be bewildered. You will be at a loss to know what to do. One Guru will tell you to do Hanuman's
japa. Another will tell you to do the
japa of Shri Rama. A third will tell you to do
puja every day. You will be puzzled. Stick to one Guru and follow His instructions. Listen to all, but follow one. Respect all, but adore one. Gather knowledge from all, but adopt the teachings of one Master. Then you will gain rapid spiritual progress.
Anita Verma, devotee
July 2007