Pain to bliss (part-2)

"Rōga nivāraṇa mērā pahalā kartavaya hai (Eradication of disease is my foremost responsibility)" smiled Pitaji.
I had not slept that night. Still in lot of pain and tears in my eyes, i sat down on the dinning table next to Pitaji in the main hall at laxmi gardens bunglow. Pitaji has been living in the ground floor of this old duplex for some years now. Quiet contrary to my expectations, the living space was so humble.. the main hall has an old sofa and a dinning table. His room has a cot, a chair table with loads of books piled one top of the other. An iron almirah and a few cartons (containing medicines) thrown around.

Akash had walked me in, holding me strong at the waist. i had not stepped out of my room for more than a week now. Pitaji's eyes filled with tears when i narrated to him about what i was going through.

With a mothers' compassion in his eyes he said "Ma, you have suffered too much and you have definitely taken too long to come here, but dont worry i will cure you". With a sweet smile he added "you will be up and running in four days".

He gave me some medicines, some food and lots of love and care. I could feel an instant relief.

For next three days he kept me under his observation. gave me medicines with his own hands, fed me like a mother feeds a child. And kept telling me "dont worry, you will be alright". I kept getting better, the healing was quiet fast.

Along with Akash, i spent a beautiful time being there with him. Pitaji rested on a chair besides me, meditated and prayed for me constantly. We had some beautiful conversations with him, some stories from the Puranas, some stories from Guruji's childhood interspersed with small snacks :) or a cup of filter coffee.

AND.... he would read my mind all the time :) 

When, he would go into his room to read or write, I would discus somethings with Akash quietely and Pitaji would just somehow bring it up later in the conversations.... close the talk with a sweet smiling "see i am reading your mind" and then point at Guruji's picture on the wall "I am not doing anything, its all His grace. I am a simple man".

This is something, he does all the time. Whenever anyone will praise him, all he does is point to Guruji's picture on the wall. 

He is 88. Walks erect. Eyesight, better than mine. Razor sharp memory. i would miss my medicines, he wont. He did not say one negative word in all these days..not even one. He did not shout at anyone. He would not take help, even if it meant walking to and fro his room a million times for medicines, paper, pen etc etc. And if you offer to, comes a quick "Kyun(why)? there are many poor and sick people out there, i want you to go and help them. Dont worry a bout me, i am alright".
You cannot walk out of laxmi gardens, without eating. Forget it, don't even try. He will sit and watch, make sure you eat, even if you have already had a meal :)
I close with one of his favorite lines "पेट भरो ध्यान करो"..... Ha ha ha...!!!


...........keep reading :)

From pain to bliss .... !! (Part-1)

Some three months back, i picked up a bug or may be it was a permanent resident of my body and chose to show up now that i was fatigued of travel. 

As i was in the middle of a tight course schedule, an instant relief medication felt necessary. I ended up taking a series of antibiotics, about four times as and when the symptoms appeared and re appeared until it got complicated :(

On the day of Dussehra, as i celebrated victory and blessed everyone around, health, prosperity and peace, little did i know that i was going to get bed ridden for next two weeks. The dear bug attacked again and this time really really hard. 


But now, i was determined to not to take anymore antibiotics. And so i did.  Ayurvedic doctors started treatment.... treatment not on the symptoms but something that would work on the root cause. 

Symptomatic relief was not a promise. So, what followed for next few days is lot of crying in pain and praying for relief. But, one day when i couldn't take any more i prayed to Guruji and decided to give in. 
Back to antibiotics :(




Just then, i was guided to Pitaji.*
Pitaji, as he is lovingly called is Gurujis father. A well known scholar, Pitaji lives his life by the scriptures. At an age of 88, he just wants to be useful. He wants to serve. He wants to give.....and so he does. He has dedicated his life to service of humanity.

R. S. Venkat Ratnam

Once in a while we would see him in satsangs and I always thought that having children like Guruji and Bhanu Didi, Pitaji must be now enjoying a comfortable happy retired life :) Retired from Seva too :)
Little did i know (actually i should have known), Pitaji is still taking care of some 450 poor women from about 30 villages in North Karnataka. He provides to them not only vocational trainings, but markets their products, help them become self reliant, help them start small savings accounts with the Indian post office etc etc......!! 






............keep reading for more :)

*Acharya Ratnananda, for books check: http://www.flipkart.com/author/acharya-ratnananda/

In a happy place....

              The Navratri Homas began today. Ganesh Homa being the first one. 
As always, ashram is bustling with colourful clothes, bangles, mehndi, happy shinning bright faces from all over the world. At the moment we have about 1200 internationals and more than 3000 from different states of India.
The festivities and celebrations here transport you to some other world.


Today, offerings were made to Ganesha, the Lord of Auspiciousness. Ganpati Homa is symbolic of removing the obstacles before initiating anything new. Ganesha also symbolises joy, compassion and magnanimity. 
Thus, anything we begin with a happy full heart, with an intention to serve and share will certainly be fruitful.


And yet again, i made a new start, a new beginning on this path that takes me back to myself. 
As Swami Pragyanand ji Maharaj said in satsang last night, "If u stand in front of a mirror and u see a mark on the face in your reflection, if you try to remove it by wiping the mirror off, it wont go. You will have to wipe your face. The mark can be seen there,  but it really isn't. It is here. Recognise the fact that what u see outside is within you. Recognizing that all that is outside of us and within us is nothing but Divine Consciousness."


So i start to walk, yet again towards that happy place inside me :)


And as Maharaji said, "the recognition of the fact that what u see outside is within u, happens only by being in very few momentous occasions like this (ashram navratri puja).


I am filled with gratitude for this life for at an age like mine, i have had countless such oppurtunities, attended countless such pujas and been a part of countless such satsangs.
No life can be better than mine.


I am in a very happy place inside me right now.