Evening Satsang with Pujya Guruji

8 September 2010

Post dinner we were all sitting in Pujya Guruji's kutia in Sandeepany Powai and Guruji was complaining that no one was asking any questions.  All that we were doing was talking nonsense.  Then Guruji only asked us all a question:
'What would I want for if I was assured of success?'

Gave us all some time to think and then started going around asking for thoughts.  Raviji said Darshan of the Lord.  At that time Guruji said that can't be.  These answers are given only to please.  For eg, youth in USA will ask why do Hindus worship so many Gods.  The real question in their mind may be What is wrong with dating or inter-caste or inter-faith marriages.

Then Guruji asked Brni Vividisha.  She said she wanted to ensure that all girls get their education and money earned from her writings be used towards battered women.  Thus started people's answers.  Some were simple and to the point like I want to get married or I want to put on some weight.  Another said she didn't want to be misunderstood.  Raviji's thoughts had changed.  Others said I would have brought up my kids differently.  Some are definite that they want to realise.  Another wanted more education and knowledge of music.  Thus the discussion continued.

I was thinking what I wanted as I knew that soon enough I will be asked too.  The first thought that came to me was that obviously I want something that is most precious to me.  So then I had to think what was most precious to me.  The only 'thing' that I could think of was Pujya Guruji.  I thought again and again so that I was sure.  I always wanted to serve my country.  But that is exactly what I was doing I thought.  If I wanted to do it any other way then I would not be here.  So that was clear Guruji was the most precious.  I can't say that what I want is to serve Guruji.  That again too would sound like I just want to please or something to that effect.  So I kept reflecting what I really wanted.  It was true that I wanted to serve Guruji but that was too superficial.  I needed to know how to serve Guruji.  For that I needed to know what he expected of me.  Perfect.  What I really wanted was to be able to understand Guruji.  Guruji always emphasises that the thought flow is most important.  So what I wanted was to understand Guruji's thought flow.  Once this was clear to me everything else would automatically fall in place!

Sure enough my turn came.  I said that I really wanted to be able to understand Guruji, to understand how Guruji thinks.  Then I asked Guruji what did Guruji really want.  Guruji said nothing or something to that effect.  I replied that was not fair.  Then Guruji said what Guruji wanted, 'I would want to be what I expect others to be.  For eg, if I want the other person to be loving then I should be loving first.  If I don't want to be misunderstood then I must not misunderstand first.'  More egs flowed from Guruji.  What a perfect answer!  That is why I need to understand his thinking process, his perspective.  Only then can I be a more effective instrument.

Lovely satsang and end of a beautiful day...

mk