THOUGHTS SHARED ON THE OCCASION OF BELOVED PAPA’S MAHA SAMADHI DAY
Anandashram
Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
THOUGHTS SHARED ON THE OCCASION OF
BELOVED PAPA’S MAHA SAMADHI DAY
The Maha Samadhi Day of Param Pujya Papa Swami Ramdas will be observed by all his devotees on the 13th of this month.
Every year on this day, devotees try to, collectively or individually, chant the holy and all-powerful Ram Nam and read a few words of Beloved Papa’s teachings. From this, we get some sentimental satisfaction of having observed the day. But we don’t really check whether it has had any impact on our spiritual journey or on our daily lives?
However, this year, a deep prompting is felt to not let this day go by like the earlier ones. Let us check whether this occasion has kindled any fresh awakening or new aspiration in our hearts. Otherwise, as Pujya Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj said, “It has become only a mechanical routine which we observe year after year — having all the outer frills but empty of content inside. It becomes automatic, repetitive; it takes us no further, no higher. (Then) the very purpose of the day has been lost.”
So, let us make a firm resolve that the 58th Maha Samadhi day should be a different one, in the sense that it should be instrumental in giving a deeper thrust to our Sadhana. This resulted in triggering some vital thoughts on aspects pertaining to the inspiring life and teachings of Beloved Papa:
1. Samadhi has been defined as the withdrawal of the mind from the created world into the Uncreated Void. Beloved Papa termed the Indwelling and all-pervading Reality as the Great Void right at the beginning of His spiritual journey. This understanding of the Great Void automatically gave him the required foothold for withdrawing the mind from the ‘created world’. Have we ever tried to become aware of the Void in our lives lived so far?
2. The intensity of the Sadhana undertaken by Beloved Papa from 1920 onwards is a perennial source of inspiration to all aspirants. Have we been able to gauge where we stand in our Sadhana, even if it is just 10% or 5% of what he did?
3. Spirituality stands for expansion from individual to universal. Prior to 27th December 1922, Beloved Papa was identifying himself with a small circle — the Poorvashram family. Later, he transcended that stage to become one with the Universal Life. To what extent have we been able to expand our love-circle, starting with our family, expanding to those whom we come into contact with? Have we been able to give love and respect to at least some of the creations — animate and inanimate? Have we been able to give some thought to the fact that nothing is irrelevant, nothing is insignificant, nothing is unimportant; nobody is irrelevant, nobody is insignificant and nobody is unimportant?
4. Time and again, we have been told by Beloved Papa to harmoniously blend Bhakti and Jnana in our Sadhana. Beloved Papa’s devotion to the Lord was the quintessence of this blend. His devotion was not merely confined to any particular form, but was channelised to the Lord manifested in all the Creation. To achieve this, the non-dual aspect — Advaita aspect — was also aiding him. To what extent have we been able to translate this in our lives?
Normally we develop devotion to a particular form. That is perfectly alright. However, this should enable us to feel the presence of the same deity is in the hearts of all creations.
5. Though Beloved Papa became One with the Lord — the Indwelling and all-pervading Reality — still he was also able to maintain a mysterious relationship with Him, which is explicit in the heart-pouring in the cave, as mentioned in IN QUEST OF GOD. This teaches us that though the Lord and devotee become one at the highest level, the devotee can still maintain a blissful relationship with the Lord through regular communion. To what extent have we been able to develop this?
6. Total reliance on God was the mainstay of Beloved Papa’s life. There was not an incident in which He did not see the workings of the Divine. In our case, have we made an earnest effort to bring in the God-dimension as much as possible even in a few cases?
7. Beloved Papa had absolute faith in the holy and all-powerful name of God. When he chanted the Name, he was also well-grounded in the understanding that the chanting of the Name itself was made possible because of the Indwelling Spirit. He was also aware that the Name symbolised the Indwelling Reality which had manifested as all beings, creatures and things in the Universe.
Although we have been chanting the Divine Name with all faith and devotion for the past few decades and also deriving some joy from it, have we checked up as to what happens to us after the chanting session is over? Is there any tangible sign of progress in becoming aware of the Lord’s presence, and is it reflected in our daily lives?
There could be so many such questions which could arise in our hearts only when we are dead earnest in our quest. If we try to get answers to any or some of the above and make resolves to live up to them, we will then feel that we have truly observed the Maha Samadhi Day.
May He, who prompted us to think on these lines, enable us to derive the maximum benefit from this churning.
Hari Om.
Om Sri
Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram