Did we justify for the food that we took today !!!!!
Rama, Raghupathy
Dear Friends,
Radhe Radhe
It’s our good fortune to be the in the divine presence of a living Mahathma. It’s a very beautiful experience and every instance is a lesson for us to learn. Below is one of such beautiful moments in the divine presence of HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji…
From Sri Bhagyaji's Madhurasmaranam. Courtesy: Nirmala Giriji)
One late evening I went to the Ashram for Guru Maharaj’s darshan. Even as I entered the Ashram I spotted Guru Maharaj sitting in the far end surrounded by Bhaktas. Generally, on reaching the Ashram we would only rush to Guru Maharaj first, won’t we? It was quite late in the evening and I was feeling terribly hungry. So, I stopped to think. ‘if I go to Guru Maharaj’s presence directly I will not be able to get out of the place. I will have to sit there suffering hunger. I don’t know how long it will take. So, let me first have my food and then go to Guru Maharaj.’ Thinking on these lines I went into the kitchen and had my food. I then came to Guru Maharaj and prostrated before him. By then Guru Maharaj had got up and began to walk up the drive way. I also walked beside him. Guru Maharaj was making enquiry about several matters and I was providing him with all the information.
Guru Maharaj came up to the place where some construction work was going on. It was around 11 p.m. Construction laborers were breaking huge and hard stones at that time of the night. They were working under special lights erected for the purpose. We would have come across this kind of scene several times, in several places. I have but never has it touched my heart nor have I ever stopped to think about it. We would just pass by: that’s what I would do. But Guru Maharaj stopped there and looked at them with deep compassion. Guru Maharaj then said, “Have they had their food? What would they have eaten? They sit here at this time of night breaking stones and carrying the heavy load………oh, what kind of life is this! Would they have had their food? I have had my food but I do not know if they have had food. I feel quite worried on this account.”
Guru Maharaj then said, “These laborers work so hard. Such hard physical labour! If they feel hungry it is justified. If they have food it is justified because they work so hard and certainly require food. These people certainly need food. It is justified. But I have not done anything!” Guru Maharja spoke about himself in this manner!
“I have not done anything but have had my food.”
When I heard him speak this I felt highly embarrassed. What did I do? I first went into the kitchen, had food and only then came to see Guru Maharaj. Even as I enter the Temple I wonder what kind of Prasad I would get. God comes later. That is the kind of Bhakti that I have! This is our condition. I felt very awful. I could guess rightly what turn this was going to take! Guru Maharaj then turned to me and asked, “Have you had your food?”(!!)
I bent my head down even as I answered in a whisper, “I have had.” I spoke no further.
Guru Maharaj did not stop there. He continued, “If these people have food it is justified. I have also had my food. But I have done no work. Should I not do some work if I have to eat food? There should be justification in taking food. The only thing that I can do is chant Nama. If I chant Nama the food eaten is justified. I should eat only if I chant Nama. Otherwise this is only a burden. How can I eat food if I do not chant Nama?” To me it was indeed a harsh slap! Who speaks in this manner? Guru Maharaj! Saying this he asks if I had had my food! How well Guru Maharaj explains a matter! Mahans’ conduct is only like this. For every morsel they eat they question themselves if they have toiled for the sake of the Lord. So, if I do not chant Nama I am not justified in taking food. Is this not a lesson for me? So, what is the purpose of taking food? To chant Nama. If you fail to do it you have no need for food.
That night Guru Maharaj taught me this lesson in such a wonderful way.
Guru Maharaj sings in one of his kirtans……..
“undu urangi oru thondum seiyAmal yen kAlam urundOdudhE, Aiyya!
yithunai kripai yen mEl thagumO aiyya!”
He sings, “Oh, Lord! What great compassion you have for me! How much blessings you shower on me. I keep demanding more and more: I even question ‘do you have compassion? Do you have any mercy?’ But how do I spend my days? Eating, sleeping and without offering any kind of service to you. Days are flying past and I spend my days in this manner. How then can I justify taking food? Yet, oh, Lord! You are so compassionate towards me!”
This is what Guru Maharaj brought to light that night. Food is needed only to chant Nama. So, after this incident anywhere and at any time when I happen to see such scene my mind brings to memory only these words of Guru Maharaj. The lesson that he taught me that night. Guru Maharaj is perpetually teaching us.
Dr. Bhagyanathan ji in Madhurasmaranam
Regards
Kishore
This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, notify the sender immediately by return email and delete the message and any attachments from your system.