HUMAN GURU IS GOD HIMSELF

Swami Subhodananda  

There is a real story that happened in the last century the life of a devotee Kusum. She was a disciple of Swami Subhodananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.

According to Tantric Scriptures guru is said to be none other than God Himself. It was proved in the life of story of Kusum. She was a child widow who lived an austere life. She was very devoted to her guru Swami Subhodananda and Ishta Sri Ramakrishna.

The story goes that she died at the age of forty. On the day that she passed away a light was seen above her house, which some neighbours saw and understood to mean that she had died. Her guru was aware that she had passed away.

After sometimes Swami Subhodananda visited that area where Kusum had once lived. He came down with a high fever and was put into a guest house alone. All night he tossed and turned. Suddenly he saw Kusum sitting by the bed, fanning him. He asked: ‘Kusum, where have you come from? Did you not die?’ ‘Yes, she replied. ‘Thakur (Sri Ramakrishna) has sent me.’

‘What happened the day you died?’ Swami Subhodananda asked her.

‘I was in great agony,’ she explained, ‘and I was calling on you.’ ‘I was calling you on you and suddenly I found you had come, hooded, and took me by the hand. We both ascended into the air- higher and higher until we reached a wonderful place. You removed your hood and I saw the face of Takur smiling. I asked, “What happened to my guru?” Sri Ramakrishna replied, It was always me. But you were calling on your guru, so I had to take that form when I came to you.

Sri Ramakrishna used to say the Satchidananda, the Ultimate Reality, Brahman alone is the guru. This is in conformity with the teachings of the Vedas. This is proved in the life story of a devotee.

SOURCE: VEDANTA KERSARI, R K MATH, CHENNAI-4

A MEMORABLE SHIVA-RATRI OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA

Sri Ramakrishna

Pyne's  Shiva Temple

Once during Shiva-ratri a dramatic performance had been arranged near Pyne’s Shiva Temple. A troupe from the neighbouring village was to perform a religious drama depicting the glory of Shiva. The performance was to begin about half an hour after dusk. That evening, news reached the village that the boy who was to play Shiva had become seriously ill and that the director could not find a substitute. Disappointed, the director sent an apologetic message that the performance must be postponed. What could be done? How could night long vigil be kept? The elders assembled to discuss the matter. They sent word to the director asking whether he could conduct the drama that night if they found someone to act in the role of Shiva? He responded in the affirmative. The village council met again to select someone who could play, and they decided on Gadadhar [childhood name of Sri Ramakrishna]. Although he was young, his looks were right for the part and he knew songs of Shiva. The director himself could tactfully manage the few spoken lines required for the role. Gadadhar was approached. Seeing the eagerness of all, he agreed. The performance began on schedule, an hour after dusk.

Gadadhar in Divinemood

Dharmadas Laha, the landlord of the village, was a close friend of the Sri Ramakrishna’s father. So his elder son, Gayavishnu Laha, and Sri Ramakrishna become close friends. When Gayavishnu learned that his friend would play the role of Shiva, he and his companions helped him with make-up for the part. Once he was in costume, Gadadhar sat in the dressing room and thought of Shiva. When he was called to appear on the stage, one of his friends led him there. He mounted the stage at his friend’s request. Absent-mindedly, without looking in any direction, he slowly walked to the middle of the stage and stood there motionless. The audience was overwhelmed with joy and awe upon seeing Gadadhar in that costume, with matted hair, bedecked with rosaries, and smeared with ashes. He entered with slow and steady footsteps, and then stood motionless, with heavenly, indrawn, unblinking gaze, and a sweet smile on the corners of his lips. According to village custom, the audience suddenly cried out, chanting the name of Hari. Some women made auspicious sounds and some blew conches. To claim the audience during the pandemonium, the director began to sing a hymn of Shiva. At this the audience quieted slightly. But beckoning and nudging one another, they began to comment in hushed voices: “Bravo, Bravo!” “How beautiful Gadai looks!” “We never thought the boy could act in the role of Shiva so wonderfully!” “ If we somehow secure this boy, we can form a yatra party of our own.”

Gadadhar remained standing thee all the while; moreover, tears continually trickled down onto his chest. Thus some time passed, and Gadadhar neither changed his position nor said anything. Then the director and a few elderly villagers went over to Gadadhar and found that his hands and the feet were numb and that he seemed to have lost all external consciousness. At this point the commotion in the audience increased terribly. Some shouted, “Water! Splash water on his eyes and face!” Some said, “Fan him!” Some called out, lord Shiva has possessed him. Chant Shiva’s name!” again some grumbled, “This boy has spoiled everything. Now they will have to stop the play!” After a long while, when all efforts had failed to bring him back to normal consciousness, the audience dispersed. Some men carried Gadadhar home on their shoulders. We have heard that his family wept because despite all their efforts Gadadhar could not be roused from his ecstatic sate that night. He became normal again after sunrise the next day.


                *                *                *                *

ANECDOTES IN THE LIFE OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA :

            1. SWAMI VIVEKANANDA: A GREAT LESSON LEARNT FROM HIS  MOTHER        

2.  SWAMI VIVEKANANDA: A TRUTHFUL STUDENT

                *              *                 *                 *

1. FOR SWAMI VIVEKANANDA: A GREAT LESSON FROM HIS MOTHER

When Swami Vivekananda [then Narendra] was studying in school he was punished for no fault of his own. The Geography teacher asked him a question which Narendra answered correctly. But the teacher thought Narendra he was wrong and punished him. But Naredra was undaunted even as a boy. He protested, ‘I committed no error, sir; I am sure what I said is right.’ This made the teacher furious and he caned Narendra mercilessly.

BHUVANESHWARI DEVI

Narendra returned home, his eyes filled with tears and narrated every thing to his mother. But Bhuvaneshwari Devi consoled him saying, ‘My son, why do you care if you are in the right? Follow the truth always, whatever happens.’

Narendra found his Master, Sri Ramakrishna to be an embodiment of the ideal his mother had instilled in him. Sri Ramakrishna used to say: ‘Truth is to be cultivated by all means. If a man holds to truth in this Kaliyuga, he will certainly realize God.’ And Sri Ramakrishna himself practised what he preached.

SRI RAMAKRISHNA

This ideal of unwavering loyalty to truth which, Swami Vivekananda saw in his mother and later in his spiritual master Sri Ramakrishna found expression in all his actions. It was therefore only but natural that the world would later hear him proclaim: ‘Every thing can be sacrificed for truth, but truth cannot be sacrificed for anything.’

           *                 *                 *                 *

 2.   SWAMI VIVEKANANDA: A TRUTHFUL STUDENT

While in school one day Swami Vivekananda [then Narendra] was talking animatedly to his friends during a class recess. Meanwhile, the teacher had begun to teach his subject. But the students were too absorbed in Narendra’s story to pay any attention to the lesson. After some time had passed, the teacher heard the whispering and understood what was going on! Visibly annoyed, he now asked each student what he had been teaching on. None could answer. But Narendra was remarkably talented; his mind could work simultaneously on two planes. While he had engaged one part of his mind in talking, he had kept the other half on the lesson. So when the teacher asked him that question, he answered correctly. Quite nonplussed, the teacher inquired who had been talking so long. Everybody pointed at Narendra, but the teacher refused to believe them. He then asked all students except Narendra to stand upon the bench. Narendra also joined his friends and stood up. The teacher asked him to sit down. But Narendra replied: ‘No sir, I must also stand up because it was I who was talking to them.’

                *                *                *                * 

NEW YEAR DAY – A DAY OF ETERNAL BLESSING:

It was on a New Year Day Sri Ramakrishna blessed every one saying: “May you all be blessed with the spiritual awakening?”  Some one may raise a question: ‘Does God bless only on new year day or on all days too? Whoever presents himself/herself before God with prayerful attitude then it is a New Year day and surely it is a day of blessing.  It is said by Sri Ramakrishna that the wind of God’s grace is incessantly blowing. One who keeps the sail of one’s mind unfurled will catch the favourable wind of His grace and reach one’s destination. Jesus Christ also said, “… One who seeks will find, and for one who knocks it will be opened” (The Gospel of Thomas,94).

 This wonderful incident happened on 1^st January in1886. At that time Ramakrishna was suffering from cancer and lying sick at  Cossipore Garden House[see picture] in Kolkata. On that particular New Year day he felt better. Being a holiday many of his devotees had come to see him and have his blessings. Though he used to lie down all the time in his room he came down for a walk in the vast garden.

“When Sri Ramakrishna came downstairs at 3 pm more than thirty devotees were there. As soon as they saw him, all got up out of reverence and bowed down to him. When he came to the middle of the path leading to gate, he saw devotees Girish (known as the father of Bengal Drama), Ram (a doctor), Atul and a few others. Sri Ramakrishna addressed to Girish [see the picture], “Girish, I find, you say to one and all every where so many things about ‘this’ [that I am an incarnation of God]; what have you seen and understood (about me) to make you to do so?” Girish remained completely unmoved, and kneeling down on the ground near his feet, said in a choked voice with his hands folded and face turned upwards, “what more can I say of Him, whose greatness Vyasa and Valmiki [great poets of Indian Epics Mahabharat and Ramayana]could not find words to express?” Sri Ramakrishna was charmed at fervent utterance of Girish, and blessing all the devotees assembled there through their representative Girish, said, “what more shall I say to you? May you all be blessed with the spiritual awakening?”Beside himself with love and compassion for the devotees, hardly had he said those few words when he went to Bhavasamdhi. Those words of profound blessing, untouched by the slightest tinge of the ego-sense, directly entered the devotees’ hearts, where they raised high billows of bliss [see below picture: Sri Ramakrishna in Samadhi]. 
  

The devotees became eager to bow down to him and take the dust of his feet; and filling the quarters with cries of “Victory to Ramakrishna”, began to saluting him one after another. As they were bowing down to him, the sea of Sri Ramakrishna’s compassion transcended all bounds and brought a wonderful phenomenon. He now began touching each of the devotees assembled on that day in that divine mood. The joy of the devotees knew no bounds at that act of Sri Ramakrishna.

Some devotees like Ramachandra have described the happening of that day as the transformation by Sri Ramakrishna of himself into the Wish fulfilling tree (Kalpataru- as per the Indian mythology is a magical tree, which blesses a person with anything which he or she desires.). But it is more reasonable to call it “the Self –revelation of Sri Ramakrishna or “the bestowal of freedom from fear on all devotees by revealing himself”.

It is very interesting to know about the spiritual experiences of the following two devotees whom Sri Ramakrishna touched on that occasion:

1. Ramlal Chattopadhyaya[See picture], a relative of Sri Ramakrishna was present that day and received his grace. When asked about his experience he said, “I could formerly see a part only of the holy Person of my chosen Ideal [Deity] with my mind’s eye at the time of meditation – when I saw the Person from the face to the waist, but could not see the holy feet; and whatever I saw never seemed to be alive. But no sooner had Sri Ramakrishna touched me that day then the form of my chosen Ideal appeared suddenly from head to foot in the lotus of my heart and looked benign and effulgent.”

2. Another devotee Vaikunthanath also received Sri Ramakrishna’s grace on that day. Sri Ramakrishna had earlier given him spiritual instruction and moulded his life.  Further he rendered his life full of bliss by initiating him in a mantra.

“As soon as Sri Ramakrishna had blessed two or three of the devotees by his potent touch, Vaikunthanath came before him, bowed down to him with devotion and said, “Sir, please bestow your grace on me!” “But you have been given every thing,” said Sri Ramakrishna. “When you say,” said Vaikuntha, “every thing has been given, it is certainly so; but kindly do so, and that I too can understand it. Saying, “So be it,” Sri Ramakrishna touched his chest only for a moment in the ordinary way. “But,” said Vaikunthanath, “as the result of it, a great revolution took place in my mind. I saw the figure of Sri Ramakrishna lit up with gracious smile in the sky, in the houses, trees, plants, men and in whatever else I looked at. I did not know how to contain my delight within myself. That mental attitude and vision of mine continued for some days throughout my waking state. I became amazed and charmed with the holy vision of Sri Ramakrishna in all things. It continued to be so wherever I went, to the office or elsewhere on any business.” 

Let us all pray to God on this New Year Day to bless us with eternal joy, peace and enlightenment.

---------------------------------------------------------

ANECDOTES

1. From the Life of Buddha.     See below              
2. From the Lives of  Vaisnava Saints [Alwars]. See below

3. From the Life of Sri Sankaracharya. See below
4. Sri Ramana Maharishi: 'I am Universal'. See below
5. Divine Companions of Sri Sarada Devi. See below

=====================================================

MOTHER SRI SARADADEVI

5. DIVINE COMPANIONS OF SRI SARADA DEVI: 

When Sri Sarada Devi was thirteen years old, she went to her mother-in-law’s house at Kamarpukur. She stayed there for some time. At that time some interesting incident happened.

She was afraid of going alone for a bath in nearby pond called Haldarpukur. When she was coming out of the side door of the house, she was thinking within herself: “How can I go alone to the pond for a bath being the young daughter-in-law of the house?” Just as she was thinking so, eight girls of her age came there. She also started walking on the street. She saw that they were escorting her, four in the front and four at the back to the pond. When she bathed, they also took bath. In the same way they brought her back to the house. During that period, as long as she lived there, this happened everyday. At that time Mother did not understand who they were. But it is clear that they were none other than the eternal companions of Divine Mother.

Source: “The Compassionate Mother Sri Sarada Devi”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. SRI RAMANA MAHARISHI: ' I AM UNIVERSAL’:

RAMANA MAHARISHI

One day Ramana Maharishi was reading 'Tara Vilasam' in the Ramayana written in Malayalam. While reading and explaining the whole story his eyes became full of tears and his voice became tremulous. It looked as if the whole drama was being enacted in his presence. Noticing this Nagamma, a close devotee of Ramana Maharishi said, “Bhagavan appears to have got transformed into Tara herself”. Pulling himself together he said with a smile, “What to do? I identify myself with whosoever is before me. I have no separate identity. I am universal.” 


[Source: My life at Sri Ramanashramam.]

______________________________________________________________

1. From the life of Buddha:

The effotless way to settle a disturbed Mind:

Once Buddha was walking towards a town with his followers. On the way they saw a lake and stopped there. Buddha told one of his disciples to bring some water to drink from the lake.

The disciple went near the lake. He saw some animals that they had just crossed the water of the lake and made its water muddy.
 

So he came back and told Buddha that the water in the lake was very muddy and it was not fit to drink. After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go and bring some water from the lake.

The disciple went back to the lake. He found the water was still muddy. He returned and informed Buddha about it. Some time passed and again Buddha asked the disciple to go back for bringing water.

 

The disciple reached the lake and found the water was clear and pure. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to drink. So he collected water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then looked up at the disciple and said, “See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be and the mud settled down on its own, and you got clear water. Your mind is also like that! When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down.

Source: Internet

                          *                 *                *                 *

2.From the lives of three Vaisnava Saints [Alwars]

THE FOURTH PERSON:

Vaisnava Saints called Alwars are well known for their pious, dedicated service for the Lord and  highest realisation. Poigai Alwar, Bhoodath Alwar and Pei Alwar are collectively called as "Mudhal Alwars" [First Alwars] were contemporaries. They lived in 7th century A.C. In their lives an interesting incident happened:

One day during a storm these three Alwars took shelter in a small hut. There was not enough space for all of them to stand. Soon they began to feel the presence of a fourth person in their midst but invisible to them. This they knew was none other than the Lord Himself. Such was their great devotion to Lord Narayana.

                        *                *                 *                  *



SRI SANKARACHARYA

3. A LESSON LEARNT BY 
     SRI SANKARACHARYA:

Though Sankaracharya was a Brahmajnani he didn't have absolute faith that everything in the world is Brahman. By the grace of Lord Viswanath he learned the lesson. 

One day as he was coming out of the Ganges after his bath, he saw an untouchable, a butcher, carrying a load of meat.  Inadvertently the butcher touched his body. Sri Sankara shouted angrily, 'Hey there! How dare you touch me?' 'Revered sir,' said the butcher, 'I have not touched you, nor have you touched me.  The Pure Self cannot be the body nor the five elements nor the twenty-four cosmic principles.' Then Sri Sankara came to his senses. 

SOURCE:  The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

*               *                  *                        *