A GLIMPSE OF THE SPIRITUAL REALM.(DODRA SAHIB)
A Glimpse of the Spiritual Realm
at
Dodra SAHIB
(Distt. MANSA)
When I reached Dodra Sahib, in March 1979, I was thrilled to find that amongst over a hundred people - ranging from utterly illiterate to PhDs, ex-servicemen, from Subedars to Generals, Civilian Officers-participating in the Satsang Samagam, not a single soul carried a radio or a newspaper, and no one talked of anything but Divinity.
All faces radiated a unusually calm joy, springing straight out of their souls. I soon realized that the gathering was truly a Divine Satsang Samagam. In the camp, I saw unassuming faces, full of joy and basking in the eloquence of silence (telling no tales of torments and troubles encountered on the way), with minds and intellects completely switched on to Him. I just blinked my eyes at the most unusual gathering I had ever seen, for, here was motley crowd totally ‘in tune with the Infinite’. My eyes were transfused and I was overwhelmed with a feeling of amazement! Here was an association with the usual trappings. Here was an assembly of people, who were drawn by the inspiration of a 77-year old retired army official from
The scene was akin to that of a Gurdwara. The congregation was gathered around the sacred book- Sri Guru Granth Sahib, housed in a room, with a courtyard covered by a rented shamiana The floor was provided with the luxury of dried paddy stalks (villagers call it ‘parali’) and on which all slept for a few hours in the night, more soundly than they would in regal beds in a five-star hotel! There was not even single paid servant with specified duties. Anybody could do any chore or job of his choice, and almost everybody went about doing something, some sewa, with real missionary zeal. Nobody was allocating duties or directing the operations in the Gonzalo’s Republic………… no warden, no monitor, no attendant, no guard, no watchman………………..! In this pretty large joint family, all were doing their work in a perfectly orderly manner, prompted by a clean conscience and a dedication to duty - neither receiving nor giving orders!
My inner eye soon realized the manifestation of the Holy Spirit itself in action, for there was no host, hosting the guests. In fact, the host himself was housed in a room (which he shared with a dozen more) in a nearby building. The host hailed from a town about eight hours away by the bus, and was as old or new to the place, as the participants themselves were. His command of the camp was an illuminating illustration of “Action in inaction”, as I soon saw.
The participants all came - eagerly, calmly and quietly - to the “ancestral house”, where the head of the house did nothing except radiate love! He spoke no words except of affectionate greetings to the daily arrivals who would rush towards him touching and hugging him like grandchildren, irrespective of their sex, age or occupation. Here, if anywhere, was a large joint family, where love seemed to Preside, prompting all to an activity, conduct, and behavior, which was quite appropriate. I have never seen a family, even on a festive occasion, with all the members in such soaring spirits, so usual, yet unusual, so unusual, yet usual. People, who talk of communism from arm-chairs, would do well to ask for an invitation to see this camp in its next session! Let them come and see how Silence runs a show and Rhetoric sleeps in the store room.
Participants in the Samagam ranged from tender age children to ninety-year olds or even older, yet all awake and alert, and awake to the message of the moment from the guiding spirit of the movement, the ‘Babuji’, as they affectionately call him. People had come to him from all over
The meditation hour commenced at 4 a.m. It was a period, when all hearts beat rhythmically and in unison, busting out into a sally of SILENT SONG OF PRAISE TO THE LORD. Here, I anywhere, was a silence that spoke and sang most eloquently, a silence that wasn’t stony or sullen or even stunning………for, it chatted with me in a manner which was for me lively, graceful and grand.
Let it be kept in mind that I was only an onlooker and an objective onlooker at that, and not at all a participant, except of course on an emotional level, on occasions which were too sublime for analytical observation, God begins, where grammar ends !
The hour over, I began to watch the ‘Sublime melody’ (Kirtan) that followed.
But as the joyful crescendo of song and praise uttered in a mood of utter abandon, rose into the air, after the silence hour was over, ‘Nanak-love’ seemed to grip some persons in the congregation. Some started prostrating before Guru Granth Sahib, some went on their knees, some began to sway, some began to nod, some began to shake, some sang in ecstasy, some smiled, some laughed, some praised the Lord with a glee. Indeed, it was a sight to see and not to describe!………the descent of the divine spirit into dedicated devotees, taking-in spiritual delight with a gusto.
Yes, I must say, no two people behaved alike. Different minds mirrored the glow of the ‘Light of the Lord’ in various and varied ways……………each in its own way, while being charged with energy and power……like a battery.
God’s holy spirit is for all ! all !! all !!!
Deo Gratius. It is universal.
No wonder - I saw it in action. No wonder - I saw it in a Khalsa congregation - an association of the Pure.
The pure, for, I for one have always believed that the holy
So, no wonder, I beheld it in a place of the pure with the alertness of mind, I gained through Gayatri Mantra.
But, the wonder of wonders was that it descended without the formality of an invocation as it is prescribed or as it does with a prior preparation in Christian congregations. Yes, it did descend right there before my eyes without any formalities of ‘Karam Kand, or protocol or prescribed procedure…… the greatest wonder of my life so far. Aye-the greatest wonder that continued to repeat itself daily on all the days I was there.
But, wait, for yet more-the most sublime scene I ever saw in life was on the third day, it was the sunset hour.
A lady-very young in years (an army widow, as I learned later) - strolled into the room where about a dozen of us were lodged with the head of the house. She had hardly met him before. She just came in quietly and sat on his cot. I thought she would speak to him or perhaps to me. But no-she only sat silently.
Suddenly, she raised her humbly-head and started looking at Babuji’s face, like an innocent child looking hopefully at the face of his father. Silence was the only medium of communication between them. The lady was soon all aglow with joy and spiritual bliss. Here was a very practical demonstration of the initiation into the Divine Realm, and for me, it was the first of its type and still the most sublime experience of my life. For me, the greatest joy was to see the Divine GRACE of ‘
The soul at the receiving end kept on receiving-being charged more and more - being filled more and more, intoxication with a disciplined delight, drinking with not eyes alone, but through every pore in her body, the Amrit Dhara of Divine Realm, being filled and filled with it…………
I recalled
About a dozen of us with held-breath, watched with wonder and in stunned silence, the silent and sublime phenomenon! We wondered and wondered and wondered for it was really and truly wonderful……in the Biblical sense of the word, and sublime in every sense of the word!
For me, as all my friends know, even the most rare experiences of the saints and seekers of today and yesterday are just normal and natural happenings. I am never amazed or dazed when I read of them or recall them.
But this one! I tell you, it was truly ennobling and utterly unique.
Apparently, it was a simple process of ignition, initiation, assimilation, elevation and edification– all synthesized into one.
I, myself, have so often sat in Samadhi and received it many times straight from the Sovereign Savior, but to see it being transmitted in this measure by a Saint carrying the light of God Himself was a unique and exhilarating event in which both the saint and the receiver were unprepared, the receiver being in blissful ignorance of this heavenly gift.
Every one present in the room intimately enjoyed the experience - utterly impossible of explanation or communication to others.
I saw it all - with my mind’s eye - yet utterly unable to put it across properly in words- spoken or written.
Speaking about it is only attempting to limit the Unlimited; for having tried to guild the lily, I feel shamefully sorry and silly and small at the outcome of my very poor and pitiable attempt!
Honestly, that is my own objective assessment and a critical comment on my own composition. It is utterly devoid of even an iota of the ‘essence’ of what I experienced during that ennobling, elevating and edifying hour. I swear, neither tongue nor brush, neither quill nor camera, not even a movie camera could have caught its complexion, much less its content. Michael Angelo, Leonardo de Vinci, as also Venus de Milo, all leave me cold!
But this one!
All the time that I was there, I found the campus aglow and alit with a living ‘Satsang’, and an alive Simran, as also sadhna, Seva Samagam and a ‘sampuran samarpan’ of a superb order, all executed in a sublime state of body, mind and soul.
The camp was conducted in the atmosphere of the forests of the early Vedic times, far from the maddening crowds, and far away from all the din and noise of modern civilization. The congregation remained ever alive with Song and Service, recitation and meditation, self-restrained and self-controlled, all drenched in the spirit of ‘Nanak-love’.
Here, if anywhere, was Love manifested in all its primal purity, and I watched with eyes, agape with amazement, its expansion and extension to regions, beyond the borders of the visible and its absorption by all eager seekers of the Omni-potent and Omniscient. Most of the people, who came to this Samagam, seemed to have undergone a rare transformation of mind. Their faces beamed with ecstatic joy. They seemed absorbed in the memory of the Creator and chanted hymns of glory.
I asked a number of people the name and bio-data of the man behind the movement. They said, “We do not know, we only know him as our dear Babu Ji”. A few snapped, “He is our spiritual father”.
Very soon, I saw that he really was, to every one in the congregation, just “spiritual father”- no more, no less. My own independent and objective observation confirms what most of the participants confined in me about Babu Ji, that he radiates ‘Nanak-love’ in abundance.
I found him to be “Bharpoor” (filled) with God’s love, and it is because of this spiritual love, that many Satsangis are being constantly drawn towards him. Despite all this, he has taken no advantage of it for advancing personality cult or promoting ‘Gurudom’, as he is so self-effacing that when innocent people praise him at his face, he says, “The credit is Nanak’s, the glory is God’s”,
He is like the Ancient Mariner, who catches you by his glittering eye, and he holds you still. You never go away from him-even when you are gone. In his inspiring company, you wake up to a new consciousness-ignited, inspired and completely transformed. And you feel an urge to join him in his crusade against all sham, all hypocrisy, all evil, all hate - in fact, against all that is negative. His intense concern for the health and the wealth of your body, mind and soul, captivates you for life. He does not at all say it in words. But you do feel it in the touch you get from him and the loving looking that he gives.
We talked little, He was receiving hundreds of visitors daily and some of them had to be pulled way from hi ‘Motherly’ lap, so that the next in the queue could tae their turn. This left little time or even opportunity for any long, detailed or intimate talk, even though my cot was just next to him on his immediate left.
Yes, as I said, we could talk little, despite our proximity. But we did talk a lot on a soul-to-soul level and as I said, have established an ever lasting ‘rapport’ on that level.
The real amazing thing about this ‘man behind the movement’ is his relationship with his people. All of them, without exception, looked upon him as their Father and Mother in ONE. Not at all, not at all, not at all was the smallest ever hint of any sort of Gurudom or the Guru-Chela-cheli relationship or the discipleship feeling amongst the members of this congregation. It was a true Parent-Child relationship.
During these days it was quite often, that his eye did I eye, and beamed my search-light on his soul, and I found that hit was not for nothing that the HOLY SPIRIT had made his body, mind and soul ITS OWN ABODE. Out of the whole of him, DID project the reflection of Divine ATTRIBUTES. So, no wonders what followed…………
And no wonder, why God has made him HIS INSTRUMENT for a Mighty Movement which, as I well foresee will, one day engulf the five continents and spread all over the seven seas-emanating as it does from a ‘KOHI-NOOR’, (Mountain of Light).
Imagine, he has established Brahm Bunga in this thick of the darkest districts of the sin-soaked dens in
He is involved in multifarious activities all at once. I found in him one, who doing nothing, does every thing. His ardent efforts have created in Kaliyuga a unique institution, and it you ask me, I tell you that he is himself an ‘Institution’. I found him to be ‘all-in-one’ and ‘one-in-all’ projecting himself and working through all the persons present about him or participating in the Samagam. The participants too, I found to be dedicated and devout Khalsa fighting an ‘all-out’ war against evil ways of life and living. The armament they carry is Moral, and their sole aim and ambition is to see Moral Rearmament of the whole humanity. This war, they are fighting on all fronts in their daily lives and are, of course, winning Victories. On my evening walks, the road-side rustics told me of the great and good work that their Beloved Babu ji had done for the area around; of how he had won success in the teeth of opposition from vested interests; of how, for sixteen long years in this Devil infested and God forsaken, sin-soaked area, he labored hard, perspiring himself and inspiring others; of how he was ever being lashed by loose tongues of the hordes of hoodlums, who left no stone unfurled at him; of how he had stood it all, armed only with his love and smile; of how his love was an all-forgiving-love, and of how his smiles, which engendered affection, became his ‘missiles’!
One evening, a cart driver, a local yokel, remarked that a lesser moral would have long turned tail, but this valiant saint had turned the tables on the toughest of his tormentors by his resolute will, not “set teeth and clenched fists”, but with constructive absorption in his own solid work. He remained indifferent to all enemy attacks. He, I was told by my road side friends, never fought back or hit back, even in self-defense. Babu Ji, he said, always ignored the enmity, but never the enemy, for he always endeavored to win him over as a friend. I was told that this all too-loving and benign saint has never allowed a miracle to be attributed to him by his comrades. In fact, he denounces miracle-mongers. His miracles are the living men and women he has transformed into ‘Saints’.
At 77 (which fact I learned from a participant who spread round the news of his birth date - March 31, which was a news for all authors), nature has amply provided his hoary head with a crown of whitest silver. I imagine (and pray) that God will add a still greater luster to the crown of Love that he dons, and grant him many more years of life for propagating and spreading God’s greatness and glory and his all-too-powerful, all-too-present all-too-purposeful and all-too-benevolent Love.
If I can foresee correctly, here is a movement, a new ‘Revival’ that will soon gain momentum ad rapidly become a great moral force that could lead to the revival of Satya Yuga or the golden age of man and mankind or the ‘Kingdom of God’ on earth.
I said :
Here is a Dear—
More POWER to his elbow; and
MAY HIS TRIBE EVER INCREASE!!!
April 1, 1979 YOGESHWAR ANANDA
SARASWATI
MY SECOND VISIT
AMRIT VARSHA SAMAGAM – December 1982
Samagam Eve :
People pouring in –
–from all quarters of the country and from all over abroad.
Place: Brahm Bnga (in words of Baba Ishar Singh Ji, Babuji’s Focal Point).
Very right he is - for, here get focused all the rays and all the light particles that once upon a time got separated from the Sun-the sole soul of the Cosmos, the Parm Atma. Now they are centred upon a spot, that is spotless, and on a land, that is no man’s land - for, it is God’s and not man’s.
Bees are back at the hive, and are humming at their home-coming. Yes, home coming, for, wherever they may be, their home is here. All arrangements are flawless - reception, refreshment, berth allotment. The hospitality of the hospitable host is ideal.
There is an informal chat around Babuji’s hardwood bed; he quotes :
The ‘glory’ of MEETING cannot be ‘extolled’, and explains how we meet at three different planes - plane of the flesh of the body, where we meet and mate and multiply; plane of the mind, where we meet and merge (a la Romeo and Juliet); and plane of the Soul -
Where we seek the surge;
Where we meet and merge;
Where we merge and emerge;
that alone is the true meeting and there alone is the true meeting.
It is at the level of the soul that we all meet here and become alive and chetanya - where we live and love- where we live to love - where we love to live – and where we love so much, so deep and so long that we become Love itself.
Reciting Thee, Thee Thee, I have become “Thee” myself having been purged of all the ‘Me’ in me.
Here, there is no you and me and hence no enmity – and atmosphere infested with and invested with, permeated with, dripping with, and drenched in all that is best in man and God - where the negative is non-existent, and where even the shadows are not dark; shadows of light dare not be dark; they are too light itself.
December 15, 1982 SAMAGAM STARTS
There is no formal or even informal inauguration.
4 a.m.
With the long hand of the wrist watch on the dot of zero, the first carol soars and spreads itself over the airs-soft and sweet - and it penetrates into the sleeping ears. Nobody knows whence it comes from; for all are in their beds. The langar sewadars or the volunteers (there is not a single paid worker) in the community kitchen had not slept all night. I later learnt they take turns after a round-the clock watch (even by this time they have not worried to keep even an alarm clock there was not any in March-April 1979: there is not any now; and there is not likely to be any in the near future-for, they won’t need any, since not all are asleep at one time). The kitchen fires kept burning for more than a fortnight, the duration of the Samagam. I once remarked to a langar sewadar “You don’t sleep at all, all night, I know that! That reveals that you too don’t”, snapped the smart swan. I have learnt my silence since.
Yes, at the tick of 3 a.m. there is music - music that falls softer on ears than the drizzle of dew on fresh blown roses and fresh grown grass or tender tendrils. The camp participants bestir themselves in their berths. Their first yawn sees time up - sitting up, and in the next breath, they are up - standing up. They shake off their lethargy and attend to essential hygienic necessities.
Daily Routine :
5 p.m. to 5-30 p.m. Tea Break
5-30 p.m. to 6-30 p.m. Sri Rehras Sahib Path
6-30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dinner
8-00 p.m. to 11-00 p.m. Kirtan; Chorus Songs.
MEDITATION HOUR 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.
They sit in Samadhi. What happens therein is the individual secret of each one. At 6 a.m. they wake up to the world from which they glide into their “insides”. They emerge out of the depths they dive into and then begins the Pach-bani-path.
No ! they never narrate the nocturnal dreams of their sleep or the varied visions of this meditation hour to anybody. I do not know why, I kept mum. Never asked anybody. But I could see that the generator within each one had worked at its white heat for each face had its glow - a golden glow.
During this meditation hour, there are a number of souls that are in tune with the Infinite; there are a number of souls that are yet struggling upwards (or shall I say, deep downward, within).
NITNEM 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Yes, the Panchbani - path : Sri Japji Sahib, Sri Jaap Sahib, Ten swayyas, the Chaupai, and Sri Anad Sahib.
Some recite, some recite sliently, some only listen attentively, some take in and absorb.
This adds to the charge that they have already received during the meditation hour. During this period, the participants, as they please, get up in groups for their breakfast. As the community kitchen is nearby they continue to enjoy the Kirtan while they munch their bread and sip their tea, and remain in constant communion with Kartar, their Creator.
It may be noted that these timings are winter timings. In summer they are changed to suit the occasions.
GURBANI KIRTAN 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The entire atmosphere starts vibrating with sweet and melodious Kirtan by ENTIRE SANGAT, as soon as one of the Satsangis puts his/her hand to the harmonium alongwith his/her companion on Tabla………… Now, here is nothing individual. Since it is GROUP SINGING, all minds are on one wave-length attuned to one station. Now, here again, the actual reception depends upon one’s receiving system and receptivity. And some get more than they can hold or digest. And the Spirit does its work in an active manner. We always receive more in a group than we get as individuals. While in tune with the infinite, the seekers emit vibrations, which echo back manifold. The whole (atmosphere) Hall became and Ocean of Bliss, wherein the minds of the seekers swim like fish, and consequently gain (in the process) more than they had bargained for. Since time immemorial, Shastras have been stressing the importance of Kirtan as a detergent, as a disinfectant and a catharitic for the mind. I have attended kirtans at a number of places, but the kirtan here is a unique experience. Its plus points are too many to be listed, and too prominent to be pointed out. It washes the brain, bathes the mind and cleanses the soul. It is edifying in its totality. The whole being in you gains in spiritual health, spiritual wealth, and spiritual stature for the sum total effect is such. It impels and compels and propels all participants. Their response and gain are immense because of acute hunger and thirst that have gathered them together under one roof to enjoy Nanak-love. A casual visitor or a tamasha-beholder may not gain as much. Yes there are some who come, to scoff but remain to pray. Yes there are some who are only casual visitors. Yes there are some, who are already “committed”. Not all come with the same motive and the same intensity. And not all gain equally.
But those who cross the Rekha (the Bar), take the plunge, and hurl themselves headlong into the mounting billows and the rising crescendo of the kirtan ocean-are all bliss. “I wish it had never stopped even for lunch break’. I’ve head many remark. They are right. Man does not live by bread alone.
Kirtan cleanses. You bathe internally. And come out clean within, clean without, and in clean company. And what is more, is the cleanliness keeps itself, it sticks to your soul.
GURBANI VICHAR AND KATHA 11 a.m. to 12 Noon
Customarily, after the concluding prayer (Ardas) a full shalok or a shabad is picked randomly from Sri Guru Granth Sahib and its meaning and underlying ideas embodied in it are explained by a scholar of Gurbani. Examples and illustrations are given out of history. After listening to this, you feel better for you know your Gurbani better.
LUNCH BREAK 12 Noon to 3 p.m.
That is lunch break and rest including meeting and greeting time. Old friendships are revived and new ones are created; addresses exchanged and borders of Brotherhood broadened by the boarders – while they bathe in Bliss and Beatitude beamed by the
Indeed, the poetry of the earth is never dead. The refrain keeps on being picked up by one or the other and song after song follows sans stop, hymn after hymn is hummed by the Satsangis as they move about or relax.
MEDITATION HOUR 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Silent simran in Samadhi by the satsangis. I do not know what experiences they go through for no notes are exchanged.
One day my room-mate S. Hira Singh Bhatti, Tetd. XEN, PWD,
I saw how “collective concentration” focusses thought forms and vibrations in a manner that contributes to common good of the community and when we pray for all the people, it results in Universal Welfare : “Sarbat Ka Bhala”, and as per the law of cause and effect and reaction. ‘Kar Bhala, ho Bhala’ we ourselves benefit when we pray for others.
In these meditation hours I observed many more things besides. Read Rampa’s “You, for Ever” to understand me better. He writes about thoughts having colours, as also coulours of the aura around every living being - man or animal. These meditation hours were the best times for me to study the level of these Sadhaks as also gauge the collective thought power of the congregation.
This study was the most rewarding experience of my this - time stay in this Ashram.
I always seated myself at a place from where I could see and study almost all seekers sitting in meditation. I studied them through the colours of their thought vibrations and through the colours of aura about each one. I could well see who was at what level of consciouness at that time.
Of course, all were good and great in varying degrees, during these meditation hours.
Abhyas or Practice does the rest. Thirty or more hours’ practice during this Samagam was a good enplaning for the higher regions for these Sadhaks, good begining for the freshers and good Refresher course for the already initiates. All said and done, I saw that both fledgelings and old cocks (even me who is none of the two !) greatly benefited by these sessions. There is no mysticism or hocus-pocus involved in the meditation sessions here. It is very simple process of proceeding ‘Upward’ or deep inward by reciting the name of God silently in your mind, in a spirit of self-surrender to the Omnipotent, withdrawing the outward inclined tendencies of the mind and disciplining them by constant practice to enter inward.
Here Devotees of All Religion Are Welcome without any formal change of religion and without any formality of any sort. Any body can come and participate in such camps here, held generally in the first fortnight of April, July, October and second fortnight of December every year. You can come here unannounced, carrying your change of clothes and your personal necessities – the rest you will get here. Not a paisa is charged from anybody for stay of any duration in good rooms fitted with electricity, light, fans, heaters, flush latrines and baths. No questions are asked about our past or present or future. When you come here it is taken for granted that you have come here for sadhna. Every attempt is made to make you feel at home and comfortable. Come, get a seat allotted, have your refreshments and without the formality of “May I come in, Sir,” enter Babuji’s room and express the purpose of your visit. You will receive his blessings and a winsome smile.
No promises are given.
No high hopes are extended.
You are “told” the way up; traveling thereon is your effort, your business.
Remember, you do not come to Babuji’s Dera. You arrive at the House of Nanak, where all you see are : “Nanak Ghar Kay Golay” (bonded slaves of the House of Nanak).
So;
WELCOME ALL
- with no questions asked.
I have already explained what they do here and how they do it. If interested, hop in the next bus and arrive here - without prior appointment. Dodra is a village on the Budhlada-Sunam road and Budhlada is a Railway station on the Delhi-Bhatinda line. From
GURBANI VICAHAR BY BABUJI 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Talk generally given by Babuji is on some topic relating to man and his Maker and Master. His talk always centers around a line out of Gurbani.
SUBJECTS COVERED:
On December 19, Babuji delivered a lecture in the context of the Divine law or ‘As you sow so shall you reap’. He explained a quotation from Gurbani on how one could escape the Karmic Law and get under the umbrella of “God’s Grace”.
On December 24, Babuji lectured on The Khalsa- who is an ideal Khalsa?
On December 26, Babuji spoke on “Spiritual Secrets”.
On December 27, Babuji lectured on “A person is known by the company he keeps”.
On December 28, Babuji dilated on the subject of “how to get out of mud and muck and mire of this worldly world and get a place of honor in Divine Presence”.
On December 30, was the ‘Valedictory Address’ by Babuji. It is a story by itself. I won’t describe it, it would be best to let Babuji, speak out for himself. I learned with joy and swayed with ecstasy to find Babuji in his element. He spoke on the Universality of Gurbani. The talk was tape recorded like all earlier talks and well deserves to be published in full.
The meditation sessions and kirtan hours are generally the times of ‘self surrender and getting lost’ by the Satsangis. Hence this is the best time for them to receive the BAPTISM, They were too many to be counted, who received this Baptism. The Baptism was of a ”Silent Nature”, generally speaking, I could always well see and spot such souls as had received this Baptism. Having enjoyed the bliss of meditation, they do not have much to say or ask. For them it is the starting of a period of ‘assimilation’.
Their minds have become receptive. They are a people ready to hear and readier to heed and the entire atmosphere is surcharged with Nam Simran, Kirtan and Nanak-Love.
11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Few people seem to sleep. Mostly they talk amongst themselves about their unique experiences of the holy congregation here, in the company of pious souls with Babu ji as the Nucleus. Some kept awake even upto 2 a.m. recapitulating. They seem to be undergoing a complete metamorphosis of minds. You can see some of them really beaming with spiritual ecstasy - Inspiration, Awakening, Illumination, Realization, Infection of Affection, Ignition and Intoxication . . and then, GETTING LOST – a NEW BIRTH on earth. And you can see Babu ji enjoying the sight of his Satsangis immersed in and enjoying that spiritual ecstasy.
All that I seek to say about Babu ji is that his work is a prelude to the new age. Now he is a crusading Soldier in spiritual
All that I have to say to you, Dear ones, is : Hurry up; we are running a race against Time-the ‘Kal Yuga’. I know what is up his sleeves. Hence the shouts and shrieks out of my hoarse throat !
During the Samgam there was the Amrit Sinchar ceremoney on two occasions : one on December 22, the Birthday of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj by the lunar calendar-falling on a date of the Solar calendar when day is the shortest and night is the longest and on which day starts the lessening of the darkness and enhancing of the light.
Second Amrit Sinchar ceremony was on December 30. Some of the pious souls in the congregation could feel the presence of Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Nanak Dev Ji at the Amrit-Sinchar ceremonies.
PRABHAT PHERI was another most important item of the Samagam, A bunch of devotees starts from the Bunga with musical instruments in their hands, singing shabads about of the Gurbani in devotion, They go round the entire village - singing holy hymns and awakening the people. I accompanied the party twice on its rounds. It is grand going-out for one hour-about two hours before sunrise. The devotees singing shabads are swayed with an ecstatic bliss. People wake up and all enjoy the enternal bliss. Some come out to their doors in night dress and greet them with folded hands. Some come and join this ‘melody group’ and they are quite a crowd. They sing and sing with joy down the lanes – electrifying the entire atmosphere and charging with Bhakti and Shakti both the listeners and the participants. One morning I did not accompany them but watched them-from my window going round. I tell you it was a sight to see and not to tell ! As the returning bunch neared my window, I waved to them and said;
“When came ye, merry Souls, when came ye,
So many, and so many, and such glee……………”
My whole morning was taken up by Endymion and Keats. I went back in time to mythology and remained lost in ecstatic bliss – ah ! that sight of the returning “dancers of delight” at twilight, heralding Daylight………
I have a firm conviction that Divine Grace over-rides all formulae and laws. The present is not the Age of Law of Formulae but the Age of grace. During the present Age of Grace, more can be achieved by surrendering ourselves completely to the Supreme and humbly seeking His Grace, than by following the Formulae, which may not every time bring success to all-the negative pulls being too many, too many and too many.
More:
I’ve always held, and this I have learned from Baba Nanak, that ‘Grace is Gratis’. It is prayed for but is neither conditional nor qualified. It may come to anybody, any time, at any place-even to the worst sinner! The so-called saints do not hold any monopoly of possessing it and disbursing it! It may come through another person- or straight from the Savior Himself.
For receiving Grace, we are aided by our love of Lord’s creation - this love implies selfless service and self sacrifice.
So, dear ones ! Let us forget all our formulae and all our test books, and in a spirit of self-surrender, let us, while engaged in selfless service and self sacrifice, always strive to seek God’s Grace; that alone matters.
I’ve always held (and this yet again from Baba Nanak Himself) that it is Grace alone that sustains this world. The self-pride would have us all sent to the Devil’s Den and Dungeons down in Hades, or even Hell may refuse refuge to us, for that is what we really are, when measured with the yard - stick of Lord’s Law.
Nanak has given you the last warning. ‘Maha Kaal’ is rushing towards us all with his Iron Rod. Seek refuge in Grace through Naam Jap and meditation (Abhayas), for which such Samagams are held. Here you get used to a certain ‘way’ of thought, word and deed – and that is the ‘way’ you take with you when you go back to your world. Whether you are chair-borne or air-borne, this ‘way’ is always with you; this is the Gift or Gur-Prasad that you take with you when you go out from here as Nanak’s Ambassador. Only your practical life - for which this Samagam has well prepared you - will make you a model for all men to live and die and thus be a worthy ambassador of your Isht, Nanak. Let ‘Grace’ be your refrain always!
All the while we keep thundering: SAT SRI AKAL’- meaning that:
Only Sri Akal is Satya;
And thereby implying that
All else is ‘Mithya’.
Let us then learn to be in constant communion with the Lord, who is Sri Akal. That is what you learn in such Samagams.
Dear Ones ! I am so glad that I came here to Brahm Bunga to watch Babuji and his satsangies, whom he regards as his beloved children, undergoing a complete transformation and uplifting of minds-all chosen of God.
The chosen ones - now go back: charged;
Charged with Energy;
Charged with Love;
Charged with Selfless Service;
Charged with Self-Sacrifice.
That is what they came here for!
And that’s all what we all come here for -
From Heaven that is our Home
To Karam Bhumi,
Where we, saint soldiers, fight ‘Pakhand’
And are martyred,
Become one with the Akhand
Glory be!
This comes to you from:
Your Ever-loving brother:
31-12-82 YOGESHWAR ANADA
SARASWATI
I went to december 09 samagam and I prayed to read these observations. I had only heard of them that they existed but I appreciate very much for fulfilling my prayer. Dhan Guru Nanak