== PRECIOUS MOMENTS WITH BABA ==
Namaskar,
As the Divine Father, Baba has come on this earth to give ultimate salvation
by decreasing the distance between He and His children. He has come to create
an intimate closeness with His devotees and encourage all to come even
closer and still more close.
So despite being the Parama Purusa incarnate and the most Magnanimous One,
Baba would always create a heart-felt link with His devotees which would
automatically melt the gap between His supreme greatness and our ordinary
selves.
And one of the wonderful ways He would accomplish this was by using humour
and tender expressions with His devotees. By making everyone laugh and
smile, then sadhakas would immediately feel more relaxed and closer with
Baba. This was the very sweet and gracious way in which He would
communicate with His bhaktas.
Each and every margii has their own personal experience of closeness with
Him and by that way they could feel His sweet touch; and, those who could
not get this feeling could not remain. So every margii has their own
experience and realisation.
Following then is but one of the many highly memorable occasions when Baba
would make us all smile and laugh and thereby bring us closer to Him.
Despite our faults and despite our limitations, through His immense warmth
and love, and yes, by making us laugh, we would feel that whatever we may
be in this world, certainly we are His and He is mine. That was one of the
very special ways in which Baba would make us all feel close.
Here then is one of the scenes which I recall and others should also share
their memories also.
BABA'S ARRIVAL INTO THE PANDAL
At one particular DMC that I attended, the huge crowd of margiis and
workers were anxiously awaiting Baba's divine arrival. The pandal was
completely full and everyone present was involved in singing and dancing
kiirtan. All were in a blissful flow and the devotional feeling was
mounting more and more as they expected Baba to come any moment.
Then suddenly one Dada started shouting and the kiirtan came to a distinct
halt. Then another Dada began raising the slogan, "Parama Pita Baba Ki!",
and everyone yelled "Jai". Again and again the slogan was raised: "Parama
Pita Baba Ki-- Jai!"
The volume and vibration of the pandal was increasing and everyone knew
that at any moment Baba would be coming. The slogan was raised one more
time and then we could all see Baba entering onto the stage. Cries of
"Baba, Baba" could be heard all around and still the slogan was going on,
"Parama Pita Baba Ki- Jai!!".
The whole pandal was charged and vibrated by His presence.
As Baba walked slowly across the stage surrounded by His entourage, He
passed His cane to one Dada and majestically sat down on the dais. Quickly
another Dada came forward to remove Baba's shoes.
As Baba moved onto the center point of the dais, one or two Dadas were
involved in arranging the side pillows of His seat. Then, for a second
time, Baba brought His hands together and gave His blessing across the
entire Pandal.
Everyone was feeling waves of bliss as Baba looked in their direction.
Then one Dada approached Baba with a mala and garlanded Baba and then did
sastaung pranam. Everyone was completely focused on Baba-- watching His
every gesture and move.
Baba then began giving some directions to a few Dadas who were by His side
and then they took leave and went from the dais.
Baba then looked out across the sea of margiis and in a smiling manner He
said, "How are you-- everything is alright?".
Then everyone present simultaneously replied, "Yes Baba!".
Baba looked to be in a very jolly mood and that heightened everyone's
happiness and joy.
Then in successive order Baba graciously performed blessings for newly
married margiis and then distributed prizes to various workers and margiis.
BABA'S VERY HUMOROUS REVIEW
Immediately thereafter, per the system of DMC, there was a call for
brothers kaoshikii. And Baba smiled and turned slightly towards His left
and looked over in that direction.
One Dada could be heard saying, "Dhin dhin dhin, dhin dhin..." and on that
count the brothers' kaoshikii dance began.
Of course everyone was trying their best to perform the kaoshikii dance in
a nice way for Baba; and since it was the time of DMC there was a big
crowd. And with full zeal and enthusiasm the kaoshikii dance was done.
According to everyone's capacity they danced and the whole time Baba was
smiling towards those brothers who were dancing. After a minute or two, the
call came "Halt!", and all the dancers immediately stopped.
Normally, the sisters would then be signaled to start their kaoshikii. But
on this particular occasion, Baba was smiling and still looking over
towards those brothers who had just completed their dance. So everyone's
focus was in that direction.
Then in a jolly manner and in a smiling way Baba very reassuringly spoke
the following:
"You know the kaoshikii dance displayed by the boys was very good--
(Baba was still smiling)
"--with the exception of a few points."
Then in a charming way Baba said:
"The teamwork was not so good; the angular bending
was not so good; and, there was actually no rhythm."
Then in a jovial mood, Baba concluded:
"With the exception of these three points, it was very good."
Hearing Baba's sweet and humorous words, we all laughed-- everyone
laughed-- and this laughter continued for several seconds.
We were all charmed by His sweetness.
And by this way, by Baba's humorous response, we all felt relaxed and
understood in the depths of our heart that really we are His children and
that regardless of how poor our performance may be, always He loves us and
finds a way to express His appreciation. We all felt very close to Baba.
Those brothers had tried their best in kaoshikii, with whatever capacity
they had; but even then it there was room for improvement. And the way Baba
expressed that was very, very charming-- and humorous.
WHAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND FROM THIS
There are a few things we can all understand from this.
1) Baba was giving the encouragement that no one should feel dejected by
their performance and that He recognises the sincerity of their effort and
gives everyone His love and affection.
2) Baba wanted that everyone present-- whether they were dancing or not--
should improve the standard of their kaoshikii.
3) If Baba would have just appreciated the performance and not pointed out
the defect in their dance, then no one would have been aware of their
mistake and by that way those dancing and those watching would continue
their poor way of dancing in the future.
4) If Baba had only scolded these new margiis then they might think that
doing kaoshikii was beyond their reach and they also would not feel close
to Him.
5) But by Baba's special way, He appreciated their effort and guided them
for their improvement.
BABA MAKES THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT BLISSFUL
Really in that moment everyone felt loved, cared for, and close to Baba.
Such was the effect of His radiant Presence and special words.
Thereafter, the DMC program took its course and the sisters danced
kaoshikii and the brothers tandava and after that Baba announced, "The
subject of today's discourse...".
And always we will remember that in spite of how poor the kaoshikii dance
was, Baba found a way to appreciate their effort and everyone laughed and
felt close. So Baba has a unique way of making the entire atmosphere blissful.
SOME MORE REFLECTION
Baba is not only Guru but He is our Father and in His each and every
expression He is very close and sweet. How can we forget those moments.
And to this very day, whenever I close my eyes then I remember that special
time and I feel His close proximity. And that gives me the energy to move
forward.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's sweet grace we will all realise the height of human glory and
live life divine and reach up to Him.
Baba says, "Do not forget your life; do not forget the path; the path is
very noble, very beautiful, and it is for you to know that, it is for you
to realize that, so do it from today. Do not leave it for tomorrow,
tomorrow may not come for you. Who knows? The sun may not rise for you
tomorrow. No one can say who is going to live from today till tomorrow. It
is up to Him to decide. So as long as we are here today, let us try to take
[advantage] of this opportunity and do sa'dhana' and follow dharma; thereby
you will know Him, [you will complete] the beautiful journey of knowing
Him. So let us know Him today. In this way we will be able to provide paths
for human beings to come. Animals also are marching ahead to know that
Supreme Entity. So it is our duty to make the way, to pave the way, in
order for everyone to come on this path. Realize Him. Realize that Supreme
Being within you. This is your dharma, this is your path; and let this path
be yours, and victory will surely be yours." (AV-31)
Namaskar,
Jawaharlal
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We Should Take Lesson
Baba says, "If one stays away from objects of attraction, one has no chance
of using them and they may thus gradually lose their attraction; while if
one is near them one may be attracted towards them more." (AMEP, 98 Edn,
p.126)
Note: Reading negative articles, crude books & literature, filthy
magazines, and watching crude movies invites degeneration.
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