3
M. IN THE BHADROTSAVA OF THE NAVAVIDHAN BRAHMO SAMAJ
1.
Calcutta, Navavidhan Brahmo Samaj. Today a great festival will be celebrated throughout the day. M. has been getting is getting ready since the morning to visit it once. Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna had visited this temple several times at the invitation of his very dear Keshab Sen. So it is a very holy place for M. He often frequents it and listens to discourses there. The Brahmo teachers Pramath Sen, Nandalal Sen and others had Sri Ramakrishna’s darshans many a time and were blessed by receiving his affection and love. For M. this temple has become a great centre of pilgrimage because of the dust of the feet of Sri Ramakrishna. So, he comes here for darshan and listening to the lectures, in the hope that he may quench the thirst of his ears by hearing the kKathamrita of Sri Ramakrishna in these discourses. Says M., he used to sit there looking at their moonlike faces, like the thirsty chatak bird, to hear a word about Thakur.
Last evening M. has enjoined upon the devotees to assist in that very festival. Thus Jagabandhu takes Vinay, the Younger Jiten, Manoranjan and some others with him very early in the morning to the Samaj temple. Community singing and discourses go on continuously there. The devotees listen. According to the instructions of M. they also sift Sri Ramakrishna from the never ending volley of words in the discourses — they catch Thakur’s bhava, language and words.
There is a great such concourse of people in the mandirtemple today — inside and outside there is jungle of men. It is about eight in the morning. M. has just arrived. M. feels very uncomfortable in the crowd. So he enters the househouse through the familiar door and having sat there for a while again comes out. He is standing there. The devotees also come out for they have real affection and regard for M. Though the Samaj temple is also a sacred place, it is only second to M. They go there because they are asked by M. to do so. Now that they have M. with them, they leave the temple. The bhakti and reverence they have for Sri Ramakrishana is also through the medium of M..
M. stands at the book stall and reads the titles of the books. Coming across a small booklet entitled ‘Chronological list of Keshab’s Ddiscourses,’ he asks Antevasi to buy it. It’s price is two-annas. The purpose being that he would ask the devotees to read all the discourses which, which have a touch of Sri Ramakrishna. M. keeps the bhaktas always united with Thakur through worship, reading of holy books, recitation of the name, meditation and service.
It is now eleven. M. is sitting in his room. Nobody is with him. He is alone. Antevasi is in his cabin on the roof. M. calls him, ‘Is Jagabandhu Babu there? Please come for a while.’ Hearing his call Antevasi comes to his room. M. says to him, ‘A lot of prasad of sweets and fruits has been received from the Thakur Bari. It has been distributed to all. The rest is for you and Rajni. Please take this portion immediately and give the other to Rajni Babu.’ Antevasi does not find Rajni Babu either upstairs or downstairs. So M. says, ‘If that is so, say Soham (I am He) and eat this too. Thakur used to do the same. He would keep some prasad apart for a devotee. If he did not come he would eat it himself saying, Soham.’ (Everybody laughs).
It is 4 p.m. M. is seated on a bench in the verandah on the second level. Parvaticharan MittraMitra comes in accompanied by his elder son Durga. Parvati Babu’s wife has written a biography of Naga Mahashay. Both husband and wife are staunch devotees of Naga Mahashay. In their home they are always engaged in the worship of Naga Mahashay or reading about him. Whatever is offered in the name of Naga Mahashay is partaken of by them. Their home is verily an ashrama. Parvati Babu has two sons besides his wife. He is the manager of the Hart Company dealing in horses. M. has been sending Antevasi to MittraMitra’s house several times. Once he sent the message to go to the Math and have the company of sadhus at times. Mr. MittraMitra Mahashay told Antevasi, "Naga Mahashay is my all. I am not worthy of going to the sadhus." M. got worried on hearing this.
Even though Antevasi did not know the exact cause of M.’s worry, he surmised that Mr. MittraMitra was uninterested in the company of sadhus. Sri Ramakrishna prescribed that the devotee in the household must daily have company of sadhus, only then his dhat (nature, temperament, habits) will remain right. God first the world secondnext — this great truth will be realizsed. Now he was holding on to just the opposite idea taking it to be the truth. Such is the game of the Avidhya Shakti of Mahamaya. It turns the reality into illusion and shows illusion as reality.
The all- renouncing sadhus have discovered what is the eternal truth and what is the opposite of it. That’s why, these people forsaking their parents, home, near and dear ones worship the true reality. By keeping their company one can get rid of the disease of the world. ‘Milk’ can hbe turned into ‘butter’. The soot of the household does not then stain the mind. It is possible then to live in water keeping the mind on the land like a tortoise. Otherwise, love and affection takes one on the opposite path, without one knowing of it. That’s why, Thakur always prayed, ‘Mother do not bewitch me by yYour world-enchanting Maya.’
Parvati’s statement that he is not worthy of sadhus is the Mother’s basic power of avidya (ignorance) in a veil of humility. Unless you pierce this veil, or unless you protect yourself completely by taking refuge (in God), your ego will push you crudely into the lap of destruction. Sri Ramakrishna has shown the tact how to control one’s egotism which is the product of the basic ignorance. By keeping company of sadhus and serving them the devotee can always beware of the great enemy that is egotism, which takes one to the opposite path and illusion.
By the grace of Sri Ramakrishna, Naga Mahashay was able to completely root out this egoism. Though living in household he was a great sadhu. His humility touching the bottom of the nether regions, or Brahman-like sheltered in the lap of Anorniyan (smaller than the atom). In the same way was Swami Vivekananda’s ego united with Mahto Mahiyan (bigger than the biggest). Its form comprised the whole universe and its expanse touched Brahman. Like Bag Devi, a learned in Brahman and the originator of Devisukta in Riga Veda, Swamiji was the spirit of Brahman — ‘aham rashtri’, the master of the world. Both Naga Mahashay and Swamiji were wonder creations of Sri Thakur. The former got dissolved in Brahman by making himself the smallest of the small, the latter so expanded himself so as to fill the Para-Brahman.
Both of these great men have seen Brahman. The humility of the one and the greatness of the other, are both ‘Brahmabhodi Samudravata’ (encompassing Brahman like the ocean). Their ego is so easy, so delightful and so natural.
But the ego of the ordinary man does not leave him. So Thakur prescribed livingto live as a servant of Brahman. To be theis servant of Brahman, the living and powerful company of sadhus is needed daily.
Today again, M. asks Parvati to go to the Math at times to keep the company of sadhus. Has Parvati realized why this great rishi has such a concern for him? The goddess in the heart of M. is full of motherly affection for him.
The festival of Sri Naga Mahashay is to be held on the next fifteenth of Bhadra in Parvati’s house. Parvati Babu’s son gives an invitation for the festival.
2.
It is 5 p.m. Now Swami Yogeshwarananda has arrived with a companion. He has started a Math at Bangalore. He is the son and disciple of Mahatma Ramachandra Dutt, who was the antaranga (one who belongs to the inner circle) of Thakur. He has a reason for coming to Calcutta, it is to have M.’s darshan. M. makes him sit very close to himself as one very dear. M. is very happy to see him after a long time. M. happily enquires after the devotees of Bangalore.
Now M. now wants to know enquires about the Yogodyan of Kankurgachhi. Says he, "It would be very nice if it goes into the hands of the Math." After a long conversation, M. again talks to Parvati Babu.
M. (to Parvati Babu) – Just see, these people have given up everything and holding on to God.
"Thakur created this special class of people. They want nothing else but Him — like the Chatak bird. It is dying of thirst even then it will not take any other water. It wants only the pure rain water. These sadhus are like this. They want no other joy but that of Brahman. So, giving up woman and gold, everything, they stand on the way — on the vantage ground. It is very easy to go forward from there. It is a sure pathway.
"Howsoever clever one may be, one is bound to be stained, for one is living in a room of lampblack. Thus one must meet those from time to time who are not stained. Then that stain will not do no harm.
"The company of sadhus is very essential. It is essential indeed particularly when one is living in the household. Thakur said, ‘Even a sadhu needs the company of sadhus.’ Then isn’t it necessary for the other (householder)? The watch of the sadhus gives the right time whereas that of the householder is wrong. [In the household] the veil of affection and love covers up one’s view. One can’t see one’s face in the arasi (mirror). Arasi, that is the mind and intellect. The arasi of the sadhu is clean and clear. It reflects the Lord much better. Thus their watch is right. One should correct one’s own by comparing it with their watch from time to time.
"Howsoever great a devotee may be, he cannot save himself from the stain of affection. This is what one realizes when one goes to a sadhu. Once one understands the state in which one is, it is done. Then the real humility comes from within. And one prays unceasingly for it with heart and soul. Before this, one’s pride hides within one’s humility. Without the company of sadhus the right kind of humility, modesty, is not attained. Have others achieved this humility? It is with God and it is with sadhus who are His real Self. He who is humble before sadhus is the best of men, a person to be revered by the world. So, the company of the sadhus is daily essential. If one cannot do so, one should regularly go into their company from time to time."
M. (to Parvati) —– You are free on Sunday and then there are steamers. One can go there from Bara Bazaar. And then how long does it take? By going to the sadhus you will realize, how great is Naga Mahashay. Even Ssadhus have devotion and reverence for Naga Mahashay.
"Aren’t sadhus our own? When we go to meet anybody, people say that he is some relation of ours. Even our near and dear one becomes a stranger to us, if we don’t go to meet him."
Swami Yogeshwarananda —– Thakur is ever the same. He resides within the heart of all. What will then the company of sadhus avail?
M. – Even so hHe wants people to keep the company of sadhus. Had it been otherwise, why did hHe create sadhus? The dhai (Ggrand-dame in the game of hide and seek) wants us to play for some time. Only then she is to hbe touched. Once she is touched the game is over, so she wants it.
"An ordinary man has no spiritual-intellect. He thinks that he is a man of the world — a clerk in the office, the father in the house and so forth. He forgets that he is the servant of God or Soham (I am He). He is reminded of this, when he goes in the company of the sadhus. Holding on to this idea he must proceed ahead, and he will realize that the changeless Thakur is within the heart. Then he should live holding on to it. God will reveal Himself when such is His will. Till this idea matures one needs the company of sadhus.
"And Thakur emphasized yet another thing: Faith in the words of the Guru. Guru that is Thakur, the avatara. He has said, ‘A man must daily keep the company of sadhus.’ That’s what you should do. When you have faith in the words of Guru, there is no danger.
"This becomes possible when one keeps the company of sadhus — attaining faith in the words of the Guru. There is no way for us except the company of sadhus. That’s why Thakur put so much emphasis on the company of sadhus. Though he himself was the greatest of the sadhus, yet he himself created the sadhus."
Enters Attorney Viren Bose. He suggests a visit to Dakshineswar. M. also wants to go there. A little before dusk M. leaves for Dakshineswar in Viren’s car accompanied by Swami Yogeshwarananda and his companion. M. returns at 9.30 p.m.
The devotees were waiting for M. on the terrace of the fourth level — the Doctor, Vinay, Jagabandhu, Shukalal, Manoranjan, the Younger Amulya, the Elder Jiten, the Younger Jiten, Balai, Shanti and others.
M. is on the terrace. Being old in body he feels tired. The devotees are seated on benches around him on three sides. M. is on a chair facing nNorth. Now he converses.
M. (to the devotees) – During the lifetime of Thakur I never felt inconvenienced. The feeling of distance completely vanished from the mind. I felt that it was like going from this house to that house, though the distance was five miles away. Aha, what an attraction he had generated in the heart! His love could uproot a mountain! His was not human love. Such was his love that it would put an end to all the troubles of life even while one was living with in a sea of sorrows. So it was nothing much if one lost all idea of distance. The devotee realized that Thakur was his prana, that he was his mind. Only the body was living in Calcutta. How could he feel any inconvenience then? When a person has his near and dear ones, wife, son, daughter, father and mother living in a distant home, and he himself coming to work in a Calcutta office, does he feel the distance, or is he inconvenienced returning home? Rather, in the thought of his near and dear ones, he does not feel the distance — when shall I go and see them, withhe has this inspiration and this yearning.
"In this the devotees cannot he credited. Thakur attracts them with his love like parents attracting their children. So, the yearning of the devotee is due to this pull. It is only a reflected light, a borrowed attraction.
"Yesterday when I went to Kankurgachhi I was reminded of Rama Babu. Aha, what a love he had for Thakur! Leaving his wife and, his dear ones behind at some place, he himself stayed in that garden. Just this one thought at once brought tears to my eyes. What an intense love for God! Forsaking histhe son and friends, he had such a love for God!. Thakur lives there at Kankurgachhi. There it is his (Rama Babu’s) samadhi. So he lives there taking him in his lap. Complete sannyasa, total dispassion.
(Laughing) "If anybody said to him that it was a bad place he used to get displeased. Isn’t Thakur living there? I was once scolded. I had said that it was a very malarious place. Rama Babu immediately scolded me. Aha, what a love, how deep his prema! How lively is Thakur’s installation there.
"How much love is needed to bring this about? That is why, he has bought devotees with his love. The avatara’s leela gets clearly revealed to ordinary men when they see such a love of the devotees. The ordinary men call their members of the family as their dear ones. So they give away everything for their sake. Even one’s prana (life breath) so dear to one is happily sacrificed for them. But the nature of the devotee, that of avatara’s antarangas (those who belong to his inner circle), is opposite to it. They sacrifice their all, even their prana, for the sake for God, for the sake of avatara. These two contrary currents have existed since eternity — Ppravritti (worldliness) and Nnivritti (non-worldliness).
"By God’s attraction the world falls off from the mind like the tail of the tadpole. Is it because it wills it to be so? No it falls off by itself.
"The vessel of the worldly men remains filled with trash, by matters of worldly enjoyments. The vessels of the devotees of the inner circle remains filled with divine nectar.
"Why does He do so — filling one with sensory matters and the other with prema (ecstatic love)?. The rishis hasve answered this question by saying that this is His sport. In other words, they don’t know why. There is sorrow in the mind full of sensory matters and happiness, peace and joy in the mind full of prema. If you want to have the vessel full of happiness instead of the vessel full of sorrows, go and keep their company and serve them. They who are called sadhus, every parshada (intimate disciple) of the avatara is a sadhu, a mahatma (very high soul)."
M. keeps silent for a while then he resumes.
M. (to the devotees) – I saw something today when I went to Dakshineswar — the whole garden was flooded with prema (ecstatic love). All the trees, creepers, the buildings, the men — all of them made of this divine ecstatic love — they were all swimming in the current of prema. They did not die. They were all illumined — all sporting in joy.
Half past ten in the evening.
Morton School, Calcutta
Sunday, 24th August 1924
8th Bhadra, 1331 (B.Y.)
The 9th lunar day of the dark fortnight
1 Danda / 8958 Palas.