In Rishikesh there was a choultry by
the name 'Kali Kamliwala'. It was a tradition in those days to feed all
those who came there. One Sannyasi got a wheat bread and since he could not
find any place, went to the river Ganga and sitting on a rock, began to
partake of the same. In this manner, he spent some years using the rock as
his dining place. As it happened, a relation developed between him and the
rock. On a particular day by the time he could procure alms, it became later
than usual. Meanwhile some other Sannyasi got his alms and sat at that rock
to have his meal. The older Sannyasi got his wheat bread and came to the
rock. He began to have an argument - "Ai! This is my rock; you go somewhere
else." They both began to have a duel. At that place, there was a saint by
the name Satchidanandam. He came and enquired of the quarrelling Sannyasins
as to the reason for their fight. When he became aware of the reason, he
admonished them saying - "You have left behind your wives, children, parents,
relatives and shaved your head and swore to lead a life of mendicancy. Now
due to your attachment, you have developed anger between yourselves."
Similarly, you have all come here leaving behind many things for education
and Swami. Why develop unnecessary contacts? Maintain a relation akin to "Hello!
Hello; How are you? Good-bye! Good-bye."
There is another incident that took
place at Rishikesh. One person went from Mysore state and became a Sannyasin
at Rishikesh. About 6 kms from Rishikesh is a famous cave known as 'Vasishta's
cave'. Purushottamananda used to do penance there. It was near Ganges and
the air was cool and serene and the area was dense with shade bestowing
trees. That Sannyasi (one who came from Mysore) used to meditate under the
tree and live by eating whatever bread was given to him. One day, a tourist
bus came from Karnataka state. They also came to see 'Vasishta cave' and
later were sitting under a tree talking. The Sannyasin who was meditating,
heard them speak in Kannada. A little attachment towards the language
sprouted in him. He left meditation and began to converse with them in
Kannada. They told him that they came from Bangalore District. "Which
village do you come from?" asked the Sannyasin who was influenced by the
attachment to his own street. They said that they were in the street of
Rama's temple. Affected by the attachment to his house, he asked them as to
what was their house number. They said that their house number was 11. He
asked the troupe if they knew his father who was in the house numbered 12.
Body attachment prevailed. They said that his father passed away 3 months
previously. The Sannyasin began to weep.
Why should the Sannyasin leave his
meditation in the first place and enquire of the tourists various details?
This attachment caused all the sorrow. It is only when you leave all
responsibilities can your meditation progress. Sometimes the varied nature
of Nature attracts. One should never succumb to the temptations.
To arouse Kundalini and sit in
meditation is very difficult. The easiest path is pure love. No meditation
can surpass/equal this.
We want to prepare Sambar. We got fresh
vegetables from Bangalore in the morning. We got fresh tamarind, white,
spotless salt and impeccable Dal also was procured. The cook is an
exceptionally skilled one. We have made Sambar. But when it was served, it
turned out to be poison. Reason? None of the ingredients were faulty nor was
the cook. The vessel in which it was cooked was not clean!
Similarly, we do meditation, Bhajans -
in fact we even swing during Bhajans but we are far away from obtaining
peace. This is because we do not have the unsullied love in our hearts. Many
wonder as to why they have not obtained peace in spite of doing meditation
and Bhajans etc. It is because they have not cleaned their hearts with pure
love.
Another example. There is a mango tree.
Hundreds of ripe and unripe mangos are present. You water it and put manure
also. All of a sudden, one fine morning, the tree looks dried-up, what is
the reason? Have you not given water and manure? What is the reason for a
tree which was resplendently green the previous day to look lack-lustre the
very next day? The roots have been eaten away by the pests! Similarly, we
may be doing meditation, chanting rosary and attending Bhajans externally;
but wicked qualities might be gnawing at the heart.
Therefore, send away wicked qualities;
fill yourself with virtues; and develop love. Meditation is not something of
a pose given for a photographer. It is not for others. It is for one's own
self. There are certain cautions that are to be observed in this regard.
One should be seated on a plank at
least 1/2 inch above the ground. On top of this, skin of an animal -
preferably a docile and pure - satvic animal - deer is to be spread. In
order to prevent the deer hair causing irritation, a thin cloth is advised
to be spread over it. All these to be done so as not to cause any
disturbance to our meditation. If kundalini were to really begin rising, the
earth would pull it downward. To avoid this and to avoid any shock, this
plank is put. In this manner the ancients have experienced and expressed it
to us.
