The Truth Seeker ( A story of determined Bhakti )

 

There was once a time, when people were not as busy with their worldly life as they are now. One did not have to bother too much about which car to buy, there were only horses and bullock carts. There was no such thing as a posh locality, everyone lived in the same village, or the next. Food and festivity also meant more or less the same thing to most people.
Now, because people then did not have to worry too much about these things, they did however, strongly believe in knowing God for themselves, first hand.
And though some intellectuals always scornfully remind us that we have grown out of 'The bullock cart age', yet everything God has made ,  has its virtues, and the story I am about to tell, is exactly from that time, when knowing God first hand was considered a good aim in life.

In that time, in a mountainous region, there lived a master, who was fabled to be very knowledgeable about God and godly matters. The master was in charge of a simple monastery, where he would teach and impart wisdom to only a few select students.
People said that in his youth, he had visited a very Divine cave. In that cave, there was said to be a "Great red jewel" Laal Ratan , at which he had gazed and gained direct access to almighty God.

Now, the master kept with him a map to the secret cave, and every year, he would disclose the map only to the best  spiritual student in the monastery, so that he too could see the great red jewel. It was the greatest privilege to be selected for the mission. Year after year, the top student would be given the map in front of the whole congregation, and asked to undertake the great spiritual expedition for themselves.

When they would return after a few days,the master would ask in a set manner, about the journey,
" Did you use the map i gave you?"
" Yes master"
" Were the directions accurate?"
" Yes master"
" Did you see the red jewel?"
" Yes, thank you great master," would be the reply.
The master would then accord a great seat of honour to the student, saying,
" Be seated, and guard your secret well!"
and there, seated with the others in the hall of fame before them, the successful students would guard the secret and hold their heads high.

Year after year, people came to him from far and wide, and the process continued.
One day a young man walked into the monastery hall, and on the first glance itself, the master knew that he was a very sincere seeker of God. From that first day, the master would delight in the young man's company, calling him always " My little truth seeker" . But many of the others did not like this, and were jealous. Whenever they could get a chance, they would try to turn the master against the boy, but masters, of course, do not turn, that is why they are masters!

Within a few years only, the master declared that the young man was to be given the secret map. This disappointed many students who could not understand why they had not been chosen, but the master had conveyed his decision, and so the truth seeker went his way.

Days passed, then weeks, and even a month, but the boy did not return. The detractors started passing unpleasant comments about the mission ,but the master said simply " He will return".
And one day, when the full hall was in attendance, true to the master’s confidence, the truth seeker walked in.

His clothes were torn, he had lost weight, grown a beard, he even walked with a limp, altogether, he had a beggarly appearance, but there was a certain light in his eyes- a light of certainty.
"Did you use the map i gave you?" the master asked his usual question
"Yes ,master" came the reply
"Were the directions accurate?'"
"Yes master,but.." the boy hesitated
"But what?" asked the master, as the congregation got restless
"But, the map took me only to a grove, and there it ended, and i was lost" came the reply
"And then? " The master beckoned, "Then what happened?"
"Then i continued, and used so many of your teachings with my own understanding, and i found the cave"
"And did you finally see the red jewel?"
"Yes, i saw the jewel, master, but..."
"But what? "
" But was Blue" said the boy

" He is an unworthy pupil" cried the congregation, feeling sure that now he would be reprimanded,and they looked to the master as refree.
But the master was up from his chair, he danced and beamed as he held the boy, and looking at the pupils, declared authoritatively , " He speaks the truth".
"All these years you guarded your secret, which is that you were never able to reach the cave" The master continued, "But this boy went beyond the map, and he did go to the cave for himself, and yes it is true that the jewel was always blue. The search for God is not about secrets and maps, but about sincerity and courage. It is not about someone else’s truth, which he will hand down to you, but about our own truth which we all must find for ourselves, And which is thereafter realised as the ONE truth for all ”

The search for God, therefore, is also not about this story and a red or a blue jewel, this is just a little parable I made up for you from my own journeybook.
Your search for God is about you embarking on your own journey, of course with help from the masters that have already been. It is your good fortune if you can take their guidance and reach quite near the divine heights, but there comes a time when even the Buddha tells you, to discard all that comes in your way of the truth, and the Buddha went as far as to compare any support to a raft used to cross a river. He advised that the crossing was more important than the raft and that the raft could be discarded on the other side. People often say that death is a last journey, a journey that one has to undertake alone. But dear friends, i like to remind that finding God is also a tremendous journey that one has to undertake alone, that too, when alive! And this can only be done with an unmatched passion, to the exclusion of all other things. So don’t wait for a secret map, don’t worry about the colours of God’s jewel, just begin your own adventure, and be, as the Buddha said,” a lamp unto yourself”.



Shail Gulhati is the Author of the books :SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.
The Yogi and the snake
Shiva Poetry
NAAM ROOP- A Tribute to the Divine
And Life Said.

RUDRA- THE EARLY DAYS

 RUDRA- THE EARLY DAYS

He had virtually all the self-containment that anybody could ask for. It was as if He had made the beasts and birds His family.

Over time, some more beings, who were different from humans, and from the other beasts as well, started joining in, creating an even more extended family. The word had spread that Rudra never asked anyone their antecedents, never questioned their strange appearance; it was enough for Him that someone wanted to be part of His family.

“We are one big family,” He would tell His forest friends.

“Ah, but we are different,” they would say. “Look we have three eyes, or then two noses, some of us limp or then stammer; our breath is called foul by others, we are different.”

“Everyone is beautiful,” He would re-assure them. “You all have your own beauty! You don’t have to have two eyes just because we have two; you could have three, because you see more!”

“Oh, but we are told you also have a third eye,” the beasts would smile coyly and hug Him. He was so understanding, so empathetic, and so humane.

रुद्र – प्रारंभिक दिन

उनके पास वह आत्म-संयम और आत्म-निर्भरता थी जिसकी कोई भी कामना कर सकता है। ऐसा लगता था मानो उन्होंने पशु-पक्षियों को ही अपना परिवार बना लिया हो।

समय के साथ कुछ और प्राणी भी जुड़ने लगे – जो मनुष्यों से भी भिन्न थे और अन्य पशुओं से भी। एक और भी विस्तृत परिवार बनने लगा। बात फैल चुकी थी कि रुद्र कभी किसी से उसकी पृष्ठभूमि नहीं पूछते, कभी उनके विचित्र रूप को लेकर प्रश्न नहीं करते। उनके लिए इतना ही पर्याप्त था कि कोई उनके परिवार का हिस्सा बनना चाहता हो।

“हम सब एक बड़ा परिवार हैं,” वे अपने वन्य मित्रों से कहते।

“अरे, लेकिन हम तो अलग हैं,” वे उत्तर देते। “देखो, हमारे तीन आँखें हैं, या फिर दो नाकें; कुछ हम लंगड़े हैं तो कुछ हकलाने वाले। हमारी साँस को दूसरे दुर्गंधित कहते हैं – हम अलग हैं।”

“हर कोई सुंदर है,” वे उन्हें आश्वस्त करते। “तुम सबकी अपनी-अपनी सुंदरता है! सिर्फ इसलिए दो आँखें होना ज़रूरी नहीं कि हमारे पास दो हैं; तुम्हारे पास तीन हो सकती हैं, क्योंकि तुम अधिक देखते हो!”

“अरे, लेकिन हमें तो बताया गया है कि आपके पास भी तीसरी आँख है,” पशु मुस्कुराते हुए शरमाते और उन्हें गले लगा लेते। वे इतने समझदार, इतने सहानुभूतिपूर्ण और इतने मानवीय थे।

RUDRA – LOS PRIMEROS DÍAS

Poseía prácticamente toda la contención y autosuficiencia que cualquiera pudiera desear. Era como si hubiera hecho de las bestias y las aves su familia.

Con el tiempo, otros seres —diferentes de los humanos y también de las demás bestias— comenzaron a unirse, creando una familia aún más extensa. Se había corrido la voz de que Rudra nunca preguntaba a nadie por sus antecedentes, nunca cuestionaba su extraña apariencia; le bastaba con que alguien quisiera formar parte de su familia.

—Somos una gran familia —les decía a sus amigos del bosque.

—Ah, pero nosotros somos diferentes —respondían ellos—. Mira, tenemos tres ojos, o a veces dos narices; algunos cojeamos o tartamudeamos; nuestro aliento es llamado fétido por los demás… somos diferentes.

—Todos son hermosos —los tranquilizaba—. ¡Cada uno de ustedes tiene su propia belleza! No tienen que tener dos ojos solo porque nosotros tenemos dos; pueden tener tres, porque ven más.

—Oh, pero nos han dicho que tú también tienes un tercer ojo —sonreían las bestias con timidez y lo abrazaban. Era tan comprensivo, tan empático y tan humano.उहाँसँग त्यो आत्म-संयम र आत्मनिर्भरता थियो जुन कसैले पनि चाहन सक्छ। यस्तो लाग्थ्यो कि उहाँले पशुपक्षीलाई नै आफ्नो परिवार बनाउनुभएको हो।

समयसँगै अरू केही प्राणीहरू पनि जोडिन थाले – जो मानिसभन्दा पनि फरक थिए र अन्य पशुहरूभन्दा पनि। अझ ठूलो परिवार बन्न थाल्यो। खबर फैलिसकेको थियो कि रुद्रले कहिल्यै कसैलाई उसको पृष्ठभूमिबारे सोध्नुहुन्नथ्यो, कहिल्यै उनीहरूको अनौठो रूपलाई प्रश्न गर्नुहुन्नथ्यो। उहाँका लागि यति नै पर्याप्त थियो कि कोही उहाँको परिवारको सदस्य बन्न चाहन्छ।

«हामी सबै एउटा ठूलो परिवार हौं», उहाँ आफ्ना वन्य मित्रहरूलाई भन्नुहुन्थ्यो।

«अँ, तर हामी त फरक छौं», उनीहरू भन्थे। «हेर, हाम्रा तीन आँखा छन्, वा दुई नाक; कोही लङ्गडो छौं त कोही हकल्कने; हाम्रो सासलाई अरूले दुर्गन्धित भन्छन् – हामी फरक छौं।»

«सबै सुन्दर छन्», उहाँ उनीहरूलाई आश्वस्त पार्नुहुन्थ्यो। «तिमीहरू सबैको आफ्नै सुन्दरता छ! हामीसँग दुई आँखा छन् भन्दैमा तिमीहरूसँग पनि दुई नै हुनुपर्छ भन्ने छैन; तिमीहरूसँग तीन हुन सक्छन्, किनकि तिमीहरू बढी देख्छौ!»

«ओह, तर हामीलाई त भनिएको छ कि तपाईंसँग पनि तेस्रो आँखा छ», पशुहरू लजाउँदै मुस्कुराउँथे र उहाँलाई अँगालो मार्थे। उहाँ यति बुझदार, यति सहानुभूतिपूर्ण र यति मानवीय हुनुहुन्थ्यो।

~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.

Fierce enough to shatter worlds, yet tranquil enough to calm the cosmos, such is the spectrum of Shiva Mahadeva 🔱

 

Fierce enough to shatter worlds, yet tranquil enough to calm the cosmos, such is the spectrum of Shiva Mahadeva

~

Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.

AT THE WEDDING

 

AT THE WEDDING

“A lovely story in folklore about the time of Shiva's wedding with Parvati, goes somewhat like this, At the point of the solemnising of the marriage by a holy Havan, the pundit asked Shiva, "Who is your father?" Shiva looked at Brahma and said, "He."

"And who is Brahma's father?" asked the pundit. Shiva looked at Vishnu and said, "He is."

But the pundit persisted. "And who, may I ask, is Vishnu's father?"

"I am," said Shiva rather curtly, but with a definite authority that indicated the end of such a conversation.”

~ SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.

AUM PURNAMADAH PURNAMIDAM

 

Dear friends and Shiva bhakts,
we all know the story of how Shiva volunteered to receive Ganga on His head when she had to descend to earth from the heavens for the upliftment of humanity, both living, and the dead. But, she was so full of Divinity that the very earth she was coming to purify would not have been able to take the impact of the torrential 'weight' of her Gyana or satvikta! Shiva stepped forward to make His own matlocks a landing pad for her, Shiva's Yogic hair already contained the ultimate Gyana,infinite Divinity within, and could receive an infinite amount more.

This reminds us of the Purna prayer from the teachings of the ancient hindu rishis, in the Isha Upanishad, which is the first Upanishad.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥

Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Puurnnam-Udacyate |Puurnnasya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||

Meaning:
Fullness 'that' (Outer World)
Fullness 'this' (Inner World)
From Purna is manifested Purna (From the Fullness of Divine Consciousness within, the outside world is manifested),
Even after manifesting a whole Purna from itself, Purna still remains the same.

Shaivites believe that Shiva is the Adi Purnam, the Original Fullness, therefore no amount of giving or receiving Gyana will affect His own Fullness in any way. And this makes it easier to understand why Shiva has a nature of taking every cosmic event upon His own head, be it the Samundra manthan or then, the reception of Ganga.
Aum Namah Shivaye

~ Shail Gulhati , Author of :
SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.
Shiva Poetry
The Yogi and the snake
And Life Said.
NAAM ROOP- A Tribute to the Divine

IS IT YOU I FEEL

 

IS IT YOU I FEEL

Is it you I feel

in the warmth of the Sun?

But then

there you are again

in the soft touch

of the moon you so adorn!

Is it you, by chance

I see, tapping in the midst of creations dance

you it is dancing at your mountain top,

But then

Who was that in the vale,

Who indeed the master of the wood,

Who in the Desert was the water well ?

Who caressed the waves of the Ocean

running fingers through the hair of this child?

Who whispered lullabies from the sky?

Namah Shivaye, Aum Namah Shivaye!

~ From 'Shiva poetry'

MAHADEVA- SUPREME GOD, PERFECT “’FAMILY MAN”

 MAHADEVA- SUPREME GOD, PERFECT “’FAMILY MAN”

“Now, it is my turn to ask”, smiled the Yogi. “Why did you choose me?”

“Although God is one, His attributes are different in His different manifestations. Your form held a particular appeal for me. I was awed both by your appearance and character. Here was a lord, with no kingdom, no material acquisitions, no riches, nothing, yet he was bestowing gifts upon others. Here was a God sitting serenely in meditation, a technical God? Someone who loved his wife and children, and was so much at ease with Nature. Someone who loved the forests and the hills, the rivers and the springs and all the beings, that lived in them. I loved the way you let your hair hang loose, and was intrigued at your informal attire. I loved it that a God showed us how to be a perfect “Family man”

~ From the book The Yogi and the snake ( Conversations with Shiva) by Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.)