GURU SMARAN SAPTAH DAY 3 – 5th MAY
Sevika: Shilpa Mavani
Wednesday afternoon class at Lower Parel (now on Zoom)
Today’s session was attended by 9 members including the Sevika.
The class started with invocation by one member & chanting of Guru Stotram. (2 verses by each member). Thereafter each member shared her learnings from the book “My Trek Through Uttarakhand”.
Each member said that she was highly inspired by this book. It was suggested that they try to follow at least one of the qualities learnt from this book in their daily life.
The highlights of the discussion are beautifully reflected below by Rashna Doongaji.
The class concluded with Pujya Gurudev’s Aarti and the closing prayers.
My trek through Uttarakhand
This book is a rare insight to witness our Gurudev as a Sadhak…it’s his honest, non-edited thoughts beautifully written. His play with words leads to observations which are both light and profound. Like he observes that if the bus route starts it will facilitate the pilgrim and universally reduce the benefits of pilgrimages.
Swamiji’s love for nature is evident. In harmony with nature is how he feels everything and everyone should be. Despite all hardships we find that time and again he appreciates it. The peace you encounter in being one with nature helps you to meditate and connect with the higher. He also lays a great emphasis on silence.
Swami ji does not believe in superstition, he is upset about people burning trees, a practice among hill tribes to promise the gods’ a bath for the mountains’. He yearns for an educated India.
He believes that education can be of many types and not merely degrees. He refers to his Sanskrit professor as without a traditional degree he would be labelled illiterate and Sri Goswami Das who did tapasya in a gufa for seven years and exhibits no crippling effect of solitude. All knowledge and bliss is within, we should not seek it externally.
Gurudev also highlights the importance of harmony in working together as a group. His observation of the Bhutanese that seamlessly worked together to put up their camp reflects that. Service to one another is highlighted.
As a sadhak also his faith was so strong that he could disconnect from his body and continue his yatra despite his terrible toe and swollen feet this is what resonates most that if one wants to achieve anything good and meaningful despite the obstacles one must stick to the path. If his grace shines on us then we shall surely achieve. Divine grace also helped him to reach Yamunotri exactly for Ekadashi and the source of the Ganga on Sankranti.
On 29th May Gurudev asks himself very poignant questions and the answers are an epiphany….Who am I? Is death the end? Is it the only the body that evolves? Only the intellect? Only the mind? Only the sense perceptions? The resounding No echoes from within. The Lord within us to whom belongs the senses, the mind and the intellect, the power within, the Spirit, it too must evolve.
After that date we hear no more about his Yatra. His journey and thoughts penned till 29th May are so powerful that they help our journey within.
