Hari Baba started cooking the khichadi on the
dhuni, meanwhile, I went towards the river with Baba Gorakhnath.
After crossing heaps of 'stone and pebbles' and rocks we reached
the river banks. We continued walking on the edge of the river.
We saw a lamp burning at a short distance from us. We continued
moving in the similar pace and reached a massive sandy, open area.
The rivers flow had assumed a meandering motion. Gradually we
got closer to the light of the lamp, and finally we reached that
place. There, we saw a giant python lying on the sands. It was
surrounded by burning lamps. The air was thick with a heavy fragrance.
We felt that we will fall unconscious in no times. The snake was
making weird whistling sound and sand was flying with his every
breath. It had spotted us and that is why it made angry sounds.
But we were totally unaffected by his whistles It's anger, and
its, helplessness all were apparent. Gorakhnathji frequently broke
into smiles and uttered these words now and then- "come on,
you have had enough: Don't exhibit you sense of duty too much
otherwise I will extinguish your lamps". Suddenly the python
turned more vehement and his whistle became sharper. Still laughing,
the Baba drew a circle towards the sky and the straight line within
the circle which he cut at the edge. This had an instantaneous
effect on the python and he became comparatively sober. And this
act snuffed out the lamps too. There upon the snake became almost
life less. We resumed our journey.
The snow clad peak of the Himalayas, bathed in
the moonlight presented an enchanting sight. We arrived back at
the cave. It was also drenched in the moonlight. We entered it,
and saw that the food was ready. Absorbed in the beauty of nature,
Haribaba, sat in complete silence. He looked at us and smiled
inwardly. We ate the food quietly. This was my first day with
the great men, and it was my first meal inside the cave. Since
I was the youngest I offered to wash all the three khappars, but
they stopped me from doing so.
Perplexed, I stood watching their faces. I failed
to understand their attitude. I thought it to be my duty to carry
out this trivial job. At that moment Baba Goraknath spoke. "Kapil,
dissociate from the society, and then take a careful step. We
don't follow any traditions. Sects, family and age differences,
all are not followed here. Only Sanskaras and Karmas reign
supreme. There is no creation only mingling. Do not create all
over again. Draw a line and halt now. An even lasting line should
be drawn now. Desires, Moksha, Mukti and charity all these cease
to exist. You have only to keep moving. If you will come to a
halt then all these will re-emerge. Attainments and luxuries
do not have any role in the worship of 'God'. We will clean our
bowls. You clean your bowl, I will clean mine, and Hari will wash
his. You have to search for everything, yourself only".
Absorbed in our talks, we reached the water falls which was close
by. Baba washed his khappar and gave me water to drink. He did
not throw it away. "Drink this, this is 'everything' and
nothing else. Life is like a pitcher which is full of nectar and
also a cup full of poison. The khappar; serves the
duel purposes. This is the objective which underlies the human
life. Kapil I don't know whether I am giving you something
or taking it away form you. 'You' and 'I' if we are separated
from each other then the question give and take will also arise.
But if we two are 'One' then who can be the receiver? Who can
be the giver? Here, we only receive if you will walk, I will also
walk. We can be compared to the river and its water, The river
is a nonentity sans (without) water it is just like a sandy desert".
We were all, again in the cave, I became very
sleepy, and gradually went off to sleep. The chorus of the birds,
ushered in the morning. The morning rays enhanced the breath taking
beauty of the snow clad peaks. I came out of the cave. Kasturi
deers and Kankar were in the moods of fun and frolic near the
waterfall. Few tiger cubs often interrupted their fun. Scattered
clouds of fog, rose towards the sky. There were flowers all over
the place. The Himalayas presented an enchanting sight. I scanned
the beauty of nature minutely. My worry of the great man, often
distracted my observation. They could not be seen any where. My
mind was working on two thoughts simultaneously. Nature's 'beauty'
in all its splendour attracted me in a magnetic way. I managed
to break the magnetic effect of nature . Greed, fear, love, all
these feelings, all originate from the mind. Baba is with me where
ever I am, His absence is compensated by my presence. Thinking
in this vein, I started towards the source of the river. Quite
a few rivulets were also nearby. I had my bath there, washed my
clothes, and spread them for drying. Thus, in my primeval form,
I ran amidst the flowers with a sense of abandon. The honey bees,
however objected to my actions by buzzing over my ears. A little
far away from this place, I spotted Bramha Lotus flowers in
full bloom. I ran and plucked two or three flowers. A strange
fragrance emanated from the blossom, which made me almost drowsy.
I somehow managed to run away from that place.
All around, only the snow peak were visible. I sat, on that rock
alone in the quiet surroundings in an introspective mood. I was
not shy, despite my nakedness, I wondered, 'Is nature feeling
shy at my nakedness? But why should it be so? It is natural to
be in this form. Nature, has always been kind. Does a new born
infant feel shy before the mother? Involved in such thoughts human
mind becomes subject to different mentalities. Nakedness is prevalent
everywhere.
The rocks, animals, the Himalayan peaks all are in their pristine
forms, why should not they also feel shy? I voiced my thoughts
to the rock, on which I was seated. The mute rock perhaps, laughed
at my stupidity, "You are crazy - shyness, love, hatred, greed
and other kindred emotions all are born with humans, and die,
with them. We were both naked. Nature has always been thus. We
endure all the seasons in this nakedness and give the message
of Shiva Tatva. Only human beings dream of progress and become
the cause of destruction. Neither do we imagine nor do we indulge
in day dreaming. We do not choose and do not discriminate. This
is the folly of human mind."
While rushing towards progress, man often moves towards destruction.
He has becomes accustomed to creating new on the ruins of the
old. To convert old into new has becomes his habit. Humans tend
to forget that where there is death there is life and where there
is imagination there is creation. Creation and destruction go
hand in hand. My monologue continued in a dual tone - one, on behalf
of the stone and the other, on behalf of my conscious self. My
reverie, was broken by Hari Baba's voice calling out to me. And
I ran towards my clothes. He laughed, perhaps the stone
also laughed at my embarrassment. I wore my clothes and started
walking in the direction of the cave. With a tug, Hari Baba pulled
the clothes away from my body and said "Our thoughts compel
us to cover our bodies. Motion of an idea is also a thought.
Everything is infused in the thought waves. The flux of thought
itself is a bondage and an attachment. The message of life
and death is conveyed through thought. The study of the flux of
the internal world as well as external world, itself is a 'thought'.
The knowledge of youth, old age, kindness, forgiveness, 'man' and
'woman', is part of a thought. In every work the thought waves
reign supreme. In your thought you can be a man, woman, society
and the nation. Discard this thought, which is responsible for
your shyness. A little while ago you were talking to a mute rock
voicing its thoughts, and yours too. A kind of two roles by the
same person. You were the one who was thinking, and deducing.
The rock was merely a medium. You were in fact, getting influenced
by your own thoughts. You have to stay within animation as well
as inanimation. Femininity and Virility will have to co-exist within
you. Thus you have to journey within yourself. To reach the 'Bodhi
tree' you will have to turn into an inert thing to absorb
messages from a stone."
Hari Baba continued: "You will have to climb the Himalayan peaks to
discover their truth, and the secret of their stead fastness.
At times, you have to behave like the flux of the river and suffer
the roughness of the rocks and the pebbles. Often, like a tree you will have to suffer the avalanche. Fearful animals, fleeing for their lives, will make you
appreciate the worth of life. Your role as a proud king will also
crop up. A Sadhu has to play varied parts, and teach others
to act likewise. In the fusion of the Mahabhoots (five elements)
- love and relief, in the form of thoughts, are present.
Rise and fall, success and failure, all are in fact arise
from thoughts. Entire knowledge of the universe dwells in thoughts.
The awareness of feelings, and conscience comes from thoughts
only. Now take these clothes, cover yourself, and look at the
world, and observe the different situations of human beings. You
must part with your present image of self".
Silently, I listened while his kind voice continued. "This is how the universe has been portrayed, Kapil. Maya itself is Maya's sheath. There is an excessive involvement in physical
activities, resulting into a depressing quietude. Man himself
is unlocking the door of his downfall. Nature in protest, is desperately
trying to cling to its naturalness. Man is continuously in search
of novelties and these achievement are posing a challenge to his
existence. However, the modern discoveries and achievements have
elevated the greatness of man. Puffed up with pride, he is losing
his 'self' into oblivion. In the mechanical world existence
of his 'self' is in jeopardy. Discovery of that 'self' is the true attainment.
Human body is mortal and is subject to time and decay. But with
the help of yoga man can transcend the limitation of the human
body and make it immortal".
"I have furnished the information of the past
incidents from time to time, Now you are totally immersed in your
'self' and have heard the immortal voice of Baba Gorakhnath and
you are blessed with the guidance. In his company, you are now
in a position to ponder about yourself, and your present spiritual
stage. Immortal yogi Baba Gorkhnath sometimes contact persons
only of superior sanskaras or persons with whom he has been associated
in the previous birth. You are definitely endowed with sanskaras
par excellence. You were, also associated with him in the previous
births. Baba has waited for you all these years. He has always
inspired me to bring you to him. This link has to remain forever.
Many seers, despite intense penance, often embrace death and enter
into new birth to improve the quality of their Karma and, their
guru with the help of their potential, are able to trace them.
This relationship lasts, till the disciple discovers his 'self'
and liberates himself from these thoughts".
"In a short while, the Baba will come back,
and we will change your inclinations and sanskaras. At this
point your old journey will come to an end and you will embark
on a new journey. You will find a young boy waiting for you on
the river banks. Follow his instructions and shave off your head
except the tail, have your bath, be ready, and wait for us."
"Past and future, are like two deep oceans,
which are flowing in continuous motion, without any beginning
or end. Present is like a pond which has emerged from the past
and will merge in the future. But you have to flow endlessly in
this eternal flux. You have to be immovable like the Himalayas
and still like the mountains".
