The Disciple: The Whole Thing – The Real Thing (Chapter: 03)

Excerpt from the book: The Whole Thing – The Real Thing: A brief biography of Shri Gurudeva
Chapter Number: 03
Author: Prem C. Pasricha (sometimes credited as Rameswar Tiwar)
Subject: His Holiness Jagadguru Bhagwan Shankaracharya Shrimad Swami Brahmanand Saraswati Maharaj
Length of Book: 75 Pages
Content: Explores his teachings, spiritual journey, and his role as the source of Maharishi’s core meditation ideas.

Once an eminent speaker in Indian philosophy paid a visit to Uttarkashi. He extended invitations to everyone interested to come and listen to his lecture. Guruji was also invited but he himself never used to go out anywhere. When his disciples expressed eagerness to hear the learned visitor and asked for permission, Guruji gave his consent. He told him to lock the Ashram gate from outside when they went, to keep the key with themselves, and on returning to open the lock and re-enter. When the time came for the speech, the Ashramites did as they were told. They locked the gate from outside and walked away without a second thought. His younger disciple, however, felt very uneasy. What sense did it make, he thought, to lock up their revered Guru who was a master among philosophers and, more than that, a knower of the Supreme Truth; to whom their all was surrendered and at whose feet lay their hopes of Integral Realization? To leave him, whose one word could spell salvation, and and go to a bookish scholar who had the ability to speak fluently – was it really worth while? What could they expect to derive from listening to the orator that would absolve them of the crime of detaining the Guru under lock and key? Shameful indeed, it seemed. With each step his sense of guilt grew, so that finally the young disciple decided to retreat regardless of what the others did. But what reason should he give for returning? He did not feel it prudent to reveal his real thoughts as thy might feel offended over his seeming impudence in thinking that he a newcomer was more devoted to Guruji than they who had already spent several years in the Ashram. So he said, “Since all the learned people in Uttarkashi are going to the lecture, I’m sure it’s going to be a complex one with a lot of technical terms thrown in. Most probably, I won’t understand it. I think it’s useless for me to go. As such I might as well go back.” Taking the key of the Ashram gate, he returned.

Nearing the gate he saw two Dandi Sanyasi Mahatmas advancing in the gate, seated them his small apartment and asked them whether they had anything to eat. “It’s with this intention that we came here while on our way to the lecture,” said one of them. The young host quickly prepared some halwa for them. They ate it approvingly and left.

The young ascetic got busy with his routine. When in the evening The Ashramites returned from the lecture, the two Dandi Sanyasi were also with them. Guruji asked his guests whether they had their repast.”Yes Maharaj,” they replied. “Right here in your Ashram before we went to the lecture.’

“But this Ashram was locked? Where exactly over here?” queried Guruji.

The Sanyasis related the whole incidence. In conclusion, on said, “The young Brahmachari gave us a quick meal so that we got to the lecture in time.”

When in the course of the daily routine, the young disciple went to pay obeisance to his Master, he was asked, “You didn’t go to the lecture today?”

“No, Maharaj, I thought I wouldn’t understand it, so I didn’t go.” When questioned about the Dandi Sanyasis he narrated the story as it took place. With his yogic perspicuity, Guruji sensed that there was so much more to the episode than what appeared on the surface. He had fathomed the faith and devotion of his new disciple and seeing that it was deeper than that of all the rest, he now planned to fashion for him a special path for which his other disciples were not yet ready.