The three wise men!!

A few weeks ago, in one of those rare moments of serendipity, I came across a wise man, the encounter with whom made me realise that in my life’s journey this meeting will always be one of those distinctive moments, where my life paused, took a deep breath and smiled with wonder. Such serendipity is typical of a constantly surprising life whose overlapping paths continually come full circle. 

So the story goes, - for the first time in my life I was lucky to attend an International Conference on Vedas, held on 17th-19th of March,2017, at Gameri, Assam. I was clueless about what this event would be about but was excited nevertheless. Unwittingly; I packed my bags and eagerly accompanied Swami Purnachaitanya, who was to represent Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, my beloved Gurudev, at the conference as a keynote speaker.

The International Conference on Vedas

Perhaps the journey itself was a harbinger of the wonders that the next few days would bring.  We travelled with Mrs. Gordana Nis, a transcendental meditation teacher from Serbia and Dr. Mohan Karki, a yoga expert from Patanjali, who were to speak at the conference. So, the motley group of four travelled from Guwahati for seven and half hours to reach Gameri, a remote picturesque village in Biswanath, Assam.

With all the honored speakers.

Preparations were in full swing for the event. 

Amongst the hustle bustle, Mr. Omnath Sharma, one of the main organisers of the event welcomed us and handed us over to his extremely adept personnel who showed us to our modest but most charming and clean quarters. I could sense that resources were limited in this remote corner of the world, but everything was just so perfect. I was amazed by the professionalism I saw. Refreshed, I decided to go for a walk to take in the environment. On the way out I chanced upon Mr. Omnath carrying toilet cleaning supplies and enthusiastically cleaning the common washrooms. I was pleasantly surprised to see a man of such a stature alone cleansing the toilets for our convenience late night. He had a contented smile on his face, I could not spot a bit of worry, as if he had a direct contract with the divine.

Mr. Omnath started a Veda school in the village where about 70 children are enrolled today. How he organised this conference singlehandedly is remarkable and a thing to wonder.

With  Vedanta, a cute Veda boy

The conference started with soothing Rigveda chants by the Veda boys of the local village school. There were speakers from NASA, professors from BHU and many other eminent personalities. Swami Purnachaitanyaji gave the keynote speech and we were done.For the next three days I had to listen to other speeches which was personally a tough task for me.

Now, when I look back I realise that destiny was at play there.I sensed a gentle breeze, a sublime presence. Someone walked to the stage. I was enraptured. This person was not some regular meditation or yoga expert. I could feel it in my bones, this soul was divine. There was something about him.  I later enquired and found out that he was Dr. Bhudacharan, a monk from Thailand. My instincts were not wrong. He was one of the earliest disciples of Mahrishi Mahesh Yogi and his resemblance to his Master was uncanny.

For me, the monk was nature encapsulated in human form; his thoughts were so innocent and yet full of such wisdom! He was free like the breeze, simple, natural and divine! Swamiji and I were looking forward to spend some quality time with him.

Swamiji and the monk( Thailand meets Holland)

Next day we travelled together to a local temple. He told us that he attended World Culture Festival, 2016 at Delhi. He also talked about Gurudev Sri Sri   and had high regards for him. He remarked that our happiness and contentment was due to the grace of our Master. He recalled that Maharishi had often wished for Gurudev to sit in his throne making others go in wonder how come a little boy be so honored by Maharishi.

It so happened that our wise monk had a wish to share his thoughts in Hindi. Fortune smiled upon me as I was handed the responsibility to  translate his ethereal talks for the audience. Eventually I sort of happened to become his temporary secretary.Like Swamiji, he shared with us the real essence of the Vedas with his own experiences.

The meditative session

To our wonder, the moment he chanted the Sri suktam from the Rigveda, it started raining. This was a sign of the fullness of the maha Yagya. His understanding of the Vedas was so deep and yet his explanations so simple and profound. He explained things as if explaining them to a child.In his presence I felt such love, such a feeling of tranquillity, charm, serenity, graciousness and completeness. The feelings are hard to put in words, but a person such as him is hard to find just as a large flawless diamond that shines with inner light and beauty.

The three wise men

One day the wise monk (as I prefer to address him) touched my pulse and told me that my digestive fire is weak and I don’t know what he did, but from that moment on my stomach feels light and gives me no trouble at all. (I understand that everyone who travels a lot will know how burdened our digestive systems can become).

What I remember about him most is his generosity. A simple monk has little worldly wealth, and whatever this wise monk had; he shared with everyone around him. On the whim of the little village children he bought them sweets. He invited us to Thailand too.

Lucky to be in the company of saints

Of all the speakers of the event, truthfully; both Swamiji and our beloved monk stole the show. Now that I think about it, it does not come as a surprise. He was an unpretentious human being, so deeply in touch with himself and the divine. His wisdom, gained from years and years of training and hard work, first with his Master and then as a teacher.

I was fortunate to be a part of this conference. Such conferences are the platforms that enable us to preserve our rich culture and a place of amalgamation, a scientific laboratory where great minds, seekers and social activist converge to learn and teach the world.

Towards the end of the event, the monk blessed me and appreciated my attentiveness and willingness to serve. 

A selfie with the monk

I feel Saints like Swamiji and our monk are the ones who are spreading divinity and peace in this chaotic world.I feel such gratitude towards Gurudev for blessing me with the opportunity to have this beautiful experience in their divine company.

At end will like to convey my thanks to Archanaji and Atika Dhandhia for suggesting the title of the blog.

Tapan Vaidya as I know Him: Part 3/3

Today is a very very special day as it’s the birthday of my dearest Tapan bhaiya. An epitome of love in action, my local Guruji, a one stop Wikipedia to all my questions and solutions and more than a mentor. How much I miss Him, that only I know. Here is an attempt to relive some moments.

The last Journey 

One brilliant milestone in my life is I was lucky to witness Tapan bhaiya transition to the other world and seek His blessings. It was a call from within that I have to run to Hyderabad. Post his transition to the other world, I was supposed to be very strong and take care of the family, unfortunately, I broke down myself many times. In Rudram it is said that” prANAnAM granthirasi rudro mA vishAntakaH”. Crying is one way I experienced which takes away some temporary misery from the nadis. And I did it 100% as learnt from him.

 

Where is the Goal?

Here is an expression of what I have learnt from Tapan Bhaiya over the years, in the form of a poem.

 Vishnu:

Vast like the deep Sky,

The path is very long, far and wide. 

Every moment I am getting old,

Pause for 'now' and wondering, "Where is the Goal?"

Tapan:

The Goal is in every moment,

Balancing intelligence soaked in innocence.

Like the sun and the moon,

You being on the path, is not less than boon.

 

You are on a conveyer trend,

Running fast here, my dear Vishnu, does not make sense. 

This moment, Is "Infinite",

Guruji, He is awakening our inner light. 

 

Peace is our innate nature,

Cannot be changed, like our signature.

My dear, my dear,

One thing be very clear.

Guruji,

You are the goal,

And it is

Where I am.

The Real Wealth

Push or pull, life is an Utsav. And I have celebrated every moment being with him.

 

Utsav@Hyderabad

And the Laughter continues

 

Recently met Riddhi Bhabhi and took her for a lunch date, we had really an awesome time ,discussing how funny , interesting and indispensable  I was in their life. And she really shared some intimate experiences with me about Tapan Bhaiya.

Riddhi Bhabhi and Vishnu

 The Awaiting moments

 

When Gurudev blessed me as an AOL teacher on May 5^th,2011, the first call I made was to Tapan Bhaiya. More than me, he was on the top of the world. Now and then I had been asking Tapan Bhaiya, when should I be a full time teacher. He always used to tell me,” Ask Guruji”.

 

And recently I asked gave my application to Guruji, He asked me looking in to my eyes,” What is that which I want to do in my life?”, I responded with a grateful choked throat,” My intense wish is to travel and organize programs and work for Sridhenu project too, which You have already blessed.” He in His divine ways scanned my past, present and future, patted me and gave me a clear cut green. Go ahead, my blessings with you. Speak to Divya(NTC). Later He asked me reading whats happening in my mind, "You want a selfie ,come" and Guruji Himself clicked this.

 

A selfie clicked by my Gurudev,post His Blessings.

 

This was the most awaiting moments in my life and I wish I could have called Tapan Bhaiya to inform the same. I know, He would have been laughing from the heaven and sending me his love and blessings. I had been awaiting this moment and today, May 30^th on His 39th birthday I have written the world’s cutest resignation letter to my boss, a small tribute to him on his birthday.

 

 

I will be transitioning to North East soon and I am very sure that he will keep guiding me to be in Gurudev grace. A new world is awaiting.  I will be working closely with Swami Purnachaitanyaji.Thank you all for your love and blessings.

I am moving ahead!!!!!

I am ancient like the sun,

My wavering mind has stopped to run.

 

I am new like the moment

Past and future are no more opponent.

 

I expand like the space.

Making myself in absolute rest.

 

This “be-ing” is better than the possible best.

The bird is awaiting to fly soon from the nest.

 

I am here, you are near.

I am on a date with you my Dear.

 

Deep like the ocean and  empty like the sky.

Coolness of the moon,

Your Being here is not less than a  boon.

 

Your presence ,I am experiencing peace,

Connected in spirit and with absolute ease.

 

What else I want? What else I want?

There is light awakening the dawn.

 

Guruji!! Who are you?

Pulsating experience or the timeless wisdom.

 

In the ocean of gratitude,

You make me experience the truth.

 

I am Love, Joy and Peace,

With a little or more tinge of mischief.

 

A poem or a poet,

In your unfathomable love,

 

I am moving ahead.

I am moving ahead.

The Journey of a Veda Boy

Once I had taken my students  to Radha Kunj @ Date with the Divine trip in our Bangalore ashram. We happily meditated with the chants vibrating from the Gurukul.

Someone asked me, “What is that I will miss in this life or What I wish to be in the next life in case I am born again ?” I immediately replied "A Veda Boy".

This is how it all started, I went to meet Guruji on 18th June, 2011, just a month ago after my TTC to share my experience with Him of conducting my first Yes plus program. 

Somewhere I heard that there is an Upanayanam program happening in ashram and I just signed for it.

This was mind blowing, my teacher Swami Poornachaityanaji guided us that we have been initiated with Gyatri mantra and now will be eligible to study Vedas. Upanayanam is like an entrance and eligibility to study Vedas. Also we felt that it’s a new birth(dweej) and this time I was born from the Guru or knowledge. 

The rituals were simply great. We had to seek alms and collect samidha for our sadhana. It has been my experience that every time I do it ,it purifies the self.

This was a very deep moment where we had a momento with Guruji Himself. Guruji shared that when He learned Gyatri mantra, He practiced it nonstop for almost 3 years.

Inspired by Him, I started practicing Sandhaya. Eventually Years passed… 

I was fortunate enough to attend Rudram chanting(I and II) originated from Krishna Yajurveda. Learning it has been a sweet experience for me. It is said that it takes minimum 8 years of full time study in a Gurukul to learn this, and Guruji has opened the gate of experiencing the power of mantras effortlessly. It’s a dream come true in this life itself. We went to Gurukul this time and was amazed to be, learn and study with the Veda boys. It has been an unfathomable bliss for me. 

The kids studying there I believe are the most intelligent, smart, confident and hardworking human species on planet earth and they Live in the Present Moment all the time.

On the top of it, our teacher Pandit Damleji told me that the Gurukul gates are always open for me.

The Rudram Participants with Pandit Damleji

Every now and then, the Veda mantras reveal some thing and I believe that it is just the beginning of this journey.I have absolutely no idea what Guruji has plans for me. Like Atika didi said" My life itself is a Guru story". I will be sharing more in my next blog.