Tapan Vaidya: As I know him: Part 1

He has dropped his body, but he has influenced our minds to work for Guruji’s vision. I can feel him guiding me just closing my eyes and thinking what bhaiya will do if he was at my place. This is the synopsis of some intimate moments with my dearest Tapan bhaiya. Last 8 years, I have  spent minimum few moments with him either through phone, chat, in person or just remembering his presence, every day, without fail.

 

Tapan Vaidya @Mumbai

 

The Mind blowing answer: Bhaiya had got a major surgery at Breach candy. I was lucky to take him for a walk. I asked, how do you feel Bhaiya, ”He said, this life time I am doing Guruji’s work, other life I will continue doing the same. Riddhi Bhabhi later added, the doctor was amused looking at Tapan’s smile, he asked him what do you do and Tapan bhaiya gave him a talk about AOL while in Operation theatre and told me that he is going to do the program.

 

Most proud moment: I was proud to introduce him. It was a paid talk. When Tapan Vaidya graced at Microsoft for a Lifestyle talk to all my colleagues. That talk changed their perspective about Vishnu and suddenly they started appreciating me.

 

Grateful moments: There are lakhs, but the one , when I called Bhaiya just becoming AOL teacher, I can sense, he and Bhabhi were exponentially happy and proud for me. I was super-duper fortunate to have him on the last day of my first and second YES+ program.

 

My first Yes!+ program

 

Most funny moment: My email id srivishnuji@gmail.com. My earlier email id was vishnu4u1986@gmail.com which talks about my DOB and belongingness. While I was submitting my TTC application, I thought I will be doing Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s work, so add somewhere Sri in my new email id, I was fantasizing, I checked vishnuji, srivishnu which were already occupied, then I looked for srivishnuji and Aho, I got it. In 10 minutes, Bhaiya calls and addresses me SriVishnuJi, I have received your application. “Tu to abhi teacher bhi nahi bana aur ye Sri, Ji business started”. We had a great laugh.

 

When I met first:  Hyderabad, Madhapur petrol pump, 9^th Jan ,2008, 3:30 pm Bhaiya was taking a course at Tarun’s college. I was his travelling volunteer as we had to start at 3:30 pm. He first time took me to Basil( a veg affair). He gave me all the freedom, the way I was. Told me if you want, you can drink the lemon water(served at end).

The famous litchi malai

 

What he gifted me:  Riddhi Bhabhi. I was little insecure that we don’t get much time with bhaiya post his marriage, Infact Poornima shit scared me. Riddhi Bhabhi was other way round, she is our darling. I had been lucky to teach around 10-12 programs with her.

Rab ne bana di jodi

 

The Yoga Master of Hyderabad: Tapan bhaiya has always created leaders. He saw the spark in me to connect with youths and every program, by default I was his choice for warm-ups. I remember, we go until 54 surya namaskars some times in a duration of 30 minutes.

 

Yoga sessions

No of scolds I got: 3-4, my other peers have got in plenty and they can write a book on it.

 

Most intimate moment: Recently massaging his feet in ashram and chanting GuruPooja in my mind. Next day we had an exclusive appointment with Gurudeva. Guruji spent 10 minutes with us.

 

Best travel place: Maharashtra , we were chasing Guruji, we stayed in the same hotel where Guruji stayed. I remember, he had a great laugh, when I ran behind Gurudev with my brush and tongue cleaner. While returning, he drove all of us back as the driver was sleepy. We were amazed at his control of senses.

 

Best food: I used to cook Khichdi for Bhaiya and he used to cook dosa for me(when Bhabhi was not there). 

Khichdi

 

The 38 mantra: His all 38 size kurtas were actually mine.

 

My favorite time pass: Nice massage to Tapan bhaiya.

 

What I really missed: His marriage in Baroda.

 

Most grateful moment: He called me 2 am in morning for uncle’s hospital admission. I was there in hospital for 2 days. I was extremely lucky that he choose me.

 

Most humble moment: When I shared him that I am going for Gurupooja, He said, Awesome, you come back and bless us.

GuruPooja

 

 
 

Part 2 will have the mug story, the Trayambakam cycle, the Ashtavakra Gita, The Apollo mystery, being a senior volunteer, being with Vishnu’s Vaishnavi and many more.

 

 

 

 

The Goal is Where I am

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?"

The Goal is in every moment,
Balancing intelligence soaked in innocence.

Like the sun and the moon,
I being on the path, is not less than boon.

I am on a conveyer trend,
Running fast here,my dear, does not make sense.

This moment, Is "Infinite",
Guruji, You are awakening my inner light.

Peace is my innate nature,
Cannot be changed, like my signature.

My dear, my dear,
One thing I am very clear.

Guruji,
You are the goal,
And it is
Where I am.

Inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,
Gurukul, HSR , Bangalore

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.

Thoughts of a thought

 

Thoughts of past, thoughts of future,

Thoughts of memories and thoughts of desires.

 

Where do I come from and where do I go?

I have been flowing like a massive river flow.

 

No tollgate, no checking filters,

I keep rushing without any tickets.

 

Running on thoughts express-way,

My mind had lost the way.

 

A ray of hope, a prayer so rare.

Guruji, You have delighted my soul

with abundance of love and care.

 

Holding on the permanent , letting go the temporary.

Your magical voice expands my inner space

and one more ultimate moment of abundant grace.

 

The moments of eternity, the moments of wait.

Takes the mind on its own real date.

 

A beautiful experience came in silence,

Being “thoughtless”

Is not less than a brilliant thought.

 

Inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

 

The Expression of Love Letters

The Love letters

A glance in my Eyes,
Expands my heart Far and Wide.
You communicate Something,
And I keep Wondering.

Pure Intentions Bound to Pull You here.
And my Small Mind, immediately Disappear.

Letters I Offer,
And You Collect.
My Entire Consciousness,
Filled with Your Grace.

Love at first Sight,
This unfathomable Joy gets an Ignite.
At a sudden a heavenly Stroke,
Brings myself, an Inner Light.

A galore, not just Papers,
The music of the heart documented in Letters.
Your Holiness, with all respect.
I offer and You Collect.

Whoopee!!!
The postman is absolutely free,
 

Is Life a Linear equation?

One of the question I keep on pondering is "How much life do you have in your living?". Is this special life just for the living or how much life one has in one's life. Another perspective to look at it is "Are we just a human being looking for spiritual experience or are we spiritual beings having human experiences.

Those who seem to drive anything with intellect, here is a simple linear equation for Life."(Lx)

                            Lx = Sx + C
                                               where Sx is some special constructs or spiritual aspects &
                                              C is core common constructs
                                              or basic needs( रोटी कपड़ा और मकान).

Any spiritual aspects Sx tends for an inner call of being more responsible. Relatively one who take more responsibility, their needs are obviously less and that's the basic formula for Happiness. All our spiritual aspects are inherited to be useful to others.

It is said that in order to meditate or serve , one need to have Grace(G) or the G factor. So can we say that

             Sx =f(G)

Like we have air, but we need to feel it through fan, similar we already have grace, but a Guru makes us experience the waves of grace assuming the connectivity from our end.

So life is absolutely a grace factor with a confirmed return ticket. The sooner or later we are going to drop this temporary body. Before we drop, just two questions will be asked.

#1 How much knowledge I have gained?
#2 How much love I have shared?

I believe, its also a good idea to solve some complex problems of  the cows, prisoners, villages, farmers, " Who am I? " and the society rather than just solving the linear ubiquitous problems of our life. What do you say?

Love
Jai Gurudeva!!!
 

Thoughts Of A Convict

Recently I had asked Guruji "Mujhe bhi thoda Gulal laga dijiye" and He answered "Tum to mere hi ranga me ranga gaye ho". Rest I was assured that something amazing and impactful on my way soon.

Some day the gates will open
and once more I will become free
A quest that makes me wonder
"Where I will be?"

I am fortunate enough to witness the transformation for 85 inmates who have got an inner strength to deal with the above question. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji says that "Inside every culprit, there is a victim crying for help".

We conducted the PRISON SMART at the Central Jail, Bangalore. To begin with, it was not an easy task but eventually His Grace took over. We started with a group of 77 naughty young inmates who somehow landed in the jail.

Next day they brought their friends and we were 85.The most challenging aspect was the language as I don't know Kannada but was well supported by my friend Naresh , Balaji (AOL faculty) and Subhramanium ( who is a volunteer inside the Prison). The inmates had great fun, teasing, mocking, yoga, meditation and satsang but somehow they also got to digest why we are here for.

Today when they wrote their experience, I personally had a sense of inner contentment and pride. My acceptance definitely has become better. Eventually, I realized that its definitely not about the language, but its the language of the heart and this journey is  from the head to the heart.I am still pondering on the question, Are we free too, being out of the jail?

What is there awaiting me,
When I go out of that gate?
Is there yet a chance for me,
or is it now too late?

Nevertheless, I too had a date.
The Date with the Divine.
We are committed to Spread Happiness...