Early Childhood

My early childhood was full of laughter and carefree and innocent sport. The seeds of asceticism and spiritualism had not sprouted in my inner 'self'. I was like any other ordinary child. I could never distinguish between a home and a temple. My games with Baba who was somehow present within the premises of my huge rambling house were purely innocent. These were not born out of any design. A Baba who frequented my house used to play with me. whenever I went close to him.

The Banyan tree was his favourite spot, and he was always found sitting under its shade. The Baba was a total stranger to me, but he loved my friends and me. So, we went to him freely. He amused us by drinking buckets of water and then bringing the entire quantity out in sporadic showers. These small tricks filled us with glee and we went to him freely. He never entered the massive gate of my house but always stood at a respectable distance. Everyone used to revere him. He paid special attention to me. It was evident to everyone that I was his favorite.

My mother felt quite uneasy, whenever she spotted me playing with the yogi. She was a devout person and spent most of her time in the worship of the divine. She was disinterested in the wealth of the family due to some disillusionment and thus sought solace in the worship of the divine. Her motherly instincts always warned her, whenever she saw me in the company of the Baba. Even a causal reference to my growing fondness for the Baba, used to upset her greatly. She nursed secret fears that Baba would one day take me away from her. Despite her caution, all events happened according to the Baba's wishes.

 I was introduced to the books at an early stage. Teachers used to come to my house to teach me. Sometimes even the Baba taught me. It was a different world altogether and I acutely missed the by gone days of fun and merriment. My formal education began in a school in Badayun. The regular recitation of the religious scriptures - Gita and Ramayan as also, ritualistic worship of the Divine mother made an impact on my young mind. As time sped by, I began to understand the definition of society, family and the norms, which governed the life of every individual. I was disinterested in the school and its rigorous schedule, so I often played truant with my adolescence, I always fell in his extended loving arms. After taking rupees two from me, he would always go away. During my I too experienced the sweet fragrance of spring and its varied moods. All my classmates came from wealthy families. Lakshmi also came from an affluent family. There were many English students in our institution. They were scared of us, and we always dominated them. A mere sight of them infuriated me to such an extent, that I invariably came to blows with them. But Baba, as usual came to rescue me from such scenes.

Once we went to a Himalayan valley for an outing. While we were carousing in a nearby stream, the booming voice of Baba rang out in the air. I left my friends behind and began to follow the Baba who was moving at a swift pace. He led me to a cave in Kanchanchunga range, which was aglow with the soft light of a lamp. Some snakes with gem-studded hoods could be seen slithering on the floor of the cave. When we moved a little further, we came across a huge quantity of wealth, which lay in a heap. Some Bhutian monks sat quietly in the deep corner of the cave. A Lang pong tribe inhabited the cave. Many pitchers carved from stones were filled with glittering precious gems or foodstuff. They were kept in a conspicuous order. Baba introduced me to the member of the tribe. The women were partially covered with ornaments. We came out of the cave from a different route, which took us to an open area. The grassy expansion offered the spectacular sight of the lofty Kanchan-chunga peak. It was almost mid-day when we returned to the site of the picnic. My friends surprisingly were blissfully unaware of my absence. They did not even comment on my sudden disappearance. Baba in his characteristic way took two rupees from me and left the place.

During the holidays we went to Nepal. We undertook the entire journey on foot and managed to reach Katmandu without any difficulty. We enjoyed the hospitality of the royal family of Nepal. The yogi even visited me in Nepal and always gave me the right counsel. Whenever I showed some interest in worldly temptations, the yogi restrained me and said,' Do not ever indulge in these things or you will be entangled in these for the entire life.' He took rupees two as a compensation for the help from me and walked away from us. After the short trip to Nepal, I decided to visit my parental home. The atmosphere of my house seemed strange and even my homecoming could not change the depression. The liveliness the charm of the village was no longer there. May be that a change had occurred within me which was compelling me to lose interest in the emotional ties. I bade a hasty goodbye to my tearful mother, sympathetic sisters and returned to my hostel.

How I Became a Pilot

After completing my school education from Don Bosco School Darjeeling and Shillong, I went abroad to seek higher education. My friends too went to different foreign countries like America, Germany and Russia. Throughout my stay in the foreign land, Lakshmi was my constant companion. The glamour of the foreign country soon wore off and I began to have nostalgic longings for my native land. Walking on the roads of Paris, we often spoke of our future lives. Whenever I spoke about my romantic involvement with Lakshmi, Baba appeared on the scene and almost chided me for the digression.

The unexpected arrival of Baba, even in the foreign country plunged Lakshmi in pools of deep despair. Baba instantly sensed her despondency and in order to console her spoke the following soothing words, "my child, do not turn your life into a mournful grave. Why have you made your life a dry desert? Flowers should continue to bloom in your life. Do not feel dejected. Dejection will dry the river of your life, and the sand will be swept away by unpredictable floodwaters. During the course of your life's journey. I am sure you two will reach your respective destinations. Of course, the destinations will be governed by your distinct independent sanskar. It has never been my intention to inflict emotional torture on you. So don't look so sad. I am merely doing my duty. I do not want this young man to get lost in the maze of worldliness. Your sanskars, which contain the truth, will always follow you. Meeting and Parting in this journey of life are the sum result of sanskars".

We stayed in Paris for a couple of days more and then moved over to Munich. In Baden, we were simply stupefied to see expensively dressed Baba engaged in gambling in a casino. He went on winning all the stakes with a confident ease. His totally disinterested in money and was apparent when he shoved all the tokens worth lakhs to Lakshmi. He took rupees two from me and sauntered out of the casino. After a short tour of Arab countries, we finally returned to our homeland. Lakshmi went to Calcutta to join her father, and I stayed back in Benaras to pursue my university education. I joined Indian air force after the completion of my postgraduate education. The day I was commissioned in the Air force as a Pilot Officer, an official guard of the sky, a long-lost incident buried in the storehouse of my memories flashed before me. I was then a student leader in Patna, when Nehruji had come to our college. I represented the entire community of the students. Nehruji placed his hands on my shoulders and spoke in a prophetic tone. He said, "The nation is awaiting the emergence of future scientists, doctors and astronauts. I hope all of you will show your potential in this direction'? The address was exclusively for me, and I could understand the equivocal statement. What surprised me most was that he seemed to recognize me. This meeting dramatically changed the course of my life. Despite strong objections from my family, I went ahead with my plans and joined the air force. My heart was full of patriotic feelings and brushed aside the obstacles, which came on my way. I flew over different parts of the country zealously. But the yogi never lost track of me and faithfully followed me everywhere. Probably he could foresee the future chain of events. Whenever any incident was about to happen, the magic appearance of the yogi averted its perilous course. All such incidents revealed the exalted status of the mahatma.

One day I went to Elephants fall in Shillong to enjoy the scenic beauty of the cascading waterfall. I settled myself comfortably on a rock that faced the waterfall. The instant my body touched the rocky seat; I went into a dream like state. Even the gentle droplets of the waterfall could not disturb my trance. When I tried to get out of the dream like state, my body simply refused to move. The words froze on my lips and the visible natural surrounding like plants and trees etc began to spin. A vision began to unfold, in which I could see myself moving on the narrow pathways of a mountainous region. The familiarity of the place the warm hospitality of the people and their reverence for me altogether portrayed my different image. The minute returned to my awareness of being in Elephants fall, there was a big explosion, and a small plane went into flames to crash on the nearby trees. I came out of my trance with the earsplitting sound. When I tried to locate the burnt remains of the plane, I could not see anything. Everything, which had occurred a couple of minutes ago, belonged to the world of dream. It was an experience of a unique nature, which cannot be comprehended by individuals who dwell on the physical - sensory plane. Following the mystical experience, a new urge forced me to walk in the forests. All the pathways of the forests appeared familiar to me. Emboldened by the feeling of familiarity, I continued to tread ahead. The roads took me to a habitation, which again wore the look of familiarity. I felt as if I had often trudged on these lanes.

I went to a cluster of shops and unhesitantly inquired about some Khasi people in the befitting Khasi dialect. I was amazed at my fluency in the alien tongue. The people I had inquired about were long dead, only a couple of very old men could throw some light on my queries. One of them spoke to me thus, "the nature of your vision is purely mystical. You must immediately forewarn the authorities that no plane should fly over this area, for it will meet a fiery end. Your vision has fore told you of the future incident". We started walking back together. After a short silence, the old man spoke in his typical way. He said, "Can you give me Rs. Two"? I could immediately discern his identity - he was my old acquaintance - the Baba.

Sobered by this divine phenomenon, I returned to my camp and warned the concerned authorities about the future accident. People laughed at me openly and declared me to be an unfortunate victim of hallucinations. I tried my best to avert the disaster, but no one paid even the slightest attention to my pre-cognition. The disaster did occur as per my vision and the unfortunate pilot died a tragic death. One day, overcome with nostalgia, I applied for leave. The rejection of my leave application thwarted all my plans and made me very unhappy. I began to brood over my plight. One morning, on an impulse, I took out my Jeep and began to drive through the thick fog towards the town. Due to the poor visibility and bad driving, my Jeep banged against the tiger bridge and began to roll backwards. It fell into the deep gorge. I could feel myself falling into the dangerous depth of the ravine. Before I could meet a ghastly death, a miracle occurred. A pair of invisible hands caught my burden and gently brought me back to the bridge. I was too stunned to react, so I could not even thank my unknown rescuer. The incident had created a stir amidst the onlookers, who happened to be present at the time of the accident. Everyone began to congratulate me at my good fortune, which had helped me at the grave moment. Some talked about an unknown sadhu, who had rescued me. His identity could not be ascertained by anyone. His appearance remained a mystery.

Outwardly I remained quiet but inwardly, I knew the answer. He was the Baba, who had as always been a savior for me.

My Past Life Story

A man can treasure only few memories in the closet of history and the remaining ones become fables. There are only few individuals who have the rare ability to resurrect the past, which is hidden in the dark corners of the human mind. Rebirth and re-union of a human being depend largely on his karma.

Nal Damyanti is a tiny village near Nainital. Nagmal Singh, almost a hundred years old, lives in this village. Despite his old age, he is physically fit and works regularly in his fields. He is the father of two grown up sons and six daughters. Champa is the fifth daughter of the family and has received a collegiate degree in life science. The village is named after a pond known as Nal Damyanti, which is within the vicinity.

This tale centers on Nagmal Singh's daughter Champa who was afflicted with a strange illness, which falls in the category of Psychic Zone'. The young girl, then in her early teens was brought to me for the treatment. Her brother, Harendra Singh had given me a brief sketch of her illness when he had come to visit me in Almora Even the best medical treatment had been ineffective in her case. She used to get long fainting spells with a lack of appetite. The faith healers tried their best but to no avail. Outwardly, Champa appeared to be healthy but a strange glint in her eyes said a different story. The girl offered me some milk and took her seat next to her mother. I took a sip from the glass and began to observe the girl minutely. Her body reflected many significant changes, for example, a sudden unnatural brightness irradiated her body. I watched these changes for sometime and then wrote a mantra on a piece of paper for the girl. I handed over the paper to the girl and said, 'As long as this paper is with you, you will remain in good health. Don't ever lose this paper'.

After their departure, I went to a cave in the Karkotak Mountain for my samadhi. When I entered the cave, the sight of two mahatmas (whose legs were partially amputated) caught did not mind their presence. The moment I entered into my attention. They were in the deep interior of the cave, so I did not mind their presence. The moment I entered into the state of profound samadhi, my past began to unfold itself in vivid detail. I found that Champa was my sister in the last incarnation. She had died due to an accident. I was shaken by the startling revelation of my pervious birth. When I came out of my trance; I went to meet the two mahatmas. In the course of my conversation, I discovered that the two belonged to the Mogul period and their names were Baldatta and Ramdatta.

The former one was the Guru, and the latter one was the disciple. They had escaped from Rajasthan and had come here. They lost their legs in the battle of Tarai, due to which they became totally disabled. With the blessings of Ma Bhagvati, they had managed to survive. They were endowed with special powers, which enabled them to travel through subtle means from one place to another as such, thus they could fetch the items necessary for their survival.

In the evening when everything had become quiet, Baladattji asked me to sit next to him. The instant I sat next to him, my body experienced a big jolt and I began to float in the air. We were transported in this manner to the village Nal Damyanti. We landed near my hut. Thereafter, I made necessary arrangements for the comfort of my special guest. I got up in the middle of the night and began to summon Champa's soul. I commanded her soul to appear in the state of her previous birth. It took some time for the soul to construct the physical form of the previous birth, for it had perished a long ago. But after consistent efforts, it was able to create an astral semblance of its previous birth. Consequently, what I saw was simply incredible. The soul before me in the form of Girija, the elder sister of my former birth. When I was an infant, Girija had showered abundant maternal affection on me. She was an extremely devout person and particularly excelled in imitating our mother's mannerism.

We belonged to a high-class family, whose estate extended from Kaymoor to Vindhyachal valley. We were powerful rulers and even the Moguls acknowledged this fact. I began to look at the episodes of my previous birth. Like the scenes of a cinema, they began to unfold vividly before me. The loud voice of Thakur Ram Singh always reverberated the mansion. He was a king & a generous man and zealously guarded the interests of his people. But unfortunately, his enemies murdered him. After his death, his elder brother ascended the throne. He was a pleasure seeker and was indifferent to the woes of the people. The degenerate Kulbhusan was causing the downfall of the royal family. Cousin Chandramani took advantage of the weaknesses of Kulbhushan and unleashed a reign of terror on the innocent public.

At that time, I was in a child and was totally unaware of the plight of the subjects. As I grew up, Girija apprised me of the contemporary political and social problems. Infuriated by the cruelty of Chandramani, I murdered Chandramani and took the reins of the rule in my hands. People happily accepted me as the ruler and once again began to lead a life of contentment. But an unexpected attack from the enemies did not allow the happiness to last longer. The entire mansion became a burning inferno, and the women committed suicide to protect their chastity. Through a secret route, I escaped from my palace and sought refuge in the mountains of the Kaymoor region. A spiritual change came within me and I set forth to do penance. I wandered for many years in the valleys of Kashmir and was then known as 'Chaitanya Bramhachari'.

Finally, the day came, when I willingly discarded my physical attire and was reborn in the human yoni. When I grew up, I became an artist of high eminence. One day, as I was passing through the crowded streets of the town, my eyes fell on a young artisan working in a jeweler's shop. I recognized him instantly, for he was none other but my brother Kulbhushan.

I prevailed upon him to leave the job and inspired him to opt for a better life. Later on, I handed over all my responsibilities and wealth to him and once again adopted the path of spiritualism. To a common man, I was known as Avdhoot Baba and spent seventy-five years of my life on the banks of the river Narmada. I left this bodily frame by entering into Maha-Samadhi. But returned to this world by taking another birth. I can peep into the past and see clearly the familiar surroundings of Kaymoor region, where I was born and spent my childhood. The house, with the characteristic huge gate, is also a reminder of my young days my life in different stages also comes to the fore. My flights in azure skies and my foreign tours - all are clearly etched on my mind. Despite my varied experiences, my inherent spiritualism in this birth also has become the be all and the end all of my life. Today, Himalayas has become an indispensable part of life.

Baladattji too witnessed the chain of events, which were purely psychic in nature. Before I could send Champa's soul, he addressed the soul and said, "I understand you were born as Girija first and after a long lapse you - incarnated as Champa but during the intervening period between the two births, where was you? In response to this question the soul indicated that for some time she roamed around in the yoni of cow and the rest of the time she was just a soul. After this revealing encounter, I went on a short trip to Chandigarh and Gwalior. I had chalked out this unscheduled trip chiefly to avoid Meenakshi's enticing traps. When I came back to Nal Damyanti, Prema brought the news of Champa's illness to me.

The next day Champa, escorted by her brother came to visit me. At that time, I was seated before my Dhuni. When Champa was about to keep the container near the Dhuni an unexpected fainting spell seized her. Before she could fall on the Dhuni, I sprang to my feet and caught her in my arms. While she was unconscious, a strange event occurred. In the state of unconsciousness, she picked up some Vibhuti and applied a Tikka on the forehead of Veera Baba who had been lying ill for quite some time. The effect was instantaneous for Veeru Baba got up from his bed, as though he had never been ill. But Champa sank in deeper unconsciousness. She became conscious when I sprinkled some water, which was powered with my Sankalp. The moment she returned to consciousness, she began to address me as Dadju (brother in the Pahari language). When she felt a little better, her brother and Prema escorted her back to her house. In the meantime, due to the unexpected intervention of Champa, Veeru Baba was restored to his former healthy self.

Champa's magical powers left me bewildered. The arrival of Pammi and Guddi did not allow me to ponder on this issue. They had come to fetch me because Champa had relapsed into the unconscious state. When I went inside their house, I found Champa muttering the word 'Dadju even in the state of unconsciousness. I brought her back to consciousness. But when she opened her eyes, she made an astonishing statement, which totally left me non-pulsed. In a firm tone, she said, 'You will have to be my brother as I shall tie you a Rakhi'.

I controlled my feelings and replied in a detached tone. Ltold her that yogis do not have any brothers or sisters. They sever all their ties with the traditional world and create a world of their own, where worldly relationships do not exist. The entire universe in likes a family to him. Though he is for everyone, yet he is alone and not tied to anyone.

Champa burst out laughing when she heard my philosophical answer. In retort she said, "A man cannot deny his filial bond by running away from himself. He renounces his own kins and adopts the entire world as his own. His affection, which was confined to few people, now encompasses the entire world. He lives in a world, which is free form, all bondages. He is undoubtedly steeped in his 'self' but still he works for the welfare of people. Since I am also one of them and I am demanding my share. A yogi who can delve into the depths of past has to accept this relationship. You are aware of everything still you want to escape form this knowledge".

My Spiritual Experience

My passion for hunting again took me to Bagh Baba. This episode is a sequel to my earlier encounter with Bagh Baba. One day during a hunting expedition, I got a brief glimpse of a leopard. My hunter's instincts came alive, and I began to track the fleeing animal. I was the pursuer, and the leopard was the pursued. But the strange behavior pattern of the animal generated queer feelings within me. It would from time to time turn around and look at me. This game of chase was almost like hide and seek and continued for couple of hours. Finally, I lost my patience and shot the animal on his hind leg. The limping animal began to flee towards a particular direction. I wanted to collect my trophy and hence, I began to follow the injured animal. Even though the animal was badly hurt, it did not give up its peculiar behavior of turning around and looking at me in a meaningful way. A final leap and it was inside the shelter of a cave. A strange bright light emanated from the opening of the cave. When I went inside the cave, an incredible scene greeted me. Instead of the injured animal, I found a mahatma sitting in the cave. Blood oozed out of the left foot of the mahatma. He had long locks and fiery eyes. From time to time, he looked at me with a hypnotic glance. I stood rooted to the ground and the entire episode simply took my breath away. Moreover, the striking similarity between the leopard's and the sadhu's eyes made me extremely uncomfortable.

The Baba made an apt remark at my evident surprise. In a mocking tone he said, "Why don't you go ahead with your shooting? What is the difference between the unfortunate animal and me? I am a Jiva, and the leopard is also a Jiva. Therefore, there is no difference between the two of us. Since you have an insatiable hunger for hunting; it is natural for the beasts to flee for their lives. The animals are your prey today. May be the human beings will be your target tomorrow. Man is also a dangerous animal. These animals are harmless. They do not even make any demands on man. Do you gain anything by killing these innocent and helpless creatures? Instead of hunting these animals, you should divert your energies towards the destruction of anarchy and corruption. Eliminate the reign of terror and exploitation. Usher in a new era of peace and harmony. But if you refuse to change your attitude, you are free to unleash your anger".

His outburst left me speechless. A strange brilliance radiated his countenance the hypnotic quality of voice had a tremendous attraction. Something thawed within me. I threw my rifle on the ground and fell on the feet of the grand mahatma. I was overcome with profound feelings of repentance and cried unashamedly on his lotus feet. For the first time in my life, I found my 'self' weeping uncontrollably. Baba began to caress my head. His touch had a magical effect, my entire being seemed to be immersed in an ocean of love. I lost consciousness of the physical world and began to drift in eternity. The past episode, which had played the role of a catalyst in causing the significant change within me, began to unfold itself in a vision. I could see Baba moving in the forest. I was quite close to him but was unaware of his presence. My friends were also in the vision. Our presence threatened the peace of the forest and its inmates. Baba then changed himself into a leopard. As the vision progressed, I saw Baba metamasorphised as leopard distracting the attention of the hunting team. The leopard cleverly lured the team to their camp. As soon as the team reached the camp, the leopard was forgotten, and food occupied the attention of everyone. The same animal then crossed my path and succeeded in luring me to the cave. Leopard disguise was cast off and the Baba revealed his true identity. From the flash back, I found myself witnessing the vision, which clearly predicted my future. In, this vision, I saw myself dressed as a yogi, who after a period of penitence had found sanctuary in the snow-clad mountains of the Himalayas. The riverbanks and the multitude of followers all comprised my future life. A series of unforgettable situations, in which I was to be involved in future, also appeared in the vision. The moment Baba removed his hand; the vision dissolved into nothingness. When I got up from his feet, I was totally transformed. A new peace permeated my entire being. The feelings of remorse were washed off by the cosmic awareness. Baba smiled and said, "Son, this can happen only by chance and the sanskars beget that chance. Man is the doer of karma, yet it is the chance (which is related to your sanskars), which is responsible for the creation of the sequence of all events. Nothing can occur without change. In fact, the change denotes the speed of Kaal or time. Divinity is everywhere. We are mere instruments in this drama - which has been designed by nature. The glimpse of your future corroborates the theory that all human acts, events and the circumstances are preplanned. Everything occurs as per the pattern that has been pre-designed. Whether one wants it or not, things will happen as per the inexorable divine law. Mans incessant struggle for liberation from these bonds, explains this concept quite clearly". Baba helped me to rise and then accompanied me to the camp. Next day in early hours of the morning, we left for Sasaram.

Meeting Guru Nanak Ji

The human body is made out of Panch Bhoot. At the core of the gross form, there are two significant tendencies, namely the internal (Bramha) and the external (sanskars). A man can make his life meaningful by surrendering to Bramha and discovering the divine potential within him. The philosophy of life as a total absorption in the soul enables a human being to purge his sanskars and attain the state of Advait. The routine worldly life does not create any problem in this sublime pursuit.

Jiva is a traveller on the path of life. Its physical form is the medium. The journey of life is a simple name for the tour of the Bramhand. Death is just a change and Moksha offers some rest. 'Self' involvement is the supreme form of human existence. A life devoted to 'self' realization has distinct identity and stands as a solid representative of the inherent truth'. It is a proven fact and cannot be rejected as a product of a fertile mind. A human being experiences a variety of emotional and physical stresses while he is alive. All these upheavals continue to hound him during his lifetime. But when he dies his problems of material life also cease to exist. Truth is the eternal life. God is the only truth, and death too is the truth. The entire drama is the result of this truth. The cognition of the "self" in its supreme form empowers a yogi to travel to the mayaic Lokas of the entire Bramhand at his own will. These words spoken by an old man on the banks of a lake in Amritsar left an indelible mark on me. I had embarked upon a journey of north India on foot. My visit to Amritsar was a part of the above. The Golden Temple in Amritsar was a full of activity. Thousands of men and women were engaged in Shramdan. The devotees had dried the 'sarover' in order to extend its length and make it larger. Despite intense heat, they carried out work with a touching devotion. The sight of an old man and woman in the crowd in caught my attention. They were helping each other in carrying the load and appeared totally engrossed in their work.

Whenever my eyes got locked with theirs, I was rewarded with a smile. The exchange of looks and smiles continued for quite some time. I was not content with these occasional glimpses and yearned for more. A sudden push from behind imbalanced me and I fell head long into the dry Sarovar. The old man immediately rushed and helped me to rise. He dusted my clothes and then looked at the offender, a young Sikh inquiringly. I stood as a silent spectator between the two and be

gan to dive in the current of their unspoken thoughts. An invitation of love and compassion could be read in their eyes. In silence, they stood like the waves of the ocean. The young man broke this spell by coming towards me. He addressed me thus, 'Can you give me two rupees'? His unexpected request and laughter simply left me dumb founded. I quietly handed over the meager amount to the young man and bowed to him reverentially. The old man also laughed and walked away from the scene. At this the young Sikh said, "Are you out of your wits? He is no one else but Guru Nanak Dev and the old woman is his wife". The Gurus were present before you; still, you could not recognize them. The Guru was himself doing the Shramdan and you must not give up this rare opportunity of meeting him. After blessing me, the young man departed from that place. This young man was no one else than, Hari Baba. I turned around to pay my respects to the divine being in the guise of an old man. But Guru Nanakji merely smiled and swiftly walked away with his wife. I tried desperately to catch up with him but failed to match his speed and within no time, they disappeared.

I walked the entire day through fields and rivers in search of the divine being - Guru Nanak Dev. At dusk, I reached the Taran Taran gurudwara and decided to spend the night there. In the quietness of the midnight hour, I transmitted my thought vibration in search of Gurunanak Dev. The result seemed positive in a certain direction, but it was practically impossible to reach him so soon. As such, to go into a state of samadhi was the only alternative. Since the place was totally deserted, I found a suitable spot under a tree. secured my body with mantras and went into samadhi. I left my gross body under the tree and set forth towards my destination in my astral form. After the long astral journey, my search came to an end. I spotted a young boy playing near a hut, which was situated on a hill. I landed near the hut and began to materialize my physical form. The moment the boy saw me, he ran down the slope, which led to the river. I followed him in my physical form but before I could catch up with him, the boy escaped in a beautiful boat to the opposite bank of the river. As I was about to cross the river, an old woman emerged from nowhere and prevented me from doing so. She said,' my son, do not try to reach the opposite bank. Guru Nanak dev is not ready to see you, as of now. The time for this meeting is not yet ripe. Let things happen in due course. Now I advise you to return to your gross form, for the day is about to break.

Many years rolled by since the above episode. I continued to wait as per the old woman's advice for the 'ripe moment', which would lead me to Guru Nanak Dev. During this period of waiting, I frequented Himalayan region and walked on the banks of the flowing Bhagirathi (Ganga) river. Finally, the day dawned and my patient waiting came to an end. I caught sight of the same old woman walking on the opposite banks of the river Ganga. I, at that time was engrossed in a conversation with Hari Prasad Maheswari and his wife but I could not take my eyes away from her - the sight that was full of promise. The figure of the lonely woman coughing and struggling to climb the steep height haunted me for the rest of the day.

At night when everyone had retired, I shut myself in my room. I left my gross body and proceeded in the astral form towards the same riverbank, where long ago, I had seen a hut. The hut looked the same and the boy playing nearby revived the old image, which I had treasured all these years in my memory. This time the young boy did not run away from me but on the contrary, waited for me. When I picked him up in my arms, the boy broke into pearls of laughter. There upon a transformation took place. The splendid figure of the divine being Guru Nanak Dev stood before me - instead of the young boy. The divine revelation opened the floodgates of boundless joy within me. In this blissful state, I asked him a question which had bothered me all this while. In a humble tone, I said, "Prabhu, you are a liberated soul and a supreme siddha, yet you were engaged in the Shramdan in Golden temple? Kindly explain this?"

Guru Nanak Dev's answer has been summarized thus, "My son, I am dead. So how can I ever participate in the Shramdan? All such activities are performed by the Bramhic potential, which exists in every human being. I merely play the role of a catalyst. Despite my death, I am still alive albeit, in a different form. I am totally merged in the divine essence - the cosmic consciousness. I have spread my message to the people in virat Swarup. My union with the divine essence has become the luminous halo known as 'Nanak Dev'. I have become immortal. I am dead to the world but this death has given me immortality. Everyone wants to live in this manner. But when this realization awakens within him; it is already too late. I was an upasak and my intense upasana freed me from the limitation of sanskars. Hence, I became a 'self-illumined person. All the Jiva who are caught in the mesh of worldliness and are leading a meaningless existence, devoid of Karma are dead to me. In this finite world, they are like corpses, for they have become oblivious to their true "self" The material comforts of life have blinded them and they are unable to see the divine spark within them.

Human beings are caught in this cycle of life and death due to the tremendous attractions of the pleasures of life. Surprisingly, despite their awareness, they are repeatedly entangled in the cycle of llife and death. Nature's greatest irony is manifested in man's apparent ignorance. Though he recognizes his supreme potential, yet he is unable to do anything. He lives for tomorrow and creates a dream world of hopes and desires. Sadly enough, when tomorrow comes, the time to bid farewell to this world also comes. My only regret is - had man realized himself a little earlier, he would have lived for the welfare of others. My teachings, therefore, centre around two cardinal points i.e. Paramarth (social welfare) and Purusharth (hard work). I influence them to work according to my teachings. I am their path and am also a traveler. I have a form and at same time, I do not have a form. The deep devotion and the imagination of my followers have made me Brahmamaya. My teaching and my karma have become their ultimate goal. My illusory presence merely fortifies these external activities. All the activities are in fact, carried out by the Bramha. Bramha is active in everything. I am present yet I am not present".

With this immortal message, Guru Nanakdevji returned to the former identity - a young child. I watched him for some time and began to dematerialize my astral form where after I returned back to my gross form, which was lying in the privacy of my room. I spent rest of the night in the dew drenched lawn. The chirping of the birds heralded the morning. The grey morning light covered the horizon in the width of its mantle when Maheswari couple came to me for the customary morning greetings. I expressed my desire to leave the place. But they persuaded me to defer my immediate plans of departure. Since they were so insistent, I gave in and extended my stay. One day, I initiated the couple in the cognition of Shiv - tattva and advised them to inspire their fellow men towards the path of Paramarth. I blessed them in their new vocation and bade farewell to the inhabitants of Bhatwari.

The Resurrection

The day of my return was like a festive occasion to the residents of Bageshwar. When I reached the site of the samadhi, I found my body buried under mounds of ice. Some of the ice, which had thawed, ran all over the place. The Pindar River was on the rise and the place was totally deserted. Lord Indra and Gurudev Hari Baba also came down to participate in the occasion.

The long-awaited day finally dawned and the bright sunrays lighted the entire valley. Mother Kali appeared in her virat aspect. Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh and the three deities also came to witness the grand moment. With the help of Saint River. At the appointed time, the door of the samadhi was opened Giri and Naga Baba, people were able to cross the overflowing, and I entered my body gradually. My inert body became alive with the consciousness, and I slowly got up. The Japanese camera crew, which was present on the site, began to capture the sequence of the events in their camera. I rested for a while and then ran to the Pindari River to have a dip. Saint Giri helped me to take my bath. Refreshed by the bath, I came back to the place where everyone was waiting for me.

 Mahavatar Baba. Sarveshranandji, Mathuradas Baba, Hari Baba and Surya, all of them were present tthere in their gross forms. After a late meal, we left for the Khati village. We decided to spend the night at the Furkiya guesthouse, for we did not want to travel at night. Hyat Singh made all possible arrangements to accommodate hundreds of people in the guesthouse. It grew very cold at night, and the people began to shiver. But no one was ready to stir out in the wet winter night to collect wood for warmth. I decided to solve their problem and summon help from unexpected quarters. So, I transmitted my thought vibrations to Ganas (a race hidden in the Kailash Mountain) and requested them for some dry woods). The sound of the cutting of the wood in the nearby area filled the guests with fright and they began to tremble. Within a short time, the bundle of logs was at our door. In this manner my, friends and followers were able to get rid of the intense cold.

The next day we reached the village Khati and were accorded a tumultuous welcome. We stayed in the village for a couple of days to take rest and left for Badrinath. Any Jivatma, who has acquired the Sankalp Mantra Shakti, can survey the entire Bramhand in the astral as well as in physical form. Samadhi enables him to undergo this unique cosmic experience. With the completion of the duration of the Sankalp Samadhi, the incumbent returns to his inert body. Human body in general can be made life less with the help of various yogic activities, but this state can be obtained only for a short time. The power to move freely in the sukshm is also absent. This is the basic difference between a simple and a 'Sankalp' samadhi. A man immersed in Samadhi is free from all bondages, even the experience of pure bliss. He is illuminated by the flame of his 'self' and revels in his Kaal. If he does not take the support of the Sankalp, he possibly cannot return to his body within the defined period.

All the inhabitants of space the gods and goddesses are imbibed with this supernatural power. Some individuals, who live on earth, also possess this power. But we are totally unaware of their existence. In the era of Mahabharat and Ramayan, people performed all their actions with the help of sankalp Shakti. But today, it is the treasure of few individuals.

 

THE MESSAGE OF RISHI ANGRISH

A grand man enveloped in a celestial halo appeared before us. One by one the crowd paid respects to the revered saint. He lifted me up in his arms and smiled meaningfully. Mahavatar Baba came forward and said 'Guruvar, this man has the capacity to overpower nature's revolt. He has the ability to patch up the gap between man and Nature. He can add new dimensions to Yoga. Perhaps you want to say that ability to patch up the gap between man and Nature. He can will lash at man with all its fury. But his accomplishments in before he is able to experiment with his new formulas. Nature will lash at man with all its fury. But his accomplishments in this field will forestall this catastrophe'. 

Guruvar smiled and said, 'All of you have achieved by becoming immersed in Bramhan and consequently, free from remarkable feats in this sphere. You all have realized yourselves the Karmic cycle'. The tempests of the sea will only herald the beginning of the disaster. Man's mind will also mirror nature's fury and he will become the cause of his own destruction. When everything will be on the brink of disaster, this yogi will be able to demonstrate his yogic feats. In the meantime, why don't you send your representatives on earth to subdue the tumult of the sea and quieten the seething Volcanoes? Transmit vibrations of betterment and humanity on earth, so that man also becomes serene and imbibes the vibrations of humanity. My blessings will always be with him. His thought vibrations can even give solace to Devtas. With his Sankalp Shakti, he can arrest the flow of waters, provided he decides to do so. He can carry this in conjunction with my thought’s vibrations'.

Time is always in motion. The circumstances are never still. They are always prone to change. Caught in the grip of flux and change a man cannot stay still. You all have introduced a turning point to human beings but not the stability. In the absence of the vital stability, human has become restive and engaged in a futile war of religion and culture. The feeling of love and brotherhood has evaporated, and hostility has become the crux of their existence. Can't a message of love and hope be spread to human being of different faiths and become the unifying force? Can it be possible that humans learn to live only for their brethren in a peaceful manner, free from fanaticism?

A man has come to this earth for a short duration. During his tenure on earth, he is burdened with a variety of responsibilities. He is torn apart by the demands of religion, society and diverse political circumstances. One day his allotted time on earth comes to an end and the weary traveler has to depart. Against the backdrop of such a human picture, it is natural for nature to express its discontent. You must transmit vibrations of peace on earth, so that the threat of holocaust is stalled. I have come here only to express these thoughts. I had the fore knowledge of the arrival of some travelers, who had explored the space. When I came here, I was happy to see Mahavtar Baba, Kapil, Surya, Mathuradas ji and Sarveshranandji. We are an integral part of earth, and we cannot deny this bond. We are first human beings. Due to our karma, we have achieved this level. Therefore, our chief contention should be the welfare of mankind. Rishi Angrish after the illuminating sermon departed from the scene.

Importance of Samadhi

If a man can controls all the functions of his body, he can become a Bramha Vetta (immersed inBramha). Thereafter, entire Bramhand is like an open book to him. A yogi knows the art of constructing different organs of the body and the technique of materializing and dematerializing. He is on the plane of cosmic consciousness and can comprehend all the activities of the Bramhand, which appear in the form of astral vibrations. The yogi, by virtue of his astral knowledge, detaches himself from the revealed nature and goes deep within his 'self and wanders in the folds of eternity. When the two vibrations collide, they produce a sound and give the indication of the future events. These events are within a defined limitation of the future events. But if a yogi immerses himself in samadhi with a Sankalp, he is beyond this line of limitation. When a yogi is in the state of samadhi his body becomes life less. However, his thoughts are there in the desired direction. A samadhi is not a trivial issue and should not be undertaken for the sake of trial or exhibition.

Samadhi is a life science'. By renouncing intellect, mind, ego, Chitta, a yogi obtains the propensity to rise towards the Tejas or Supreme Intelligence. With the help of Samadhi, a yogi separates the astral and causal bodies and wanders in the Bramhand. The cognition of Jiva and soul is possible through Samadhi. It also unfolds the mysteries of the astral world to a yogi. Saints and mahatmas who have freed themselves from the worldliness of life can obtain this level of samadhi. Once a yogi is deeply absorbed in Samadhi, all his tendencies gradually wane away and he begins to demonstrate the Virat. He is physically detached from the visible world but is united in its astral form with earth and other Lokas. The needs of the mundane life are suspended, and he acquires a tremendous physical strength to such an extent, that lifting mountains and huge trees becomes a simple affair for him. He can perform these Herculean feats in the invisible form.

The cognition of the astral world releases him from the desires to return to the material world. After a close communion with the creator's wondrous waves, he loses interest in the physical world. He rises above the limitations of the physical world - The creative impulse in man gives birth to desires and it's consequent motion. A yogi's life is devoid of Karma and duty. He has his individual Swarup or appearance, motion and thought processes. All these underlay within his 'self. A 'self' illumined yogi is free from the tentacles of life and death. Generally, a Maha Purush, who has buried himself iin Samadhi leaves his gross body in the security of caves and travels in his astral form for long periods. Sometimes, he dons his physical form to complete his karma on earth.

Since the inventions of the material world play the role of a medium, they cannot fall in the category of absolute truth. In this atomic age, a man of science will treat my ideas skeptically and reject them as a product of my imagination. Modern man has ignored the fundamental objectives of his life. Science is not the absolute truth; it is a mere discovery. But the 'soul' is immortal. Just as the 'soul' has worn this human attire, similarly, the human world with the help of science, has adopted its many discoveries. Human science is not absolute. Therefore, the science related inventions couldn't be termed as absolute truth. But a "self' illumined' man is an embodiment of 'eternal' immortal 'truth'.

A human society, devoid of technical resources cannot benefit from science. The miracles of science stupefy mankind but an individual immersed in the 'self' is not astonished because he dwells in Twam Asi (you are you) and Soham (I am I). Involved in the tangles of the world, human beings neglect the all - pervasive Bramha Tatva and attach importance to craftiness and competence, which help them to acquire a name and fame in the society. But the Lord God works in mysterious ways and the chosen ones receive his grace. Man dares to exploit nature with his intellect. He erroneously begins to embellish the soul with the luxuries of life and imprisons it.

In the realm of spiritualism too, man has exhibited his free will. He has invested his ideas and imagination with divinity. In the name of God, different social norms have been formed. Even the sphere of politics has been invaded by ideas, which are coloured by man-made divinity. As far as religion and social order are concerned; man has simply gone amuck with his ideas and feelings. In his ignorance, he installs any individual on the platform meant for God as long as he feels like. But when he becomes disenchanted with him, he mercilessly disowns him. Despite his numerous conquests, man is still helpless in the face of natural calamities. Totally unnerved by the destructive face of Nature, he turns to God for help. Man is indeed very selfish; he only seeks God when he is totally disillusioned.

A man mourns deeply the death of a beloved one. But his desperate haste to get rid of the corpse is indeed ironical. Such incidents, which often occur act as the solemn reminder that the law of nature cannot be tampered with.

The Awaken Mother

The Image of goddess Kali is still etched with vivid clarity on my mind. I can perceive her large fathomless eyes, whenever I recollect her image. Past and future glimmer in her oceanlike eyes. The middle portion of the eyes mirrors the present. Her appearance, even in the memory, has a magnificent quality. The smoldering eyes shine with ethereal effulgence. Rich memories are treasured in the closet of my past. One such gem from the closet is my visit to Ganguli Hat. In my quiet moments, whenever I think of the past, the incidents in the Kalika temple at Ganguli Haat become alive. It was November 1976, when some eminent citizens of Bageshwar came to me with a proposal to visit the famous Kali Temple at Ganguli Haat. I accepted the proposal gladly and started towards Gangulihat with a group of fifty people. The group consisted of men, women and children. Our gusty arrival at Ganguli Haat created quite a commotion. As soon as we alighted from our bus, we started walking towards It has revealed the divine intervention of the goddess to help the temple of goddess Kali. The temple has an interesting history. human beings in distress. Even English officers have bowed reverently at the feet of the divine mother. Their token of gratitude is in the form of huge bells, which are still preserved in the temple premises. The incident, which awakened faith in the hearts of the British, is worth narrating. 

During the Second World War, a contingent of Indian soldiers with British officers was sailing to Burma. The ship suddenly developed a leak and began to sink in the high seas. All efforts to save the ship proved futile. When the crew was about to abandon the ship, an Indian soldier of Kumaon region confidently declared that his prayers to his goddess could rescue all of them. At first people did not believe him but on second thoughts, agreed to let him proceed with his prayers. The devotee began to chant his prayers in an emotional voice and invoked the divine help. A miracle occurred and the sinking ship began to rise gradually. All the crewmembers gaped, when they saw the figure of woman on the upper section of ship. She was pulling up the drowning vessel. The ship and its crewmembers were rescued. The English administrators have recorded this miracle in the Gazetteer of the Kumaon region. They offered huge bells as a mark of gratitude, at the feet of the goddess. While I spoke to the temple priest, the local residents came in great number and virtually mobbed me. I felt irked by the barrage of questions. In order to divert the attention of the crowd, I asked the priest to start the Pooja. I was not used to the ritualistic aspect of the Pooja, so I sat in a quiet spot, away from the crowd. I even refused the request of the group to participate in the ceremony. I was seized by a strange uneasiness and began to move around the temple restlessly. Suddenly I stepped inside the temple. With slow deliberate steps, I walked towards the idol. Almost like a man possessed, I began to break the ceremonial offerings - the coconuts. I also picked up some incense sticks lit them and sang the Stuti of the goddess. The entire crowd watched me with stunned silence. My body suddenly shuddered and became very still. 

The Akhand Jyoti was snuffed out and the temple was plunged in darkness. At that moment, celestial rays of light entered the temple and touched my body. I came out of the temple and began to walk towards the magnetic source of light. All the men and women, who were present, also followed me. When I reached the Deodar tree (the source of the supernatural light), a young girl later teens came out. She began to act like a deranged person. She was in tatters and was viciously gnawing her own body. While she was busy throwing stones at the crowd, my eyes suddenly got locked into hers. A queer sensation ran through my body and my eyes closed automatically. Overwhelmed with intense emotion, I clung to her. The instant I touched her, she transformed herself' into the magnificent form of Mother Kali and a wondrous light emanated from her body. The entire atmosphere was seeped in a strange fragrance. She was the very incarnation of beauty. Though she was a woman, but her many hands made the difference. Suddenly the smiling beautiful visage underwent a dramatic change, and a dangerously fearsome face emerged. Many could not withstand the transformation and ran away in fright. I stood there unaffected and began to talk to her in a pleading voice. I said, " Mother, please return to your former 'self'. I want to cling to you and play in your lap. As I was about to touch her feet form and appeared in the form of a young girl. This time she did reverently, she lifted me in her arms. She dissolved her awesome not behave in the former distraught manner. I continued to hold her hand and poured out innumerable question to her. She merely laughed at my numerous queries. Once or twice, she laughed so loudly that the entire surroundings began to echo and re-echo the musical sound. In the meantime, the news of the appearance of the divine mother traveled like a wildfire. People poured in from different areas to have the darshan of the mother. When the crowd began to swell, the goddess gently disentangled her hand and walked away. With a final laughter, she vanished on the spot. Total silence followed her disappearance. People, who were not fortunate enough to get her glimpse, began to curse themselves. But when I was about to walk back to the temple, the crowd surged to touch my feet. Almost unaware of the crowd, I was lost in a world of thoughts concerning man's unstable loyalty and love. The love of the divine mother on the other hand is unchangeable and incomparable.