Kitabı oku: «Babaji - The Unfathomable», sayfa 2

Always, whenever you call me inwardly, I am already there with open arms and am waiting for you to draw you into my heart. Be always ready for anything and my blessing will have no end ... "

There was something I wanted to say to Babaji, but whatever English I had learnt at school, I had by now forgotten. So I held the thought in my mind and fixed my gaze on Him.

Raising His head, He looked at me with luminous eyes and made a gesture with His hand. I understood His answer. There have been times when, with a gentle smile, Babaji has spoken the odd German word.

*********

Countless gifts have been offered to Babaji. Some He gave away more or less immediately, others he kept for a longer period of time. Perhaps it had to do with the motivation or devotion which lay behind the offering.

Once I put considerable effort into making a rug and sent it off with my daughter to India. We thought this rug must have gone the way of most of the gifts because it wasn't seen again.

Two years later, on a visit to Babaji's Chilianaula ashram (situated higher in the Himalayan range), I was watching an asana (seat) being prepared for Babaji. I could hardly believe my eyes. There, lying on the top, was the little rug. I was overjoyed.

*********

While we were singing the evening Aarati, I noticed Babaji's eyes were concentrated on something outside in the darkness. I followed His line of vision but couldn't at first discern anything. Soon though, on the roof of the building housing the kitchen, a dog's head became visible. Yes, now more of its body appeared and it wasn't long before the old dog was sauntering down some stairs, sprinting past the temple and trampling over the seated people till it. came to a halt at Babaji's seat. The dog gazed up at Babaji. who ran His fingers through its fur and tenderly stroked its back. Then. upon a gesture from Babaji, the dog took off again.

It wasn't the first time, I had noticed Babaji communicate telepathically with animals.

*********

On my second visit to Haidakhan, one day I sat alone with Babaji on the other side of the valley. He had crouched down on one of the steps leading to the nine temples and indicated to me to sit at His Feet. It was my first time totally alone with Him. The peace and stillness which surrounded Him, the whole atmosphere of the temples and the beauty of the valley all lifted me up to another sphere of consciousness.

Inwardly, I said to Babaji, quite spontaneously: "I have trust in you". Scarcely had I formulated the thought when He turned his elegantly proportioned, beauteous countenance and looked at me out of unfathomable eyes.

"Yes", I repeated, "Unshakable trust have I in you".

Without any arousal from Him, I gradually came to and suddenly noticed, to my horror, that all this time I had unwittingly been sitting on His foot! Hardly had this realisation struck like lightning, when I felt Babaji's toes wriggling beneath me.

Through this incident, Babaji let me realise, to my utter amazement, how He perceives not only the immediate surroundings but at the same time also the entire world, all levels of it. and He is at one with it all.

*********

The greatest transformation in my life was worked by Babaji in that He opened my heart chakra and let me experience divine, all-encompassing love. It happened spontaneously, out of the blue.

We were on tour. It was that time of day for resting. Sharing my room was an elderly woman who was rather weak due to a digestive disorder. She was also crying because she had just received a lesson Babaji which had upset her. I embraced her in sympathy and then it happened .... Love in all its expansiveness, beyond all words. flowed through me. My self was dissolved in it; I was no longer present; the feeling of happiness was indescribable, infinite. "I" didn't exist as such anymore. Love was all there was. Everything was contained in it ...

Then the first fleeting thought came into awareness. "What are you doing?" Slowly and steadily, I became conscious of my body .... "I drank from you", said the elderly woman, who up till then had remained motionless and peaceful in my arms. Intuitively, she knew what had occurred.

*********

"Whosoever comes to me with love, then l will show him,' her love beyond anything imaginable".

Babaji loved to play with children. One day, in the garden, He jokingly said to a five-year-old boy: "See that dog over there -- she's your wife. What do you say to that?"

I don't want the dog for a wife".

"Well then, why not?"

"I don't like a woman with a tail and four legs".

*********

We were sitting in the kirtan hall one evening, chanting. The room was illuminated by a kerosene lamp hanging from the ceiling. Babaji had arrived to give darshan. One of those present in the crowd was a sick young Indian boy who had earlier visited the clinic where I worked.

Somehow I felt a strong sympathy for him and was glad to hear that Babaji had earlier that afternoon dressed him in new clothes and given him permission to stay at the ashram.

When I went to pranam to Babaji, I asked inwardly for His blessing for this sick boy. Not long after, I noticed the boy making pranam. Babaji showed him much love and placed His hand on the boy, thereby bestowing shakti (energy). For me, it was like witnessing the Divine Mother.

Darshan was over and Babaji walked over to the sick boy and again blessed him. This caring so touched me that I impulsively ran to Babaji and bowed down, thanking Him for His love and saying internally: "You are truly the Divine Mother". As I stood up again, the burning kerosene lamp above began to swing. Babaji pointed to the burning flame and said: "No fire, no fire, fire". Then He gave me a friendly look and left.

I understood intuitively that Babaji wasn't referring to fire as such, but rather to the divine energy within everything material and ethereal, which Babaji Himself embodies.

From this I now understand Babaji's presence is constantly everywhere -- within all humans, animals and plants and within all feelings, words, deeds and events.

*********

One can only wonder at Babaji's play on words. The following story is not only humorous but teaches me also that after death. the human body is a useless leftover and shouldn't warrant any fuss made over it.

Down by the river at a spot just below the ashram in Haidakhan, the inhabitants of the little village, according to Indian custom. cremate their dead. While the wooden logs are being properly stacked, the corpse is left to lie on a cloth just beside the pile in readiness for the offering to the purifying fire.

On this particular day of the cremation, an ashram work project happened to be taking place nearby and involved carrying big rocks over to a site where a stone rampart was being built against the anticipated monsoon floods. It seemed to me like a lack of piety to have all this industrious work going on around a dead body and it disturbed me enough to make me go to Babaji.

"Babaji, there is a corpse down there and yet work continues on in the immediate vicinity. I think the dead man should be left in peace". Babaji: "Yes ... yes ... peace, peace ... Go and chop him to pieces!"

Taken aback, I ran down the 108 stairs to the riverbed. Was I really supposed to chop up the body as is the custom in Tibet? No. Babaji was only joking...!

*********

If a devotee wished to receive chandan from Babaji in His little room in the early morning, he/ she had to ask for permission the evening before. So I approached Babaji and asked: "May I please come to chandan tomorrow?"

Now my English is not the best and a thought flashed through my mind: "to" sounds like "two".

Babaji smiled and nodded saying. "Three-morrow". in other words, "Yes, for three continuous mornings".

*********

It's our last darshan. Tomorrow we leave Haidakhan. So much has happened in three days. I don't want to leave yet. This place has taken such a hold of my heart. But there is no time to be gloomy over the departure.

We have just finished the day's karma yoga - work in the ashram - and are getting ready for the evening Aarati, prayer chanting. I have been asked to assist in the preparation of a puja ceremony. Fresh fruit and flowers are being beautifully arranged on a shiny platter and other items are being brought together. We feel happy to be given the privilege to participate in honouring Babaji in this way. Now it's time to take the things over to the temple.

Everyone has already assembled there. The bells are ringing. Babaji arrives. Out of Him radiates such enormous power, yet He moves nimbly and lightly, like the wind. His beauty is overwhelming; each time one sees Him, it is like a new delight. He sits on His asana and His power, love and acute concentration are evident.

Immediately, as if drawn to a magnet. a stream of devotees queue for His darshan. His attraction is irresistible. A mere smile or movement of the hand suffices to fill the heart and soul totally.

The chanting grows louder; the vibrations intensify. The first puja commences where light is offered to the great Light. Music fills the air and all mind chatter is extinguished. The offered fruit, now blessed, is served out as prasad. Sounds upon sounds (instrumental music, bells, conches, drums, damaru) pervade the clear night.

Now another puja; this time performed by a couple whose marriage ceremony took place this morning. The atmosphere becomes even more intense and high and brings everyone into a sense of oneness.

Babaji beckons one of His close, long-term devotees to say a few words. He, too, is filled with the effects of divine energy and extols in Hindi the greatness of the divine presence of Babaji in human form. How inadequate is our comprehension of a Mahavatar! Even when Rama. the hero of the Mahabharatas was on earth, little did the people recognise His greatness.

At the high point of this event, Babaji stood up. It was the most powerful experience I've ever had in my life -- ­the revelation of Babaji as the almighty energy pervading all of creation, the original energy.

The sense of unity became obvious when the speaker symbolically put out his arms, embracing some of the devotees standing beside Babaji. I was also drawn to them, as if from an inner impulse, and thereby received my farewell embrace. I didn't realise then that this was also to be my farewell, on the earth plane, to Babaji, the Avatar of the Kali Yuga.

The next morning Babaji, seemingly unmoved, performed the sacred fire ceremony: Shiva beyond time and space. A farewell with joyful heart; I shall be returning.

Five weeks later came the news of Babaji's Mahasamadhi. I was stunned. "I dwell in everything, in nature and in your heart". This was His message to me during that wonderful, intense time in Haidakhan, which totally changed my life. The time has come to put into practise the imparted knowledge: Truth. Simplicity and Love.

Extracts from a diary
TUESDAY

Arrival in Haidakhan. Babaji greeted me, calling "Sariju", the name He had given me. We looked into each ether's eyes and then He tapped me lightly on the heart chakra.

Today is my first full day of experiencing Haidakhan. What a blessing to be allowed to be here at all! On waking around 4.00 a.m., I descended the 108 stairs in the darkness to go to the river and bathe. Still tired from the journey, I returned to my room and rested. Dozing off, I dreamt of Babaji. He laughed and said: "Darling, its cold here", and placed a blanket over me. His eyes were brilliant.

In the meantime, it was getting light outside. Time to go to the temple. After the Aarati (devotional chanting) I swept the floor of my room and went to drink some tea (water, sugar, milk, tea and spices. all boiled up together then strained and served in glasses).

When I came into the temple for morning darshan, everyone was gathered there and even Babaji had already arrived As I pranamed, He called again the name "Sariju". Some time later, when the others had been sent to work duties. He called me over and asked if I lived alone. how many children I had, whether they still lived at home or away, what my daily work comprised. Prior to this, He had asked if I had a problem or a wish, to which I had answered: "No". Thereupon. He suggested I should continue to think of Him in meditation and this way I would always remain happy and contented. I had the feeling that He is joyous when a person is empty of wishes and problems.

Here in Haidakhan, I don't have to work.

WEDNESDAY

Yesterday I gave some presents to Babaji. Today I was summoned to Him and watched how He looked them over and how He paid attention to the smallest detail. His joy here appears like a child's. In response, one always receives some gift, sweets, nuts. Babaji distributes whatever He receives and usually people get exactly what they could well use.

The first impression of the ashram is overwhelming: so much has been achieved in two years. The whole temple, as far as the spire, has been decorated with a layer of terrazzo in a mosaic of colours -- red, green, yellow and blue -- interspaced between bands of mirrored glass. The columns, floor and garden path also feature this terrazzo.

Garden beds have been established with plantings of flowers and vegetables. Recently planted papaya trees were already in fruit and one tree bearing pumpkins looked particularly interesting. Long stone ramparts have been erected against the rising monsoon waters. Construction is going on everywhere. On the riverbed, little stone huts have been newly built with straw or tin sheets for roofing and straw mats as doors - simplicity itself.

Over on the opposite side of the valley, near the cave where Babaji was first seen in 1970, nine temples stand serenely in a row. There is also an excavated reservoir for watering the garden, a large cow and horse stable and two huts of an earthy red colour. These huts are living quarters and contain wood-burning ovens which will be important for self-sufficiency during the monsoon, when the river is too high and swift to be crossed.

Yesterday a wedding procession passed along the valley to the sound of drums and trumpets. One could identify the groom wearing a Krishna crown and veil and riding on a horse. Today, they were returning, this time with the bride on horseback.

On the riverbed a truck is being unloaded - sacks of coconuts, which are to be carried all the way up to the ashram.

This morning a caravan of horses was led up the mountain and now, at eventide, they are returning laden with logs. The fetters seem so frail; one would expect them to collapse under the strain.

At Aarati this evening, everyone was carried away with the energy; it was so powerful.

THURSDAY

Again this morning the vibrations during Aarati were as strong. I concentrated fully on Baba. I became light­headed, as if in a trance.

Washing clothes at the river. This is always painful for me as I feel the nearness of my deceased husband here. From afar I caught sight of Baba coming down the stairs. I approached to greet Him. He asked if I wanted some tea. I declined because I'd already taken some. He allowed me to accompany Him. It was a most wonderful hour. Even in heaven, it's not possible to be happier. We walked arm-in-arm and sometimes He led me by the hand - all of its symbolic.

Babaji helped me to awaken the Christ consciousness within. He tapped me on the heart chakra and on the top of the head. At the same time, He was giving directions to the people on the construction work. He is very precise and asks for obedience with no contradiction.

Many times I looked into His eyes as He looked at mine. He stroked my cheek. I was able to show Him my love even though there were always people around. It was like "you and I". In everyday life I could not have been so open and moreover, the love for another human being is not as powerful.

During the night I awoke to see Christ in the centre of translucent white light surrounded by a bluish haze. His form appeared long and stretched out, like an El Greco painting. and His hands were held in the blessing mudra.

FRIDAY

During the morning, some local people had constructed a funeral pyre by the river and now a group of them were seated around it. By the time I returned from the other side of the valley, the fire was well ablaze. I had presumed it was all over but as I ascended the stairs, two corpses wrapped in rugs were still discernible. Not long after, half-charred logs were lying about in the water.

After lunch, I went to the side of the valley. Here I met Baba. He was seated on a rock with Shastriji, an elderly scholar and priest, beside Him. Babaji motioned me to sit and let me massage His Feet. This gave me extraordinary energy and started a healing process through my body.

That evening, after the Aarati. Babaji placed the soles of His Feet together, like two magnets. His eyes were turned upwards (His expression suggested He was far away).

SATURDAY

If the sun is shining. people gather in the garden for darshan. Today Baba remained there for a long time. He ate a little fruit and nuts. drank some water and tasted the food which was served up in small bowls. checking that it was properly spiced. When He stood up to go. I took my stool out of the way. However, Baba did not walk past, but sat a while on the little stool. Then He went and lay down in the shade of a tree.

Many Indian guests filed by. One lady performed puja and some short conversations took place. Babaji asked for some paper bowls to be brought and roasted grain, resembling rice, was served up in them. Baba peeled three lemons, broke them into segments and liberally sprinkled pepper and salt over the pieces. He ate one piece and had the rest distributed to all those present. Then more prasad was offered; this time, grains with a peppery spice and chunky, candied molasses.

Later, as Baba was leaving, He said to me: "Come" and we sprinted down the stairs arm-in-arm. My over-sixty-year-old body could not have coped with this speed by itself. I felt, in fact, like a twenty-year-old. We climbed over a stone wall, at the foot of which mustard had been planted. Baba broke off a sprig, took a bite and gave me the rest. It tasted like radish. Then we scaled a one-and-a-half metre wall and proceeded towards the temples and then over to the cows and horses. Babaji paid attention to everything; the plantations, the gardens, and looked to see if His directions had been followed.

On the way back, Baba stopped to speak with a Nepalese family which lived by the riverbank. Their huts had walls made partly of stones from the riverbed and partly from dried grasses and woven wicker. The roof, too, was made up of the latter. A mat or a cloth served as a bed and daily life took place on the floor.

We went over to the spot where some days ago two bodies were cremated. I had a strong feeling that Baba had helped these souls. We walked across the valley towards the tea houses; here Baba bought some sweets and nuts and handed them out as prasad. (Everywhere Baba goes, people appear and gather near Him.) He even bought little cigarettes for the workers. While the tobacco wares were being weighed out, I thought of the next step - paying for it. I happened to have my purse with me and gave it to Baba. I had been intending to make a donation, so this was now the opportunity.

It was getting on for midday. Everyone waited for Babaji to bless the food. Only then can it be served. The rest of the day we chanted.