Mar 8, 2020, Mumbai
Just over 90 wide eyed, excited mumukshus (true seekers of Liberation) gathered on a beautifully decorated lawn, early in the morning, to welcome their revered Saduru. It was an extraordinary day with three celebrations, Param Pujya Bapuji’s birthday, Women’s Day and Holi (the festival of colours)!
The day started with a divine welcome to Param Pujya Bhaishree and an inspirational poem by Brahmnishth Vikrambhai appreciating the contribution of women to the lives of those around them and to society at large. The upliftment of women was a cause close to Bapuji’s heart. It was his dream to see young rural women receive education and unlock their full potential, and today, we see Bhaishree successfully fulfilling this dream.
Bhaishree followed this with a beautiful and thought-provoking story about a man, Manvo who used to earn his livelihood by pretending to be someone else:
“નકલની પાછળ રહી છે શૈતાની અકલ,
બહુરૂપીયો બની ઠગે ધારી વિવિધ શકલ,
મનવા ભાણની જેમ પશ્ચાતાપમાં બળીએ પલ પલ,
આત્માનો બોધ સાંભળી શાંત કરીએ અંતરનો કોલાહલ,
કાળ અનંતમાં અગણિત દેહ બહુરૂપિયા તે નકલ,
ભાઈશ્રીની દ્રષ્ટિએ અંતરમાં જોતા પામીએ અસલ.”
Bhaishree then proceeded to explain to us how we are all just like Manvo. Manvo perfected his acts, so do we. We are all playing the role of humans behind a mask in this body. Due to our false perception of reality, we believe we are the body we are born in. This leads all living beings to behave in a prescribed manner, with associated behaviours. We are so engrossed in this false belief and take it up so earnestly that we all but forget that we are not that body. In this act, we miss the bigger picture and get lost in the theatrics of a human life, not realising that we are in fact the Soul and not the human body. We need to return to our true nature, that of the Atma !
The story highlights our pretentious existence through all our previous incarnations, initiating a feeling of repentance, making us wonder how we passionately hold onto things that were never ours to begin with, how we boost our ego and lose every opportunity to free our Soul from karmic bondage, how proud we are of our wicked minds that engulf us in acts to accomplish our selfish motives. Owing to this loop, we never settle in peace and rest in true blissful happiness.
On the occasion of Bapuji’s birthday, Kalpesh Sheth shared his experiences with Bapuji:
‘Looking into Param Pujya Bapuji’s eyes would spiritually charge one’s soul. When I lived with him in seva, a profound respect manifested. He lived his life as if he was born just to help other souls and live through his remaining karmas. He was an extremely punctual and organised man. He was the master of several virtues. He taught me that I wasn’t my body but my Soul and that it was my karma that deluded me. He would love singing different pads and explain the lines along the way. His explanations would force you to introspect. His explanation of “Jiya jane meri safal ghari ri” has been my best friend on the spiritual path. It helped me sustain my detachment whilst living amidst sansaar. I have been extremely lucky to get the chance to travel with Bapuji. Our trip to the North are some of my fondest memories in life. I had the chance to live extremely closely to him. The Ashram was hosting Saubhagbhai’s Dehvilay Shatabdi Varsh, it was a big event. Preparations had begun months ago and everything was in place. However, two days before the event it started raining heavily. Bapuji prayed for the rain to stop, bearing in mind the important role Saubhagbhai played in Shrimad attaining self realisation and the anant upkaar he has on all of us. Miraculously, it actually stopped raining and the event went on without any interruptions. On reaching 1,008 followers, Bapuji relinquished the high seat of ‘Guru’ to Smt Sadgunnaben C U Shah (Param Pujya Guruma) and Shree Nalinbhai Kothari (Param Pujya Bhaishree). He said that the two of them were his two eyes. His grace ensured that all the mumukshus' love and respect grew thrice instead of being divided amongst the three of them. Such was the greatness and selflessness of Param Pujya Bapuji !’
Thereafter, all the women, along with Brahmnishth Minalben narrated a brief history of Women’s Day and asked Bhaishree to bless them with strength, to overcome situations in life and to help progress on their inner path.
The mumukshus then broke into a blissful dance while drenched in devotion as Bhaishree greeted everyone individually to celebrate Holi. This tika, of saffron and sandalwood, that Bhaishree annually stamps on everyone’s foreheads is the blessed moment where an Enlightened Master transfers his energy to the disciple. At the end, Bhaishree even blessed everyone with amee jharna, the auspicious sprinkling of holy water, to purify our minds and Souls.
After lunch, everyone was divided into four teams for a games session, with innovative challenges centered around spirituality. A quiz which was aimed at increasing awareness about the Ashram’s humanitarian activities concluded the session.
The enthusiasm of the organisers was evident in the attention given to the minutest detail of the event. Every corner was decorated and every moment was perfectly planned and accounted for. Bhaishree too acknowledged this bhaav and utsaah (enthusiasm).
Brahmnishth Minalben shared her poem written for Bapuji. Vikrambhai then shared a few of Bapuji’s numerous virtues in honour of his birthday and congratulated women for their unacknowledged contribution in daily life. He also spoke about the mother of the nation Kasturba. The day ended with mumukshus feeling privileged to listen to an audio of Bapuji’s swadhyay which left everyone with moist eyes and hearts full of awe for Bapuji’s innumerable virtues. It proved to be the perfect end as it resulted in strengthened resolve to strive harder on the path laid down by him.
