COASTAL ANDHRA TOUR — PART II
Kavali and Ongole, Saturday, 4th of April 2015
Respected Kamlesh bhai started from Nellore at 7.30 a.m. and reached Kavali by 8.45 a.m. He conducted satsang in the meditation hall, and it was an amazing gathering full of discipline, civility and an elevating atmosphere. Kamlesh bhai was impressed and happy.
Mentioning that even our Masters must be happy about these gatherings, he said, “I am so happy with the discipline and condition of the abhyasis here.”
The gatherings here are setting a new standard, and one could observe the following:
- There is extraordinary discipline. All abhyasis are seated in the meditation hall well before Master’s arrival. The silence observed is quite natural and relaxing. Even cell phones seem to cooperate.
- Master is given freedom and space. He can walk around and meet abhyasis without anybody crowding or rushing around him. There is no pressure placed for private meetings, making it easier for him to meet people when necessary.
- The ashrams are kept clean. There are minimal announcements, and there is no enforcement of discipline either.
Is that all one needs to do to create such wonderful satsangs and conditions?
On the way to Ongole
Shining with Serenity
The journey to Ongole started around 9.50 a.m. On the way, there was a discussion about Kamlesh bhai’s first exposure to spirituality. He was influenced by the life of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and started meditation on his own. Noticing his interest in meditation, his friend took him to one of our preceptors.
Kamlesh bhai joyfully recalled the first sitting, and said, “The sitting was like boom! Once and for all. But the interesting thing was that two months before this I took off from home on a one-day excursion. I wanted to become a sannyasi. So I took off in the morning. In the evening I went to a temple on the bank of the river Narmada near my village, Kalla, Bharuch, and walked around. There was one old sadhu doing his parikrama, from the source of the river till where it meets ocean. He said, ‘Yahan kya kar rahe ho? [What are you doing here?]’ I said, ‘I want to become a sannyasi like you.’ He said, ‘Go back, you don’t belong here.’ I asked, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘You see, I made a mistake. I am an old man. I made a mistake and I am unable to go back. Now I am stuck with this life.’ Then, with a lot of hesitation and disappointment, I went back home. Within two months I was introduced to Sahaj Marg. I started in August 1976.”
At 11.30 a.m. Kamlesh bhai reached Ongole Ashram and immediately conducted satsang. Before the evening satsang he talked about desires.
“Ek sadhe sab sadhe, sab sadhe sab jaye. [Having solved one, one solves everything. Try to solve everything, you solve nothing].” We learn from The Lord of the Rings how the craze for one ring, the lord of the rings, made people mad. In Sahaj Marg, once you cross the final ring of splendour, one solves all the problems; there is one ring that solves everything, the ring around the centre.
“If people say they are non-attached, and nothing attracts them anymore, then they get attached to their non-attachment and become egotistic about their non-attachment.
“Success lies in understanding the nature of desire. Once you understand that, then there is nothing to worry about. In Sahaj Marg we are trained to lose ourselves in every meditation and replace ourselves with the Master. That is the beauty of it. When we do things in constant remembrance, all the way through we are putting him in front. So when the desire comes, whose desire is it? If it is not mine, why should I be worried about it? Then it is his problem, you see. So the burden is lost and the attachment to desire also goes. But some people say, ‘How can it be the Master’s desire?’ Then they stop thinking about Master and feel guilty about their thoughts. So give it to him, in an essential way, not in a very shallow way. Like Babuji says, when you are troubled by thoughts arising during meditation, think they are from Master. But the problem is how to do it?”
Q: Does inaction create samskaras?
“Yes, when there is something that I should have done and I did not do. For example, you don’t prepare for your exams when you should have. You ignore your health and then get very sick. Similarly, if you are not meditating when you have a guru, then it becomes too late.”
Q: The Masters say we should live in the present. What happens if we don’t? How does it affect us?
“We weaken our willpower. That is why the Masters were always in the moment and not worried about the future. That is why they are so much at peace. They may plan for the future, but they are not anxious about it.”
Kamlesh bhai conducted a question and answer session after satsang. He said:
“Meditation is the mother of constant remembrance.”
“Opening means surrendering. Surrendering to what? To your own heart.”
The day thus ended. The Ongole Ashram shines with serenity and silence.
Sunday, 5th of April 2015, Ongole
Little One with a Large Heart
During the day, Kamlesh bhai conducted three satsangs at 7.30 a.m., 11.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. The whole ashram was immersed in silence.
He met around sixty children after meditation, and taught them the relaxation technique. The kids were completely relaxed and lost within two minutes of the session. They were happy to learn how to teach their parents to relax!
After dinner at around 8.30 p.m., Kamlesh bhai went out and sat with a large group of abhyasis. There was an informal discussion on prayer and cleaning.
Later in the evening, when he was about to retire for the day, two children of six to seven years of age walked into his room. They had missed the ‘chocolate session’ and went away after happily collecting their chocolates. Within a few minutes one of the little ones came back to him. Her eyes were shining with a smile on her face, and behind her were two older kids. She had brought them for chocolates. When she was told that the chocolates were over, she offered her chocolate back to Kamlesh bhai so that these two children could get the same from him. It was a touching moment, with a big lesson on giving that was always emphasised by our beloved Master Chariji. Kamlesh bhai was very happy with the little one, and a conversation followed.
He said, “I shall make you a preceptor. Do you know how to give sittings?” The girl shook her head and said, “No.” Kamlesh bhai said, “It is easy. Close your eyes and say, ‘Please start meditation.’ After sometime, say, ‘That’s all.’”
The little one smiled. Somebody mentioned that this girl was used to saying, “That’s all,” to her father to close his morning meditation at 6.30 a.m. every day. Many eyes were moist with joy. The future generation is already deeply connected.
Monday, 6th of April 2015, Kolakalur
Altruism
Kamlesh bhai left Ongole by 7.15 a.m. On the village roads, a dog was leading a pack of sheep very systematically. The car had to slow down and stop. Kamlesh bhai observed and said, “The dog barks when the wolf arrives and with this act of barking it saves the flock of sheep. Isn’t this an act of altruism? Altruism is a selfless act for the good of others.”
He stopped at a small village on the way to Kolakalur and addressed a public gathering, explaining in a simple way the need for meditation. A Member of the Legislative Assembly, who was responsible for Yoga initiatives, also attended the gathering, and he discussed with Kamlesh bhai about spreading the spiritual message to the Legislative Assembly members and to people in his constituency. He was introduced to the system.
Kamlesh bhai then continued on his journey and conducted satsang at Chilakalurpeta, where we have sixteen acres of ashram land. He spoke to the local team and advised them to plant a number of trees. Later he met the headmistress of an educational institute and demonstrated the relaxation method. Then he left for Kolakalur.
By noon Kamlesh bhai reached Kolakalur Ashram. This ashram is vast and spreads over eighteen acres of land. It is filled with greenery and is naturally serene. He conducted satsang and the signature atmosphere of the coastal gatherings continued.
While resting in the afternoon, he said that the Hierarchy is following this tour and that they are doing special work on the entire world. Spiritual openness is a necessity for humanity for its own good and survival.
Around 5.00 p.m. he sat with a group of abhyasis and functionaries and discussed the need for flexibility to facilitate more and more aspirants to meditate. The discussion was centred on arranging satsangs at multiple places in the cities, so that many can attend comfortably.
At 6.00 p.m. Kamlesh bhai conducted satsang in the main hall and gave a talk. The talk covered some fundamental aspects of Sahaj Marg – samskaras and transmission. The audience were deeply engaged in this session. Later, many commented that the talk was directly meant for them. Kamlesh bhai gave many hints on how the method of cleaning can free us from impressions. He pointed out that an argumentative interaction with loved ones is one of the main sources of impressions. When one realises that the situation is turning into an argument, it is better to back off and resolve such matters in a quiet and calm condition. He further said, “As actions create impressions, so inaction also creates impressions. One example is that of constantly brooding over something. Sometimes it happens in old age that one constantly broods over the inability to perform certain tasks, like a lady brooding over how well she used to dance, and now she cannot dance anymore. Such a brooding nature becomes a fertile ground for the proliferation of samkaras.”
He mentioned that the Bhagavad Gita says, “Do your karma without attaching yourself to the results.” In Sahaj Marg, the very idea of ‘doing’ is also given up by remaining in constant remembrance of the Master.
“Meditation increases the inner glow and enriches the soul.”
Later in the evening, he went for a walk around the ashram and visited a home upon the request of a small boy. This unexpected visit created an air of joy in that family.
The day ended with Kamlesh bhai sharing his insight: “What happens when one is completely free from desires? Such hearts will be filled with gratitude.”
Tuesday, 7th of April 2015, Guntur
At Kolakalur, Kamlesh bhai’s day started with the preparation of a preceptor. Then the local team requested him to plant a mango tree in ashram premise. He inspected the meditation hall and decided to conduct satsang, which went on for around thirty-five minutes. Then he left Kolakalur for Guntur.
The Masters have always worked for the welfare of one and all. Do they expect anything from us? Perhaps, resonating hearts.
Master Chariji used to say often that, like oil is needed for a lamp, the Masters need the love of the abhyasis to do their work: love in the heart that is silently felt in another heart.
Many times very elderly sisters or brothers, abhyasis from Babuji’s times, tried to touch the feet of the Kamlesh bhai. Kamlesh bhai would stop them and hug them, sometimes pleading with them not to touch his feet.
He conducted satsang at the Guntur Ashram and met all the children. One of the children came rushing and touched his feet. He laughed and said, “Are you collecting dust?” In another incident like this, he asked, “Why do you touch feet?” The child said, “Give me your blessings.” He said, “Okay. How will you take it? Think about it.”
Reverence must be in the heart. Is it necessary to externalise it?
After this brief visit to Guntur, Kamlesh bhai left by road for Vijayawada.
