Long range words

The treatment that Baba gave to Keshava from Germany was peculiar.

After the General Secretary took Keshava through a typical set of questions & answers about 16 Points, Baba proceeded to speak to him in Sanskrit. Keshava didn’t mind; he understands very little English anyhow. Some of the Indian workers who could understand Sanskrit said that Baba was speaking about the law of action and reaction.

At the end of the session, Baba took Keshava’s head in His hands, and, rubbing it affectionately, said in English, “My poor boy … my poor boy

No one could understand the meaning of this, including Keshava.

Nevertheless, Keshava was so inspired he decided to go for acharya training.

American Brother G stood in front of Baba. After some personal talk, Baba said:

“Your mind is unnecessarily disturbed about the past. You made some mistakes of a sexual nature.”

G’s face suddenly became very red.

G looked up at Baba. He sighed deeply, smiled slightly and said, “Thank you, Baba.”

“No need of thanks,” Baba said. “I merely convey to you the unadulterated facts. You were unaware. Unaware.”

G approached me after the session, wanting to get something off his chest.

“I never told anyone, Dada,” he said, “but since you were present today, I want to tell you that… that before joining Ananda Marga, I had … improper sexual relations.”

He watched for my reaction.

Seeing none, he continued, “Even though I’ve been doing meditation for a number of years, it’s always bothered me; I’ve always felt guilty. But now Baba’s freed my mind.

When He said it wasn’t my fault, something let go inside me. I feel so light now; I wouldn’t be surprised if I started to fly!”

Another episode from dharma samiksha:

BABA: Throughout your life you have had one obsession, one greatest fear. What is it?

MARGI: Ah … (apparently confused and unable to reply)

BABA: In your previous life you were a priest of common status. His duty kept him fixed at one temple. He often thought, “How can the idol I worship be God? God cannot be limited to a statue. So how can I find God?” He studied and searched for the answer.

But one morning, before he could come to a clear understanding, a snake bit him as he was picking flowers to offer to the goddess. Lying in the grass, in great pain, he thought, “If there is a God He must save me. Or at least He must properly guide me in my next life.”

Thinking that, he died. That is why you are here today. And that is why you feared snakes so much that you even imagined snakes where they were not. But from today, that fear will no longer trouble you.

Now, my boy, are you satisfied?

MARGI (smiling): Yes, Baba. Very very much.

My Dharma Samiksha

I stood before Baba for my own dharma samiksha. Baba commented:

“He has some sincerity, but it was better before.” I was mystified by this statement.

While analyzing my physical condition. He said, “There is weakness in your Vishuddha Chakra. 73 "

73 The fifth chakra, located in the center of throat

The asanas He prescribed were almost completely different from what I had expected.

This was because I gave little importance a minor operation I had on my knees when I was 16 years old, and to some weakness in my waist—but it seems Baba considered these defects to be critical.

I’m not sure how long I had been sitting in His lap, when I suddenly became aware of someone pulling me off of Baba, saying:

“Come on, others are waiting, you know.”

I fell into prostration in front of Him, and then had a hard time struggling to stand up because my mind was almost out of touch with my body.

[Author’s note: Years later I add two comments in retrospect. First, I still cannot understand what He meant by my being “better before.” Did He mean my meditation, my dynamism, my devotion, my work, all these things, or something else? I don’t know. In any case the effect of His words is that I always feel like I do not express my full potentiality, no matter how much I try and no matter what I do. And yet I don’t feel any inferiority complex because Baba did not compare me with anyone else, only with my previous self. Thus His comment has never stopped pushing me. Second, though I had no recognizable trouble with my throat before my dharma samiksha, I have often had problems with it ever since. J

Filpino Dada A received dharma samiksha.

When Baba referred to A’s secret weakness, he became so agitated that he soiled himself.

All of the Dadas in the room saw a little bit of his diarrhea drip onto the floor. I suppose he had stomach trouble, and could not control himself.

Baba’s personal assistant, Dada Ramananda, said quietly in Bengali, “Baba, the boy soiled himself.”

But Baba seemed not to hear. He went on dealing with Dada A.

After a minute, the General Secretary said something similar to Baba.

Again Baba paid no attention. Some of us whispered between ourselves. But Baba continued, unruffled.

When at last He took Dada A upon His lap and lovingly hugged him to His breast, Ramanandaji spoke again in Bengali to Baba about the feces.

Baba lost His smile, and replied in Bengali, “What? Why didn’t you tell me before? Immediately clean up the floor! He must not stay here another moment! Nasty, nasty!”

Two Dadas pulled Dada A out of the room, though he didn’t care-not only because he hadn’t understood the Bengali, but also because Baba had finished the dharma samiksha, and blessed Dada A with His embrace.

Rather Dada A was so ecstatic, he must have been unaware of his own dirtiness.

We all laughed into our hands. I loved Him even more for pretending not to hear until the session was finished.