Now is what matters

Yesterday evening I criticized a worker, even though other workers were also present. Afterward I regretted my behavior. While falling asleep, I pleaded to Baba to free me from this sort of nasty psychological tendency.

Toward morning, I had a dream:

A Margi sister committed an error. In front of others, I chided her repeatedly for her mistake. Eventually I lifted a stick, and, while still reproaching her, softly beat her on the head. She was thoroughly embarrassed.

From behind a curtain I heard Baba’s voice calling to her to come immediately. She left me and walked over to Baba. I felt very bad about what I had done.

After a few minutes she returned. I asked her, “What did Baba say to you?”

“He was angry with me,” she said, “because I silently tolerated your public criticism of me.”

Before I could ask her anything more, Baba again called her out of the room. And I woke up.

I had a long dream about Baba, but the beginning of it remains clearest:

I was in a room with other workers. Baba appeared at the door and entered. I wanted to prostrate before Him. but as no one else did so, I refrained. A few moments passed as He walked through the room.

I am late in offering sastaung pranam (prostration), I thought. M aybe it’s no longer proper to do…. But devotion knows no time. Then and there I performed prostration.

Baba gave me a beautiful smile, which made me think— The delay had no importance for H im. Rather it was spiritually perfect.

After undue hesitation, why should we hesitate even more?

Spirituality for all

Regular classes started for thirty mentally handicapped women. 87 They suffer from Downs syndrome and autism. We are teaching them yoga postures, kiirtan. and a little meditation. Though some people have expressed doubt that such people could respond to yoga, many of the women were clearly interested during the class.

87 As it turned out, almost all of them became positively enthusiastic. In general, mentally disadvantaged people love guided gentle movement which does not require too much coordination. At the same time, the hormonal balance of their glands improves, making them physically and mentally calmer. Some of them even enjoy the deep silence of meditation. Permanent results of course take time to achieve.

Four months later. As it turned out, almost all of them became positively enthusiastic. In general, mentally disadvantaged people love guided gentle movement which does not require too much coordination. At the same time, the hormonal balance of their glands improves, making them physically and mentally calmer. Some of them even enjoy the deep silence of meditation. Permanent results of course take time to achieve.

Good inspires, bad strengthens

Calcutta. I was standing in the middle of the main downstairs room of Baba’s house in Lake Gardens, surrounded by scores of workers and Margis, when one of my higher authorities. Dada M, walked in. Baba had been angry with him for not arranging a series of lectures for the Margis. Since Dada considered this my duty, now he was angry with me. This was a surprise for me. He shouted at me in such a voice that all the others in the room stopped their conversations, and turned to look at me. I saw no value in arguing, so without reacting or becoming nervous, I simply replied again and again, “Yes, Dada… Yes, Dada

After a minute or two, he ran out of steam, and left in a huff.

Immediately two Central workers approached me, and one said, “Dharmavedananda, I didn’t know that you were such a seasoned worker.”

“What do you mean, Dada?” I said.

“M yelled at you in such a way that it would have embarrassed even an elephant. But you took it as cool as a cucumber.”

I smiled. “Well. The credit doesn’t go to me. It belongs to another higher authority I had for one and a half years. He constantly berated me and hounded me to the point that my nervous system can now stand just about anything.”

We laughed together, and I added. “It’s the beauty of Tantra, you know, that we can benefit from every situation. The good moments inspire us, and the so-called bad moments strengthen us.”

Soup kitchen started for homeless people in the Shinjuku area. Today we served 50 people, almost all of them men. During the program we were approached by two Christians who told us they had the responsibility to check if any of these people require medical attention. They requested us to inform them whenever we encounter such cases, because they are only able to check every two or three months, and it often happens that people suffer immensely or die in between these visits. Though the government allocates a reasonable amount of money to help disadvantaged people like the physically and mentally handicapped, the homeless people are neglected. They are considered an embarrassment, and both the public and the authorities tend to ignore them.

Most people are surprised to hear that there are a few thousand homeless people in Japan. Almost everyone believes that the homeless are irresponsible, lazy alcoholics. Even some of the Margis think so. But the truth is far different. Most, or perhaps all of them had great suffering when they lived within the normal society. They were rejected or abused, and then in most cases became sick. We found them on the whole to be gentle and polite. Though drinking is common, few of them are alcoholics. It is presently beyond our capacity to establish a permanent center for the homeless, but at least we must find out their direst needs, and not allow them to suffer unduly. 88

88 Over the years that followed, our volunteers probably did save the lives of at least a few very ill people who we took to the hospital.