In dedication to Most Revered Srimat Swami Atmastanandaji Maharaj
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| Gurudev- Pic Google images |
The blaring horn does little to
interrupt the rackety din of the tuk-tuks as they jerkily manoeuver through the
narrow lanes and gullies of the village side. It’s 6.30am but it’s
difficult to distinguish noon from night -aside from daylight
breaking through the seam of dawn- because the mercury fails to dip below the
38 degree meniscus. The absence of the monsoons is quite evident by the
unsettled air teeming with coarse sand particles rising off the unpaved
roadways.
Behind the low-roofed thatched homes
filed neatly along an eye line… lies many busy courtyards contributing towards
the thriving incense home industry. The finest ingredients collected from the
length and breadth of the vast woodlands of tribal India are skilfully and
efficiently turned into divinely beautiful incense sticks neatly packed into an
array of differently decorated boxes waiting to praise a deity in some altar or
to just infuse an environment with a lively aromatic scent.
A few hundred miles away in a crowded
metropolis pulsing with brisk trade, can be found sophisticated sheened shop
fronts, elegantly packed shelves of incense being demonstrated and shown off by
eager and perfervid salesman striving to make targets. Standing before such an
assortment is indeed a muddled and jumbled experience with the banal use of
adjectives failing to accentuate the veracity of the product.
It is only when the overzealous
salesman one-by-one exposes your olfactory system to the variety you come
across that one scent that gives you confidence, releases your anxiety and
gives you an overall sense of wellbeing... hatching sanguine, sublime, sterling
thoughts and intentions within.
The great and eminent characteristic
of this ordinary looking incense stick is that the scent -although initially
only accessible when you are in contact with it- once ignited, the divine
fragrance after permeating the sacred altar and prayer room slowly starts to
infuse into the entire house and all its contents and eventually even the outer
surroundings of the house and road gets engulfed by the cosmic redolence. My
mind becomes divinely inspired not only in the prayer room but in the lounge,
bedroom, kitchen and even as I take my coat and walk to the car making my daily
journey to the office.
Today, it is with a deep and profound
sense of sadness that I think back eight years to one of my first blogs written
on my Gurudev: Most Revered Srimat Swami Atmastanandaji Maharaj - on the
occasion of the ensuing Guru Purnima celebrations. It was with ebullience,
euphoria and exuberance that I put pen to paper to describe to the world my
Revered Gurudev. Today, it is 10 days after Gurudev left the body… and
my pen flows with grief.
A highly venerated and respected senior
Monk of the Order, Most Revered Srimat Swami Atmastanandaji gave impeccable and
deific leadership to the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. To have the blessed
opportunity to take spiritual initiation (mantra diksha) from such a
saintly persona was indeed for me a great blessing. Maharaj’s
fatherly affection, love and compassion was unwavering and relentless amidst
His strained schedule and diary. I recall His letters and responses penned with
such endearment and detail even to the most trivial of enquiries. Maharaj’s
clarity of though and profound spiritual understanding was vividly reflected in
His sage and practical counsel.
Today, our world is in a better place
having being propped up by the teachings and legacy of a spiritual giant who
has practically and palpably reinforced the wisdom and message of Vedanta.
Having come under His spiritual guidance and tutelage… although feeling a tinge
of sadness due to the physical separation that has occurred between Maharaj and
us… I feel a sense of spiritual emancipation knowing that just nine days ago we
lived 8000km apart and today Gurudev permeates every atom of the
universe. The incense has become the essence.
Today, I feel closer and more
connected to Gurudev than ever before… feeling His presence in every action,
thought and object. Guru Purnima thus offers a very significant and profound
message this year. Respect, right action, words and thought are not applicable
in front of the Guru only but needs to become integrated with our character and
become a part of our being. The Guru is none other than God and is therefore
omnipresent… thus we must offer our discipline and service to the world and
creation as our Guru and teacher.
The sun never sets on spiritual
luminaries like Maharaj and even a few hundred years down the passage of time,
the melody of their voices will charm the hearts of millions and the indelible
man-making ideas planted in the fertile minds of a few will grow unrestrained
in to forests of pure consciousness that will engulf humanity and bring to life
Sri Ramakrishna’s ideal of harmony in the world.
I offer my eternal sastanga
pranaams to Gurudev and on this occasion of His Maha Samaadhi offer
my petals of love, affection and devotion on His all-pervading consciousness.
Yogan Naidoo
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