Baba beamed, gesturing, "Now you have come
to your senses! Sit down."
The same thing happened with Pukar.
One day Baba
asked him, "How do I look?"
Pukar replied frankly, "You look somewhat
old today."
"What?" exclaimed Baba, "Pack your
things and immediately leave for Hamirpur!"
Pukar hastily reconsidered, "You look young,
Baba!"
"That's better. Remember this, I never
grow old. I am eternally young."
Daily, Baba would make Zal repeat this verse (in
Gujarati) in his presence, which Zal did with all appropriate
acting:
Nanak says: "Listen, Bharthari, it is good
to act as directed. If not, then you will be beaten with a pumpkin,
and we will not give a damn about you. "1
One day a distinguished looking man came to
garland and bow down to Baba. He said, "I have read God
Speaks so many times that I have it on the tip of my fingers. Now
please instruct me how to realize the Truth."
Baba said:
That which is meant for the mind, mind grasps
through the intellect. To know what is beyond mind, destruction of the
mind is required. You want to know that which is beyond mind through the
medium of the mind! That is impossible. So it is far better for you to
love God.
I am free eternally, still, within you, I am
bound. What is required is experience. Only then will thoughts, doubts,
questions vanish forever. A man may have read and studied God
Speaks , but if he claims he is God, it is hypocrisy!
For example, you are a man. Is it necessary for
you to tell others that you are a man? No. But if you are [living] among
donkeys, you would vehemently declare that you are a man. In the same
way, I am God, but I have not to speak of it, because it is quite
natural. Yet sometimes, I have to declare it.
How can you experience the Infinite? You can
try to imagine it, but you can have no real idea of it. No sooner the I goes, the veil is torn and the Infinite is realized. What is
the veil between you and God? It is only your ego! Annihilate it and
let God take its place.
Footnotes
- 1.Kahta Nanak soono Bharthari, kahna maana accha hai Nahi man-e-tau kaddu maari, ham-e garaj kya parvah hai! Raja Bharthari is the hero of many North Indian folktales and is sometimes referred to as Sant Bharthari.