Are We Available?

A Master once said – “Guru does not judge our ability or inability but wants our availability”  We should be ‘available’ to the Guru.  The dullest student, if ‘available’ gets transformed completely.  On the other hand, even the brightest student, when not ‘available’ can remain ignorant of the Truth.   The Guru-Stotram says – Vedanta-ambuja-suryo yah tasmai sri gurave namah.  Salutations to the Guru who is like the Sun to the Lotus flower.   In the mere presence of the Sun, the lotus blooms.  In the presence of the Master we bloom through the knowledge of Vedanta.   Poojya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda was such a master.  Those who were ‘available’ experienced that Poojya Gurudev taught in innumerable ways, not just in a lecture or a formal class.  Through a penetrating glance, a smile, a sigh, a pat or a hug or even calculated indifference or deep silence or dynamic activities of a project or through a letter etc. Poojya Gurudev would convey the Vedantic teachings. 

Once Poojya Gurudev in his late 70s was walking down the temple stairs and one step was very steep.  A youth near-by offered a helping hand. Poojya Gurudev lifted his hand to hold the hand of the youth, but then let it go and climbed down the staircase on his own  Finally when Poojya Gurudev reached the ground, Poojya Gurudev sighed and looked at the youth and said – “Do not depend on anyone.  Walk Alone.” 

Every Breath is a teaching because the Master abides in Truth.  We must be available for learning. 

What does it mean to be ‘available’?  Is it just being physically present near the Master?  Once someone asked Poojya Gurudev, ‘Swamiji! There are some devotees who have been with you for so many years, yet why don’t they seem to undergo any transformation?”  Pat came the reply – “This walking stick has been with me for the past 30 years.”  

No doubt, the physical presence of the Master is a great opportunity.  By being close to the Master one is available for service.  Through this one can tune-up by observing the Master and the way the Master ‘lives’ and acts, centred in Truth.  Such opportunities are indeed rare and one must be blessed to have them.  Not everyone gets such an opportunity.  Even if one gets it may not be for a long time.  So how should one make oneself ‘available’ for the Master?  A beautiful verse from the Guru Gita says -

Dyana-mulam Guror-murtih   Puja-mulam Guroh padam

Mantra-mulam Guror-vakyam  moksha-mulam Guroh kripa

Availability through Actions: (Puja Mulam Guroh padam)

1. We can become available by performing our duties with a selfless attitude.  Poojya Gurudev said – “Work is love made visible.  To bring into vivid expression you love of others is work; to drag yourself through each day’s schedule, morose, unhappy, and miserable is labor.”  To ignore our duties or drag through them and then to try and do some social service is not very effective. 
   Let us introspect- “Am I doing work or labor?”   By shifting our attitude we become available. 

2. Apart from our duties, we must also dedicate our time, effort and resources by associating with the projects and activities undertaken by the Mission/organization established by the Master.  Why should one do so? 
1. A project serves as a beautiful opportunity to work selflessly where we can learn to rise above – ‘i, me and mine’,  ‘what’s in it for me?’,  ‘what will I gain?’ etc. and experience the joy of selfless service. 
2. We can truly understand the depth of the Master’s Vision.  The Master’s vision is very high and associating ourselves with it we lift ourselves to greater and greater heights.  Our hidden potentials are invoked. 
3. It’s a beautiful opportunity to give up our likes and dislikes and work together as a team.  The dynamics of togetherness and power of unity is experienced. 
4. We can experience the Power of Guru’s Grace and we become truly humble when we act out of Surrender and devotion.  During the project, many obstacles will come on the way and we may even feel like quitting or we may despair that the project will not materialize, its too tough etc. 
   Inspite of all odds when we hold on and are persistent in our efforts we find that Guru’s Grace makes the Impossible also possible.  This gives us the faith – “I am not Alone. He is with Me.”  This faith is our true security and strength.   Thus, to be empty instruments in His Hands is to be ‘available’.

Poojya Gurudev established the Chinmaya Mission so that we can serve selflessly and evolve.  We need the Chinmaya Mission.  The Mission does not depend on us.   The Master works through innumerable people to fulfil the Vision.  The Mission will go on inspite of us.  Hence it is our need.  So let us think – How can I dedicate myself to the Mission?  Every week/month how much time can I dedicate?  Which project/activity inspires me?  Let us not wait for someone to invite us or inform us.  Its our need. So let us take initiative and dedicate ourselves.   Thus through work and dedicated activity we become ‘available’

Mental - Availability:(Dhyana Mulam Gurur Murtihi)

1.     The relationship with the Guru is an absolute relationship.  Its not relative relationship because the Guru loves us not ‘because of’ but ‘inspite of’.   To be available is to go to the Guru as we are and open up our heart to him/her.  We need not feel – ‘I am inadequate. I have so many weaknesses.  I don’t deserve His love’ etc.  The Guru is an Ocean of Infinite & Causeless-Compassion.  Everyone wants us to change, but the Guru accepts us as we are.  The Guru alone loves us unconditionally.  It is this Love that transforms, not mere words or lectures. 

There was a rich man in a town. He was very notorious and known to have many vices and wrong doings in business.  Once Poojya Gurudev was having a yagna in the town and he came to the yagna and started attending it regularly.  He was inspired and wanted to meet Poojya Gurudev.  After the meeting, Poojya Gurudev said – ‘He will light the lamp at my next yagna.’  other mission members said – “He is not fit.  Associated with him, Poojya Gurudev you will get bad name.”  Poojya Gurudev insited that he will light the lamp.  On the Inaugural day of the yagna, after lighting the lamp the man was in tears and he read a letter that Poojya Gurudev had written to him 6 months before the yagna.  Poojya Gurudev wrote – ‘Go to the Krishna temple every morning. Do 2 malas of japa and keep away from all vices.  You will be ready by the time the yagna comes and you will be fit to inaugurate the yagna.  I trust you.’  Nobody trusted him.  He was lonely.  The Master’s compassion and love transformed him. 

Once a brahmachari undergoing the Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya was feeling very sad at the impurities and the tricks that the mind plays.  The vulgar thoughts, base emotions, helpless attachment to senses etc. was troubling him and he was extremely guilty and depressed.  He described the situation and wrote to Poojya Gurudev that ‘I am losing confidence in myself.  I cannot continue the course.’   Poojya Gurudev wrote back on the same letter – “the more your lose yourself, the more I gain on you.”   Poojya Gurudev turned around the entire situation and gave him a new vision and encouragement.  When Poojya Gurudev came to Mumbai, the Brahmachari was hesitant to meet Poojya Gurudev since he was feeling ashamed – ‘what Poojya Gurudev must be thinking of me?’  and so he was delaying meeting Poojya Gurudev.  He stood last in the queue and when he prostrated, Poojya Gurudev said – “Why did you come so late? I was waiting for you.  Why are you afraid of the Swami.”  So saying Poojya Gurudev embraced him lovingly. 

2.     Sri Adi Shankaracharya writes in one of his Upanishad bhashyas, ‘The love of parents is the purest in human love.  But Guru’s love is much more than the love of thousands of parents of our countless past lives put together.” 
Are we available to receive this pure love? 

3.     We must meditate upon the form of the Guru. ‘Dyana-mulam guror murtih’
Whatever we love, we think continuously about it.  When we truly love the Guru, the mind is absorbed in thinking about the Guru and it is filled with love for the Guru.  This love dissolves all inadequacies & insecurities. 
Do we have Poojya Gurudev’s picture at our altar of worship?  Do we meditate on His Form?  Do we take His name?  Do we feel our relationship with Him?   

4.     Love of the Guru helps us to overcome our attachments and aversions (Raaga & Dvesha) and we depend only on the Guru and no one else. 
Thus let us be available to Him by opening our heart to Him and Loving him with all our heart.

Intellectual Availability (Mantra Mulam Guror Vakyam)

1. We must go to the teacher with a burning desire to know the Absolute Truth.  We must be willing to pay any price to know the Truth.  Whatever it requires to know the Truth must be done.  With such intensity when we go, we are available. 
2. When the Knowledge is given by the Guru we must listen attentively.  Without preconceived notions, judgements etc. we listen openly.  Logically we reflect upon the Truths and when found true and convincing we accept them and drop the old beliefs.  We must not resist, justify or argue and delay the process. 
   
3. There are many who can get caught up either in justifications or in intellectual arguments, technical analysis etc. and miss the ‘Vision’ of the Master.  Poojya Gurudev used to say – there are many who have memorized Shankara-bhashya and can quote Shankara more eloquently and precisely than Shankara himself.  But how many have really understood the Vision of Shankara?  Few.’
   When someone asked Poojya Gurudev – “How does it feel like to be at the top?”  Poojya Gurudev said – ‘At the top, you are always alone.’  When Poojya Gurudev was there, few people understood his vision.  It takes time for us to even grasp the vision thoroughly. 
4. Having reflected, we contemplate.  We must be constantly alert, not to slip back into the old ways of thinking and acting.   Having got even a glimpse of the Vision, we must be alert to live it.  Poojya Gurudev said – “Alertness is the price one pays for Freedom.  Alert and vigilant living is a sadhana in itself.”
5. Do I have the burning desire to know the Truth?  Have I understood what is Poojya Gurudev’s Vision?  Am I striving to live-up to the Vision? 
   Thus let us be available by being open and alert intellectually to grasp the Vision.

In this way when we are ‘completely available’ the Guru is able to invoke the Divinity within.  Thus by being available to the Guru, the Self is available to us(Moksha Mulam Guror Kripa).

Poojya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji's Birth Centenary Year(2015-16) is approaching.  Let us be 'available' and express our Gratitude to HIM.