Day 35 Lesson – The Path of Liberation or Path of Fire
Good morning, everybody! I hope you’re doing very well.
Today, I was reflecting on my journey on this path, reflecting on the changes and transformation that have happened for me over the past years, and awareness that it has become more intense since living with Mohanji. In walking this Path of Liberation or the Path of Fire, there have been several significant changes in my life and transformation for the better with more clarity, focus, and purpose. What I enjoy the most now is a better resilience to life; many of the situations that usually would have affected me; don’t so much anymore. When I look back, it hasn’t exactly been a ‘feel good’ path at all; there’ve been many difficulties. Staying close to Mohanji is, as he says, ‘being closer to the fire’; there are more subtle issues starting to surface like – fears, insecurities; patterns becoming more noticeable; they’re all coming up.
I understand that these difficulties are actually part of the path because it’s looking at liberation from all these long-held patterns and habits. Added to that, we are experiencing our karma. I noticed this today because it also seems to be the same for many other people who connect to Mohanji. Once they’ve connected, they’ve been steady for some time; there are normally challenges or tribulations in life. Some people have serious troubles, but they connect, spend time, and he encourages them to keep walking and have faith. This is why he reiterates that this path needs determination.
As I was asking him about this, he said, “There should be the determination that you’re climbing Everest, that nothing else matters until you reach the summit. All the difficulties, the upsets, and the challenges are simply part of it. They have to be because we’ve collected so much over lifetimes.” But he said that once we reach the peak, we’ll know that we have achieved it. What is it?
It’s that perpetual contentment. “It’s not a sensation or an experience or simply enlightenment,” he says, “It’s a state where there’s extreme stability; life will have that clarity; there’ll be a purpose, and the contentment will give happiness, which is unshakable.” These are the intangible rewards essentially for that – determination, consistency, and conviction are needed, and I feel in a world where everything has been turned upside down; I personally can’t think of anything more valuable at this time than having that state and that awareness.
I was looking back at my experience here and recognizing that this path is also extremely pure since nothing has really been asked of me. It’s now been 18 months since I’ve been here and agreed to work by my own choice. I remember when I said to Mohanji that I wanted to leave my job. (I’ve been working for some time. Well, I’ve worked all my adult life. I had a good career.) But I now wanted to do something with more of a purpose; he asked me, ‘How would you survive without the work?’ I replied,” I have saved up some money, not to worry, I’ll be able to sustain myself.” So he asked me how much and I told him. He said to me, “Okay, that’s great. But your goal should be that you don’t touch that; those savings stay intact. You should aim to have the corporate program up and running so that you and other people can be financially stable.”
For me, this was another example and confirmation that with this path; there’s no need for anything from anyone really; it’s all just available for people if they like. There’s no insecurity, and it’s all available. Anyone who enters, having spent time with Mohanji and observed him when they connect to him, anyone that comes to him, is well looked after, regardless of who they are, what stature they have in the society. When I’ve listened to Mohanji’s conversations, he treats everybody alike. There’s no real transaction, you know, if I give you this, you give me that. It’s not like that; it’s really free, clear, and selfless. The only real criteria he mentions quite a lot are determination, conviction, and consistency. We gain stability, clarity, a sense of purpose, greater inner richness, and contentment.
I was thinking, “How do we know that? Especially being here in the middle of all the difficulties and challenges; it can sometimes be hard to see.” By looking at my life, that’s what I did today; I can see what’s transformed, what’s changed. Mohanji uses a great metaphor, like when we were children, and we were growing up, we only really knew that we were growing because one day the clothes didn’t fit anymore. Similarly, those old patterns and habits and fears don’t exist anymore.
Living here with Mohanji, being able to create really good friendships with some of the people who’ve had longer time connected to Mohanji, I’m aware that there are people who couldn’t continue on the path, they weren’t able to carry on. It’s usually because of expectations that there was going to be something attained, which eclipsed the overall purpose or perhaps some overwhelming inertia – meaning it wasn’t possible to move or cope with the pace. Sometimes maybe people have listened to the opinions of others, and then that swayed their own experience, and they didn’t continue anymore.
I understand that these are all possible traps for me and others as well; they’re useful to us as reminders. Keep them as a reminder so that we know that determination, conviction, and consistency are what’s needed.
So for me being here now, I’m aware that there are probably more challenges to come but along with it comes excitement; as Mohanji said, He’s always there. He’s walking with us. Each of us is walking our own individual path, but at the same time, we’re all together for a greater purpose.
Thank you for listening, and I hope you have a great day ahead.
Day 36 Lesson – Every day is an opportunity for Re-invention
Good morning, everybody. I hope you’re doing really well.
What I am learning from Mohanji (I can’t say “I have learnt” because it is always in progress) is that every day brings a new possibility for our own reinvention.
Yesterday, we had one of the final sessions of the Mohanji Bootcamp, which the Invest in Awareness team had organized; it’s been really great. Many people have shared experiences and comments that this is new content; they haven’t heard Mohanji speak about these topics in this way, and it’s given a new perspective. What we’ve done is we created a program that takes people to a deeper understanding of themselves so that they can clearly see what makes them up – their inclinations, their patterns, how they are. So that awareness can be increased, clarity can form, and transformation can come into people’s life. We have the tagline, which is Reinvent, Renew, Reborn, and as the program concludes on the 27th of December, it puts people on a good footing, ready and fresh for a new year.
On the 27th will be a live Q&A event with Mohanji, which you’re all welcome to join. It will be streamed live on the Invest in Awareness Facebook page. I was thinking about this because the core of the program is about reinvention, which is very applicable to the times that we’re in. In my time with Mohanji, it’s given me first-hand opportunity and experience to see that, no matter what situations we have in life (which we think we are, what we think we’re capable of), there’s always a possibility to reinvent ourselves, to do something new, to transform if we are open to it. Then we can cross those barriers that we make in our minds that say we’re either not capable, deserving, or not good enough. (All these things can come up.)
Many situations have occurred for me since spending time with Mohanji, and it’s been really a fast track of progress. In retrospect, I’ve had to learn many new skills, which I didn’t have before, or had no inclination that I would be doing them, such as audio editing for the podcasts. More recently, video shooting and editing, framing the composition, finding out how YouTube works, and other social media platforms. All these things, I had no real idea on how they worked or what I could do. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but at least I’m able to contribute something that’s bringing some value.
And by refining the activities which we’re doing in the office, we ensure that we’re sticking to this 24-hour turnaround policy. Speaking in public in front of the camera was also something I was very nervous about, and recording my voice on daily messages like this for people to hear.
Months ago, I would never have considered these possibilities. Mohanji has said that the tallest wall of life is our closed mind, and I feel this is worth contemplating.
The world is a very different place now, and I feel those who can flow with the change or ride with the change will see positive transformation in their lives, whereas resistance will bring the opposite.
The time spent with Mohanji has taught me that we can meet every day as an opportunity to reinvent ourselves for the better with the right attitude. It helps that he is close to kick my butt and remind me, but there is now momentum growing. I’m becoming less and less a hangover of the past.
Whilst I also have developed some practical skills, how to manage the technology and things like that, it’s also been an opportunity being here to really see who I am; to be able to handle more of the subtle traits of my character with things like impatience, or anger, or any of the other things in life, which we don’t quite consider, that lay dormant until the right situation comes and provokes something. It’s all contributing towards this reinvention. That’s what I feel. There are some good days and bad days; hence not always there is the full motivation. But what I have learned about reinventing is that things continue to move forward by creating discipline and momentum. If, for example, I can only take one step for one day, I take that one step. Or days when it’s possible to take ten steps, then take ten steps.
But generally, every day, the teaching that I’ve picked up from Mohanji is a possibility for something new. We can always be looking at things afresh, seeing what else we can do, looking at what other opportunities are there, what else is out in the world, and how we can do more. And this also brings a fresh perspective to my own life as well. There’s more acceptance: Okay, this is where I am, and I have these capabilities; what can I do? This helps with clarity; there’s not so much confusion. Thus every day can become an opportunity where we can try something, reinvent ourselves, do something. Sometimes hang-ups have come in the way for me here, though, as well, so I have had some insecurities pop up, or I didn’t think I was capable of doing something.
And generally, as Mohanji has said before, these are often hangovers of the past. Don’t be the hangover of yesterday is what he said, as these can restrict progress. To keep moving helps with that, having that momentum, taking one step if we can only take one step, and ten steps if we can only take ten.”
This was the lesson from Mohanji that I was reflecting on today (that’s also ingrained in that Bootcamp program), that our reinvention is always ready and waiting for us to take that step. A lot of people are joining the weekend event, the ‘reinvent yourself with Mohanji’ this weekend, where he’s creating a special process for them. So for all those that are taking part, I wish you great success and that it becomes a real milestone on your own journey.
Thank you for listening, and have a great day ahead.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 27th June 2021
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Mohanji often says, “Life is a journey that starts with two people bringing us into the world, and ends with four people carrying us out. And in between those two points, we meet various people and undergo various experiences that make this life complete.” This frail life journey between the two and four is peppered with encounters of relationships with various flavours – family, relatives, friends, colleagues, enemies, acquaintances, and many strangers. In my time with Mohanji, I have seen relationships with almost complete strangers metamorphose into an unusually close bond. Other than them being past life soul connections, it would be hard to explain this phenomena easily.
One such personality was Mr. T. R. Gopalakrishnan, a doyen of the shipping industry, who recently succumbed to his recent ailments and passed away on 23rd June 2021 in Chennai, India. Gopalakrishnan Appa was an amazing personality whom I had the privilege of knowing closely over the last few years, thanks to Mohanji. Through this blog, we would like to honour his memory and share insights on the deep connection between Appa and Mohanji that extended over several lifetimes.
Gopalakrishnan Appa and Mohanji – a deep bond
Gopalakrishnan Appa was a highly regarded figure in the world of shipping. He was the head of Southern Shipping Corporation, one of the leading Indian shipping companies in those times, and a much-sought advisor and consultant post retirement. A qualified lawyer and an expert in international maritime law, he served as an arbitrator for legal cases and was also venerated as a model of integrity. He travelled to teach on shipping related topics and was known to breathe life into an otherwise dull subject with intelligent use of humor, anecdotes, stories and experiences.
In 2000, Mohanji was working in the shipping industry in Dubai. One day, an ex-colleague requested Mohanji to arrange a vehicle for his boss (TRG) who was arriving from India. He was out of town and wanted to ensure that things were done right. Knowing him to be a very senior official, Mohanji offered to pick TRG up from the airport. From the airport, Mohanji took TRG to the hotel room and ensured he was comfortable. The next day, TRG had to attend some meetings. Instead of arranging a taxi, Mohanji decided to personally drive him to his meetings. Over those trips, Mohanji shared the story of his daughter Ammu’s death in a tragic accident a few months ago. TRG responded with the story of the unfortunate death of his son. In no time, a strong connection was built up between them.
After completing his business meetings, TRG told Mohanji that he wanted to buy gold jewellery. Mohanji took TRG to the people he knew at the gold souk (market) where TRG bought a big gold ring. When Mohanji dropped TRG back to the hotel room, TRG unexpectedly gifted the expensive ring he had just bought to Mohanji. When Mohanji asked why, he hugged Mohanji with great affection and told him “Even my son wouldn’t have done all that you have done for me. You ensured that I felt loved and not lonely. Please keep the ring as my memory.” Mohanji refused saying, “If I need a material object to remember you, I’m not worth it.” TRG persisted. Mohanji countered, “I will take the ring only if you allow me to gift the same ring to you as my memento to you.” When he heard this, TRG decided against it since he knew that this ring was too expensive for Mohanji to buy. This episode deeply impacted TRG.
On his return to India, he sought Mohanji’s parents’ address and travelled to the neighbouring state to visit them. He told them, “Do you know what kind of a son you have? He is not greedy, not trying to conquer the world, quite unlike the typical professional in Dubai. He needs nothing. He is the epitome of purity. He is not ordinary.”
Their strong bond continued thereon. TRG treated Mohanji like his own son and regularly kept tabs on Mohanji’s well-being and career. Being from the shipping industry, he would engage with Mohanji on this subject matter. Mohanji would visit TRG and his wife in Chennai regularly and stay with them. Mohanji remembers the memorable days they spent together. He took Mohanji to Tirupati, a revered temple town in South India, that is thronged by millions of devotees. Together, they did normal “family stuff” – joked around, watched Tamil movies (7G Rainbow Colony is one of the movies that I’ve heard they watched. They also watched a Malayalam movie called Rajamanikkam, which was directed by Mohanji’s friend Anwar Rashid), ate at restaurants, had late night ice-cream outings. One day, he commented that he had recognised Mohanji as his son from a previous lifetime. Mohanji acknowledged it and over the years, with love and reverence, fulfilled the role of a dutiful son.
My first meeting with Gopalakrishnan Appa… and thereafter
I first met Gopalakrishnan Appa on 24th November 2015 when I visited his home with Mohanji, Devi and Mila. We had just returned from Tiruvannamalai to Chennai and had a short window of time before a satsang later that evening. Mohanji insisted that we should visit Appa at any cost. Oblivious of their connection, I had accompanied Mohanji to Appa’s home. We were greeted with great warmth and love. Aunty (Appa’s wife) related stories and showed pictures from Mohanji’s visits from the earlier years. Also, pictures of Mila from when she was a small baby. I gathered that Mohanji hadn’t visited them often in recent years. However, he had obviously been in regular touch with them. Similarly, they were keenly tracking developments in his life as well as his work around the world. It was amazing to see Mila warming up to Appa and Aunty, totally at ease in their home. She demanded her favourite food and enjoyed their pampering. It seemed like a visit to one’s family.
Despite his deep affection for Mohanji, I noticed that Appa remained poker faced with a strict demeanour all the time, other than the occasional wise crack, often at Aunty’s expense. At that point, I didn’t know how Mohanji and Appa were connected, but when I learnt about it later, the dynamics during that whole visit made total sense! While leaving, Mohanji casually invited TRG to the evening satsang. Normally, TRG would never budge out of his home or his routine, but on that day, he agreed immediately! At the satsang, Mohanji requested TRG to speak a few words – his way of honouring Appa by giving him due respect. Appa spoke spontaneously and humorously about Vedic texts, their interpretation and relevance to us in human life.
I was responsible for coordinating Appa’s to and fro travel which allowed me to spend more time with him. When we returned to his house, he invited me to his library, stacked with ancient Indian scriptures. I learnt that Appa was an ardent student of the Hindu scripturesand a Sanskrit aficionado. Daily, he would spend time in his library, poring over a scriptural text, reading each word and phrase a few times and contemplating on the depth and true meaning of the verses. Averse to the ritualistic or mechanical scriptural reading, he liked to parse each word, split the syllables, think through various interpretations and truly understand the life lessons from the text. He was learning advanced Sanskrit from a teacher to help understand the scriptures better. Despite being in his 80s, his zest for learning was inspiring. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, especially in the form of Lord Guruvayurappan (a famous temple of Lord Krishna in Kerala) and would quote shlokas (scriptural verses) at will to buttress his points.
Our first day after satsang meeting cemented my bond with him. I connected with him almost instantly and I believe vice-versa possibly because I accompanied Mohanji. We stayed in regular touch, whenever possible, either on the phone or in person meetings during my visits to my parents in Chennai. This pattern continued for many years after.
The Mohanji Home for Seniors
In late 2019, we acquired a piece of land in Tiruvannamalai (a sacred temple town in Tamil Nadu) to build the “Mohanji Home for Seniors” – a safe home for abandoned elderly people in the town especially sadhus (wandering monks), where they could live with respect and love for the rest of their lives. Mohanji decided to inaugurate the project on 29th January 2020, on the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami and wished that a few elders close to him preside over the function, namely, his parents, Gopalakrishnan Appa and Snehajyothi Amma (an elderly lady in Tiruvannamalai who was deeply connected to Ramana Maharishi and very fond of Mohanji).
I was tasked with ensuring Appa’s presence at the function and arranging his travel there. When I informed Appa, he was thrilled to hear about the project and keen to support it. He also mentioned a deep yearning for many years to visit Tiruvannamalai. However, he was unwilling to step out of his home or undertake the journey to Tiruvannamalai. He cited various reasons – old age, his health, aunty’s health, the need for him to be there, and so on. I persisted as best as I could, but despite several phone calls, he literally stonewalled me! When I wasn’t making progress, I explained the situation to Mohanji.
Mohanji then shed light on his relationship with Appa. As Appa had revealed their connection an earlier lifetime, Mohanji shared more details that he had been a prince in waiting while Appa was the king. Despite being very fond of his son, Appa as the king could never express his deep affection or love, due to his royal position. It continued in this life as well where he would never display it visibly and keep his expression within bounds. Further, Mohanji revealed that the Mohanji Home for Seniors would be a place of nitya annadaan (daily feeding of people). By presiding over the inauguration, Appa would get the benefits of feeding people three times a day for the times to come, that would cleanse his lineage karma and substantially lighten his baggage. Mohanji was subtly fulfilling his duties as a son, thus completing his past bond with Appa.
Mohanji decided to call Appa directly. He gave Appa an ultimatum, “Either you agree to go to Tiruvannamalai or I will fly down to Chennai tomorrow to take you there with me.” It worked. Appa called me later and mentioned Mohanji’s conversation. While he was still not confident, he could not deny Mohanji’s intense wish! He said that he would travel with us and let Lord Srikrishna ensure his safety. We made the necessary arrangements for Appa’s travel and stay in Tiruvannamalai. Besides Appa and aunty, their close family friends also joined to spend 2 blissful days in Tiruvannamalai.
Over that trip, Appa understood the significance of the project and was deeply grateful for having been involved in it. Appa’s heart melted when he saw the homeless people who would be served by the project. He spoke beautifully at the inauguration and later told us that he now understood Mohanji’s insistence on his participation. He also visited the famous Arunachala temple and Ramana Maharishi’s samadhi as well as soaked in the energy of the powerhouse that is Tiruvannamalai, home to thousands of siddhas (perfected beings).
Appa, Acchan, Amma at the hotel room at Thiruvannamalai
Since then, he regularly stayed in touch with us to enquire about the project progress. By March 2020, our project plans were ready but the Covid-19 lockdown put them on hold. Appa however asked us to use the time to finish our planning. His corporate leadership skills came to the fore. He advised us to take advantage of firms hurting from the lockdown by negotiating with the vendors and buying materials early to save money. He also suggested to fix the project plan and timelines and assign a clear date for completion. He gave a few contacts for help with construction work in Tiruvannamalai and would enquire regularly about the progress. When work started in late 2020, we shared the project interim pictures and videos with Appa. He was thrilled and drew deep satisfaction that this project would soon house many helpless elders in Tiruvannamalai.
The last few months and the protective net of Mohanji Family
In early 2021, Appa’s health took a turn for the worse. When Mohanji found out, he gave one clear instruction, “Appa is family. Do everything that a son would do to take care of his father. No compromises. Do whatever it takes. Go to him like a son.” He also said to us “Do whatever you can, as if you are Mohanji”. I knew through conversations with Mohanji that Appa avoided favours and preferred to be independent. So I spoke to Kishore, our Mohanji family member from Chennai, who was the project lead for the Mohanji Home for Seniors, to discuss how we could help, and ensure that Appa saw it as support from family and not as a favour. Since Kishore had based himself in Tiruvannamalai to drive project progress, he couldn’t visit Appa personally at short notice. However, as it turned out, I happened to be in Chennai for a substantial part of Feb and March 2021 to attend to my father’s health.
When I heard about his failing health, I immediately visited Appa and Aunty without any prior warning. They were excited to see me and invited me for lunch. Aunty even commented “Madhu, we are so happy that you came. You have come here like a son.” I could feel that they were yearning for company and support. Appa was visibly weak, having just returned from the hospital a week before. After lunch, I conversed with Appa – the only topic being the Mohanji Home for Seniors project and its completion date. He expressed a desire to visit the project site to see how the building looked. I told him that we would arrange for it when his health improves.
Over the conversation, I could see that he was brightening up and somehow drawing energy from our discussions. When I entered, he was barely able to walk, even with the support of a walking stick. A couple of hours later, he walked confidently to see me out to the door and said “I am much better, don’t worry.” I also gifted him a copy of Mohanji’s latest book “Mast” and he promised to read it soon.
When I updated Mohanji about my visit, he ominously said that Appa may not have much time left, so we should take good care of him. As per Mohanji’s instructions, we connected Appa to Dr Harpreet Wasir, a renowned cardiac surgeon in Delhi and our close Mohanji family member, to discuss and advise Appa on his health. They spoke regularly and his health began to stabilise slightly.
A few weeks later, I went to visit Appa when I went to Chennai again. This time around, he was much better, evident from his presence in the library. I enquired about his health and he pointed to a picture of Lord Guruvayurappan and said it was all ordained as per His will. He said that he was almost feeling normal again, except when he didn’t drink enough water. I told him that he should drink water every 30-45 minutes. He then went on to explain his process of study. He said that he did not “read” the verses but analysed them in detail by consulting a Sanskrit grammar reference book, made notes to confirm his understanding before continuing. He said that he often went so deep into the book that he completely forget himself. So how could he remember to drink water? While happy to hear about his return to his normal mode, I still insisted that he should prioritise his health.
We started talking again about the Mohanji Home for Seniors. He went on to add, “I have known Mohan for 21 years. But never once have we ever discussed Tiruvannamalai. And then, I got connected to this project. You see, nothing happens without Lord Krishna’s will.” He again expressed a wish to see the completed building, and we agreed to arrange his travel when his health improves.
In late May, Kishore updated that Appa had been hospitalised again and his health had deteriorated. I spoke to Appa on the phone but was barely able to hear him due to his weak state. A few days later, Mohanji also spoke to Appa on the phone. Appa told Mohanji that he would like to spend some peaceful time in Tiruvannamalai and was also keen to meet Mohanji. He enquired about Mohanji’s return to India (from Europe) as he felt that his time was near. Mohanji again told us to do whatever possible from our side and said, “I want him to be happy. I want him to feel that we are all with him. That we care. That extreme love should be felt. Companionship”.
Since arranging travel looked bleak due to his health as well as the fresh lockdown in Tamil Nadu, Mohanji told us to arrange a big sized picture of Appa and get it blessed from him, so that the picture could be placed at the reception of the Mohanji Home for Seniors, as a mark of respect and belonging. Further, given that Mohanji was unlikely to return to India soon, Mohanji also asked to arrange a video call with Appa to fulfil Appa’s desire to meet Mohanji. This was arranged the very next day through Srinivas G, our Mohanji family member who visited Appa’s home to check on him. Later that evening, I spoke to Appa and Aunty and spent nearly 45 minutes on the phone with them. They were overjoyed that they could speak to Mohanji. Appa again spoke less about his health and more about the project. It was evident that the Mohanji Home for Seniors project was really the anchor that was giving him purpose. He told me, “When I get better, I really want to prostrate before you, Kishore and the others who are doing such noble work.” I responded that we would prostrate at his feet and would take him to see the project. But even as I said it, I knew that it may not really be possible. It felt like he had no real interest in living and was holding on just to see the site. I discussed with Kishore to share videos with Appa regularly so that he could feel the place and visually see things developing day by day.
The same day, Mohanji also gave us instructions to take Sai Babu udi (sacred ash), holy water from Ganga and Mansarovar to Appa and give to him regularly. From previous experiences, I knew that Mohanji’s instructions to act quickly, especially in cases of elderly people like Appa must be taken seriously. A wasted day could be a lost opportunity for life. Hence, we acted with urgency and the request was immediately executed through Usha LN, our Mohanji family member in Chennai. Though she had very little Gangajal and Mansarovar jal, she happily parted with it saying, “I can get this later. Let Appa have it now. He needs it more.” While executing Mohanji’s instructions, we once again experienced the true power of a united Mohanji family – people coordinating over the phone in various cities, local people going out of their way to share time or materials without question – working on the basis of the common understanding of the noble intent and compassion behind the purpose.
The only pending thing was to get the photo blessed from Appa. We had two challenges with this – Appa and Aunty had no good usable pictures, and no shops were open during the strict lockdown to get the framing done. We used photos from our archives which we digitally edited to make them suitable. Kishore mustered all his resources to print and frame the picture in an elegant manner within a week. By now, Appa was in the hospital and unable to speak much. But he saw the picture frame taken in by the nurse and blessed it with his eyes. He liked the photo a lot and asked for two copies for his family members too.
When we updated Mohanji, he again reiterated that Appa did not have much time left and asked us to do whatever we could to support him. We stayed in touch with his caregiver at the hospital offering support at every point. We also ensured that Appa was given the gangajal and mansarovar jal with full awareness, so he could appreciate it. Being an extremely spiritual and evolved person, he would have truly understood the significance of those steps.
A couple of days later, Kishore informed that Appa was in pain as a surgical procedure did not work out as planned. He informed that Mohanji had asked our Mai Tri practitioners to offer sessions for Appa to help his situation. As our Maitri practitioners did their sessions, it revealed more dimensions of how Mohanji was fulfilling his responsibilities. Subhasree Thottungal (from the UK) wrote about what she saw during the Mai tri session (Click here to read Subhasree’s blog) – the key message being the cleansing of lineage karma and lightening Appa’s burden as he approached the end of this life.
Mohanji also gave guided us to organise poojas and ceremonies at various temples. With Mohanji’s grace, we had arranged for poojas at various powerful temples – Lord Narasimha at Ahobilam, Sai Baba at Shirdi, Lord Murugan and Sage Bhoganathar at Palani, Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu, Datta peethams at Gangapur, Pithapuram, Vallabhapuram, Banke Bihaari at Vrindavan amongst others.
On the morning of 23rd June, 2021, we finally got word that Appa was no more. Our job was not yet done. Mohanji gave further instructions to conduct annadaan in Appa’s name over the next thirteen days of the customary rituals. Annadaan for various beings has been organized – fish, birds, animals as well as people at Haridwar and Tiruvannamalai.
Conclusion
A palpable sense of sadness remains after Appa’s passing. I genuinely enjoyed his company and felt it to be mutual. I remembered feeling similarly on the passing away of Vasudevan Swami (of Ganeshpuri) and Baba Ganeshananda Giri Maharaj. One less stalwart to rely on. I will miss his company, wise cracks and erudition. However, I have absolutely no regrets or guilt, for we left no stone unturned to help and support Appa and aid his onward journey, with the clear and compassionate guidance from Mohanji. In that sense, the sentiment of fulfilment and satisfaction overrides.
As I reflect back on this whole journey and the Mohanji factor in it, the key thing that has really struck me was that there are no half-measures when Mohanji takes responsibility. Everything is done to the fullest extent possible. He truly means it when he says that he treats people like his own family. Irrespective of his own schedule, there are no compromises or short cuts in delivering on his commitments. He repeatedly told us, “Do what a son would do for his father. Do as if Mohanji is doing.” In that process, he also highlighted the value of the putra dharma (duty of a son/ child) that Mohanji values above all other duties to society and even sadhana (spiritual practices)
The second thing is about the value of acting immediately. At several points, Mohanji asked us to complete certain tasks. Following through on those instructions immediately has ensured that we fulfilled all the responsibilities a son could do for his father. A lax approach could have meant an opportunity lost forever. We often hear people crying over their lost ones feeling guilt over what they would have done. In Mohanji’s world, the only time that matters is now. When we do the best we can at each moment, we set ourselves up for completion which leads to contentment. I truly realized this with Gopalakrishnan Appa’s experience.
The third take away for me is the purity of connections that come through when Mohanji entrusts tasks. I can’t quite fathom how I connected with Appa, but in that process, as I have helped and served him, I have never felt anything to be a chore, always a sense of duty with the understanding that there may be other dimensions to this relationship beyond the plainly visible. Neither does Mohanji usually offer this information nor did I seek it. But I am sure there may have been debts that I perhaps owed Gopalakrishnan Appa from a past connection. With Mohanji, here are no accidents or coincidences!
A palpable sense of sadness remains after Appa’s passing. I genuinely enjoyed his company and felt it to be mutual. I remembered feeling similarly on the passing away of Vasudevan Swami (of Ganeshpuri) and Baba Ganeshananda Giri Maharaj. One less stalwart to rely on. I will miss his company, wise cracks and erudition. However, I have absolutely no regrets or guilt, for we left no stone unturned to help and support Appa and aid his onward journey, with the clear and compassionate guidance from Mohanji. In that sense, the sentiment of fulfilment and satisfaction overrides.
In the last 18 months of his life, Gopalakrishnan Appa’s main interest was the Mohanji Home for Seniors in Tiruvannamalai. His regal photo will grace the reception hall of the Home as reminder for times to come of his significant contribution in getting this project to life, driven by his abiding desire to see many people served and fed at the Home. Nothing could be more apt to honour his memory.
Fond farewell, Appa. Please shower your blessings on us to follow in your glorious footsteps of achievement, integrity, purpose, commitment and selfless service. May Mohanji and the other Mohanji (your favourite Lord Guruvayurappan – Mohan, the enchanter is one of Lord Krishna’s names) take good care of you in the beyond.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 25th June 2021
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.
We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.
On the 18th of June, I received a message from Kishore that Mohanji has asked to do Mai-Tri for Mr Gopalakrishnan, who was critically ill and undergoing unbearable pain while in the hospital.
I understood, if Mohanji has given direct instruction, it must be really important and urgent. Hence I did the Mai-Tri session immediately.
I didn’t know much about Mr Gopalakrishnan. However, Kishore mentioned that Mohanji respects and loves him a lot and calls him Appa (means Father in Tamil).
During the Mai-Tri session, I had the vision that truly amazed me; it blew my mind.
I saw all his forefathers in his heart centre, getting Mohanji’s golden light and then dissolving. The pain that Appa was experiencing was the collective pain of his forefathers, which had kept some of them still bound, not attaining complete release. Appa had come forward to take that pain, and with Mohanji’s grace, all of them were merging into light.
I understood that Mohanji allowed Appa to be an instrument for the liberation of his forefathers in his journey towards the eternal light. I had no doubt that Mohanji will take him to light whenever he exits, while in this process, each of his forefathers was also being released to light. One by one, each one!
After I completed the session, I said to myself, “How amazing is that!” Mohanji guided me during the session to continue his Mai-Tri, and I discussed with Kishore, and we listed out five different Mai-Tri Practitioners to do Mai-Tri every day for five days.
After the session, I shared this vision with Mohanji. Of course, Mohanji allowed me to witness this; he knows everything, but telling him was my expression of gratitude for this beautiful opportunity to witness another of his grand actions.
When I wrote to Mohanji and described my vision to him, he said, “Indeed.” As he had already guided during the session, verbally also, he advised continuing the healing for a few days.
Mohanji also wrote to me more about Appa, which really took me by surprise and then the vision became even clearer. So let me narrate Mohanji’s words here.
“He was my father in another life. He was a King, and I was the Prince in waiting in that life. I was quite disinterested in having to rule but had to take it on when he died. He loved me a lot but, being the King, was very reserved and couldn’t express his love for me.In this life, ever since he met me, he was showering me with love, and he is an evolved man. He knows about our past life together; I am completing a son’s responsibility in this life. He has no children. His only son died when he was a student.”
This explanation made it very clear why through this phase of Appa’s journey, Mohanji was actually allowing his entire lineage, ancestors to be released! Mohanji was performing his duty of a son!
After that, the daily healings continued.
Today, on 23rd June, exactly on the 5th day of healing, I received a message from Kishore, same time in the morning, that Appa has moved on to eternal lights. At that moment, I witnessed a glimpse of King Dashrath and Shree Ram! (The epitome of love between a father and son).
I saw Mohanji holding Appa’s hand and taking him to complete brightness!
In less than seven days, Appa had accomplished closure of more than seven lifetimes. Only through Mohanji’s grace!
As a mere Mai-Tri instrument, I witnessed this beautiful journey of final release and the eternal bond of a loving father and dutiful son.
May Appa, Mr Gopalakrishnan’s soul, rest in peace in the embrace of the pure and bright light. Thank you, Mohanji, for your grace and blessing to experience yet another amazing truth of life through the beautiful and powerful journey of Mai-Tri.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 25th June 2021
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.
We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.
During the time spent with Mohanji, a couple of important thoughts related to what we believe in popped up in my mind. Since I come from the Balkans, I know that Gurus are not easily accepted in our region. Here, I will not go into the importance of Gurus and why, but from my experience, no spiritual practice or ‘direct connection with God’ is enough to reach the highest human potential.
Through the years that I have been with Mohanji, I have met various people with different motives around him. A common problem with people is that they do not have enough courage to say that they love, respect or follow Mohanji. By doing this, no one loses but them. Especially Mohanji, he loses nothing. He was born with a purpose, and when that purpose is done, he will leave this Earth.
Between his physical birth and death, there is his life that exists for us. A Guru provides a long rope, but it is up to us to grab it and, with determination, climb to the top. We cannot expect the Guru to stand at the end of the rope and encourage us to walk. Maybe he will do that, and if he does, it is a blessing, but it can also happen that the Guru tells us exactly the opposite. We will certainly come across various tests.
A similar thing happened to me with Mohanji. Connecting with him was not easy at all. I was not particularly encouraged to approach him; he would often ask me, “What are you doing with me? I am an ordinary man with a beard. You are mistaken if you think I have powers.” I would laugh at every such word of his because I knew who he was.
I have already experienced him and watched him closely for years, and no one and nothing in this world can now change my opinion of him – not even himself. That is why now, after more than four years, I can experience true and significant transformations in my life because of him. But this did not happen overnight.
Unless we stay with the Guru experiencing the ‘mud’, we will never experience the ‘gold.’ Suppose we are easily shaken by external factors, our innate doubts and prejudices and our tendency to blame others. In that case, if we don’t bother to open our eyes to what is in front of us, we will never get anything from anyone, even the most powerful Guru that can exist.
The true signs of the path we are walking on are always very subtle, and the ‘denser’ levels of existence always distract us more. I liked how Mohanji explained this point while talking about the holy mountain Arunachala, in Tiruvannamalai, in India. Many people do not know how powerful Arunachala is and that it is not really just a mountain. It is a very powerful energy centre from which we can experience great benefits if we are open to it.
From the outside, it looks so ordinary. It is covered with stones and nature. If an ordinary person passes by it, he may never know its power. However, people who have reached a certain level of consciousness see Arunachala as a huge portal to the energetic (to us, invisible) world, where very powerful Masters live, who are not in their physical bodies.
The Arunachala Hill
They live energetically in the mountain’s interior, and many Masters and Saints have seen them inside, with their inner eye. They do not reveal themselves to people often, but they live for our good and often help humanity. Setting foot on this mountain is a blessing in itself, and it is said that there is not a single negative particle on it. They say that every person who steps on it has to be ‘approved’ by Masters from the mountain’s interior. So, not everyone gets the opportunity to set foot on this revered mountain if not allowed.
Although we know the power of this mountain, its external appearance is not at all interesting. Mohanji says, “They have set up all sorts of distractions around the mountain – selling food, drinks, offering entertainment, etc., so you can’t easily wonder at this mountain and discover its power.”
I would describe a true Guru in the same way. The subtle signs of who he is, our journey, and our destination are visible only to those who “have the eyes to see”. Not everyone will dare to look, and even fewer will stand by the Guru despite the sceptical world.
Because of certain past lives that I accidentally found out about, until recently, I often had the fear that someone would beat me up and kill me because I had a Guru. The first time I felt that fear, I failed to understand it fully. Over time, it became clear to me.
Months after I first felt this fear, I met Mohanji and said that I often see in my visions a mass of people approaching me to kill me. This fear arose mainly during my endeavours to write about my path.
At that time, I had a deadline to finish blogs in which I talked about my experiences with Jesus and Mohanji, and out of fear, I could not continue writing. I knew the blog needed to be published, but subconsciously, fear prevented me. Without my conscious control, it caused me fatigue, confusion,things that would stop me from finishing it.
I was sad because I wanted to finish that text for a long time. When I asked him, Mohanji confirmed that the fear came from a past life experience and that he will make sure to remove it so that I feel free. Over the next few months, the fear intensified and then disappeared.
Despite this fear, I never distanced myself from Mohanji, I never hid the truth that he is the source of oxygen in my life, and I never lost sight of my intention to finish the blogs. I knew I didn’t want to live a life of fear, and every time fear came to the surface, I would think, “The worst that can happen is that someone really beats me up, and I die. One day, I’m sure to die.” I decided that I would rather die living what I believe in, with Mohanji, no matter how much someone doesn’t understand it, than live longer like a coward, in fear.
Of course, I assumed that my life wouldn’t really end in a couple of days, ha-ha, but I deliberately created such an image in my head to know my priority. It gave me clarity. Also, although it may sound mild, the fear was really intense, and my reality was sometimes such that someone would knock on my door any minute to kill me.
No matter how deep my fear was, and no matter that I had indeed been killed in a past life for a similar thing, I was not interested in people and their opinions. I felt fear in my stomach area until Mohanji completely removed it; it was there, but that never stopped me from courageously saying who is behind my transformation, who is responsible for the quality of my life. Just as I am never ashamed to say that my mother and father are responsible for my life, I will also never hesitate to speak the truth of what Mohanji is to me; there is no fear or a desire to be accepted by superficial people.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that I go down the street and talk about the details of my spiritual journey with everyone, but it is clear what credits in my life go to Mohanji. It is not ‘divine energy’ or ‘universal energy’; it is Mohanji. Whoever asks me, I will always answer directly. I do not hesitate to say this, and no one who walks the path of spirituality should hesitate if he has such an experience, of course.
Another way I dealt with this fear was by connecting to the past lives that I received long ago. In that life, I left my Guru for silly reasons like these and then bitterly repented. It was clear to me that there was nothing more important to me than my connection with Mohanji, and even though I often don’t see him physically, the ‘bridge’ to him that I always keep stable gives me oxygen despite all the storms.
I told this story because even if we have a huge fear, and if everything around us seems to be collapsing, and if society labels us as crazy, having a Guru is our whim and fashion, etc., we ALWAYS have an option. If we truly understand the importance of our connection, NOTHING can get us off that track.
That is why it is important to take as much time as we need to understand the path we are walking, but once we make the decision, we should not leave or stay half-heartedly. If other people’s opinions are more important than what we experienced first hand (even if it’s about our friend, partner, business associate), then we have no face. We have no integrity.
That’s why it is strange to me when people hear something about a person they personally know and love, sometimes they don’t go to that person to check if the rumour is true, but they are in a hurry to make a decision based on someone’s opinion or experience, which often has nothing to do with the truth. Again, this is no one’s loss but ours alone.
Our integrity decreases with this behaviour; we lose our personality. Our self-confidence also decreases because our whole life begins to depend on other people. It’s like asking our life to walk on two match-sticks. If someone takes away one of the matchesbecause they decided they don’t like it, our world collapses. We must be careful in whose hands we place our stability.
The important thing I also learned from my time with Mohanji is that the path of spirituality is mostly unknown and unpredictable. In the beginning, no one promised me how far I would get or that I would get anything from this path. That courage in us to dive into the unknown because we have enough clarity to see subtle signs and believe in our own experience is our integrity. If we ignore any evidence that our path is what we want and start believing in the ‘dense’ aspects of this world that are much more talked about and much less important, we will lose a lot.
The truth is always before our eyes, but distractions and our tendency to cling to negativity are habits. It will always be more interesting for us to gossip, talk about other people’s money, about who sleeps with whom. We will then die one day with regret for wasting time on such unimportant things, when we could focus on ourselves and reach the highest level of consciousness, explore our possibilities, talents, achieve something that will help the world around us, helpless beings, etc.
That is why Mohanji says, “People bring flowers to the cemetery because they could not give that person love while they were alive.” But why are we doing this? If someone dies, we can be sad, that’s fine, but if we said the right words at the right time and did the best we could when it was needed, there will be very little or no remorse.
What is it that distracts us every day? If it’s fear, why don’t we dare face it? Why do we lose precious connections because of other people’s opinions? My opinion is that if we really believe in ourselves, we will never try to hide our truth, not even a little.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 24th June 2021
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.
We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.
“Walking is a comprehensive exercise. Walking is good for health. Conscious Walking is meditative walking. Conscious Walking is good for body, mind, concentration and also the comprehensive alignment of all these.”
– Mohanji
On 21st June 2021 (International Yoga Day) we are happy to celebrate our 6th Anniversary of Conscious Walking!
Conscious Walking is a powerful dynamic meditation technique that is as affective as 3 hours of sitting meditation. This powerful but simple technique is created by world-renowned humanitarian Mohanji.
Conscious Walking has multiple benefits and a lot of people around the world practice Conscious Walking every week with their friends, family and pets.
This year there were three retreats with Mohanji at the Balkan region, Europe and a lot of people have practiced this technique for the first time.
One of the biggest highlights this year was the introducing of badges for the outstanding achievers who reached hourly milestones in Conscious Walking. Over global 20 practitioners reached milestones this year.
Congratulations to all those who regularly practice this amazing technique!
We are sharing few out of many wonderful experiences from CW practitioners around the globe:
“Being in peace with yourself is very prescious experience that l feel over and over again during Consious Walking and through all that day.”
– Tea Reic from Serbia
“Conscious Walking helps me connect deeply with nature and myself. As I walk, I feel totally focused and immersed in the sounds and smell of nature. Feeling the circulation of energy within with each step, the walking trail disappears and all else is forgotten, dwelling only into silence within. Thoroughly rejuvenating for the body, mind and soul.” – Bridget Chen from Malaysia
“Conscious Walking gives me peace and tranquility, which is more than needed in these times.”
– Stefan Acimovic from Macedonia
“Conscious Walking has shown me how to calm the mind and surrender to the pure energy we receive from Mohanji while walking.”
If you would like to learn Conscious Walking please write an e-mail to Conscious Walking Team at consciouswalking@mohanji.org and they will guide you further. You could also join our Global Conscious Walking community on Facebook and find out about updates, experiences and events happening across the world.
Good morning, everybody. I hope you’re doing well today.
Spending this time with Mohanji has given me an opportunity to observe all the varieties of people, situations and events that come to him to handle. There’s a mixture of these, and he’s looking after many things a day.
A lot of them is helping resolve situations, problems and troubles for people. I’d say this is by far the largest percentage of people that are coming to Mohanji. They are looking for some kind of solution. Many come to him because they’ve reached a dead end. They want a problem to be fixed, whether it’s about work, or losing a job (either themselves or someone in the family), or there’s a health complication (with a family member or themselves), or there’s a marriage and relationship problem or, for example, someone has acquired a lot of debt, and now they want Mohanji to fix it, make it go away.
It’s various situations like this, and I’m giving examples of general categories rather than any actual specifics. But, when there’s a problem, they’d like Mohanji to help. I say this with no judgment. It’s a reality and my observation of what I can see here.
I also see that the people already have developed expectations; they have an idea of how Mohanji will help them and what he’ll do. If this isn’t possible, if it’s not as they expect, then they can be just as quick to criticise, as they were to ask for help in the first place, when they thought it was available, or that something was going to happen for them. So, it’s a real transactional connection.
Then some other people are really committed and want to cut across the cycle of birth and death. They understand that there is a path that Mohanji is showing, the path that can bring liberation from this circus of life: birth after birth, the same patterns, life after life. They stay. Some people within the family have been with Mohanji for many years, which I really admire and respect because they’ve been steady for over ten years, maybe even more.
Then, there are others who may have reached certain positions or heights. Then, for some reason, maybe their expectations exceeded that purpose; they’ve also left too.
Like this, there is a mixture of people. I feel that the main difference is in their purpose and why they’re connecting to Mohanji, whether they’re coming with expectations or coming with more awareness and acceptance of what’s being provided.
I’m saying this because we recently had a session on karma in the Bootcamp hosted by the ‘Invest in Awareness’ team. Mohanji explained really well that what we experience in this life is the result of our hard-earned karma, i.e. what we’ve learned from the past, mixed with some of our lineage or family karma. But essentially, we have a karmic roadmap. Sometimes, we lose sight of this. This means that everything we are experiencing in life is actually the result of all our activities that have happened before – all the good experiences and all the bad experiences. Whether we are aware of it or not is a different question, but we’ve earned it.
What Mohanji has provided is this platform through which we can serve and help change that. But I think people find it easier not to think of this and then blame others. Some people even blame Mohanji or other masters when actually it’s got nothing to do with them because it’s our karma or the person’s karma that’s at play.
But what I can see from Mohanji is that he always does what he can, as he openly says. I’m a witness to almost daily events of someone’s transformation or a resolution in someone’s life. But of course, he says that he has to respect karma. If people are connecting to him deeply, then he is already doing what he can. He can’t remove karma, but what he can do is reduce the intensity. As I understand that, it means that when I’m connected to him – if anything is happening in my life, both the good and the bad situations, it probably would have been much worse and serious if I wasn’t connected to him.
So that’s the observation for today. I wanted to share that – through Mohanji – there is a path to liberation, which some people have set as their purpose. Then, there’s also a mixture of people who are coming for the quick fix solutions for the problems of life.
But I know, from Mohanji’s point of view, all are accepted, all are welcome. As he says, he does his job. No one goes empty-handed.
I hope you have a great day and speak to you soon.
Day 34 Lesson – What more can I do?
Good morning, everybody.
Today, I’ll share more details about Mohanji’s style and approach to work. I think many people listening to this would have heard Mohanji say that as soon as he wakes up, he asks himself, “What else can I do for the world?” Being with him now, I can say that he’s never really satisfied with things as they are; he always wants to do more. He believes that more can be done, and he explores this constantly.
This is why the majority of our morning conversations revolve around that topic. What else can we do? What more can we do? And that’s not just me; I just happened to be there sitting in front of him – it’s the collectivewe. It’s the Foundation; it’s everybody involved, all the teams, all the heads of the organisations, all the various platforms, such as Ammucare, Act4Hunger, Invest in Awareness, or World Consciousness Alliance.
Since spending my time here, I’ve realised that many of the ideas and initiatives we see are all coming from Mohanji, even some of the tasks which I need to complete. He openly asked me, “Why do I have to give you all these ideas? Why aren’t you thinking?” Today, was an example of this.
Someone must have shared a video with him, a really touching and moving video about a poor homeless man. In the video, a lady gave him some money, and at that moment, she lost her wedding ring. The ring dropped into the cup that he was collecting money in. When he emptied the cup, he found it and had a flashback, he remembered her.
So, he went looking for her, to see if he could give the ring back. He passed a pawn shop. It’s one of those shops where you can exchange rings, electronics, or other expensive goods for money. So he had a dilemma. He went in, he presented the ring, and the man offered, I think, $4,000. So, the homeless man could have gotten the money, but he decided to keep looking for the lady. Eventually, he found her. Then this lady started a crowdfunding campaign out of thankfulness. The campaign raised a substantial amount of money, which she donated to him. It was much more than the ring was worth.
So this was the video. Mohanji asked, “Can we make videos like this? Can we get videos going?” Again, “Is it only me that’s thinking of these ideas?”
This was a small example of how he’s living what he says daily, and it’s an inspiration. He’s looking for what more we can do to improve, what more can we do to develop ideas. Because when we do that, when we move with what we have, enhance it, add to it, we have the potential to reach more people.
For Mohanji, this is constant; this is the way he is, which is a real inspiration. Even though he’s in his 50s, he shares the same enthusiasm as somebody in their 20s, always looking for something new. In the boot camp for the corporate program, we’ve spoken about the different types of people, categorising them into six broad categories. The first category is the type of people who have no vision, no plan, and no motivation to do much really. So they just live; they exist. Then, at the opposite end of the spectrum are people who have a plan, have a vision, have the will, have determination, and deliver it. But they don’t stop there. They’re always looking for what more they can do.
For myself, I’ve noticed that in my past, and even now sometimes, that once I’ve achieved something, I’ll have the will or the desire to achieve it, but once it’s been completed, then I’ll almost stop, I would rest. But what I’ve begun to learn, especially since being in Mohanji’s energy, is that this leads to stagnation. It can lead to lethargy and even inertia.
Now, it’s a constant process of developing that attitude towards – “What more can we do?” So I’m thinking, what more can I do with these responsibilities that I have because there are always ways to enhance and improve what I’m doing.
In my previous work as well, I’d often become dissatisfied once I’d reach a position. Then generally, my workday would be very mechanical. You know, I just do the same thing, day in, day out. So there wouldn’t be many variations for improvement, even though the work was varied.
Now, looking back, I realised that that’s when my self-esteem would start to become affected. Because there was no more progress, it was the same thing day in, day out. I didn’t really have the attitude of “What more can I do to improve.”
But observing Mohanji it’s been an inspiration because he’s showing through his life and how he works that there’s always more that we can do with what we have, no matter how small the improvement. So, if we’ve got something to do, we can keep exploring it. We can look at all the dimensions and all the possibilities so that we can create a freshness to it, a freshness to the task or responsibility, and then it keeps growing.
I think this is really important to understand and practice because it can bring new motivation to the work. This can be really important across all the platforms because if everybody had the attitude of, “What more can I do, what can I change today, what small improvements can we make”, we would move very far, we’d be reaching the lives and the hearts of many more people around the world.
To put this into practice amongst my team, we’ve implemented a small routine, which everybody will pick up every morning. Once we’ve spent time with ourselves, done our morning practice, we sit for 10 or 20 minutes, assess all the work and all the responsibilities we have that day. Then each of us will think of new ideas and new ways to improve what we’re doing. So, I’m excited to see what change comes from this. Maybe it’s something that you want to try out and give a go, too.
Thank you for listening, and I hope you have a great day ahead.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 20th June 2021
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.
We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.
It’s been a year, and the whole world is grappling with the Covid 19 pandemic. No one is immune to this disease afflicted by the Corona virus; be it any age, sex, caste, creed, profession or religion, everyone is equally vulnerable. Being a health care professional, we are more exposed and need to be very vigilant and cautious.
When the widespread Covid infection began last year, it didn’t bother and scare me much, to be very honest and frank. I was careful but not to a great extent. We were doing our OPDs, procedures and surgeries. Being an Ammucare volunteer, I did my share of going for annadaan and ration kit distribution at multiple places in the slums and construction sites where people were reeling with hunger due to the lock-down and being jobless; even though my relatives and friends always warned me about the scare of contracting the infection but I knew Mohanji was there. He mentioned, My armour is there with you; you go ahead.” I was unscathed.
Being in a government job, I am posted to a place different from my husband. My daughter was to get admitted to a medical school, and I had to travel multiple places for her counselling and admission process, six cities in a span of 10 days last year. The mother-daughter duo was doing airport hopping every other day. It was challenging, too, with the cases on the rise during that period. With Mohanji’s blessings, this exercise, too, went off smoothly. My daughter got her admission, and we reached home without infection; everyone was amazed at the kind of travel we had to do those days, but I was doing only one thing – surrender to my Guru, my God, my saviour.
The first wave went off, and we all became more lackadaisical. The vaccination phase started and being doctors, we were the privileged ones to get the first dose. The second dose also followed. We felt we are further immune, and then Corona decided to test me. In spite of the two vaccine doses, I got infected. I had exposure through a positive patient in the ICU.
The symptoms started, but I was not ready to accept them. It was a bad phase of ill health. I could not get up from bed, experiencing severe fever and an incessant cough. I was alone with my daughter as my husband was in a different station, so I requested home treatment and quarantine and no hospital admission. I was on multiple drugs: multivitamins, paracetamol, cough syrup, ivermectin and whatnot but from day one, I surrendered to Mohanji – if it has happened, I accept but give me strength.
There would be nights when I could not get sleep because of severe body ache and asthenia (weakness). Some nights, I would get up crying in pain, and then I would look at Mohanji’s picture, which was just in front of my bed and say to him, give me strength to bear it and overcome it. In the subsequent two days, my daughter also became positive. Both of us would just be in bed due to the lack of energy. I have a domestic help who stays with me. I was scared for her now. She was the one who was giving us food, our necessary fluid requirements and tending to the house. The house ran that time because of her. I was scared for her.
No matter the isolation which we were practising, her exposure to me before I was detected with the infection was there, and occasionally there would be a breach to the social distancing too. If she also falls ill, our house would have collapsed. There was a big board outside our accommodation stating, ‘Covid positive – no entry for anyone: no food, no help and three sick people. I kept praying to Mohanji that she should be fine. No matter whether we pray or not, his grace and blessings are always flowing for his people. It is indeed a miracle our help didn’t fall sick or turn positive. Mohanji’s blessings and my prayers to him to protect her was answered.
I knew he was there taking care of my family and me, and I don’t need to tell him anything but the human mind sometimes wants tangibility. I messaged for his blessings. This was his reply, “Just have faith. Even this will pass on. I am with you every moment.” A jubilant moment, should I say – a reconfirmation for this monkey mind. There was another loving message, “Main Hoon Naa.” I was sure nothing would happen. Clinically, I did deteriorate as my lungs also got affected. I was started on steroids, and then I started recovering. My daughter recovered much earlier. The residual loss of appetite and weakness did persist, but I didn’t land up in the ICU or put on a ventilator. His armour is always there all around us.
I would like to add that I had been initiated into Kriya almost three years back but was irregular in my practice initially, but I have been very regular with no breaks for the last nine months. As I fell sick with such low energies, I initially got apprehensive that my Kriya practice will get affected, but I didn’t want to discontinue, and in spite of the ill health and the weakness, I continued with my Kriya daily and again, this is his love and blessings.
As I recovered and went back to the hospital to resume work and saw the pandemic taking a more wicked shape with deaths and loss of near and dear ones daily in each and every household, I thank the supreme Parabrahma for being by my side in the form of my Guru who is taking care of us every moment.
The day I joined work, my boss asked, “So you are back alive. I only smiled and thought to myself, “Jako rakhe saiyan maar sake naa koi.” How can I not be when I am under his wings…
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 17th June 2021
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.
We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.
Good morning, everybody! I hope you’re doing very well.
Yesterday, I shared a lesson from the badminton court, along with a couple of photographs, and I hope you enjoyed those. I was thinking how much fun it’s been to play against Mohanji. At first, it was fairly intimidating. But now, we’ve got a good doubles rhythm when we play, and it’s good exercise. It breaks the day, and it’s also really fun.
As I recalled those times, it brought back a memory, which was another reminder that there’s more to Mohanji than we can physically see. I’ve spoken about this before, that He’s active in many more ways than we can perceive. Personally, being here spending a lot of time is an incredibly good reminder because otherwise, the situation can become familiar. I wouldn’t want to say that I take anything for granted, definitely not. But day in, day out, when I’m seeing Mohanji, there can definitely be the lack of alertness that was there when I first arrived as everything was new. Because now there’s work to do; there’s a routine; there’s a pattern; there’s a method, and so some habits and patterns have developed.
It reminded me of the badminton game because there was a similar situation to the one that I’d shared before in one of my previous recordings. This was where I spoke about the situation where I was speaking with Mohanji; we were having a conversation in the morning, and he suddenly stopped mid-conversation. We’ve been speaking about plans for the early version of Invest in Awareness corporate program. And he stopped; he stood up, walked a few paces, and knelt. Then He took several press-ups, then again stood, and went back to his chair and calmly sat back down. When I asked him what happened, he said that he was responding to somebody’s call for help. He was bringing someone back to life. At the time, I was very confused, but I thought, okay, sometimes these things I can’t understand. But later that day, the event was actually confirmed when somebody called to say that their father had survived in hospital.
Once on the badminton court, there was another situation while we were playing badminton. It was a typical game; Rajesh and I were trying our hardest to win the game. Mohanji had his position on the court; his technique of smashing was doing really well, and Ananth was playing well too. It was an intense game backwards and forwards; everybody played with full commitment and played many games. But during one of the games, I think it must have been the last one; Mohanji just casually said that somebody’s mother is leaving between one of the rallies. As simple as that, “someone’s mother is leaving.” He said that someone’s mother was leaving their body that she was dying. It was very matter of fact, and he just went back to playing; we continued to play for the remainder of the game.
Afterwards, I had to ask what he meant because I don’t even think he meant to say it out loud but he said that he was communicating with her. That amazed me; we were playing our hardest to gain points and win the game, and I thought I was putting in some great effort while at the same time Mohanji was playing, but he was also elsewhere.
When we got back to the house a few hours later, the message came that someone’s mother had passed away. So for me, it’s still somewhat a mystery that what Mohanji is handling beyond is what I can see. There’s more beyond the usual events, but I enjoy and appreciate that there’s almost a completion to it because it comes with a confirmation. For me personally, I can have and witness that full experience. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, there’s always a confirmation that clarifies that I don’t have to blindly believe this because there’s something there that confirms what I see in front of my eyes.
Thank you for listening today. And I hope you have a great day ahead.
Day 32 Lesson – Mohanji’s activities tangibly express his teachings
Good morning, everybody! I hope you’re doing really well!
Since spending time with Mohanji, I have witnessed that Mohanji does not just talk about his teachings. He lives them. Tangibly!! It’s only through my extra time working closely across each platform, namely – Mohanji Foundation, Ammcuare, Early Birds Club or the Mohanji Home for Seniors, and through conversations, I can see more clearly, that everything he has delivered is a message to the world of what he stands for.
This morning, I was speaking to Mohanji, and he elaborated on some of the ideas and vision for the Centers of Benevolence. When I speak with Mohanji in the morning, I usually have a list of the items I’d like to discuss with him about what’s pending. But depending on the day or the need of the time, Mohanji will often speak spontaneously as thoughts come to him. He said to me earlier that he just flows, so as per the need, what is important, he’ll speak.
So if I’m sitting in front of him, I should make sure then that it reaches the right person. We were talking about the various locations across the world for the Centers of Benevolence and the vision that they should reach every continent; every country; every city, so that there’s a space; our own space. These would be living signatures for the Teachings of the Tradition, welcoming all people; everybody is welcome. Ensuring everyone who comes is fed well with vegan food and the fact that it’s purely vegan will be the message of non-violence and that all life has the right to live.
When there’s outdoor space, all animals will coexist in the ground, and they’ll roam free. Then all the five elements are captured in the space too. They’ll have the fire with the Homas, also the water bodies – the rivers and lakes, and earth space. All the practices will be there: the meditations and the teachings of the path of liberation – all will be available. It will be a message to the world portraying what we stand for and how we can use our capacities or intellect abilities as humans for selfless work and for attaining the highest.
The more time that I’ve spent with Mohanji, I realize that what he speaks, what he shares, and his teachings, he’s practically and tangibly putting these into place through all the platforms. All of them speak a message to the world.
I was thinking about this and all the initiatives that have been founded when the Mohanji Home for Seniors came to my mind – which has been set up to feed, give medical attention and help the elderly. This came to my mind because when I sent out the feedback form to everybody for these talks, someone replied by asking the question, “Why are parents so important in our life?”
I feel that that’s a great example, the Home for Seniors because it’s Mohanji practically tangibly representing why it’s important to look after the elderly, look after our parents. The story of how this came about was when Mohanji visited Tiruvannamalai with a group of people for conducting a Retreat and Satsang. It’s a famous place of pilgrimage, because of the Arunachala Mountain, and many people go there.
I’ve heard that people go there along with the elderly parents, and they simply leave them, which is quite sad.
Some of the abandoned ones have poor health conditions, problems and are lonely, confused, and even wait for their children to come back. They think they’ll come back for them, but the children don’t.
There’s a Home that is looking after the abandoned parents, and Mohanji with the group visited the Home to serve them food. Last year, the local municipality gave the people living in the Home (building) eviction notice, rendering them homeless. That was the seed. I think one person, in particular, wanted to start something; Mohanji supported it, and now we have the Mohanji Home for Seniors. Thus the land was bought, and construction is now on the way.
Mohanji has spoken before that we have a dharmic duty to our parents because it’s they who brought us into this world. He said that when we first take birth, before a soul comes into the body, there’s prana which represents our lineage or lineage karma. He explained that when we have a body, actually, the body is a property of the lineage. Our parents are a living representation of our lineage. Our parents represent that, so we have a duty towards them. Especially, a mother who carried us through nine months of pregnancy knows us longer than anybody else. Thus I learnt from Mohanji that this is another reason why we must respect and look after our parents. There’s a Dharmic duty behind it. And this is exactly what he does as well. He’s brought his parents closer to him now in their age so that they have this space; they are given respect. Everything that can be done is done to make them comfortable.
In modern times, some people treat parents as an inconvenience, quick to discard them or put them into a home. Hence, I am reiterating what I’ve learned from Mohanji that there’s a duty there actually about what we need to do. The Mohanji Home for Seniors is a standing example of this filial duty – by looking after them, respecting, caring, and giving them the dignity that they deserve.
I’ve also heard people ask, “What can I do?” Now I know that I have a dynamic duty, “What can I do if I don’t get on with my parents; if we fight or we argue?” For this, Mohanji said, “You can do what you can. The first is discussion, to see if anything can be resolved. Maybe that’s not possible; maybe you don’t have to live together; maybe it’s possible that you can support them if they’re in a different home. You can find a way to give them assistance with the chores. If the relationship is completely gone, and it’s not possible to get on with them, you can fulfill that duty by serving people of a similar demographic in society. You serve the elderly; the abandoned, participate in charity activities, events; donate to causes that support them. This way, we still do our duty.”
So this is one example of the many tangible activities Mohanji is doing in the world expressing his message and his teachings.
I hope you enjoyed it and we will speak very soon.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 13th June 2021
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.
We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.
There are great trails in our lives that reveal how far we have come spiritually. When our beloved Parabrahma protects us, he insulates us not just from the highs and lows in the world but also from our mind.
I have been remarkably calm and collected, making our Dad’s final funeral preparations. There is a remarkable difference in how stable I am compared to the time I lost my mum over twenty years ago: night and day. There appears to be a loving cocoon of protection around not just me but also all those I love.
In my mind eye, I had placed my sick Dad before Mohanji and told him, ok, I am leaving Dad in your care. I do not want him to suffer and will honour my Dad’s decision about his soul journey in this life. With that resolution, the father I have loved more than life passed away peacefully into the light. He was stable and in high care in a private hospital.
A week before, I had woken up in the middle of the night by a loud and clear telepathic message.
“They ALL are coming!”
I had the impression that a great number of souls had gathered all around me – so many. I had felt momentarily overwhelmed. From that moment, I understood my beloved Dad’s time was close. Hindus believe that our ancestors or loved ones come to help us transition, like angels.
Always filled with Mohanji’s unconditional love, the deep emotional pain that I would have otherwise experienced did not happen. As I write this, I am still calm and stable during and after the funeral, which was yesterday.
A few days before, I was singing a beautiful Hindi movie song my father used to sing to me playing his guitar, and I used to sing back to him as a little girl. The song was about a father telling his child how much he loves her. I had made up my own childish loving reply to him and sang back to him.
Those were one of a great many touching moments of unconditional love I had experienced as a young child, always surrounded by laughter and songs. Tears of love rolled down my eyes. Daddy … The next moment, I ‘saw’ him appear next to me, smiling lovingly. He looked young, healthy, and so very handsome again!
Again, such healing, deeply comforting and momentous revelation. There is no death. We are immortal beings – I breathe in and out, filled with an exquisite sense of tranquility and peace. Mohanji does not only take care of me but my whole family. My entire lineage! That is a lot of people! Intense. Spectacular. Just WOW! I remain humbled and deeply grateful and, yes, ever so blessed.
The words thank you, thank you, beloved Parabrahma swaroopa Mohanji is not enough. My bhaav for Mohanji cannot be explained away by mere words. Mohanji is beyond words. Beyond worldly experiences. Mohanji is love incarnate. Pyaare, pyaare Mohanji.
I am Mohanji. Mohanji is me. There is no separation. I am unshakable.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 10th June 2021
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.
We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.
Day 29 Lesson – The household chores (or service) – An answer to a question from a listener
Good morning, everybody. I hope you’re doing really well.
This morning, I wanted to thank everybody who provided some feedback on the form that I sent. It really helps me get an understanding of whether these messages are useful for people. Also, it was an opportunity to have some questions from people too about what they would like to know about living here in the home.
So the first question that came back, that I’ll speak about today, was how the inmates contribute to the house chores, which made me laugh because I don’t know if it was meant to be inmates or meant to be housemates because ‘inmates’ are actually the people who are locked in a jail. So I laughed at this, and I’ll take this as ‘housemates’, and I’ll use that for the question.
I like this question because there’s a very straightforward answer I could give. But I think this would miss some of the subtleties and the dimensions of the environment of this home. I also liked it because it took me back to Mohanji’s latest book ‘Mast’, which he recently released. For those who don’t know, it’s the story of Atmananda. He did a blog series on Atmananda. He is a perfect Avadhoota. It’s an amazing story; it’s really powerful because it delivers the teachings of the tradition in such a beautiful way; I really recommend it.
In one of the book’s early chapters, I think it’s chapter two; it describes when the young Atmananda Brahmadeva arrives first at Maharishi Shantananda’s house, or the Gurukul, where he comes to study under the tutelage of the master. It painted a really lovely picture of the home: of the house itself, the quarters where people stayed, where people were in the rooms, where people would be chanting or doing meditation. Also, other aspects of the home were described, such as Nandi – the bull, who would come outside and arrive and depart at certain times, and how the fellow students would interact, including how they got on with the chores.
Having read it, I feel it’s probably very similar. Without having read the book, I probably would have answered that question very differently, and some of the subtle aspects would have probably gone unnoticed.
First of all, once I arrived, and even now, nothing’s really asked of me, or of others in fact. It is asked only that the respect is upheld, that space is treated well and looked after. Also, we’re asked to be conscious of the food that we use; we’re making sure that the right amount of water is used, as well as with everything we do and any other services.
I remember when I first arrived, I was looking for the house rota, the cleaning rota, or when we will have regular meetings to decide who would take which chores. That didn’t happen. Before the book was released, Rajesh said to me, “You don’t need to worry about that. Generally, things just flow here; what needs to happen happens”. That’s definitely the case.
Just like in the book, everyone takes part in the work, depending on what they’re doing and where they are situated in the house. If somebody forgets to take up a task, then somebody else would just come and quickly pick it up. So, it’s like a harmonious dance that happens without much fuss, discussion or communication. It’s like everyone is attuned to the needs of the space. So there are no real complaints or problems. It’s just the understanding that everything needs to be kept in order.
Naturally, people pick up tasks as needed. So there’s a cook, whose main job is to prepare the food. Ananth does a really good job of helping her in the morning because he’s downstairs. He also makes sure that the lamps are lit and tended to, as they’re down there, and he also makes sure that Mohanji has his morning tea and fruits.
As I’m on the first floor, I generally take care of those areas. So, the sweeping, the mopping up here, and from time to time, if I see that Mohanji’s room needs to be swept, I’ll do this too. Regarding washing clothes and everything like this, everybody takes care of that; everyone takes their share. It’s the same with the outside of the house as well. We’ve got a beautiful ring of tulsi plants that have been planted, as well as a small patch that’s been set up for growing tomatoes.
We have these tubes for coherent water, so usually, we have those buckets with water. So, after he does his morning Homa, Rajesh makes sure that all the gardens are tended to, that everything has been watered. If the birds and other beings need feeding, it’s whoever happens to be in the kitchen at the time that will take care of this.
All this is unless Mohanji specifically asks somebody to feed the birds because he usually does this when someone big from another place will visit soon. So he’ll advise to put some food out for the birds. And then quite soon afterwards, you’ll see a big crow come. And he said that usually, this helps people clean karma or lineage karma of the ancestors.
So, in short, we all do our chores. It happens quite harmoniously in the household, with peace and minimal fuss. But it’s a really nice way that it all happens because there’s no set plan, no set agenda. It’s just organic, and activities happen as they need to, just like in the book.
So thank you for listening. I hope that was useful. I hope I answered the question, and thank you for sending it.
Day 30 Lesson – If you are on the court, play the game
Good morning, everybody. I hope you’re doing well.
I’ve mentioned before that sometimes the best lessons gained here have been unspoken. Through observation, awareness and being alert, it’s possible to pick up a lot from Mohanji. With the day-to-day experiences at the house as well, there are many opportunities for that.
I don’t know if many people know, but Mohanji really enjoys a game of shuttle badminton. There’s a court close to the house. It’s a full-court – a hall with tall ceilings and plenty of space. For a period of time, we were playing most days. When Devi, Mila, and Jelena were here, everybody would play. Everybody, by the end of the time, really improved. The games were becoming quite intense and competitive, with lots of shouting, screaming and passion. Devi and Jelena were completely fired up in the last days; they were really doing well, winning games.
Once Devi, Mila and Jelena went back to Europe, it would mainly be me, Rajesh, Ananth, George and Mohanji who would play. We played doubles. When I think back to some of the times making these lessons, I actually learned a lot there. Not just how to play badminton, I had some skill of that before, but it gave me an opportunity to see my own attitude towards playing in games, and also in life in general. Maybe this is applicable to others, too.
One major learning for me was witnessing my own passivity to life, being passive, and just letting life go, but not really being fully involved. I felt that it was a reflection of my involvement, both in the game and in some incidents in life, and I’ll explain a little bit more.
So when Mohanji does something, he is fully there, completely; he gives everything, the full effort, full concentration. So, at first, to go and play with him was quite intimidating. You could probably imagine this for yourself; if you were there, standing in front of him on the opposite side of the net, Mohanji in front, and you’re playing a game. It’s especially intimidating because he’s not giving any chances. He’s fully there; he’s fully playing no matter what; he’s there completely. He’s actually good. His signature move is a smash. He has an uncanny ability to be able to smash with full force nearly every shot. So there’s no easy playing or easing into the game. You just have to learn, and you just have to play.
He would even make jokes with us as well, that we can’t even beat a man nearly twice our age. But this was only joking, not boasting because, after the game, he’s not so interested. There’s no arrogance; it’s just playing, for the exercise and for the joy.
So, for the first games, I was very hesitant; I’d give some effort, but not my all. I also wasn’t very interested in winning. I’ve never really had that feeling to win games, nor that over-competitive streak. But game after game, Mohanji was consistent. He enjoys giving his all. Even when he had an injury, he would be fully committed.
So, many people experience a loving side of Mohanji, but he very much has this warrior aspect to him, too. It’s not exactly demoralizing, but game after game, the same situations happened. It was becoming a little bit pathetic. I wasn’t improving, and the same thing was happening over and over again.
I would mainly play with Rajesh, and Mohanji and Ananth would be on the other side, and we’d consistently lose. For myself, I know I was playing half-heartedly. Mohanji would always ask or make a comment if we’re actually interested in playing or not. After some time, the realization dawned on me that I was not in the game; I was there, I was on the court, I had the racket in my hand, physically present, but actually, I wasn’t there. I was actually more on the side-lines, watching and just doing the motions. There was no real commitment, no dedication, and probably more importantly, no real fire to do my best. So, forget about winning; I wasn’t even playing. I wasn’t even there.
I remember another time, too, in conversation with Mohanji, he instructed a task, and I was unsure about what the next steps were to take. I’ve been probably deliberating for quite some time, and he just told me straight. He said: “You’re sitting there at the side of the water, dipping in a finger, trying to work out whether it’s hot or cold. In the end, you’re not even going to take a bath. Dive in, take the plunge and see where it takes you. There’s no point in waiting, just get on, get it moving”.
So I picked up on this, too. Within the game itself, I started putting myself into it. I wasn’t so interested in winning, but at least, if I was there, if I was involved, and if I had some role to play, I was going to do it as best as I could. I think this reflected in my work too. So, with his encouragement and inspiration, I think we all began to increase our game actually. We all become quite good, quite competitive.
Personally, for me, since being here, one of my patterns has been brought to my awareness – that element of passivity, not really fully engaging, almost being on the side-lines or the stands, just watching what was happening, but never quite being fully involved. I know Mohanji doesn’t like that type of attitude. He said before, “If we’re here, if we have a body, if we have time, if we have space, then we should use it to make a great life, live our highest potential of humanity, and do something positive in the world”.
I’m learning that as well. I can’t say I have learnt because I’m still learning. But for a contented life, it’s not possible to sit on the stands or watch from the side-lines. I have to play, I have to take the plunge and use life well whilst I have the opportunity. There’s no place for a passive attitude within the Mohanji office because there’s a big mission to do, big work to do, and the world needs it.
Thank you for listening. I hope you have a great day ahead.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 6th June 2021
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.
We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.
Experiences With Mohanji 