Hmmm
To have the privilege of spending such a long time with my Master, life feels like never before. Every time, this happens.
The important thing is to feel close, be close. Not physically, not only physically. Physical proximity does not ensure closeness. Mental alignment also does not ensure, or stay longer. Feeling connected or feeling the presence at times comes as blessings, from time, nature brings it. Can we do something also, about it!!
As Gurudev said- “Feeling the presence is meditation”. I took it as a sutra. Sutra for meditation and used it in knowledge sessions to meditate. Of course some minds/intellects started wondering what is it to “feel the presence”! Though meditation happened… Good to keep wondering, i pointed, just remember it’s a matter of heart, don’t let intellect trouble you. Be there, feeling “IT”. As always, Masters words are like “Sutras”. Sutras, when meditated upon, contemplated upon helps to get in touch with our own self/nature and helps in furthering the blossoming of consciousness.
The 8 days!!
Reached Berlin by evening, settled amidst smiles, enthusiastic faces. The air was warm with expectation of arrival of the Master. Everyone eagerly awaiting arrival. It felt like a place of spiritual gathering, celebrations. And to think it was in the centre of Berlin, in a hotel. How does this happen, or even possible!! It wasn’t any such place called an ashram, or a devotees home. Then what was it that was making it so. As i wonder more, i realise its what happens in “Kumbh-Mela” that is starting from tomorrow, in Prayag in India. Its the devotees, the hearts and mind aligned and soaking in all the chaos, in such a way that only wisdom, love, peace with unflinching faith in the unknown can make it happen. HE arrived, people lined up in two rows with gap in between for HIM to walk. Gaze fixed on HIM, not to miss his brightness, faces smiling even more-not to miss syncing with HIS, flowers, cheers, chuckles, and so much more. HIM…as usual….presence itself is enough to charm the souls out, to shine even more.
Many AOL teachers were also present, aged, young, very young, kids, sanyasis. Also, literally the devotees who have aged gracefully in his presence, since HIS young days. Can you imaging HE was in Berlin in 1978, when HE was still 22 years, and again in 1988(April). And few anecdotes came out flying in walks with HIM, in satsangs in his presence. In 1988 he sat in East Berlin near the wall, with few devotees, chanted “Om Namah Shivaya” & meditated. Later told everyone that the Berlin wall will come down and Germany will be united again. Of course people thought he is very innocent and doesn’t understand politics, they murmured amongst each other in German, not to offend HIM 😊. HE understood everything ☺️, and kept quiet. Another anecdote was HE predicted long back in US that there will come a device which will have camera, light and people will be able to make calls too. It's what is called mobile phones, on which i am typing right now, sitting in a park bench in Ljubljana.
Aha, as the body heat that was generated from walk, settled down, my body started feeling chill in the air. Head and hands too. The Sun is out bright but now the trees are playing hide and seek with sunlight. And as i checked again to make sure, none of the tress have a single leaf left on the branches, all dried and fallen. So, i got up and walked further and this time walked on a new path, settled in on a make shift abandoned stall.
I can see the big fields behind me, the grass brightly illumined by the Sun. In front are snowy, icy, southern alps mountain peaks, glowing as the Sun rays fall making it even more bright. As i walked to this part, passed through a small idol of mother inshrined a very small structure, i always say/wish her with “Rama-Rama” and Jaigurudev. Its at the middle of a small bridge with water gushing below because of a small dam very close. Its cold and Fuzine/Polje area in Ljubljana being a little out of city feels 1–2 degrees below city temperatures. Comparatively it seems much quieter today, even for a Sunday.
Get Swami Omkarananda’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
As HE walked in his visiting room and sat with us all for sometime, he started sharing his long journey from US and missing new year eve for the 1st time, in years in Europe. So, he wished happy new year to us all. More chit-chat and then he retired to freshen up and take rest. We all giggled through his sharing, laughed all and went back happily. Some still in the lobby, some in cafe…can’t sleep easily, I guess, when one has been so closely exposed to the source of love and energy ☺️. Just outside, the visiting room i met one devotee whom, i believe,few of us knew having a business. That day came to know he is working full time and is here with his family of two young boys and wife, totally,fully. Helping organising things at all levels. At times i wonder from where some people have this commitment, energy and clarity!! Is it by grace only or by a combination of so many factors. And then i wondered about myself, when did i grew up so much in myself that i am so comfortable bowing down, can see mother divine in its all forms 🤔. How & when did this happen! And then i like to point to atrocities also, without distinction. I do not fear/shy away being a Hindu.
Before sleeping could feel the higher movement of “Prana”, and so watched my breath in the “Sushumna” and let it ease through out the system, balancing itself well and slept off. Woke up early, hardly 5 hrs of sleep, freshen up, started my chanting schedule and then Pranayamas, the 3 stage, bhastrika, brahmari and mudras and then Sudarshan kriya, topping it off with sahaj+sanyama. Continued the schedule for all days except for a day when i missed chantings because i sat longer for meditation.
On 3rd there were no formal things arranged with HIM. i went to have darshan. So many already sitting there, surrounding HIM. Yet, sitting little away and then HE said, you all can come close, i don’t bite😋. I was 1st to rush ahead and sat infront, very much unlike my instinct. Going beyond old instincts. He was asking everyone how are you, whats happening etc etc. I shared, my work permit was stuck for last 4 months….I guess, that was weighing on my mind since long. Because, my visit depended upon it and it came on 21st Dec. He acknowledged, and said good. Thats what happens when we meet HIM. So many things are released and such a relief comes to each. Though i was very calm, for it. If it comes , good. Else, even then i was good. Still…mind has many layers. Beyond our comprehensions. So many shared their things, and his loving presence. natural, just there, like a clean mirror, to see yourself without any thing on yourself…..just be there. Soak in…..be there. Its not hard to be your natural self. All relaxed, happy, smiling, or not. Just be yourself. And HE is there…
In all 3 sessions of Master Class, HE led us into very deep meditations.”Led” because there were no instructions during meditation. All meditations were around 30/32 mins. Everyone was in awe. The Master class sessions started with a bang and kept us on our toes. After meditation HE asked us to discuss our take aways, learnings before leaving the hall. i was sitting at the back with few teachers and devotees who made the discussion even more brighter. It was amazing to discuss, revisit what HE had shared. The hall also felt very nice. Big hall, high ceilings, well lit up with chandeliers and other lights, approx 1000 people making it feel more alive and kicking. The 1st day, there were two sessions. One in the 1st half and another in the 2nd half. in between HE had his official appointments, meeting devotees, whoever wanted to meet. Some wanted to discuss something, some just wanted one to one Darshan, some for blessings and many more.
Nobody was ready to go to sleep so early. obviously, already high on wisdom, energy, satsang. We had our dinner together. There were 6 of us. Laughing, joking, making fun as if this time would never be back. We also realised, we are very fortunate to be together, spending time together in jokes, laughs…and then it was like shall we go to HIS room or not. We decided, let it be individual choice.
…….to be continued….
