Written Messages

Bath, MI USA

August 23, 2016

1. Trustee-Ship  

Shibenduji and his 2 sisters would meet annually in Satyalok for Lahiri Mahasaya day and there would be the regular festivities pertaining to that day.  Upon returning to their respective residences in different cities, after one such event, Shibenduji and his sisters each received a postcard from their father enquiring about a missing spoon.  Satyacharan wondered if perhaps it was mistakenly carried with their belongings. When reading this Shibenduji's wife Bithika made a comment with amazement and a bemused smile. She said: “What is this, I'm sorry to say that your father is such a high spiritual being, how can he bother about a spoon?”

 

When they were gathered in their Varanasi residence with Satyacharan on the next occasion, Shibenduji began to tell this story to his father while looking at Bithika, who was making gestures at him with eyes and hands to hush, as she was feeling embarrassed.  Shibenduji continued to tell the whole thing in spite of this.  

 

Satyacharan smiled affectionately and responded, “It's perhaps not possessiveness, but just a spirit of trustee-ship which is functioning to ensure that everything under his custody is in its proper place.  Since he is a caretaker of these things, naturally if something is missing it is the trustee’s duty to take action.  If the spoon returns it is good, if not it is still fine.  Ultimately, the spoon was found under the cabinet while sweeping.

 

2. Need for Accumulation & Conservation

 

The above message about Trustee-Ship leads to the basic understanding of simple accumulation and conservation necessary for the basic needs of the body:  food, clothes, shelter, etc. For example, one needs proper clothes for the different seasons which need to be maintained adequately; certain foods may be purchased in bulk and conserved by preventing insects and spoilage. Then if a day comes when money is unavailable for fruits and vegetables, one has reserves.

 

Similarly, one accumulates money to save for a rainy day, but not to brag and boast about, just to have for practical reasons.

 

In this connection we are reminded of a story.  Once there was a famous wealthy industrialist, who was on his death bed.  His friends and family were there mentioning that he must be very content with his life due to his accumulation of so much wealth.  Then, he opened his eyes and stated, “I'm passing miserably as my goal was $100,000,000.00, and I only accumulated $90,000,000.00.  This failure has made me miserable and I am passing in discontent.

In this context Kriyabans may see that the Kriya teachings pervade all aspects of life.

 

3. Natural Goodness vs. Incorrigible Wickedness

 

Satyacharan used to say that the basic difference between a good person and a bad person is that a good person is always good even if you are bad to him, whereas a bad person is bad to even good people.

 

This is illustrated in the following allegory.  The tongue is like a good person as it will always be cleaning what is stuck in the teeth even though it knows that if it is careless it will be bitten and have a lot of pain.  Like a wicked person, the teeth will bite the tongue when given the opportunity. The tongue still cleans the teeth in spite of this.

 

4. A Fascinating Story about Krishna

 

Once Krishna was being served dinner with devotion by his wife.  Suddenly, Krishna jumped up and ran out of the house.  His wife was bewildered as to why he had abruptly left. After a while Krishna returned and resumed his meal.  She asked, “What happened?”  Krishna replied, “One devotee who was in a dimension of total surrender needed my help, but I found he started to take care of himself so no longer needed my assistance.  He was being beaten by the townspeople who were taking great liberty to harm him as they had grown accustomed to the rumor that he would not fight back, and would just chant “Hare Krishna” if you beat him.  This time, as I was coming to help him he grabbed a stick and started beating his attackers. He didn't need me so I returned to dinner.”

 

When one is really in trouble the otherness comes running to help you.

 

As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 22, those in the process of surrender are assured that I take care of their needs.

 

Kriyabans are available to the 3 P's: Peace, Prosperity, and Protection.

 

5. A Spontaneous Response from a Sat Guru

 

A retired high official in Bengal decided to devote himself to a spiritual life.  He embarked upon a lengthy yatra (tour) to meet many so-called ‘enlightened’ gurus with one question in mind.  He would beseech each one by saying “I have been very successful in my career and now I am seeking spiritual success. If I am to become your disciple, how will I benefit?”  He found that time and again he was promised many wonderful things.  When he came to meet Satyacharan Lahiri he posed the same question once again.  “If I accept you as my guru, what can I hope to receive in return?” Satyacharan glared at him with the fire of Shiva and blasted him loudly with the exclamation “Death!  Are you interested?”  This was obviously much more than he had bargained for and swiftly gathered his belongings and sprinted away. He was offered the death of the “I”, which is the freedom from the separative psyche. However he was unable to be available to understand that the art of dying to “I-ness” is indeed the art of living in “Is-ness”, which is the living quality of Life.

 

6. The Key To Health

According to Satyacharan Lahiri, whenever the question arises in the mind “Should I eat?” the answer should be “No”.

And whenever the question arises in the mind about going to the toilet the answer should always be “Yes!”

It is not a process of the mind which should be heeded.  The pseudo hunger is to be recognized as a phenomenon of the mind.   

 

JAI SATYACHARAN LAHIRI!