ONENESS

As soon as the possibility of visiting UK again came into light, the excitement of attending NIS in person engulfed the mind. Originally I wasn't planning to attend NIS, more so for different reasons one being because I had made a return from UK. But with this news of official assignment, excitement was born to witness the first ever samagam, samagam to be held outside India on such a large scale - a step in history of the Mission.

Perhaps His plans, despite timely agreement of the assignment delays were experienced on formalities to apply for Visa. Slowly, and slowly the excitement turned into anxiety. Anxiety of not knowing whether I would be on time in UK to attend NIS. All those whom I met weeks ago would know the level of anxiety. On one such day I sat with the better half and opened up this topic.

Without wasting even a second, she said 'Why are you bothering self over this uncertainty? Have you learnt everything from all previous samagams that you have attended?'. Her questions did make me think - Have I learnt everything from what I have heard in past? It wasn't a momentarily change but it did happen - soon my mind was free again. While I waited for formalities to complete even a week before samagam, but my mind was free from the pace things were unfolding.

Today NIS has concluded and I watched it online from India. I couldn't make it in person but thankfully have no guilt of not being able to witness the proceedings in person. All thanks to Babaji, and His reminders via Mrs Sethi.

Thanks also because He acknowledged and accepted our presence even from here.

I might have been little less inspired than many others who would have keenly desired to attend the samagam, must have made efforts to join also but somehow could not join. I feel like thanking on behalf of all those as well.

On closing notes, I wish to pray that this Oneness that you have blessed us with - may we remain with this Oneness! Also seek blessings for those who have parted from this One, for them to be able to rejoin.

Any field, but..

Last night I was running short of ideas for writing something for Shukar Series. So asked my brother, "Bro, if you had one thing to thank Satguru for, what would it be?". I wasn't surprised when he replied back with his usual humour " That Chottu is my brother". Knowing myself well, I knew he was trying to ignore the question by putting some weird answer. Well this is part 1 of the story.

Part 2 dates back to 1997 when I attended college. One of my favorites just because of one sentence has been Mrs Krishna Kaul. Then middle aged English lecturer once mentioned, "Go in whatever field you like Arts, Science, Music, it wont matter but make sure you excel. Excel so that you cannot be replaced." Years have passed by since then but mind still has an impression of this lecture actually one sentence of hers.

Last night as soon as Part 1 transpired, memories of Part 2 followed. Leaving the professional front aside for some moments, was relating this sentence to what Sheelu said. How wonderful would it be if I could excel in my relations? Brother, mother, father, sister, wife, friend, children proclaim that we couldn't have any better relationship than that with you. If you are brother to one, live relationship such that the brother cannot wish for any better brother. If you are a husband, excel in relationship that wife states that the life is beautiful just with you. If you are a wife, live such that the husband is forced to state that no one other than you. List would go on...whilst it has been easy to put the thoughts, not sure how easy would it be to implement and excel.

Hoping for a meaningful life, filled with excellence.

How to loose one's Ego?

Other day I was talking to Lakshmi about the "Most wanted person by virtue of need" award which I had received for work in my previous project. Since I was the only contractor working in that project, I myself informed my Line Manager in parent company about it. Although I don't like doing this but somehow wanted it to be recorded with my parent company, that I had received some award for my work. However, after sending that email I had no replies or congrats from my Line Manager. I was surprised as generally what I have observed is, any email appreciation from client is followed by appreciation emails from all managers in parent company. Nothing happened basically after my sending that email to Line Manager. I kept quiet.

Days followed, and then other team mates received some appreciation from client. Surprisingly, this time same Line Manager sent that email to higher management which resulted in number of emails floating for appreciation. Luckily, I wasnt able to digest that, it was just an email for other team mates but an award for me. An email was heavily acknowledged but an award went unnoticed ? Perhaps I wouldnt have bothered but because it was "I" who had received the award, I was disturbed. I couldnt sit properly for some time, as this was disturbing me. I wasnt sure how I should react, but nevertheless I thought of discussing this with Lakshmi.

As I shared with her my problem, the usual happened. As predictable she is, "Sunil Ji, isko dekha hai aapne. Yeh to creator hai fir bhi kabhi nahin jataata". Lol...that was the simple tonic for the huge problem I was facing. Often I have noticed how easily she relates to the Almighty than I can do. A simple thought but with great depth, that look at the Almighty, despite being creator He never boosts about His deeds, why winning an award is making you disturbed...just because others failed to acknowledge it. It was a matter of seconds, that I was back to normal state..laughing at my ownself.

Quite truely, I still havent learnt how to be humble. Something I desire to learn, because its so soothing. I remember Babaji citing example of Lord Rama, and how humble He was when Parshuram Ji was shouting at Him. Definately, Looking at Rama's life there is so much to be learnt, the simplicity, divinity, kindness,...a whole lot of chapters in syllabus of spirituality. But again the first step as mentioned, "Pratham Bhakti Santan Kar Sanga.." Thankyou Babaji that you have sent Lakshmi in life who has guided and reminded me of your teachings where ever I was going aside.

No surprises why I always answer in same way to this question," how to loose one's ego?".."By seeing someone who is greater than you"...You'll stop worrying about not getting credit, if you understand how this Creator is silent even if His deeds are not acknowledged :)

Guru Vs Guru

As time nears my wedding date, I have started giving more ears to what the experienced have to say. Not long ago, we were sitting in Hayes at Soniya Di’s place where she was mentioning about the pride a wife takes in her husband. “Bhaiya, irrespective of the caliber that her husband carries, a woman considers her man to be the crown of her head. Things change after marriage, earlier you can make fun of your friends but as soon as they get married, you’ll notice the difference. You crack the same joke as before, husband might not feel offended but wife won’t be able to tolerate that because her husband is her pride”.

I did notice this behavior thereafter. So beautifully this pride rests in women that I couldn’t resist relating this to my spiritual journey. I feel this is also true to every human. Irrespective of the level of correctness of my belief system, I am so attached to my beliefs. Like a wife who takes pride in her husband, I too take pride in my beliefs. The only friends wife has made are the one’s who have accepted wife with her husband. This behavior I think everyone understands, but don’t know why this doesn’t get replicated in spiritual journeys? A lady might take pride in her own husband but at the same time is cautious about understanding the pride woman opposite her is taking. Don’t know why people fail to implement this spiritually?

X who believes God is everywhere can’t tolerate Y who is trying to see God in his Guru. I cannot accept or offer respect to someone’s Guru but doesn’t mean my God is absent in his Guru. Don’t know why this gets missed, If I admire my mentor similarly does he admire his mentor. I believe this simple thought can prevent Guru Vs Guru fights going around.