How I connect to Swami is a very important questionto think in the current times. What I’m reminded about is two interviews or discussions we had with Swami which actually answers this question.
The thing is in the past there were times when we can sit in the first row or something and then pray to Swami for whatever we wanted and He would guide us. And that’s how we feel that we are connected. But in current times what we have to remember is the classic story which is a part of Bhagavatam, the anecdote of Krishna Tulabharam.
I think I have been hearing it from my childhood more as an entertainment but over a period of time we get that enlightenment. And most of all, now when Swami was talking about it when asked, “How can just a tulsi leaf make the difference when Sathyabama put all her ornaments and gold and everything, and the scales didn’t change.”
Then Swami said, “Rupa and Naama (Form and Name) are one and the same. They are like two sides of the coin which cannot be separated. As much rupa is there equal power or force is in the naama.” And then Swami said, “Rukmini, while putting the tulsi leaf said ‘Krishna’ and placed it. So the rupa of Krishna and the naama of Krishna were equal to each other and the weight of the tulsi made the difference and then the scale tilted in the balance.” Swami added, “That is what you should be able to understand in context of the Form. That name is as powerful as the Form itself.”
So when I really look at it, in the current times we don’t have to worry about not physically seeing Swami. With name itself you get a lot of things, I’ll give you illustrations. Before that another time when we were having a discussion with Swami, Swami said, “Like in the ether, in the atmosphere so many radio frequencies are there. And you tune your radio to a particular frequency that particular station comes to you. You want to change and listen to some other station you can do so.”
In the same way Swami was telling what our eyes are able to see currently is what is called visible band. Whereas in frequency there are much more on either side of this particular band. I personally feel that Swami now is in all those bands. It’s for us now to tune ourselves to those frequencies and receive things which we want from Swami.
So one question which people might ask me at this stage is how do we set our own selves for a particular frequency to receive Swami?
Again we go back to the first one incident where Swami was talking about rupa and naama. That means by chanting a name we are actually tuning ourselves to that particular frequency of the Lord. So by saying ‘Sai Ram, Sai Ram, Sai Ram’ with intensity and bhaava we are tuning ourselves to that particular frequency of Swami. Wherever, whichever Form He is and whichever format He is, He is going to come to us. This is what we should be able to understand in the current terms.
Now when you go forward with this, how do we actually look at situations and see that we are actually capturing Swami. Like in a radio we get lot of noise, lot of distortions so the message is not normally very clear if the distortions are there. Same is the case with us because of our vishaya vasanas (desires) we are not able to receive the signals from Swami even though we are trying to tune in.
Again through this particular process of namasmarana (chanting the Divine name) we are actually purifying ourselves. Removing all those distortions so that we are able to clearly listen to Swami and see Swami in that particular format in which He is at that particular moment of time by only chanting Swami’s Name.
I think these two clearly tells us for all times to come we don’t have to think that Swami is not there. Swami is there with every one of us at any time we want.
Personally I feel which I have practiced because after hearing this from Swami I said to myself, ‘Look, if I don’t internalise this teaching of Swami, it is just going to get dissipated’. I have been one of those fortunate people who was sitting there to listen and these messages are for my own transformation and improvement.
What I normally used to do is, and some of you would have seen that early in the morning itself I go to Mandir, irrespective of whenDarshan time is. Whenever the puja is there I sit there, whenever Mandir doors are kept open I sit inside. Whatever problems I have, whatever situations we have, whatever, when I want the solace from Swami I just sit there quietly and just pray to Him. By just chanting His Name and not telling ‘Look Swami I have this particular problem please solve my problem’. What I have been able to observe over a period of time is that in due course of time Swami started responding.
When we say we are missing Swami, we are missing Swami because I have got an issue, I want to give a letter in which I have a prayer and I want Him to answer my prayer. That is what is currently we are missing.
So when I start tuning myself and Swami comes and gives me guidelines saying that ‘Look, handle this this way, this is where the solution is. You are not going to solve now wait for some time’. He starts giving you clearly those instructions. Obviously He’s there standing by my side and doing all the things which I wanted. For which I am looking for His Form within and within is getting reflected from without. From outside it is coming in and I’m able to receive and keep it stored inside me.
Those were the days when Swami was still there. He was still staying in old Mandir, He had not yet moved into Poorna Chandra. I’m talking from those days now this particular exercise I have been doing.
Let me tell you even today after so many years if I have something, I just go and sit in Bhajan Hall and low and behold Swami comes and tells. Now I have also seen, I mean people may not think that something is happening to me, but Swami has also come physically to assure me that ‘Look, this is what is to be done’.
So I don’t see for myself, okay that Darshan timings are not there when you can see the Swami in that Robe gliding and then coming and smiling, and then radiating that glow of early morning Sun which used to happen those days. Maybe that is missing but are we missing Swami? I personally feel that I am not missing Swami at all. That’s why some of you would have seen that my enthusiasm is still the same.
And the way I am able to take up the activity it is same. I am able to dedicate to Swami everything in the same way because I don’t see Him different. He’s not gone anywhere He is there with me, around me, every time. And more so I feel it when I am desperate for Him.
And I can see, like that story of two sets of footprints which are on the sand where suddenly there is only one. Those days, those times when I really need Him I know He is actually carrying me. I am able to personally experience that feeling of He is actually carrying me. So I mean if you ask me I have just practiced whatever Swami has told me and I am getting the benefits.
I also personally feel that Swami has given to every individual in some form or the other an instruction which is tailor-made, customised for him/her for their spiritual growth. I think all we have to do now is just go back in our memory lane and connect ourselves to those time periods. Those points that Swami talked to us or was standing in front of us and if you remember those words have a particular message for us. And all that we have to do is live those messages. Like Swami says “My life is My message.” Then Swami said “Your life is My message.” That means whatever message He has given, that has already gone inside us and all that we have to do is live that particular message and then we can go forward.