This morning is the final day of the retreat in Bosnia, at the Bosnian pyramids, and it’s been a really great event so far. Yesterday, we travelled to park Ravne, which is a park created around a tunnel, which is the entrance to one of the perimeters. Later in the day, we’ll go there, and Mohanji will deliver Shaktipat inside the tunnel.
There’s a hall where we have our Satsang, and yesterday, there were many questions, as always, and the one that caught my attention was about disappointments related to people and relationships.
Mohanji shared that many of those disappointments regarding relationships come from taking responsibility for those people who don’t really care about us when we give all our effort, bend in all sorts of shapes, and in the end, they simply either don’t care, or there’s no appreciation for what’s been done. This can drain energy; we keep giving, but nothing comes back in return.
So, he was simply saying the focus can be moved to caring for those who also care for us rather than chasing something that isn’t going to come.
Now I’ve spoken about this in slightly different ways before, but I wanted to share it again because later in the afternoon, I got to witness another example of how Mohanji really takes responsibility for all those who care for him and all those who’ve come to the retreat actually, especially as there are many new people who are here, and he wants them to have the best possible experience they can because it’s a very short time. So, he and the team here have been working very hard for that.
Yesterday, as Devi conducted the process at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon, Mohanji was walking around the group, and he was checking on everyone individually to see how they were doing and what more he could do, what he could help remove and clear for people. It was another heart-warming example for me, wherein he’s consistent in one of his regular phrases, which is: “I do my job”.
Day 214 – No rehearsals and no reversals
The time that I’ve spent with Mohanji so far has been an ever-evolving experience. One of the many things that I’m grateful for is that it’s really pushed me or brought me back onto a track of activity, where life is happening now, in the present, and the pace is such that you have to be focused, alert and aware in the present. With this, one real appreciation of a lesson comes, which is to let life flow, to just be with life.
One of the main things that I can sum up is something that Mohanji has shared before as well, that there are no rehearsals in life, and there are also no reversals. So, no rehearsals in life and no reversals, and these are simple words which he shares. But when I now contemplate on that, it can really open into a depth and dimension of understanding.
When I think about there being no rehearsals, this really is living life as it is now. If I think back many times in my life, I’d wait for the right time, the right opportunity to come and to develop the right skills before doing something. I would prepare, plan, think, and intellectualise because that’s my orientation. But often, in the end, no action would happen, or little action would happen, or I would keep moving it until I had another time that might be a better time, maybe tomorrow.
At the same time, I would feel quite good about that. Because with the mental activity, it feels like something’s happening. There’s a satisfaction in this when in reality, not much was happening. Now, when I think about that more, there are no rehearsals. What does it mean if we’re not actually moving into life? For me, that was understanding that experience is denied.
It’s not happening, and because of that, not taking those steps, not moving or being with life, there isn’t the opportunity to experience something, and then the corresponding growth, which comes from that, doesn’t happen, which then leads onto something else as well. That’s been a really great lesson to try and bring into life more, to live life, to be with it, and not to worry about failures or fears. Because we can’t prepare, it’s happening now.
Then, no reversals; we can’t change anything, we can’t reverse what’s already happened. I think accepting that, in my own personal life, I can’t change the past has been one single most practice that’s lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders, a massive weight, actually, that we can’t go back. There’s only movement; life is happening.
Mohanji has described this before, that if we’re watching life just go past as a witness, a river flowing in front of us, and events and moments are maybe logs passing on that water on that river. If we just let them come and let them go, then it’s much easier. But if we hang on to the log and are dragged into the water and go through whatever process, the course the river would take, then it can be a bit more difficult.
This was, I realised, causing difficulties for me, thinking about what had been before and colouring what was happening now. Events that happened years ago would still be held fresh, and I’d keep the pains and confusion. But knowing and accepting that we can’t change has been a real relief, actually. What that has done, if I think about it more deeply as well, is it’s now sharpened my awareness of what I’m doing in life now.
I can’t say I’m fully aware of everything all the time, but I’m practising as much as I can to be more focused on my actions so that I don’t actually create more regrets in the future. It’s like refining. So, when I know that the past can’t be changed, it’s a boost or an extra incentive to make sure that I’m in the present, watching what my thoughts are, taking care of what I speak and act, especially now during the times of high conflict, tension, and confusions.
I find this really important, knowing that there are no reversals and making sure what’s happening today and now is something that I’m happy with and content with. No rehearsals in life; no reversals in life. This, for me, is a really simple statement, but one that has an incredible depth, and it’s an ongoing practice of sharpening life, making it more powerful in the present.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 30th April 2023
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.
Excited about another day in the operating room with two patients on board, I started working with my mother’s blessing and my GURU Mohanji’s name at my 6 am routine. In the first case, a young 43-year-old female patient underwent a successful heart bypass surgery and was shifted to the ICU by 12 noon in a stable condition. For the second patient, another bypass surgery was started in a routine manner.
In the middle of the second surgery, when the most crucial steps were on, and my own heart was in total sync with my brain and hands, shut to each and everything that the outer world had to provide, I got an SOS call from the ICU that our first patient has crashed (in medical words) which meant that there was no pulse nor any heartbeat and the Emergency CODE BLUE was sounded.
They had started all resuscitation manoeuvres, including external cardiac massages, pumping all emergency drugs and giving external shocks. Nothing seemed to be working. The phone, which was kept on speaker mode for me to hear, got me to a state not so frequently experienced by a heart surgeon, even though more than two decades of being in this field had taught me to stay non-reactive so as not to hamper my decision-making. However, any event such as this was unsparing to any so-called experienced surgeon.
All which came out of my mouth was, “Please keep the CPR on and don’t stop.” I could not get distracted from the stitches I was taking on the beating heart. I had to put my total concentration on the job at hand yet multitask to collaterally think and act as to what could have gone wrong as each second of CPR outside mattered.
Within minutes I completed the main part of the second surgery, handed the patient over to my team and ran towards the ICU. In those thirty seconds before I could reach the ICU, all that came to mind was what could have gone wrong and what options I had now. As I was nearing Bed No. 28, I consciously told Guru Mohanji and the Tradition,” Please guide all my thoughts, decisions and actions”.
There was nothing else except a crashed patient in front of me where all doctors were changing hands in cardiac resuscitation. The noise of KEEP GOING ON, PUMP THE ADRENALINE and SHOCK were words no one would have ever wanted to hear. Almost thirty minutes were over, and all activities continued. I took over the heart massage as I kept verbally asking questions and taking up all options open to me.
I could feel a helpless state, but I kept going. What simultaneously kept coming out alongside was, Mohanji, God, please, please help; this just can’t happen after a stable surgery. Nothing was working, and nearly forty minutes of the crash situation was over. Suddenly, something came out of my mouth. “Rush for the chest open set”.
I was ready to re-open the chest in the ICU itself and do an Internal Cardiac Massage, wherein I pump the heart with my hands to generate blood circulation pressure. The chest was opened, and I started massaging the heart with my bare gloved hands. The medicines were jacked up to more than 100 per cent, and we were nearing an hour.
I just kept going, occasionally seeing and now talking to the heart, “Wake up, please and give me some pressure.” No prayer was left, and I set an intention to call upon HIM. Suddenly I see a pressure wave on the screen and some electrical ECG activity. I asked everyone to stop and just see the monitor. We got a pressure wave. A new chapter opened now.
What next? I instructed that we rush back to the operating room. At a busy time when no OT is free, we got OT-7 ready to wheel in. All I could do was stay focused and just tell Baba to be with all of us. Not one person, including the trolley shifter, ceased not to hold my hand at this critical moment. It was as if all Hands of GOD were at work for the impossible.
When not more than 5 minutes of no blood to the brain are enough for permanent brain damage, we were talking of an hour plus of just artificial massage to the heart with so much time in between of no massages at all. The OT lights glowed brighter as if I didn’t need the headlight that I normally used always.
Instructions from all ends keep pouring, some for medications and others for fluids and blood, before we successfully put her on the bypass machine to support the heart. Two hours of heart-lung machine support, and we got some pressure. We got some urine indicating that blood to the kidneys was not compromised, yet we had no clue about the brain, which after the organ heart was of primary concern.
After three hours, we got off the heart-lung machine with some sustained pressure yet maximum medication support with almost six drugs, all at sky-high levels. By that time, it was clear that with so much handling of the heart, the heart had swollen up, and I could not close the chest with the risk of direct pressure on the heart.
When one part of me was just focused on the multitasking of the patient, another part of me was in direct synchronicity with the consciousness of my Guru, which I could never comprehend. I just knew he was there for me to do the best possible and nothing more. Not thinking about even the next minute and being in the given moment was what was happening. Just this awareness gave me more stability and strength to stay focused. Something deep inside had taken over my hands, thoughts and actions. By now, I was sure I had to shift her with an open sternum or chest. So be it.
The pressures in the ICU held well despite any belief, but that was not for me to analyse at all. The only concentration was if she was ok brain-wise and all body organs were functional. Another big concern was severe infections that no one could prevent in such crash situations where any antisepsis was impossible.
Talking to the relatives was equally difficult as a normal walk-in patient had to go through all this as the surgery went well. They had even seen her immediately post-surgery in the most stable situation. Everything possible was done, and now we were to see what would come to us as of her survival. On the one hand, I kept telling myself what more can we all do, and on the other hand, the belief and faith that what got her to this point would do its job. Everything tested me to my hilt, as if my breath did not belong to me.
I was thoughtless on the subconscious level yet vigilant on the physical level. I realised that I was human too and had all the right to behave as one, which I was doing. Prayers, faith and ACCEPTANCE to whatever I could do was my only armour, and we all kept going. I had to carry the sanity and positivity of my entire team and the patient and her family.
He kept me going on.
Our following review was to be done by 5 am the next morning. Nothing changed except we came down significantly on injectable medications, which was a very big thing. The sound of the ventilator and the monitor kept reassuring me to hold on to my faith and be in the moment. Now and then, the words that Mohanji always says, “I am with you, I’ll do my job” kept coming to me, but the physicality of the situation was such that I kept assuring myself of his assurances.
Another line which kept coming by now was Sai Baba’s connection, as in,”OM SAI RAKSHAK, SARVAM DEVA”. By 7 am, as if God was talking, it happened. I saw a small visible tear in her right eye, a strong indicator of some brain activity, yet we didn’t know if the brain activity was normal or not.
By 11 am, I called her name, and she opened her eyes. At that moment, the first thought which came to my mind was how minute we all are in front of HIS GRACE. I knew just like I had my Guru and God, she did too, and we all have to make it possible for all of us. They were making us do something and everything for some bigger picture never to be analysed by a supple human mind.
On day 4, we took her back to the operating room and closed her chest. On day 6, she was off the ventilator. To everyone’s surprise, all her blood reports normalised by day five, and all infections were well under control. On day 8, she was eating well, and on day 9, we got her out of bed. She was discharged on day 12 as any normal patient going home.
So much happened in these 12 days, which was a major shift of awareness for me. Clarity of life and existence came so much for me. The fact that she kept telling her relatives and me later that I was standing by her all the time is an obvious indicator of how my Guru worked through me, on her. Else how would she even remember me at all? It was the Guru she was with, and I was just a via media for her.
Secondly, I had the reinforcement of the fact that we are never and can and should never be the doers of any of our actions. All actions are HIS, and so are the RESULTS. We have to do our best in our complete awareness and leave the rest to HIM with the FAITH and BELIEF that HE knows best; my BABA knows best.
Thirdly, life is so unpredictable that we don’t know about our next moment, leaving apart all planning and predictions that if we think this, this will happen and if we believe that, that will happen. It’s all nonsense. When the switch has to shut off, it will, PERIOD. We have a short time on this physical planet and hence have no anger, hatred, or jealousy but only love, respect, and sharing. By the end of everything, only GRATITUDE is the teaching we can take and learn in Guru’s presence.
Not getting something is important to me, but to be eligible to get that thing which my Guru’s guidance and Grace will do, is more important. His hand on all my actions is foremost to me. He and I have to be ONE, and for that, all my prayers and work go.
As they say, I just treat, he heals and gets them to go, as seen in not only this but all patients he sends to me. So much could never be shared in this lifetime experience which, again, he has made me share with all. We all are so fortunate from so many lifetimes to be under the direct guidance and protection of a living Guru Mohanji.
Also, to understand how the life of any individual is without a guiding light around him or her in the form of a Guru or Guide. Having taken human birth, we are bound to go through our past and present karmic burdens and suffering, which we all experience in so many different ways.
My belief is very strong that this patient went home only because her Master and Guide totally protected her, and he or she proved it, and I could do my duty as I did purely because my Guru held my hand and for no other reason. Our duty aided this belief.
Legs tremble, and hands shake without a guide when situations such as this happen. He made me stand rock hard with a focus on my work. Who else but a realised Master can do all this, no one else! Period. It’s not about him but about me, what I want and can get out of him. I am clear that I want to dissolve in his consciousness fully, come what may. That’s my only job. Rest all is up to him and my eligibility.
I’m not wasting even a single thought in reaching this goal. By the end, I keep telling myself much more than ever that this human life is only to know God and be one with our Guru Consciousness. Experiences are what we study to pass this life exam and graduate to the final degree of LIBERATION.
Thank You, Father, my Guru Mohanji, for being there for all and raising our awareness to keep being continuously connected to Your Consciousness.
I had a dead heart in my hand, and when everything seemed to finish, YOU showed me the LIGHT within me, never ever to be forgotten to keep going on, and that you were, are and always will be there standing by the side of a true seeker.
Thank You with all my gratitude and prostration always.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 27th April 2023
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 211 – Measures of spiritual progress: People moving away
This path with Mohanji – the path of liberation, is a freedom from all bindings, patterns, habits, likes and dislikes (which we may have carried for a long time) and freedom from the mind – its push out into the world of experiences. It isn’t easy to gauge one’s progress, especially when caught up in activity and work. But a few measures that Mohanji has shared earlier are good points of reflection.
The first measure – only when you look back and see where you started- you understand what transformation happened. That’s something which I do from time to time. Mohanji shared that this is like a child growing, where you don’t see the obvious growth because it’s day by day, but you recognize when you need to buy new clothes or when they’ve outgrown those clothes.
That’s similar to our life, too. We can look at some signs to gauge that transformation, or progress, is always on what we’ve lost. That’s what I always come back to. Experiencing more freedom is losing/reducing aspects such as anger or jealousy, insecurities and fears. These have started to either drop away or their intensity reduced. There are no anxieties or unnecessary stresses.
The second measure (which we spoke about the other day) is related to frequencies. We are all frequencies, and naturally, similar frequencies attract each other. As we increase our frequency, it’s natural that our equation with others will also begin to change. I have experienced long-standing friendships fading away, which is natural. Speaking with Mohanji about this and others, this is entirely natural, is what I’ve learned.
At first, it was painful or confusing why tension happens in certain friendships or relationships, as those would have been due to habits, traits, personalities, or patterns one is expressing at that time.
As we move from our old frequency naturally, people begin to move away. But at the same time, again, more new people will come to match that current frequency. So, people who have the same vision and aspirations come together. One great thing about the Mohanji family is we have that in abundance with all the people that are part of it.
I’m always grateful for the wonderful people I interact with regularly. So this is another learning on the path or progress, you can call it, that the as we raise our frequency, it’s natural that people can begin to move away. We can take that as a sign that transformation is taking place and not something to worry about.
Day 212 – It’s not always as it appears to be
The other day, some of us were sitting with Mohanji, and he started talking about an award-winning short film he had recently watched. It was very short, less than two minutes. He liked it because it had an unexpected twist but a lasting impact. I’ll share the story first and then what I took from it, as Mohanji always shares something for a purpose.
This film is set in India and opens with a fairly well-off man who hails one of the auto-rickshaws (three-wheelers). He is seated in the back, with the driver in the front driving along. They stop at the signal and wait for some time. (If you’ve been to India, sometimes at traffic lights, you have people trying to sell things, or they come begging.)
A disabled man with a deformed leg on crutches approaches the auto-rickshaw. He’s very lean, doesn’t look too good, hasn’t had food for a while, and begs for money with his outstretched hand to the driver. The driver dismisses him and brushes him away.
The passenger watching this wonders, “Why is he doing this? This guy, he can give him something.” So, he calls over the disabled man and gives him some money. Then the traffic lights turn green, and they start driving again.
The passenger starts scolding the driver, saying, “Why don’t you give this poor man something? He’s clearly disabled; he can’t earn anything. Even if it’s just one rupee, it could have made him happy for the day; he could have bought warm tea. At least it would have given the boost.” He questions the driver, “How much do you earn in a day, maybe 1000 rupees? So, what’s one rupee to you? You can easily give this.”
The driver quietly drives on; he doesn’t say anything; he listens to the passenger. Silence ensues for the rest of the journey. They reach the destination, and the passenger goes to pay. He has a large note, a big currency note. The driver asks if he has any change, but the passenger doesn’t have change.
In a quiet, authoritative tone, the passenger tells the driver to go and get the change himself. “There’s a shop just over there; go and change it and come back.” The passenger is unhappy with what the driver did to this disabled man.
As the driver takes this money, he starts to unpack something underneath the seat from where his feet are. It’s a walking frame that has to be put together, various bits put together into a frame. It takes some time to put that together, and then he pulls himself out of the auto-rickshaw onto the frame. The passenger watches speechlessly as the driver hobbles step by step towards the shop.
It turns out that the driver is even more disabled than the man that was begging for money at the traffic lights.
You can take many things from that story. Mohanji shared that he liked it because of the impact it could make in such a short time. At one point, all would feel that the passenger is a good guy. He’s giving this poor, disabled person beggar some money, and the driver is a bad guy who doesn’t seem even to care. He’s not even talking about it.
But, in the end, you see the driver completely differently. The driver is more disabled, but he’s earning a living with integrity, and also, the driver didn’t say anything at all. He was utterly composed, silent, unaffected, and balanced despite his serious disability.
He could have easily said, “Look at me. I also have this situation, but look at me; I’m driving.” He could have been quick to fight, but he didn’t. This is also quite a powerful message.
It was a great story to reference back against Mohanji’s teachings: that we never really know what’s going on in life for somebody. We can be quick to make an opinion and form a judgement, but do we know if they are based on realities or truths, or are they just based on assumptions? A great lesson indeed.
The other lesson is the balance and stillness of the driver even though he has that situation happening around him. He was just wholly unaffected. I found that very powerful and wanted to share that today.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 23rd April 2023
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.
Dr Umesh is Mohanji’s school classmate and is a well known homoeopath serving many of the Mohanji followers through his homoeopathic medicines throughout the globe.
I was going through a lot of stress due to my work of converting my Kuwait clinic into an online clinic. It involves a lot of medicine work at the dispensary and also paperwork like scanning patient files, uploading all data etc. Added to that, I had a lot of financial commitments which I was unable to fulfill. This gave me tremendous mental strain, and I kept worrying a lot about it.
I decided to call Mohan and tell him about these problems and ask him to bless me so that I could overcome this situation. I kept thinking about this for a few days but somehow couldn’t find the right opportunity and time to tell him, although we had been conversing several times about many other things.
Mohan made video calls at times and gave me a glimpse of the beautiful place where he stays, at the Mohanji Center of Benevolence in Walpole, Australia. Finally, one night, it disturbed me to such an extent that I decided to call him up first thing in the morning when I woke up.
Surprisingly the next morning, I woke up around 4:15 am, and in that sleepy state, I quickly grabbed my mobile phone and recorded a message in my own voice as I was afraid that I might forget what I heard.
I had a dream in the early hours of the morning on the 11th of April. Mohan was sitting on a stage somewhere. I can see a lot of people sitting before him and listening to him. As I entered the place, he called out my name and said, “Umesh! This is for you. Please recite this mantra. Sarvottama Vasundhara Namo Namah.”
And he says it out three times, with his left hand lifted up, palm facing upwards and slightly flexed anticlockwise as he spoke the first part of the mantra. The next word he said with both hands brought close to his chest, with a peculiar gesture of his hands and fingers. Then the third part was with the typical Namaste pose.
And then……… I am asking a lady who’s beside me to please remember this mantra for me, as I want to learn it. I’m afraid I might forget, as Mohanji was repeatedly saying it. I could not believe that such a thing could happen to me – Mohan coming in my dream and giving me a solution to my problems. I can understand that I could dream of Mohan appearing in my dream, as many would have dreamt. But the fact that he told me a mantra that I had never ever heard before in life was absolutely astonishing.
I quickly googled to even see if such a mantra or such words ever existed. And the meaning of this mantra and the effects of reciting it were amazing. The next day I called Mohan and narrated the whole episode to him and its immediate effect on me.
And he said, “That’s a very powerful mantra; you should repeatedly chant this mantra as many times you can during the day, and this is going to change your life in several ways.” All that I could say at that moment to him was, “I love you Mohan.” He also advised me not to recite it after sunset.
Truly, it is a great blessing to be his classmate and a close friend and an even greater blessing to begin to realize, to see, to feel and to understand the awesome Mohanji in him. Jai Mohanji! I love you Mohan.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 20th April 2023
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.
I’ve mentioned before in some messages about how alert, aware, and always active Mohanji is relating to all the tasks that we’re conducting across the world. One of the things related to that, which still amazes me, is that the right information reaches him at exactly the right time. This could be in the form of a message or video, or maybe he’s just browsing something or something that catches his attention. But always, he seems to have this ability to act on the things that need attention immediately.
So, Mohanji is handling many activities across the world. We’re across five continents now, eighty countries, and growing. But despite that, he has a firm hand on the reins, and if there is anything that could slow down, derail, or ignite severe problems, he acts immediately; he doesn’t wait. This has been a lesson, actually, which I’ve learned the hard way a few times.
So, this can be a simple message, more of something that is posted on one of the pages or Facebook or something else. But whilst he gives full responsibility to those in charge, when something reaches his eyes, he acts immediately because he works on the premise that if something reaches him, then it’s asking for his attention. He never lets anything go, and he isn’t passive about seeing a problem, issue, or something like that. Immediately, he acts.
This was a good lesson for me because, especially moving into a place, from maybe some indifference towards certain things, or having passivity towards situations, on what I’d seen. It only took him a few times to ask me, “Have you seen this?” So, he would present it to me, and then I’d say, “Yeah, I’d seen that,” and then he would say, “Well, why didn’t you do anything about it? Do you not see what this could become? What this can be?” So, for me, these were seemingly small things.
But at that time, the intensity with which he would show this to me would be incredible. It’s difficult to explain that feeling when Mohanji takes an intense form, but it’s always to shift something. At that time, it was the move from that type of inertia and being passive to making sure that I was always being alert and aware, and if something reaches my attention, then perhaps it’s meant to reach my attention, so I should act.
As mentioned before as well, and as I’ve shared in other messages, we can’t be passive. Being passive sometimes is just as bad as taking part or being involved in an event that might not be good. Seeing something and not doing something about it really isn’t an option for Mohanji, especially if it has some potential complication for the work that we’re doing. This has been a good learning experience because now I look to include the same principle.
Although I might not have a view across everything, and can’t keep minute-to-minute track of everything that I’m involved in, if something comes to my attention, then I at least make sure I acknowledge that, and even if I need to act on it, because in most cases, it’s a warning or something that really does need attention, and if ignored, it could develop into something else.
Day 210 – Story Shared By Mohanji: The master and the young archer (patience, maturity and stability)
Yesterday, as we were driving in the car, Mohanji shared with us a story, which I believe is from one of the ancient scriptures in India. I don’t know the names of the characters. But he shared this as another one of those great stories, which in today’s modern times can have its meaning distorted. This has the themes of stability, patience, and maturity.
The story starts with a group of archers who are being trained by their master at the edge of a forest clearing, and then there are the deep woods just next to them. They are practising and training, and the dog’s barking very loudly, very noisily, and then eventually, the dog sees something in the forest and runs into the forest barking. After some time, the dog comes back to the group, and its mouth is completely shut with arrows. Many arrows have been fired into the dog’s mouth so that, like a sandwich, it can’t open its mouth, it can’t bark, but at the same time, it’s still alive. It’s not completely harmed.
The master sees this, and he’s curious, so he starts shouting out to the forest, “Who’s there? Come, show yourself.” After some time, a young tribal boy comes out of the forest with his bow and his arrows, and the master speaks to him. He said, “You’ve done an amazing job. How is it that you could silence that dog without actually killing it?” The young tribal boy said, “I learned all this from you,” and the master was confused. He said, “But when did I teach you?” He said, “When you were doing all these classes here. Whilst you were practicing here each day, I’ve been watching from the forest because I could never afford or it would not be possible to be with you because I’m a tribal person, and you may not take me as your student.”
The master was really, really surprised, and he said, “Well, you’re better than all of my students; you’ve done great. But please tell me, how is it that you shoot the arrow.” So, the tribal boy got his hand up, and he showed him with his hand: “Look, I do it here. I have my thumb, and then I have this thing…” The student was really happy that he’d finally got to meet and speak with the master. Out of reverence and respect, he says, “What can I give? You’ve taught me all this, although I haven’t been directly in your class; whatever you ask, I’ll give you whatever I have.” So, the master said, “Okay, I want your thumb.” Taking the thumb meant he was no longer going to be able to shoot the arrow.
So, that’s the story that Mohanji shared, and it can sometimes be confusing in these modern times. People will think that that’s discrimination, that the teacher is bad. But later, actually, when the master went back to the group, they asked him, “Why did you do this? Why did you take his thumb?” The master said, “It’s because I’m teaching you all these techniques so that you’ll not attack anybody. Self-defence is okay, but we’re not training to attack, and for that, we need one quality: patience, extreme patience, because people who fight and people who attack are imbalanced people.
Balanced, stable people, who are self-sufficient and in control of themselves, will not attack. That’s the minimum quality that my students should have. They should not attack. They can defend themselves. He attacked this poor dog, which could be any dog that’s just barking. What’s in a bark? It’s not a bite. I understood that this man could use his skill for offence, and I can’t allow any of my students to have offence in them because I carry that responsibility. I carry their karma.”
He said, “That’s the reason why. I fully appreciate his talents and fully like him, but he’s not mature. A true warrior should not fight. He can have all the talents but should be very patient. Then if somebody attacks, they can defend. They can defend the country, they can fight, and in extreme cases, kill. But a dog was barking… Why would you shoot an arrow? That’s why I took the thumb.”
This story, as it comes from ancient times, really is one of developing maturity. It’s also sharing that those who practice the scriptures, they’ll never kill, they’ll never offend, and they won’t harm anybody. People definitely shouldn’t harm for the sake of fun. I really enjoyed this story and wanted to share it with you.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 16th April 2023
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.
One paramount understanding from my time with Mohanji and his core teaching is that on the spiritual path – there is no journey. There’s nowhere to go – which was difficult to comprehend at first. Mohanji shares, “There’s nowhere to go; there’s only to be – be what we originally are because we already are that. We already are what we’re looking for.”
I understand that our essence is beyond our form, character, habits, likes, and the inside push and pulls that happen with our mind as we interact with the world and its variety. That it’s the energy (inside and outside) and in all beings – this was quite confusing as I was always orientated on practices – such as yoga and breath techniques, of learning more. I’d always believed I could gain something through more such practices. And so I’ve travelled worldwide, looking to be with specific teachers for certain practices, thinking that that would bring something.
But what Mohanji has shown is that, and also through his life example, the teaching that ‘You are that’. We already are what we’re looking for; we’re unique in what we are. We can also reach the highest by contemplating on what’s inside. We have to be. He said, “For that, we need silence.”
With silence, I’m starting to scratch the surface of a new understanding; I wouldn’t be able to say I’ve entirely grasped it as I was very stuck with the concept that silence is the external sounds, you know, “the world of noises”, you hear Mohanji say. For me, those were actual sounds – hearing with my ears.
But after a conversation with Mohanji, I realize it is more the inner sounds. I’m learning that this silence is more than the external sounds the ears can perceive. It’s also the silence from the internal push and pulls of desires which can rule a large part of our lives. In response to all of the world’s external temptations (sounds), some louder and others, some being more aware of, some less aware of, and others having more intensity and less intensity, now I am starting to observe those and also being able to remove myself from them. So, it feels like the cusp of an understanding – I’m sharing just an open dialogue here.
Mohanji shares, “It’s through deep contemplation, concentration, discipline and determination how we can experience and reach that place of silence and be what we truly are.” That’s carefully moving in the world, discounting and discarding everything we can consider silence not to be, so that, “I am not this, I am not my thoughts, etc.”
This has been one profound teaching and understanding from Mohanji, which will require a bit more time to contemplate that there is actually no journey – We are already there. We need to be.
Day 208 – A caution of the times
Today I share a message which is – A caution of the times.
Mohanji has shared that the current times, the configuration of events, tensions, and even the planets (Saturn and Mercury Retrograde) are creating a fertile ground for disharmony and conflict in our lives. During this time, misunderstandings, confusion, conflicts, and cross-communication can become more serious. As we can never be sure what the inner state of people is, it’s good to be careful with our interactions and handle relationships with care.
It’s a good reminder because, at such times, many people are like a tinderbox, ready to ignite. And once a fire begins, it’s difficult to stop. Emotions can spill over into anger and then into actions which can bring guilt and regret. That doesn’t mean situations can’t be turned around. We can diffuse many tense situations through discussion, respect and by listening more than speaking. Prevention is obviously better than the cure. Be mindful of this.
I’ve noticed that Mohanji is incredibly good at handling situations which have reached the igneous stage and need to be turned around. And he says there’s always a potential that if something’s happened, it can be turned around. There can be a reconciliation made, usually through discussion, respecting each other, treating each other well, listening to each other, and sharing views and opinions without judging or giving any real view on what has to happen.
Just letting people speak, letting people be. It can defuse a situation. So that’s the question in the message today.
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 9th April 2023
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 Bhoomi puja trip, Mohanji gave clear instructions on how he wanted the structure to be, what facilities to include, how to honour the Siddhas (elevated Masters) and how to enable continuous worship of Mt Arunachala. Our team, led by Mamuji (Mr Narinder Rohmetra, a retired Chief Engineer from Jammu, long-time senior member and pillar of the Mohanji family), started work.
Within a few weeks, the blueprint for the building was ready. A funding proposal document was also prepared in parallel. During the Mohanji Global Summit in Sri Lanka in February 2020, a short presentation on this project immediately led to an outpouring of financial support from various participants. Sometime in March, we began the process of looking for local vendors and contractors and raising more funds to allow us to start the project.
The Covid pandemic hit India very soon, and the entire country went into a hard lockdown. For months, no movement was possible. However, Master’s grace cannot be held back by mere physical lockdowns, nor can funds circulation. Our fundraising pitch brought forward members from the Mohanji family with generous donations, and by July 2020, we had garnered enough funds for phase 1 of the project!
By late August 2020, the lockdown began easing, and our priority was to drill a borewell to secure water for the plot. Tiruvannamalai is very dry, with the summers being exceedingly hot. Hence, having a reliable water source within our plot was of prime importance. Kishore, who had taken over as the project manager, did the homework to select the right contractors. The water diviners selected two spots for the borewell.
As per their assessment, the ideal location was very close to one of the audumbur saplings planted by Mooji and Mohanji. Further, our Vaastu expert also did not approve of that location for the water source. Hence, we decided to avoid that spot. The water diviner then suggested another area closer to the front side of the plot, saying this spot was also good but not his ideal location for water. With this fixed, the drilling work started on 20th September 2020.
A few hours later, Kishore called me, sounding a bit worried. They had reached a depth of 300ft with no sign of water. We had been told that a nearby plot had struck water at sub-100 feet. However, we did not give up and continued drilling. Eventually, they struck water at 440ft depth and went down to 560ft depth, assuring a steady supply of water to the site.
A few minutes before that, Ananth, who was in Mohanji’s home in Bangalore, had relayed this information to Mohanji, who had just walked in front of the altar, stood for a few seconds and moved on. Within 10 minutes of that, water was struck. Mohanji just smiled and said, “It is all grace!” Soon after, a motor was installed, and we had a functional water source for the centre. In this manner, a beautiful solution emerged that respected the sacred plant and Vaastu principles, yet the centre’s water needs would be met, even from a sub-optimal water source.
The next priority was to obtain the necessary approvals for construction. This process can be tricky as various departments are involved, and getting accurate information is often the biggest challenge. Initially, we were told the process could take 3-6 months and would involve multiple rounds of visits to various government departments. While exploring this issue with other contacts, we were led to a person via Ramana (the caretaker of the old-age shelter) who promised to get the whole process done within 30-45 days for a small fraction of the estimated expenses.
A few days later, we learnt that the Government had officially announced that all plan permits up to 10,000 square feet could be approved by local bodies (e.g. gram panchayat). What seemed like a 3-6 month process and a potentially large expense was reduced to a short timeframe and a marginal expense with the local village panchayat. As it turned out, our plan approval came within 30 days. Our temporary electricity connection was set up, so before Diwali in November 2020, the lights came on at our site, and we were ready for construction.
Meanwhile, Mamuji and Kishore worked hard to shortlist contractors and find the best team for the job. This was challenging since the Covid lockdown had severely affected labour availability and costs. Nonetheless, Mamuji, true to his cost-saving instincts, drove a hard bargain that got us the best possible deal with the chosen contractor. Through Shaju, a fellow Mohanji family member at FICCI (India’s largest industry association), we also negotiated with a cement major to give us preferential rates (almost 20% discount) for our cement supplies, given the non-profit nature of the organisation (Ammucare) and the project objectives.
We also obtained competitive rates for iron rods and thus saved a substantial sum in the two biggest cost items. Our construction work officially began in mid-December 2020 – much later than we would have liked, but quite quickly, considering the effect of the Covid lockdowns across Tamil Nadu and the country. Once construction started, work continued steadily (except for the 2nd lockdown in early 2021) with hardly any stoppage for funds or any other reason.
Our original plan was to complete phase 1 (just the ground floor) and leave the rest for later. However, during construction, the plans changed to complete the first floor as well as we amazingly received donations to support this progress as well. Kishore took a strategic and brave decision to relocate (with family) to Tiruvannamalai for the project’s duration, which helped us keep a firm grip and fast pace on the project. As a result, the project reached a near-completion stage of the ground and first floor by late July 2021.
During this entire construction phase, as observers of how things actually moved, we can only marvel at how the whole process was smoothened by grace. Be it the timely availability of funds, material resources, and cost savings of the right order, the right people or the proper approvals, every aspect started off with some obstacles that dissolved within a few days. If there was only one or two of them, one could have attributed it to sheer luck. The number of such instances leads us to the only conclusion that is explainable – this project is sacred, and divine forces beyond our comprehension are powering it. Otherwise, to see the construction of such a scale complete within seven months during the Covid pandemic is nothing but impossible!
The Commencement Ceremony and thereafter: Miracles galore
While construction was still going on, we had not yet set a final date for completing Phase 1. One day in late July 2021, Mohanji called and asked us to fix a launch date soon. He was still in Europe; however, he wanted the progress to accelerate. He said that we had made a promise to the seniors and needed to deliver on it, and further delays would not be good. He also mentioned that this place would be home to not just the elders but that many Siddhas of Arunachala would visit and bless the centre.
Considering that the project was visualised in late 2018, it had been almost 3 years, so we understood the reason for Mohanji’s request. This reminder from Mohanji gave fresh wings to the work progress. We finalised the date as Krishna Janmashtami, also the death anniversary of Ammu (Mohanji’s daughter who died in a tragic road accident in 2000 and was the inspiration for the setup of Ammucare, as well as Mohanji’s journey into the world of spirituality and humanitarian work).
When this date was set, we had less than four weeks and plenty of work to complete. Mamuji was concerned about the deadline since he knew the finishing work on such a project always took far longer than one estimated, quite different from all the structural work that had been completed already. Nonetheless, with Kishore on-site and with inspiration from Mohanji, the team accelerated work.
The original plan was to conduct a big inauguration. We made a list of dignitaries in Tiruvannamalai to invite them and seek their blessings for the project’s launch. However, we eventually pared the program down as it became clear that the building would not be complete. Our focus changed from aesthetics to the bare essentials required to make the centre liveable for our seniors. Hence, the emphasis went on a working kitchen, clean toilets, beds and basic furniture, staff for the centre and such aspects.
Besides the construction, we had also run into a challenge with the staffing. The original plan was for the entire old age shelter to shift to this home. However, as we approached the finish line, Ramana – the shelter caretaker – spoke to us and requested that he would like to continue operating his centre. During the Covid pandemic, thanks to generous donors, his position of managing the centre had become a bit better, and the threat of eviction by the municipality also seemed to be at bay. He offered to support us with his expertise – with people as well as sending elderly people to our home so that both centres could operate in parallel.
When we heard this, our first response was that of surprise since this, in a way, challenged the entire premise of building this home. Upon reflection, we realised that this was a blessing in disguise. The old-age shelter’s situation had been the catalyst for launching this noble project. Now that it was ready for operations, perhaps this was the Masters’ way of providing more support for the elderly. So we decided to honour Ramana’s request and proceed with our plans as before. Mohanji had decided to set up this home to serve the seniors, and we would stay true to that purpose. We quickly identified staff to serve at the centre, including some resources from Ramana’s shelter and prepared ourselves for full-fledged operations.
For the launch ceremonies, the astrologers suggested the 29th and 30th of Aug 2021, coinciding with Krishna Janmashtami. We also renamed the function to a Commencement Ceremony to signify that activities would commence from 1st September, i.e. some seniors would actually move in and start living in the Mohanji Home for Seniors.
The pujas were to be officiated by our Mohanji family members – Vasudevan Namboodiripad (from Palakkad), aided by our Kerala lead volunteer, Devadas. They brought the essentials for the pujas and conducted 3 different pujas – a Navagraha homa, a Ganapathi homa, and a Bhagavathi seva over 29th and 30th Aug. The pujas were conducted with great austerity. We placed a life-size photo frame of Mohanji at the reception so that he would literally welcome everyone into the home. Within a day, the change of the vibrations in the centre was palpable, almost like Mohanji and the Siddhas of Arunachala were blessing the project for success, considering the noble service that was to start at the home.
I was privileged to be there throughout these pujas and observed how smoothly things fell into place. Till a few weeks back, work was happening, but without a fixed deadline as such. But as soon as Mohanji drove the focus to a set date, everything began to fit together – another example of how Mohanji’s aagnya shakti (commanding power) moves mountains.
Further, we had a series of wonderful experiences on the days of the pujas. Whenever we conduct a puja/ homa, there is a sacred intention (sankalpa), and our main wish is that our offerings are accepted. For the Mohanji Home for Seniors, our main sankalpa was for the project to be successful so that we may serve many seniors with purity and compassion. On those days, we had four separate incidents that gave us clear, unmistakable signs that the deities and Masters were happy with the pujas in specific and the project in general.
1) On 29th August, the morning ceremony was a Ganapati homa (fire ritual to Lord Ganesha). The ceremony lasted for over an hour. When it was over, the priest distributed the prasad (consecrated offering) – a special dish made with puffed rice, sesame, coconut shavings and sweetened with jaggery. As soon as we began giving this out, a black dog appeared at the back door (the door that faces Mt Arunachala), looking intently at us. Usually, dogs don’t like sweet offerings, but not this one. He lapped it all up and even went for seconds and thirds till he had more than his fill of the prasad. Black dogs are usually associated with Bhairava, a form of Lord Shiva, and this was a fulfilling thought for us that Lord Arunachaleshwara himself had accepted our offerings.
2) That afternoon, our whole group had been invited to lunch at Yogi Ramsuratkumar ashram by Ma Devaki, who always treats us with great affection and love. As I mentioned earlier, we started our fieldwork on this project by taking Yogiji’s (and Ma Devaki’s) blessings. Hence, it only seemed appropriate that we offer our gratitude at Yogiji’s feet at the time of commencement. On this day, before proceeding for lunch, I went to their office to offer a donation to the ashram – yet another learning from Mohanji: offer gratitude and support at every possible opportunity.
While giving us the donation receipt, the lady at the counter also handed over the thick pictorial book produced for Yogiji’s centenary in 2019 (this book also had an article by Mohanji, so it was extra special for us). This was a pleasant surprise and a blessing to receive this book now so that it can be kept in the Mohanji Home for Seniors library. A yellow butterfly fluttered past the manager as soon as I said this. He immediately pointed out that Yogiji had made his presence felt (Yogiji had declared that he would show his presence as a butterfly every now and then). In this case, the location (behind the counter glass cubicle, far away from the outside door) and the timing (just a second after our conversation) left no doubt that this was a sign indeed from the great Master!
3) In the evening, the ceremony at the Mohanji Home was Bhagawathi Seva, or worship of the Divine Mother. After the puja was over, prasad was distributed to all. This time, the prasad was a payasam (a gooey sweet rice dish with an overload of jaggery and sugar). Almost on cue, a white dog appeared at the back door and happily lapped up a few leaf platefuls of the prasad. A white dog is associated with Goddess Lakshmi, a form of the Divine Mother, making us feel happy that the day’s proceedings were successful.
4) We received a call from Kishore’s home at this point. A great Avadhoota saint had called Revathy (Kishore’s wife and a Mohanji Acharya) and said he would come to their house to have payasam (a sweet dish). This saint is an ardent worshipper of Divine Mother and is well aware of Mohanji and his work across the world. On this day, as the Bhagawathi Seva was completed, his asking for the same payasam at Revathy’s house as prasad was a confirmation that the Divine Mother herself had accepted our offering.
We requested the saint to also visit the home and bless the project. Being an Avadhoota, he did not commit, despite our fervent requests. However, the next day, he called and said he would visit in the afternoon. This was perfect timing as his visit was on 31st August, just a day before the seniors were to actually start living in the home. His visit, in a way, rounded off the series of blessings for the project to take off successfully.
The Mohanji Home for Seniors started operating on 1st September as planned, with 5 sadhus moving in. But interestingly, over time, we began to realise that the home was an abode not just for the elders who we could see but several others whom our eyes could not see. For example, the staff regularly noticed that the food offered to the Lord is consumed, and only part of it is visible the next day, despite the kitchen being completely closed! A few months since commencement, a routine has been established, and the seniors spend their days in an atmosphere of peace, love and affection. Our staff lovingly serves them freshly cooked meals, their clothes and hygiene are well tended to, and doctors check on their health regularly.
Aaratisare performed regularly to Mohanji and Mount Arunachala. Festivals are celebrated in great style, and every attempt is made to ensure that the seniors feel at home and part of the extended Mohanji family. Mohanji visited the home, along with his parents, and provided additional guidance to the team to enhance the quality of our services. He also inspired our team to accelerate the construction work to complete the first and second floors in their entirety and consider the building complete in all respects. That is now our focus, and we hope to reach that milestone soon.
Conclusion
As I write this in February 2022, I can only marvel at how smoothly this entire project has taken shape. I have had the privilege of being involved in it from the early stages and literally had a front-row seat to see Mohanji’s grace and vision play out seemingly invisibly. When we string together the various incidents and reflect on what has been achieved and what instead could have been, we begin to appreciate the gravitas of this project. On behalf of everyone involved with this project – volunteers, donors, and project managers – I can only say how grateful we are for the opportunity to be a part of such a historical project.
As I started the day today, I saw Mohanji’s quote for the day on the table calendar: “At the end of the day, it is just grace and blessings which make a difference in regular life. Gratitude opens doors for grace to flow.” Truer words could not have been spoken, and I am smiling at how Mohanji sends the right message yet again!
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 6th April 2023
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 205 – It only requires a look for Mohanji to begin working
In the past few days that we’ve been in Belgrade, we’ve spent a lot of time doing video shoots and photo shoots with Mohanji around various parts of the city, various locations, and at different times of the day, at sunrise, at sunset, and also at night. Some great footage has been collected, which we can use for future videos. So, looking forward to what comes from it. It was great shots by the fortress, which overlooks the city; we had drone footage and also photos and videos of Mohanji walking through the streets of Belgrade city.
The other night when we reached home, it was quite a late night because the shooting had extended, so we were out longer than expected. I noticed that his stomach had ballooned to double the size. It was even more noticeable because he’s much leaner now. When I asked about it or when we spoke, he said that he had just picked up a lot of people that day. As he was walking, as he was going through the various locations, he was picking up from everybody. He said he had a lot of work to do that night to burn it all.
As he walked through the streets, stopped at the crosswalk, sat in restaurants, and casually chatted with us in the high streets, many people would have been curious about what we were doing, especially as we had cameras. What I understand now is it only takes for someone just to see him, to see the form, to see Mohanji for a few moments, for a connection to happen. Then his work starts.
I’ve shared before that I’ve seen the effects of Mohanji taking on from other people, and in fact, it’s not just people but also spaces where he goes; the area automatically starts to be cleansed. Still, for me, much of what he does is completely unseen. Yet, these signs, such as the stomach expanding, as if he’s taking it all inside his belly, are just like looking through a keyhole into something much grander.
Now, Mohanji only speaks a little or nothing about it. It’s only when he’s prompted or if I ask. He always says simply, “I do my job.” He’s very clear about that. I was thinking then, of all the people who would have been seeing him that day, they would have had no idea who he was. Maybe they would not even remember seeing him as they passed; they could have just caught a passing glance through the side of their eye or a momentary look as we were stopped and had the cameras getting ready. But that would have been enough for him to start working for them. And something will have changed in their life for the better, for sure. They will be lighter and happier.
That, for me, is always something that’s quite amazing to think about as he walks these places, as people just see him; he’s always working, always collecting and transforming people’s lives. I’d asked him sometimes about this as well, whether there is a limit. It was probably a silly question because there is no limit. Whether two hundred, two thousand, or two million people connect to him, it doesn’t matter. He can expand to that size, that capacity, which is quite, I would say, an exciting, inspiring possibility because of all the transformation that I’ve experienced in my life and seen in others.
If more people connected to him in that way, then that’s only going to increase the positivity in the world.
Day 206 – Repeating Patterns
Today, I wanted to share another message on patterns because our lives are governed by patterns. This is what drives us, and breaking these patterns is very difficult. But it’s necessary to do that if we want to take steps towards liberation because that’s what we’re freeing ourselves from. I’ve shared before that being with Mohanji; it’s a constant shaking and breaking of this. I mean, the work itself, the actual activity, is incredibly demanding. But on top of that, when you put the additional internal reconstruction that’s happening all the time, it makes it even more challenging. Because everything is being tested, everything that’s potentially binding is being shaken, pushed, squeezed, and shown as a mirror. This includes attitudes, opinions, personal habits, thought processes, jealousies, judgment, and all these types of things.
Being with him the past year, it’s like having to jump many internal hurdles to overcome some of these really strong patterns. It seems endless, there’s no end in sight, but we have to keep going. That’s uncomfortable, actually, in a lot of cases because, for me, it’s shown a lot of my shadow side, as some practices name it. That’s the side of us that we can’t really see outwardly or are conscious of, but it’s there. Often, these are the things that we wouldn’t like to admit about ourselves, about how we are.
So, I’m sharing this again because I was speaking with Mohanji about patterns. He was reinforcing the point that these cannot be underestimated because they’re essentially deeply rooted within our identity, and he helped me understand this in a different way, which made me really catch on to the idea of how powerful patterns are. Because he said simply that people recognise me as Greenwood or Christopher Greenwood because they’ve understood, accepted, and recognised the sum total of all my patterns. So, whether I like it or not, the consistency of my patterns is actually how people recognise me. That’s the identity that society gives me. People will say, “I know Christopher; he is like this, so I know him.” That’s an interesting perspective. What I experienced when I began to change patterns, connect with this path, understand spirituality, connect with myself more and change things about myself is that friends, people, who were used to that pattern or the consistency of the pattern, thought I’d had gone crazy because they’d accepted one pattern as Christopher, and now there was another one, which was being put in front, so the acceptance level was being affected.
So, it was something different. I was okay with this. But I know that for some people, it can be a challenge. Inside most of us, I feel there’s a desire to be accepted. So, changing patterns is personally difficult, and then it becomes even more challenging because of society, which also when we speak about this topic if you extend the logic into society, society as itself doesn’t exist. It’s a construct of the sum total of the people who have collectively agreed that this is the society. So they’ve also agreed on a set of individual patterns. For example, you become a child, you go to school, you’re educated, you have a job, you get married, you have children, then there is retirement, and so on, and in the middle, you’ve bought a house. So, when we become aware of these patterns and start detaching from them, we start to move more into the flow of life, moving with the present.
Following on with the conversation, I asked Mohanji how we could then overcome patterns, really. Because this is a question I’ve had before, and Mohanji shared that, firstly, the point is awareness. Recognising that this is a pattern I have. For example, if I become jealous, or I tend to criticise, or I judge, then I need to have that awareness that it exists. The second is to then counter it. I use jealousy as an example. If we have jealousy, it’s a pattern that affects us. It can be countered by changing that to appreciation, and we can then communicate it with that person. Because then it’s cleared from the system, and there’s no need to hold on to it.
The same is if there are judgments. Rather than holding a judgment, speaking to other people about it, and sharing that opinion with others, you can direct it in a polite way. So, we can give suggestions: “Hey, I noticed you’re doing this. But why don’t you consider doing it this way, I have this suggestion. You don’t need to accept it. But I felt it was really important from my side to share; it may be good for you.”
This way, it’s cleared from our system. So, like that, patterns can be overcome. These ones, in particular, can be good because it also creates more friendship. It’s with the person, whereas intense jealousies and judgments can spiral to separation. Even if they are patterns, only some have those patterns!
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 2nd April 2023
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