By Vijay Phanshikar:
The subtle smile comes from within. The glow on the face also springs from this depth and spreads throughout his being. When spiritual master Sri M speaks, words, too, emerge from an inner sanctorum spelling out the truth in simple terms – clear, well-defined, well-written, with a clear sense of purpose. The question is complex: in the current chaos, how should the individual relate to the collective? In other words, what kind of relationship must exist between the individual and the society? When everyone is so meticulously egotistical, who will care for the greater social good? And when a lot of people stick their noses into bigger issues without any sense of focus or commitment, how do you control this kind of temperamental indulgence? “I understand your concern,†Sri M says in his soft but firm voice as the morning glow appears through the window. What follows is an exchange of a rare kind – highlighting critical aspects of the quintessential Indian wisdom acquired and accumulated over centuries of enriched social, cultural and spiritual discourses all brought together into one.
Sri M recalls the triple attributions that Lord Shrikrishna shares with Arjuna as an eternal solution to the way a human individual should behave in life: Control of emotions; a quiet mind; and desire and effort for the well-being of all – Sarvepi Sukhina Bhavantu! “These three attributes can make the difference that concerns us. And the effort in this direction must begin from childhood. Sanskaar must take place at the right time and in the right way. Change has to take place in the mind. The effort must be to instill satva guna in human consciousness. Through education, family upbringing, careful care of right thinking and doing, this can be achieved, â€says Sri M with a smile, very sure of the correctness of the path. A reference to her sadhanaa in the Himalayas enhances the glow of her ever-energetic face that defies her 73 years. With his long gray-white hair tied behind his head, Sri M’s forehead shines and his eyes sparkle as he remembers how his guru – Babaji – asked him to come out of the Himalayan cave and give up a style of ascetic life. to resume a normal life. “I said, ‘but Babaji, I am very happy here, unaffected by the traps of the world, enjoying a sense of liberation. Why should I go back? ‘ But Babaji said, I couldn’t call it liberation if I haven’t been tested in a real sense by the material dimensions. This test will prove it to you. … â€, says Sri M.
Of course, the rest is history, in the all too well known sense of its countless thousands of followers around the world. Through his Satsang Foundation, he launched multiple projects and efforts to educate people in spiritual pursuit, motivate them to follow a transparent and simple lifestyle. Vedic hymns and upanishadic verses flow with Ganges-like ease as Sri M explains his overall vision. “The ancient wisdom of India tells us to live a life of complete unity – we think together, we act together, we follow in the footsteps of our wise ancestors and sages and gods, striving for the happiness of all – Lokah Samastaa ! Time and time again, the conversation comes back to the mind zone. “The mind is the key to human conduct. He has no boundaries. It is in the mind that we have the keys to both slavery and salvation. So the effort should be to properly shape the mental process, â€Sri M says in a gentle affirmation. His talks on Yoga find a reference in the conversation.
The thought is directed towards the famous ancient treatise by Patanjal Yogasutra (which is a collection of several explaining formulas, highlighting the dimensions of yoga as a science of spiritual upliftment, categorized into four mega-chapters). “Sire, Patanjal Yogasutra begins with the affirmation Athah Yoganushashanam:“ Here begins the disciplined pursuit of Yoga. What does this anushashan – discipline – mean? To this question, the answer offers a wonderful elaboration: “It concerns the control of the faculties – from physical posture to mental processes. It prepares for the long journey on the path of spirituality. This discipline helps the human body to attain basic physical form and the mind to attain fundamental stillness. And the best tool that one can use in this sadhanaa is restraint, a well modulated moderation in Ahaar (consumption of food), Vihaar (movement), Achaar (conduct) and Vichaar (cognition) â€, says Sri M.
The seer smiled at the question about his family commitment: does it not reside in your thoughts and your action as an ascetic? “It actually reinforces that feeling. In this ecosystem, all my beliefs, all my sense of focus, discipline and restraint are put to the test. I can practice what I believe in and what I preach, â€he said in effect. The conversation also revolves around formal religion, narrow ideologies, harmony and the unity of society. On each of them, Sri M offers authentic and convincing answers. And the reason is simple: he does not insist on any point. He suggests. He assists in the thought process – like a guru (spiritual master) that he is. Such an exchange can hardly be called an interview. At best it can be described as Innerview!
