New Zealand tour.14th December.
We left home around 6.15 am. I carried my master’s morning food with me. I forgot that liquids are not allowed beyond the security check so I had to throw away the water and milk which I had carried for Guruji! Serving him is always a pleasure. It was Monday and Guruji was in maun ( ie observing silence). But the way he manages is amazing. We reached Auckland on time. At the immigration they saw some powder in Guruji’s white cloth bag. Since New Zealand has strict rules related to what one can bring in to the country, I was worried what steps the immigration authorities might take. I informed Guruji what they were asking. Guruji smiled and signalled saying not to worry. They asked me whether it was curry powder. I said yes. They let us go without any problem.
Neha was waiting with her friend Malini to welcome Guruji to Auckland. All these years Neha has had a phobia of driving a car on the motor way. That day she says it was amazing that for the 1st time she drove without any fear!
After reaching we gave Guruji his afternoon food and let him rest.Later people came to visit him. The people who came were very much in need of Guruji’s help. Guruji assured them not to worry. They were so drawn to Guruji, and said that they haven’t seen any one like him.
When it was around sunset Guruji came out and had his dinner. Anita who is an old disciple of Guruji came with her daughters. . She has been associated with Guruji from the time Guruji was with Bade Guruji is the U.S. around 23 years back. It was a pleasure to see Guruji’s expression when he saw her. After Guruji finished his dinner, we all sat at his feet or near him. That was a magical moment .
15th December.
After breakfast we went to see Cornwell park. Guruji was very happy to see the greenery everywhere. He went on saying that Auckland is very green. He wanted to know what the meaning of “Auckland” and “Kiwi” was. There are no wild animals there as New Zealand is a volcanic settlement and Guruji said with out the animals ‘Sannata lagta hai’, ( it was quiet and lonely) despite the country being so clean and green. After visiting the park, we came home to have lunch. Once Guruji had lunch, we took him to the local clinic as Guruji needed a prescription. In this part of the world to get a prescription is not easy but with Guruji even the impossible becomes possible. Looking at Guruji the Kiwi doctor bowed and explained to him about the prescription. When we came out, she asked Neha who he was as she has not seen such calm and serenity around some one before.
16th December.
After breakfast the family who had visited the previous day had invited Guruji to their house, so we went there. Guruji was concerned about their welfare and discussed a few things that they should do based on Vastu and what he felt about the energy of the house. He blessed them and returned. He started to meditate for them. When he came out for lunch he was feeling tired. My mind was thinking whether it was because he sends energy to the person in need which makes him tired or was there any other reason. We cancelled the evening programme of taking him for a scenic drive.
Later we all gathered near Guruji and asked him many questions. He explained the significance of the colours we wear on the different days of the week.He said that on Monday and Friday we should wear white. On Sunday and Tuesday we should wear pink. On Wednesday blue , on Thursday yellow colour and on Saturday black colour. We chanted Namokar for a short while. With Guruji present it was a beautiful experience. It was another great day with Guruji
17th December.
At breakfast time the next morning we asked Guruji how he was feeling. As usual he said he was alright but we could feel that he was not his usual self. So we decided that it was better that Guruji rested all morning as he had a Pravachan in the evening.
In the evening we went to the Sai Bhajan group. Around 300 people had gathered there. Guruji spoke about Sai Baba. One of the experiences he narrated I thought is worth mentioning. He said he had a blessed coconut from Shirdi with him when a devotee in Denver requested Guruji that she wished to have a child and to pray for her, Guruji gave the blessed coconut to her. She was blessed with a baby shortly thereafter.
Every one who met Guruji was very drawn to him. All of them were saying they had not seen such a pure soul. We came back from the Pravachan and stayed with Guruji for a short time after which he went to rest.
18th December.
As Neha had invited 30 people in the evening we were very busy on that day cooking food for all the people and Guruji. Mythili (Neha’s daughter) arrived that day from her conference and felt very connected to Guruji once she met him. We all gathered that evening around Guruji enjoying his radiance and his energy. We started with Namokar chanting. Then Guruji started explaining about Namokar. Each time he explains it gives a deeper meaning to the Mantra. He explained how by bowing down to the Arihanth our ego and attachment can disappear. The 4 things that help to come out of ego and attachment are Sayyam ,Tapa ( penance) Mantra and Dhyan ( meditation). We are apoorna because of our ignorance. It was a great talk by Guruji. Every one wanted to meet, talk and call him to their place. As Sai Baba says, because of one person the whole crowd benefits when Saints give Pravachan.
19th December.
Next morning after breakfast Neha’s husband Girish took Guruji and me for a scenic drive. We felt refreshed looking at the greenery and breathing the clean pure air. Guruji liked the scenery and went on saying how nice it was to see that so many trees had been preserved.
That evening was special as Neha and Anita had arranged Guruji’s talk in a big hall (around 250 -300 seats capacity) called the Frickling Centre, which they had hired for that purpose. For 6-8 weeks they had been announcing Guruji’s programme on radio Tarana to attract as many people as possible for this talk. They had even put up posters in many places. Neha went ahead early to set the stage. Girish drove Guruji, me and Avaneesh (Neha’s son) to the hall. The stage had been set beautifully by Neha and Anita. Anita’s daughter Priya introduced Guruji to the audience. Guruji talked about Mantra and its effect. He chanted the Saraswathi Mantra - "Arahana mukha kamala vasini...." It was divine. I heard him chanting this after a long time. Tears started rolling down my cheeks.
All the people gathered there went on saying that they had not met any saint like Guruji. One old lady said she wished Guruji would stay longer and do more Pravachans and she would attend. This is how Guruji’s love touches people’s hearts.
20th December.
After breakfast Mythili came with her friend who very interested in learning more about spirituality. It was amazing to see a native young person so drawn towards non violence and spirituality.
After that people came to meet Guruji as it was his last day in Auckland. In the evening Anita had invited Guruji to her home. Around 20 -25 people had gathered there. Guruji spoke about non violence and Jainism. Any beings with life force should not be hurt. We should not hurt any beings with our mind, speech or body. Then he talked about 8 types of sins. He explained Namokar in a different way this time. He said that the 1st line in Namokar represents white colour, which destroys ego and attachment. The second line represents red colour, which gives energy. Third line represents yellow colour which is for memory, decision making and healing. 4th line representing blue (sky blue colour) and green, is for prana shakti. 5th line is for the left side of the head with smoky gray colour which is for sadness. One could see his love pouring for Anita. He said she is a person of pure heart.
21st December.
It was time for Guruji and me to leave. From the time we woke up both Neha and I were very sad. When Guruji came for breakfast I started crying. Neha too could not hold back her tears. It was very hard to think of departing from Guruji. Guruji had that serene smile on his face. Neha and I both asked him for forgiveness for any mistakes in our Seva ( looking after him). Avanish drove Guruji and me to the airport. We finished all the formalities and sat there for little while. Neha repeatedly requested Guruji to visit Auckland every year. Guruji replied as he always does ‘we will see’.
Till the time of boarding we were in the lounge with Guruji. I served the Master with little things available there. When the time came we went to the gate where he was boarding. I couldn’t hold back my tears. He just waved, smiled and went. My return journey to Sydney was so empty.
A special mention about Neha’s cats.
Neha has 3 cats in her house- Muffy who is very spiritual, Pika who is also very spiritual but is very wary of strangers as she is a rescued cat and has not been treated well by people and Yoda who is not at all spiritual. Guruji always used to enquire about them all.
Guruji never failed to ask if these cats had been fed before he started eating his meals. Such is his love for all animals. Here you can see a true enlightened being as only such a being can see “oneness in all’. True Ahinsa begins not just by being a vegetarian but also by respecting and loving these beautiful animals who share the planet with us. Guruji explained that his Bade Guruji ( HH Sushil Kumar ji) would call them “Bin jholi ke phakir” . He went on to say that we should always feed them and help them.
There is a lot to learn and a lot to improve. I seek Guruji’s pardon for our mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly.
Once again my pranams at Guruji’s lotus feet
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