--- In [email protected], "do.rflex" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Guru Dev Did Not Accept Money > > . . . There was an explanation for almost everything, even perhaps for > his magical hold on his audiences.. But wherefrom did he get the money > to meet the lavish expences he incurred? He did not seek funds. He did > not accept donations. In fact he had put up a signboard in > Jyotishpeeth Bhavan that read, "Worthy of worship, Infinitely > bestowed, Universal Guru Shankaracharya Jyotishpeethhadheeshwar, Swami > Brahmananda Saraswati-ji Maharaj prohibits those coming for his > darshan, pooja, deeksha, etc. to make offerings of wealth." The title > "Infinitely Bestowed" given to him by his devotees had been used for > the first time before a Shankaracharya's name as if it explained his > unlimited financial adequacy. > > There is an interesting incidence in this connection. In 1950, > Acharya Shri [Guru Dev] was staying in Lucknow. Ruler of Daleepur > State, Shri Pashupati Pratap Singh, had gone there for darshan. One > day the Raja proposed to him, "I have a mission in Allahabad which I > would like to donate to the Jyotirmath so that you have a > Shankaracharya ashram in that holy city." > > Acharya Shri declined the offer. Reason: He did not accept > donations. But when the Raja persisted with his offer, Acharya agreed > to purchase it in a regular manner and have the sale deed drawn in his > name. He then called the Raja's secretary and asked him about the > price. "Last year," the secretary said, "we had put up this property > for sale and were demanding Rs. 100,000 for it but the highest offer > we got was Rs. 65,000, so the deal did not materialize." > > Acharya Shri thought that perhaps if he could get sixty-five > thousand rupees from his hidden reserve, he might as well get a > hundred thousand. Next day, he handed the money to the Raja of > Daleepur and, on the latter's request, sent a man with him to > Allahabad for getting the deed registered. > > That was done. But it let loose quite a storm of whispers. How did > Acharya Shri get hold of one lakh rupees when he never accepted > donations and had no regular source of income? The registrar was > asked, whether the money was actually paid during the time of > registration. Yes, he saw it with his own eyes. Were the notes real? > Yes, they looked like real currency notes. > > Two months later, Acharya Shri happened to visit Allahabad.. > People asked him, "Maharaj Shri, you do not accept money from anyone > but you gave one lakh to the Raja. Where did it come from? > > "No human being was involved with this," was the cryptic reply. > But it did not satisfy the listeners, who kept pestering him to > resolve the mystery. So he tried, "During the time of the Mahabharat > when the Kauravas unabashedly tried to strip Draupadi naked, where > from did come yard upon yard of the sari she was wearing. And it was > of the same colour, same design yard upon yard. Not different colours. > Same colour, same design. When God gives, he gives all that is > required: the whole thing --- the real thing. What could take place at > the time of the Mahabharat can take place now. God has not changed. He > is beyond all change." > ___ > > > A Further Explanation > > [NOTE: At the age of nine years, Guru Dev left home to seek a worthy > guru. THe following is a brief explanation of his never needing for > anything.] > > > . . . Without rest, without sleep, unafraid of the desolate night, he > moved on and on and on [up the Ganges river bank]. On and on and on. > Hungry or thirsty, or hungry and thirsty he drank a few mouthfuls of > the Ganga water with his hollowed palm. and moved on. On and on. > > One day passed. > > Two days. > > What a destiny to give someone so young in years! And also to give > him the fortitude that enabled him to pass it! > > It was nearing sunset on the third day. The young traveller was > moving onwards, kicking up a lot of dust, leaping over shrubs, when a > zamindar [village landlord] noticed him and wondered who he was and > where he was going. He tried to send for him through his servant, but > could he dare to do that and insult the young traveller moving so > freely and with such single-minded intent? When the servant failed to > elicit response, the zamindar went himself. "Who are you?" the > zamindar asked, when he caught up to him at last. > > Came the reply, Why do you want to know? What is your intention?" > > He entreated, "All I want to know is who you are and why are you > going in such a great hurry on this rugged path at such an odd time." > > The young acetic said, You are not in a position to know whether > this is the right path or the wrong path, or the right time or the > wrong time. Sufficient for you to know that I'm travelling from Kashi > to the Himalayas in order to meditate. Go mind your business and don't > trouble me for nothing." > > The zamindar taken aback somewhat mustered the courage enough to > say softly. Maharaj, may I ask you when and where on the way you > begged for food?" > > He got the reply, "So far the Ganga water has been my food and drink." > > "Then come and have some food and rest before going further. That > will give me satisfaction. Morover. it's getting to be dark. > > "I'm not going to knock at anyone's door for food. As for > satisfaction, I cannot believe that your giving me a meal would give > you satisfaction. Satisfaction means that no desires remain and after > that no desires arise. Your giving me alms is not going to give you > that satisfaction. That can come only if you know the Supreme Essence, > knowing which all else is known, and obtaining which nothing remains > unobtainable. So make such efforts that bring you real satisfaction." > > What a glorious philosophy from such an innocent mouth! The > zamindar wondered about the extent of learning that must be in the > institution that produced such talk from the lips of a mere youngster. > > Milk was arranged on the river bank itself. Our philosopher friend > poured two-thirds of it into the river as an offering in repayment of > the water he had drunk during the last three days. The river goddess > was immensely pleased and gave him a boon: He would never again need > to quench his hunger with water alone. And indeed it so happened that > during the many years that he spent in the lonely caves or thick > jungles or barren plains, he never had to beg for food and yet came > aplenty in some form or the other. Many a time on dark dismal nights > he would receive pots of cream and baskets of fruit from nowhere -- - > from somewhere. > > ~~ Taken from 'The Whole Thing The Real Thing' , a brief biography of > Shri Guru Deva, English version by Prem C. Pasricha - from the Hindi > book by Rameswar Tiwari > Thanks again! Very beautiful stories, which He enjoys too.
