Sri Sadguru Mahime

Author: Charana Dasa

Translator: Shri.Ganesh Prasad

Chapter 41: Smoking as a remedy

It is often said that, “There is always darkness beneath the lamp”. Not everyone accompanying Gurunatha had a pure state of mind. Probably because of some bond in our previous lives, whether I am there or not Gurunatha used to quote my name many times a day. This did not go well with a few others who were staying with me at his house. Gurunatha used to tell many a time “If a man has to be on the right path, he should be always occupied full time and should barely have enough time to breathe and eat apart from his work. Then he will not be getting into others’ business. Thankfully when in Sakharaya Patna, I always had my hands full. Gurunatha made sure I never had long breaks this probably caused some jealousy among my friends there. Sometimes I used to feel hurt by some of the comments made by my friends.

When I was new at Gurunatha’s house I was so deeply hurt by the taunts of my friends that I decided not to return when Gurunatha had sent me home once. While staying in my native I used to read one chapter of ‘Guru charithra’ everyday, visit the advaitha math nearby and have seer’s darashana there and return. On the 4th day before starting I told my brother I am doubtful to return on the same day. As soon as I entered the mutt I saw Gurunatha. Gurunatha asked, “How come you are not to be seen in our town?” I politely replied, I had been reading Guru charitha at my house one chapter per day. For that he replied.. “Yes, it is necessary, will you meet me afterwards?”. I told him “Yes, I will”.

Later I went to a devotee’s house and saw Gurunatha sitting there. He asked me to get something from a parked car. As soon as I got into the car, Gurunatha sent another person and locked me inside the car and took me to Sakharaya Patna. On the way, he smiled at me and told “Your Guru is here, you need not read Guru Charithra”. It was evening when we reached Sakharaya Patna. The courtyard was littered with cow dung and the cattle had reached cowshed as there was a light drizzle. Gurunatha directly took me to the backyard and gave me a bucket and said

“Clear the cow dung, this is your duty, do not worry about what others tell you.”

I was relieved; from that day I started to focus completely on what Gurunatha told me and just ignored what others commented.

In another instance probably about 4 years after this, I was having severe body pain and could not concentrate on work. Gurunatha called me once and told me that I should go back to my native and return after having Guru darshana.

At my native l was upset by the conduct of a few people who were actually very close to me. I had come to seek doctor’s advice about my pain and had decided not to return to my native. Gurunatha called me at that time and asked me “where are you?” I told him about my pain and that l was waiting for the doctor in my reply. He said,”you better come and see me once, later you can show your problem to a doctor in Shivamogga (a bigger town)”. Because of my familiarity with him and the leeway I had, I took a lot of time before agreeing to meet him. I was known for my ego and stubbornness during those days.

Gurunatha was resting in a devotee’s house in Shivamogga, on seeing me he asked one of the devotees there to offer me something to eat. Later he enquired “what’s wrong with your hand?”

I showed him my forehands and told him “I am having severe pain and unable to work. So, I was planning to see a doctor. ”To that he replied.. “oh is that all?” he called one of the devotees there and said “ take him along and get him a cigarette”. He looked at me then and told me “take my son’s name and smoke that cigarette”.

I did as advised, surprisingly the pain had gone completely in a matter of hour or so and till date has not recurred.

This incident should not be misconstrued as Gurunatha teaching bad habits but we should focus on his ability to cure ailments using peculiar things which are even condemnable and bad as effective medicines.

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