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Abhyasi Name: Sri.
Prasad Shintre
Abhyasi ID : 2332
Dear Revered Sir,
My humble pranams to you,
First, I would like to humbly express my gratitude
towards you for your kindness in permitting me to
attend Mansarovar program. I would also like to
thank Brother Dr Madhava, Brother Dr Rajasekhar
Reddy, Brother Madhavrao and all the others involved
in the organization of the program for their kind
help and support given to us for this program.
Before joining this system of Natural Path, about 12
years ago, I heard about similar program being
conducted by another institution. Some of the ISRC
members have attended that program though I do not
know the details of its content & usefulness. I was
very much interested in attending such program since
then. So at the very first opportunity I planned to
attend Mansarovar program.
We reached Mansarovar site on 28th Sep around 10PM.
Weather was very pleasant. I was experiencing it
after several months. There was small house in Mango
Garden constructed in village style with basic
amenities. All the arrangements related to food and
shelter was organized as planned. Brother Dr Madhava
explained to us details of program. I had certain
questions which I deferred asking them specifically
thinking that let me go through experience or rather
imperience and then see if it gets answered or may
not arise again.
Through experiences shared by other Abhyasis, who
attended previous program, I had little idea about
content of the program. I thought that it will be
very much mind opening experience.
However first experience was not that pleasant. On
28th Sep night I had very violent dream related to
close relatives, which I never had in the past. I
woke up in the middle of the dream and was little
scared. Then I could not sleep for some time. The
pleasant cool breeze from garden put me to sleep
then.
29th Sep – After getting ready for morning
meditation at 4.30AM, I was afraid of going into
dark fields as I was not used to. So I did morning
meditation sitting under nearby tree. This was first
experience doing meditation under a tree in the open
air before sunrise. There was natural fragrance in
the air, uncontaminated like in the city. There was
fragrance of sand, tree and cool air from fields.
With such conducive environment, by the grace of the
Master, I could easily get absorbed in the thought
of meditation. After Meditation I felt condition of
silence for a while.
After some time I felt that I have long day to go
with no activity planned which was little unusual.
There was no work, no newspaper, no morning tea, no
radio, no TV, no phone, no books, no family around,
no talking, not even thinking. I became little
restless as mind was not ready for such situation
earlier. I felt that this may be grossest form of
vairagya or may be not. And not just 1 day but 3
days like this to go. I also had some expectations
that I should learn something out of this ‘Nothing’.
Helplessly I remembered Master with prayer. As
Brother Dr Madhava mentioned earlier day that this
will help us understand 4th Commandment better, I
thought that let’s try to be in the company of
nature and see if I can understand or feel anything.
Very first thing I experienced with by bare feet is
the pleasant feeling of cold sand spread around the
house. A cold wave passed through my body from
bottom to top. Then I started walking in the mango
garden and listened to bird chirping. I also saw few
insects & ants moving around, frog playing in small
water pond. I had a thought that they are telling me
something but I am not able to understand. Though I
remember one thing which was told by my grandmother
when I was a kid that ant’s tell something to each
other when they cross, I could not understand
anything. I felt that they saying ‘work, do not
stop’. They all were working & I was trying facing
situation of inactivity.
I sat under a tree and started meditation again.
After few minutes I got absorbed in divine light
thought. Then I found myself thinking about regular
office work planning, team dynamics etc. I turned
back my attention and continued meditation. I
remembered listening to Rev Sir’s lecture where he
said that everything in this world has a purpose
whether we know or not aware of.
After that there were remembrances of Masters help
in various occasions where I could not control
myself and Master helped to do that. I also thought
that I should keep good health with the help of some
exercise and so should be able to do Master’s work
without any physical discomfort. There was a feeling
of getting into whirl with light coming out of its
center. Then I saw some Red hot objects similar to
burning coal.
In the afternoon, despite warm weather there was
cool breeze and I felt silent. Everything around was
calm & quiet. I felt that while I am here Master is
taking care of my worldly duties back home which He
always does that however I, being ‘moodha’, has a
feeling of doer ship. I felt grateful to the Master.
There were a few occasions of plainness and moments
of silence during the day.
30th Sep – Second day started with similar thought
pattern mostly related to worldly responsibilities
and issues. I felt that I have too much attachment
with work life thinking that I have more
responsibilities than what I should carry and I
should make an attempt to balance it with my rest of
the priorities. There were some moments of
thoughtlessness and silence within thereafter. I
expressed my gratitude towards Master.
I had a long thought about meaning of worldly life.
From our birth till end of life, lot of people
control or try to control our life at various
instances by their wishes. They drive you or your
interests, make you happy or unhappy depending on
their own interests. During childhood, parents,
brothers, sisters, and elder relatives and
afterwards to add to that, as you grow, teachers,
friends, bosses, peers, employers, customers,
sub-ordinates drive or try to drive you, sometimes
crazy. But we have the Master, who is capable of
doing best for us. Why don’t we leave everything to
Him to take care of it & just do our duty? Simple to
say but struggling to implement. I again came back
to basic principles of the system and understanding
of our role. Finally thought that let me play my
role & let Master do His work.
There were some stupid thoughts of possessiveness
without even sense of having so much extra which I
already have compared to others. Once I had a
question that is there a better place to meditate
other than where I was sitting? In fact I should
have understood by now that there is nothing like
good or bad in nature. Nature does not compare.
During noon time meditation I felt that heart is
with filled with white colour and solidity in the
heart is melting away in the form of transparent
fluid.
There were few songs coming to my mind due to its
attractive lyrics & rhythm. I was observing these
thoughts after several years. I felt that they were
trying to go out.
I also had a thought when Master’s will is at work
without any impurity added by us, things happen
effortlessly and whenever we do something without
his support we feel like we are moving mountains
even for a small piece of work. Felt gratitude
towards Master after this thought.
While looking at Saptagiri of Tirumala, I felt that
despite being so huge how humble it is and being so
small how egoistic & proud we feel about ourselves.
1st Oct – On the third day thought of overhauling
myself was predominant. In this programme we are
asked to unload our thoughts. It is easy to unload
something when we have idea of how much is the work.
But this is not ending anytime soon I guess as we
have such a huge bank of thoughts that only Master
can help us in that regard.
At 12noon Satsang
I felt sheer plainness and joyful in the company of
nature. I then felt gratefulness towards Master. At
the end of meditation feeling of deep silence and
near thoughtlessness. I had no words to explain the
imperience of simplicity. I thought that I should be
in tune with nature to imperience it always. It was
a great feeling. Feeling of floating in cool breeze
from garden with weightlessness continued for some
more time as if being lifted by nature. Here after
attending this program I tried to unlearn myself by
trying to learn how nature works.
I think I learnt somewhat of following
Silence – Just like the state before dawn.
Contentment – Just like nature has no effect of
having nothing or everything with it.
Humbleness – Being so huge & with so much powers
within, how nature is humble.
Forgiveness – Accept everyone as they are by
pardoning all mistakes.
Determination – Be rock solid in determination.
Service – Provide selfless service to others in
whatever capacity you can.
Other – Be punctual & sincere in your duties and
sadhana like seasons.
Interdependent – Live & let live.
As days passed I felt more & more lighter with
plainness and simplicity within. I felt that it is
difficult to explain simplicity than to actually
imperience.
Now with better understanding, I am more determined
to imbibe within and help others to develop natural
attributes which I observed during Mansarovar
Program.
I feel that, programs like Mansarovar are going to
help me greatly to understand system & my role more
clearly.
In the Service of the Master
Prasad Shintre
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