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Abhyasi Name: Sri.
Vidyadhar Joshi
Abhyasi ID : 2059
I would like to express gratitude to dear brother
Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy Garu, sister Smt Bhargavi Garu
for the very thoughtful and kind arrangements for
Chit Lake program and to Revered Sir for allowing to
participate in the program. I also express thanks to
brother Madhavrao for coordinating the program.
We arrived at Sri Rajasekhara Garu’s residence in
Narsingpuram on 28th. A distinct calm and quietness
was felt in their house itself. Felt contentment and
simplicity in the general environment of the
village. This is in sharp contrast to what we
generally feel in city or urban environments. In
cities, I generally feel an unrest and unease during
day times, which perhaps I have gotten used to.
However, this feeling was particularly missing
almost in its entirety in the Chit Lake program. On
the evening of 28th, me and Dr Madhava were sitting
outside in the quiet porch of Dr. Rajasekhara Garu’s
house, when we observed a dog lying on his back with
his belly up and mouth wide open. He appeared still
with no movement at all. We thought it to be dead.
On asking a villager, he said no it’s alive, it’s
just resting. And sure enough with a little hush,
the dog sat up. Observing this I felt even these
rural dogs are more contented and at rest than the
urban stray dogs we see in cities. I feel the
thought environment in cities is so polluted that it
perhaps does not even spare animals, so what about
us. It was easy to appreciate Pujya Babuji Maharaj’s
words when he mentions “Thoughts have life and they
also work on the lives of others.” (SDG-21).
We arrived at the Chit Lake venue which is a short
walk from Dr. Rajasekhara Garu’s residence, on 28th
night. Dr. Madhava briefed us on the objective of
Chit Lake program which I understood to be in tune
with Nature and then get accustomed to the language
of feelings by observing what we feel in silence
being in the natural environment. The format of the
program is very simple. While we are to maintain
silence for the full three days, there are no fixed
timings for satsang or even taking food. Recommended
timings for prayers which we observe daily is there
but one can sit in prayer or silence wherever in the
mango grove and nearby fields. There are no formal
satsangs or individual sittings during the period. I
am making a sincere attempt to give an account of my
experience, with the feelings and thoughts I
prominently could record.
29th Sept - Chit Lake Day 1:
Woke up in the morning around 4:30 AM and started
meditation at 5:00 under a mango tree. Initially
felt unease with the physical environment. Insects
(mostly ants) were crawling on the feet. Besides,
sweet chirping of the birds that we don’t get to
hear much in cities, also distracted attention from
Divine Light. I opened my eyes and sat for about 10
minutes and then started meditation again. Few times
I was distracted again by insects and the unease did
not go but gradually felt more at ease. Felt uniform
and subtle for the remaining period. Felt ajapa for
a few moments towards the end.
After meditation, there was a feeling of happiness,
gratitude to Master and reverence towards Him. The
environment was soothing and serene and there was
uniformity in the heart that we are integral part of
Nature. Feeling of Master’s Love for all.
In the morning hours, spent mostly taking a walk in
the picturesque surrounding and then lying under a
mango tree. It felt a great relaxation and happiness
to just “be”. Therein felt no compulsion to do
anything other than just being there. Enjoying the
nature, thoughts started to reflect inside. Looking
at the big mountain, it reminded of waiting. That is
an attitude we need to have in sadhana. Then the
trees which were swinging to the tune of the gentle
breeze, remind of the dynamic balance we need to
have in life while being rooted in Divinity. The
pleasant air reminds of the pervasiveness of His
presence. There was a feeling of Love for all and
that all are moving towards Master.
“Purity starts from being and impurities are the
result of the wrong suggestions and improper
utilization of the inner environment.” This message
of the Master, reflected in thought and I could
appreciate it little better in this environment on
the first day. When we are in complete silence and
just free to “be” in the very moment, it is easy to
feel the purity.
Afternoon time, lying just under the tree I dozed
off. I woke up after sometime after ants started
crawling over. There was no feeling of drag as I get
when I sleep at home. There was freshness after the
sleep.
Later in the afternoon memories of college days and
school days surfaced. Mind would go back and forth
between enjoying some event and then ignoring it.
Also some film songs that I had liked in the past
would continuously play in my mind. This was not
very bothering as I consciously made no attempt to
struggle with them.
In the evening there was a feeling of lightness and
balance after cleaning. The songs stopped playing.
However there was lot of tiredness even though there
was no physical activity. Felt so tired that I slept
very early at 8:30 pm.
30th Sept - Chit Lake Day 2:
In morning meditation at early hours, felt more at
ease with Nature. Experience of Ajapa in the morning
meditation. After meditation reverence for Master
and feeling of happiness which is abounding in the
environment.
In the morning hours, feelings to be at His feet
alone. May I ever be mindful and at His feet was the
prayer I felt in the heart.
The body and mind was more attuned today. I did not
put a wrist watch also, so that the itch to keep
looking at time does not bother.
Remembrance of Pujya Babuji Maharaj’s simple life
was there. How simple He was in his physical life
and what great Love He has for all! Simple incidents
about His life as narrated by senior brothers were
coming to memory. The heart felt at awe at merely
remembering these.
Afternoon just spent lying under the tree. Lying on
the bare ground is a good reminder of transience of
our existence that most things we get too attached
to, have to eventually come back here.
Oct 1st - Chit Lake Day 3:
In morning meditation, feeling of Ajapa throughout.
Felt plainness in the heart and prayfulness towards
Him.
In the morning hours feeling of fraternity was
prominent. We are all brothers and sisters moving
towards Him. Tried to remain in this feeling for as
long as possible.
Thereafter college day memories of NCC camps I
attended, came. NCC camps used to be conducted in
quite similar natural environments.
Sat for prayer at noon time. After prayer, felt
gratitude towards Master and thought to dive deep.
Afternoon sat idle with more memories of college and
childhood days surfacing. Later just kept watching
trees and ants. Some thinking started perhaps in the
itch to do something. The tree seemed to me a good
model of His creation. It has roots as its source in
the ground that are hidden, akin to Divinity which
is at the source of everything. The tree has trunk,
branches, leaves and flowers giving expression to
the root. They all depend on the root to provide
them succor and root depends on them for its
expression. The tree aspires to grow and produce
leaves and flowers to give expression to its root.
It withstands whatever weather it is tormented and
gives whatever it can give and stays in balance. If
we think ourselves as the tree, our thought becomes
the trunk having the other end in Him. It draws
succor from there but it has to be purified from its
grossened state to its subtlest state. It is only
then we can stand in full expression of Him, as
Revered Dr. KCV puts it that we have to lead a life
in God, for God and by God.
Oct 2nd 2006 4th day morning at Chit Lake
After morning meditation, the feeling echoed the
following thought of Pujya Babuji Maharaj.
“My heart remains connected with you all, here and
elsewhere, giving impulse in unbroken silence to
affect the hearts naturally in due course.”
Feeling of Oneness. Felt assuredness in the heart
that all are moving towards Him.
Amidst these feelings, I felt my smallness and
insignificance. I felt I am to some extent relieved
of the self professed arrogance that I am any
superior to anyone. The heart feels mellowed down.
I would finally summarize the following points of my
experience which I observed after the Chit lake was
over
1. The heart feels light and humble and the
experience is purifying.
2. Positivity reigns high in thinking.
3. Determination to be with Master and following Him
is very high.
4. Aspiration for the Goal has grown more stronger
in silence
5. His presence is ever assured in us provided we
get attuned to silence even at other times.
None of the above points came consciously to my
knowledge during any particular time in the 3 day
period but are felt afterwards very distinctly.
Surely then it is the Chit lake experience.
I felt, not everything need come to our awareness
and just keeping silence with the orientation
towards Master in the heart is good lesson to learn
from silence. |
