DEAR ROY (Part Three)
The Class of '88
by Roy Creek
A devotee's book about the experiences of a group of pilgrims to Baba's ashram in 1988, serialised exclusively on this website.
CHAPTER FOUR
SATSANGS
I have often heard it said that "meetings do not appeal to me". I can understand this attitude, for as I have said before the presence of people seems to increase the desire and yet at the same time, detract from the ability to be nearer Swami and concentrate on Him alone. Yes, I can listen to, and enjoy the words describing Him, and thirst after the never ending variety of stories that describe His omnipresence. But, having said that, I realise that I do in fact, thoroughly enjoy a Satsang and recognise that there is the common denominator of Swami's love percolating through us all. One has only to attend a Satsang or similar event to see the greetings that former pilgrims give to each other to know that without saying anything, the experiences of that trip are being relived and if you should meet someone from your particular pilgrimage to Puttaparthi, well, it couldn't be said better than this :-
The specialness about it is remembered instantly you meet one of your fellow travellers and re-experience the brotherliness that still flows, more than five years on. (20)
And again :-
When I meet up with the people of the 88 group, the memory of that shared
joy floods back, bonds were made that won't easily be broken, I feel truly
they are my Sai brothers and Sai sisters. (101)
I am sure that if we just sat together in the silence and let the love
flow, we would understand the feelings, or even experience the feelings
of those who like to be alone and at the same time, understand the sentiments
of those who enjoy a 'good' meeting.
It was some short time after writing these words that I read in the September
1988 Sanathana Sarathi "One who is immersed in the ocean of Divine
love will have no words to express its greatness and sweetness. He will
speak in the language of silence". I am sure that many have experienced
this, not just Baba devotees, but also those who have a relationship with
God in one form or the other. It was not until recently that I realised
many have had that moment of bliss where everything is known, the at-one-ment
with God has been experienced. They have experienced the Truth in the
silence of God.
As I have said, the journeyings to Satsangs is not for all. To some there
is this search for oneness in the silence of one's own company or whilst
at a place of peace in the garden or the home. A spot chosen to appreciate
the wonders, the splendour and the workings of God, to try and become
more aware of His omnipresence, - as He says - "I am above you and
below you, in front of you and behind you, around you and within you."
I cannot help but mention here that if you find meditation difficult at
times, or always, even. Let your mind go on into the contemplative state,
or alternatively, the waking dream, where you are in a dream state, but
controlling the events in that dream.
It was in one of these waking dream moments that I realised that I was
manipulating my dream and did not like the events as they were happening
and then had a re-run on a more spiritual path. The state ended with an
unrelated event that was a great teaching for me. I saw a being who was
the Avatar Mother Meera praying before a plain red brick wall. On the
ground there was an offering of a few flowers and leaves. The form of
Mother Meera changed to that of Swami. I realised then the truth that
"To pray to God, is to become God". It was a revelation and
added to my understanding in a way that was so simple. I quickly wrote
some notes on my bedside pad with other thoughts that seem to come in
at the same time.
These thoughts concerned healing. Swami had in August 1993 stated :- "By
our thoughts we can even cure the ills of others." Then I remembered
words that came clearly to mind "that you may pray for healing, but
the karmic debt, if not balanced, must still be re-paid at some time".
Not my words, but those read only recently.
Healing in the 1988 group was very important, for there were a number
of healers and healing practitioners amongst them. One commented :-
I've been drawn to healing work and also see it as a whole way of life.
Everything that we do can have a healing quality. (62)
How true that is. It can be a thoughtful word or an hour long 'listening'
to a persons problems. Sometimes there is not much you can, or should
do. But your presence does have that healing quality. People have turned
to me and thanked me for the healing that they have received. It was not
that I was even aware of sending out healing thoughts or energies, it
is just being in the right place at the right time. There is no such thing
as coincidence, if I am there beside someone who needs help and they receive
that help in some way, I am especially happy, for I know that somehow
I am being used. The fact that I am unaware that person is receiving healing
is how I like it, no risk of ego, they get what they need, not what I
think they need. Very, very rarely do I offer healing, for these thoughts
about karmic debts keep going around and around in my mind and I know
that I am not qualified to be aware of the right answers. All I can do
is to recognise my limitations, use my discrimination, do my best, pray
that God gives them the help that they need and finish my healing prayer
with the words "Thy will be done".
There are many who ponder on His words, and it is important to do so,
but you know that without me to tell you.
I am sure that you all ponder on His words, especially when one recalls
the many stories of "Tomorrow", where Swami talks of some time
in the future. It is not always the 'tomorrow' that we know. However,
it is self enquiry that answers so many questions, to delve into the depths
of His ocean of love and words so that each one of us has our own understanding.
Some years ago I was one of a group of three meditators in our lounge
in Rickmansworth. One of the three had just had news that her daughter
had in the last few hours fallen down a step in Spain and suffered a multiple
fracture of the ankle bones. We prayed to Swami and visualised that a
blue light surround her ankle and that a pair of hands should appear,
open up the plaster, straighten out and repair the breaks. At that moment
in Spain, the daughter who had a rough and ready bone set in plaster was
in considerable agony - the pain being so bad that she wished she could
die. When suddenly, a blue light appeared and a pair of unattached hands
took her leg out of the plaster, re-set the break, and replaced the leg
in the plaster. The pain immediately ceased and she fell asleep. The next
morning, when she was supposed to go to the theatre to have her leg reset,
the doctor could only marvel at the new appearance of the break that had
that previous evening been the cause of so much agony.
This is my personal proof of the power of thought, of prayer. This event
happened to a person whose final words to her mother before going to Spain
was in the vein of "Don't get too involved with that rubbish mother".
Obviously, you do not have to be a devotee to be helped by Swami, or a
believer to be helped by God, but thoughts and prayer work and I have
been fortunate enough to have had this personal proof..
The journeyings to Satsangs is not however, for all. To others there is
this search for oneness in the silence of one's own company or whilst
at a silent place in the garden or the home. A spot chosen to appreciate
the splendour of the workings of God, to try and become more aware of
His omnipresence, as He says "I am around you, above you and below
you, in front of you and behind you, around you and within you.
One person said in such simple and beautiful words after some frustrating
news:-
This means I'm left alone ..... Instead of being disappointed, I feel
it's almost a retreat and an opportunity to get back into the light of
Baba, (74)
A retreat, a time of peace, is needed by everyone. A time to think clearly
in these days of living in this frantic world is vital, for then we can
look with clearer eyes, greater awareness and are able to make our individual
contact with our Lord.
The writer in the previous extract went on to say :-
and your words about staying away from group activity struck me - its
as if my subconscious had fixed this for me! (1) I'm still weak physically,
but my spirit is singing again, and I am full of gratitude -(2)
Can anyone put into lovelier words the blessing of knowing that Swami
is always with us.
This presence of Swami is constantly referred to, some see, some experience
and some know. It does not matter to them which way it is, He is there.
He is here. " i am always with you" and is expressed like this:-
Swami is always present, He is rarely far from my mind. (113)
and this:-
I come more and more towards silent worship - recognising more and more,
the imminence of God - within me, within you, within all beings, and throughout
the fabric of all there is, in nations, in the universe. Intellectually,
I know it, with God's grace, some day I will have it in my heart. (73)
There are those however, who can find time to dwell on this omnipresence,
even on a London bus :-
Another technique I work on is to try to increase my consciousness with everyone around me by briefly saluting them as an embodiment of God. Living in London surrounded by people I do not know, I find that this can be a therapeutic practice - for a couple of seconds as they pass me, they come to life and are no longer just part of the anonymous, irritating mass. (112)
So, there is always the time and the place to put into practice Swami's teachings if we look for it. For that moment the passengers were viewed as God. For that moment who knows what they felt, what peace they knew?
(to download Dear Roy Chapter 4, click here)
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