At the time when Shri Kali Kambli Wale were active in his physical body on the earthly plane, many devotees came to him, attracted like bees to blossom. They were simple minded folks, farmers mostly, and their pure hearts enjoyed giving their all at the feet of their gurudeva. Kambli Wale, as were his custom, saw these spectacles from the dazzling heights of being established in his essential nature, and was never one to encourage too much external frivolity if that, for even a minutest fraction, stood in the way of fulfilling the real purpose of life and impeded the spiritual practice. The devotees in time built little kutis at various sites in Punjab, where Kambli Wale would visit and stay for extended lengths of time. These kutis are dear today as the meditation shrines of Kali Kambli Wale, Swami Dyalu Puri Ji and even, Shri Maharaj Ji has stayed in them at various points in time.
It is against this background and to fulfill the yearning requests of devotees that Sadhvi Yoganjali Chaitanya, along with the group of some ashram inmates, planned a four day blitzkrieg tour of these places, despite her responsibilities back at the ashram – considering the vast amount of preparation to be done as Guru Purnima approaches. But, as the group returned yesterday evening and reported the tears and laughter that swept through the devotees, it all seems well done! Follows here, an overview of the various places that Sadhviji visited and what happened there.
7th July, Kakrala and Jatana: Here, Sadhviji mainly spoke on the importance of taking the responsibilities of our karmas in our own hands, and simultaneously giving up our hold over what to expect back in return. In a resounding call, she inspired all to walk willfully the righteous path of purushardh because through hard work, each one us can attain everything that we need.
On the same evening at Jatana, many children were present in the gathering and the parents weighed on Sadhviji with their complaints about their child’s mischievousness and other complaints, quite common to encounter. In no weak way, did Sadhviji made it clear upon all that the total responsibility of a child’s behavior lied with the parents. We often forget, that children learn by seeing and not lecturing. We coax our children not to watch T.V. and rather study, and yet we ourselves cannot refrain from doing that ourselves. We ask our children to be polite and well-mannered and yet, what examples of such a noble behavior are well able to set before them ourselves?
8th July, Samrala and Sihala: At Samraala, the talk turned to the often asked question, “What can we do, the mind is to disruptive. How to concentrate it?” Sadhviji answered that there is a particular method of doing everything, let that we a most mundane activity like drilling a hole in the wall. You need the right equipments, guidance and practice. So why should that be different with the mind? The empowerment process by the guru gives us the means to cleanse and tranquil the mind. However, the problem is that we make too little a effort and are ready to give up on the first occasion that our efforts begin to fail to quite the mind. The need is to be more persistent, and going on hammering in the right way, at the right spot!
Later in the evening at Sihala the talk turned to the most beautiful of all topics: the relation of a guru and a disciple. However, the beauty of this relation is for few to experience and cherish, for to be a true disciple one must yearn for truth as a fish drawn out of water yearns back to go into it. Only in such a case, does the relation really flower. But at all points it is the great unselfish love of the guru that propels the disciple ever onwards. Sadhviji held the attention of one and all, with gripping tales from the lives of Kali Kambli Wale and his master Swami Mevapuri Ji. Dev endured the strictest of trials that he was subjected to prove his one-pointed desire to attain the truth and in the end the blessed union of the guru and disciple through empowerment laid the seed for the total realization in the disciple’s heart.
9th July, Khalaspur and Raju Majra: At Khalaspur the tide of emotion swept over all. The ground already tilled by the sweet songs of devotion, by the time Sadhviji’s address began and coursed to the narration of a tale where a lady-devotee’s love and devotion for the Lord’s idol breathed life into the stone, the gathering erupted into tears and wails. Even the throat that worded the tale choked for a moment, as emotion overtook the atmosphere.
At Raju Majra the discussion turned to the topic of empowerment itself. We need guidance even in the material world, then guidance is utterly necessary when it came to travelling on the path where the eyes do not see, the ears do not hear – in a way as we are normally accustomed to. The guru is the force then that propels us onto the “pathless path”. One who has covered the milestones would only be fitting enough to tell us of the pitfalls and the safe havens on the way. Further, Sadhviji asked all not to think that merely by chanting the “name”, the Lord will fulfill their wishes. The Lord might not directly give you money in response to your prayers, but he may work by giving you the will and strength to earn money. In all circumstances one should never shy away from the course of one’s actions, which is one’s dutiful right.
10th July, Garhi (Bhai Ajit Singh): Many devotees are given to follow various rituals that have been passed to them in family tradition. They have been practicing them since childhood; very few stopping to inquire into their significance. The result? A matter of fact carrying-out of one’s daily duty, whether that be lightning the incense before the revered idol, or chanting absent mindedly a few stotras.
Sadhviji questioned those who were in a habit of offering the food to the idol before they partook of the same. She urged them to bring more of their being, involve further in the process. Perhaps, they could talk to the idol, ask it lovingly to accept the offering. The important point is to gain true, deep emotion, one way or the other. It is this emotion that unleashes within us enough strength to draw our prana and mind within, until none of the external world remains, and thereby a chance for us to find our true selves in the deep recesses of our being.