Sri Sri Bhajan Brahmachari
(from "Living with My Himalayan Master: Sri Sri Bhajan Brahmachari"):
Every year on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of the Master, one place was selected well in advance for the celebration. That year it was in Durgapur and Thakur went to Durgapur to attend the ceremonies. Kalidas [disciple of Sri Bhajan Brahmachari] said that he would celebrate the anniversary in Jamalpur itself to prove to all the devotees that Thakur would be as present to take the offering of love and devotion in Jamajpur as he would be in Durgapur, where he would be physically present. When Thakur was told this, he agreed and asked the Jamalpur devotees and disciples to stay with Kalidas to celebrate the anniversary.
Kalidas wanted to show all the assembled devotees the power of his yogic siddhis (miracles), so he sat before the altar and its beautiful picture of Gurudev and began worshipping with mantras and meditation. After a while, to the amazement of all assembled devotees, the picture of Thakur and his lotus feet started to be cowered with a number of fresh, blooming lotuses. More and more lotuses manifested out of thin air, filling the floor of the room around the already well-decorated altar of Gurudev. The entire room was filled with the ecstatic fragrance of lotus flowers.
With everyone already in pure awe at seeing this miracle, the footprints of Mother Kali suddenly appeared prominently all over the altar space. Everyone could see them with their naked eyes, so they knew that both the Guru and the Ishta (a cherished form of divinity) of the Mother Divine had graced the celebration with their subtle divine presence.
Prabhat Ray, an ardent disciple of Thakur, who was present during this miracle, left for Durgapur to inform the Master of this unique experience. He also wanted to know how all this could be possible. How could so many lotus flowers come from nowhere, and the footprints of Mother Kali could be left at the altar?
When he reached the site of the birth anniversary celebration in Durgapur, his wonderment only intensified. The same lotus flowers that Kalidas had brought out of thin air were at the feet of Gurudev and all over the area of the celebration, only there were even more here than in Jamalpur!
When the festivities were over, Thakur had gone to his own room and retired to bed. Prabhat sat at the feet of the Master, lightly massaging his legs after the long day that Thakur had sitting in one place, accepting the devotional offerings, singing, and giving his message.
Prabhat inquired about the miracle he had seen manifested by Kalidas. Thakur replied calmly,
"No one should perform this kind of exhibition of occult powers. If you want, I can show you innumerable miracles, but then what would be your gain? Whatever I say, will happen. If I say let this stainless container of betel lead hang in thin air, you will see in no time this container would be in the air, hanging for as long as I want. But what will your friends tell you? They will only say your Guru is only a glorified magician. You can spend money and see all these kinds of miracles, but you can never receive the true blessings and grace of the Master that can transform you from within."
Thakur continued with conviction in his voice as if he was giving a message that he knew would one day find its place in a book to be read by millions across the world. He said,
"Keep it in mind, anything that has been there in this world, that existed somewhere, or is in existence, you can move from one place to the other, but that which was not there, cannot be shifted, moved, or brought into manifestation."
Prabhat got the message, It was first-hand learning right at the feet of the Guru. He bowed at the feet of the Master with utter reverence and gratitude at being blessed with the embodiment of divinity as his own Guru on the path of the Spirit.
Kalidas had a deep attraction to such miracles. Thakur could smell that behind it all, Kalidas' subtle ego was at play, hindering the progress of his spiritual upliftment. Thakur gave him silent hints that he should give up this clinging to occult powers and their display, that they take the sadhak nowhere other than the pit of one's own downfall. Kalidas was blessed. As an ardent disciple of Thakur living the householder's life, he showed through his intense practice of yogic techniques that siddhis can be attained if that is the desire in the heart of the disciple. More importantly, he also demonstrated that this desire needs to be avoided, that nothing is superior to the miracle of true transformation of the inner self. Only a Sadguru's patience and masterful guidance could elevate a sincere disciple to that highest state of inner transformation. Thakur led Kalidas' earthbound, ego-bound soul to become a true devotee surrendered to the Lord, living in deep communion with the universal spirit, manifesting pure love and bliss.
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