Don't Forget you are a Shining Star

It's a rainy day. I got a call from my friend and she asked whether there is a bus strike or anything today. I was not aware of that and was under impression that, may be BEST bus employees were also started supporting Anna and thus they went to called off a strike for a day. I was wrong it's their union strike related to pay.

But if that's the case, it would come in news with highlights as "BEST" is the major transportation and second life line of Mumbaikars. As suburban railways is the first life line of Mumbai, I suggested my friend to go by rail.

I go to office by bus mostly. Though my place is not so far from office, I used to take a bus for the same.I packed up early to leave for office as it could affect me too. My friend was saying that, buses are not stopped completely but the frequency is quite low. She has been waiting for a bus from an hour.

It's started raining and turned into heavy rain when I reached to bus stop. I thought to wait for a bus till 10 mins and then thought to have an auto. Autos are working but I am not getting it as it's coming filled from next stop.

Then sudden, a girl came in a car and asked me and another lady (standing on bus stand with me) for a lift. I was surprised and hesitate to sit at first place then I realized that I would be late to office so accepted her lift. She is going to railway station only. I accepted her lift and went with her. She asked for another lady too for lift but the lady was not going to station so I was the only one with her.

In general talk, I asked about bus strike and some other general stuff. It took hardly 5 to 10 mins from bus stand. I came to know that, she was going to pick up her dad to station.

I could not believe that Mumbai has all varieties of people.I found bad people and such good people who are ready to help other people in such situation.But such incidents make me believe in humanity and I can say humanity is still alive.I could not thank her publicly but wanted to share this incident with friends. I think people(human) has to believe in other human(people).

Guru Govind Dono Khade Kake Lagun Paya
Balihari Guru aapne, Govind diyon batay

Meaning - if the Guru and the Almighty God appears before you, to whom would you bow first? Saints have said, “Without a Satguru’s blessings you wouldn’t even recognise God.” Therefore, one must bow to the Satguru first.

Guru meaning a teacher. In Sanskrit a Guru is a person who takes you from darkness to light. There are various types of Teachers / Gurus. Everyone needs a Guru as there is no enlightenment / true knowledge without a Guru.

Main Gurus in our lives are:–

Our first Guru is the Parents. They bring us in this world and guide and make us independent by giving a basic knowledge of life - help us to walk, talk, eat, dress etc. and lead us to the second Guru.

The second Guru is a Teacher at school where we learn the art of communication and specialise in the topics of our choice.

The third Guru is called a “tilak Guru” a symbolic Dharma Guru as it is believed that a soul without a Dharma Guru is considered to be unholy.

The fourth Guru is Dharma Guru / Satguru – who would give the basic knowledge of life, religion (Dharma) and God and show the way to the salvation of the soul.
He is believed to be in direct contact with the Almighty and his blessings can get us out of the circle of life and death and give us the ultimate peace.
Satguru is like an Immigration Officer with an authority to grant visas to visit and explore the Govind Dham – self-realisation - travel beyond what we can see. Only Satguru can give us the vision to see the glory of the Almighty – open our third hidden spiritual eye.

We should strive to see what is ours – the Soul. We live in the age of science and we believe in only what we see or personally experience. The Soul cannot be seen by our naked eyes and although we can experience the Soul, we have no ability to recognise or identify the Soul. There cannot be true knowledge without the Satguru’s teaching. You may read a thousand books but you cannot gain the knowledge, which a Guru can give you.

We are like a blind person, in the spiritual world. If four blind persons were asked to identify an elephant each would describe the elephant as that part of the elephant they may have touched. E.g. the one who touches a leg would describe the elephant as being like a pillar, the one who touches the trunk would say the elephant was like a rope, the one who touches the tail may say it was like a broom and the one who touches the body would say it was like a barrel of grain. All of them would be wrong. Only the person with the full view of the elephant could fully describe the elephant. Likewise the Satguru is the only person who has the full knowledge and vision, of the life, and can explain the mystery of life and death.

Therefore, we need Gurus to take us through various stages in life to achieve the ultimate goal.

Once you have accepted someone as a Guru it becomes that Guru’s responsibility to provide you with the necessary knowledge to see you through your life. Just as a teacher at a school would teach and help you to get through your exams, a Guru would work for you throughout the year and try to make you see the light of life. Therefore, Disciples have nominated a full moon day in a year called “Gurupurnima” when each Disciple would pay respect and bow to his Guru, bathe the Guru’s feet, as a sign of submission and offer him a gift (dakshina) in appreciation of the knowledge and blessings received from the Guru during the year which will take the Disciple from darkness to light. That is the importance of the GURUPURNIMA

Reference: http://www.ramapir.org/ramapir_gurupurnima.html

As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineer and joined a company based in USA the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA it was as if a dream had come true.

Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.

My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat. I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home oneweek going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.

In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA.

My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing.
After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.

Every year I decide to go to India But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus couldn’t go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.

After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA.

My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.

Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.

Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.

** I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM. **

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing.
This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.

Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them.

** But the question still remains 'was all this worth it? 'I am still searching for an answer................!!!!*

Reference: I read it on some other blog but can't stop myself to share here.