Excerpts from Thakur's Diary - Vision and Ethos of Monohar Sebashram Sangha

On 10th April, 2006 at Sonathuli ashram, Ronnie Mama (grandson of Thakur) shared the contents of one of Thakur's numerous diaries. It contained explicit instructions and Thakur's vision of an organization which he christened "Monohar Sebashram Sangha".

Below is the English translation of the first 2 pages of Thakur's diary (along with the photographs that I took with Ronnie Mama's permission) - so that all of us can be a part of his vision and continuing reality of seeing this to fruition:

Sri Sri Gurupada Bharsamatrasar

287[*]

13/10/51[†]
Hazaribagh

“Monohar Sebashram Sanga’s” draft copy of Objectives and Rules



1. Name:- The name of this Sangha is “Monohar Sebashram Sangha”

2. Registered Office:- Main office of this Sangha is:
“Sadananda Ashram”, Sadananda Road, Hazaribagh.

Other than this there are offices of this Sangha in different places in this country. Their names are as below.

a) Monohar Kutir ; Bangalitola, Bhagalpur

b) Sadhu Ashram- Sonathali; P.O. Gourangdihi, Dist; Manbhum

c) Mahadashram – Brindabanpur. P.O. Mankanali; Dist: Manbhum

d) Radhakunja- Purulia, Dist: Manbhum

e) Gouridham Sebashram – Baganepara Lane. Nabawadip, Nadia

3. Objectives:-

a) Today’s selfish mankind is engaged in one’s own self and because of this the world has become an ocean of misery. Because of lack of good wishes and good relations, mankind lies divided. In order to enlighten this selfish, confused mankind towards The Highest Supreme and with the objective of propagating the message of Sri Sri Gurudev and to unify different religions.

b) With the above objective, make Sangha’s office in different parts of the world.

c) For the help of poor downtrodden people, build charitable dispensaries and maternity homes.

d) To develop ideal human being, build Brahamacharya Ashram and Yoga Ashram, Schools etc.

e) For the animals - Animal Husbandry department

f) Centre for poor people

g) To create monetary fund.

h) For running the Sangha and for financial self sufficiency, create business and industry.

i) If any person wants to donate money for the Social Service or wants to donate some movable or immovable property - the method of accepting those.

j) For the expansion of this Sangha, to purchase or sell land or any other thing.

[*] Diary Page No
[†] 1951

Guru as a Baby Sitter

Book Excerpt #5:

One day Nibarandada and his wife went out of their house on some invitation. In their house there were only their son and the grandson of Sri Sri Thakur. Both of them were very naughty boys by nature, who didn’t listen to anybody and did whatever they liked.

Nibarandada’s wife while leaving had prayed at Sri Sri Thakur’s asana[1] and had said, “Baba look after them, they are your sons too.”

While leaving, Nibarandada & his wife had locked the outside door. When they came back late into the night they saw both the boys sitting quietly in a room on the ground floor. On being asked the kids said that whenever they tried to come out of that room they heard a thudding noise on the wooden stair which leads to the Puja[2] room, as if someone was climbing up and down the stairs very fast. So out of fear they were sitting silently in that room holding each others hands. They realized that as long as they were sitting like that there was no noise but the moment they tried to come out of the room, the sound of the feet started again.

After dark, they had also tried to go alone onto the courtyard. But when they came out of that room they saw that somebody was standing on the stairs with a lantern in his hand. The two boys became so afraid that they immediately came inside the room and from that time till 11 o’clock in the night they were inside the room like prisoners. (This story was told to me by Nibarandada.)

[1] Place of workship
[2] Prayer

Voice of the Guru

Book Excerpt #4:

One day I was sitting and talking with Nimudada (Nirmal Krishna Ghosh) about various incidents about Thakur. That day Sri Sri Thakur had gone somewhere else for seva[1].

Nimudada had a deep affection for me.
He said, “Biren, why do you get astonished on hearing supernatural incidents of Thakur? Thakur has told me many things about your previous birth and previous behavioural pattern. That’s why I am telling you that if you feel astonished on seeing the supernatural incidents of Thakur then it means you had thought of Thakur as an ordinary human being. Isn’t it?”
I replied, “Yes, you are right.”

Nimudada said, “The moment you consider him as an ordinary man, you won’t be able to understand his behaviour. Sri Krishna did lila[2] like this throughout his life. Those who were His devotees, they considered Him as God and others considered Him as a strong, intelligent and very clever human being, isn’t it?”
I said, “Yes dada. You have said the right thing.”

Nimudada again said, “Never think of him as an ordinary man. Believe that Baba has told me to tell you all these things.”
Nimudada is quite old, usually serious and reticent. I could not understand the reasons why he spoke so much to me.

At that moment I asked Nimudada, “If you know anything about Thakur’s Sadhana[3] please let me know.”
Nimudada started telling, “Once Sri Sri Thakur sat for Sadhana at the Sidheshwar temple for fifteen days as per instructions of Sri Sri Burababa. During that time a snake coiled around his neck, expanded its hood and continuously produced a hissing sound in order to frighten Thakur in different ways. But since Sri Sri Thakur was unperturbed in his seat, the snake slid down his body, gradually becoming a thin wire and eventually disappeared. This has been explained in detail in Rajyog Sadhana[4].”

Sri Sri Thakur returned in the evening. That day nobody was near him.
The moment I touched his feet he said, “Whatever incidents Nimu told you, believe that I have told you through my mouth. All the time Mahapurush give advice through somebody else (instead of speaking himself). If they like they can enter anybody’s body at any time. And they can get the work done as they wish. Understood?”

[1] The meal taken by a Holy person
[2] Activities exhibited by Holy people
[3] Accomplishments
[4] A system of Yoga in which action predominates

Mahapurush always fulfills a Disciple’s wishes

Book Excerpt #3:

One day my wife was personally preparing some Kachuri[1] made of peas to serve Sri Sri Thakur. At that time Sri Sri Thakur was staying in Nirmal Krishna Ghosh’s house. I was slightly irritated with my wife so I said, “When you reach there, you will find Thakur has already finished his lunch. You have no sense of time. Do you know what time it is?”
We tried to reach Thakur’s place of residence with the food items as soon as possible. On reaching there we came to know that Sri Sri Thakur had already finished his lunch half an hour before. But he was sitting on his seat and chatting.
One of the disciples, seeing the food items in my wife’s hands said, “Oh so this is the reason why Baba is sitting here and gossiping and not getting up.”
Sri Sri Thakur smiled and said, “I was seeing Beera and Urmila were bringing food to serve to me so how could I get up? If that were so then what type of Mahapurush would I be?”
Immediately Thakur took two-three Kachuris and gave Prasad[2] to all of us.

[1] Kind of pancake made of kneaded flour and mashed peas
[2] Food offering to a deity (this is taken by devotees later) or remains of food taken by a superior or venerable person

Why does the Guru bless us?

Book Excerpt #2:

At that time we were staying in the Haranganj area of Hazaribagh. The abode of Sri Sri Thakur was not even a mile from there. That’s why next day morning I again went to visit him. I saw Sri Sri Thakur sitting alone at his usual place, writing a diary. I touched his feet and sat down.
Sri Sri Thakur said, “How are you?”
I said, “I’m fine.”
Sri Sri Thakur said, “Only Burrababa knows how I saved you!”
I replied, “Yes Baba, I still do not remember the incidents of that one full day. What frightful hallucinations I saw...”
Stopping me Sri Sri Thakur said, “You shouldn’t talk about all these things. Didn’t I tell you not to tell these things?”
I kept silent.
Sri Sri Thakur said, “The more you are able to keep it a secret the more you’ll benefit from it. And you'll even comprehend such things better. But if you speak it out or show it, everything will be lost.”
“One of my disciples became great but he could not keep it a secret. Now and then he used to show his special powers. I prohibited him to do so and tried to discipline him, but he did not listen to me. Of course, I had told quite sometime back that he would not be able to survive.”
“When everybody here in Hazaribagh spoke highly about him, I wrote, ‘Eat dal. Eat rice. Get fatter. But in the end you will know everyone is sheep, goat and cow.’ If you don’t believe me ask Nimu (Nirmal Krishna Ghosh).”
Nimuda was a famous pleader of Hazaribagh. Once during some conversation with him I had confirmed about this and he had said, “All this is correct.”
Regarding this incidence one day I asked Sri Sri Thakur, “Baba, if you knew that he would not be able to keep your blessings, then why did you bless him so much?”
Sri Sri Thakur said, “I have come into this world to bestow my blessings on you all. You will get whatever you deserve. Nothing more, nothing less. Who will be able to keep how much of my blessings and who you will not be able to do so, I know it all. For a Mahapurush, there is nothing like past or future. Remember that for them everything is the present. Mahapurush were amidst joy, they are in joy and they will always be in joy. As time will pass, you will understand my words.”

A Disciple’s Conduct

Book Excerpt #1:

Returning from my morning walk one day, I went to meet Sri Sri Thakur & seek his blessings. It was around nine o’ clock and Sri Sri Thakur was sitting in the inner verandah of Dhirendranath Sen’s house.
On seeing me he started laughing and said, “Don’t walk too much; you are still weak from the inside.”
Sri Sri Ma also came out from the house and I touched her feet.
She said, “How are you my son?”
I smiled and replied, “Due to Baba’s grace I have been saved this time. Though I 've still not got back my strength.”
Sri Sri Thakur said, “You haven’t done the right thing by coming alone all this distance.”
I said, “I do not feel much difficulty in walking.”
Sri Sri Thakur replied, “Even then you should not walk a lot. Today sit for sometime then go home.”
Slowly it became noon and people started gathering.
Suddenly a large group entered and they came forward to touch His feet when Sri Sri Thakur said, “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! Go far off! Go far off!” On saying so he folded his legs and covered them.
I had never seen Sri Sri Thakur behave like this. I felt there would definitely be some reason behind all this, and thinking thus I kept quiet; waiting to see what happened next.
After some time it came to light that a 10-12 year old boy among the group of 8 to 10, was suffering from epilepsy and his father requested Sri Sri Thakur for healing the boy.
Sri Sri Thakur said, “Consult a doctor. If I were to cure all the diseases then how would the doctors earn their living?”
The man persisted and said, “I have consulted many doctors, who gave a lot of medicines but my son has not got cured.”
Sri Sri Thakur said, “What can I do? Am I a doctor?”
The gentleman said, “Baba, you are a doctor’s doctor. Please allow him to touch your feet. My belief is that by only touching your feet he will be cured.”
Sri Sri Thakur said, “No I will not allow him to touch my feet. The moment you came inside Burrababa said, ‘Fold your legs, an epileptic patient is coming to touch your feet.’ What can I do? I can not allow him to touch my feet until & unless He orders.”
The gentleman waited for sometime and then left with a grim face along with his entire group.
I was thinking of leaving, when Sri Sri Thakur told, “People come to me to heal them. But they do not try to seek for what I'm great. If you force a ‘Mahapurush’, you will not get anything. One has to come and sit silently. If you get His blessings, He will give everything. You don’t need to ask.”
As it was approaching noon, I got up and touched His feet.
(Mahapurush: A saint who has attained knowledge about God and reality and the power to look upon the world dispassionately.)

Breaking the shackles of the narrow & ghettoised "Spiritual Books Publication" world

While discussing about the Bengali book "Sri Guru Sanghe" with my father we realized and there exists an unfortunate gap in dissemination of information from local languages to universal languages like English.

While bulk of the next generation of Indian readers understand English better than local languages like say Bengali, we felt that it was imperative to bring out Bengali books like "Sri Guru Sanghe" in English. And that initiated a long journey to churn out the transliteration of this book, thereafter titled as "In the Company of the Guru".

The principle motivation for this endeavour was to bring out before a larger population the gems of Sri Birendra Mallick's exquisite experiences in the company of Sri Sri Birajananda Bharati.

Some of the occurrences have links to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, some have relevance to day-to-day living and some provide insights into spiritual progression in life.

However it has been a struggle to find a publisher for this transliteration because spiritual writings are fragmented and ghettoised into narrow sectarian publications which limit the transcending desires of Truth seekers.

However despite our failure to find a committed Publisher there is always Google to the rescue and therein ends my search for a viable media for dissemination of this knowledge.

Let's hope all the readers of this blog enjoy the gems that will be posted subsequently and value the need to know more and return back to get more.

Jai Guru Dev.