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