Meeting Nisargadatta - A True Account (1 of 2)

[Guest guest]

Dear List,

 

The following is reposted from the Nisargadatta list. It

concerns a list member there by the name of Cathy B., who had the

privilege of meeting Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj while he was still

alive and was kind enough to share her experiences with the list in a

series of postings! i found this account to be a most enjoyable

read, and i think many here will, too.

 

Apologies for the length of these posts, hopefully it won't cause

problems with anyone's Email software.

 

"From the Omkara Archives" (raw and unedited) ;-)...

 

* * *

 

Hur has requested that I share my experience of meeting Nisargadatta

Maharaj in 1978. I never took notes when I was there in Bombay so

these recollections have been sealed in my memory for the last 23

years.

 

In 1976 or 1977 ( I believe) a book review of I Am That appeared in

the Mountain Path Magazine. The Mountain Path is the in house

magazine of Sri Ramanasramam in South India. It was a very positive

and because Maurice Frydman had been associated with Sri Ramana

Maharshi, it carried some weight. This was the first time I found

out that there could be a living Jnani, a realized Sage of the

caliber of Sri Ramana Maharshi. I sent for the book, read it and was

blown away. I wrote to Maurice Frydman and he began to correspond

with me. At some point he asked me to find a publisher for I Am That

in the United States. So I began sharing I Am that with various

spiritual publishing houses. I specifically sent it to Shambhala,

Rainbow Bridge and Unity Press. They didn't feel it was good

fit for their publishing houses. Then I got a letter from Mr.,

Dikshit, publisher of Chetana Press (which is the publisher of I AM

That) informing me that Maurice Frydman had died and my letter had

been found on his desk. So I began to correspond with Mr. Dikshit. I

decided that I really wanted to visit Nisargadatta and started a

correspondence with Mr. Hate (who was Maharaj's son-in-law). Which

brings me to January 1978 when I flew Air India to Bombay with the

intention of meeting Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

 

We arrived ( my friend Rick and I) around 3 in the morning and sped at

break neck speed from the airport to our hotel. The town looked like

it was littered with corpses because so many people sleep in the

streets. We got to our hotel room by stepping over the sleeping

hotel staff and settled in for a little sleep. At promptly at six our

phone rang, the management requiring our passports. The din outside

our room turned on almost automatically, traffic racing up from

Marine Drive. Across the street was the gray shiny Arabian sea.

I wasn't sure I could stand our hotel room when we first arrived but

after some sleep and meditation we agreed that it was a good place to

stay. Mr. Hate called and said that he would take us to see Maharaj

later that day. Mr. Hate, who was thin, and wiry with a big smile said

that we should bring an offering when we see Maharaj. So we drifted

through the neighborhood marketplace and settled on some bananas. The

street where Maharaj lived was round the corner from the Alfred

Cinema.

 

The noise in the streets was cacophonous. We came to his home and

stepped in. There was no formal satsang going on. In fact, Maharaj was

getting a shave from a roving barber. My first look at Maharaj was

very intense, especially because his whole face was covered with

lather and his eyes burned with an intensity that I could not fathom.

Was this love, anger or just total Awareness? I kind of wondered to

myself if this was all a big mistake. Maharaj was about my height,

around 5'3'' give a few inches. So he looked directly into my eyes. He

was so intense. Mr. Hate explained who we were, were we came from,

etc. So much intensity flowed through his eyes, through his whole

being. We were invited to return the next morning for Satsang.

 

Satsangs with Maharaj were predominately for western devotees and his

Indian ones who had a discerning, discriminating mind. Maharaj also

gave discourses for his Indian devotees and performed pujas.

 

The Satsang room was a loft above the family living area. When I had

read I Am That, I got the picture of Nisargadatta Maharaj building a

little room, probably not tall enough to stand upright in. However,

in reality, the room was spacious at least 10'x20' ( my guestimate.)

One had to climb a narrow and sharply inclined staircase to get to

it, but once in, there was quite abit of room. Of course, when you

filled it with 10-20 visitors it would crowded. The room was ringed

with photos and drawings of various gurus. Some I did not recognized,

some were familiar. There was a large photo of Ramana Maharshi which

was up above Maharaj's cushion, Maharaj sat directly below a mirror

and on the opposite wall was another mirror. To the side of Maharaj

was an his portrait. The room had pictures of the nine Gurus of his

lineage and a huge silver altar with a large photo of Sri

Siddharameshwar. On many of the framed and glassed pictures was a dot

of kumkum. Maharaj would replace the flower garlands and refresh the

kumkum. If you arrived early you could see him engaged in this

devotional activity. Those who think that Maharaj was not devotional

would find out that he was very serious in this.

 

When I came to Satsang for the first time, I was a bit full of

myself. I hadn't met many women interested in non-duality and I

assumed that I was kind of unusual. As I sat there before Maharaj

I found out that a you woman from Germany named Barbara Eistel was

beginning a guru-disciple relationship with Maharaj. She had come from

Sri Ramanasramam where she had just found out about Maharaj. He was

very solicitous to her. He was encouraging her to take initiation

from him. It was like watching a romance, a dance. Meanwhile, I

found that the circumstance had laid bare my conceit and it was a

necessary take down. One thing that happened straight off was seeing

that people were prostrating themselves before Maharaj. The first

time, after bringing him the offering, to prostrate oneself was very

intense. As an American I had not bowed to another human being.

It strikes at one's individuality, But once I got hang of it, I loved

to prostrate before Maharaj. Prostrating, I was told symbolized "

None of me, Just you" or " I lay everything at your feet" For me it

got to be such a blissful experience, I just loved to prostrate

myself. Maharaj looked like it was no big deal for him. You

got touch his feet, bow down to him. I just loved it, it was the

best!!!

 

There were several Indian translators. I don't know if it happened the

first day but shortly about that time I was "assigned" a translator,

Mr. Mullarpattan. Although Maharaj didn't speak english he would use

a few phrases " Questions? Questions?Awareness". There was another

outstanding translator, Mr. Sapre, whose command of non-dualtiy was

impressive. Maharaj would sit, lighting many many incense sticks,

light bidis to smoke. It would be a hazy affair. He would be focused

on the questions while occupied with the many lightings of incense.

Then he would speak and his answers would come out like a machine gun

fire. He spoke in a coarse way , but it became like music to my ears.

He would really press us to ask questions. "He would say, you are

spending millions of rupees everyday to be here, ask questions."

There was an incredible sense of camaraderie amongst us visitors and

devotees. The room would be hot ( for me) but cool for maharaj. It

was January and Maharaj wore an orange cardigan vest.

 

Mornings began abruptly in our hotel room. It would seem like raucous

traffic would mingle with what I call Indian Morning Music, the loud

expectorations of our fellow hotel mates. That would get us up and

going. My friend Rick and I had discussed taking a side trip to Sri

Ramanasrama in Tiruvanamalai. I had only 17 days in India and

wondered what the correct thing to do. We visit the AAA ( actually it

must have another name in India) to get some travel information.

Then off to Satsang. Although I do not remember the exact chronology,

I do remember that early in my visit Maharaj received a package and

was very intent on opening it to find out its contents. I turned out

to be incense, which he promptly began to light. I remember being abit

critical of Maharaj. But that felt absurd. Meanwhile the guru

disciple play between Barbara and Maharaj continued. He was inviting

her to take initiation (which would be a mantra initiation.) She

considered it.

 

Maharaj told a story . He said there had been a Siddha who had many

powers. This siddha lived a few blocks away. One day Maharaj received

an invitation from the Siddha saying "I am dying, come now and

receive the transmission of all my powers." Maharaj said something to

the effect that because he had met his Guru, he would not bother to

travel the few blocks to receive this transmission..

 

Maharaj answered my questions and I felt that I had good rapport with

him. At the end of the session as I was going down the stairs he

turned to me and intensely said " You are not going to roam about are

you?" I took this as an order, not a question and resolved to spend

my entire visit at Maharaj's feet. I felt that he was pointing me to

stay put, and with the opportunity of living Satsang beneath the

photo of Ramana, I felt like I was visiting with the Maharshi as well.

Maharaj had several Guru Bais. This means those who are fellow

disciples of the same guru. In Maharaj's lineage, Siddharameshwar had

more than one enlightened disciple. There was a Guru Bai, named

Bainath Maharaj, who was also fully enlightened. He spoke fluent

English but did not translate for Maharaj nor did he hold Satsang of

his own. When he would show up at Satsang, Maharaj would show him the

greatest defference. They had an obviously deep connection. I often

wondered why Bai Nath didn't teach, but then again, Nisargadatta did

enough for both.

 

Early on in my visit to Maharaj, we were invited to hear Maharaj

speak at a spiritual center. The center was celebrating its 50th

anniversary. The men and women were split by gender and we sat on a

cold marble floor. Maharaj was a guest speaker as was a Shankara

Order swami. In India, when a holy personage enters a room, everyone

rises to their feet. I remember Maharaj coming in to the room with

very dark sunglasses on. But he was not settled until his Guru

Brother, Bhai Nath Maharaj was seated. He must have given a hours

talk in Marathi. Of course I didn't understand a word he said but

after the talk, Mr. Sapre gave a full translation (or his own

illucidation) of the talk. People put offerings at Maharaj's feet. At

the end of the program, Maharaj stood up, took the offerings and gave

them to the the Swam, who has shared the dais with him.

 

The next morning in Satsang Maharaj asked us if we knew why he had

given the swami his offerings. Maharaj said " I gave him the

offerings because speaks to feed his belly." This suprised me because

I had not noticed Maharaj being critical. He went on to talk about

people wearing the ochre robe to feed their bellies. So it became

clear to me that Maharaj didn't really accord people any special

status because of title or order. Maharaj, felt no patience with

people who were pundit.

 

Because Bombay was a major departure point from India people who had

been at Sri Ramanasramam would leave via Bombay and also take the

opportunity to meet Maharaj. This is how Barbara Eistel came to meet

Maharaj. Infact he said to Barbara, "if you stay for three weeks I

will give you the whole transmission?" Now Barbara had to make a

major decision because she was due to start medical school in Germany

within two weeks. She had a discussion about staying and missing

medical school but instead becoming something like a physical

therapist instead. He really encouraged her to stay, and she did.

I remember one time a man came from Sri Ramanasramam. I believe that

he was the librarian there but lived in England and was on his way

home. Mr. Sapre refused to put his questions to Maharaj. He felt the

mans questions were not coming from the right place. This upset me

quite abit because I feel that no one should come between the

disciple and the Guru. Mr. Sapre did not think he was sincere enough,

partly becasue this man had visited Anandamayi ma. Although Maharaj

could and would throw people out, this guy didn't even get a chance.

His questions were not put to Maharaj. It was horrid.

 

I think it is important to understand that Maharaj never intended his

teachings to be used intellectually. His approach was always

experiential and direct. There were intellectuals who hung around but

that isn't what his transmission is about at all. I like it when he

admonished people to get the transmission, go home, marry the girl,

go to work. Love, intensity, living in freedom. Maharaj was about all

this. He had no patience for questions and statements that came from

a less than honest place. And he could see through all the crap. But

when he felt there was sincerity, he was all honey and patience.

 

It did not seem like Maharaj was acting when he was angry. Since he

once got angry at me, I can tell you it felt completely real. I do

not believe there is any separation in Maharaj. He doesn't have to be

separated from his body mind because there is no duality remaining on

any level at all. As for him getting angry at Balsekar, makes perfect

sense to me. (But that is for another posting) Maharaj supposedly

asked Mr. Sapre (the erudite translator) to leave because he realized

that this translator was interposing himself to much. I think that

Maharaj's ire has gotten more attention than his giving of love.

There is an incident I recall where a Rajneesh disciple had been

attending satsang and was asking many questions. Maharaj looked at

the sanyassin and said with complete love " Don't you get to ask your

guru these kinds of questions?" The sanyassin answered that Satsang

in pune was large and difficult to ask questions. Maharaj's gaze was

filled with so much love and care. Yes, Maharaj had little patience

for the professional seeker, throwing them out on their ear. Maybe

this is inquiry in action, that we should throw the seeker in all of

us out on our ears. Anyway, I think that Maharaj did not check his

emotions, I do not think he was calculated. I believe it was all love

in action.

 

On a Sunday morning we went to sit with Maharaj.The ususal

translators were not present although I believe someone was there to

translate. It was informal and quite lovely. A young man about 30

showed up to pay his respects to Maharaj. He lived about an hours

drive from Maharaj and did not attend daily satsang. As I expressed

my understanding, he seemed to nod and smile and agree. At some point

I noticed that he had awful teeth, I also had a strong sense that he

had transcended identification with the body and that this was an

advanced disciple. Later, after descending the steps, we stood by the

outer door, getting ready to depart. He came to us, drinking some

chai. He looked at me directly and said "By the grace of my Guru, I

am completely satisfied." He then handed the cup of chai to me, and I

took a sip. I feel that I met an enlightened disciple of Nisargadatta

that day, but I have never known his name. If the lineage continues,

I believe it continues through him.

 

A little about Mr. Hate. Mr. Hate (pronounced Hotay) was Maharaj's

son-in-law. I don't remember what Maharaj's daughter died of but I do

remember that Mr. Hate said when she lay dying, that her father

visited her and she burst into laughter. Something like that. They

had a daughter who was about 7 when I visited. Maharaj decided that

Mr. Hate needed to remarry and so told one of his devotees that she

would be a good match for Mr. Hate and that they should marry. When

I visited they had been married one to two years and had a newish

baby. They seemed perfectly suited to one another and were

completely devoted to Maharaj. They lived in a suburb of Bombay

called Vile Parle (pronounced Veal Parlay). Mr. Hate invited us to

come to dinner, which we did. I was very impressed with how copacetic

their relationship was, that they seemed deeply inlove and it was a

beautiful family. And it was an arranged marriage by Maharaj.

Maharaj was very wise in this because within a year or so of my visit

Mr. Hate died of some instestinal or somekind of sudden illness. I

always thought of how brilliant Maharaj was in finding a stepmother

for his grand daughter and how perfectly they Hates were together.

 

When we went for dinner at Mr. Hate's house we discussed plans for a

new spiritual center for Maharaj, a new Adhtatma Kendra. It had been

designed but of course never came to be. I never felt that Maharaj

desired another place and his loft had a rich patina of Bombay smog

on the green walls. However they did get to paint his room before

Maharaj dropped the body. Anyway, at dinner was the son of the

enlightened guru brother. This guy was pretty westernized and worked

for the huge advertising company J. Walter Thompson. He said that if

we wanted we could come over and visit his father. We accepted the

offer. That night when I went home I agonized over "roaming about" as

I had take Maharaj's question very literally. I wasn't going to visit

any other spiritual teachers and here I was off going to see Bhai

Nath Maharaj.So the very next morning we sped of to Bhai Nath's house

to leave a message that we would not be visiting at noon as planned.

But immmediatly we were shown in and Bhai Nath said, "The truth is

very simple: You are not the body and the ego is unreal, that is the

whole of it." Then we left! We went right to satsang with Maharaj and

I relayed the whole thing about not roaming about and seeing Bhai

Nath. He laughed and laughed and said " Oh no, you are free to see

anybody!" He thought it was hilarious. I made plans to see J.

Krishamurti that very evening, with my translator friend, Mr.

Mullarpattan.

 

.... Continued ...

[Guest guest]

Hi Tim,

 

Thanks for these posts. Did you know, one of my friends in NYC met

Nisargadatta. She said he proposed to her, asked her to marry him!! She

said she would have thought about it, but he was already married, and maybe

a bit too old for her :-)

 

Love,

 

--Greg

 

At 07:22 PM 7/6/01 -0000, Omkara wrote:

>

>Dear List,

>

>The following is reposted from the Nisargadatta list. It

>concerns a list member there by the name of Cathy B., who had the

>privilege of meeting Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj while he was still

>alive and was kind enough to share her experiences with the list in a

>series of postings! i found this account to be a most enjoyable

>read, and i think many here will, too.

 

....