[Fwd: Meeting Maharaj]

[Guest guest]

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.

 

I think I will stop here for now.