Swami Madhavatirtha, The Power of the Presence - #1

[Guest guest]

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Swami Madhavatirtha:

 

I should like to refer in the first instance to a somewhat mystical

experience I had during my first visit. It is rather difficult to describe

such an experience but I shall try to convey some idea about my

experience by borrowing an analogy from the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Sometime before the birth of Sri Krishna, it is said, the Lord entered

into the heart of Sri Vasudeva, who then shone like the sun. Later, this

light passed into Devaki through a mere look of Vasudeva, after which

she shone like the moon. On the very first day of my darshan of Sri

Maharshi in the dining hall, I found in the look of the sage the dazzling

brilliance of the sun. On a subsequent day, while I was sitting in the

presence of Sri Maharshi in the hall, I recognized the same brilliance

in the look of the sage. It seemed to pierce me to the core of my

being, even as the light od the Lord passed into Devaki through the look

of Vasudeva. My breath seemed to stop for a while and my mind was

elevated into some spiritual realm of unutterable peace and happiness.

 

Through detachment and discrimination one can aspire to the state of

sakshibhava, the state of the witnessing self, but there is a higher state

in which one realizes one's identity with all that exists. In Sanskrit this is

known as abhinnabhava. Though this state, which was realized by the

Maharshi, is beyond the mental comprehension and understanding of the

normal aspirant's mind, one can, to a certain extent, understand the

nature and significance of abhinnabhava by staying, even for a short

while, in the benign presence of a great sage such as the Maharshi.

 

While sitting in the hall I observed the Maharshi resting on his couch

wholly unconcerned with what was taking place in his presence ( for

instance, the constant flow of visitors who prostrated themselves before him

and moved on one after the other) and yet I could easily discern in him

the attitude of oneness with all, or abhinnabhava. I can confidently say

that it was through his abhinnabhava that he touched the inner being of vistors, who were then able to feel within themselves the presence of

the universal spirit, transcending thought. Having realized that the Maharshi

was radiating the power of the Self in this way, I decided to ask him how

I could best prepare myself to receive the transmission of grace while sitting

in his presence.

 

Q: While sitting near you, what sort of mental state should we have

so as to receive the transmission from your Self?

 

Maharshi:

Keep your mind still. That is enough. You will get spiritual help sitting

in this hall if you keep yourself still. The aim of all practices is to give up

all practices. When the mind becomes still, the power of the Self will be

experienced. The waves of the Self are pervading everywhere. If the mind

is in the peace, one begins to experience them.

 

 

 

 

THE POWER OF THE PRESENCE,

DAVID GODMAN, vol. 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bhagavan