Go, follow your own heart!
Someone read my initiation story and rang me up. Basically, I consider Sri Hari- The Divine as my guru and Sri Devi Om ji (Sri Maa) as my spiritual mentor. This person who gave me a call used to read Sri Maa’s posts on os.me but some confusion followed by a half-baked notice circulated to defame her made him quit reading her writings. Its his choice and he didn’t do anything wrong.
Curious, confused and worried, he asked me that why I was “following” her when ninety-percent people said that she spoke lies and fake stuff? I think, maybe whosoever he has spoken to, ninety-percent of them reject that Sri Maa can have divine experiences. Maybe they reject that such a path she has walked on and her story cannot be true that too being a non-sanyasi woman. Maybe it is difficult for them to understand it because they are stuck in stereotypes on who can gain enlightenment and who all can’t. Anything is possible in assumptions, isn’t it?
Coming back to the topic, I told him that I am not “following” anyone. I am just doing what I want to do. He counter-questioned back so, I asked him to prove to me that the guru he follows is actually enlightened and not fake. Obviously, he didn’t have any answer to that. I told him that Truth doesn’t remain hidden, it always comes out shining so, he better wait and watch in future. And he proceeded to declare that when Sri Maa will have a huge effect on the society (डंका बजेगा) and many will follow her, then he will consider her of merit. And then, we dropped the call.
This conversation made me think of two points-
1. How to prove that a person is enlightened who may happen to be your guru or a mentor or a friend etc.? And is it necessary to do that?
2. Was this person following his guru because he got validation from other disciples?
For the first one, I will say, even Gautam Buddha did not leave any material evidence of his enlightenment. Who was there with a camera while he meditated under a tree and captured the exact moment when he attained nirvana? The extraordinary greatness of Adiguru Shankaracharya, Baba Neem Karoli, Om Swami ji or Guru Nanak dev ji does not lie in mere material proof or validation from others but in their conduct which had such magnanimous love and wisdom that those who could sense it, their lives changed for better! I sensed that love and wisdom in Sri Maa, and I feel it to my bones that yes, things got better with me than it was before. Plus, even my parents say that I have changed a little for good!
Coming to the second point- why did that person worry about what the ninety-percent people were saying? Furthermore, why didn’t he put his own guru under such scrutiny? And then why did he say that he will consider Sri Maa’s merit when people would flock for her? Well, in my eyes, it’s a sign of insecurity. I have noticed that people draw faith via validation. Can’t agree more, validation is a powerful tool! People look at each other’s experiences and conclude upon their own decision which is a good thing. People check with others and then implement it. A good task indeed. But remember, it takes courage to follow your own heart without bothering much about what others would say, especially in the matters of spirituality. And sadly, most of the people don’t have guts to do that. Well, as far as I am concerned, I followed my own heart and became Sri Maa’s first initiate and I am loving my journey to Sanatan!
Not just 90%, I don’t need to listen to what 99% people have to say about spirituality. I will consider it a shame if I am unable to follow my own heart and call it a spiritual journey! So, I will follow my heart considering Sri Hari of Sri Badrika Ashram as my guru and Sri Maa as my spiritual mentor.
-Chitra Om
