Spiritual discourse at Moreh

Thokchom Gopalmacha / Dr Chongtham Narendra *

Moreh - Border Town between Manipur and Myanmar in December 2012 :: Pix - Danial Chabungbam/Deepak Oinam

From the 28th February till the 21st March 2013, Swami Pabitrananda Saraswati Maharaj of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh paid a visit to the State of Manipur and travelled various places covering the length and breadth of the place, where he was received at every station with a big round of applause, sessions of Satsanga and the programme which was held at the border town Moreh on 18 March 2013, was remarkable. The Moreh Satsanga programme was held at the temple of Gouda Sampradai , Moreh. The programme started at 6 pm of the day. A crowd of onlookers consisting of not only local people, but also from the State of Assam had formed into a solid phalanx of devotees, to greet the revered Swami.

Shri RK Radhamohon Singh, the General Secretary of the Divine Life Society, Manipur State Committee, gave the introductory speech. He highlighted that Swami Pabitrananda is of Manipur origin, had all along led a cloistered life and in the year 1992, had renounced the worldly pleasures by entering a life of an ascetic and became a sage after being blessed by Swami Chidananda Saraswati, the then President of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh. Several scholars reminded the gathering on the life and teachings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati Maharaj who founded the Divine Life Society. Among the scholars, Shri Amuyaima Singh of Kakching, Shri Shyam Bhadra Medhi (IAS Retd.) of Guwahati and Shri Kakchingtabam Brajamani Sharma were worth to mention.

Shri Brajamani Sharma spoke elaborately on the message of Swami Sivananda. He asserted that, religion has nothing to do in creating a scene of diversity. If one is a Hindu, one is expected to be a good Hindu, if one is a Christian, one must be a good Christian, so on and so forth. To embrace a new religion discarding the previous one is contrary to the spiritual way of life. The Divine Life Society does not stand for preaching a new religion nor is a different manifestation of religious campaign for attracting donations. Divine Life Society stands for harmony and peace.

Shri Sharma pointed out that religion is an evolution in the social life. He reminded to all that in the days of yore, a society is regulated by many dos and don'ts also called social taboo. There was fear of facing evil consequences, in case one goes contrary to that. Even now such practices and beliefs are seen to be observed in the villages. Saying so, he illustrated - like a banyan tree to the Buddhist the cows or Tulasi to the Hindus and the Cross to the Christians... etc. which had been revered by the section of the people, since time immemorial, till date.

Next he pointed out the importance of a particular spot on the Earth to have divine sanctity and to be the abode of the presiding deities, thereafter a belief in the existence of many gods i.e. the concept of polytheism, and even in the midst of the belief in the existence of numerous gods, to have reverence to a particular god i.e. Monotheism and at the last the concept of monism i.e. belief that Gods are not many, but one, which is worshipped by giving different names. The assertion that "mine is more superior to yours" will get diluted, when one attains the concept of Adwaita i.e. monism.

The Divine Life Society works with the objective to appreciate and adopt the concept of Vedanata and to bring harmony therefore, it is absolutely out of place for the society to cause diversity. Peace would be fully achieved only when the entire world discard the evil of diversity. Shri Sharma also pointed out that the members of the Divine Life Society have the inclination to the six virtues i.e. service, love, generosity, openness, tolerance and appreciation. These are the cream of the message of Swami Sivananda. Without a sense of mutual love, one cannot achieve fearlessness and bliss.

Without a spontaneous act to extend service, there cannot be love in true sense. A nurse serves the patient and so does a mother to her son, but the difference is that one does for consideration of earning and the other does solely on the consideration of love and affection. In other words, the acts are similar but the objectives differ. Guru Dev Sivananda taught us that rendering service to others must centre around love and affection. By doing so, one can dedicate and sacrifice in true sense. In love, one must dedicate and not to earn. It is love that impels a person to give. Purity is achieved by giving.

The household wastes as well as the soiled body can be remedied by maintaining cleanliness. Shri Sharma gave example by reference to the fruit trees like lemon and Yongchak. He stated that it is proper to pluck the fruits when they are ripe. If they are not plucked in time and let remain hanging down their branches even when they are ripe, then the next season they will be sealed by slumber without bearing fruit. If they are plucked in time then they will bloom and bear fruits in bumper, the next season.

Dhyan is a mental exercise which gain popularity in these days. Dhyan will be useless, if one does not purify one's own mind. Like a commodity which is put in a clean jar remained untainted, so also doing Dhyan by a pure mind will attain its expectations. That is one what we call the realisation of the absolute or achievement of Atmasakhyatkar. In furtherance of the discourse about dharma, a reference was made to Swami Sivananda's sermon. These days many including the religious prophets preach something but act in contrary. Unless this is checked there will be no peace, no global peace. An episode from Christian literature which is a story of a Christian pastor was quoted by Shri Sharma. He remained busy in library works for using the materials of his speech in the afternoon session.

A big fat hen appeared near the scene and remained present there unusually, the presence of the hen distracted the mind of the pastor. The hen could not be expelled inspite of many attempts. Then the hen was trapped by inversion of a basket. His wife witnessed everything that happened. The pastor was mindful in his own task and before leaving his place for church, told his wife, "we have not been having delicious food for so long, so this is for our supper for tonight." By saying so he pointed to the basket. Thereafter, he stepped into the church and officiated the church service by chanting a hymn. At the end, all the devotees departed and he remained there for keeping his books at proper places. He came home with the hope of enjoying a delicious recipe in the supper.

When he sat at the dining table, he found an altogether different dish contrary to his wish. He said to his wife, "Can't you grasp what I hinted you at the time of my departure?" His wife answered, "I know your sign." He exclaimed, "Then what? You have shattered my hope. Is it that you dislike dressing the same for preparation?" His voice became coarse and shrill. The lady answered calmly, "Is it not your preaching to the devotees that one should be a good neighbour and to refrain from doing what one dislikes to behave in the same way to him by the others. Hearing the sermon, I thought that it would be improper to consume the hen of the neighbour, and so I set it free. I am sure that our neighbour would be very happy to find their hen that was untraceable for some time.

I then conveyed my gratitude to the Almighty for giving a chance to do correct things and deeds." Before the end of the remark, he uttered in a sharp tone, "Enough, enough that all about the church, but my question is about my household affairs." The poor woman gawped at her husband in confusion. Shri Sharma then came to the point- this story is not only for the Pastor alone but, is relevant to every leader in any field and would be an eye opener.

A Hindu in external appearance, a person who has many of a Hindu-like or a blind follower of Hinduism will stand at the crossroad deviating his mind for Allah and someday for Jesus and will be nowhere. Only when one is a better Hindu or a better Christian or a better Muslim, one can realise the real meaning of religion. One will find then and there that there is no diversity, opposition or disagreement.

He concluded his discourse by saying that if these things can be appreciated by the religious or political leaders, the bureaucrats, the judges, the local leaders and the family heads to keep their words and not to be deviated from the truth, only then global peace can be achieved and that is the firm belief of the Divine Life Society.

At the end Swami Pabitrananada gave his inspiring discourse to the gathering and the satsanga adjourned after singing bhajans and kritans. The Prashadam Seba was sponsored by Smt Ningombam Ongbi Bimola Devi of Kakwa.

The next day, Swamiji advanced his tour in a good will mission to Tamu Pagoda where he sat in meditation amidst the Buddhist monks. After the meditation session, he spoke on the importance of concentration and meditation. The diversity in language partly clouded the understanding, but still similarity in appearance and attire, had made Swami Parbitrananda as if merged with the monks of Myanmar. It reminds of the maxim of Swami Sivananda - there is only one language i.e the language of the heart.

By dusk of 19 March, all returned to their respective places. The local people remarked that the visit of Swamiji had uplifted the moral of the Meitei inhabitants by his blessing, imbibed a sense of divinity and opened a source of celestial bliss to many.

Lastly, I would be failing in my duty if I do not acknowledge the services of my fellow children namely Sarva Shri Kh. Jibon Singh of Ningthoukhong and Chongtham Tomba Singh of Nagamapal for their selfless services in making the progamme successful. Let there be peace in this Globe.