Father missed it, son got it

Q: When did you first meet Gurudev?
Ans: It was way back in 1969 – 70 that I met Gurudev. At that age, my parents took me to Him and all I remember is collecting fruits from Him.They took me to His talks as a kind of compulsion. We also had a Bala Vihar class at home. I was not really interested in such activities. In fact, it only created an aversion as I had to give up games and my play time to meet Gurudev or go to the talks and the Bala Vihar class.

Q: When did you get into the Chyk?
Ans: My memory is fresh with Gurudev since my Chyk days. Here I started going by myself and found it very interesting for various reasons. In around 1983, I started attending the Chyk class but was never regular. Since 1985 I became an active member of the Chyk.

Q: Tell us about some of your memorable experiences.
Ans: I shall tell you few of those experiences: In 1968 my father got Gurudev’s autograph on the Holy Geeta. Gurudev wrote, “Read five verses daily and meet me after three years.” Then, twenty years later I gave the same book to Gurudev for His autograph during His yagna at Tirupati. He saw the old signature on it and asked, “Whose book is it?” When I told Him that it was given to me by my Dad, He smiled and wrote on the same page, “Son also, advice is the same.” To the people sitting around Gurudev said “This is our culture. The book should be handed over to the next generation.” I could see a great satisfaction in Gurudev’s face may be because His work had reached the next generation.
In 1989 I joined the centre. When the Course got over in ’91 on the day of my deeksha I showed the same book to Gurudev. and again on the same page He wrote ” Father missed it, but son got it” .It has become a rare book with three signatures of Gurudev on the same page.

Q: You are known to do a lot of bike – riding, can you tell us about it?
Ans: When I was in the Chyk. we once went on a cycle rally to Tamaraipakkam (35kms from Chennai). When Gurudev came to Chennai we told Him about it. He laughed and said, “Sshhh ! Don’t say it loudly ,the milkman goes there daily with two cans of milk, If you go to Sidhbari then you may call it a rally.” Those words had a deep impact on us. We started our Mobike rally all over India. We have done Char Dham yatra on bikes, Amarnath yatra via Leh and Ladakh. Biking on the higgest road on earth, the Khardhungla Pass. Five times we had been to Sidhbari by bikes. All these rides made us tough and in their own way taught us to meet life. This is another way of Man Making.

Q: Were you part of the pilot team?
Ans: Of course. We started it. During one of the yagnas of Gurudev we started piloting for Him. (Ride mobikes before His car and clear the traffic) Gurudev called us as His escorts’ .This gave us a rare opportunity to be with Him for all the programmes. It was like being with Him for almost 18 to 20 hours. That was the time I could understand His work etc. My love for Gurudev began. On the last day I was standing by His door very sad that the next morning He would be gone. He looked at me and said, “Tomorrow onwards, you escort your mind towards Him. If any obstacles come, say move, and it will obey.” Much later I understood that the highest sadhana is to escort the mind. I am thankful to Gurudev for letting me bike with HIM and I am thankful to the BIKE for taking me to HIM.

Q: What do you like in Him the most?
Ans: His Love for me…every moment he was willing to teach us. Even when He was 70+ He could inspire the teenagers and the youth. I am yet to see another person at that age inspire the youth.

Q: Your most precious lesson?
Ans: On one occasion Gurudev was coming down the stairs of a temple and it was a little steep. I just streched my hand for Him to rest. He gave His hand and took it back and got down by Himself and said, “Don’t depend, walk alone.” Truly, with Gurudev, every breath of His was a teaching.

Q: When did you decide to join Sandeepany?
Ans: After the 45 days Vivekachudamani Camp at Sidhbari in the year 1988. After that no turning back. I decided to join Sandeepany. Now I know for certain it is His grace that escorts me in all my work.

Q: How do you convey your thoughts about Gurudev to others?
Ans: I like to talk on Chinmaya Ashtottaram, Practice of Vedanta, Vedanta Through Letters, etc. Through these books we can get a glimpse of Gurudev.

Q: What would you like to say to the Chyks?
Ans: Gurudev had great hope on the Chyks to continue His work. I am very happy that the Chyks also responded to His call. Around 50 Acharyas are from the Chyk movement. In almost all the centres the Chyks are taking active part in the mission work. I would recommend that Chyks read Gurudev’s works. Let us together work to achieve His Vision.