Spiritualism simplified? About Guruji who speaks less, spends time in 'deep' meditation

By Arup Mitra*
Take the Gita or Durga Saptasati, the ever-assuring lines claim that the manifestation of God on earth is possible again and again. As per the requirements of the human society, incarnations and arrivals of divine souls do take place from time to time.
The class of ‘nitya siddha’ remains always connected to the divinity. Individuals belonging to this class, even when they pursue certain daily paraphernalia, are always engrossed in deep contemplation.
Widely known as Guruji, Shri Nirmal Singh was of such high level texture, who spent the later years of his life in Delhi, educating people in the field of divinity and practising self-less love. Prayers and meditation without any material objective is the essence of his preaching.
He spoke less, spent his time in deep mediation and suggested others to do the same. The divine consciousness does not have to be told anything; as we connect ourselves to the supreme, we evolve and gradually learn to dwell in that divinity always. Life is a temple where we worship divinity by becoming a part of this vastness.
The book Guruji: Life and Spiritualism (Rupa, 2023), written by one of his followers, C Roul, is a wonderful exposition of spiritualism that India practiced over the centuries and produced its graceful appearances repeatedly throughout the human civilisation.
Guru ji has been a part of that great legacy, that great spiritual tradition, India carried over since time immemorial. His life and messages, enchanting the absolute truth, purifies the mind as the reader flips through the pages. It reminds one of one’s own true self and ignites the urge and makes one conscious of realising the ultimate of human life.
The book unravels the depth of regional history, intricacies of psycho-analysis of different phenomena in our life -- starting from dream to several transcendental experiences, the intellectual clarity of concepts, the systematicity of rationality and finally, the all-inclusive supreme divinity, overarching our complete existence. While detailing the personal experiences the author brings out the spiritualism simplified and reinstated for individual absorption.

Book unravels depth of regional history, intricacies of psycho-analysis of different phenomena in life

Guruji, as the mahapurusas do, lived for others showering his self-less love and removing the sufferings of others so that they could lead a peaceful life and avail of all opportunities to experience divinity.
As Ramakrishna strongly believed, in the contemporary age it is not possible to practise spiritualism, completely ignoring the hand bleeding profusely. Guruji, therefore, tirelessly engaged himself in rendering good to others so that at least some of them rise above the material world to realise the spiritual heights.

When life remains confined to the narrow lanes, where will be the space for the chariot of spiritualism to come nearby? In different human forms divinity takes material manifestation in order to come close to us and speak loudly the eternal mantra for having the vision of universal form.

That vision is the ultimate and final experience which helps the stream of life to merge with the ocean of eternity. Thereafter, as long as one is alive it is the state of jivanmukta that one relishes – the ultimate joy for which one has evolved from amoeba, little by little.
In this book, the author as a dutiful disciple has constructed such a timeless temple for his Guru, that it will provide space to enumerable to worship and get free from worldly ties.
---
*Professor, South Asian University

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Green Revolution’s reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides contributing to Punjab's health crisis

By Bharat Dogra, Jagmohan Singh* Punjab was once synonymous with robust health, particularly in its rural areas, where farmers were known for their strength and vitality. However, in recent years, reports from these villages tell a different story, with rising cases of serious health issues, including cancer. What led to this decline? The answer lies largely in the erosion of good nutrition, once a hallmark of Punjabi village life. The health of a population is closely tied to its nutrition, and Punjab's reputation as a provider of high-quality nutrition has suffered greatly. The loss of biodiversity in agriculture has led to a decrease in the variety and quality of crops, resulting in poorer nutrition. Pulses, a key source of protein, have seen a steep decline in cultivation due to the disruption of traditional farming practices by the Green Revolution. This has had a detrimental effect on both soil and human health. Although pulses are still available in the market, they are exp

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog