Lights of Memoirs = Pujya Gurudev

Beacon Lights are These Memoirs

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

The lives of great persons are an all time inspiration for the youth. Their remembrance acts as a beacon which illuminates the mind when it is engulfed in darkness. When the mind is bewildered and seeks a way out the anecdotes from the lives of great personages show the right path. The young men and women today often find themselves on the crossroads. Situations arise when they can not decide what to do and which way to go. Many dilemmas and questions surround them. In such times these shining examples dispel the darkness and act as an anchor.

These great souls were once there where we are today. They too were faced with the common problems of life – economic hardship, family responsibility, kin expectations and the like. They too had ambitions. The doors to a bright career beckoned them too. But at the same time sentiments of public weal and larger goal pulsated somewhere inside them. One door led to security and comfort; the other opened on to complete uncertainty and attendant risks. But they overcame the dilemma, steeled themselves and finally made their bold decisions. We too should not shy away from taking courageous steps. Challenges, of course, are there; visions of a cozy future allure too. But still these things are not so important as to forsake human dignity and core values for them.

Maharishi Aurobindo was highly talented. He was very proficient in complex languages like Latin and Hebrew. All the members of the family, especially his father had pinned great hopes on his becoming an ICS officer. Aurobindo did qualify in the ICS examination. But his heart was not there; it beat for the country. There was a burning desire in his to serve the shackled motherland. There was no dearth of advisers and advices: “One can serve the country even by remaining in the ICS”, “If you are on a high post you can serve the poor and the needy even better”, “Merit should not be wasted”, and so on and so forth. The hopes of the family, the plethora of advices, the tears of the near and dear ones, all would often encircle him. But Sri Aurobindo surmounted these entrapments and emerged free.

He said, “To be talented does not mean to be self-serving. To what purpose is this talent which makes one insensitive? Talent is indeed the inner consciousness which has oriented itself towards light; it should not lose its way again into darkness”. To the advisers his reply was – “It is true that I might possibly achieve much by joining the ICS, but I certainly can not struggle for emancipation of the country.” Finally he took the brave decision, the decision to undergo pain and suffering for the sake of the motherland. And once he had taken this initial step, many other bold steps followed in succession.

Many a time he faced emotional dilemma, as a major part of his adolescence period Aurobindo had lived a virtually lonely life. His mother was not in a sound mental condition. Father was strict by nature. For studies Aurobindo had to remain away from home. This loneliness affected him often. Meanwhile he was married to Mrinalini. The latter was a simple lady. Like other women she too liked to see her husband engage himself in day to day chores of the family and lead a peaceful and secure life away from the problems and complexities of the world. But Sri Aurobindo’s thinking was different. He said. “Personal love can not be greater than and take precedence over the higher ideals of life. For higher objective everything else could be forsaken, but not the vice-versa.” Mrinalini could understand this truth quite late. By that time her time to leave this world had come. Bearing this pain with fortitude Sri Aurobindo continued to tread his own chosen path firmly.

The life of Sri Aurobindo was a great inspiration for Subhash Chandra Bose whose heart thrilled at the very remembrance of the former. He too had qualified for ICS, but he had no interest in becoming a collector and leading a life of comfort under a colonial regime. The family put great pressure on him and tried its utmost to dissuade him, but to no avail. Subhash Bose remained unwavering.

He told the family, “A life of sacrifice, simple living and noble thinking, service to the motherland and sacrificing everything in this cause are the notions that attract me very much. The very idea of becoming subservient to a colonial bureaucracy repels me. For me the path of Aurobindo Ghosh, even though thorny, is much nobler, loftier and inspiring.”

These are some of the great personages whose glory is engraved in time. But there are many others, no less great, who have not been able to find prominence in the annals of history. Their imprints however are still fresh because not much time has passed since their departure from this world.

Swami Atmanand of Sri Krishna Ashram, Raipur was one such great person. He had topped the Nagpur University with a first class in M. Sc. (Mathematics), and had cleared the ICS examination too with distinction. Many doors of material and worldly achievement were open before him. The family members were overjoyed at the brilliant success of this young son. They had formed their own dreams and visions about Atmanand’s future. But Atmanand himself had other ideas. He had installed Swami Vivekanand in his mind and heart. The flame of atmanomokshartha jagadvahitaya was burning in his interior. He preferred service, sacrifice and sensitivity to indulgence. Self refinement and service to humanity was the path he chose for himself. His young and talented brothers too followed in his wake. The social service work done by them in Chhattisgarh is a continuing source of inspiration for the youth now.

Swami Atmanand would often say in his discourses, “Talent is a divine gift. Its right application is not in leading a life of indulgence and comfort, but in developing the spirit of humble service.”

Even though Swami Atmanand was formally associated with Sri Ramkrishna Mission, he had emotional links with Yugrishi Pt. Sriram Sharma Acharya. When Gurudev was in Mathura, Atmanand had helped him in spreading the message of scientific spirituality. His sudden demise occurred in a vehicle accident. When Gurudev heard of this he remarked that Atmanand was a gifted person who used his talent and youth for the right and meaningful purpose. Gurudev recalled many anecdotes of his association with Atmanand and urged the youth to seek inspiration from his life.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma