The
Guru-disciple relationship is considered very sacred. It is the
only true relationship. The Guru-disciple relationship is only spiritual
in nature. The only awareness that a disciple should foster is that ‘ I
should be lifted spiritually’. The Guru, too, habors only
one feeling, ‘May this disciple be uplifted’. This relationship
is independent of age. It is based on maturity of spiritual knowledge
(dhyan) and spiritual practice (sadhana). All living organisms progress
only through spiritual knowledge and spiritual practice. All other
relationships are born out of fear or social commitments. Hence
they are bound by worldly restrictions.
Harbor the attitude that ‘I
am a servitor’ : The following examples will illustrate
how H.H. Dr. Jayant Athavale (referred to as Doctor below) served
His
Guru, H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj, in various ways.
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After arriving at the ashram
(hermitage), he would offer obeisance to H.H. Maharaj and then
proceed to clean up the ashram. |
|
When seated near H.H. Maharaj, Doctor
would press His feet. This he would do lovingly and gently. |
|
Doctor would constantly pay attention
to every word that H.H. Maharaj said. If H.H. Maharaj asked anyone
to fetch
something, then Doctor would himself get up and go to bring it. |
|
When H.H. Maharaj would go to the toilet,
Doctor would open the door for Him and before He returned, he
would dust His seat and rearrange the pillow. He would wait to
wipe H.H. Maharaj’s feet with a napkin after He returned
from the bathroom and would sit only after Maharaj had assumed
His seat. |
|
Whenever there was power failure in the hermitage
(math), Doctor would fan H.H. Maharaj with a hand fan all the
day through. |
|
In the evening when H.H. Maharaj would get
up to leave the hermitage, Doctor would go ahead of Him and place
His slippers before Him. |
|
In the night no matter how late it was, till
H.H. Maharaj gave Doctor permission to leave he would neither
budge from there nor ask whether he could leave. Only after H.H.
Maharaj asked him to do so would he leave. |
|
Doctor would familiarize himself with
every item in the hermitage, e.g., the dustbin, broom, electrical
switches
and other items of daily use. |
|
Doctor would behave as if he were a part of
the hermitage. |
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