In the camp conducted for enhancing seeker-ship qualities, 20 seekers were not allowed to attend the camp for one day because they did not write their mistakes for discussion in satsang or displaying them on boards

    On February 9, 2005, the sixth camp on enhancing seeker-ship qualities started. All participants were told that they should give details of mistakes committed by them in writing for display on the boards and to discuss in the satsang on removal of personality defects (PDs). Even so, 20 seekers did not give such details until February 11. If, in the camp itself, they are not serious about implementing the instructions, then they will not be able to put into action all those points given in the camp about individual and collective spiritual practice, when they go back to their respective districts.

    The Sanatan organization bears the cost of lodging and boarding of the participants, as well as traveling expenses in the case of full-time seekers. Even from the worldly point of view, considering that the expenses are borne by the organization, the participants should have been more serious about implementation of points given in the camp.

    In view of the above, as punishment for disobedience, the participants were not allowed to attend the proceedings of the camp for one day. This helped seekers become more introspective. The participant seekers had overlooked that they were attending camp for increasing seeker-ship qualities and they should have followed the instructions seriously, putting them into practice completely. They were trying to give excuses for their mistakes. Due to the punishment meted out to them, the participants became serious about the proceedings in the camp. This mistake occurred only because of the PDs in them and such mistakes could have been avoided. All participants realized that the seriousness required in spiritual practice was lacking in them and resulted in the committing of such mistakes. Later, every participant felt gratitude towards His Holiness (H.H.) Dr. Jayant Athavale.

    Seekers participating in future camps should avoid such mistakes.

    While on tour to Vidarbha, a program of H.H. Dr. Athavale’s guidance and experiment of chanting* was planned in Vardha district (India). After the experiment, seekers were expected to narrate the spiritual experiences and distress, if any, faced by them during the experiment by coming forward in front of the gathering. Instead, seekers narrated their experiences from their seats. Many were talking at the same time and there was utter chaos. There was so much noise, since everyone was talking at the same time, that it was like a vegetable market. No one was able to follow anything that was said. The concerned active seekers and responsible District seekers did not realize this mistake. Finally, H.H. Dr. Athavale had to intervene and brought this mistake to the notice of everyone. This resulted in H.H. Dr. Athavale not sitting through the whole experiment. He left in the middle of the experiment. The seekers therefore lost the benefit of remedies for distressing energy troubles, which were to be obtained from the experiment.

*If one is not currently doing any spiritual practice, or to complement one's current spiritual practice, one can begin with the simple, but powerful spiritual practice of chanting or constantly remembering God's Name according to one's religion. Chanting also acts as a useful complement to any spiritual path one may be already following. It is a practice recommended for the current times by Holy texts and Saints of all religions.

• Seekers in the initial stages of spiritual practice (less than one year) can repeat The Name of the Lord as per their religion (refer to Issue 3 Clarification of Doubts section for details).

• Seekers who have been doing regular spiritual practice for over a year or so can determine the appropriate chant for them from the experiment given in Issue 124, Message to Seekers section.