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Babaji - The Unfathomable

"I am nobody and nothing. This body has no meaning. I am only a mirror in which you can see yourself. I am like fire. Don't stay too faraway or you will not get the warmth. But don't get too near or you may burn yourself. Learn the right distance".

Babaji kept His own persona in the background: displays of honouring Him, acknowledgements and rejection meant nothing to Him. He permitted ritual acts of worship and devotion by His devotees for their sake only, to fulfil their wishes. Through His powers, Babaji guided each one who came to Him to perception of absolute, unchanging values and to knowledge of the unity of a I creation. To this end He changed the hearts of people, raised their consciousness by transmitting His energy to them, purified them and made them free for a new spiritual dimension.

The means for the transformation and purification of the mind and heart was selfless work. repetition of the name of God, in particular the mantra OM NAMAH SHIVAYA (Lord, et Thy will be done) and work with the elements, fire and water. Karma yoga, work as service to God, was practised daily and Babaji supervised all activities Himself. The short periods of leisure were spent reading religious scripts and chanting songs in honour of the Creator, as well as the mantra OM NAMAH SHIVAYA.

Water is symbolic in all religions as a cleanser for mind, body and spirit and Babaji used it often for this purpose. During the monsoon time in Haidakhan, He of­ten led devotees by the hand through the turbulent Gautama Ganga River. This was significant both as purification in a holy river and as a crossing of the dangerous swirls of life made safe by a reliable leader. Babaji enabled further cleansing to take place by having people do work that required standing in water. Big stones and rocks had to be lifted out of the riverbed and carried to some other construction site. The ashram dwellers also bathed twice a day, before sunrise and at sunset, in the cool waters of the Gautama Ganga.

Fire ceremonies served the same purpose. Each morning, around 4.30 a.m., Babaji performed a fire ritual which is more ancient than the Vedas. The fire ceremony is also referred to as "havan" or "yagna". As the offerings are made - rice, fruits, incense - certain mantras are recited by the participants, who surrender their lower nature to the fire. Fire consumes everything and its transforming power leads to a rebirth on a higher level.

Anyone who came into contact with Babaji received higher vibrations from Him. Babaji may have placed His hand on a person, given the blessing mudra, presented a person with a gift, some object He had touched or worn, or the energy may have been transmitted by a look or a word. He might breathe on someone or tap their spine with His long stick; He might scream at a person or stroke them gently; all according to each person's make-up.

Through this targeted contact, the various energy centres of the body became activated so that they became capable of withstanding more intense streams of energy.

Personal contact with Babaji was fundamentally important for everyone who experienced this. He was constantly surrounded by people. He shared food with people, travelled with them in trains, buses and even on the back of a motorbike. He was so uncomplicated, almost like a child. He stayed overnight in the simplest mud huts, in villas, in apartments, inn palaces - wherever He happened to be invited to come and give blessing. And always behind Him, a swarm of people followed.

The devotee became aware that everything was a part of creation, without separation, without differentiation. The path of liberation is a narrow one. If one moved off it even for a second to court old habits and ideas, Babaji became unrelenting. Using a seemingly trivial matter as pretext, he would stage-manage some drama out of the blue, sending devotees away as soon as they had reached saturation point in the learning process, or letting them overcome their difficulties by immersion in daily duties. Babaji demanded the strictest inner and outer discipline. This often cost many tears. However, each knew for certain that he/ she was truly blessed.

"To devotees I give Abhaya Dhan. the bless mg of my protection, by which you will always be protected. So you should be fearless. l am responsible for you and your liberation. My protection never abandons you, not even fora second".

*********

The day came when my daughter and I set off for Haidakhan; we felt strongly drawn there but didn't really know why. Along the way we firmly resolved not to fall at Babaji's Feet or in any way touch them, as was the custom in India. It was out of the question.

Before we had quite reached the ashram itself, we caught our first glimpse of Babaji. He was riding on an elephant with lots of people crowding around Him. To pre­vent His seeing us, and to spare ourselves the embarrassment of having to prostrate ourselves at His Feet, we stayed inconspicuously in the background.

However, the honour that we failed to pay Him, He accorded us. From a distance He waved us over. "You go", I said to my daughter. I had barely spoken when He waved again meaning that I, too, should come to Him. And, to our great embarrassment, He motioned us to sit up there with Him on the elephant.

The first look into Babaji's eyes was overwhelming. In them I saw myself, my entire being. The fire in His eyes pierced my heart. My head was empty, my heart full. It was as if I had known Him forever.

We rode with Him across the Gautama River; He, chanting the mantra "Sita Ram". He motioned us to join in. Although I hadn't a clue who Sita or Ram were, could make out the sounds and so I sang along. He made me sing even louder: "Sita Ram Sita Rani Sita Ram ...."

He then spoke a little with us and asked us where we came from. Afterwards, I bowed down to Him, touched His Feet, His knee. My mind became empty and my heart full. I was happy, I was simply there; beyond that, I was aware of nothing.

He was very loving to us and showered us with honours which we felt far from deserving.

*********

After the havan (sacred fire ceremony), while every­one was still gathering around the fire meditating on the flames, I noticed Babaji quietly remove Himself from the crowd and walk along one of the garden paths lined with trees. The first rays of the rising sun were scattering the darkness. There was an odd silence as night gave way to day.

In this quiet stillness, Babaji moved in close behind a tree and parted its branches with the effect that it was He who became the trunk and crown of the tree.

Fascinated by these strange effects, I kept on watching and then I heard His words internally: "I am the essence of all Life .... see!"

And as I looked, the branches appeared to be bowing. down before Babaji. Yes, it really was so. How else could He, with only two hands, have pushed aside the many branches and their numerous young offshoots? .... Then, before my eyes, Nature appeared to awaken with a renewed exuberance and vigour.

*********

An Indian woman recounts the following story:

Yogis and sadhus seemed to be forever visiting our home, so much so that I was rather fed up and didn't want to know any more about them. One day, however, a relative persuaded me to go and see, as he put it, a certain "special" young yogi who had arrived in Bombay.

On entering the room, I immediately noticed a young yogi deep in meditation. As there was no space left at the back, I had to move to the front and ended up sitting right near him.

Traditionally, our family has always worshipped Shiva, so I began automatically to repeat the mantra OM NAMAH SHIVAYA. It was then that the yogi opened his eyes. His gaze fixed onto mine and it was as if fire streamed forth from his eyes. I sat as if rooted to the spot. How long I remained staring - a minute, an hour - I have no idea. I only became aware of suddenly beginning to cry. Normally, crying doesn't come easily to me; it's beneath my dignity. The whole time, the yogi kept looking at me. At the same time, my father, mother and brother, who were also present, each thought he was looking at them. All three had the same experience. The yogi shut his eyes again and eased into deep meditation.

I was fascinated to watch the people go up and bow down before him and how he, although in profound meditation, would raise his right hand in blessing. This gesture truly touched me - it was Shiva's mudra. Some time later the yogi stood up and returned to his room.

"Who is the Baba? Where does he come from?", I asked someone beside me.

"He is a Mahavatar, the one mentioned in Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi".

"It may be possible", I thought. Nevertheless, doubts disturbed me, because of my sceptical nature.

We went home and returned in the evening. Babaji was sitting on the verandah in the moonlight. At last someone arrived with a lamp, which lit up His face. We were, sitting about two or three metres away from Him and the thought occurred to me to photograph Him. In my mind, I asked for His permission and as an answer, I noticed His eyes open. I spoke further with Him internally: "Who you are, I don't know. But if you are truly the one people believe you to be, then show me. This way only can I have faith in you".

My eyes remained spellbound by His face, which be­came like a kaleidoscope. It transformed into Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Buddha. I saw all the saints of India pass by, one after the other. This diversity of divine forms signified for me the oneness of God. And then, then I saw light. Only light remained. I had waited for this because God has always been "Light" for me.

While this procession was taking place before my enraptured eyes, I pinched myself several times to see if I was dreaming or if I was hypnotised. The images lasted for about half an hour; then they faded and again I saw Babaji's smiling face. Overcome, I surrendered to Him, inwardly accepting Him as my Master.

*********

When I finished my studies, I became interested in Indian philosophy and yoga. I met some people who had been in India with the Tibetan Lama, and my awakened desire for truth and wisdom led me there too. It wasn't a specific spiritual path or even a particular guru that I was seeking, but rather "truth", the truth as an inner experience. I journeyed with some friends to the Himalayan mountains and in particular to the small town of Almora, where we decided to stay on. One day, I consulted the I-Ching about a guru. Puzzling yet unambiguous was the answer: "The time has come for you to meet your spiritual Master".

The very next day, in the house of an elderly American lady who had lived in Almora for twenty years, I met Babaji. She told me that. Babaji was looking for a devotee who had been with Him in a previous lifetime. She was directed to invite to her home all the foreigners staying in Almora. When I heard this, I couldn't help feeling I was the one concerned.

And so it was - my intuition had not led me astray. I knew little of Babaji before our encounter. Some people told me that despite his youthful appearance, He was, in fact, very old. He had been able to maintain His youthful form for thousands of years. Standing before Him at last, I was especially impressed by His simplicity and cheerfulness. He appeared unusually serene, deeply centred, and sat for hours like a statue in meditation. In His eyes I saw He was a wise man. For a long time I just watched Him. Then, in thought, I put before Him questions which had long troubled me. I asked to be given of His wisdom to help me find the truth inside me.

As I got up to leave, I heard His voice internally saying: "We shall meet again".

That same night I dreamt of Him. In the company of some disciples, He came out of a dark forest. He was holding a long stick. His form transformed into Light and spoke to me: "I am your Master".

"What will you teach me?", I asked.

"I will show you how to wash up"

How well Babaji knew me! Back home, washing dishes had always been a horror for me. His answer basically meant He would teach me humility and simplicity. And truly, as soon as I set foot in Babaji's ashram, my job for the next two years was washing up and cleaning.

*********

"When there is an auspicious constellation of the stars in a person's life, then only can he/she come to a sacred place and meet saintly people. When a per­son's life has reached a turning point and the bad karmas are coming to an end, then that person is naturally drawn to a sacred place".

*********

It happened on my first day in Haidakhan. Only through enormous physical exertion had I managed to reach the place at all. Everything was strange and new. Impressions bombarded me relentlessly.

At some point, Babaji motioned some Europeans, myself among them, to accompany Him as He left the crowd and moved into a small room. He spoke for a while with the others, then turned to me saying: "Where have you been?"

I answered: "In the Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry".

"Did you like it there?", asked Babaji pointedly.

It was actually the first place in India that I had liked at all and so I answered truthfully: "Yes".

"Go where you like!", roared Babaji.

It was as if I had been struck by a thunderbolt. Thoughts began screaming through my mind: "Go? Go now? Impossible! It's too late now, and besides, I can hardly walk another step. But apparently I'm not allowed to stay either. Cannot go .... cannot stay ...."

"So what do you say to that?", Babaji continued.

Tears were running down my cheeks. A moment later Babaji was taking a mala from around His neck and placing it around mine. Then He lay His hand in blessing on the top of my head.

Only later did I begin to understand this statement. It wasn't about go where you like (want to), rather go where you will, that is, follow your inner truth. The thunder in His voice has the power to inwardly overcome all obstacles.

This statement was a summary of the teachings and is to be practised.

*********

A young man asked Babaji if he should go ahead and get married.

"Why do you want to marry?", enquired Babaji. "Because I'm so lonely".

To which Babaji replied: "How can you say that you're lonely when I am in your every breath?"

*********

Babaji had assigned me to crochet a hat for Him. When I offered Him the completed work, He took hold of a second hat, meticulously placed one inside the other and showed me precisely where I should crochet them together. Then He looked at me with intensity and said: "Make one from two. Do you understand?"

Some time later I understood it to mean this: unite the human will with Divine Will in order to realise unity with God.

*********

Soon after arriving the first time in Haidakhan we were told that anyone who intended to spend more than three days at the Ashram would have to have a mundan. "We were not told about this before we left I said. "Well, things change fast round here", came the reply. Until then I was fairly open to the ideas of having my head shaved, but being forced to have it done was another matter. When I said that I might decide not to have a mundan, they said ominously: "We'll see about that". The following day the confrontation continued, and someone said I was taking myself too seriously. Even my wife, who had no intention of losing her hair, pointed out to me that I had so little left any way, it wasn't worth making such a fuss. I decided to leave it until Babaji returned to the Ashram. After all. He was the only real authority.

In another couple of days it happened. We heard the noise of the excited crowd below as He approached, and I remember looking down to the river-bed to get my first glimpse of Him. That evening after Aarati I stood in line anonymous among Western and Indian devotees to meet Him. When my turn came Babaji greeted me cheerily: "Here comes a very good man from England!" I smiled at this joking reference to my surname (Goodman) and wondered about His knowledge of me. My wonder increased the next day when He placed His hand on my forehead. It was like being totally known and totally accepted at the same time. I was also impressed by His gentleness, and with His hand only inches from my hair I knew He would never force me to have my head shaved.

As I became relaxed about the mundan, I began to hear all the good things about it. "It feels wonderful ... it cures disease ... it's like letting go of all of your life and ego ... it makes you feel free". Even so, there was no particular need anymore for me to do anything urgently.

A week later I was sitting on stone steps, looking across the river-bed, when Babaji passed by. He said something to me in a sing song voice that I did not understand. Someone interpreted: "He wants you to follow Him". I walked behind Babaji and in front of him was a small dog. Soon Babaji was imitating the dog's funny walk so that had to laugh. After a few moments the dog ran ahead. and Babaji called to a boy to bring it back. When the dog was returned. Babaji was crossing one of the planks that span the water. and suddenly the dog was thrown upstream. It paddled back to the plank and somehow managed awkwardly to pull itself up with its front paws. Babaji, now ahead on the path and without looking around, continued to imitate its every movement, shaking himself as the dog shook the water off. This was no longer just entertainment. It was as if Babaji had identified and merged with the dog and was sharing the dog's discomfort. My mind went back to the infant's school, and the time I played with letters D O G and made G O D. So Babaji was in the dog; and then I realized that Babaji was already in me when He passed me on the steps, for what He had shown me was something I needed to see, Babaji in everything.

Next day I had my hair cut - all of it. Someone said to my wife: "Have you seen your husband this morning? He has had his head shaved and he is smiling!"

*********

Through an acquaintance I got hold of the Fischer pocketbook "Botschaft vom Himalaya". I looked upon it as divine guidance to be properly put to use.

For decades I had searched for a path to bring me closer to God and the information contained in this book might well have been my saving grace. It soon even became possible for me to travel to India.

Many people had warned me against undertaking such a journey at the age of seventy and with difficulty in walking as well. The trek to the ashram was hazardous and no physical comforts were available there. Nevertheless, I wouldn't be deterred and anyhow, an easy path didn't fit my expectation of achieving the high goal of meeting Babaji.

Indeed, the journey turned out to be demanding and exhausting, though I was fortunate to be able to ride on horseback for the most difficult stretch up river. At last I saw the 108 stairs leading to the main ashram. How was I supposed to get up there?

Before attempting the climb, I bathed in the Gautama River and rested on the stony riverside. Then I set off, taking it slowly, and leaning heavily on my stick. I had barely managed a few steps before I needed to pause and rest ... and again ... and then again. So the climb continued on.

While resting on one of the steps, I took a look down over the valley and saw how the river flowed in various streams, meandering about the beautiful mountains. I inhaled the clear air and took in the quiet and the peace. It was then I thought I heard a noise somewhere behind me. I turned round and saw someone running lightly down the stairs ... it must be Babaji!

Straightening myself up and thrusting the stick forward, I managed to move up two steps and prostrated myself at His Feet. I felt His hands on my head and a wave of energy, of an intensity I had never felt before, tingled through my entire body. What rapture! Taking hold of my arm, Babaji pulled me up and passed a mala from around His neck to mine. Never will I forget His shining eyes, oceans of love, disclosing His Being to me.

*********

The yearning to meet a great Master has been awakened in me, both from reading a variety of literature and through meditation. Two high beings were of special interest to me - Babaji and Sai Baba. Sai Baba was known to openly perform miracles. I had read about both of them, but which one should I seek out?

Then I learnt that there was a Babaji ashram nearby (in Germany), so I paid a visit and heard many stories from people who had often made pilgrimages to Haidakhan.

Happy, but still in somewhat of a dilemma, I returned home. So where should I go? To Babaji or Sai Baba, whose miracles still fascinated me?

The following night. Babaji put an end to the dilemma. I dreamt I was in Haidakhan. Babaji was waiting for me, His arms stretched out to receive me. Astonishingly, He had hair like Sai Baba. He embraced me. So much love. I felt profoundly happy to be "home". I was with my Father.

When I awoke, I was peaceful. I knew now who my Master was. This dream was evidence that Babaji, too, worked miracles.

*********

One day I experienced Babaji full of mirth and frolic. As I bowed down before Him, He clapped a plastic bag over my head, bent over and exclaimed twice into my ear: "Buh ... buh", then leaned back and shook with laugher.

I remembered that "buh" was a Sanskrit word meaning "earth". It occurred to me that Babaji was referring to being caught up solely in the perspective of the material plane - the earth. He was reminding me of His point of view, where the earth was merely an amusing theatre, the one we take so seriously.

*********

During my first visit to Haidakhan I took special delight in watching Baba, escorted by a small band of devotees, going down to the river to bathe. Each evening I would proceed to a vantage point -- a bench in the upper ashram area -- and eagerly await the scene to be enacted. From this position I overlooked the whole valley stretching across to the other side where the nine temples basked in the glow of sunset and in front of them flowed the far-reaching streams of the Gautama Ganga River.

As the sun was setting, the small party appeared descending the stairs and moving towards the river. Babaji was holding His long staff. This picturesque sight of the little group passing over the stones, clad in bright and colourful robes, each time evoked the vision: "There goes Christ with His young ones".

In my childhood I had seen just such a picture in a religious book and now it was coming alive before my eyes.

One day at darshan a devotee presented Babaji with some photographs. Full of love, He looked at them one by one and then gave them away as gifts. To my great joy, I received one too. It happened to be a photo of Babaji with a small group of devotees, moving across the valley in the glow of sunset. Precisely the scene I so loved.

With the joy came also deep shock. "How is this possible? Who is he?" I asked myself for the first time at this level. because the power of His omniscience hit me more deeply than ever.

As time went on. this realisation taught me that Babaji embodies absolute omniscience and love and through Him, we will come to know divine love and unity with God.

*********

"Love me more and more -- as I love you beyond all bounds, as I have always loved you and will always love you. Never doubt my love, not even when I send you challenges and tests. both inside you and in the outside world because everything is for your highest good and for your inner growth.