Meeting a Miracle Working Yogi

Author: Admin
Date: 07-30-04 12:13

This is an extract from the autobiography of Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh jee, translated by Dr Tarlochan Singh. A Singh has done this great sewa of typing this up.

Everyone is requested to read this and other writings of Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh jee.

Admin.


Meeting a Miracle Working Yogi

A strange incident took place before I sat for examination. On day, I was returning from college thinking that I should meet and seek guidance from some saint who had achieved a high spiritual state. Suddenly I saw a Yogi dressed in woollen robes. As he walked in a carefree manner he appeared to be absorbed in spiritual self-intoxication. When he came close to me, he cast such a piercing look at me that I felt intensely drawn towards him. I threw away my books and followed him in a heedless craze. Bhakta Kabir’s following Sloka was ringing in my mind:

Sayeth Kabir: leave not the company of the saint,
Follow his footsteps on the Path.
On seeing him the mind becomes pure.
On meeting him you remember the Name of God.
(Kabir Sloka: p. 1371)

I followed him immediately. One of my companions picked up my books and followed me. I persuaded him not to accompany me but he would not turn back until I also went back with him. Another Sloka of Kabir reminded me that I should meet the saint alone:

Sayeth Kabir: when you go to meet a saint,
Do not take anyone with you;
Turn not your back but go ahead, come what may.
(Kabir Sloka: p. 1371)

Such thoughts, from my readings of scriptures, came to my mind repeatedly and I somehow succeeded in sending my companion back. I followed the Yogi and felt impelled by some unknown power to follow him. I lost all sense of shame, hesitation or discrimination and followed him in hypnotic fascination. I even forgot where I was and in which city and on which road I was moving. I did not take my eyes off his personality, even to have a look sideways. My eyes were fixed on the carefree gait of the Yogi. Like a shadow I followed him at a distance but I was afraid to get too close to him. Many sweetmeat vendors offered him sweets, fruit sellers gave him fruit but he did not care to accept anything. He did not even look at them. Although he was walking with his back towards me, his magical appeared to be fixed on me and reflected from his back. It was the sight of these fascinating eyes that was continuously dragging me on.

At last, we reached a small fountain in the courtyard of the High Court (then known as the Chief Court). Water was perpetually flowing out of the fountain and the water basin around it was always full. There was complete solitude in the place and the atmosphere was very peaceful. The Yogi took off his woollen robes and stood there almost naked with his matted hair flowing at his back. He looked at me sternly, probably to frighten me but I did not fear from him in the least. From a distance I watched his strange actions. He then drank some water from the fountain basin with cupped hands, and then with closed eyes and folded hands; he lay prostrate on the ground in profound salutation. I felt that the Yogi was a man with a deep spiritual vision, he saw the all-pervading Presence of the perfect Lord in front of him and he was offering devout salutation to the infinite Spirit. A sensational thrill passed through my body at that moment. The recitation of Japji resounded within my whole being in a sweet musical tone. I felt a little giddiness and then all the earthly sights disappeared from my sight. Then I suddenly felt elevated to a sublimer state, which I had never experienced before. I could see only an endless space of sublime realm. My ears heard the recitation of Japji resounding from within; I could neither see the Yogi not the fountain nor the garden in front of me. Then there was another wave of giddiness and I fell prostrate on the ground. Even in this fall I did not feel hurt but felt a peculiar joy.

After some time, I do not know how I regained consciousness. When I was on my feet again, I saw the same garden and the same fountain and water basin and the Yogi was still lying prostrate on the ground in devout salutation to the Infinite. I squatted on the ground near the Yogi. After some time he got up and picking up his blanket, wrapped it around his body. He looked at me and hinted by a sign that I should go back, but I could not leave him. He walked on the Mall in a carefree and leisurely sporting gait and I followed him.

After some time, we were about two miles outside the town near Lawrence garden. On both sides of the road there were large bungalows. Sometimes the Yogi walked into these bungalows and well guarded houses. No one checked him. I also followed him and no one stopped me. It appeared that we saw everyone but no one saw us. In this way we went beyond Lawrence garden. I had never visited t his area of the city before. He then took me to such strange places which I had never seen. He took me all over Lahore. Sometimes we went up and down a number of two or three storeyed buildings. No one questioned or stopped us. He then took me through various classrooms of Chiefs’ College where professors were moving about and classes were in progress. No one questioned or stopped us. Having taken me all around the city he came at sunset to Shah Alami gate square and sat near a shop. Here there were many sects of Sadhus sitting in groups, but he did not join any group. He sat in a secluded corner.

People placed before him many things as offering but he did not even seem to know what was lying before him. His eyes were fixed in some distant vision and would not even wink. It appeared he saw the whole panorama of the universe in a vision of deep ecstacy. I stood at a distance admiring him. I was not aware that some one might be looking at me. It was getting dark and I suddenly remember that I must say my evening prayers (Rehras). When I finished the evening prayer, I could not find the Yogi anywhere in that place. I anxiously searched him all round but could not find him. In utter disappointment I came back to Nabha House, my hostel. Without spreading the bedding I lay on the cot in order to get some sleep. I did not eat or drink anything. The night passed in a restless mood, anxiously brooding over the desire to meet the Yogi again.

Early in the morning my college mates compelled me to accompany them to college. When we reached Old Anarkali one of my friends expressed his desire to buy a watch. We all went to a watch seller’s shop. I was anxiously looking out lest I might by chance see the Yogi. I was just thinking of him when the Yogi suddenly appeared before the shop. He stood there and smiled at me. I felt so helplessly drawn towards him that I followed him. I even left my books there. I completely forgot that I was to go to the College. In a fit of hypnotic attraction I followed him again. As on the previous day, he first went to the garden foundation. There he appeared to stand in meditation. I could not resist going near him. I went forward and bowed to touch his feet but he held me up with his hands. I stood there dumbfounded like a statue while he walked away. He had gone only a short distance when I regained my consciousness and I followed him. Without describing the details, it is sufficient to say that I followed him all the day, remaining about five steps behind him. He sometimes attracted me and sometimes repelled me but I kept on following him. He did not speak a word. He had been observing silence since many years. I had firm faith in the following words of Kabir:

Sayeth Kabir: Leave not the footsteps of a saint,
Follow the path he shows.
Thou shalt become pure on seeing him
And will remember God on meeting him
(Kabir Sloka: p. 1371)

So I followed him and went on the path shown by him. At that time I took these lines of Kabir literally and understood them in their plain meaning. As on the previous day, I saw wonderful buildings and palatial mansions and many other sights that I had never seen even in a dream.

Turning Away from the Yogi

Like the previous day the wanderings in wonderland ended in the same place at sunset. My faith in him had increased and my mind was about to drift away into strange paths when suddenly something unexpected happened. The Yogi appeared to have renounced everything and was observing silence for many years. Worldly goods did not attract him at all. I also believed that he did not eat anything and was probably Pavanahari: one who sustains himself on air. People offered him fruit and delicious foods but he did not even look at them. Suddenly, I saw a shocking sight. A man brought and Indian pipe (chillam) for him and without any hesitation he began to smoke. On seeing this I was disillusioned. My tender faith in his saintliness was shattered and I felt the very earth slipping under my feet. I fainted. There was a great commotion. I do not know how I regained consciousness. As soon as I got up I turned away from him. The Yogi who did not care for anyone and who had maintained silence for many years spoke to me saying: “Well, is that all you can tolerate? You have been tested in such a short time. Your faith is shaken and you are turning away from me?” I replied: “I cannot have any more faith in you even if you become the very image of God now” and I uttered this couplet:

I considered him a saint having swan-like purity,
That is why I sought his association.
If I knew he was hypocrite like crane,
I would have kept away from him all my life.
(Shaikh Farid Sloka: p. 1384)

After saying these words I left the place. A man came running behind me and after overtaking me said: “Listen friend, the Yogi who has never talked to anyone for many years and has never cared for anyone, has called you back. Why are you turning away from him? It is indeed your great misfortune that you are leaving a saint and recluse who has attained such high spiritual state. He is a Kashmiri Brahmin of high caste and he has been observing silence for many years. As a recluse he wanders about deeply absorbed in supreme spiritual state. For the first time after many years he has spoken to you. What has made you turn away from him?”

To this I replied: “No matter hoe great a saint he is, I must judge him by the ethical standards of Sikhism. His birth in high Hindu caste and family is not what really matters to me.”

The humblest among those of humble birth,
The lowliest among the low caste,
Are my friends and brothers.
What have I to do with the rich and proud.
(Guru Nanak: Sri Rag p. 15)

“ What evil have you seen in him?” the man asked. I said, “I am not concerned with the evils in any man. He does not appeal to me. My faith in him is shaken. I find him hollow and weak. The image of his saintliness has been demolished from my mind. What is the necessity of discussing it beyond this. You may go your way leave me to my fate.” The man had to depart. I went to Golbagh and sat there for my evening prayers which I recited in a deeply meditative mood. After that, I prayed to God thus: “O True Lord, today Thou hast saved this bewildered child wandering in search of Thee, from the wrong path through Thy mercy. It is Thou who hast made me a passionate seeker of your presence. Thou alone can test and accept the deserving. Thou alone can help in fulfilling the aspirations of my love. Bless me with a poised faith in the Guru’s supreme ethical code of conduct.”

This prayer restored my peace of mind. I came back to my residence and went to sleep. I got up early in the morning and after taking my bath, I left my hostel with the idea of visiting a Sikh temple where I could join some holy congregation. I suddenly made up my mind to go to the Gurdwara Shahid Ganj built in memory of Bhai Taru Singh, the martyr.

Meeting A Mysterious Sage

When I read the gates of Bhai Taru Singh’s Gurdwara, I met a very saintly old Sikh with a white beard. I greeted him with folded hand. He gave a pat on my back and blessing me said: “Now, go into the temple; the Guru’s blessing is with Thee. It is good that you were not attracted by the smoker Yogi. Go inside the temple and you will see the holy Guru Granth Sahib, the Divine Word of the Guru, which is the source of true illumination in this Dark Age. Follow it and you shall be liberated. Seek its sacred presence every morning and read the hymns every day.” After saying these words the mysteriously saintly sage with the white beard disappeared.

Overwhelmed with renewed inspiration of love, I entered the shrine, bowed before the holy Guru Granth Sahib and read a few hymns. I do not remember which they were, but they inspired me with thigh spiritual ideals of Guru’s wisdom. From that day, reading at least one passage from Guru Granth Sahib and reflecting on it became part of my daily worship. I got frequent opportunity to meet and serve Sikh Sangats (congregations). The secret treasures of divine knowledge and the Guru’s wisdom began to be intuitively revealed to me and as all other knowledge appeared to be false knowledge, I could not apply my mind to secular studies.

B.A. examination started. Those were the days when spiritual aspiration and thirst for the knowledge of the Guru’s philosophy was deep and profound. Every moment of my life was occupied by religious thoughts and emotions. Even while answering the examination papers, a wave of spiritual emotion would overwhelm me and my pen stopped writing. I lost all consciousness of the fact that I was answering a question paper. I could not answer the paper any further. The pen would not move on. Who could move it? He who holdeth the pen was absorbed in something else. My mind was so deeply absorbed in divine love that no one dared to disturb me. In this condition of passionate thirst I somehow passed the time. Father received all the news about e. So he came and took me away. He tried to divert my mind to something else. He procured an appointment of Naib Tehsildar for me without consulting me. I will relate in some other letter how I had to pass this time.