The Mercy of Guru’s Affections – Swami Bhaktadhathan Jnana Thapaswi

Santhigiri: Swami Bhaktadathan Jnana Thapaswi said that Guru is the symbol of love and affection and he has filled his life with love, affection and mercy. The Swami was sharing his Ashram experiences with the Gurudharma Prakasha Sabha members at the Spiritual Zone Conference Hall today (01.10.2022, Saturday).

He came to the Ashram for the first time in 1982. ‘Entering the Ashram atmosphere and meeting the Guru for the first time remain as sweet memories in my mind even today’, the Swami said.

In those days, he used to come to the Ashram twice a year. Once when he came to the Ashram, he had a terrible earache. ‘Father and mother had gone for evening worship. When Guru saw them, he inquired about me. When he informed that I was lying down with an earache, Guru asked him to bring me. I was three and a half years old then. I was crying because of earache. Father came and took me to Guru. Guru made me sit on his lap and then he poured some medicine into my ear’, the Swami narrated. On another occasion when his father and mother asked Guru for permission to change his former name “Vidya Shankar”, Guru said, ‘not now, it will be changed when the time comes’. Guru’s words became true on October 24, 2009, the Swami said.

The Swami said that the desire to stay close to the Guru and the decision taken by his father and mother to overcome the objections from his relatives paved the way for his ascetic life. He began his monastic life on June 6, 1992. The Swami said that when Guru lived with us as a human, we did not recognize that great Soul and today the world is convinced of the greatness of Guru. Guru gave me great opportunities to be a part of the daily activities in the Ashram. Guru’s work is considered as God’s mission, and it is great luck to be a part of it. ‘The responsibilities of the branch ashrams strengthened my ascetic life’, the Swami added.

The 38th Sannyasa Deeksha Varshikam celebrations are currently going on at Santhigiri. Sannyasa Deeksha Varshikam ceremonies will conclude on August 5, on the day of Vijayadashami.