Nithyopanishad Zen Style
(Answering questions the way master wanted to)
It was a very cold night at Gangotri. That morning we were to have traveled up to Gomukh, an arduous trek of about 15 kilometers each way to about 14,500 feet. In 2004, when master went up to Gomukh, he went into deep samadhi. The previous night at Gangotri after the arati to Ganga, master had gone into samadhi. When he addressed us close to midnight, it was only to inform us that it would be unsafe to travel to Gomukh the next day and that he would not be going. No one wanted to go, naturally.
The next morning we heard from the porters that there had been heavy snowfall on the way to Gomukh and very few ventured out. The day was clear and bright. We had a great day with master walking up to the Pandava caves and listening to him for many hours. The temperature fell sharply in the evening.
As master came out that night to address us, swathed in layers of winter wear, he was making faces and complaining to us about the number of layers of warm clothing he had to wear. He insisted on counting each one of the 12 layers of clothing he claimed he was wrapped up in.
He said to me, 'Give me all the questions that I answered earlier. I shall answer them like a Zen master today. If after that, if people still want to ask me questions they can.'
So there he was, the master, covered in layers of clothing, apparently in a not-so-good mood, ready to apply the sharp knife of Zen discrimination to our immature minds.
'I will answer all your questions like a Zen master today. Normally I will say what you want to hear, never what I want to say. This is because, if I say what I want to say, not even one person will remain here. There will be no one to even fix the mike! Anyhow, if you want to listen, listen, or else get out. If you want to go out into society and criticize me what I am going to say today, go and do it. If you feel what I am speaking is the Truth for you, stay and listen.
In Rama Avatar (incarnation of Vishnu as Rama), the rishis (sages) lived with Rama for 21 years. Just being around him was so blissful. They wanted the joy to be physical as well. They said, 'Now we are just around you, but Sita, your beloved, is so close to you.' They were jealous! Rama then blessed them saying, 'May you all take birth as gopis and live with me in Krishna avatar (incarnation of Vishnu as Krishna)!'
Q: You said there is something called guru papa - sin against the master. You also said there is no such thing as sins or merits and there is nothing wrong or sinful as such in cosmic Existence. What about the disciples who leave you? Will they still have your grace?
A: When I say there is no sin or merit, it is a technique. It is the ultimate Truth given to you, revealed to you to reach the same ultimate state. I mean that there is no you and me, no I and You; no two persons. In that state, there is no sin and merit. As long as you feel there is you and something else, as long as there is duality of subject and object, there will be sin and merit*;* sins and merits do exist then.
Ramakrishna said, 'The ascetics who wander in Gangotri, Rishikesh and Hardwar (regions in the Himalayan belt), once went to a feast. They chanted before eating the food: Brahma satyam jagath nithya, which means 'only Brahman is truth, the world is untruth.' The host told them, 'Why do you want to eat then; get out!' One of the ascetics added, kao pure, which means, 'After eating!'