| Many seekers who perform spiritual practice under the guidance of Sanatan Sanstha have never met Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale. Despite this, with utmost devotion they are performing spiritual practice as advised by Him. While there is a strong network of Maya (The Great Illusion) outside, for attaining God-realisation only due to their faith in Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale, seekers of Sanatan Sanstha are performing spiritual practice giving up all temptations. While accepting communism, secularism, atheism have become a matter of prestige in society, the seekers of Sanatan Sanstha are also guiding society for abiding by Dharma besides remaining loyal to Dharma themselves. For this, they are ready to competently face opposition from atheists and progressives.
Who gives strength to people who were a part of Maya before coming in contact with Sanatan Sanstha, to swim against the tide ? While working in society during the difficult times of Sanatan Sanstha, performing spiritual practice and satseva, seekers remain committed to spiritual practice advised by Sanatan Sanstha despite criticism from society, sarcasm of acquaintances, ideological opposition from family members. It is because of their spiritual practice that seekers are suffering too from severe distress caused by negative energies in the environment. Despite suffering unbearably, seekers have not given up their spiritual practice. On the contrary, seekers are performing spiritual practice vigorously even in times of distress. How is this happening ? Which power connects seekers with Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale ? The power that keeps seekers attached to spiritual practice, providing them moral support in difficult times is the Priti (Spiritual love devoid of the expectations) of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale for the seekers ! Priti of a very high level for samashti (Society) is a unique feature of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale. In the context of Incarnate samashti Saint such as Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale, every word He utters, action, thought shows the yearning for the welfare of samashti. Due to His Priti for samashti, everyone can experience His loving grace. Today, the entire Sanatan family is firmly bound by this Chaitanya-predominant thread of Priti. On the occasion of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s 79th Birth Anniversary, we endeavour to give the readers a brief introduction to His Priti for samashti. We pray unto His Holy feet that may God bestow upon us the wisdom and devotion to describe the greatness of Shri Guru ! |
The expansiveness of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s Priti!
There are no organisational, provincial, religious limitations : There are no organisational, provincial or religious limitations on the Priti of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale. His efforts to ensure that the spiritual practice of Sanatan’s seekers be good are the same as His efforts to see the activists of other organisations also perform spiritual practice. From time to time, He has told the seekers to support devout Hindus who are in trouble. By spending hours together, He has eliminated the doubts of non-Hindu spiritually curious people who have come from abroad to learn about Hindu Dharma.
There is no malice towards opponents : Sanatan Sanstha was opposed by many in various ways. However, He has no malice towards all these opponents. It is a great sin to harass the seekers who are working towards God-realisation. The opponents are countered in ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ Periodicals so that they do not commit such a sin. His idea that moral degradation be avoided by understanding mistakes and opponents too should not be harmed, is also His Priti.
He has affinity even for seekers who have given up spiritual practice due to some misunderstanding : Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale never has malice towards seekers who have gone astray from spiritual practice. He showers love on them even upon their return after some time.
1. Unique features of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s Priti
1A. Developing closeness with everyone who is in His company even for a moment : Not only seekers, but devout Hindus in society and Saints of other Sects too have experienced that everyone coming in contact with Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale only once develops closeness with Him. In His company, He gives so much love and affection to the curious, seekers and devout Hindus that they do not even realise when they become one with Him. When some Saints and devout Hindus residing outside come to the Ramnathi Ashram, they feel as if they are at their paternal home. This is because Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale has instilled the seeds of Priti (Spiritual love devoid of expectations) everywhere the Ashram. In fact, the vibrations of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s Priti are felt throughout the Ashram and help develop closeness with the Saints and devout Hindus residing outside towards the Ashram.
1B. Instilling Priti in others like He has in Himself : The unique feature of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale is that He has instilled Priti like His own in thousands of Sanatan’s seekers. Today, Sanatan’s seekers performing seva many kilometers away from their home, are connected to each other with a unique family bond. In today’s times, two of a family do not get along with each other. Contrary to this, in such times, hundreds of seekers are peacefully living together in Sanatan’s Ashrams. The reason is that Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale has instilled in seekers a small portion of Priti that He has.
Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale has not been able to go out of His room for some years now. Under these circumstances, Sanatan’s guiding seekers and Saints are helping seekers all over the world based on the perspectives on spiritual practice as told by Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale from time to time. Through all these mediums, seekers are experiencing Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s Priti. His Priti is not bound by place and time.
Just as Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale has Priti for everyone including Saints, seekers, devout Hindus and society, seekers also develop closeness with everyone with their Prembhav (Love for everyone) while doing prasar seva (Spread of Spirituality).
1C. Teaching seekers to become one with the Divine Principle instead of getting entangled in Him : Since the mission for the welfare of society has commenced, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale has to bear numerous attacks because of negative energies. His body has become a battlefield between God and the demons. Even though Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale is taking care of seekers at the physical as well as the subtle level and is doing His best for the welfare of seekers,
He is teaching seekers to go to Shrikrushna without getting entangled in Him. Although He has Priti for seekers, His teaching is that seekers should merge with the Principle and worship the Omnipresent God.
2. A beautiful pairing of Priti and other features
2A. Adhering to the Principle so as to prevent the harm to the seekers’ spiritual practice : If a seeker is making mistakes in spiritual practice due to his personality defects or ego, and if he is moving away from God, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale becomes tough and makes him realise that the seeker has to fight his personality defects.
If they repeats mistakes, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale asks them to write their mistake on the board in the Ashram dining hall and take atonement.
The message of the board / atonement given by Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale from time to time is a blessing to remove specific defects. Only after seriously studying and understanding that mistake, it will not get repeated.
The harsh words of the Guru on such occasions to prevent harm to the seeker’s spiritual practice is also reflective of the Guru’s Priti for the seeker. Today, many seekers have a positive and happy perspective about life since they work on the personality defects and ego removal process as told by Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale.
2B. The yearning for the fundamental good of mankind : Human life encounters many problems at every step. The Nation and Dharma are also facing many problems today. In spite of this, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale repeatedly instills in the mind that the fundamental good of an individual will be achieved only by performing spiritual practice without wasting time trying to find the solution to each problem. Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale is writing Texts incessantly to guide mankind for the next thousand years.
Despite extremely low Pranashakti (Vital energy), Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale prefers to complete the mission of writing Texts. Actually, what is the need for a highly evolved spiritual authority like Him to perform seva in such a difficult state ? But, He is still writing Texts for the welfare of the entire human race. His Priti is unparalleled !
He possesses a treasure of these and many other Divine qualities. His Priti encompasses all these Divine traits. As a result, He thinks of others as His own and everyone thinks Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale is theirs ! Such is the unique exchange of Priti between the Guru and His disciples.
For some years now, all seekers have been in the ocean of the Guru’s Priti. Only a few pearls from this ocean could be narrated here. Our speech is unable to describe in words the greatness of Shri Guru who bestows grace on us beyond words.
To experience this shower of Priti by performing spiritual practice under the protective umbrella of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s grace is to understand Him !
(Compiler : Ms. Sayali Dingre, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. [4.5.2020])
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