Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale moulds seekers with guidance and His own conduct !

From 1989 I had the opportunity to participate in the workshops conducted by Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale in Mumbai. At that time, even though I was successful in worldly life, my mental state was not good. In such a perilious mental and spiritual state, He took me under His protection. Keeping me at His feet, He bestowed many spiritual experiences in my personal life. This Paras (Philosopher’s stone) in the form of ‘Gurumouli’ transformed my life completely and fulfilled the purpose of my life. To express my gratitude, I offer these flowers unto the Holy feet of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale, who is a form of Shri Vishnu.

In Part 1 published in 16-31 May issue, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s guidance to H.H. Shivaji Vatkar in workshops and His actual conduct were printed with some spiritual experiences. This part narrates the virtues of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale and His effective moulding of seekers in their spiritual journey. (Part-2)

3.Giving priority to the propagation of Spirituality even during the death of His parents

3A. Demise of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s father on the day when He was to leave for Indore to perform satseva of the 75^th Birth Anniversary celebration of Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj : In 1995, seekers from Mumbai along with Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale were scheduled to leave for Indore for 2 weeks to perform the satseva of the 75th Birth Anniversary celebration of Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj. I went to the Sevakendra the night before. I called Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale at 11 a.m. on the day of the departure. Then, a seeker told me that He is downstairs. He lived on the 2nd floor and usually did not go downstairs. Upon asking about it, the seeker said, “His father has passed away and He has gone to the crematorium”.

3B. Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale giving priority to Guruseva even during His father’s death while fulfilling His duty : I had spoken to His father the night before. He did not speak much. He would chant continuously holding a japamala; he was very loving and would always inquire about everyone. After learning about his death, my wife and I went there immediately. After the last rites, everyone was coming out of the crematorium, when we met Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale. He said, “Good, you came ! As told by H.H. Baba, I will stay in Mumbai for 3 days and then I will go to Indore. You go to Indore as planned”. I was shocked to hear this. He did not say anything about His father. He was talking about satseva and propagation of Spirituality as if nothing had happened. From His own example, He taught seekers how to behave even in such situations while fulfilling one’s duty.

3C. Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale asking the seeker to go to his office instead of attending the last rites of His own mother : After reaching the Sevakendra, we would talk freely to Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s mother, H.H. Tai. She was very loving and open. After learning about Her demise, I went to attend the last rites instead of going to my office. When I reached there, preparations for the last rites were underway. I decided to go to the 2nd floor for H.H. Tai’s darshan and wait there for the last rites. I met Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale in that room. He said, “Do you not have to go to your office today ? You can go to the office”. I obeyed Him. I went to my office with the thought that, since H.H. Tai loved us very much, it would have been better if I was allowed to attend Her last rites till the end. However, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale wanted that I save my half-day’s leave and spend it on the propagation of Dharma. He did not let seekers get entangled in emotions. In this way, He used to teach seekers with His own example.

4. Celebrating seekers’ birthdays at the spiritual level and with affection

The birthday of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale, who is the form of Shri Vishnu, used to be on 6^th May. We could not do anything for Him. He had no expectations from others and He also did not like any formalities. We used to merely do ‘Namaskar’ to Him and give Him our best wishes. He left no stone unturned for our spiritual practice; for example, Mr. Dinesh Shinde’s and my birthday are on 9th October. Since I grew up in a small village, I did not even know that a birthday should be celebrated. However, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale would celebrate our birthdays. He would ask a lady-seeker to do our Aukshan (Ritual of waving a lit lamp in front of an individual), give us some sweets, cook some sweet item on that day, take our photo and thus pamper us. Rich and famous people may be celebrating the birthdays of their children with a lot of pomp; but, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale would celebrate our birthdays at the spiritual level and from the heart. In this manner, He used to do everything for seekers. Any amount of gratitude unto His feet would not be enough.

4A. On the day of the seeker’s birthday, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale getting the padya-puja (Ritualistic worship of the Holy feet) of H.H. Ramanand Maharaj done from that seeker : In 1996, on my 50th birthday, H.H. Ramanand Maharaj came to Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s house. He got the padya-puja of H.H. Ramanand Maharaj done from us. After receiving blessings from Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale and H.H. Ramanand Maharaj, I went to Solapur for the first time for the propagation of Spirituality. As a result of their blessings and resolve, they got the satseva done from me as per their expectations.

5. Guiding seekers through satsangs

On 3.5.1996, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale came to a satsang which was conducted in Hindi in Mankhurd (Mumbai). That day, His Holy feet touched our home; however, He had sent me to Sangli to attend a meeting for planning Gurupournima. In the next satsang, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale gave the following guidance.

5A. When one wants to perform spiritual practice while managing family life, then questions and obstacles are bound to arise. A lot of spiritual energy is wasted due to mental stress in the house; therefore, in the earlier days people used to go to a forest to perform spiritual practice.

5B. While performing spiritual practice and managing family life, one should not focus on other’s personality defects. Instead, one should yearn to improve one’s own efforts in spiritual practice.

5C. In spiritual practice one can overcome destiny through wilful action : Once there lived a man who was very rich. His worldly life was very comfortable. He used to behave like a tiger outside his house; but, at home he was timid like a goat. He used to feel bad for not being able to perform spiritual practice. His wife was very overbearing. Once a Saint said to him, “Hold a pillar tight and do not let it go under any circumstance. Then, scream repeatedly, ‘Please free me, please free me !” Do this till someone comes and frees you. He screamed for long. People would come, look at him and go away thinking, ‘How to free him when no one has tied him ? He is acting like a lunatic’. Some would laugh and move on. Later, he realised that he is tied by his own worldly bondage. We should look at ourselves with introversion. Things will happen as per our destiny; however, with the Guru’s grace, we can overcome everything through our wilful action.

6. Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale guiding seekers to overcome their spiritual distress and getting spiritual practice done !

6A. Guiding at the spiritual level and removing obstacles in family life : Since the beginning, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale used to provide solutions to me and my wife about family problems by taking into consideration the severity of spiritual distress and analysing it at the spiritual level. Consequently, we were able to avoid many calamities. Due to His grace, our family life, which was getting greatly disturbed due to our personality defects and destiny, was saved. If He had not come in my life, my life would have finished. He not only made us survive, but He also created an awakening in us and freed us from the cycles of birth and death by giving us the elixir of spiritual practice.

He taught us about spiritual practice and satsangs. As a result, when my wife would be in a good state of mind, she would say, “Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale only taught me how to conduct a satsang, how to perform spiritual practice. I will never be able to repay His debt even if I offer Him the shoes made from the skin on my body”.

6B. Suggesting many spiritual remedies and getting them performed : Since the beginning, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale used to tell me to perform spiritual remedies; for example, moving a ghee lamp and an incense-stick around the house, playing Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj’s bhajans, etc. In April 1998, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale asked me and my wife to chant ‘Digambara Digambara Shripad Vallabha Digambara’ for 3 months. Additionally, He told us to chant the Name of our Family Deity and 3 malas of ‘Shri Gurudev Datta’. Gurumouli’s attention is on me constantly. So far, I have been able to lead a happy life only due to His protective sheath around me.

6C. Saving me from a serious calamity by sending me to H.H. Vijay Joshibaba : In 1998, after the death of H.H. Dattatreya Joshibaba, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale sent me to His son H.H. Vijay Joshibaba. In 2000, I started suffering from a cardiac problem. At that time, He only suggested that I seek a remedy from H.H. Vijay Joshibaba, and saved me from a serious calamity; because, at that time I had been attacked fiercely by powerful negative energies.

(To be continued in our next Issue)