Gratitude is beyond words; hence, its great importance in spiritual practice

We should be grateful to Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale till our last breath : Shrichitshakti (Mrs.) Anjali Gadgil

Once when we were discussing about Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale serving His Guru Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj, Shrichitshakti (Mrs.) Anjali Gadgil shared with us the following points.

1. Compared with the time Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale could get with Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj, Sanatan’s seekers are more fortunate for more of Paratpar Gurudev’s association : After Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj (Saint of the highest order and Paratpar Guru [Dr.] Athavale’s Guru) renounced His body, identifying with the Guru Principle (Remaining in communion with the Guru Principle) Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale carried out a very expansive mission.

Actually, He could get very little time with His Guru. Compared with that, all of us have got much more of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s company and we are able to learn many things. Hence, Sanatan’s seekers are very fortunate.

2. Through His untiring efforts, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale has transformed the tiny seedling of ‘Sanatan’ into a huge banyan-like tree : Without caring about His own physical state, through His untiring efforts, Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale has achieved all this for the sake of seekers.

He founded Sanatan Sanstha, Sanatan’s Ashrams. He moulded all seekers. It is only due to His immeasurable hard work that the seedling of ‘Sanatan’ has transformed into a huge banyan-like tree. Today, we are eating the fruits of this tree blissfully. Remaining grateful unto the Holy feet of our Guru till our last breath is the only thing we seekers can do.

3. Shrichitshakti (Mrs.) Anjali Gadgil told us that since ‘Gratitude’ is beyond words, it is superior to even bhav (Spiritual emotion) : Once, Shrichitshakti (Mrs.) Anjali Gadgil shared with us a perspective of a very high level about gratitude. She said – ‘Gratitude’ is that in which the existence of words ends. We can describe bhav (Spiritual emotion) in words. We can also express it; but gratitude is beyond words, hence, it is superior to bhav. The universe of gratitude which is beyond words, takes us to God. This universe, which is beyond words, is formless. God is also formless; hence, gratitude has great importance in spiritual practice.

All seekers of Sanatan express gratitude a million times unto the Holy feet of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale, for teaching seekers what is gratitude. And, to Shrichitshakti (Mrs.) Anjali Gadgil too for teaching seekers – how to actually remain in gratitude.

We pray unto the Holy feet of Shri Gurudev – Make us seekers remain continuously in the spiritual emotion of gratitude.

– Mr. Vinayak Shanbhag, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (15.6.2018)