Meditation the Only Way

THE other Saint whose name was Pirjee was comparatively a younger man than Mirzaji. He would speak and reply to questions put to him. Mahadev asked Pirjee whether happiness could be found in the Samsaric life in which he was placed. At this question, Pirjee seemed to have roused himself a little. His voice was firm and decisive.

“Well brother, as I have told you several times, there is only one remedy and that is, give up, give up the miserable life of the world and, going up to a solitary place, meditate upon God who alone can give you the happiness you are after. This is the only way and no other.”

‘O Ram, Thou hast brought Thy slave in touch with these Saints in order to confirm his faith in Thee. The first Saint teaches the state of one who reached Thee. The second teaches how to reach Thee.’ The kind Mahadev was taking him in the nights to various Bhajan parties in the city. When Ramdas told him one day that it seemed to be Ram’s wish that he should make a move, he was quite unwilling to part from Ramdas. To avoid an immediate contingency of a departure, he escorted him to a village called Oorcha which was about six miles from the city. The place is famous for the temple of Sri Ramachandra. Leaving him at this place, and after arranging for his food with a mother living near the temple, Mahadev Prasad returned to the city. His parting words were:

“You may remain here as long as you like or as long as Ram wishes you to remain. When He desires you to leave the place, kindly come back to me at Jhansi.”

When left alone in contemplation of the Divine Guide, Protector and Mother Ram, Ramdas wandered on the bank of the beautiful river of the place. On walking for about two miles he came upon a number of Samadhis or tombs – some very old and dilapidated over which were erected tall conical turrets that shot high up into the air. He understood, on enquiry in the village later, that they were the graves of women who performed Sati – a custom prevailing in olden days. This place is now used as a cremation ground. The site is full of trees and a beautiful calm reigns over the place. He decided – as prompted by Ram – to occupy one of the tombs for a retreat. For eight days he remained at this place. Only for about an hour at midday he would go to the temple and receive the rations prepared by the old mother, which consisted of a few saltless Rotis and boiled potatoes.

The whole night he would sit up for Rambhajan in that tomb. Nights were spent in ecstasy. Ram’s presence was felt in the very air he was breathing. In the mornings when he was repeating aloud the charming Mantram - “Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!” – the birds of the air, small and big, and squirrels would alight on the parapet wall and would listen eagerly and with rapt attention to the sound of the great Pranava – Om! In the evening the same sound “Om” would work like magic upon the goats and bullocks that came near the tomb for grazing. They would raise their heads pricking up their ears, stand still and drink in the sound. ‘O Ram, it is proved beyond any doubt that Thou resideth in the hearts of all creatures.’ The sleeping souls of the birds of the air and the beasts of the plains are awakened at the call of Ram’s glorious voice!