← World is GodHis autobiography, book three

CHAPTER III

Switzerland

Geneva

AFTER two days’ stay in Rome we flew to Geneva, At the Geneva airport our friend Mr. Jean Herbert was eagerly awaiting our arrival. He evinced unfeigned joy on seeing us. He took us by car in drizzling rain to his sweet abode, about three miles from the city, situated in charming natural environments. It was a quiet spot, away from the din and bustle of the city. The surrounding scenery of green gardens, parks, hills and landscapes was most enchanting. In such a fascinating setting stood the nice wooden cottage in which Jean Herbert and his wife lived. We were led into the house and made quite comfortable.

Our fortnight’s stay at this beautiful place was most memorable. The days passed as minutes because of the love and devotion which the blessed couple poured on us and the kindness shown by the visitors who daily thronged the library in the house. Groups after groups of earnest spiritual aspirants used to pour in to listen to Ramdas’ talks and answers to their questions. The visitors belonged to various schools of spiritual thought and discipline. There were Sufis, social workers, disciples of Indian Yogis, pious Christians and other ardent seekers of Truth. All of them sat together in the library with complete harmony of thought and feeling. For the time, all distinctions based upon social and religious scruples dissolved in an atmosphere of perfect unity and peace.

God was the one theme of all the talks—God who is the omnipresent Spirit, of whom all are the embodiments. From Ramdas’ heart flowed out spontaneously unending streams of his God-given love on the listeners. It was only with reluctance that they would get up and go out when the time came to close the meetings. There were daily three meetings. In the evenings, at the end of the meetings, we used invariably to have silent meditation for about half an hour. We sat still squatting on the floor in a dim light, our minds attuned to the Divine—the all-pervading infinite Consciousness. The calmness and serenity that prevailed at the time was wonderful. Everybody was bathed in a sea of peace, light and joy.

People from far and near came for interviews with Ramdas as they were all keenly intent on knowing from him the truth about the realization of God. After the meetings were over, some members of the group would particularly like to contact Ramdas individually in his sitting room. There they displayed their great faith in and love for him. They made offerings of fruits, sweets and flowers, as also books treating on religion. They often handed to him letters written in simple, sweet and loving words. Ramdas found them all to be true seekers filled with pure emotions and fired with an ardent aspiration for God.

Ramdas had gone to various parts of India and met thousands of people who cherished great love and regard for him. Here in Switzerland, a place far away from India, in the continent of Europe, Ramdas found in the people he met the same feeling of love and friendliness for him. At the meetings, on one or two occasions, Ramdas made the congregation sing the Ram-mantra. All the members joined the chorus heartily and enjoyed the bliss resulting therefrom.

A Vision of Christ

During the talks, one evening, a few young men came in with a Roman Catholic priest. They took their seats along with others in the hall. When the talks were over at 8 p.m., these young men wanted to meet Ramdas privately in his room. But the priest who came with them was in a hurry to go away, being not very much inclined to talk with Ramdas. However, persuaded by the young men, he also came in. Ramdas greeted him with all love and offered him a chair. Others sat on the floor.

Jean Herbert, who sat near Ramdas, then - said: “The Father says he has nothing special to ask you, but these young men wish that you should tell them about the vision you had of Jesus Christ.”

Ramdas then gave a graphic description of the vision he had of Jesus in the Himalayas. He said:

From his school days Ramdas had received inspiration from Christ because he was taught Bible in the school. From that time he has entertained a very high admiration for Jesus. His teachings cast a spell, as it were, on him. He had high veneration also for other incarnations such as Krishna, Rama, Buddha and great saints. When the new life came to Ramdas he felt that he was mysteriously influenced by Christ, Krishna and Buddha. -He used to read their teachings and derive invaluable help from them. God in his inscrutable way granted him the visions of Krishna, Buddha and Christ. These three great teachers held out before him that absolute purity in thought, word and deed was essential for knowing and realizing God. They guided and inspired him, when he took refuge in them.

Now Ramdas shall describe briefly the vision he had of Christ in a cave on the Himalayas. He was on fast for five days, taking only water of the Ganges river, keeping vigil day and night thinking of God. In this cave no light was kept at night. One midnight, he suddenly found the cave flooded with a strange light. Ramdas was sitting with his eyes closed. The strong, powerful light struck his eyes and he opened them. He beheld before him sitting, a radiant figure. Intuitionally he felt it was Jesus. He was dressed in a long robe of chocolate colour, his locks of hair were falling loose on his shoulders and his face showed the utmost sweetness and serenity, glowing with a divine radiance. What arrested Ramdas’ attention was his eyes that sparkled like stars. Seeing these eyes Ramdas was transfixed and went into ecstasies. He cannot describe the joy he felt at that time. The figure before him spoke a few words, but he could not make out the language. This vision lasted, may be, for a few seconds. The result was that, till the following morning, Ramdas was lost in a sea of rapture. When Ramdas is describing this vision he sees it mentally even now, because it was so vivid and real.

The Father was deeply moved when he listened to this account. He now appeared to be very happy for having come and heard Ramdas. He also asked him a few questions.

Unity of all Religions

For Ramdas all religions are equally great. His love for all the divine teachers or spiritual masters is alike. For instance, when a true Christian comes to Ramdas, he encourages him to be devoted faithfully to Christ so that through Christ he can attain salvation. Verily, all the great Saviours of the world are seeking to guide humanity to the same goal—God, who is the Lord of all nations and peoples of the world. Ramdas’ visit to the western countries was not intended to stress differences among the followers of various religions, but to emphasize by his talks, behaviour and movements, the underlying unity in them all. So the followers of all religions found in Ramdas a kindred spirit, as though he belonged to their group or denomination, At the same time they were getting more and more assured of the fact that all ways of approach to God, as pointed out by the different teachers of the world, were equally true and efficacious.

Moral Rearmament Association

In the course of our stay in Geneva we paid visits to a few important places. The reader might have heard of the organization widely known as the Moral Rearmament Association. Its main object is to bring together peoples of all countries in the world so that any differences arising from colour, creed, language and other distinctive peculiarities that keep one nation isolated from the other may disappear, creating thereby a consciousness of world-brotherhood. The principles on which this association is founded are high, noble and inspiring. It has also a spiritual outlook on which should be built the character and conduct of all its members. They are called upon to pursue four ideals, namely, absolute honesty, absolute unselfishness, absolute love and absolute purity. Prayer, meditation and communion with God form the basis of all their activities. The headquarters of this association are on a hill at Caux, about sixty miles from Geneva.

At the instance of a friend who was keen on our going to this great centre, one day, accompanied by Prasanna, we paid a visit to it. We started early morning and reached Caux a little before midday. We were welcomed by some Indian and European friends. The founder and chief controller of this association, Dr. Frank Buchman, whom we expected to meet, was not there. It appeared he had left the place on urgent business some time before we arrived there. However, the friends took us directly to the big hall, which was already crowded for a programme about to start. That was the day of the Africans. Large deputations of Africans from Nigeria, Gold Coast and Morocco were seated on the platform. We took our seats in the front row and witnessed a most delectable scene. We found on the platform Africans of various tribes and also some white men in their midst. There were songs and speeches by the African deputies. They narrated one after another, for the information of the audience, their spiritual and other experiences after they joined the association. The speeches disclosed that there was a harmonious feeling among all the members though they were drawn from different countries. Altogether the performance was most impressive and elevating.

At Caux that day we found thousands of people assembled. There were Indians, Africans, Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Australians, etc. It was like a kaleidoscopic show when all these members took their seats for lunch at hundreds of tables. After we finished our lunch we were taken round and shown the methods of cleaning, washing and cooking adopted in the respective rooms allotted for these activities. All work was done here by volunteers of both sexes as fraternal service. It is a good sight to see people of different parts of the world together at one place moving with one another in a brotherly spirit. In a world full of strife, such associations certainly contribute towards the creation of a harmonious feeling in the hearts of humanity and thereby eradicate ill-will and hate which breed conflict and war. Before evening we got back to the ever hospitable house of Jean Herbert.

To Lyon

Next day we went to Lyon in France at the invitation of a friend, M. Francisque Soubrier, who came with his wife to see us at Geneva. The love which this couple bore for us was unique. They were extremely anxious that we should spend a few hours at their house in Lyon. We travelled there by train. In the train we noticed that the passengers were polite and eager to serve and help us. Although we were outwardly strangers, we mysteriously felt as if we had known each other for a long time and belonged to one fraternity. The journey was a pleasant experience.

Large Hearts in a Small House

We reached Lyon and were taken to the house of our devoted friend. As we entered the quarters, the ladies and other inmates were all agog, preparing to make our stay comfortable. The place was small, but the hearts of the hosts were large. We were accorded a hearty welcome and treated as honoured and loved guests. A small room was placed at our disposal for the visitors to see us. After lunch, which was served with great love and kindness, we all assembled in the room which in a short time became overcrowded. Questions were put to Ramdas and he went on answering them. The visitors listened with rapt attention. Of course, his talk was about divine love, peace, light and grace.

Love Wins

Among the visitors was a young man who spoke about his contact with a God-realized person living in North France. As the talk developed between this young man and Ramdas, the former got excited. He made some remarks which were taken by the assembled friends to be arrogant, and they tried to stop him. But Ramdas allowed him to proceed. A part of the dialogue between him and Ramdas is given below:

Q: Have you heard of a person, known as George, living somewhere in France? He says he is Christ reborn, that he had lived here 4,000 years ago and that those who see him realize God. What is your opinion?

Ramdas: So far as Ramdas is concerned, he sees the Divine in everyone of you. He does not know that he should see God only in one and not in another. Those who awaken God in the hearts of people are really great souls. We must respect and revere them. Ramdas sees divinity everywhere and with this vision he has come from India. With this vision he lives and moves and also shares his joy with you. If it is possible for Ramdas to meet that great soul, he will surely do so. For Ramdas, you are all the forms of his eternal Beloved. Ramdas has come here to tell you how to see God in yourself and everywhere about you, so that you can see unity in diversity, because you are not merely a perishable form, but you are the immortal, omnipresent Spirit. If you realize this, you will enjoy everlasting peace and bliss.

Q: The realization is, after all, individual. What are the things that you recommend for seeing the Divine?

Ramdas: Ramdas’ means of approach was the constant chanting of God’s name by which you tune yourself with the Divine within you and realize that you are the Divine.

Q: Jesus has realized God and says he is a servant of God. Do you believe in that?

Ramdas: Yes. Ramdas believes in it. Jesus said: “I and my Father are one.” Still he called himself the son of the Father.

Q: So do you mean to say that there is no fundamental difference in nature?

Ramdas: If a human being is illumined, there is no difference between him and Jesus.

Q: Why is it then that only Jesus achieved that stage?

Ramdas: There are so many others also who have achieved that stage.

Q: Why has nobody illumined the world as Jesus did?

Ramdas: Buddha came before Jesus, so also Krishna, who too illumined the world.

Q: If Jesus were among us, would you recognize him?

Ramdas: Certainly, yes.

Q: Is realization of God forbidden to those who are married?

Ramdas: Absolute celibacy is essential for realization.

Q: Gandhiji started leading a life of celibacy when he was thirty-six years old.

Ramdas: He became a celibate from an early period of his life. Brahmacharya means to walk on the path of Brahman. You should be always God-conscious. In this consciousness there is no idea of sex; for, in it there is no duality. Then, where is the question of sex? If you want to raise yourself to that high spiritual plane of absolute freedom from sex consciousness, you must not see persons in terms of woman or man. You must see in them only absolute Truth, the Atman which is nameless and formless. You can do so only when you rise above the body idea.

At the close of the meeting, after about two hours, Ramdas got up and shook hands with the visitors near him. Among these, the young man above mentioned, was the first. As Ramdas did so, this friend was carried away by such an emotion that he brought his face near Ramdas’ and kissed him affectionately on both his cheeks. The parting scene here moved the hearts of many.

The Path of Purity

During the course of Ramdas’ researches in the science of the soul, to corroborate his deep spiritual experiences with what was said in the writings of saints and sages who had reached the highest spiritual attainment, Ramdas came across some works and also met some persons who were of the opinion that for the spiritual realization, the complete elimination of the sex desire was far from necessary and positively harmful. Some of them went to the length of contending that at a particular stage in the spiritual discipline, sex connection between a God-illumined master and a pure aspirant or disciple of the other sex was essential for the transformation of the disciple from the human to the Divine. By such an act, the master was supposed to impart to the disciple a spiritual power which went to destroy the ignorance in the latter and grant the disciple all-round spiritual light and liberation.

This kind of teaching, as a doctrine, is prevalent in certain classes or cults of an ostensibly religious nature. It is also evident, this cult has spread its influence in almost all parts of the world. Now Ramdas has to say a few words on this subject for the edification of seekers of Truth or Spiritual aspirants who are puzzled about the prevalence of this practice among certain groups.

Ramdas can definitely and categorically declare that the path, which these misguided people pursue for their fancied spiritual knowledge and illumination, is utterly wrong. It leads to nothing but frustration, despair and downfall. This teaching is poisonous at the very root. Ramdas advises all those who uphold this practice and assert that it should play an important part in the life of the aspirant, that it would be well for them to reject it totally, disabusing themselves of the belief in its spiritual value or efficacy, and take to a life of perfect purity in thought, word and deed. God-realization is possible only when our hearts are absolutely pure. The heart must be free from lust, greed and wrath. All the great scriptures of the world, be they of the Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains or Zoroastrians comprising the teachings of the great spiritual luminaries or masters of the world, declare with one voice that the highest beatitude, peace, liberation and bliss—by whatever name the experience is described—through the realization of Truth, can be achieved only by a person who has conquered all the baser impulses and desires of the flesh. To indulge in sex and other enjoyments and still arrogate to oneself a status of spiritual eminence is a contradiction which marks the height of perversity.

Jesus had laid great emphasis on purity as an essential trait of a soul which is fit to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He said, unless we become as pure and innocent as children, we cannot attain immortality and peace. The Hindu scriptures, like the Bhagavadgita, are ringing in our ears the need for the complete extinction of the ego and all its desires before we can realise our oneness with the Divine.

Purity of Gopis’ Love

The lives of the disciples of Christ, of the followers of Mahavira and Buddha, as well as the devotees of Krishna are radiant examples of purity, for the guidance of spiritual seekers. We have heard of the love of the Gopis for Sri Krishna. It was the purest and the most exalted in its character and content. It was born of a complete dedication of every part of the Gopis’ being to the supreme Lord whom they beheld within and without, everywhere. This love they attained by transcending all the physical planes of life and consciousness and living only in the spiritual, which is the same as living in Krishna—the supreme all-pervading Consciousness. Where there is lust and greed, there can never be any divine peace, light or freedom. So it would be well for spiritual aspirants to shed all their doubts and pre-conceived notions—the offspring of indiscriminate reading of all kinds of books—and follow the straight path to reach God, the path of purity, rectitude, truthfulness, simplicity and innocence.

At the Lyon railway station, where we had to wait for some time to catch the train, we came in contact with a friend who had been wishing to meet us for a long time and was present at the meeting in Lyon. He told us that he was in charge of a prison and was looking after the unfortunate inmates with all kindness, sympathy and consideration. He talked feelingly about them. We noticed one thing among the people in Europe and other western countries. Whenever they undertook any work of charity or service, they would do it with all sincerity, putting forth their entire energy. Ramdas noticed, further, when he passed through the streets, that the people generally were healthy, strong, active and industrious. Climatic conditions may be largely responsible for such a state of things. Neatness, order, system and discipline were also present in a high degree among them.