Host:
Pronam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam, baba. Pronam.
Host:
In the previous episode, we were discussing the soul with you. In that context, you mentioned Yogiraj Shyama Charan Lahiri. We have also heard about your deity, Bama Khyapa, and his ability to travel in a subtle body. Could you please tell us a couple of things about him?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I will tell you a couple of stories. Once, a gentleman came to Bama Khyapa from Bangladesh. He was completely destitute and in great distress. At that time, there were five or six property-related cases against him in Bangladesh that had left him penniless. Having heard about the saint of Tarapith, he came straight to Bama Khyapa from Bangladesh. He fell at Bama Khyapa's feet and started crying.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama Khyapa said, "Get up, get up, get up! What happened?" The man explained his situation. Bama Khyapa said, "Alright, go sit in the Mother's temple." Every day the man would come to Bama Khyapa, but Bama Khyapa wouldn't say a word. He would just tell him to go to the Mother's temple and sit there.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama Khyapa was working behind the scenes, but the man didn't know that. Bama Khyapa never spoke about these things. After almost a month had passed, the gentleman became very angry with Bama Khyapa. He started shouting, "So many people come here, and you help all of them. Why aren't you doing anything for me?" He insulted Bama Khyapa, saying, "I made a mistake coming here. I heard so much about the great Bama Khyapa, but you have done nothing for me!"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama Khyapa remained silent. The next day, he said, "Go back to Bangladesh. Your work is done." The man replied, "Just like that? You say it's done, but you didn't do anything, you didn't even take my name, and now you say it's done?" Bama Khyapa insisted, "Just go back to Bangladesh and see for yourself. Everything will be fine."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The man was still skeptical and afraid that he would be arrested upon his return. But Bama Khyapa assured him nothing would happen. When he reached Bangladesh, he discovered that all the cases against him had been dismissed, he had won, and he had received a large amount of property.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
His mind was blown. He realized he had been very abusive toward Bama Khyapa. He returned to Tarapith the very next day, fell at Bama Khyapa's feet, and begged for forgiveness. Bama Khyapa laughed and said, "Why ask for forgiveness? You did the right thing. I really didn't do anything!" I know of such incidents.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I also know another story. Two friends in Kolkata decided to visit Tarapith after office. They knew Bama Khyapa liked alcohol and marijuana. After finishing work, they went to Sealdah to buy the best quality items for him. It was around 5:00 PM, and the shops were closing. They pleaded with a shopkeeper, saying they were going to Bama Khyapa. Hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately opened up and gave them the best quality alcohol and marijuana.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
However, by the time they got to the station, the train had already started moving. They were devastated. But strangely, the train stopped at the signal just outside the platform, with the last carriage still accessible. They ran and managed to hop on.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Meanwhile, in Tarapith, Bama Khyapa said to his disciple Godaai, "Godaai, two people are coming tomorrow morning with the best marijuana and alcohol. Wait for them on the road so no one else takes it."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The next morning, Godaai saw two men arriving from Kolkata. He asked, "Where are you from? Are you going to Bama Khyapa?" They said, "Yes, we have brought something for him." Godaai took them to Bama Khyapa.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As soon as they arrived, Bama Khyapa said, "So, I had to hold the train for you, didn't I? I saw you buying all those things for me, and the train had already left, so I had to stop it!" This is a true story.
Host:
Gurudev, that is why they are called "Mahapurush" (Great Souls). But Gurudev, as we are discussing the soul, there is a belief in Indian philosophy that whatever actions a person performs, the results of those actions—the "Karma"—are stored in the soul. Until the fruits of these actions are exhausted, the soul must continue to be reborn. I would like to hear your thoughts on this.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, Karma is primary. One should perform their duties (Karma) first, then practice religion (Dharma). In fact, Dharma and Karma are the same thing. Those who practice Dharma are performing Karma, and those who perform Karma are practicing Dharma.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The problem is that we don't perform our Karma correctly. We don't follow the human character as it is meant to be. Our circumstances lead us astray. For example, if a man steals a piece of bread to feed a hungry child, would you call that a sin or a virtuous act? It's hard to say, because he stole to save a life.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But then there are grave sins, like betraying one's Guru or cheating people out of their money through lies and deceit. These actions accumulate over time. One bad deed leads to another. Just as a person who lies repeatedly eventually becomes a habitual liar, bad deeds pull a person down. The soul remains tied to those actions. Even if someone tries to advise such a person, they won't listen because they are stuck in that cycle.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
To hide one truth, one has to tell a million lies. But the truth remains the truth. In our courts, lawyers and barristers often work to turn truth into lies or establish a lie as the truth. That is their "Karma."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If someone commits a murder and admits it to their lawyer, there are no more questions. But if they deny it, they are subjected to thousands of questions. This is how the legal system works. All of this is treated as "Prarabdha Karma" (accumulated past actions).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Suppose a man who lived a wicked life dies suddenly. You might think he was lucky because he didn't have to suffer or pay medical bills. But he carries the fruits of his actions into his next life. He might be born disabled, blind, or paralyzed. No doctor can cure such conditions because they are the result of past Karma.
Host:
You spoke about the consequences of bad deeds. But what about those who perform good deeds? Surely they must be rewarded.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Of course they are! Who says they aren't? Look, I'll tell you a short story. There was a saint who lived in a cave. People from the village would bring him food and they all respected him. One day, everyone heard that he had been taken by a tiger.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
People started gossiping. "Why did a tiger take him? He was such a great saint with so much power. He helped so many people, yet he was killed by a tiger?"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Later, it was revealed through a spiritual vision that the saint had said, "My time for God-realization has come, but I need one more birth. That's why the tiger took me in this life. It wasn't just a tiger; it was God's way of bringing me to my next birth so I can finally achieve Him."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Your soul may not admit to everything, but the "Paramatma" (Supreme Soul) is sitting silently, watching you with a single-minded gaze. There is no mistake in this. You might think you've escaped, but you can't. There is a constant "CC camera" following you, and that is the Paramatma. He is "Stithaprajna" (unmoved). He doesn't react, but He sees everything.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The great saint Bhava Pagla once said in a song: "Whatever you have done here, Chitra Gupta has recorded it in his ledger."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Who is this Chitra Gupta? He is the Paramatma who notes down everything your soul does. Today you might not believe in Yama or Chitra Gupta, but your Karma will eventually demand a penalty. That penalty could be being born without the ability to walk, or without sight.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bhava Pagla wrote very thoughtfully: "Whatever you have done here, Chitra Gupta has recorded it in his ledger. You will be judged by the Creator, with whom no deception works." Everything is recorded, and there is no bribing Him. It is a judgment based on principles, which manifests as your next birth.
Host:
Gurudev, in today's world, we see so much deceit, wickedness, and jealousy. These seem to have become inherent traits of human character. In this context, we naturally need guidance on what we should and should not do. Could you speak briefly on this?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, who will give the advice, and who will listen? When a tide is in full flow, can you stop it? It carries away everything in its path. You only see the aftermath when the tide recedes. Right now, it's a tide of sin—do bad deeds, drink, gamble, womanize—this has become the "religion" of the day. Who can stop it?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If I were to ask the government to open a school to teach the Vedas, they wouldn't give a single penny. But if I ask for a liquor license, they'll give it immediately. This has become the trend—a trend of sinful acts. But until the vessel of sin is full, nothing will happen. When it is full, no matter how powerful someone is, they will have to pay the price. "You will be judged by the Creator, with whom no deception works." We are doing things based on the strength of our ego and our soul, but the Paramatma is noting it all down. Then comes the judgment.
Host:
Pronam to you, Gurudev. May you stay well. Friends, please continue to subscribe to our YouTube channel, "Gupta Sadhak Shamay Khyapa," and share and like our videos.