Interviewer:
Gurudev, my respects to you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, my blessings.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, is it possible for us to establish any kind of relationship with a deceased person?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No.
Interviewer:
Especially for common people?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No. Communication of that nature happens between high-level souls—one Mahatma (great soul) speaking to another. They can call upon them or seek advice. But for a common person who has passed away, talking to them is simply not possible. Science hasn't reached that level yet, and it's generally not feasible. High-level practitioners (sadhaks) don't really "die" in the conventional sense; their physical bodies leave, but they move on to chosen spiritual realms.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, what about planchettes? Do you believe in them?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I don't believe in planchettes because I've seen cases like Nilmoni. When his wife passed away, he loved her deeply and tried planchettes many times. Eventually, he became distressed, and Bamakhepa told him to stop. Even Rabindranath Tagore tried to reach his loved ones through planchettes but was unsuccessful and ended up frustrated.
Interviewer:
So, the idea of bringing back souls through a planchette isn't right?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It's unscientific and impossible. Whoever has left cannot be brought back, regardless of what people claim.
Interviewer:
But we often hear stories of people having conversations through them...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If anyone claims that, they aren't being truthful. If it were possible, people would be talking to their deceased relatives all the time. It's entirely fake. This practice has been around since the time of Rabindranath and Nilmoni, but it doesn't work.
Interviewer:
So, these claims are baseless?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Think about it—if someone told you they were talking to a dead person, would you believe them? Only high-level Mahatmas roam in subtle bodies. Even then, as a devotee of Bamakhepa who loves him dearly, I don't use planchettes. It's considered a disturbance to the soul.
Interviewer:
We've heard that it's possible to contact Mahatmas after they leave their bodies, similar to your connection with Bamakhepa.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I don't use planchettes. When I was twelve, I didn't believe in any gods, but I believed in Bamakhepa. Today, the results are evident. He is present; if called with true devotion, he comes. But these are deep matters that cannot be fully explained. Some of my disciples have seen him in a non-physical form during rituals. One disciple even saw our forms merge. I told him, "You might die," because witnessing such things can be overwhelming for the living.
Interviewer:
Why would they die?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Seeing such spirits is equivalent to seeing God. Traditionally, it is said that if one sees God, they cannot remain in the physical body. We are still here serving people, which is possible for us as practitioners, but for a common person, it is nearly impossible.
Interviewer:
So, you've reached a stage where you can communicate with these high-level practitioners?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I am a humble servant. I don't disturb them unnecessarily. During major Pujas, the Baba comes. One boy saw him and passed away shortly after, as I had cautioned. Seeing such a soul is a divine experience. We usually say we will see God on the day we die. Bamakhepa's deeds are legendary, though many view them just as stories.
Interviewer:
You mentioned the Mother (Tara) as well.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bamakhepa's connection was such that when he called the Mother, she answered. Many people exaggerate things about me or make pseudo-scientific claims. I believe in logic. If I could physically show you Bamakhepa, I would say he exists in that way, but it's a spiritual reality. I am his servant; I don't disturb him. We simply invite him to the Puja, saying, "Baba, we have a Puja tomorrow, please be present." That is the extent of our right.
Interviewer:
How do you perform such intense rituals?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I perform the Mother's Puja through his blessings. I don't have the power alone; if he enters my body, I can complete it. This has happened many times. I even go to Tarapith to invite him for our annual Puja. These are sacred matters between a Guru and a disciple and shouldn't be disclosed to everyone. Disclosing them can often lead to spiritual loss.
Interviewer:
You have many pictures of different figures in your room.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, when needed, I call upon souls like Anandamayi Ma, Vivekananda, or Ramakrishna. But only a Mahatma can truly call another. Why would they come for a common person?
Interviewer:
What is the final word on planchettes for common people?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is harmful. When a person dies, they must move toward rebirth according to their karma. If you keep calling them back, you interfere with their spiritual journey and their path to a new life. That is the main reason to avoid it.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, thank you for these valuable insights. My respects to you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
My blessings.
Spiritual Insight
Guru Shyama Khyapa provides a clear-eyed perspective on the human desire to communicate with deceased loved ones. He firmly dismisses planchettes as unscientific and impossible for common people, citing historical examples like Rabindranath Tagore and Nilmoni who tried and failed. However, he acknowledges that high-level Mahatmas (great souls) can establish connections with one another across realms. Drawing from his own relationship with Bamakhepa, he explains how genuine spiritual communion differs from mechanical attempts to contact the dead. His final warning is poignant: calling back the deceased interferes with their karmic journey toward rebirth, making such practices not only futile but potentially harmful to the very souls we wish to reach.