Devotee:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, my son. Speak.
Devotee:
You recently visited Mahapeeth Tarapith, accompanied by some of your favorite disciples. Since returning, you've shared that you experienced profound bliss there. The disciples who joined you also expressed the same sense of peace and joy. One of those disciples, Dr. Niranjan Bhattacharjee, has a question he would like to ask you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Certainly. What is the question?
Dr. Niranjan:
Pranam, Gurudev. On behalf of all your disciples, I have a question. Through my time with you, I've learned and witnessed much about the significance of Tarapith. I've experienced some of it personally, and perhaps I will understand more in the future under your guidance. However, one question lingers in my mind. You are known as a "Gupta Sadhak" (a secret or hidden practitioner), yet we see you engaging in public outreach and educational work for society. In my limited understanding, a "Sadhana" (spiritual practice) is meant to be private—as the saying goes, "One's practice should not be flaunted." How do you balance these two aspects—secret practice on one hand and public education on the other? Is it truly possible to maintain both simultaneously?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You have observed me closely, but to truly understand my nature, you must connect with me even more deeply. You need faith and devotion. Regarding your question about outreach—yes, it is a form of publicity, and I agree with you. But why do I do it? Because many people are unaware. They are stuck in misconceptions and errors. Due to a lack of knowledge or purely academic learning, they go astray. My public work helps them. I speak simply, which is why people appreciate it. But I never reveal "Gupta Vidya" (secret knowledge). People often ask for specific seed mantras for Tara or Kali. These days, one can find many mantras on Google, but our seed mantras are of a different nature. While I share what is necessary for the common person, my core practice remains hidden.
Dr. Niranjan:
So, Gurudev, you maintain a balance between public education and your personal spiritual progress. We have witnessed your devotion to the Mother and to Bamdev Baba. Even if we don't fully comprehend it, we have seen the effects of this infinite power. It is remarkable how you manage both for the welfare of society.
Devotee:
Dr. Niranjan, I have a thought as well. Gurudev provides guidance and mantras to his disciples, yet he keeps the "Gupta" (secret) elements to himself. My question to Gurudev was similar: how does he navigate being a hidden practitioner while being so public?
Dr. Niranjan:
Exactly. People might ask why a secret practitioner is engaging in public discourse. Gurudev explained that one side is for public welfare, to clear confusion and provide correct guidance, while the other side is his private journey with the Mother and Bamdev Baba. We are fortunate to witness this tireless work.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Let me tell you something, Doctor. People come to a doctor when they are in need—when "He" (the Divine) calls. Similarly, my secret practice continues even when I am surrounded by people. Nearly 50 to 100 people visit me daily. I listen to them and pray to the Mother for them, but even then, my internal practice doesn't stop. It may look like I am just sitting there in the afternoon, but I am never idle. Every moment, the work continues. This is by the grace of Mother Tara and Bamdev Baba. Bamdev Baba used to perform many secret acts that common people couldn't understand. We also maintain that secrecy. Even though I am on YouTube now and people appreciate my explanations, there is another part of my life that no one will ever truly grasp.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
For instance, one of my sons (disciples), whom people call "Pagla Baba," is currently walking all the way to the Kamakhya Temple in Assam. This is a journey of nearly 1,000 kilometers. It is a "Gupta" (private) concern for me; I worry for him as a father.
Devotee:
So, even though he is walking and you are here at the temple, you might "appear" to him on the road? Is that part of the "Gupta" aspect?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, it is. I told him that even if he sees me, he should not call out to me, because I will not speak. I will be following him spiritually. We have taken the necessary permissions, and "Doctor Babu" here has provided the necessary medicines for his long journey. I request everyone—our well-wishers in Siliguri, Alipurduar, and beyond—to help him if you see him on the National Highway. He will be walking during the day and resting at night.
Dr. Niranjan:
Gurudev, you mentioned "Doctor as God," and while I appreciate that, it brings me back to the supernatural. In medicine, we apply what we've learned, but we also acknowledge a Supreme Power. Why does the same medicine work for one person but not another? Why does one person survive a disease while another doesn't? Science can't explain everything. This is where your "Gupta Sadhana" and that supernatural power come in.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That power exists, Doctor. We keep it hidden. Sometimes it manifests—like the blind woman who came to me, and I told her she would see again. You were there; she could suddenly describe what I was wearing. Or the person who couldn't walk but now rides a scooter. These are applications of that power, but we don't flaunt it. It is a very specific, secret process. No matter what people comment on YouTube, that supernatural power is something we hold sacred and private. It will never be fully revealed.
Devotee:
Friends, you've heard the discussion. One of Gurudev's disciples, "Pagla Baba," is on a spiritual journey to Kamakhya. He is a long-time devotee, and we ask for your support for him. Gurudev, thank you for this enlightening discussion. Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, my son. Be well.