Interviewer:
Gurudev, pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, pranam, pranam.
Interviewer:
Today, I'd like to discuss a special quote. Various great souls and sages throughout history have left us with profound wisdom. One such quote is: "I am he whom you seek for peace. Trust me, and you will surely find it." I'm curious about the phrase "I am he"—who exactly is being referred to? If you could elaborate on this, it would certainly broaden our understanding.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
"I am he" refers to the Divine—to God. The message is: "I am the one you are searching for to find peace. Have faith in me, and peace will be yours." Faith is the foundation for every human being. First comes faith, then devotion, followed by respect and everything else. Without faith, devotion and respect hold no value. If you come with a wavering mind, unsure of whether to believe, you won't see any results. One must approach with absolute faith.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
One must maintain faith in God. As human beings, or even those of us who speak these truths, we often struggle with doubt. We might think, "He's just a man; what's the point of listening to him?" Doubts arise—will it happen or won't it? We might think, "Let's just see, it might or might not work." This is a significant hurdle. When it comes to the Divine, faith must come first. Once you have faith, you can offer devotion, respect, or love. But if faith is lost or broken, everything else crumbles. People are drawn to those they believe in—they think, "You have the power; you can make this happen." Many people say such things to me, and they speak from a place of deep belief.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This faith is the core. Those who come to people like us with genuine faith never leave empty-handed. They always take something meaningful back with them. Many wait patiently just to hear a "yes" from me, believing that if I say it, their goal will be achieved. People come for countless reasons, seeking to fulfill their deepest desires. Someone might say, "If you say yes, I believe it will happen." That is their firm, unshakable faith. There's a saying that life itself is uncertain, and faith too has its complexities.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
High-level practitioners, or sadhaks, who reach a certain stage through their spiritual practice, develop a formidable power within. Only then can they truly say, "I am he." Take Loknath Baba, for example. He said, "In battle, in the forest, in the jungle—wherever you find yourself in danger, remember me, and I will protect you." Very few have the courage to say those words. We've seen many sadhaks, but rarely have we heard such a declaration. His self-confidence was extraordinary.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He meant everywhere—on the battlefield, in the wilderness, or on the water. "Wherever you face danger, remember me once, and I will protect you." He didn't need to be physically present to know who was calling for him; he could sense it. This was the fruit of his intense spiritual practice. He could feel when a devotee was in trouble and would immediately arrange for their protection.
Interviewer:
But Gurudev, there's a question that often arises. "In battle, forest, water, or jungle—wherever you are in danger, I will protect you." People take this to heart. But what if someone does something wrong and then calls upon Loknath Baba? Does it still work?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, it doesn't work that way. You can't commit a crime like theft or murder and then expect him to protect you. God, or Loknath Baba—who was a manifestation of the Divine—would only protect those who were righteous. He would help those who fell into trouble unknowingly or accidentally, and those who lived truthfully. He would manifest and protect such people. One must call out with a sincere heart: "Father, I am in danger, please protect me." He could hear that call.
Interviewer:
So he could hear the calls of good people?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, he could. And he would immediately go to their aid. This was his divine specialty. You see, God doesn't "possess" anything in a material sense. A statue of God might be made of stone, clay, or metal. It has no physical power of its own; if you were to strike it, it wouldn't speak. But the power of the Divine, if it enters a sadhak... take the goddess Mother Tara, for example. If her power enters you through your practice, then your power becomes an extension of hers.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
At that point, your words carry weight, and anyone you intend to protect will be safe. That's the essence of it. Yet, many people act out of ignorance. They still believe, and because of that, Baba shows mercy to those who call upon him without being cunning or deceitful. He hears them instantly. Some say he is gone, but I say he is not dead. He is alive, present in his subtle form. We can call such beings divine.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bhabapagla used to say that humans have the potential to become gods or avatars. It is only humans who can reach such states. Divine beings don't just descend from the sky; humans evolve into them. He said we should "open our eyes and look." We have two eyes to see the external world, both the inner and outer views. But we also have a third eye, or spiritual insight, which many of us never even try to open. It's nearly impossible for an average person to do on their own. Only the Divine or a true Guru can help open the Agya Chakra, or the brow chakra. When that opens, your perception changes completely. You begin to see beyond the physical world. You see things far away, and if the Divine gives you guidance, you will be able to hear it.
Interviewer:
But to achieve that, wouldn't I need to be a very advanced sadhak? That seems out of my reach.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It's not easy. We often get caught up in the outward appearance of people in spiritual clothing who speak eloquently. We think, "Oh, this must be it." But true practice is different. Those who have truly achieved something don't make a fuss or seek fame. Look at us—we've become known, but it happened almost by accident. I preferred to stay hidden, but the pressure of the people forced me to open my doors. That is the way it goes.
Interviewer:
So, high-level sadhaks exist purely to serve the Divine?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I wouldn't call myself a high-level sadhak.
Interviewer:
Even if you don't say it, many of us believe you are. You've come out of seclusion specifically to serve people.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, that is true—service is the highest form of religion. Every great sadhak will tell you the same: "I am here to give service, not to take it." A sadhak's true work is the welfare of others. There are many sadhaks in the Himalayas and in remote caves performing intense penance. Some may be doing it for their own spiritual journey, without necessarily engaging with society. But those who are dedicated to humanity cannot stay in a cave forever. They are eventually drawn out to be among people.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Just as a hungry tiger must eventually come out to hunt, a sadhak who wishes to help others must leave their solitude. They must interact with people, listen to their struggles, and use their spiritual strength to help. That power can manifest through something as simple as a blessing. A single blessing from such a person can change the entire course of a life. I've seen this happen many times. Throughout my travels, I've met many sadhus. Two of the most remarkable ones I met were silent—they didn't speak a word. They communicated simply by looking into my eyes. We understood each other perfectly without saying anything.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
True sadhus don't go around telling stories. If someone is fortunate enough to meet such a soul, their life can be transformed. A sadhak can sense the intentions of those who come to them and, through their spiritual power, help fulfill them. This is often what people call the "God Particle." When the Divine resides within you and that power takes hold, you become invincible, in a sense. You become an instrument of the Divine. But there is a sacred condition: "This power must never be used for harm." You cannot even interfere with the natural order of things for the wrong reasons, or you will lose that connection. The power is given solely for the welfare of humanity. As long as you act for the good of others, the Divine is with you. But if you misuse it, that power will leave you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Today, you see many who call themselves tantriks, but their only goal is to exploit people. They make a lot of noise and perform grand rituals, but that's not true tantrism. A real tantrik is quiet and unassuming. They don't need to advertise; people are naturally drawn to them if they are truly dedicated to serving others.
Interviewer:
We've discussed that the saying "I am he" comes from the Divine or highly evolved souls. But what is the role of the average person?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
To have faith. That is the primary task. First comes faith, and then from that, devotion, respect, and love will grow.
Interviewer:
But shouldn't faith be questioned or verified?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
A person will eventually understand if their faith is misplaced. Some people wander from one place to another, following every self-proclaimed expert or astrologer they find. They are never satisfied and never truly find what they're looking for. They bring home all sorts of things but never find peace. You have to use your judgment to see if a person is authentic. If you lack that wisdom, you may end up being misled. True spiritual knowledge is deep and not always easy to find.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Even the Divine can be understood, but a person's true nature can be harder to grasp. Rabindranath Tagore once said of the sage Ram Thakur, "You can see the shore of the ocean, but Gurudev Ram Thakur is shoreless." He meant his power was infinite. Those who are truly doing good or practicing deeply will never seek attention. They don't need elaborate clothes or rituals. For example, Shankar Baba at Tarapith was incredibly powerful, yet he lived very simply, in his own world.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Tantriks who are genuine stay focused on their spiritual path. If people come to them, they help as best as they can. Sometimes a high-level sadhak can help someone just by giving them something as simple as a bit of earth, blessed in the name of the Mother. It works because of the power behind it.
Interviewer:
Pranam, Gurudev. I have learned so much today about how to seek the Divine and the nature of that connection.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Let me leave you with this: scientists have even spoken about the "God Particle." When they studied the origins of the universe, they found that this particle holds immense potential, though it has no power of its own until it interacts with something else. Similarly, when the power of the Divine enters a human being, they can achieve incredible things. As Bhabapagla said, "Humans become gods, and humans become avatars." The Divine resides within each of us. We may not always see it because we are distracted, but it is there.
Interviewer:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, pranam.