Devotee:
Pranam, Gurudeb.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, my son.
Devotee:
For several months now, you have refrained from addressing your followers. May I ask what happened? What led to this sudden decision or this period of silence?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pradipda, many years have passed. I have recorded many episodes and spoken about many things on YouTube. I have faced criticism and insults, but I have also received great respect. Now, the time has come for me to retreat. You may not see me much longer. As the days pass, my presence will diminish. An instruction has come from above; I must return to my secluded place. I must abide by this. The mandate has arrived, and I am ready. In 2021, I must return to my hidden abode. I will no longer be able to speak with anyone or meet people. This is the path forward.
Devotee:
But Gurudeb, hearing this is very difficult for us. Is there no other way?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is no other way. As the poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt wrote in his sonnet: "Who are you, and who is yours? Do not weep in vain." No one belongs to anyone in this world. We come here for a short time to play our parts. I have seen the good and the bad. I have felt both pain and joy. Now, I must follow the divine instruction.
Devotee:
Gurudeb, it feels to us—your followers—that you are speaking from a place of deep pain. Have you been hurt by something?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, Pradipda. This is not about pain. It is a divine mandate. I wait for these instructions. The mandate for 2021 is that I must go into seclusion. I was a secret practitioner (Gupto Sadhok), and I must return to that state. This is God's will.
Devotee:
I'd like to change the subject slightly. What is the relationship between the mind, the soul, and consciousness?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The mind, the soul, and consciousness... the mind is restless, like the smoke from incense—it drifts wherever the wind blows. The soul (Paramatma), however, is steady. There is no direct link between the ordinary mind and the soul until the mind is calmed. When the mind and the soul connect, that is "Yoga." Great Yogis achieve this by controlling the mind and merging it with the divine soul.
Devotee:
But is this possible for ordinary people?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is nearly impossible for ordinary people. They are preoccupied with their jobs, their businesses, and various worldly affairs. Their minds are constantly restless. Only those who dedicate themselves to spiritual practice (Sadhana) can attain this level of consciousness. It is a rare occurrence—perhaps one in ten million becomes a true seeker. When true consciousness awakens, worldly power fades. When the six vices (Ripu) are controlled, consciousness naturally emerges.
Devotee:
We often hear about the bond between a Guru and a disciple. But what is the relationship between a devotee and God?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That is a matter of many lifetimes. It doesn't happen in a single day. Think of Prahlad or Dhruva—they attained God through persistent devotion over many births. Guru and God are one and the same; there is no difference. We always say: "Remember your Ishta" (the Chosen Deity), which means remember your Guru. If God is angry, the Guru can save you, but if the Guru is displeased, even God will not intervene. Some are born with this realization, like Prahlad.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Consider the story of Prahlad. His father, Hiranyakashipu, tried everything to kill him, but God's grace protected him. When his father asked if God existed in a stone pillar, Prahlad said, "Yes." When the pillar was struck, Lord Narasimha emerged. These great souls come to Earth to show humanity that God truly exists.
Devotee:
Gurudeb, it still feels like you are leaving because you are dissatisfied.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I am not dissatisfied with anyone. But in life, there is a "balance sheet," just like in business. At the end of the year, one must calculate profit and loss. I have come to this world, and now it is time to settle my accounts with God. The instruction has come to retreat to a hidden place. You cannot hold me back. I have spent a few years in the public eye, but now I must return to the shadows.
Devotee:
We will try to find you, wherever you go.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is the law of the world; you cannot go against it. I prepared for my "Mahamrityunjaya" practice for a thousand days. People struggle to do it for a day or two, but I completed a thousand days by divine grace. Now, another instruction has come.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Think of your parents. They were once with you, and now they are just photos on a wall. Did the world stop? No. Life continues. You will find other good people to guide you. My time in the public eye is ending. I don't even know where God will take me next; it is His decision. 2021 is the year of my departure into seclusion.
Devotee:
We are deeply saddened, Gurudeb.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Do not be sad. It is the divine will.
Devotee:
Pranam, Gurudeb.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, my son.