Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Go ahead, go ahead. Yes, tell me.
Interviewer:
We have seen that many people come to your ashram—people who are sick, suffering, or near the end of their lives. Many of them ask you for "Mukti" (liberation/freedom). I would like to hear your explanation of what "Mukti" really is.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, who can give liberation, and to whom? Your body can be liberated, but your soul may not be, because you are trapped in a cycle. Every time you return, you face old age and illness, you die, and then you return again. The body can find a peaceful end, but the soul doesn't always find liberation. No one can grant this liberation except for the "Lord of Lords," Mahadev (Shiva). He alone is the liberated being. In my view, only He can truly free a person. Physical liberation is a different matter—some people can no longer bear the burden of a diseased body.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
For instance, yesterday, a girl came here. She has been undergoing dialysis twice a week. She traveled all the way from the Nadia district just to see me. Her only wish was that if she came to me, she would find "liberation"—meaning, I would be able to end her life. Her parents told me she wanted to meet me. When I saw her and the state her body was in, I realized that for her, just being alive was a form of suffering. She even admitted it, saying, "Father, please give me liberation. I haven't come here to get well. I know I was born with only one kidney. It lasted this long, but now it's failing. I can't handle twice-weekly dialysis anymore." Looking at her condition, even I began to cry. I told her, "I am a 'Mrityunjay' (conqueror of death); I can save lives, but I cannot take them."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
After a moment of silence, she repeated, "I have come from so far just for this. Free me from this body." I jokingly said, "Give me one lakh rupees, and I will liberate you," but she remained serious. She mentioned she spends nearly 30,000 rupees a month on dialysis and asked what the point of living like this was. She begged me to do something so she could finally pass away. I felt so heavy-hearted.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, it seems that while she was asking for death, deep down she was asking for an end to her pain.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, she said if she could get better, that would be one thing, but if not, she just wanted it to end.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Then, there was another incident. One morning at the cremation grounds, a person who appeared to be a transgender woman (Hijra) came and asked if she could sit with me. I said, "Yes, mother, please sit." She asked for a cup of tea. Since no one else was around, I called over a helper named Madhu to make some tea and bring biscuits. After eating, she said she had a request: she wanted a copy of the Gita. I agreed and asked where she lived. She said she lived near Ballygunge Station in a community of Hijras. She said, "I have come seeking liberation. My current life is what it is, but I don't want my next life to be like this. I came here to pray that I am never born this way again." She told me she had seen me on YouTube and decided that if she was to find a path, it would be through me. It was a very sad and heavy moment for me.
Interviewer:
Did you pray for her next life to be better?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I prayed that she would never have to endure such a life again—one where she is separated from her family and society. It reminded me of Shikhandi from the Mahabharata. It was a very profound encounter. I tried to give her some money, but she refused; she only wanted the Gita.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Another time, a young woman in a red-bordered saree came to me. She had traveled six hours to get here. She demanded "Diksha" (spiritual initiation) immediately. She was very forceful, almost commanding me. I was actually a bit taken aback by her boldness. After I gave her the initiation, she asked for a photo of me. I gave her one. Then she said, "Sit down, I will give you money." I told her I don't take money for initiation. She replied, "You don't have to take it; I will leave it at your feet. I will give you 100 rupees, and you will have to use it." She then said something strange: "You have always kept Goddess Lakshmi (wealth) at your feet, and you will suffer for it later. You will cry out for this money one day." She bowed to me and left. To this day, I wonder who she was. I haven't seen her in the seven years since.
Interviewer:
That sounds like a divine encounter. What do you think her words meant?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I still think about her. She looked like a simple village girl, but her words were powerful.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I'll tell you one more story. A man who was a college professor came to me. His wife was suffering from terminal cancer. He had spent everything on her treatment and was about to sell their house just to keep her alive for a few more days. He asked if I could help. I went to their home and saw his wife, who was unconscious. He was weeping. I told him I would prepare some consecrated water (Ganga Jal) and herbs. I told him to sprinkle the water on her, and within five or six hours, she would pass away peacefully. He called me at midnight to say she had passed. He was finally at peace because her suffering had ended.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
True "Mukti" is granted only by Mahadev. While we can seek liberation for the body when it is riddled with disease and old age, the soul is a different matter. When the soul can no longer inhabit the body, it seeks to leave. This is why, in our funeral rites, we have the tradition of breaking a water pot. The soul leaves the body and, hopefully, finds its way to Shiva-lok (the realm of Shiva). From there, based on their karma, they are reborn. But the ultimate goal is to reach that state of liberation.
Interviewer:
Thank you, Gurudev. It was wonderful to hear your insights. Pronam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam, pronam.