Host:
My humble salutations. Maharaj, my humble salutations to you as well. Today, standing beside Gurudev, we see a Maharaj who has traveled all the way from Haridwar to Ganga Sagar for a special purpose. On his way, he stopped to visit Gurudev. Today, we don't have any specific questions; rather, we will listen to a profound discussion between Gurudev and Maharaj.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
Om purnamadah purnamidam purnat purnamudacyate, purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavasisyate. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
To be honest, I feel incredibly fortunate to have the chance to visit the supreme Gurudev, Shama Khapa. I am speaking from the bottom of my heart when I say I am very happy. While sitting in Rishikesh, I watched several of his videos. I felt then that among the few honest, simple, and good-hearted people left in this world, I had found one of them. I can't see everyone or know where everyone is; I don't have that power or wisdom. But when I saw him, I felt that even a single grain of rice is enough to tell if the whole pot is cooked. Watching just one or two episodes was enough for me. I decided I must meet him, no matter what. I actually came here on July 3rd, but due to some circumstances, I couldn't meet him then. Perhaps the time wasn't right. Nothing happens until the time is right. Now, on my way back—I have a train tomorrow—I cut short my other tasks and decided I must see Maharaj. By the grace of Mother Kali, I have attained that fortune today. Maharaj is currently quite unwell and isn't seeing many people, but I insisted I wouldn't disturb him. I have written a tribute for Maharaj, which I would like to read with his permission.
Host:
Please, Maharaj, tell us your name.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
My name is Swami Jay Bijay Giri. I belong to the Giri sect. My Guru is Acharya Abhedananda Giri.
Host/Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Ah, wonderful.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
First, I will recite a tribute to the Guru. The son of the Mother, in the Mother's lap, sits alone in the bower of peace. After many lifetimes of merit, I have finally found the compassionate Father. The Father's door is always open to the distressed, the poor, and the seekers. You are the king of pilgrimages—Kashi, Vrindavan, and the Kaaba. You are the embodiment of the Satguru, as proven in the scriptures. A hidden practitioner, remaining secret while laughing and playing in the world. Among millions, you are the one, the Lord Himself. Your hidden play in this mortal world is beyond comparison. Through many merits and much practice, you and I have met. This meeting at an auspicious moment will remain etched in the heart. The divine disciple of Bama Khapa, you stand alone in this world. One without a second, O Bhairava Shama Khapa. Om Namo Bhagavate Shri Shama Khapaya Shri Maheshwaraya Namah.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
Next, I have written a song of praise. I am not a composer, but if any talented musicians come here and set this to a tune to be sung as a prayer before the Father, it would be wonderful. Let me read this one as well: O Satguru, the divine tree of desire, my compassionate Lord. Forgive me, O Gurudev, for the hundreds of sins I commit day and night. You teach others by your own conduct; you are the supreme being. Through the rule of affection and the bond of love, you held the Great Guru. You are my religion and my work; you are the Vedas and Vedantas. You are my Gita, Bhagavata, Puranas, and the infinite scriptures. In the mind, you are the detached Guru; in the cremation ground, you dwell eternally. You are Mahadev, the one with matted locks, the hidden wearer of tiger skin. By placing my head at your feet, O Guru, take the helm of this boat. The soul is drowning in the ocean of sorrow; Lord, come to the rescue. Without you, who will show the way? Without you, who will deliver? O Gurudev, protect me, protect me, for Death stands at my head. Forgive me, O Gurudev, for the hundreds of sins I commit day and night. O Satguru, the divine tree of desire, my compassionate Lord. Forgive me, O Gurudev, for the hundreds of sins I commit day and night.
Host/Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Truly beautiful, wonderful!
Host:
Maharaj, please forgive me. After hearing your poem, those of us who try to stay with Gurudev have some questions. I believe you haven't met Gurudev before today.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
No, this is the very first time.
Host:
Then how did you write this poem, which matches our experience of him so perfectly? I've heard you people have a special insight, but I won't ask about that because you won't give a proper answer anyway—you'll just say something to satisfy us! But really, on what basis did you write this?
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
After watching several episodes of Gurudev, I felt what is said in the scriptures: Man-natha Shri Jagan-natha, Mad-guru Shri Jagad-guru—My Lord is the Lord of the Universe, and my Guru is the Guru of the Universe. There is only one Guru, not thousands. Ultimately, it is One without a second. The person I call Mother is also someone's aunt, someone's sister, someone's wife. One person plays many roles. Similarly, the Guru may appear in many forms externally, but the Guru-soul is one and the same. I just tried to seat my Guru in my heart and brought this tribute to him. All Gurus are the same Guru. This is my good fortune.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Excellent, excellent!
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
I want to say one more thing. I don't know how much the world needs me, but the world needs Gurudev. If Mother permits, I beg of her: take my remaining lifespan and give it to Gurudev. The world needs Gurudev more than it needs me. I know nothing, I do nothing. I saw a writing here: Better to be independent and struggle for food than to live in luxury while being completely dependent. Don't give any money to this temple. The joy of being independent is supreme. Many ashrams across India call to me, but there is no freedom there. My freedom is here in my Guru's ashram at Ganga Sagar. I want to dedicate my life to the service of the world. I only ask for two blessings from the Father: first, that I may see every woman in this world as my mother. Second, that I may dedicate my life to the welfare of all.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That is why you are a Sadhu.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
I may not look like one, but I am a Sadhu in my heart. I want every person to be well and to be able to serve everyone. You saw how many people came here this morning—even someone from Bangladesh came directly to see him.
Host:
Gurudev, if you'll forgive me, I want to ask you something. I see many people and many Sadhus coming to this temple. Sometimes you speak with them, sometimes you remain silent, or you just ask them to sit and have some Prasad. Why did you specifically call for this Maharaj?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I called him because he is a Sadhu. It would be a misfortune for this ashram if a Sadhu were to leave my door disappointed. If I were to disrespect him, the Mother would be displeased, and the ashram would lose its sanctity. They are forms of God. They travel across India for the welfare of people. He asked for a blessing to see all women as mothers and to dedicate his life to service. This is a very great thing—to do so selflessly. It is wonderful. He wrote those poems out of his own emotion, perhaps after watching the videos. He hadn't seen me before today. My life is also blessed to have a Sadhu set foot here. Listen, we go to various pilgrimage sites, but the dust of a Sadhu's feet is the real pilgrimage. If Sadhus come and bless this place with their presence, it becomes a holy land.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
I also feel blessed by your presence. It was destiny. It was written; we were just waiting for the right time. This feeling came to me from reading the Bhagavad Gita daily. The concept of Nishkam Karma (selfless action) and the spirit of service are the most important things. People say the Kali Yuga is coming, but I believe the four Yugas happen every day within a person's mind.
Host/Guru Shyama Khyapa:
How so?
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
From midnight until before sunrise is the Satya Yuga. The mind is peaceful, everything is calm, and it's the best time for meditation and pure thoughts. From sunrise until noon is the Treta Yuga, the start of active life and performance of duties toward parents and society—this is Yagya (sacrifice) in the words of Krishna. From noon until sunset is the Dwapara Yuga—a life of intense work, jobs, business, where there is little time for anything else. Doing this work selflessly helps you progress; otherwise, you're bound. Then, from sunset until midnight is the Kali Yuga. All the negative thoughts enter the mind—temptations of intoxicants, gambling, or harming others. To save oneself from this Kali Yuga, one must engage in Naam Kirtan (chanting the name of God) loudly with drums and cymbals. If you spend that time in prayer until it's time to eat and sleep, you avoid those bad thoughts. Lord Vishnu says, I reside where Govinda is. Naham vasami vaikunthe yoginam hrdaye na ca, mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tisthami narada. He says he resides where the Gita, Ganga, Gayatri, and Govinda are. Whoever has these four in their heart, God dwells there. This is mentioned repeatedly in the Gita.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It was wonderful to have this opportunity to meet you by the Mother's grace.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
I will return in January. I pray for your complete health. As I said, take my lifespan for the sake of the world. I want no enemies in this world; I want everyone to be my friend. Even if someone comes to strike me, I want to be able to say, Brother, go ahead. Like Jesus said, They know not what they do. My appearance identifies me as a Sadhu, but being a Sadhu is about the heart. One who is honest in the heart is a Sadhu. We cannot even say Hindu is our only identity; we are of the Sanatan Dharma. In the morning we say, Karagre vasate Lakshmi... (Lakshmi resides at the tips of the fingers...). Muslims say, Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim. The meaning is the same. Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya (God is truth, the world is an illusion) is what Shankaracharya said. The first verse of the Quran says, La Ilaha Illallahu... (There is no god but God). Now, some Hindus might say, Look, he's reciting the Quran! But they don't understand that it's all Sanatan Dharma. All scriptures—the Guru Granth Sahib, the Quran, the Bible—all speak the same truth. Swami Vivekananda said the five core theories of the Bible are found in our Vedantas. Over time, some water has been mixed in by pundits and maulvis, but a Satguru like you can filter that out and show the right path.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I have the Kaaba, Jesus Christ, and Mother Teresa here in my temple. People have criticized me for this, asking why a Hindu has these. I tell them they are great fools. They don't understand that the essence is one.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
They can't understand the difference between Sanatan Dharma and narrow religious labels. All scriptures agree there is one supreme soul.
Host:
Maharaj, on behalf of Shanti Kunj, we thank you immensely. Not just for your words, but because I haven't seen Gurudev open up and talk like this in a long time. Usually, people come to him with their worldly problems—wives leaving, sons being sick. He spends all day dealing with that. When people like you come, he can talk from his heart. Even if everything wasn't said on camera, I'm glad you both could have this discussion.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
Even if he is in pain, he must continue his work. He knows the story of how Bama Khapa was once struck by the Mother and shown the three worlds. He knows that no one can be turned away from the Mother's door.
Host/Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That is true.
Host:
Maharaj, salutations. Gurudev, salutations.
Swami Jay Bijay Giri:
May everyone be well. May Shanti Kunj prosper—not necessarily in size, but in its purity and sanctity, as a place that brings welfare to the whole world. That is my prayer.