Narrator:
Conch shell blows and meditative music plays.
Announcer:
Salutations to the secret spiritual practitioner, Shri Shri Shyamakhyapa. Greetings. Paying our respects to Gurudev, the secret spiritual seeker Shri Shri Shyamakhyapa, we are beginning our program from Shantikunja. Let us all listen together to the invaluable words of Gurudev.
Interviewer:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, son. Speak.
Interviewer:
Tomorrow is a special day for Bengalis, the 25th of Baishakh, the birth anniversary of Poet-Guru Rabindranath Tagore. We would like to hear from you about the Poet-Guru and his birth and life.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, people are always reading about his life. Who doesn't know Rabindranath Tagore? In West Bengal, there isn't a single person who doesn't know him. The Poet-Guru is truly the Poet-Guru. We Bengalis wait for the 25th of Baishakh; we celebrate his birthday in various ways. It hasn't been that long since Rabindranath's time, yet I offer a hundred million salutations at his feet. He was given the title of World Poet, Bishwakabi. Many poets and many great people have been born in this world, but no one else received the title of World Poet. Rabindranath Tagore was very young when he went to Tarapith with his father, Debendranath Tagore, to seek the blessings of the Mother, Goddess Tara, and the Father. By Father, I mean our Bamdev, Bama Khepa. Debendranath Tagore had heard that a great saint resided in Tarapith. So, he went there to meet him. Baba, Bama Khepa, saw both of them and blessed Rabindranath profoundly. He said, You will become a great poet and bring glory to India. Then Debendranath Tagore said, Father, I am unable to find any peace. What should I do? Baba replied, Is that so? You aren't finding peace? Then do one thing, go east from here. After traveling for a while, you will find a Chhatim tree. He gave him the approximate location. Sit under that Chhatim tree for a while and see what happens. Then come back to me. Following his words, Debendranath went to that location. In those days, they used horse carriages, phaeton. He got down from the carriage and sat there for a long time. He found immense peace. Most importantly, he had a vision of a Light. He felt such profound peace that he decided to build his ashram right there, under that Chhatim tree. He named it Shantiniketan, the Abode of Peace. This is how Shantiniketan gradually grew. Famous men and women from all over the world have taken initiation from the Gurudev and studied at that ashram. Whenever we hear the name Shantiniketan, a sense of deep respect and devotion fills our hearts. Saying I am a student of Shantiniketan fills the mind with joy, because it belongs to the Gurudev. We respect it greatly. Even Indira Gandhi studied at Shantiniketan. Many foreign men and women came, drawn by the Gurudev's influence, to see him and to study there. Both happened. Later, he was honored as a World Poet and received a D.Litt. degree. However, when the Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred, he renounced his titles out of indignation. He told the British, I will not accept this honor, because of the Jallianwala Bagh incident. He returned the D.Litt. title given by the British. The books he has written, one cannot finish reading them in a single lifetime. In every line of his writing, one can find the essence of nature and God. Although he was a Brahmo and believed in the One, monotheist, he did not believe in dualism but in non-dualism. He believed that God is one and indivisible. If anyone studies or understands his poems properly, they will realize how great a believer in God he was. Every line contains the gift of God or the writing of God. I have nothing more to say beyond this because everyone knows the Poet-Guru. For me to say more would be unnecessary. I have spoken briefly. Such great souls will not be born again. Our future generations will also read his work with respect and devotion. However, I felt a certain sadness during the time of the CPM, Communist Party. While we were celebrating Rabindranath with great enthusiasm, they were calling him a Bourgeois Poet. It hurt my ears to hear such a great World Poet being called a bourgeois poet. Just as they called Netaji, Subhash Chandra Bose, a Tojo's dog. What can I say? They lacked the educational qualification, which is why they said such things about these great men. It is a misfortune for us that, despite being Bengalis and having such great luminaries among us, a group of people called him a bourgeois poet. I felt very sad about that. But what can be done? We are like the deaf and the mute. If we speak up, the police might take us away. But it felt very bad to me. Anyway, that is history now. They are also gone now because of their misdeeds and their words. It is for the best. It was not right for them to speak that way about him. Is there anything else you want to ask?
Interviewer:
Friends, we heard a detailed discussion from Gurudev about the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on the 25th of Baishakh. Please subscribe to the Gupta Sadhok Shyamakhyapa YouTube channel, like the videos, and write in the comment box. Stay tuned for more new video uploads from Gurudev. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, son.
Announcer:
You were listening to the words of Gurudev, the secret spiritual seeker Shri Shri Shyamakhyapa. Let us know how you liked it. To regularly listen to the invaluable words of Gurudev, subscribe to the Shyamakhyapa channel, like, share, and comment. To contact Gurudev, please send your name, location, and phone number via WhatsApp only, between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM daily. Gurudev will call you back as soon as possible. The WhatsApp number is: 8080539595. With respects to Gurudev and wishing for his blessings, well-wishes, and welfare for all, we conclude today's program. Stay well, everyone. Namaskar.