14 - A Wonder Game

It so happened one day. Narayan’s friends visited him at his home. They asked Narayan, ‘Narayan let us go to play.’

After finishing his work, Narayan joined his friends. They all went to a lake. One of them suggested, ‘Let us play catch 'n' catch.’ The friend protested, ‘We play it every day. Let us play something different today.’ Narayan proposed, ‘May I teach you a new game today?’ They were delighted. ‘Yes, of course. New game!’ They spoke with excitement. Narayan said, ‘Let us play the game of meditating God.’ Friends inquired, ‘what kind of game is that? How could we play it?’ Narayan explained, ‘We must close our eyes and visualize the idol of God in our heart.’ Friends asked, ‘What is so exciting about it?’ Narayan answered, ‘Once we learn to meditate then it is the most pleasing experience. We don’t enjoy any other activity thereafter.’ Friends asked, ‘really? Are we going to enjoy it? Would you please teach us?’ Narayan replied, ‘Yes, certainly. I would love to teach you. First of all, sit down with crossed legs.’ Everybody sat down. Narayan instructed further, ‘Now concentrate your mind. Try to remember God. Stop thinking about anything else than God.’ All of them followed the instruction - Narayan continued in a quiet voice, ‘Try to visualize the idol of God in your heart.’ Narayan’s voice was tender. All of them followed him. They sat quietly for some time. After a short while they came out of it one by one. Narayan was still meditating. Friends woke him up. One of the friends told, ‘I couldn’t see God.’ Another one said, ‘I could see only darkness.’ The third one confessed, ‘I was thinking about playing games.’ they asked Narayan, ‘Narayan, what did you see?’ Narayan replied, ‘I saw the brilliant form of God. God looked beautiful. Once you have such Darshan, you cannot let it go.’ One of the friends asked, ‘why didn’t we have such Darshan?’ Narayan informed, ‘Daily practice is required for such Darshan. We must sit in front of the idol for some time everyday.’ Friends asked, ‘In front of whose idol?’ Narayan replied, ‘We can sit in front of either Ghanshyam Maharaj, Nilkanthvarni or Sahajanand Swami, whoever we like the most.’ A friend asked, ‘What should we do after that?’ Narayan explained, ‘we should sit in front of the idol with focused mind and try to remember it. We can remember the idol correctly after the practice of a few days.’ The friend inquired, ‘Is this called, meditating?’ Narayan replied, ‘We must visualize the idol in our heart with closed eyes.’ the friend asked again, ‘Is this called meditation?’ Narayan spoke smilingly, ‘Bhai, have patience and listen to Me.’ the friend asked again, ‘How many days does it require to practice?’ Another friend spoke, ‘We must practice for three-four days, I guess, and we would be able to visualize.’ Narayan informed, ‘No, we must endeavour slowly. It takes years to become an expert.’ The friend cried out, ‘Years? My God! ’ Narayan said, ‘That is why I told that if we start practicing right from our childhood, we can experience the bliss of God when we grow up.’ The friends asked, ‘Narayan, how long could you visualize the idol of God?’ Narayan revealed, ‘I always have the Darshan of God surrounded by His brilliance.’ A friend asked, ‘How is it possible? You are still young. And you say that it takes years!’ Narayan informed, ‘by the grace of God, I always have Darshan of God in His divine brilliant form.’

The friend complained, ‘Because you have such Darshan of God, Ghanshyam Maharaj talks to you. Whereas he does not talk with us.’ One of the friends asked, ‘would God bless me with such Darshan?’ Narayan assured, ‘Certainly. Why not? If we have full faith in God and if we meditate upon God wholeheartedly God would certainly bless us with His Darshan.’ The friend asked, ‘and then would He talk to me?’ Narayan affirmed. The friend inquired, ‘Would He let me sit on His lap? ’ Narayan reassured, ‘Yes, probably He would allow.’ The friend asked, ‘and would He offer me Ladu? ’ all of them laughed hilariously. They said, ‘Look! Here is a Ladu devotee.’ Narayan spoke with laughter, ‘Yes, He would give Ladu also.’ the friends promised, ‘Narayan, now we shall practice meditation regularly. Please, teach us.’ Narayan was delighted. He promised, ‘Yes, of course. I am going to enjoy it.’

Difficult words:
To protest - To object
Visualize - To form a mental image
Tender - Soft or delicate
Endeavour - Sincere effort
Hilarious - Funny

Points to ponder:
- An Anadimukta of Shreeji Maharaj always experiences the bliss of divine form of Shreeji Maharaj.
- Muktaraj teaches us that if we begin to meditate right from our childhood, we can attain something when we grow up.
- We must learn the art of meditation from an Anadimukta.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Where did Narayan and his friends go to play?
2. Which game did Narayan suggest to play?
3. How should we meditate?

Fill in the blanks :
1. Let us play the game of ___________ today.
2. Stop _________ about anything else than God.
3. I saw the __________idol of God.
4. If we have full ___________ in God and if we __________upon God________, God would certainly bless us with His Darshan.