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Teachings

Three Aspects

Anup Taneja, August 27, 2019: The Times of India

Always clad in spotless white, Anandmayi Ma was the very epitome of simple living and high thinking. Her magnetic aura drew towards her devotees from different walks of life. Little wonder that Sri Ma was among the most influential spiritual teachers of the modern era.

The words of wisdom uttered by Sri Ma impacted many, as these were not hollow words based on study of books; these were based on her direct experience of Truth through deep meditation. Her teachings were therefore simple, easy to understand, and devoid of any complex trappings.

There are three main dimensions to Sri Ma’s teachings, which are briefly explained below. First, to work in the spirit of divine service.

Sri Ma firmly believed that whatever work one has to do, should be done with a singleness of purpose, contentment and joy. In all human activities, let there be a live contact with the Divine and you will not have to leave off anything. Your work will then be done well and you will be on the right track to attain enlightenment. All the worldly activities should be done with sincerity, love and devotion, with a firm conviction that true living means virtually perfecting one’s spiritual existence in tune with the universe.

Sri Ma said: “When I sat down and prepared food, I did with the feeling that the food, after all, was meant for God. Whatever I did, I did in the spirit of Divine Service. Hence, I was not worldly, though always engaged in household affairs. I had but one ideal, to serve all as God, to do everything for the sake of God.”

Second, show equal respect for other religious belief systems. It was Sri Ma’s conviction that all religious belief systems led to the same God and therefore deserved to be equally respected. She advised her devotees to adopt a magnanimous approach in matters relating to religion and not to adopt a parochial and fanatical attitude. This is best illustrated by the following example.

Once, in January 1926, when Sri Ma was staying in Dhaka, she, along with a few of her disciples, including a Muslim named Maulvi Ziauddin Hussain, decided to pay obeisance at the dargah of a renowned Sufi faqir named Shah Saheb. There, Sri Ma, to everyone’s surprise, began to perform the namaaz in chaste Arabic in a flawless manner. Seeing Ma perform the namaaz with deep devotion, other disciples too, including the Maulvi, joined her. The Maulvi kept looking at Sri Ma in utter disbelief, wondering how, despite being a Hindu, she managed to attain proficiency in the performance of namaaz!

The thrid dimension is the mantra japa. Sri Ma strongly recommended the technique of practising mantra japa, repetition of the divine name everyday during meditation, with utmost tenacity. She suggested that seekers should set apart around 30 minutes every day – preferably in the early morning hours – and strictly adhere to the routine. During these 30 minutes all worldly activities are to be strictly avoided and the seeker’s entire attention should be focussed on the remembrance of God.

Before starting his sadhana, the seeker should bow before the image of the Lord and offer to him “all thoughts, desires, sense-impressions, love, affection, devotion, just like emptying the contents of a full pitcher to its last drop”, said Sri Ma.