"You are not enlightened as long as people think you are different from them" - Taoism

UG and Kamal, Photo Courtesy: Trisha

Was there anything different or special about UG? Did he look or behave like an Enlightened Man? How was he in his day to day dealings with friends and associates?

Let me narrate this particular episode in Bombay.

That morning Kamal, our pilot friend and I set out with UG in Kamal's car. It was UG's 'constitutional' - a ride instead of a walk in the crowded metropolis.

We drove around for quite a while, visited a few places and finally turned back towards the apartment. The ride was uneventful! 

As we reached the entrance of the building where UG was put up, restless Kamal suddenly announced his new plan, “Buddy! We shall drop UG right here! UG will go back to the flat and we both will drive back for a ' dabri choy' (Tea brewed in a brass utensil on the roadside tea shop.)"

What could I say?

Kamal is a sweet guy and is at home whether it is coffee at a 7-star hotel or a tea at one of the road-side stalls. UG enjoyed his company. He would invite Kamal to his portals all over the world. Kamal visited UG in every metro across the globe from US to Australia – a record of sorts!

Coming back to the story, Kamal explained to UG that both of us would be driving out again for a cup of tea and that UG could proceed to the flat and wait for our return. This essentially meant that I hand over the key (I played the door-boy of the flat) to UG who would climb back all the stairs to his flat (it was on the fourth floor and there was no lift!) and stay there alone!

The ‘Bhakta’ (devotee) in me rebelled at the idea! What if there were visitors? Or if UG wanted something?

Before I could react, UG turned to me, "Sir give me the key! You go with Kamal and give him company! I will be there in the flat, don't bother about me!” I could not protest, I reluctantly handed over the key and submitted to his wishes. 

Kamal didn't stop there!

He enjoyed a certain intimacy with UG. He now pleaded, "UG, if you don't mind, can you please take this bag with you? I shall collect it from you afterwards!" Without even waiting for a reply, he handed his handbag to UG! UG wasted no time, picked up the bag 'matter-of-factly' and walked away from the car!

I still recall the last scene - UG pulling the backpack over his shoulders like a school boy and disappearing into the building!

For a moment I wondered whether this could have inconvenienced UG in anyway but I checked myself from telling Kamal how I felt about the whole thing! In front of me I could see two friends transacting spontaneously and naturally, devoid of any hangups whatsoever!

I can’t describe UG's affection for Kamal. Kamal was on 'command training’, incidentally, for a new plane while UG was on his death bed in Vellacrosia!

In those days, both of us were spending a lot of time together, exchanging notes on the technicalities of the new plane. Kamal couldn’t really focus on his studies, he was constantly reminiscing about UG. Every now and then he would call up Mahesh Bhatt to check on UG’s condition.

UG had even mentioned to Mahesh that Kamal would have surely made it to Vellacrosia but for the training! Kamal stayed on half heartedly to complete his training.

Soon after UG’s demise, I remember receiving Kamal at our home. He had tonsured his head.  Tonsuring is a practice prevalent in Hindu families on the demise of one’s parents!  Kamal like a filial son had shaved his head for the sake of his father-figure!

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Sage and the Housewife:

Mrs. Suguna Chandrasekhar Babu, ‘the housewife’ who served UG, ‘the sage’ for decades, recollects how UG used to accompany her & Praveen Babi , the famous Bollywood star, on various errands –buying vegetables, going to shops, visiting cinemas and public places.

While Parveen tried successfully to hide her identity and shun publicity, UG would tag along, like a commoner, jostling among the masses and blending into crowds. Suguna recollects with awe and wonder how UG had been part of their daily life  and how he merged into the common mass of people in the city. 

Dr. Narayana Moorty recollected another incident while he was UG’s guest in Switzerland along with wife Wendy and their toddler son. The couple were given a room on the upper floor. Later that evening, Dr. Moorty was really surprised and moved to see UG climbing up the staircase, carrying heavy mattresses and pillows for all of them, all the way up to the first floor!

UG remained accessible and grounded in his day to day life!

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One is reminded of a parable from the Tao land of China.

Once there lived a great sage in the high mountains of ancient China!

As a boy, he heard the ‘call’ to be with Tao! He left his home, never to look back. He went into the mountains near his village and found a great Tao Master on a high peak in the mountain. The master took care of the boy, nurtured him and guided him on the Way.

The boy survived on roots and fruits, led a life of solitude, practicing great austerity and contemplation and gradually matured into a sagely figure.

The Taoist sage had absolutely no need for society! He had turned his back on it once and for all! He spent a life of great harmony and peace. The wild animals, reptiles and birds of the mountain saw him as one of their kind, they played with him, and enjoyed his company.

And then it happened!

One fine day, he felt a sudden tug at his heart, a strong desire to revisit his native village at the foothills of the mountain. He suddenly yearned to see how his village and her people had fared in all those years since he had left his home.

He started his descent from the mountain. It took a long time before he reached the outskirts of the village.

To his surprise, he discovered that there was a lot of noise and fan-fare, a great gathering of people, a carnival was going on in the village. Make-shift tents and colourful pavilions were erected. People were enjoying festivities, the village market was busy and noisy with people buying and selling goods. Many wayside inns had opened up to feed visitors from nearby towns and villages.

Savouring the sights and sounds, the sage walked along slowly into the heart of the village. As he neared the village centre, suddenly people started rushing towards him from all sides, in great numbers. They left behind their stalls, shops and inns to get a glimpse of the sage from the mountain!

The entire village started gathering around him in utter amazement, they were awe-struck by the appearance of the Great One among them. People had heard about the boy who had turned into a sage in the distant mountain and were now overjoyed to lay their eyes on him!

Some people brought their baskets of fruit and emptied them at his feet imploring him to accept the humble gift. Others offered precious goods, yet others kowtowed to him, begging him to partake of food from their inns and stalls. The crowds surged and surrounded him on all sides and would not let him move an inch.

The sage froze in his tracks – he was stunned, overwhelmed by the simple, humble and innocent crowds all around him. After a pause, he quickly turned around and started retracing his steps back towards his hut on the distant mountain. The crowds didn’t want him to leave! They too followed him. He gathered pace, he was quick, many could not keep pace with him but others kept walking behind him!

He began to run, many could not catch up and were left behind. But there were some who were determined and they followed him all the way into the mountain. Now there were rocks everywhere, some very steep and difficult to climb but the sage knew every inch of his terrain. He effortlessly hopped, jumped and scaled the boulders in a jiffy. People couldn’t catch up any more, he managed to shrug off all of them, all save one!

This stubborn follower pursued him relentlessly! At long last, in a final bid, the follower plunged towards the sage and caught hold of his feet.

The sage chided him, "You fool! Why are you following me?”

Follower, "Master, please help me! Only you can help me to find enlightenment!"

Sage, "Fool! What makes you think I can help you? I myself am not

Enlightened!"

Follower, in disbelief and shock: "But Master! Look at the glow on your face!

You can't possibly hide it! The crowds, all those people in the village, they can’t be mistaken too! You are certainly an Enlightened Man!"

Sage:  “Yes I understand what you say, but my teacher cautioned me:

 ‘You are not really enlightened as long as people think you are different from them!’  Enlightenment, my friend, means no sense of distinction! You think that I am different from you, it goes to show that I am still not enlightened! Thanks to all of you, you made me realize that I have still a long way to go in my spiritual journey!”

That said, he doubled up his speed and silently disappeared among the steep

rocks and thickly wooded cliffs, never to be seen again!

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