UG narrating the " Story of Money Maxims" - Bangalore

“There is no such thing as ‘jet lag’ for me!” - UG

My first encounter with UG was on the 10^th of July 1992. As I look back now, I can liken it to a ‘storm’ in my life that hit me hard in the guts and brought about sweeping changes in all aspects of my life!

The immediate impact was the ending of my tumultuous relationship with Rayaru, my erstwhile spiritual guide. In the middle of a chaotic life, I was struggling hard to retain my sanity ! After meeting UG, this saga of conflict and confrontation came to an abrupt halt.

At 29, I was a total wreck drifting along and living dangerously. My chances of getting a decent job were dim and distant! My spiritual pursuit had taken its toll on my career prospects! It had corroded my will or whatever was left of it. I was a misfit of sorts and could not bring myself to compete, strive, struggle and secure a good job on my own in the ruthless job market. I was somehow surviving on a meagre income from my humble faculty position in a college.

From the word go, UG it seems took charge and promptly went about his business of putting sense into my thick head and debunking many of my beliefs and convictions calling their bluff. It hit me hard that it was my own skewed priorities and muddle headed decisions, all in the name of spiritual quest, that had brought about my terrible plight!

At the time I was a firm believer of human follies, flaws and foibles. I considered them as natural, inherent and common. I even attributed my terrible situation fallaciously to the same human flaws and failings. But all this was anathema to UG! UG held a mirror and showed me that rather it was my apathy, sloth and indulgence that were the real culprits that had brought me to the brink of disaster.

UG loathed the very mention of the word ‘human folly’ or ‘human flaw’ or ‘human error’. He would fly into a rage and point out that they were clever excuses for one’s reckless self-indulgence and ‘preoccupation.’ He could see nothing ‘human’ about such blemishes!

UG pointed out time and time again that he functioned exactly like any of us here but with one fundamental difference – we are preoccupied all the time but he was not!

Nonexistent and irrelevant things like yesterday’s losses and tomorrow’s gains and fears grip us most of the time and distract us from living in the moment! Also we are constantly preoccupied with irrelevant and frivolous pursuits that blind us to what is on hand and we fail to give our immediate care and attention.

For UG, preoccupation was the single most culprit behind all our so called human errors or lapses. The more we crave for and the more we yearn for things beyond our needs and necessities, the more we become preoccupied and invite more trouble.

****

Coming back to UG’s role in my life, exactly three months into my association with him, a strange set of events nudged me towards a new career.

On one of my visits to my sister’s place, I was literally coaxed by my brother-in-law, a scientist from the Space Research Organization to apply for an airline job that he had chanced upon in the newspaper that very evening. He was fully aware of my vagabond lifestyle. Somehow he felt that I was cut out for this particular job position. I remonstrated vehemently that this kind of a job was not my cup of tea and usually there were many pulls and pushes to such job positions and that they were rigged! I couldn’t contemplate the job even in my wildest dreams. He wouldn’t listen! He clipped out the job advertisement and literally thrust it into my pocket pleading with me to immediately go and apply for ‘his sake’!

It didn’t end there! Later that day, still reluctant to apply, when I mentioned this to a dear friend of mine, he took it upon himself to pay up the required application fee (Indian Postal Order, IPO) and procured the form and threatened to fill up the form on my behalf and post it, if I refused to do so! I had no choice but to give in to their kind entreaties. I reluctantly complied.

After a series of technical and general tests and interviews that I found surprisingly easy, I finally received a communication saying that I had been shortlisted for the job in the national flag carrier! I was in utter shock and disbelief! Despite the stiff competition, I had made it to a plum job among only a handful of people from across the country! How could this be?

I was reminded of UG’s famous line, “The Age of Miracles is still not over!”

****

When I had initially met up with UG in July ’92, he had told me that he would be leaving India very soon on his world travels and even showed me his travel documents – the passport, visa and the flight tickets. Given his hectic schedule, I thought to myself that I would not get to see him again till the next winter, the following year.

For some inexplicable reason it seems UG decided to skip his journey and extend his stay in India! Back then, I was utterly clueless about these turn of events.

I recently checked with Chandrasekhar Babu about this particular UG's trip and he confirmed to me about UG’s constant change of plans back then. Just a day before his scheduled departure, it seems UG tore up his flight tickets to the surprise of everyone announcing his decision to stay back. In fact, for some reason he kept pushing the date of travel for several months.

During this period, UG kept himself busy shuttling between three places - Bangalore, Chennai and Yercaud, a hill resort in Tamil Nadu. Yercaud became a favourite destination. Major Dakshinamurti, a senior Army veteran and UG friend lived here. 

****

During his extended stay, UG did play a major role in Major’s life! 

Major Dakshinamurti, a ‘tough cookie’ who had recently come under the spell of UG had sought sagely counsel regarding his decision to resign from his senior Army position and retire into solitude. He was an ardent devotee of Sri Ramana and a great votary of ‘sadhana’ or the quest for truth and life’s fulfilment!

Major had always yearned to pursue an independent, unencumbered, harmonious and peaceful life away from the din and clamour of society. He wanted to spend the rest of his life in quiet contemplation pursuing his ‘sadhana.’

A highly disciplined man with an extraordinary determination and unflinching faith in God, the Major managed to secure the impossible from UG - his approval (the only one to do so!) to follow the dictates of his heart and embrace ‘spiritual’ life! 

UG’s nod didn’t come that easy for Major. He had to pass through a series of major trials, what he rightly calls 'fire tests' but he finally triumphed in winning UG’s tough approval. This is a unique story in the annals of UG that finds no parallels! (We really wish that someone will capture this extraordinary saga and bring it to light!)

Finally UG obliged Major and facilitated his retirement and resettlement. He went to the extent of personally supervising the lease of a farmhouse for Major’s solitary life! Now in his seventies, Major still continues to stay all alone in the same farmhouse near Bangalore.

Major’s life is a fascinating tale with many twists and turns that gives us extraordinary glimpses into the hitherto unknown facets of the enigmatic sage, UG.

In those initial and crucial days of Major’s transition to ‘vanaprastha’ (the forest life or the life of withdrawal from society), UG’s extended stay in India, his benign presence and guidance would have proved of immense value and benefit to him.

****

No doubt UG’s extended stay proved immensely beneficial to even a lost soul like me!  

Call it providence or coincidence, whenever I turned up at Poornakuti in those days, to personally pay my respects to Chandrasekhar Babu and Sugunaji, I would inevitably bounce into UG, he would have arrived there a few hours before!

I was told that UG had pushed his travel date further away.

Poornakuti was the abode of UG and the home of the Babus in Bangalore. This kind couple, like the Parekhjis in Bombay, was instrumental in creating, nurturing and maintaining one of the finest and most cordial UG portals anywhere in the world. They facilitated scores of people in meeting and connecting with UG.

****

Like so many others, Poornakuti facilitated my initial interactions with UG. They proved to be of immense help in my struggle to regain normalcy after years of spiritual despondency. I gained tremendous strength to walk alone and become self-reliant, discard crutches, especially of the spiritual kind!

UG brought in clarity, stability and sanity in my otherwise turbulent life and gave me enormous strength to deal with my peculiar situation at the time!

After many months, finally UG left India on his sojourn to the West. This trip of UG had proved to be a golden opportunity for me to meet and interact with a living sage!

****

A few weeks after UG’s departure from India, I received my employment letter from the airline. It was February ’93.

I dutifully rang up Poornakuti. I wanted to convey the news of my employment to UG through Chandrasekhar Babu. Sugunaji was on the line. I promptly informed her about the new job and my relocation plans, requesting her to convey the same to UG whenever possible. 

Sugunaji cut me short, “Suresh, UG is right here! He has just arrived this morning from the US!” I was flabbergasted, “What? UG is already back?”

I was excited and pleaded her to immediately connect me to UG. There was a long pause on the line, Sugunaji was finally back on the line mumbling an apology that UG was busy with a few visitors and suggesting to me to come down personally. I too realised that I was inconveniencing both the lady and UG with my inconsiderate request! I had no right to interrupt UG’s audience or drag him to the phone! 

Even as I was apologizing to her and reassuring her that I would be there, UG had already grabbed the telephone line, “How are you sir? What happened?”

That was typical UG, there for you when you needed him most !

When I broke the news of the airline job and profusely thanked him for the opportunity saying, “UG it is all because of you, surely I couldn’t have made it by myself!” he dismissed me saying, “Forget it sir! Tell me, are you going to be on the technical side or the administrative side?”  

When I expressed my desire to see him later that evening, he asked me why later? I reasoned out that probably he might need to catch up on some rest to recover from his jet lag, especially coming from the US, UG completely floored me saying, 

“Sir! There is no such thing as jet lag for me. You come here right away! In my intercontinental travels, I always adjust my biological clock to match the local time at the destination……Our body clock is different from the wall clock. Our biological clock functions differently, here it is twenty four and a half hours to a day……No, don’t bother! I never suffer from any jet lag whatsoever, please come down, am waiting for you!”

I met UG later that day with my employment letter. He was happy for me. Then and there he made a kind pact that touched me to the bones and humbled me, 

“Look here! I come to Bombay at least twice a year. We shall henceforth meet there regularly. I will be staying in Santa Cruz, close to ‘your’ airport. I am there again in May/ June this year. From now on, we shall be meeting more often in Bombay!”

The strange developments following my meeting with UG brought down the curtains on my vagabond, indulgent lifestyle and put an end to my false spiritual aspirations and misadventures.

My life in the cozy, sleepy city of Bangalore (till the early 90s) too ended very soon and I moved into the bustling, vibrant tinsel town of Bombay which was to become my new home!

For the first time in my life, I was now threatened with the prospect of a daily grind, a punishing ‘9 to 5’ routine and a hectic and demanding lifestyle. Marriage also followed close on the heels.

At the end of a stormy, event-filled twenty four months after meeting the phenomenon called UG, I found myself being firmly anchored, grounded and secured to the mundane world, ‘the only reality’ as he called it!

My new life under UG had changed, and changed irrevocably!

**** 

The Bhagwad Gita - A Philosophical Treatise By Dr. K B Ramakrishna Rao

It was end of 2004! 

I was in for a pleasant surprise when UG mentioned to me about the manuscript of Bhagwad Gita, a Treatise by Dr. K B Ramakrishna Rao. To quote his own words, " Your uncle ( Dr. Rao) has written a book - "Bhagwad Gita In light Of UG's Teachings". We used to discuss Gita and Vedanta during my visits to Mysore ! Am sure the manuscript should be in his personal archives in Mysore. Why can't you try and get hold of the same?"

My uncle had passed away back in 1988. My aunt was still alive at the time of our conversation but she too died soon after in a freakish road accident. 

UG offered to visit Mysore with me in 2004 and to meet my aunt and collect the manuscript but somehow this did not materialise, perhaps due to large influx of people who began to gather around UG during these (final) journeys of UG to India!

After many years, finally the opportunity presented itself last summer. 

My cousin, Vijayalakshmi, Dr. Rao's daughter, had taken special care and painstakingly preserved the manuscript for nearly three decades. Many of Dr. Rao's friends did offer to publish the book but somehow it never saw the light of day! 

Last July (2016), I finally received a call from Vijaya that she wanted me to do the honours. Self, Chandrasekhar Babu and Sugunaji immediately repaired to Mysore. We were thrilled to find that Vijaya had not only preserved Dr. Rao's book in a very good condition but had carefully guarded many of his wonderful oil and water colour paintings.Dr. Rao was very resourceful and creative. He had built a prism shaped 'fridge' of sorts that could preserve food and other perishable items for days without any need for electricity...he had demonstrated to Chandrasekhar Babu that he never had to buy a razor as the prism fridge helped the razor to remain sharp for months on end! (I personally recollect a mechanical clock that he had built using a wooden frame that carried a beautiful carving of Jesus, a master piece by Dr. Rao during one of my visits during school days! - Please see footnote !) He was an excellent sculptor. 

The beautiful sketch of Sri Krishna that adores the cover page is done by the philosopher himself and is indeed a fitting tribute to Dr. Rao's multifaceted talent! It was Vijaya who suggested that this should adore the cover!

Coming back to the book. the immediate challenge that had to be addressed was the crucial and monumental task of editing the script and tying up the loose ends. 

It was not an easy task and required a thorough understanding of both the Eastern philosophy as well as command over the nuances of Sanskrit. This crucial task was graciously embraced by none other than Dr. Narayana Moorty​ , UG's long time friend, author and editor of many of UG's gems. 

Dr. Moorty's sheer love, dedication and extraordinary determination for nearly three months, day after gruelling day finally made the publication possible for a timely launch on Dr. Rao's birthday on the 23rd Dec 2016 in a modest ceremony at his own residence attended by some of his admirers and friends!

Mrs. Wendy Moorty was the one who executed the elegant Cover Design with such finesse. Mrs.Wendy Moorty along with the indefatigable  Julie Clark Thayer​  are both great photographers and have given us some of the most wonderful pictures of UG. 

****

It is a little known fact that Dr. Rao was the first biographer of UG! 

The book is in the vernacular Kannada titled ," ಇಲ್ಲಿ ವಾದವಿಲ್ಲ ಇರುವುದೆಲ್ಲ ವೇದ !" (Illi Vadavilla Iruvudella Veda). Dr.Rao chose the title that loosely translates to ' There is No Wrangle here, only Principle!!' referring to UG's words! 

In this first ever written account on UG, Dr. Rao meticulously records the extraordinary physical changes including the various 'chakras' that he witnessed firsthand on UG's person. He also recounts some significant events during the time. 

Many years later the book saw its second edition. Dear Chandrasekhar Babu made sure that he sent a copy to me through UG when he came to Bombay. I was personally present on the tarmac as the plane landed and taxied to the gate. As UG descended the ramp, I saw him clutching onto a tiny book! With a big smile he handed it over to me saying," Sir, here ! Chandrasekhar has sent the latest edition of your uncle's book!"

Dr. Rao was instrumental in introducing UG to many Mysoreans and Bangaloreans of the era,  the likes of Brahmachari Shivarama Sharma who remained his close associate till the end, others include Kannada doyen Veerakesari Seetharamiah (Vee See) and other luminaries.

Dr. Rao and UG first met each other in Sringeri, right under the nose of the reigning Goddess of the place, Sri Sringeri Sharadamba right in the temple premises, they were to remain friends for decades.

Footnote:

I sincerely wish to corroborate this memory of mine after more than 40 years from my early childhood ...Jesus is a vague recollection.......however this could have been a portrait of Ravindranath Tagore that I saw at his place in my last visit.

Hope to clarify this and carry the edit whenever possible.

Regarding his sculpting skills, Dr. Rao, I vaguely recollect used to build his own clay Ganesha (Elephant God) idols for the famous Ganesha Chaturthi festival...again this I wish to reconfirrn from a suitable source!

 Given the huge time-span ( 40 years or more), the vastness of the subject matter (called UG) and the individual experiences of many UGites that are being cited in the blogs, I do stand corrected for any inadvertent omissions and commissions and reassure the readers that I shall carry erratum as and when there is an opportunity for every blog published in the site.

This is certainly a work in progress!

Thanks & Regards,

Suresh 

" You might fall! But your elbows and knees will put you back on your two feet" - UG

The completely resigned look, hands loosely hanging by the side.

The first ever spiritual literature I came across in my teenage life was The Autobiography of a Yogi by Swami Yogananda. The mystique of the Yogi's extraordinary life set me on the path of a relentless search  thereafter that tormented me for almost three decades.

After reading the book, a spiritual 'primer' of sorts, I was 'hooked' to the idea or possibility of the 'other world'! I began to look for even more juicy, spiritual stuff - more mysterious, more mystical! Then the inevitable happened, like millions of others, I too got onto the bandwagon of the famous spiritual master-disciple duo from Bengal, the fiery Swami Vivekananda and  his sagely guru, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. 

The abundant Ramakrishna - Vivekananda literature consumed years and years of my youthful life. At one time, I was doing yoga for three hours continuously everyday and meditating for several hours inducing in myself a false sense of 'spiritual high'. Their life stories were 'spiritually' seductive! They had a tremendous impact on my young, vulnerable mind. 

Many mystical experiences, events later, I got puffed up with spiritual pride! Inwardly, there was the dichotomy that was tearing me up and reminding me that I was still a human with clay feet. I could never reconcile my gross and mundane existence with all its carnal inclinations with the archetypal 'life of the spirit' that I was trying to impersonate. This to me was a festering open wound.

Looking back, I can only say that all those spiritual books succeeded only in creating the illusion of a spiritual 'journey' inside of me, where there was really none! 

****

Even as the disillusionment of my 'spiritual life' hit me hard, and I struggled hard to break free, destiny turned a sharp corner and landed me at the door step of another remarkable and fascinating character, J Krishnamurti. 

I could relate to JK like many others of my time. I too had been thoroughly disillusioned by the archaic traditions and practices, dogmas and doctrines and was hankering for a new, dynamic and refreshing interpretation of Truth or Reality, and that too in a language that I could easily understand and assimilate. 

JK fit the role of the new age teacher perfectly. His fabulous lingo helped him to become the spin doctor of what was to be the new age philosophy, a paradigm shift in looking at the world and at oneself. 

This delightful, intellectual odyssey with JK lasted a full three years, bang in the middle of my graduation program wrecking my student life as it were. This was also the time when I narrowly missed the opportunity of meeting up with JK in Rishi Valley, Madanapalle. This was just a few days before his final departure to the US! The opportunity was hijacked by a well meaning friend who wanted me to focus on my examination that was scheduled incidentally on the same days!

Then it suddenly happened! 

After a feverish spell with JK for days , months and years on end, one fine morning, he got flushed out of my system all of a sudden! After breathing in and breathing out JK every waking moment for years, it suddenly dawned on me that all those 'intellectual' journeys with JK were 'actually and factually' far removed from 'real' life journeys. His 'on the couch' journeys appeared fruitless and burdensome. In that rare moment of truth, I was finished with the man, once and for all.

I celebrated my freedom from the intellectual tyranny of the First and Last Freedom by gifting away all JK books, videos and audio tapes.

JK's emphasis on 'depsychologising' the mind ironically had its opposite effect ! His intellectual trips, the 'unchartered journeys' had reduced me into an 'arm chair philosopher' and a parrot who endlessly and mindlessly repeated JK phrases.

****

With JK now behind me, and very much left to my own devices, I once again started picking up pieces of my own shattered life in right earnest. For a change, I wanted to become an entrepreneur and establish a small scale industry.

But Life had its own plans.

In the mid-80s however, for the first time, after 'walking out' on JK, there appeared in my life a flesh and blood 'guru' in the form of the late Rayaru a k a GR Nagaraja Rao ( an avadhoot , a spiritual guide ) who fascinated me no end with his practical approach, his 'monstrous' energy and incredible insights into life. 

Rayaru was a great devotee of Sri Raghavendra Swami ( a famous, celebrated saint from the  South of India who lived in the 17th Century). It was my brother who insisted that I should meet Rayaru and arranged for our rendezvous, just after my graduation.

Rayaru was unusual! He seemed to practically live on air, skipping food most of the time. On the other hand, he guzzled pots of coffee, day and night and chewed on betel leaf non-stop! He was a 'sleepless wonder' holding discussions with people at all hours of the day and night! He answered the description of a 'biological freak.'

Rayaru's remarkable observations on life sometimes came pretty close to that of JK's or even UG's. I did mention to him at one time that if only he knew English, he would have been as famous as JK ( At that time, I was yet to meet the man called UG ). 

Rayaru was a human dynamo! He relentlessly moved about visiting towns and villages, covering hundreds of miles every day, playing the role of a spiritual guide and mentor to his followers and devotees. I found him sincere in his intentions at the time. He was working day and night to help and guide people from all walks of life, instilling courage and confidence in them and guiding those who were 'stuck' in life.  

Having gotten over the traditional mindset during my brush with JK, I was finding myself constantly at loggerheads with this traditional man. I had given up on meditation and stayed away from temples and religious places. On the other hand, I enjoyed a great rapport with him and in fact I accompanied him on many of his frequent trips and was privy to how he impacted people who were really suffering in life. 

Rayaru was with me exclusively on and off for almost three years before gathering a sizable following. In a sudden departure from his vagabond life, he decided to establish a 'mutt' ( ashram) and settle down in a tiny hamlet, East of Nandi Hills near Bangalore. This in a way was the defining moment in our relationship.

Crowds had now started gathering around him in huge numbers and somewhere along  I could sense his secret ambition to establish the spiritual centre. I thoroughly detested the idea and vociferously objected to him and others who were now keen on putting up the infrastructure. This became a bone of contention between the two of us.

But my relationship with this strange man made me discover many hitherto unknown dimensions of life.

****

One incident that still stands out in my memory.

On a late summer evening he turned up at my bachelor pad. He appeared tired that day and wanted to sleep on the terrace and I laid out his mattress for him and went back to my business of preparing for a lecture the next day! After a while I slept off inside the room, keeping the door open, just in case he wanted to use the restroom anytime during the night.

The pitter-patter sound of rain drops on my window panes woke me up rudely  from my slumber. The clock showed 1 30 am.

I suddenly recollected that Rayaru was sleeping outside on the terrace. I ran out quickly to find him still on the bed. The rain now was beginning to gather pace! As I shook him up, a strange thing happened! His body, like a log of wood, rolled off towards the parapet wall. I was shocked and ran over and quickly checked his breath and pulse, found out that both were missing! He was taller and heftier than me, there was no way I could carry him back into the room on my own! It was a God forsaken hour to look for any outside help. I didn't have any phone line either to call my friends! I quickly rolled him back onto his mattress like timber and ran back into my room. I found a thick plastic sheet to cover him up, I was only hoping that the rain would cease soon!

All through the episode, I strongly felt that this was some kind of a 'yogic' thing, that indeed he was alive but possibly had turned off his vital breath as yogis do and should be lying there in some kind of deep hibernation or 'yoga nidra.' 

Even if he were indeed dead, there was absolutely nothing that I could do at that godforsaken hour!  The whole world was sleeping! I was all alone and helpless ! Something deep inside of me told me that indeed nothing could go wrong and I went back into my room and very soon fell asleep.

Sounds in the kitchen woke me up to a bright and sunny morning. Rain the previous night appeared like a far away dream! Rayaru was preparing the 'bed coffee' and greeted me cheerfully. I couldn't hold back my surprise, " Rayare! What happened ? Where were you early this morning? What mischief were you up to? I checked your pulse and breath, you appeared dead to me!" He dismissed me with, " Hey! I just don't know what you are talking about . Stop playing the 'detective', huh! Here, enjoy your morning coffee." He dodged all my attempts to seek an answer to my puzzle. 

What happened that night still remains a mystery to me!

****

My dissent and fierce opposition to the idea of Rayaru founding a 'mutt' was causing strain in our relationship. He obviously started gravitating towards those who were in favour of the new mutt. I arranged for a new accommodation for some of our common friends who lived with me at the time in a posh locality in Bangalore and Rayaru moved into the new home along with them. I happily continued staying in my small 'terrace' flat and carried on independently just like before.

A couple or so years before the end of my relationship with Rayaru, I had chanced upon UG's book, Shanta Kelkar's , Sage and the Housewife.

Having by then traversed the whole spiritual landscape - from Swami Paramahans Yogananda, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna, J K to Rayaru, I was thoroughly disillusioned about all things spiritual and also completely devastated.

****

After almost half a dozen years with Rayaru from '86 to '92, for the first time, I met up with the man called UG on the 10th of July 1992. 

My life was to change for ever, rather my notion of 'change' was to cease for ever!

When I saw UG, my whole being resonated and there was a gut feeling that this was the Total Man or Real Man that I was always looking for all my life!

In UG, for the first time, I witnessed the boldness and authenticity of a man who walked the talk! His simplicity and honesty were a delight to behold. His refusal to own up his extraordinary intelligence endeared me to him even more! What made him stand apart was that he wanted nothing from you or me or anyone. He remained fiercely independent, allowing no relationship to take root, allowing no build up of any sort, giving no one the baton to propagate his work! He was uncompromising to a fault, nothing came in his way of stating the naked truth - no relationship, no power, no authority, no familiarity, none whatsoever could check him! He didn't embellish his words, he uttered the naked truth regardless of how you felt or received it - you could take it or leave it!

After having personally gone through the whole hog of the spiritual milieu by now, my rebellious spirit was raging to break free from the cultural and intellectual tyranny of social environment. 

UG held the key! 

UG's outbursts had the effect of a real dynamite that could blast the bedrock of our cherished heritage and and shatter the very foundations of intellect and culture.  

Meeting UG was indeed the turning point of my life.

At my first meeting, he pointedly questioned me about the basis for any dependence, spiritual or psychological, " They say God helps those who help themselves, if you could help yourself, then why do you need God?" and further drilled, " Sir, I rejected all kinds of authorities, I was heretical to the tip of my toes! I walked on my own! What can happen? You might fall! So what? Your elbows and knees will then put you back on your two feet. It is important to stand on your two feet, howsoever shaky they may be, rather than borrow crutches however attractive or strong!"

****

Shortly after bouncing into UG, I increasingly found myself at crossroads with Rayaru. Things began to precipitate in a way leading to bitterness on his part. He detested my refusal to tow his line and be part of his spiritual entourage. A guru is lost without his followers! With redoubled zeal, he started recruiting a great number of followers to his camp and was keen on propagating his legacy.

Just a few months after meeting up with UG, there ensued a public show down between myself and the erstwhile guru when I defied his command to attend a ceremony at his village! He had enough of me and my defiance, he flared up and began shouting at me right in the middle of a crowded street in the metro. Strangely all through this flare-up, I felt great calmness and composure!  Inside of me, there was great stillness and silence even as he was raging against me and throwing mouthfuls right in the middle of an amused city crowd that stopped and watched the entire spectacle. Oh boy, was he upset! 

Once we reached our apartment, I calmly spoke for the first time, drawing his attention to his possessive attitude, he wanted to own me like a coat or a shirt and I told him that it would not happen, that even my own dad had given up on me. 

We had finally parted ways, the relationship simply fell apart. I did meet him a few times thereafter but there was no warming up like before. 

It was all over. 

I was lucky to have met UG who had steeled my backbone. I surprisingly began to discover enormous strength in my own independence.

A few years later when I sat listening to UG blasting away gurus in Chandrasekhar Babu's house, I suddenly fell into a reverie about Rayaru, UG suddenly turned to me and exploded, " No looking back in life sir! You just move on!"

****

UG and the World Economy

That evening in Parekhji’s home in Bombay, UG had a pleasant visitor, an accomplished Economist. A humble, open and receptive man.

An engaging conversation took place between the visitor and UG. They touched upon many topics of interest highlighting the economic scenario both in India and the world.

What amazed one and all was the authority with which UG spoke about the goings on in US and the world on crucial aspects of economy. His clarity and sharpness was evident throughout the meeting and the economist listened to him with keen interest. At times, the visitor gently intervened with a few leading questions teasing UG to offer his unique and extraordinary perspective on current affairs.

To say the least, it was a revelation about UG’s extraordinary understanding and depth on matters mundane!

When the meeting got over, the visitor thoroughly impressed and satisfied, thanked UG for his time and took leave.

Those were the days I was keenly engaged in socio-economic issues, financial literacy being my chief concern.

I quickly moved over to UG and demanded, “Sir! It is really amazing to see that you know the workings of global economy and the intricacies of the New York Stock Exchange so well! You really seem to know it like the back of your hand!”

UG’s answer to say the least was a shocker, “Sir! I have followed Wall Street for eight long years, on and off! I should know it better than anyone else! Sometimes I spent whole days in Wall Street, from morning till evening, just watching the proceedings. Not that I was interested in investment or anything. I was just plain curious!”

****

"What is wrong with you? Why did you do that?" - UG

A famous man and a long-term associate of UG once invited him for a lunch at the Woodlands, Juhu, Bombay.

The day arrived.

Many of us, clueless about UG’s luncheon appointment, sat around UG in the main hall at Parekhji’s place discussing and debating things.

At noon the celeb’s wife appeared at the door.

UG was right in the middle of some interesting talk and didn’t appear to notice her!

The lady stood near the doorway for a long time before calling his attention, “Hi UG! How are you? Could we proceed for lunch, I think it’s time!”

Noticing her for the first time, “Oh! You are here! Where is he?” asked UG, referring to her husband.

“He is in the car downstairs, waiting for you!”

The gentleman obviously wanted to get on with it and had sent in his wife to wean UG away from the crowds for a private lunch!

UG took it all in and seemingly ignored her plea and promptly returned to his conversation and the talk resumed.

Another ten minutes passed by and the lady now determined to seek his attention drew herself closer to UG! UG still appeared oblivious to her presence and carried on with his conversation.

Minutes ticked away, the lady now shedding a little more of her patience took a few decisive steps towards UG and reaching him gently patted him on his shoulder,

“UG, I think we should get going now! It is your lunch time……he is waiting in the car since the last half hour!”

UG (suddenly turning to us) “What about you guys? Are you joining us for lunch?”

Even the lady appeared startled but recovered quickly. She blurted out an instant invitation to all of us, “Yes gentlemen! Why don’t you all join us for lunch! That will be nice!”

 “Er.....Hmmm ….Yeah…”

The prospect of being uninvited guests was not easy to digest!!

With UG egging us on, “Come on! Let’s go!” we had no choice in the matter!

At the restaurant they stitched the tables together so we could all assemble in one corner. We were a sizable crowd and numbered almost twenty!

The lady chose to sit with some of us at one end of the table while UG and the celebrity host sat at the far end with others.

The awkward feeling of being an unwelcome guest was already weighing heavily upon some of us for sure and it was more so in my case! I decided to skip the lunch and apologetically ordered for a dosa preferring a light refreshment, to keep it light on someone’s pocket!

The lady host seated next to me chattered on non-stop, sometimes fussing over the menu and sometimes explicating the dishes and recipes. Woodlands was a regular joint of UG’s and the à la carte was all too familiar for us regulars. The chatter only helped fill the somewhat uncomfortable silence!

At long last, we reached the end of our awkward luncheon ritual! I now checked with some friends for one last time about their preference for hot beverages and we all decided on coffee. I promptly ordered for a pot coffee for us – fully aware that the quantity would suffice for the four of us at the table. The lady butted in almost immediately, “Be aware that one pot coffee should suffice for all of us here – no need to order more, it makes for four cups you know, why waste?”

This was the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back… At least I had enough! Blame it on my thin skin!

Instantly and silently I made up my mind! I shall be picking up the tab for the whole party!

I now secretly schemed and summoned the Udipi waiter who spoke Canarese, my native tongue and instructed him to quietly submit the bill to me. Our Hindi speaking friends at the table had no clue what transpired between us.

Without much ado, I settled the bill in a silent coup!

After a while, UG and the celeb at the far end finished their lunch and waited for the bill to arrive. Except for my friend who sat next to me, no one had a clue what had happened.

When our host finally called out for the bill, he was shocked to learn that someone had already paid the bill. Even UG appeared shocked! Many at the party didn’t know what actually had happened!

I got up quietly and started towards the door before the others got the wind of it!

Someone finally spilled the beans and the celeb couple rushed towards me to accept their money, I excused myself and quickly disappeared down the stairs.

When we made it back to Parekhji’s place, the couple were already there waiting for me at the top of the stairs. There was disbelief and dejection in the gentleman’s voice at the turn of events but I dodged his attempts to compensate the bill.

What happened next morning is still fresh in my memory.

As I walked through the door, I heard UG shouting, “There he is Mahesh! This fellow paid the bill! What was the need for him to pay? ”

The heat was turned on full blast even as I entered!

It continued as I tried to settle down on the floor beside UG!

UG looked really upset!

He was breathing fire and turning to me and tapping his forehead with his knuckles he gestured to me that I had botched it all up, “Hey, what is wrong with you? Why did you do that? That guy is a multi-millionaire, it was chicken feed for him! He even has a Swiss account!”

I never knew I would be inviting such wrath from the raging sage! This and another occasion were the only time when UG gave me the ‘stick’ and they stand out in my memory to this day!

For some reason, UG the ‘gentle Jesus’ at least for me all through those years of my association with him had been really upset for some reason better known only to him!

The fiasco was even conveyed over the phone to our Bangalore friends and Chandrasekhar Babu had the full report!

I somehow felt it was inappropriate for me to air my feelings out in the public and maintained a stoic silence.

But UG did not seem convinced! He took every opportunity to remind me about the fiasco!

I wanted a private audience to put an end to the matter. I did not have to wait long!

A couple of days later UG took a flight to Bangalore and I went to see him off at the airport. When we were alone at the VIP lounge, I apologized to him on my impulsive behavior at the restaurant and UG heard out the whole episode and said, “That’s alright! Let us now forget about it!”

I heaved a sigh of relief!

But here was the shocking thing!

Only a few weeks after this unfortunate fiasco, the celeb who was supposed to host UG’s lunch that day had suddenly died of heart attack.

His last and final opportunity to host UG’s lunch had been unknowingly hijacked by me ! I had transgressed and had trespassed into the sacred space between two intimate souls!

I never felt more agitated in my life!

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As I am finishing this blog, I just now receive the news that my first flesh and blood guru Sri Nagaraja Rao (Rayaru) has journeyed into the Great Beyond just a few moments ago!

This remarkable man did play a great role in the initial years of my life. He thoroughly bashed my arrogance, the consequence of my bookish knowledge and upturned my investment in some spiritual experiences calling their bluff! He helped me in shedding the intellectual baggage grounding me into the essentials!

Just after my engineering, I ran into this guru of mine! I enjoyed some great moments and had the privilege of his exclusive company for the next three years before people began to mob him! He had a unique and revolutionary approach to life and helped many individuals to shed personal weaknesses and bizarre complexes to unflinchingly face trials and tribulations and move on with their lives.

I am reminded of an incident very similar to the one above with UG! What a coincidence!

During the months that followed my graduation, I kept myself busy doing sundry jobs before I got a good break through a well-wisher, a close friend’s father to join as a part time faculty in a polytechnic!

The gentleman who helped me was also the Trustee of the institution and had a special affection for me. I almost became a member of their family!

When I mentioned to him about my guru during one of our conversations, he expressed his keen desire to meet him at least once!

I spoke to Rayaru and proposed that we should visit the family once. Rayaru appeared very reluctant and in fact kept dodging my plea every single time I broached the subject. This went on for a long time till one day I insisted that both of us should visit the good Samaritan and not postpone the visit anymore!

As he reluctantly climbed into the pillion of my bike, he once again remarked, “Is it really required for me to see him?”, I wasted no time, “ Yes Rayare! He is very sincere and I want you to meet him at least once! Let’s go!”

Just a few hundred yards from the destination Rayaru stopped me again for his ‘jarda’ (a betel leaf preparation) in a roadside shop! We stopped! Again he turned to me, “ Suresha, can we skip this visit and return home!”

I declined!

He then said, “Look, I am coming only for your sake! Mark my words, the time and the day, you shall remember!”

We soon arrived at the destination. I introduced Rayaru to my well-wisher. On seeing the man, Rayaru immediately said, “You are a very good cook! Especially you are a past master in making Mysore Pak (a popular sweet in the South of India). I want you to make me half a piece of this sweet because the flour in your kitchen will suffice for a small piece. We shall talk afterwards. Now off you go and start the preparation!”

The man was delighted at the encounter and rushed into the kitchen and shortly returned with a container that had only a little flour enough to make a small piece of the sweet! It turned out that he was a fantastic cook and his delicious Mysore Pak was greatly relished by one and all, a fact hitherto unknown to me!

Rayaru spent conversing with each and every member of the household well into the night till the wee hours of the morning. He could read a person like a book! And helped the individuals to overcome fear, disbelief and bolstered their confidence to accomplish their aims. Sometimes he would advise people to give up certain pursuits and switch over to others more suitable to their individual nature.

When we finally took leave, it was almost day break!

The next day was a Saturday! I dropped him back at his remote place, a tiny hamlet, East of Nandi Hills near Bangalore!

The following Monday when I reported to my college, I was greeted by a black board announcing the demise of my well-wisher who had been our host barely 48 hours ago!

Rayaru’s words suddenly came ringing back to me hitting me in the guts!

He had clearly smelled death from a distance!

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