Learning from Leela 8

Invocation to the Compassionate Sadguru

Tulas Amma Bhajan pg

O Sadgurunatha, Beloved Master divine,
Come swiftly, O Compassionate One—
Reveal Yourself before us,
O Ocean of Mercy.

For the sake of devotees
You take human form,
Granting Your living presence—
Come quickly, O Graceful Lord.

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva united in You,
Threefold yet One eternal Reality,
All-pervading Parabrahman—
Hasten to bless us, O Kind One.

You are the Self within all beings,
Unbroken, indivisible, beyond duality;
The One without a second—
Come, O Compassion embodied.

Nirmala Anandi absorbed,
Meditating upon Nityananda,
Grant us the joy of the true Self,
O Mother-like Guru, come swiftly.

Baba and the Mason

In the early 1940s, a skilled mason came to Ganeshpuri seeking work and a new beginning in life. Baba was then residing at the partially constructed Vaikunth Ashram. Approaching Baba in those days was unpredictable — at times He received people with warmth, at other times with indifference, and occasionally He would throw stones. Paradoxically, those who received stones often found their lives turning for the better, and such treatment came to be seen as a form of grace.

As the mason approached Vaikunth Ashram for the first time, Baba suddenly came running towards him, throwing stones lying around the ashram grounds. Terrified and confused, the mason fled immediately, boarding the next bus to Vajreshwari, determined to leave the area altogether.

Below the Vajreshwari temple stood a hotel owned by Madhav, opposite the narrator’s (Shenoy) home. Nearby, a dharmashala was under construction. With some time before his bus arrived, and guided by professional instinct, the mason examined the work. In those days, construction relied on load-bearing walls rather than reinforced concrete foundations, and errors could be disastrous. Observing serious mistakes, the mason advised corrective measures that could be implemented at minimal cost. The locals, impressed by his expertise, followed his guidance and began respecting him.

Just before the bus arrived, an attendant from Vaikunth Ashram appeared with Baba’s message, asking the mason to return. Though shaken by his earlier experience and deeply conflicted, the mason heeded the advice of the locals and returned to Ganeshpuri.

This time Baba received him kindly, gave him some money, and instructed him to complete the dharmashala work at Vajreshwari. Though still unsure, the mason chose to stay.

Years later, he reflected that Baba had transformed his life. The initial stone-throwing had driven him precisely to the place where he would gain trust, respect, and acceptance. Had he approached the villagers directly as an outsider, he would likely have failed. Baba first established his credibility and only then entrusted him with responsibility, ensuring his success.

This mason was Bhagavan Mistry. I have seen him. He was short and wore a pyjama and a long shirt with jacket and a cap. Most of the construction in Ganeshpuri, in those days, was done by him. The Shree Gopalkrishna temple was constructed by him. He constructed our Vajreshwari house too. He and my father often smoked beedis together.

Devotional Rendering (Bhakti Bhāva)

Baba does not always bless through gentle hands.
Sometimes He pushes, sometimes He drives, and sometimes He wounds the ego to heal destiny.

The mason came as a broken man seeking a livelihood. Baba received him not with words, but with stones — not to harm him, but to reposition him. The frightened man ran, yet every step of his escape was already arranged by Baba.

At Vajreshwari, Baba silently worked through circumstances. The mason’s own skill became his offering, and through it, Baba gave him dignity, acceptance, and purpose. Only after his ground was prepared did Baba call him back — no anger, no explanation, only grace and responsibility.

Such is Baba’s compassion:
He does not flatter; He builds lives the way strong buildings are built — by first correcting the foundation.

Antarārtha – The Inner Meaning

This Leela teaches that Grace does not always appear as comfort.

Baba did not reject the mason; He redirected him.
The stone-throwing shattered the mason’s expectations and ego, forcing movement.
The mason’s flight was actually obedience to an unseen command.

Inner teaching:

Before giving you work, the Guru gives you acceptance by the world.

Before giving success, He removes your dependence on validation.

The Guru knows where you must be placed before you can be used.

This Leela aligns deeply with Baba’s core instructions:

Anyāśaraṇa (No other refuge):
The mason had no plan, no patron, no security — only movement directed by Baba.
Nirmala Man & Vishāla Man:
Baba crushed fear and confusion to expand the mason’s inner space.
Karma Yoga without expectation:
The mason did his work sincerely without seeking reward — respect followed naturally.
Guru as silent architect:
Baba did not explain, justify, or console. His work was done through events, not discourse.

For today’s seeker, professional, or householder:

Not every rejection is a failure
Not every shock is cruelty
Not every delay is denial

Sometimes:

You are pushed away so you can arrive at the right place
Your competence must be seen before it can be used
Authority comes only after credibility

Takeaway:

Do not judge events by comfort.

Judge them by long-term alignment.

This Leela teaches trust in process, not dependence on spectacle.

This Leela must not be read as glorifying physical violence or unpredictability.
Baba’s actions arise from Avadhūta freedom, not imitation-worthy behaviour.
The stone-throwing is symbolic of ego-breaking shock, not literal instruction. In most cases, those whom the stone hit did not feel any pain, nor were they hurt!
The focus must remain on inner restructuring, not external drama.