Pangum Langhayate Girim - Bejoy Misra's life experience with Sri Sathya Sai - Part 2

Heads in forest but hands in society

Bhagawan Baba never advocates giving up one’s duties to pursue a spiritual life. In fact, on several occasions, Swami has strongly reprimanded those that compartmentalise aspects of life as ‘worldly’ and ‘spiritual’. The life-experience of Prof. H.J.Bhagia is a case to point. ‘Hands in society, heads in the forest’ is the motto that Swami advocates. That is one of the reasons why everyone is attracted to Him - everybody is given an equal opportunity to pursue a spiritual life irrespective of vocation or status or any other difference.

Bejoy’s perspective of a ‘spiritual life’ had transformed without his knowledge. He now knew that it was no longer essential to ‘sacrifice’ or ‘run away’ from the world to achieve the ultimate. Wiser, he dropped a postcard to his parents informing them in brief of his adventure and whereabouts. Day later, he was accosted by Prof. N. Kasturi who, among his several other duties in the ashram, also served as the postmaster.

“So you came here without even telling your parents?”

“ I have informed them now...”

“That I can see”, Kasturi replied, “your father has sent some money for you to travel back home.”

Two English teachers in a single frame - Bejoy with Prof.N.Kasturi.

Thus Bejoy’s needs after the ‘33 Rs’ were also taken care of, by the worldly father this time!

{This is the second part of the story. It will make better meaning if you read it after going through the first part at the link below: PART 1: Pangum Langhayate Girim - Bejoy Misra's life experience with Sri Sathya Sai - Part 1 }

He attended his first ever Shivarathri in Prasanthi Nilayam and it was unforgettable. In the morning, he witnessed the spectacle of the Vibhuti Abhishekam. He saw with wonder as Swami swirled His hand in an empty pot upturned over a silver idol of Shirdi Baba and heaps of vibhuti poured out from it. In the evening, he witnessed Swami manifest two lingams from His stomach through His mouth. He clearly saw flashes of light before each of the lingams emerged. It was with thrill and thrall that he boarded the train to take him back to Odisha. He vowed that he would return to Prasanthi Nilayam soon. Thus it was that Bejoy fulfilled Swami’s directive of plunging back into society while his mind and heart continued to remain in the Eden that Prasanthi Nilayam is.

When he reached home, Bejoy was met by a very relieved mother. As she caressed her eldest born, the mother inquired about his well being. She didn’t scold him or seem upset with him. She was simply happy to have him back. Bejoy, with his newfound understanding of spirituality, was also happy to be back home. He now plunged seriously into his duties as a student. He had carried Swami back with him, in his heart, to Odisha and so, everything he thought, spoke or did now was different. He had found a new zest in life. He completed his education and joined as a lecturer in the prized Bhubaneswar college. (After three years, he worked in the Puri college and three years later, at the Ravenshaw College.)

Hanuman lovingly advises Vibhishana.

To love God is to live for Him

When Hanuman was on the task of locating mother Sita in Lanka, he heard the name of his Lord Rama emanating from one of the houses. It was Vibhishana, the brother of the demon king Ravana but a staunch devotee of Rama. The two meet and Vibhishana confesses with tears in his eyes,

“Hanuman! How blessed you are to constantly think of Rama and also have Rama think of you. I also chant the name of Rama always but am not so blessed. Why is that so?”

Hanuman responds promptly,

“Oh noble one! You think of Rama no doubt. But do you do His work? You have love for Him but that love finds fulfillment only when you work for Him. Rama is searching for Sita who is in Lanka. You could have pleased Him better by helping in that mission rather than just chanting His name...”

Vibhishana understands his mistake. He immediately guides Hanuman to the Ashoka Vatika where Sita is being held captive.

Doing whatever one does as an offering to the Lord is one level of devotion. But doing only what pleases Him is a higher level of devotion. It requires us to sacrifice our likes and dislikes to take the Lord’s mission as our own. That is precisely what Bejoy decided to do because he understood that if he loved his Swami, he should do what He loves. This realization came to him as he voraciously devoured all the books, by Swami and on Swami, that he could lay his hands on. He joined the budding Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization in the state of Odisha (then called Orissa). And then, he began to contribute.

He had read an English monthly by the name “Sai Sathya Vani”, published at Pune. He intended to start a similar monthly in his mother-tongue, Odia. He wrote to the editor of the Sanathana Sarathi, Prof. N. Kasturi in Prasanthi Nilayam expressing his desire. Within a couple of weeks he received a response from him! Swami had blessed his endeavour and he could go ahead with it. Thus began Bejoy’s journey in spreading Swami’s life and philosophy in all parts of Odisha.

The postcard from Prof.N.Kasturi

When the Sai-monthly started in November 1969, Bejoy was a lecturer in B.J.B.College, Bhubaneswar, the capital city of the state of Odisha. When he was transferred to Ravenshaw

College at Cuttack, the printing of the periodical was also shifted to Cuttack. Whether at Bhubhaneswar or Cuttack, his schedule was similar.

Everyday, he would go from the college directly to the press to work on the publication which he had titled, “Sathya Sai Vani”. Little did he know that this monthly would be the precursor to the Odia Sanathana Sarathi! He would work on writing articles, translating Swami’s words, printing the books, packing them, pasting addresses and posting them. Soon, the work increased as he also started a Bal Vikas magazine that the teachers and Gurus could use while teaching students. Bejoy got married in 1970, much against his wishes because he was convinced that he had already been wedded to Swami’s mission, especially the educational wing. (Later, he slowly realized how important Arati’s role in his life was. She took care of the family and freed up time for him to focus on working for Swami. Before her, Bejoy would himself take care of all his needs when he was posted as a lecturer away from home - all the cooking, cleaning etc.)

He travelled to different parts of Odisha and passionately communicated Swami’s love and wisdom. He recharged himself twice annually at the lotus feet of Swami - during Shivarathri and Dusshera, a Father’s festival and a Mother’s festival respectively! He participated in all the state-level as well as national conferences of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations apart from  attending a few Summer Courses in the physical presence of Bhagawan, at Brindavan. Whatever little free time he got, he used for translating books by Bhagawan into Odia. (To date, ‘Misra sir’ has translated more than 25 books authored by Swami.)

Bejoy is seated second from left in the last row during this photoshoot at the conclusion of one of the Summer Courses that he attended. 

A Samithi was started in Cuttack and that only meant more work for Bejoy. He loved doing everything that pleased Swami. He did not want to do anything else.

The teacher is taught the power of Love

The love and care of his Divine Father showed in Bejoy’s teaching and he became a popular teacher in all the colleges he worked. He was himself amazed at the love and respect he received from the students. Nobody had ever imagined that a person who couldn’t walk normally would be able to conduct classes of more than a hundred students with perfect discipline. Bejoy did it!  But then, the strict discipline of his father also showed in his classes. This led him to be disliked by those who disliked discipline.

One day, a student for whom he was a favourite teacher during his stint in the Ravenshaw College (1975) approached him in great anxiety.

“Sir, you must be very careful...”

“Why? What happened?”

“Sir, you have failed many students in the mid term exams. Some of them have antisocial tendencies and I feel that they are planning to do some harm to you...”

After that, the lad also revealed the names of the students who were planning the attack. Bejoy thanked him, assured him that he would be fine and then sent him away.

Back home in his family quarters, Bejoy was lost in thought.

“Swami, you have said that when somebody hates you, send him love and more love. That will cure them. Okay Swami, I shall test the efficacy of your advice now.”

Every evening, from that day, Bejoy spent half an hour in a visualization exercise. He would visualize a triangle with Swami at a vertex, himself at the second and the ‘rowdy students’ at the third. Then he imagined the light of love from Swami moved to him. Then, the light travelled to the boys, and from them back to Swami. This process of expanding love gathered speed, and became a fast rotating circle. This circle of love engulfed all, Swami, Bejoy and the misdirected young men. Then where is enmity, where is hate, where is anger and where is fear?

Bejoy did this for several days. He had no problems with any students but he continued to do it because he enjoyed it. After a week or so, one of the students approached him and said,

“Sir, please forgive us...”

“What is the matter? Why are you asking forgiveness?”

“Please say that you forgive me and then alone shall I say...”

“Okay, if it pleases you. Now, tell me what happened?”

“Sir, a few of us were upset with you for failing us in the exams. We wanted to avenge ourselves by hitting you...”

“Aha! Why didn’t you go ahead then?”, Bejoy asked with a disarming smile.

“No sir! We realize that it is wrong on our part to think like that. Whatever you do, you do with our good in mind.”

Bejoy went back home and, looking at Swami in a picture said,

“Thank you Swami. Your words worked!”

Bejoy never faced any such attacks in his whole teaching career. More importantly, he got the opportunity to first-hand experience the power of Swami’s words and the power of Love.

Nourished by the Lord at all levels - physical, mental and spiritual.

Swami’s teacher becomes a Sai-teacher

In 1979, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba started a junior college at Puttaparthi. That was the time when the Sanathana Sarathi carried a call for applications for the various teaching posts. In 1980, Bejoy applied and was called for the interview. In the interview were two foremost devotees of Swami of that time - Sri Kutumba Rao and Dr. Suri Bhagawantham. Bejoy spoke with the conviction of a man possessed by God in his heart.

The next day, he was seated in the third row on the sands for darshan. Swami came walking upto him, beckoned to him and said,

“You are appointed.”

Swami filled Bejoy's life with plenty of smiles, peace and joy. What more does one need in life?

Ah! Those words were the most melodious for Bejoy’s ears. He was overjoyed and immediately made preparations for the shift from Odisha to Andhra; from the land of Jagannath to the land of the omnipresent Jagannath!

The salary he received was Rs 800. It would be about a thousand Rupees short of the salary he was receiving at the Ravenshaw college. But for Bejoy, the joy of the Divine appointment was such that he never even thought of worldly disappointment. In his heart he had been ready to do anything for Swami, even for free. Everything was just the love of his Divine Father. He felt safe and secure like never before. And why not? Swami had assuaged any fears that might arise in his heart even before they arose. One example is that of his children’s education.

Being a Balvikas Guru trainer for years, Bejoy was aware of the hugely inadequate education imparted to children in schools. He and his wife Arati were were genuinely worried about the education of their two girl kids. But Swami took care of that in a special way. One night, before Bejoy applied for a position in the Junior college at Puttaparthi, his the wife had a dream.

Swami asked her to hand over the charge of both daughters to Him. He then held their hands firmly and walked away. That is precisely what happened because, unknown to Bejoy and his wife, Swami had willed the inauguration of the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School the very next year. The school opened in November 1980, and the elder one Nivedita joined it the same year. The second one, Subhashita, came to her sister next June.

Pangum Langhayate Girim

When the statement, Pangum Langhayate Girim, is made, it means that God can make even

a physically disabled person climb a mountain. But the statement does not specify how does

God do it. Bejoy was working tirelessly for his dear Lord. Couldn’t Swami simply make him whole so that he would be able to serve Him better?

The thing is Swami never does anything for Himself. He is selflessness personified. That is why instead of only calling the qualified; He qualifies the called!  That is what He did with Bejoy too. We may feel that a weak child warrants a little more attention from Parent. But weakness alone cannot justify a Parent’s attention. A true parent always wants the child to forget his/her weakness, and stand up to his/her potential. That makes the parent proud.

Swami didn't want Bejoy to beg a favour on account of his disabilities. So, He always encouraged him to look after himself. Instead of worrying about the things he could not do, Bejoy learned to concentrate on the many things that he could! (In fact, he even plunged into carpentry and made a few things for the school!) That is Swami’s miracle - He does not always change the external world; He changes our inner world so that nothing is the same ever after.

Bejoy wrote hundreds of letters and 'message chits' to his beloved Swami but NOT ONCE did he pray for freedom from
his disability.

Such was Swami’s impact on Bejoy that he never asked for a cure though he got a thousand opportunities to write letters to Swami or speak to Him directly. He never felt small on account of his disability. In fact, he always held his head high and did his duty with love. That is why when anyone asks him,

“How did you fall in love with Swami?”, his instantaneous reply is,

“Nobody ever ‘falls’ in love with Swami. One only ‘rises’ in love with Him!”

Bejoy saw everything as Swami’s blessing on him, polio included. He accepted the polio as the working-out of his invisible karma. To one with such an attitude of surrender, all disabilities or obstacles melt away. That is possibly the inner meaning of Pangum Langhayate Girim.

The blessings of surrender

One day afternoon, Swami came out of the interview room and indicated to the students that he would be visiting the hostel. They had put up some exhibition, and had been praying Swami to grace it. Instantly, all the students rushed from the mandir towards the hostel to secure vantage positions for the Divine visit. Swami asked the teachers also to go to hostel, so Bejoy got up from the portico and began his journey. Of course he couldn’t move as fast as the others. But his energy and enthusiasm were the same. He moved as fast as his crutches would take him. As he crossed the General Hospital gate, he was in for the surprise of his life.

An occasion where Swami came to inaugurate a photo exhibition that had been directed and arranged by Sri Bejoy Kumar Misra. 

A white Mercedes Benz stopped by his side and the vice chancellor of the University, Sri V.K.Gokak, stepped out from the front passenger door. Bejoy turned around to see Swami and Prof. Kasturi in the back seat. The vice chancellor asked Bejoy to get into the front seat of the car! Swami nodded assent. After Bejoy settled in Prof Gokak sat by the door. So now, it was the driver, Bejoy and the vice chancellor in the front seat. Swami was looking at Bejoy, and like a very indulgent parent was worrying how he could manage to keep his crutches. When He noticed His child knew how to carry himself even in this unusual situation, a smile of satisfaction lit up His face.

Swami had asked for the teacher to be picked up. It was a memorable journey for Bejoy as he felt flooded and enveloped completely by Divine Love. He was both stunned and overwhelmed, and dared not look back at Swami. In order to put him at ease Swami playfully pointed out in Telugu,

“Look, does this happen in any other university - a teacher sharing the same seat with the vice chancellor? It can happen only in our university!”

“What about a teacher and Chancellor sharing the same car?” Bejoy thought. However, He was only Swami to him, his Divine and caring Parent

The proceedings at the hostel went as per plan and everyone was happy! At the end of the programme, as Swami was leaving, there was a mad rush towards His car. Bejoy kept out of the crowd and waited for it to disperse.

The Divine Father had not forgotten! When He was coming down the hostel steps, Swami called out loudly for the ‘teacher’ he brought with Him. Bejoy again gratefully shared the front seat with the vice chancellor to travel back to Prasanthinilayam, where he was staying with family.

With eyes welling with joy and contentment, Bejoy says,

“He has filled me with plenty. Once you know you belong to God, what more do you want?”

Bejoy continues to teach at the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School. The students benefit a lot from his English classes. But more than that, they benefit from the life lessons which exude from him.

{'Misra sir' as he is known to all his students pens his profound thoughts in a blog. Please visit his blog Anveshaum. Check out the blog archive datewise (the titles have got scrambled but click them for they lead you to masterpieces) for some really poignant pieces.}

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