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On a joyous ride
SHANTI NANISETTISHANTI NANISETTI
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Bharat Thakur belies the stereotype image of a `guru'. No saffron robes and no performing miracles. The `Master' who spent 17 years in Himalayas, leads his followers on a path devoid of restrictions.
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Bharat Thakur
HE DOES not promise miracles. He neither holds out hope nor heals any aches and pains. Yet, over three-lakh people believe in him and experience the joy of surrendering themselves at will. The 28-year-old "man from the Himalayas," Bharat Thakur, says, "I'm the Buddha. But I believe that each man on this planet is the Buddha. One has to look inwards rather than working from outside."
At a recent two-day meditation camp conducted by him in the city, the `Himalayan Master' was keen on making people sit comfortably rather than forcing them to "get the right posture".
"It takes away the concentration," he explains. "If you cannot sit straight, sit astride or relax your back against a wall and stretch your legs. Do what you are comfortable with till you reach the state of happiness, and keep chanting the mantra," he tells them. That explains the difference between him and other gurus.
Bharat Thakur is the eldest of four children. The story goes that when his parents were worried that they had no children, their master, Guruji Sukhdev Brahmachari, blessed them with four children on the condition that he would take the eldest one. So, at three-and-a-half years, Bharat followed his guru to the Himalayas and led his life there for the next 17 years, along with three other children of his age - Niranjan, Vivek and Kanakeshwari.
Having taught them the essence of all religions, 30-40 `isms', Upanishads and the Holy Scriptures, among others, his guruji wanted him to study science. After completing Ph.D in Biometrics and Yoga from Gwalior, he went back to his Master.
"I was very new to this life. I had never seen a basketball in my life before. Slowly, I began enjoying my student life with a whole set of new experiences and lived like any youngster would. Preaching was the last thing on my mind then. I even became a national basketball player. But, nothing gave me that sense of pleasure, satisfaction and completeness," says Bharat who went back to his guru who was all set to go into samadhi.
"Much to my disbelief, he chose me to take his place. I experienced an amazing state of vairagya that day - by then, I lost my parents, loved ones and also my guruji . That is how great masters like mine work," he says.
A master cannot be philosophical; he has to be practical while preaching. And, a disciple is an experimentalist who should act, not believe. Behind every belief, there is disbelief. So, masters don't have beliefs, they only act and motivate people to transform - a way of growing. Nobody is God-man, as in every human being God resides - so believes Bharat who considers falling at his feet or keeping his photo in the puja room worse than abuse.
"Mind and ego are the best pals, and chanting is the best way of merging them together. Spirituality has a direct relationship with human behaviour. Responsibility and common sense should come first, followed by spirituality.
The path to spirituality is very quiet. Making a beginning is important," he says, adding, "No guru can lead you there. He can only motivate you, and you have to tread the path. I will show you perfection, give you clarity, reality and freedom. Do you dare to receive the experience?" That is the Himalayan Master who wears designer kurtas and watches.
If you care/ dare to walk with him on the spiritual path, remember that he takes you on a rough yet exciting ride .
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