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PENGUIN ANANDA

THE FAKIR

A devotee of Sai Baba of Shirdi, Ruzbeh N. Bharucha is one of the most influential spiritual writers of our times. He is the author of nineteen books, including the bestselling Fakir trilogy, which has been translated into several languages.

In 2014, Rabda: My Sigh . . . My Sai, published by Penguin Random House India, was an instant bestseller.

A former journalist, Ruzbeh is also a documentary film-maker. His documentary Sehat . . . Wings of Freedom, on AIDS and HIV in Tihar Jail, was screened at the XVII International AIDS Conference in 2008. His collaboration with Zambhala—India’s yoga, music and life spirit festival, the first of its kind—gave birth to a series of powerful videos called ‘Ramblings with Ruzbeh Bharucha’.

His articles have been published in the Times of India, Free Press Journal, Indian Express, Maharashtra Herald, Sunday Observer, Jam-e-Jamshed and Afternoon.

His book My God Is a Juvenile Delinquent has been included in the reading list of all judicial academies in India. Ruzbeh is the 110th Master for the ‘Speaking Tree’, where he writes immensely popular blogs on spirituality.

ICE with Very Unusual Spirits, a bestseller published by Penguin Random House India in 2017, is still on Amazon’s ‘Best Reads’ list.

His Facebook page has reached out to thousands in a very short span of time. The daily affirmations and messages are a source of inspiration to many.

You can reach him here:

Email ID: [email protected]

Twitter: @ruzbehnbharucha

Also by The Author in Penguin Ananda

Dancing with Swans

ICE with Very Unusual Spirits

Conversations with Dada Vaswani

The Musk Syndrome

The Perfect Ones

Rabda: My Sigh . . . My Sai

THE FAKIR

BABA WINCED AS He sipped the tea made by Rudra.

‘I, The Fakir, the very God to countless of my children, who can perform miracles that make the very heavens sigh with wonder, have failed miserably in teaching you how to make a respectable cup of tea. What a tragedy!’ He took another sip and sighed. There was a twinkle of a smile in His Divine eyes.

‘You too seem to have failed rather spectacularly where your attempts at humour are concerned, oh Lord and Master of the Universe,’ Rudra said as he prepared the chillum for Baba. He took a few drags to strengthen the fire element and then passed the chillum to Him.

Baba took a deep puff, inhaled and sighed again.

‘But there are not many in this entire universe who can prepare a chillum like you, Rudra-ji.’

‘I am so humbled that if my very toes could weep they would weep now, Baba.’

Blondie, the dog, walked in, tail wagging, looked at both the men, sat down beside Baba and with her paw sought Baba’s attention. Baba caressed the girl. As if on cue the other two dogs, named Boy and Girl, walked in and after a while found their respective places in the room. The sun had set forty-five minutes ago and Baba had finished His customary prayers while Rudra tinkered away in the kitchen. This was their daily routine. Sunset meant prayers for Baba. Rudra prepared his controversial chai, with lemon grass, while the coal for the chillum was readied. They then sat and drank tea and passed the chillum around. Once it got dark they would walk on the beach and say their respective prayers.

The rules applied as always. Rudra was not to speak to Baba when with other people. He was to behave as if Baba was not even present. Thus any sort of an introduction was out of the question which was rule number two, followed by rule number three: Rudra should not mention his interaction with Baba to anybody.

The rule of eating one meal a day at some café, where there was human company, was relaxed. Now it was thrice a week. Rudra continued to eat at Martins’, the establishment run, managed, served by the formidable Martins’ with their crew who had last smiled when India had become an independent nation. Even now after two years or more of Baba and Rudra’s first meeting, the only sign of familiarity was that they had assigned Akbar, a chap who was as gregarious and forthcoming as a defunct signboard, to serve Rudra. He mumbled the day’s menu and Rudra would mumble back what he wanted to eat and then would read the papers while he ate his food, tipped the sourpuss, then one of the Martins’ would grunt a goodbye and that was that. Sometimes those who knew Rudra or of Rudra would come and speak for a while or take time for channelling.

Oh yes, the fourth and last rule still applied. Rudra would do all the housework on his own except when it had anything to do with electricity, carpentry or plumbing. Baba would so often remind Rudra that he would rather drink his lousy tea than see his feeble, confused attempt at housekeeping.

Thus every night Baba and Rudra would go for a stroll and, upon their return, as Baba rarely ate dinner, maybe a buttered toast dunked into tea, both the men would pray and talk through the night. Baba would often take Rudra on an astral voyage and Rudra would do as he was told during those journeys. Earlier it was fascinating, but now, it was like entering another room and taking care of innumerable people with virtually similar problems.

There were different kinds of issues that mainly related to problems of money, anger, greed, lust, betrayal, fear, playing the victim, being unreasonable, fights, loneliness, sadness, spiritual queries and the innumerable usual things afflicting all living beings. Mostly the issues were about Karma dished out to all beings with not much thought or emotion. As Baba would so often say, ‘Karma is not our enemy . . . Karma is our greatest friend . . . Karma when embraced joyously leads to salvation and liberation . . . but being ignorant we fight our best well-wisher with the cloak of anger, hate and negativity; we push away the one who only wants the eternal best for each of us instead of embracing all that our friend wants us to experience—Wake up, Rudra! Don’t you dare snore when I speak such powerful words to you, you rascal.’

Rudra’s life had not changed. He channelled for those who came for help and over a number of people came over. It tired Rudra but that is understandable as everybody came with problems and Rudra tried his best to divine the solutions or figure out ways of dealing with the ordeal. Sometimes the Karmic blueprint could suddenly get altered which upset people as that meant the predictions were not transpiring into reality but most often people came back which only meant that things were on track. Since a while Rudra only focused on emergencies and spiritual queries but miracles were taking place, thanks to Baba.

Rudra channelled as and when there were people who wanted help but he had kept a few days for divination. He did not want people to begin using him as a crutch and he had no intention of having a following or, God forbid, a cult. Thus, he purposely restricted his séances to a few sessions in the week. That way those who truly needed help were provided with solace and comfort, and divination; especially those who were walking the Path.

He still did not charge people any money but most people often left gifts and money which took care of Rudra’s needs and even wants. Mr Seth converted Rudra’s black van into a beautiful house on wheels, very comfortable, but from outside it looked the same as Rudra did not like attracting attention.

Rudra did not interact with the outside world apart from his cottage landlord, Dwarka. His landlord was an elderly man living his last days in New Zealand, more than happy that Rudra had leased his cottage and was taking good care of it. He had nobody to leave the cottage to and had indicated to Rudra that if all went as planned he would will the cottage to Rudra as long as Rudra kept aside the rent to help elderly people who were in need.

Baba Sai and he went for a stroll. When alone in the dark, with the cool sea breeze and the soothing sound of the waves with nobody around, Baba spoke to Rudra about life, taught him prayers and talked about this and that and everything, many a time about things that Rudra could not share with another being.

Life was simple. Life was cool.

Karma is not our enemy . . . Karma is our greatest friend . . . Karma when embraced joyously leads to salvation and liberation.

VERY OFTEN BABA would disappear for a few days and Rudra realized that on those days he was unusually preoccupied with some mundane things. Stuff that needed to be sorted out in the cottage or he was simply not in the zone to do anything and be dazed, all appointments cancelled, he preferred being by himself. He never understood how every time Baba would leave, Rudra’s days were either packed with worldly chores or just depressing.

On those days he drank far more than he should but always outside the cottage, never within its holy premises. He always made sure the oil lamps burnt twenty-four seven, and Baba would light a small fire, mainly burning embers, which Rudra would tend to in order to always keep the fire awake. Without Baba’s physical presence Rudra was lost, though he knew that he should not be as Baba was always with and within him.

Rudra always remembered Baba’s words to him. He had told him in the early days of their meeting, ‘Beta, heaven is filled with those who have failed but who have got back on their feet, dusted off their mistakes and follies, smiled and walked on with The Name on their lips and the comfort of a compassionate heaven in their hearts.’

Rudra missed serving Baba and massaging His feet. When Baba was physically with him Rudra’s day would be remarkably the same, making sure Baba was taken care of, from the innumerable cups of chai to hot bowls of soup to prayers and laughter and conversations ending the day with him massaging Baba’s feet. He loved to massage His feet.

The last time when Baba had left, there was a tremendous forest fire in California. Rudra always noticed that whenever Baba would leave the cottage, some place in the world would be going through unusual turmoil or devastation. It was as though He was needed and He had to be alone. Rudra never pried or questioned Baba. Rudra just served silently and joyously.

Blondie, Boy and Girl never left Rudra’s side when Baba was not present. It was as though they understood that he was alone and they rallied around him and sought his attention. On those days, Rudra would give them a bath and pedicures and pamper them as he needed to be active to prevent the ache felt in his heart because of Baba’s absence.

Heaven is filled with those who have failed but who have got back on their feet, dusted off their mistakes and follies, smiled and walked on with The Name on their lips and the comfort of a compassionate heaven in their hearts.

BABA RETURNED AND life got back to its normal routine. After dinner Baba motioned to Rudra that they should take a stroll on the beach. There was nobody. It was late at night. The sky was pregnant with countless stars and it was two days till full moon, thus, the beach was lit with a soft radiant moonlight and the sea was withdrawn within herself and one could hear the music of the waves but at a distance.

‘I know you want to ask me questions about life and all the usual queries most of mankind wants to know about. This is as good a time as any, ask and you shall be left astounded, my sweet demented child.’

Rudra smiled and said nothing. He loved his Master. As usual his Master knew everything.

‘Okay, my Lord of the universe, tell me something about inherent tendencies? Where do they arise from and why are they so difficult to shed from one’s deepest conscious and subconscious self?’

Baba walked in silence for a while. Then they sat down on the soft sand, facing the ocean, where moonbeams danced and made the water sparkle.

‘Whatever we have nurtured in various lifetimes becomes cemented as inherent tendencies in the present lifetime. If, for instance, somebody has encouraged anger in some lifetime, then anger will be the dominant characteristic of an individual in this lifetime. If you have nurtured greed through lifetimes, the tendency to be greedy shall become the dominant force of an individual in this lifetime. Hate culminates into greater hate. Calmness worked upon shall lead to a soft tranquil disposition. Selflessness will lead to Oneness and compassion and platonic love. Slowly through lifetimes whatever emotion one works with will eventually cement that characteristic or emotion into an inherent tendency. Most often our negative inherent tendency rules our disposition and our traits. They become our character flaws. It is always easier to come down than go up. Gravity works in the same way. Anger will have more presence in an individual than peace, till anger is not prevalent and only peace reigns. Thus, we see people with greater character flaws than character strengths.’

‘Then how do we go beyond our character flaws, Baba?’

‘By first knowing who we truly are as individuals. When we know what our inherent strengths, weaknesses and limitations are and when we are honest about wanting to know our true self, only then can we begin to understand who we truly are as individuals. To know our inherent tendencies, good and not so good, we need to know who we genuinely are without any hypocrisy or deceit, walking the by-lanes of denial. Till this does not happen we shall never be really honest about our desire to better ourselves, and till we are not truly honest about knowing our true selves we shall never really see the Light but always dwell in the shadows of dark alleys. Living without knowing one’s true weaknesses, strengths and limitations is like driving a very high-powered vehicle with eyes shut, feet pressing the speed pedal and hands off the steering wheel. Only disaster awaits the vehicle, the one behind the steering wheel and those in the vehicle. Thus, first and foremost know who you truly are. Without this no growth is truly possible. However deplorable the answers that might come forth in your search for your true self may be, it is important first to know who you are, as the journey can truly only begin once we are aware of who we are, what we are dealing with, what our strengths are, what are our weaknesses, our limitations and then with all the cards in our hands, then we focus on our strength, stay away from our weakness, and try to work on our limitations.’

‘Do you really think we are capable of staring at the truth in the eye, especially of our own selves?’

‘My sweet monkey, of course it is difficult and shall not come easy but it all depends on how serious you are and whether this is a true need, in fact a desperate need, an inevitable stepping stone in one’s own growth and journey. It is hard, slow, heartbreaking going within the jungles of one’s own dark self. You will also know at what speed to travel and work on yourself. You will be the best judge to decide whether you can slowly and slowly starve off your weaknesses and tendencies or you can severe them in one go or is it going to take years or maybe even a lifetime or more. But all this shall only happen when you know who you are and what you are truly dealing with.’

‘Baba, how does one stay away from one’s inherent pull of nature, maybe depression or anger or greed or hate or whatever. Even if I know it is my weakness, how does one work on it?’

‘You sweet frog, when you know something is dragging you down, the first step is to stay as far away as possible from that emotion. Which means do not indulge in things that give greater power to that character trait! When you know something angers you, either prepare yourself not to react or admit you shall be angered, but still stay forcibly calm. Once you are equipped with self-realization of your nature and temperament, you are already forewarned of what is going to trigger anger, hate, depression, and if you are aware then you already are one up on that emotion.’

‘Baba, it’s easier said than done.’

‘Of course, you silly mango, it is difficult but if your priority is to work on yourself then it is as easily done as said. To work on your inherent tendencies, one needs to make it one’s soul and sole priority. One can go beyond one’s negative tendency by not surrendering to its pull and destructive power. It eventually comes down to what is your priority. What is it that you want to surrender to? It comes down to the individual and how motivated and focused the person is to overcome or go beyond the inherent tendency. It is not going to be easy but you have to amputate the thing killing your very being. Whoever told you amputation was a breezy pastime? It’s a life-altering decision. Each moment requires tremendous determination. Slowly but surely the grip of that tendency will loosen if you are persistent enough and you will be able to overcome the tendency or have enough power over it and through the years, the tendency might even starve and drop away. Remember, my sweet worm, each of us has to decide whom we want to prostrate ourselves in front of: The One we pray to and worship and believe in or our very mind. Our tendencies are all logged into our own vibration and consciousness which we call the mind. Remember the purpose of all negative tendencies is to pull us down but the true inherent nature of one’s Spirit is to rise up. The more you allow the external tendencies to gain power, the deeper you shall sink and if the focus is on the Divine Spirit, the more you shall gravitate towards The One. Thus, the question to ask is ‘Who am I?’ Once you start this journey slowly the answers shall set you free. So in reality, you set yourself free. The joy of seeing the complete daftness on your face is worth the wonders of owning a few galaxies, my child. Come now let us just observe the stars and the moon and the shimmering water and set ourselves free from all thoughts and tendencies and life and all that.’

Rudra sighed. He began to massage Baba’s feet and the Old Man exhaled in peace.

To know our inherent tendencies, good and not so good, we need to know who we genuinely are without any hypocrisy or deceit, walking the by-lanes of denial.

THAT NIGHT BABA took Rudra on an astral voyage to a mountain. It was a huge mountain where one could not see the top, but an ongoing mountain which clouds later covered. It was never-ending, had various plateaus and various inclines going as far as the eye could see, the mountain was sky-high. They climbed for a while and then Rudra was taken to a village. The scenery and the beauty of the place took his breath away. Rudra had never seen anything as picturesque as this place. It felt as though Rudra was in heaven seeing the beauty of paradise. But there was something wrong in the vibration of this place. As beautiful as it was, the vibration felt heavy and foreboding. Rudra saw people moving about their day-to-day affairs and then he understood why the very air seemed so dense and heavy. Everybody here was scared. There was an underlying stench of fear in this place. The contrast between the divinity and beauty of the place and the heaviness and denseness of vibration was so prominent that it made Rudra feel ill.

The most spectacular place where even the light was vibrant and inviting but in each individual, be it a child, woman, man or an animal, there was fear that lurked in their eyes and in their vibrations and aura. Rudra felt as though he was in heaven but covered with sludge from hell. Each individual Rudra saw went about life as though worried that something will go wrong. So though there was laughter, it was half-hearted, as though everybody was scared that too much laughter could bring forth some calamity. At every pace there was a need for peace but a menacing sense of fear made even the little peace something to be apprehensive about. People ate but Rudra could figure out there was no taste on their tongues. Everyone spoke softly. Most were as though hiding from somebody or the other. For all its luminous clarity and play of light, the breathtaking vistas and scenic view, this place made Rudra ill.

Baba entered various homes and then came out after a while. The windows of most cottages were curtained but still partially open. Allowing the luminous light to enter but never completely, worried if somebody would see those living within. Rudra could see people within but they never really came out in the open. Rudra began to gasp for air but all he could breathe in was fear and he realized that eventually nothing truly mattered but peace within each of us, which leads to a joyous life filled with laughter and lightness of heart.

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