Swamiji and Michael Bowes,story in 3 parts

[Guest guest]

Introduction of Michael Bowes

Michael Bowes is well known to us as an authentic and genuine and a very

experienced yogi and a devotee of Sri Bhagavan Ramana. Internationally, he is

well travelled and has been to India. He has visited various Ashrams and Gurus

and Swamis in both the U.S. and abroad.Michael has an uncanny ability to see to

the heart of the matter and his spiritual insights pierce through the veils of

sentimentality and conceptual baggage. Michael is a long term member of the

community and his presence has been a gift.

 

Given below is the conclusion of a three part story from Michael about his visit

to a Swami in India

-------------------------Part 1---------------------------

By Sri Michael Bowes

 

In the spring of 1992 I met a Swami who was making his first trip to the United

States. By the time I met him he had been in the States for about two months and

had already developed quite a following. It was easy to understand why so many

people were following him because wherever he was many unusual things would

occur. I myself witnessed several mystical events.

 

In late June he returned to India and several of us wanted to go there to see

him. About a year later, I received a letter from the Swami. I knew that he had

been living an itinerant life, often moving from one place to another; but the

letter stated that he had established an ashram in the countryside of South

India and he invited me to come and spend some time. I began making arrangements

and in early October of 1994 I was on my way.

 

I landed in Madras where I was going to spend about a week before going to the

Swami's ashram in the interior. And even though I had many Indian friends who

had given me a lot of advice about negotiating my way through this foreign

culture, I soon realized that nothing could have prepared me for what I

encountered. I was truly shocked by the situation.

 

Anytime I left my hotel room I was besieged by beggars, scam artists, rickshaw

wallas, lepers, guides and touts. No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to make

any of them happy. If I paid an outrageous amount to a rickshaw walla to try to

help, they responded by begging for more. The hassles and troubles went on and

on and on.

 

I decided that I needed to get out of Madras earlier than planned and I called

my contact in the interior. I explained what was happening and he told me to

take the train to the town that was closest to the ashram. The hassles

continued; but in a couple of days I was on the train to the interior.

 

I was greeted at the train station by my contact. His name was Shyam. He had a

car and driver and we went to the ashram that was on a farm owned by a wonderful

old man named Govindan and his family. It was a beautiful, peaceful place and

they had just built a new room for me. They showed me my room and then we ate.

 

It was a tremendous relief to be there with these kind and gentle people. I had

arrived earlier than planned and the Swami wasn't there; but he was coming in a

few days. While we were waiting for the Swami, we decided to take a trip and we

went to Ramana Ashram, Aurobindo Ashram, and Auroville. It was a great trip and

I wasn't nearly as hassled because I was always surrounded by three or four

Indians.

 

When we returned to the farm, the Swami was there and it was really great to see

him. We talked and he gave me some instructions and I just settled into the

daily routine. Govindan had built a small temple, complete with a tank and

flower gardens. Every day we would arise and Govindan would go around the farm

picking flowers for his morning puja (worship). The Swami also performed a very

elaborate morning puja in his room. I didn't talk to the Swami much. He was a

man of few words. He didn't even eat with us. But I would visit with him a

little every day.

 

After a few days the word spread that an American was staying at the ashram and

people started coming from all around to see me. On some days there were people

lined up outside of my door to talk to me. They were curious about a lot of

things. Primarily they wanted to know how to make money. But they also wanted to

know how they could move to America, or they wanted to know how to sell goods in

America. Some of them just wanted to talk to an American. And occasionally

someone would ask about how to reach God-realization.

 

I couldn't help them with any of that; but I listened and talked and generally

found everyone to be quite pleasant. One day a whole group of children came and

they couldn't speak any English; but they had brought me a gift of some peanuts

and they just hung out with me staring and laughing and giggling. They were very

sweet.

 

About the time that the crowds of people thinned out, a new visitor, a starving

dog arrived. A medium sized, starving black dog parked himself outside my door

and didn't leave for a couple of days. Govindan had three dogs and the Swami had

a dog; but this dog didn't hang out with the other dogs. Somehow this dog must

have known that I was a Westerner and he must have thought that I could help

him. But actually, he was there to help me.

 

When I would leave the room he would just lay there and look at me, and when I

would come back – there he was. He would never leave and he was in very bad

shape. His condition was very distressing. But he never bothered me. He never

tried to come into the room. He just hung out at my door like a statue. His

condition was so bad that I had to do something. So I told Govindan that a

starving dog was hanging out at my door and that it was disturbing to me.

Govindan laughed and said, " That's not a starving dog. That is Ramu. He's a dog

from the village. "

 

I said that Ramu looked like he was starving to me and I told Govindan that I

was going to talk to the Swami about using his car to go to a nearby large town

to buy dog food for him.

 

I found the Swami and I asked him to come to see Ramu. I showed the dog to him

and asked if he would allow his driver to take me to town to buy food for the

dog.

 

The Swami said, " This dog is not starving " .

 

I said, " How can you say the dog isn't starving? Just look at him you can see

every bone in his body " .

 

The Swami said, " If the dog is starving then it is his karma to starve. "

 

" If the dog's karma caused him to starve, then it is my karma to feed him " , I

said.

 

The Swami relented and allowed his driver to take me to town. Shyam and Govindan

went with me. I scoured the town for dog food. I found out that they didn't

really sell dog food; but I managed to find three big boxes of dog biscuits that

were made of very nutritious ingredients. By the time we got back to the ashram,

dinner was being served. I grabbed a few dog biscuits out of the box, left the

rest in the car, ran to my room and gave them to Ramu. Then I ate supper.

 

After I ate, I went to get the dog biscuits out of the car; but they weren't

there anymore. I asked Govindan what happened to the dog biscuits and he said

that the Swami had taken them and put them in his own room. I was dumb struck.

The Swami had taken the dog biscuits – what kind of deal was that? His dog was

nice and fat. They fed his dog every day like a king and yet he had appropriated

the dog biscuits that I had bought for Ramu.

 

I was not happy. But it was too late that night to do anything about the

situation, so I went to my room to meditate and sleep.

 

When I got to my room Ramu was gone. In fact, I never saw Ramu again. I guess it

was a good thing because I didn't have to confront the Swami about the dog

biscuits. I didn't need them anymore because Ramu was gone. This whole incident

began to show me what the Swami was really like. I thought that it was very

strange that Ramu should have come and gone in such a mysterious way. Why did he

come and hang out at my door? And why did he just suddenly leave? I came to

believe that the guru had come in the form of Ramu to begin to unmask the Swami.

But I can assure you that it was only the beginning of the unmasking…..

 

To be continued……….

Love to all,

Michael

 

-------------------part 2---------------------

By Sri Michael Bowes

 

Many persons would love to meet their guru. Imagine meeting a Swami of the

Shankara Order who was exuding peace, love, and siddhis. Imagine an unknown

Swami who, on his first trip to the West attracted a very large following in a

very short time. Many persons were convinced that the Swami was an exceptional

spiritual beacon. A letter came inviting me to India.

 

Thinking that I had met a true guru, a person who seemed to be surrounded by

mystical events, I traveled to the other side of the earth to be with him in

India. But after being there for a short time, and through the grace of the

guru, I had already become wary.

 

The Ashram was situated on a quiet, peaceful farm in South India. The farm was

owned by Govindan and his family. There was Mother, his wife, and there were

daughter and son. I never got their names – they were Mother and daughter and

son.

 

Govindan had a nice room with a bed and a desk and some chairs. There was a

ceiling fan and he had a water purifier there. I would often go there and visit.

Mother lived in the kitchen. She slept on a mat on the bare concrete floor. I

never did find out where daughter and son slept; but I think that it might have

been in the cowshed.

 

Mother and daughter cooked for us on a wood fire. Sometimes there were many

persons there. The food was great. In part one, I mentioned that Govindan, and

Shyam and I went to Ramana Ashrama and some other locations; but before we did,

I wanted to give Mother a small gift. I also wanted to give something to

daughter. I had already given a significant sum to Govindan because they were

feeding me and giving me a nice place to stay.

 

Mother didn't want to take the money, so I had to leave it on the floor in the

kitchen. I also left some money for daughter and then Govindan, Shyam and I left

for Tamil Nadu. A couple days after our return, and after the grace of Ramu, the

Swami's attendant called me to his room. Swami was just finishing the morning

puja when I walked in. Mother and daughter were there along with some others.

 

The Swami welcomed me and I paid my respects to all. Mother and daughter were

standing and the Swami was seated near the shrine. Swami said, " Mother has

something to tell you. " I looked at Mother and her eyes revealed the depth of

her emotion. The Swami spoke and said, " Mother wants you to know that she used

the money that you gave her and bought these earrings. I have blessed these

earrings, and Mother wants me to give these earrings to you and then she wants

you to hand the earrings to her. "

 

I was overjoyed. The Swami placed these teeney, tiny, gold and diamond earrings

on a flower, and handed them to me. Then I handed the flower with the earrings

to Mother. Mother put them in her ears immediately and she was nearly shining.

Daughter had bought a gold nose-pin with her money and so the same process was

repeated for daughter. She also seemed quite happy. It was fun for me.

 

Then Swami said, " Mother has something else to tell you. " I looked at Mother and

it seemed that she was about to cry. Swami said, " Mother wants you to know that

no one has ever done such a wonderful thing for her. Mother says that men have

always cursed her and abused her. Mother says that this is the best thing that

has ever happened to her. "

 

I was stunned. I looked at Mother and I'll never forget the look on her face.

Suddenly I realized – they don't say her name. She lives on the concrete floor

in this primitive kitchen. She and daughter don't even eat with us. She got this

little bit of money and she wants me to know that this is the most wonderful

thing that has ever happened to her. I was shocked. I could barely believe this.

I can't begin to explain how I felt.

 

As everyone was leaving, the Swami asked me to stay. I was really, really sad. I

sat down next to him and he said: " Michael, don't give these people anymore

money. " If you want to give someone money, give it to me. "

 

My very limited patience began to wear thin. I tried to explain that I had given

Mother and daughter just a little bit of money and that I gave money to Govindan

because he had built a room and was feeding me and everything. Swami said,

" Govindan is a retired railway station master. He gets Rupees 1800 every month.

Don't give them any money. If you want to give money, give it to me. " He went on

to say that he had some kind of trust set up and that he already had $700 and

that everything was all worked out. I told him that I understood, bowed and left

the room. I knew that I needed to get away from this Swami; but I couldn't go

home just yet…

 

----------------last part----------------

By Sri Michael Bowes

 

In the first two parts of this story, I related some events that occurred during

my association with a certain Swami. In part one, I told about the coming of a

starving dog named Ramu, and how his presence began to unravel the Swami's

fragile facade. I wrote of the Swami's callous statements that he made after

Govindan's wife, Mother, offered her heartfelt thanks for a small gift that I

had given her.

 

I had planned to reveal more of the shameful actions of this Swami who initially

had seemed to be a blazing spiritual light. But I realized that I cannot.

 

There are many blind guides in all religions and sects, persons who misuse their

followers either intentionally or unintentionally. And there are many persons of

faith who should carefully consider where they place their trust. And that is

the question – In whom or in what may we trust?

 

We can trust in the ONE who sent Ramu to help me. Before I met this particular

Swami, I already knew that the true Guru is always radiating grace through a

myriad of ways, always guiding us through all beings and events. There is one

immortal Being, unborn and undying, always providing the necessary grace to help

us to recognize our own true nature. That is the message that I want to convey.

 

The surest spiritual path for one and all is to awaken to the love and grace of

the sadguru. The Sanskrit word " sadguru " means different things to different

people. Sadguru is a combination of two Sanskrit words, " sat " and " guru " . The

basic meaning of " sat " is existence. It is also translated as " truth " because

there is no truth apart from what exists. Of course the word " guru " is usually

not translated; but refers to a spiritual guide or teacher. Some persons

interpret the word " sadguru " to mean the " true guru " . But I interpret the word

to convey the fact that all existence (sat) is the guru.

 

That is my experience.

 

The longer I live this life, the more I see that nothing whatsoever exists

except for love, and bliss, and unimaginable communion with the sadguru as it

manifests as all that we encounter. The wise spiritual aspirant will trust in

the ever present sadguru and will not blindly follow any other guide.

 

Once I had been associating with a certain spiritual group for quite some time.

I had benefited immensely from my exposure to their guru. I had developed close

friendships with some of the members of the group, including the president of

the organization. Occasionally, some of the members of the group would try to

convince me to take initiation from their guru.

 

One day, my friend, the president, also tried to convince me to take initiation.

He was trying to impress me with the necessity of accepting a spiritual

authority. He was implying that his guru was such an authority.

 

He asked me, " Who is the final authority? " Suddenly, without consideration, I

answered, " Me " . " I am my own final authority. "

 

It goes without saying. I am responsible for my own life and my own decisions.

If I want to consider making a choice between different spiritual paths or

spiritual teachers, I then become the ultimate authority. So do you. It's easy

to see. The buck stops with our own self, which is the same as the self of all.

 

But we don't ever really need to decide between one teacher or another. The

surest, most effective means to truth and happiness is to invoke the true guru,

the ever present guru, which is the same as one's own self.

 

When one makes that connection then there's no doubt about the path or the

method. After receiving initiation from the sadguru no spiritual or

philosophical questions about life arise because life is revealed as a

mysterious, blissful and wonderful existence for which there is no explanation.

 

Then there is nothing to accept and nothing to reject. After the touch of the

sadguru one becomes free by always residing in the presence of the sacred ONE

and its fantastic and mysterious manifestation.