Brother Dilip Chaudhary (MBA, 1991)
One evening after the conclusion of an interview, Bhagawan summoned Mr. Khial Das and me for Padaseva before the evening Bhajans. After silently perusing a few letters, Bhagawan encouraged us to pose any questions to Him.
A persistent thought had been troubling me regarding individuals coming to Bhagawan’s interview room, knocking on the door to submit their letters and explaining the urgency behind their requests. My duty entailed informing Bhagawan when letters arrived and seeking His guidance on their acceptance. Usually, His nod brought joy, but sometimes a firm “No” painted faces with sadness. Conveying this to those who, with hope, sought His support was incredibly challenging.
I mustered the courage to ask Bhagawan, “Swami, people come to deliver letters to You when You sit upstairs. When I seek Your permission, You usually say yes, but sometimes, You refuse to accept the letter. The person has come to You as the last resort. When I convey Your refusal, I am often questioned by them and troubled by the thought that I might have failed to communicate to You correctly, resulting in Your refusal to accept their letter. I am also deeply distressed that God’s door is being closed to them and it is my responsibility to convey this sad news to them. How should I approach this situation without succumbing to sadness?”
Bhagawan set the letter aside and gazed at me as I focused all my attention on Him. He responded (summarized): “Do you believe that a person’s interaction with Me begins only when they come with a letter and knock on the interview door? Your involvement is limited to the moment when someone approaches you with a letter and a request for its delivery to Me. However, their interaction with Me extends beyond that specific instance. There is a deeper connection between them and Me – one that transcends those few moments of interaction that you witness. Their life is filled with numerous moments before they even conceived the thought of writing the letter, and there will be moments after the letter’s denial. Their past karma, intentions, and unwavering determination dictate whether I accept the letter or not. When I communicate to you not to take the letter, how you convey the message to them and the thoughts you hold while delivering the denial message influence your karma. Ultimately, how they receive the message of refusal shapes their future karma. Some are filled with gratitude when I accept the letter, while others are filled with ego. Have compassion for all and convey any refusals with humility. Have faith – I always act in the best interest of everyone, even if the person may not perceive it that way in the immediate moment. With the love of a thousand mothers, why would I do something to harm My child? Many times, by denying letters, I cleanse away past karmas. If the person accepts that whatever Swami does is for their good and doesn’t feel sadness or question My actions, they come closer to Me. If they question and do not accept the denial in this manner, they move farther from Me. Your feeling bad when I deny accepting someone’s letter is a good quality – you perform your duty with love in your heart. I am a witness to lives that transcend beyond the few moments of interaction you have with them. They are in Me for much longer than they think. I provide everyone with what they deserve, even if they don’t fully understand it. I only discipline with the intention of love. My grace is on everyone equally. If you think good, you have a larger vessel to collect My grace. If you think bad, your vessel is smaller. That’s why I say, ‘Be good, do good, and see good.’ This is the way to reach God.”
As His words resonated in the interview room and in my heart, the melody of the flute wafted in from the Bhajan Hall. He asked us to move as He stepped out for the Bhajan session. I am forever grateful to such a loving Lord who guided, guarded, and loved me in spite of who I am.
