It is true that every moment there was a learning from Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda ji. Of course, to the extent we could grasp those learnings and apply them in ourselves, to that extent our spiritual growth takes place.

Behind every experience or an encounter, there was a great lesson that I got. The implications of those lessons have created a great understanding in me. They gave me pointers in life to practice. In practicing those lessons in life, sometimes we succeed and at times we fail also.

It was in 1986, November. Pujya Gurudev had conducted an Yagna in Nizam College grounds. Weather was very comfortable. The ground was full with thousands of devotees who came to listen to Pujya Gurudev. It was on 13th chapter of Bhagavad Geeta. As I mentioned in my previous blog, it was a great festival time for us, being with Pujya Gurudev always. 

After the Yagna, Pujya Gurudev went to Bangalore for some talks and again after 9 days or so, Gurudev came back to Hyderabad for a day, to attend a meeting. He left for Mumbai the very next day.  

After the Hyderabad Yagna, someone wrote an observation and printed in News Paper. The heading was “Chinmaya Geeta”. This was written by a Professor of Osmania University. I do remember the name but it is not right on my part to mention here the name of the Professor. He was not a devotee of Gurudev nor Chinmaya Mission member but he studied Geeta. In that press release, he criticised Gurudev’s explanation for one verse in 13th chapter, saying that this is not what Krishna meant here but Swami Chinmayananda had wrongly interpreted. Please note that these were all his thoughts and his understanding. 

Obviously, reading that release in the press, none of us were happy. We thought to respond to him through another press release. In those times the fight used to happen through news papers only. One would write something and other would counter it by another press release saying ‘with reference to the comments made by so and so on so and so date, published in this news paper, I would like to strongly object to his comments…. (bla, bla, bla). Now a days it’s all digital fights and arguments in social media. 

Some of the Chyks have decided to reply strongly to that professor. Of course, how can we keep quiet when our Master is criticised? Can anyone challenge the Master of Bhagavad Geeta? With these thoughts in the mind, Chyks held discussions and we all felt that we must wait until Gurudev comes back to Hyderabad the coming week and seek his permission before we give our counter through press. 

When Pujya Gurudev arrived, we went and met Gurudev in President’s house. It was a beautiful house having a good lawn and it was a very pleasant evening. There were not more than 15 members, including couple of Chyks who came to meet Pujya Gurudev. I was sitting right in front of Gurudev. One of our Chyk member brought all about the press release by a professor and his unwarranted comments on Gurudev etc. and submitted our request to accept our proposal to reply to the professor very strongly, by releasing another press release. Here is what Gurudev had to say… 

“Yes. I heard about this. I am happy that he read Geeta. But mine is experience and his is theory. Ignore him. No need to reply”. When Pujya Gurudev spoke about his experience, the utterance was very profound with a deep voice and his eyes half-closed. 

This statement from Gurudev had shocked us and surprised also. How a Master looks at such comments and how easily he ignored the comments and blessed him and also had expressed his joy that the critic had read Geeta. 

I learnt a great lesson. How to be or how to receive criticism. Many times, it is not necessary for us to protest or reply or argue. Just ignore it. Of course, to ignore completely also, we need great inner strength. May Gurudev grant us all the inner strength always. 

Om Shri Chinmaya Sadgurave Namaha

– Swami Chidrupananda
Chinmaya Mission Noida