Journey to the centre of the Earth- Slice of Heaven
It seemed strange that my dream would come true in such a wonderful way; of visiting Baru Sahib aka a’ kabab mein haddi” and did I stick to it. But I loved it with both of them! Crossing the plains of Punjab after a scrumptious lunch at Café Nomad where I suffered the but obvious wisecracks…we started off for our journey to Baru Sahib (BS) the journey was normal , just a load of Radhasaomi satsangis paving the way because there was a huge satsang at Solan and did they take their job seriously. It was wonderful to see them directing, controlling traffic, I wish we could just hand over our traffic policemen to them for a 101 course.
We stopped at Barog, the ancient hotel which brought back fond memories of summer stays and the times spent. There were amazing flowers, lilies, deep red poppies blood red, gushing with color. And then around the corner saw a shop called “criston dior “!! There was one shop which had written on its board cloth house specialist in ladies; so did that he mean specializes in ladies? Would love to know about that one.
First sign of BS was 53 kms from Nauni and this little town was dotted with pink white blossoms like a maiden’s blush and all over the mountain side was something so contrary to the sleepy town. It was dotted with the modern intrusions of net houses which reminded me of atypical space/alien invasions; the silver grey balloon shaped net houses all over. The River Giri meandering along the road like a snake sliver invitingly cold deep, gushing away and then we passed giripul at gaura . Yashwnat nagar , is a small village typical post card pretty himachali ,loads of hair dressers, the mnadir, the sabzi wallah on the road selling his veggies along with dust and the chips packets strewed all over the mountainside . That was one thing which is a sore sight the bright silver packets in neon colors dotting the mountains, a reminder of man’s folly.
Its 6pm, dusk is setting and the clouds are just about tinged with the sun, amazing sight, and the quietness broken only by the traffic, which was getting sporadic. Gaura had a small golf course, in the middle of nowhere, the water reservoirs amongst the beautiful beach. Now, it was just about 23.C and the different green dotted landscape made me feel as if I was transported to an artist’s easel.
India with its beauty and all its magnificence was showing its color, cows, straw huts mud houses women tending to their fields and smoke rising in the fore with net houses, and the customary Tata sky dish TV dotting the roofs. Mountains as old as Father Time, golden dry, barren locked with mystery. After travelling on this stretch I saw something which made me smile, three men walking on the road old, one with white hair, one with black hair and one with mehendi colored hair ..Aka the three stooges, minding their business in the twilight zone.
I feel as I’m entering a different world, a peaceful explosion of serenity n divinity, the mountain dotted with twinkling light just like fireflies with the back drop of the stark mountains. The temp. was down to 18.c and the pines in line standing guard like soldiers of God. Water cuts deep in to the road; it was narrow, scary, broken and one drive’s on the edge.
We reached Kheri crossing the bridge to BS, a gravel road , 800mts 20.c and I listen o BHaji and BHabhiji about the seva, the wonder that BS is. They assure me that it’s not something which cannot be imagined, nor can it be explained. I wonder about the selfless seva, the commitment to the cause, hope sustains life, what drives Him? What force, what reward drives him, I have an explosion of ideas, want to write like crazy. The road is all gone the side cliff is barren dotted with caves, mysterious inviting forbidding at the same time. Were they carved by nature, by the forces of wind, by sadhus or my overactive fertile imagination? Then we come across Nepali workers hidden from view, one could only see their legs, all covered with firewood, just his short stocky legs were visible.
It’s 7:34pm and we turn to BS, what awaits me? Science or miracle or will of man aided by Him. It’s a city bathed in white light. Huge buildings, all of them with an average of 10 floors! It’s amazing, there is no other word, and the sight leaves me speechless. My cynical friends just visit the place and then remark. We are taken to our room and the first thing I see is the pug marks preserved on the cement floor.
We come to his room where students want one glance of his and if not him his shoes are touched in reverence. My first meeting with Babaji is electric, there is no other word. He lies on the floor propped up by cushions discussing the syllabus and he was dictating to him. The eyes are alive, full of life and we get down to discussing the economies of life and Punjab. A word of caution, he is a man of intellect not a Baba who preaches blind faith, religiosity or asks you to convert. His approach is,” let my work speak for me”. Why waste money on gold and marble to adorn the gurudwar ?Darbar hall which is an engineering marvel. HI slines stay with me’Kaccha gurudwara pakka sikh OR pakka gurudwar kacchha sikh.
His next point is to save Punjab from drugs, the rot of alcoholism, to find alternative methods of revenue and most importantly to impart education which is value based. He wants to inculcate spirituality with education. Yes, there is discipline but there are no conversions in the middle of the night, no path which is forced down your throat and no secret society!At the darbar hall w the shabad "jis ke upar tu swami...."
If he is there why am I afraid? amongst thousands of sparrows who tweeted along .. the unisex dress , the blending o fsouls... 70 akhand paths, simulataneously. The next one is Aavo Sajana , nanak ke sajan ko balhari....Ardas time is 6:57pm and in walk in two nepali brother sister duo in front of us covered in saffron :) When they recvd their prasad tey went out and started cartwheeling right in front of Bhabhiji and me....