44 - Correct Method To Pray

The results of twelfth standard were declared. A young man went to see Mama happily. He bowed down to Mama. He said, ‘Mama, with your blessings. I have received 70% in twelfth standard.’ Mama blessed him and asked, ‘Now, what are your future plans?’ The young man replied, ‘Mama, I am thinking of taking admission in Mechanical Engineering.’ Mama inquired, ‘Will you be able to get admission in Ahmedabad?’ The young man replied, ‘Yes, Mama, I have got good percentage, So I may get the admission.’ Mama asked, ‘If you do not get admission in Ahmedabad, where else could you get?’ The young man informed, ‘Surat, Baroda and Vidhyanagar are good Universities. I will try there.’ Mama asked again, ‘If you could not get there also?’ The young man replied, ‘Mama it is not possible. Most probably I will get the admission.’ Mama said, ‘All right. Please let me know, once you get the admission.’

That particular year, there was so much rush for the admission in Mechanical Engineering. Slowly all the seats were filled up. The young man couldn’t get admission in Ahmedabad. He was worried. He went to Mama. He said, ‘Mama, you know everything. I couldn’t understand, when you were asking.’ The young man had deep reverence for Mama. He had great faith in Mama. He knew that Mama’s words come true. Therefore he requested to Mama, ‘Mama, would you pray to Maharaj that I get admission in Surat, Baroda or Vidhyanagar, any one of these places?’ Mama asked, ‘Why these three places only? Can’t you go somewhere else?’ The young man replied, ‘These three universities are considered good. Teaching at other places belonging to Gujarat University is not very good. Mama, please, prays for me. Maharaj will definitely respond to your prayer.’ Mama cared for the young man. Therefore, he used to inquire him about all the details.

Mama asked, ‘If you go out of station to study, how would you manage about your stay, food etc.?’ The young man replied, ‘Mama, I will have to stay in a hostel.’ Mama said, ‘That is very expensive. How would you manage?’ The young man informed, ‘My father says that he will pay for my expenses even if he has to live frugally.’ The young man insisted Mama, ‘Mama, please pray to God that I get admission at one of the good places.’ Mama made him sit next to him and explained lovingly, ‘See, we should not pray to God to do some particular thing. We should not insist for a specific reward. God only knows what is best for your future. Therefore we must pray to God that, Hey Maharaj! Please, do whatever is best for me.’ The young man pleaded again to pray for the admission at one of the good places. Mama scolded lovingly, ‘Still you are insisting. I will pray to God. Whatever is best for you, will happen.’ The young man bowed down to Mama and left.

The young man got admission in Bhavnagar College. He was disappointed that if Mama had prayed to Maharaj, he would have got admission at a better place. He went to Mama looking sad. Mama spoke to him, ‘You are not aware of your future that is why you feel sad. This is for your good. In whatever circumstances, God wants to keep us, we must accept them happily. This situation is appropriate for you and it is created for you and it is given by God, so why feel sad? Go to Bhavnagar happily.’ Mama’s words consoled the young man. With the blessings of Mama, the young man could make arrangements for his stay and food only for a hundred rupees per month.

After one year, the young man visited Mama for his Darshan. He was beaming with joy. He bowed down to Mama and said, ‘Mama, you are the most compassionate. You and God knew very well about my future. I did not even know how to pray. You taught me.’ Mama asked, ‘What is the matter?’ The young man replied, ‘When I couldn’t get admission in other Universities, I was disappointed, But now I feel that was the best thing to happen. Bhavnagar belongs to Gujarat University. So, I applied for transfer and I have got the admission in Ahmedabad from second year onwards. Now, I will be able to study in Ahmedabad and I will get an opportunity to serve you.’ Mama said, ‘You were unnecessarily feeling sad. Maharaj knows everything.’ The young man bowed down to Mama devotedly.

Difficult words:
Frugally - Thrifty, using very little money
Circumstances - Connected events
Beaming - Smiling with radiant look

Points to ponder:
- Only God and His Anadimuktas know what is good for us.
- Muktaraj teaches us that we should not insist God and his Muktas to grant us some particular reward.
- Only an Anadimukta can teach us how to pray to God.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. For which standard, the results were declared?
2. In which city did the young man want to take admission? Why?
3. What did the young man insist Mama to pray?
4. Which method of prayer did Mama teach the young man?
5. How could the young man come back to Ahmedabad to complete his studies?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Mama, please pray _____________ one of the good places.
2. We should not pray to God to ____________ for a specific reward.
3. In whatever circumstances ____________ accept them happily.