Unspoken Silence Of The Way

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"The Tao that can be named or spoken is not the eternal Tao” says Lao Tzu in the very first verse of the Tao Te Ching. Yet he goes on through 81 chapters of 5000 Chinese Characters to speak about the Classic of the Way towards virtue. To use words to speak about ‘The Guru’ is like that. It is more a treasured feeling that nourishes and guides one through the sands of time in the journey of life. The legacy of Guru Nitya lives on through the lives of the many that he touched around the globe.

 

In the foothills of the Nilgiris Hills (Blue Mountains) of South India, in the little town of Coimbatore, on Tagore Street was ‘Gitanjali’ the household of a Radiologist and Cancer Specialist. In late 1958 he retired from teaching in Madras medical college, into the salubrious climate of this little town which in those days was the choice that many doctors made to retire and settle down with their families. Nataraja Guru and Swami Nitya would come down from Fernhill Gurukula to Coimbatore, to take trains, planes or drive to Kerala and would transit at ‘Gitanjali’ with their disciples on their way in and on their way out. Several doctors became Nataraja Guru’s students and would attend regular classes that he taught. Fifteen to twenty hippies were always with him, when he came to teach in the 60's. He carried the Gurukula around the world and every home he touched became a Gurukula, vibrant with the teachings that he shared with global citizens living a simple life during his stay.

 

This person was a little person of three years when Nataraja Guru and Swami Nitya first came to ‘Gitanjali’. The custom in India was to revere Gurus and wise people when they came to a house, with the gesture of whole-hearted prostration at the feet of the Guru. At the end of the line after several people prostrated, receiving blessings of Nataraja Guru, when the little person was asked to do the same, she skipped the main Guru (Nataraja Guru) and stepped to the side, finding herself at the feet of Swami Nitya and touched his feet, saying how soft they were. Guru Nitya picked her up and put her on his lap. Thus began the long journey of a Guru-Disciple relationship. At an age that was too young to be associated with words, ideas or labels. Yet it was indeed a roller coaster ride through a life time. Calibrating through the realms of an East West universe. Finding a bridge over the middle grounds that intertwine the teachings of the wise teachers of the world. Within the structure of the four goals of life, namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, finding and touching virtue through channelizing individual passions into a meaningful expression of homogenous values, one begins to find contentment and ease as one walks the path, journeying through the karmic dispositions that life offers.              

I came across this beautiful ~ Note to Self ~

 

“What is my purpose in Life?” I asked the void.

 

“What if I told you that you fulfilled it when you took an extra hour to talk to that kid about his life” said the voice.

 

“Or when you paid for that young couple in the restaurant. Or when you saved that dog in traffic. Or when you tied your fathers shoes for him.”

 

“Your problem is that you equate your purpose with goal-based achievement. The Universe isn’t interested in your achievements…just your Heart. When you choose to act out of Kindness, Compassion and Love, you are already aligned with your true purpose. No need to look any further.”

 

This person continues to walk on through the journey of life, holding on to Guru Nitya’s hands. He clasps tight when the person trips and stumbles over a rock. He has been and continues to be the only guiding force that silently nurtures from within.

 

Deep Gratitude for all the lessons that he taught. Deep Gratitude to life for all our paths that crossed. Deep Gratitude for the numerous roles that were assigned and all who shaped the future as it stands…..

 

Aum! Aum! Aum!