Guru Nitya—Sanal’s Perspective

 

The book That Alone, The Core of Wisdom was one of the many books that I had in my collection that was written by Guru Nitya. But it was the first book that I read seriously and that was due to joining a study group. The group provided structure and discipline which made sure that the book was completed, and reading it together was incredibly good fun. This book contains the words from Guru's classes in Portland in 1977-78 and has been compiled by the students that attended the class. It is a verse by verse commentary on Atmopadesa Satakam. On the second verse I came across definitions for the thing we simplistically call the mind. It helps us understand how we operate—the manas is the questioning mind, the cittam provides our ability to recall memories, the buddhi furnishes us with intellect and the ahamkara gives us a sense of ‘I’. The tugs we get when we see something is unique to us because our memories are unique. A smell can take us back to our childhood. As can a song. And different songs work for different people. A ‘good’ song is what affects us the most. Our likes and dislikes are our opinions and there can be plenty of opinions all of which can coexist harmoniously. Beyond all this, there is a core within and that core is in us all and everywhere.

 

The beauty is that we already inherently know the things we are reading—it’s just that we didn't know that we know. From Guru Nitya we discover that the Absolute is creative, that we are a part of its illumination and that our creativity rests within the light of the Absolute. Learning that we have the ability to tap into our inner resources is what makes reading Guru Nitya such a joy. Guru Nitya soared high and when we spend time with his words, we can catch a rising thermal and glide over beautiful panoramas and vistas. The world becomes brighter and we become appreciative.

 

Brian Cox the physicist and broadcaster wished he could take world leaders into space. He said talking to astronauts they all say the same thing about going into space. When they are launched into space and see the Earth from space they see the beauty and fragility of our world, then it changes their view. They see one world, one precious world. The rishis did not travel to space physically yet they arrived at a similar conclusion. Our minds are faster than the speed of light. When we study Atmopadesa Satakam we get exposed to wisdom that transforms how we see ourselves and the world around us.

 

This year represents 100 years since Guru Nitya’s birth. I understand Nitya means eternal. This year also marks 80 years since D-Day resulting in the end of WWII. At the anniversary commemorations it wasn’t the same nations that were represented. Old enemies have made up and have become good friends and old friends have become sworn enemies. In wisdom we learn truth is eternal. It seems political friendships and truths are not Nitya—they are not everlasting.

 

I have never met Guru Nitya but I have had the good fortune to interact with many of Guru Nitya's students. They have grown to become wise women and men and engaging with them is always such a joy. Guru Nitya dialectics became a practical bat and ball method from which great understanding exudes. When we ask the questions we can get the answers. Whether we are the batter or the bowler it is fun, it is immersive and it is illuminating—it works so wonderfully for teacher and student. Those questions don’t necessarily have to be to a person. When Issac Newton asked the question, he got answers and we learnt about gravity. The answer comes when the question is asked with an open mind, and the answers are to be found everywhere.

 

There are people in the world who can show us a better way, elevate and bring out the finest in us. Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati was such a person. Through his words, his connections with people, he very much lives on today and all days to come.