Blessed are those

Doubly blessed by the Mother (Dr. Susil Kumar Pani)

- Dr. Susil Kumar Pani

Actually for the first time I am going to share something absolutely personal. Many of the things are very interesting ways of the Mother's work. Trying to recollect something when I was 8 or 9 years old is a very difficult thing but certain things have remained crystal clear even today. I vaguely remember it was probably the year 1972. My birthday falls on 1st August and I have got a brother whose birthday falls on 7th August. I have a sister whose birthday also falls on 7th August. We are 10 brothers and sisters - big family. So in August, 3 out of 10 of us had our birthdays. I used to say we, with our parents, can form a cricket, football or hockey team and play. Certain aspects I was not aware till actually my father demised. He never told certain things. He divulged to certain persons who are close to me of the extreme grace of the Mother on me. As for my experience ... I remember I was very upset because we were starting after my birthday on 1st August to Pondicherry. And Mother had given permission for my sister and brother for Darshan on 7th and we had to wait for 15th August also. I was not aware whether I was given permission or anything. We were starting late, that's all I remember.

The only thing I could vividly recollect is reaching the Mother and not knowing what to do and later on I knew that Champaklal who was next to Mother put my head on Mother's lap and then Mother puts Her hand on my head. And then reluctantly I looked at Her eyes and of course that is a blessing light. It is very difficult to describe. How long it lasted and how we came back and rest of the things I don't recollect, frankly speaking. I vaguely remember once or twice the balcony darshan, along with the crowd.

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But the presence of the Mother in certain incidences in my life is very interesting in the sense that as I progress, I have learnt that Mother's presence is always there. Surendar writes that you always behave as if Mother is looking at you. I will describe just one or two incidences.

I was working in Madurai as medical officer and had come with a new team to do eye camp to Seerkazhi which is about 60 to 70 kms from Pondicherry. So whenever I come all this far, I used to stay back. Because my brother was here 1 used to stay back, spend the Sunday evening, take a day's leave and then go back. It was in the year 1992. I was the medical officer so I was leading the team and there was a very young doctor who was doing philosophy programme in Sri Aurobindo Society and those days we had 'Standard 20' vans. 16 to 17 people were in that camp. We came and did the camp after an 8 hour drive from Madurai. Because there were young doctors who had come to the camp for the first time I decided to return back with the team instead of staying back. We started on Sunday evening, post lunch around 3 o' clock. The driver was also very young and dynamic and he was driving fast. It was nearly getting evening.

Between Pattukottai and Pudukottai there are two places with lots of trees on both sides of the road. It was a state highway and so not so wide like the national highway. Our small vehicle was going at about 70 Kmph and there was a man coming by cycle in the opposite direction. He was on the left - probably he was drunk but was coming to the centre of the road. If he would go to the left it seemed the cyclist would also be coming to the same side. The driver wanted to avoid an accident and save his life. As the driver went on the right, suddenly in the last moment, the fellow again came back to his left side. So in a split second I could visualise the vehicle crossing to the right side and both the right wheels going off the road. The driver swung it to bring it back and I knew something was going to go wrong. All that I remember is that I loudly called 'Ma' and that was all. The van circled in the air 360 degrees back. We crossed to the other side of the road, between

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Trying to know the way of the Mother's work is extremely difficult from the level of our mind. What was interesting for me to learn was that it was by Mother's grace that happened. Even if one wishes to do certain things one cannot do unless it is the Mother's wish. I didn't understand the meaning of Surrender at that time. Looking back I understand that he meant it was time for him to go. So these are just a few incidences to remember the Mother's way of work. My father used to write to the Mother for every work he had to undertake. Mother used to personally write Her blessings and send. He also used to send many prayers to the Mother which She used to sign and send back. Incidentally my father has composed a song on the Mother. This is actually to understand the glory of the Divine. So those are different aspects. (talk on 2.11.2011)

Hai prabhu poorana natha hamaa rai

Knoona knoona goona kahai thumhara

Hai prabhu.....Dayaa teri Hari aparam paar

Tuu hee prabhu hai dayaa bhandara

Hai prabu.....

Oh lord, the lord of my whole being

Who all can describe your attributes?

Oh lord..... Oh Hari (Vishnu/Krishna) your grace is limitless

You are the source of all compassion and grace

Oh lord.....

(Bom into a family of traditional & cultural prominance and academic exhuberant - Dr. Susil Kumar Pani is a specialist, practicing eye surgeon at 'Raghu eye clinic' (in Puducherry) named after his father Dr. Raghunath Pani. A creative artist, author, photographer (connected with Ashram and Auroville).

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