Swami Tilak Paramahamsa

Direct access to the Shri Swami Tilak Web site www.swamitilak.es

Around 1960 when Swami Tilak was 30 years old, he began a yatra (a pilgrimage), with the purpose of finishing a stage in his life that was dedicated to social work, in order to look for spiritual values that would mark the path towards the Being.

Three years had passed since he had become a Sannyasa. He left his work as an editor of a magazine to look for his Guru, travelling by foot in the strictest tradition of renouncing monks and living only from charity. It was his first experience as a young sannyasin and this way would become his way of life, leading him to travel to more than fifty-six countries around the world.

Swamiji directed his steps toward the sacred river Narmada, where Sri Adi Shankaracharya, founder of the ten orders of Swamis advaitas and a great exponent of Vedanta philosophy had done a large part of his sadhana (spiritual practice).

Swami Tilak commented that at this time he had almost lost hope of finding the truth in this world, but finally his search lead him to a meeting with his Master, Baba Bajaranga Dasji Maharaja.

From this moment on, years of pure happiness began for Gurudeva, serving at the feet of his Master Baba Bajaranga Dasji Maharaja. The cabin where they lived was very simple and it didn’t have any commodities. It was a life full of austerities. In the hermitage along with Gurudeva and Babaji lived other devotees, but there were never more than five or six people there at any one time.
What were the teachings that Babaji imparted to his disciple?
Gurudeva had a brilliant intellect and already had in-depth knowledge of philosophical books (the Upanishads) and other sacred scriptures of Vedic culture.

He knew all the teachings of the different schools within Hinduism and philosophical expositions of the great Masters perfectly as well as the doctrines of other religions. He also knew other meditation techniques and pranayamas along with other Yoga disciplines. He knew and loved the culture and history of his country. In his youth he actively participated in some political parties, fighting for Indian independence, and spent months in jail for his patriotic ideals. He had great oratory skills and a flair for writing.

Babaji taught Gurudeva to live in the truth and recognize it wherever he was. He was his Brahmavidya Guru (a Master who teaches directly about the knowledge of the nature of Brahman, the All Absolute). The teachings of Babaji can be resumed in few words: “My son, there are enough saints and wise men in the world, first be a man!”

Babaji taught that man was not envied for his ostentatiousness, but respected for his simplicity. Humbleness did not mean meekness, but the disposition to recognize the greatness of others. Throughout all his travels, Gurudeva carried two mantrams that his Guru had given him, and resumed the teachings that he had received. The first was the mantram of Assimilation:

“First, free yourself of ego, then use words that can give the same happiness to others as they do to you”.

The second mantram talked about modesty:

“Modesty grants glory, while anxiousness for glory separates one from God. Because of its reduced size, an ant can collect sugar particles amongst the dust, while an elephant can only make himself dirty with them.”

Even though Babaji deeply loved his disciple, and the time they spent in each other’s company was for them both the highest happiness of love and understanding, he didn’t take long to send him away from the Kutir. In this way, and thanks to Babajis vision, the whole world has been able to benefit from the message of true spirituality transmitted by the wise teachings of Gurudeva.

During his 8-year padayatra (pilgrimage on foot) all around India, Gurudeva began to lose the few clothes he had. One day his shoes broke, and from this moment on he never wore shoes again. Another day his “Kurta” (shirt) broke and he never wore a kurta again either, until finally he was only left with a longhi (a piece of cloth that goes from the waist down to the feet) and a wool blanket.

He categorically rejected any type of ostentatiousness. His Guru had sent him as a pilgrim monk to enlighten the hearts of his devotees with his example as well as with his words. To teach humbleness, he would take the broom and sweep his own bedroom. To teach self-control, he never accepted a jersey even when he was in Russia and it was -10º. To teach modesty he was always ready to present his respects to anyone with authority, even when their knowledge was a lot more inferior to his. To teach compassion, he personally answered all the letters he received, at least 30 a week, and personally attended all those who came looking for his help. If he was in a city where someone he knew lived, he went to greet him even though he had to walk 10 kilometers. To teach simplicity, he never accepted more money than what was necessary in order to travel to his next destination, and when he travelled, he always chose the cheapest mode of transport.. To teach the power of faith in God, he travelled without money or support from any organization. Many times he went to countries and cities and didn’t know anyone, or didn’t even speak the language. He didn’t mind sleeping on the street or going days without eating waiting for the hand of God to protect him. Instead of putting his faith to the test, these circumstances confirmed it, because apart from the risky way he travelled, there was always someone ready to help him.

In all the houses he visited, Gurudeva cooked delicious meals for his guests. In this way, through Prashad (food offered to God and cooked by a religious man), he purified the bodies and minds of all those who ate his food. This was his silent blessing to all those that gave him hospitality.

Gurudeva commented: “Thanks to the teachings I received from my Guru, I feel comfortable in any place. Thanks to having an equal attitude towards all people, I have been able to penetrate different sects and schools of philosophy. Dualist and non-dualist, all of them have happily opened their doors to me. Brahmanes and Paryahs all offer their hospitality to me in their homes. Many times they have asked me “Swamiji, who are you? Are you Advaitin (Non dualist) or Dvaitin (dualist)? Are you Brahmana or Kshatriya? Vaishya or Sudra? (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra are the four Hindu casts)".

It surprised us a lot to see that all types of people who were completely enthralled assisted his conference.