During the final years of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati’s life, amidst the teachings he gave on meditation, Sanskrit, Yoga philosophy, including, the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutra(s) and the Upanishad(s), he started interspersing a new teaching, he’d say, “Pray for more problems.” Whenever he said it, the entire room would gasp.
“Pray for more problems?!” Someone would incredulously repeat, as a kind of shocked question.
Capturing the spirit of the students gathered, someone else yelled from the back of the room “No thank you Guru ji….”
Everyone would then turn to each other and a great mumbling of “No way,” and, “I don’t need any more problems” would sweep the room, as everyone exchanged knowing looks.
I did my fair share of internally rejecting the statement too. Just hearing it felt like quicksand beneath me. Not another problem, I’d think.
In time, I noticed that Guru ji kept sharing the teaching in class. And when he did, the room would erupt into the usual gafaws, rebuffs, and “no ways,” he didn’t smile, or make light of it, he quietly held his ground.
This got me energizing on the whole concept.
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