Sri Sathya Sai Reveals Prof. V.K. Gokak’s Spiritual Journey

Saturday, June 18, 2005 to Thursday, June 23, 2005

Bhagavan returned from Brindavan on 18th June 2005, to Prashanti Nilayam. On 20th June, the children of Deenajanoddharana Pathakam presented a dance drama in Sai Kulwant Hall. Bhagavan showered His Blessings on the children. On 21st June, the villagers from adopted villages of the Sai Organisation Durg District, Chhattisgarh, visited Prashanti Nilayam to express their gratitude to Bhagavan for the village upliftment measures organised by the Sai Organisation. On this occasion, a group of dancers from Chhattisgarh presented in Sai Kulwant Hall, a tribal dance that afternoon. Bhagavan showered His Blessings on them. On 23rd June, after Bhagavan’s Darshan in Sai Kulwant Hall, Sri A.V. Gokak and Sri S.V. Giri addressed the devotees. Bhagavan then blessed the devotees with a Discourse wherein He elaborated the spiritual journey of Prof. Vinayak Krishna Gokak, the first Vice Chencellor (1981-1985) of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He said:

Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

“The Present Vice Chancellor (Anil Gokak) and the former Vice Chancellor (S. V. Giri) have narrated their experiences. When Vyashti (individual) identifies himself with Samashti (community), he realises Parameshti (God). It is very difficult to understand Parameshti which is beyond both Vyashti and Samashti. There will be harmony between Vyashti and Samashti when one develops equanimity.

Know What Is True And Eternal

One should realise that Samashti is the basis of everything. People are not able to understand what is meant by ‘I’ and ‘you’. ‘Where are you studying? Where am I studying?’ In these two sentences, there are two different identities of the same principle of Samashti. Few have truly understood the principle of Samashti so far. But there lies in it the transcendental principle of Parameshti. However, the transcendental principle of Parameshti is much more difficult to understand.

Our Gokak (Prof. V.K. Gokak) also found himself in such a situation. He had read volumes of great books. He knew answers to many intricate questions. But he could not understand what was true and eternal. Similarly, he could not understand the difference between Atma (Self) and Anatma (non-Self). Truly speaking, Anatma has no existence. There is only Atma everywhere. After some time, Gokak realised this   truth and understood it clearly. I provided help to him at that time. Man wants help of many types for the sake of clarity. This help will provide a lot of lasting strength to a true devotee. This help is not temporary. It is true and eternal. When you keep on enquiring what is true and eternal, gradually the veil of Maya will be removed.

Prof. V. K. Gokak addressing the gathering on the inauguration of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning - November 22, 1981

After some time, Gokak came close to Me. All his doubts disappeared and he held on to the principle of divinity which is formless, true, eternal, pure and unsullied. It is not possible for all to understand this divine principle. This principle of truth is present in you, Me and everyone equally. One who takes truth as the basis will never become unsteady. Everything may change, but truth will remain changeless.

Attain The State Of Doubtlessness

The principle of Karma (action) is difficult to understand. One type of karma may be responsible for all your doubts. But another type of Karma will destroy your doubts and take you to the state of unity. Gokak realised this truth and became doubtless. When you attain the state of doubtlessness, you realise the truth. This is the royal path of attaining Moksha (liberation). What is the real meaning of Moksha? Moha Kshaya (removal of attachment) is Moksha (liberation). So long as one has attachment, one cannot think of liberation. Hence, one should strive for detachment in the first instance. 

Gokak firmly held on to the principle of truth. One day, he came to Me and asked, “Swami! Am I the knower or is conscience the knower?” I told him, “There is something else between conscience and conscious. That is Maya.” Maya is responsible for all delusion. Do not become a victim of Maya. When you cast aside Maya, then truth will manifest from within. What type of truth is it? Truth can neither be heard nor seen though it appears that it is seen and heard. But it transcends both. All that is seen or heard cannot be experienced by the heart. When you transcend the senses, you see the dawn of consciousness. Truth is that which is close to consciousness. Next morning, he came to Me again and said, “Whatever doubts I had yesterday, have been removed. But I am finding it difficult to understand the origin of doubts.” Then I told him, “Take for, example, bats; they move about like birds, gather their food like birds. But contrary to the nature of birds, they hang head downward from the branches of trees. You may doubt whether they are birds or animals. Doubts come to man in the same manner. At one point of time, all these doubts will stop coming to you. This is not something related to Me and others; it is related to you and Me.”

Vyashti constitutes Samashti and Samashti is the collective form of Vyashti. In the final analysis, Samashti is the expansion of Vyashti. One who understands the relationship between Vyashti, Samashti and Parameshti can know the truth. This is what Gokak understood ultimately. Everyone has to make an effort to understand this truth. We are leading our lives in fun and frolic, but this is not the reality. We can understand the reality only when we transcend worldliness. Total change cannot come instantly. Gokak understood this truth fully well. Hence, he held on to this principle of fundamental truth firmly. In the end, he forgot everything else.

Dawn Of Truth And Experience Of Bliss

Vice Chancellor Gokak addressing the
Convocation gathering on
November 22, 1984

At that time, Gokak was studying Savitri (an epic poem written by Sri Aurobindo). All his inner thoughts were focused on Savitri. There exist inner thoughts in every human being which cannot be seen. One day or the other, truth becomes manifest all of a sudden when you are consistent in your Sadhana. At that time, Guru Poornima was fast approaching. He said, “Swami, I can see light approaching me on the path I am proceeding.” After saying this, he closed his eyes. He did not utter a word. I went near him and touched his head. I told him, “My dear, now you go home, have a cup of coffee and come.” But he did not say anything. He had transcended the state of duality. He went home, prayed to Savitri and came back. Ultimately, he could get all the answers from Savitri. From then onwards, he started contemplating on Savitri. He used to come to Me both in the morning and in the evening. One day when he came to Me, he was all smiles. I asked him, “You seem to be very happy, what is the reason?” “Swami! This bliss is Your blessing. It has not come from me”, he replied.

On Experiencing Illumination

I told him to remain in that state forever. Next morning, he came again. He said, “Swami, I have been in the same state.” He said that he did not even think where the blissful state had come from. Knowing very well that he should not speak much at that time, I asked him to go home and come later. He left. Next morning at Brahma Muhurtha time, he came again. He knocked at the door thrice, but I knocked six times. He understood the meaning and left the place silently. After this, no scope was left for questions and answers. Thereafter, he stopped asking questions. He went on contemplating on Savitri. Ultimately, he attained the state of non-duality.

One day when he was meditating with closed eyes, I slapped hard on his head twice. Then he started experiencing illumination. As illumination dawned on him, he lost interest in all worldly matters. He remained in that state. On another day, I told him to close his eyes. He did accordingly. As he closed his eyes, I pressed his Bhrumadhya (centre of the eyebrows) with My thumb. Instantly, all his doubts disappeared. He said, “Swami, I am one, God is one, love is one. I do not require anything else.” I told him to go and come the next morning. Gokak was very punctual and always came at the correct time. As he came again and again in this manner, he had the vision of Savitri. He could visualise Savitri every now and then, but not continuously. He considered Savitri as the fundamental principle. He held on to this principle firmly. In this manner, he could attain the state of divinity. As you proceed on the path of Sadhana continuously, certain powers will manifest in you. You should not attach any importance to them. Once you understand the fundamental principle, you will have everything. That fundamental principle is one, and not two. Truth is one, not two. Everything else is untruth; it is like passing clouds. He forgot everything else. He focused his mind only on the fundamental principle.

Prof. V.K. Gokak with Sri Sathya Sai on the Second Convocation of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning - November 22, 1983; He was felicitated on completion of two years as the Vice Chancellor of the Institute.

Once when I was at Kodaikanal, he sent a lengthy telegram to Me. I then sent him a telegram with the message, “I know, this is right. Don’t change your mind.” From then onwards, there was no further correspondence between us. However, once he asked his wife to write a letter to Me. Her name was Sharadamma. She was also a Mahajnani (one of great wisdom). She used to write in such a way that two words written by her would have four different meanings. Thereafter, only Atmic relationship existed between us. He attained the state of absolute silence. He did not touch any book nor did he ask any question. He did not write any letter either.  All that he said was, “Swami! All Your answers have touched my heart.” Then I told him, “Both of us understand the relationship that exists between us. You don’t worry about anything else.” After that, the relationship between us at physical level ceased to exist. At the same time, our relationship at spiritual level became more intimate. Before leaving his mortal coil, he wrote these words, “I have reached You.” 

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1986-2005) and Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 38