Baba as a Teacher
 

With My Master
Acarya Krpananda Avadhuta


Baba is always paying attention to both Margiis and workers alike by spending a few minutes talking with them. But in the early days I longed for a chance to spend hours talking with Baba.

One day I decided to see Baba, so I rode on the noon train from Bhagalpur and arrived in Jamalpur at 3:30 pm. As this was during office hours, I thought Baba would still be working and it would be impossible to see Him just then. So I started walking to the ashram, looking down and thinking of Him.

Suddenly, to my utter surprise, I saw Baba walking ahead of me with a gentleman beside Him. I walked quickly to catch up and then I touched Baba’s arm to get His attention.

Baba turned and whispered sweetly in my ear, “This man will go to the left after a few minutes — then we can talk.” He did this without scolding me, even though I had interrupted Him thoughtlessly.

This incident can be compared to an Indian mother who is breastfeeding her baby. In the presence of others, she will cover the baby and her chest with the end of her sari. But some times the baby, unaware of courtesy and manners, will grab the end of the sari and pull it off. Yet the mother will not get annoyed or angry at the innocent action of her baby, but will merely snatch back the covering cloth from the baby with full understanding.
In a similar way I had been lost in my thoughts of Baba and had acted in a childish manner, yet Baba was gracious and full of understanding.
After a short time the gentleman did namaskar and left. Baba and I walked together. As I slowed down the pace of my foot steps, Baba asked whether I wanted to get something before going to the ashram.

I said I needed to buy some soap as my clothes were dirty. So Baba told me to buy it and He would wait. I went and purchased it slowly, taking my time and for ten minutes I kept Baba waiting. Then we started walking again.

Baba said, “So, you are the editor of our Angika newspaper, the Angika Samachar I always read it line by line from the beginning to the end and enjoy it very much.”

I said, “But Baba, the Angika language is bad and I don’t like it at all.”

Baba said, “You have to learn it, as it is a very important language.” (His mother tongue).

I refused. This disagreement went on until we reached a corner where we sheltered from the hot sun under a big tree.
Baba tried to induce me to learn this language by saying, “There is not so much difference between Angika and Hindi except the changes in pronouns and verbs.” Then he taught me five sentences in Angika and told me to learn them immediately.

Finally we arrived. There were five workers in the ashram. Baba told everyone to gather and sit in front of Him. Baba winked at the workers and asked whether they could recognize me (actually they all were my close friends and Baba was only joking).

They understood and said, “No Baba.”

He said, “Then let me introduce this important person to you. He is the editor of the Angika Samachar newspaper.”
Then, He told me to give a lecture in the Angika language.

I objected, “Baba, you only taught me five sentences of Angika, how can I give a lecture in it?”

Baba told me to recite what He had taught me. I spoke those five sentences and abruptly He intervened saying, “Very good, very good”, and then He told me to sit down.

Baba said, “Angika is a very sweet language. I speak it when I am in a calm and sweet mood. If I am normal, I speak in Hindi but when I am furious I speak in English.”

After that I learned how to speak with Baba in Angika. He taught me its grammar and vocabulary. Now I enjoy the language very much. Once during Dhanna Samiksa reporting, Baba said about me,  "This boy is a Chattisgarhi, but he speaks Angika.” Then Baba asked a question to me in English. I replied back in English.

Baba scolded, “Very bad! As the editor of Angika Samachar you should always speak in Angika!”