An interview with Krishin Babani (Sahib):
Krishin Babani was an ardent follower of Radhasoami Satsang Beas (RSSB). In RSSB traditions only the head of the organization whom they call as ‘Hazur Maharaj’ is suppose to address people at mass gathering. They call it satsang. It means ‘being in company of truth’. While they hold this satsang in the absence of Head but they play cassette player. Now they may be playing video. But there had been one exception. One non-sikh and non Guru and non-punjabi was permitted to conduct the satsang i.e. to give discourses. He did it for many years. Many of his discourses are available on YouTube. One such discourse by Babani Sahib is Always remember (i.e. Simran) Guru. In this discourse, except calling the Guru as God, he attributed all qualities of living God upon his master who was Charan Singh at that time. All his life he was preaching the Radhasoami teachings. He had melodious voice. I remember the cassette player of his satsang being played and his voice emanating from it. That was in my childhood. It appears that at the end of his life he was not very sure about what he preached. The following is an interview by acquaintance of Babani. This acquaintance has chosen to remain anonymous. This interview is on the net for quite some time but that site is not being maintained and is also not available by searching ‘Babani’. Hence I am re-posting this short interview here under:
I met him at his Sawan Sadan flat in Bandra, Bombay.
“Meet me before you return”, He had phoned.
“I will meet you but there are some conditions”, I said.
First condition is that I will meet you at the nearby park.The second condition is that you will shave and take a bath and wear clean clothes.
“I am sorry I cannot meet your first condition”, he said. “I have remained in my room for so long that I no longer have strength in my legs to walk up to the park, but I will meet your second condition. I will shave and get ready”.
“All right”, I said.
He had met me some days earlier at the place where I was staying and I was shocked to see an unkempt haggard person, enter the room instead of the handsome personable man I had known.
“What’s the matter”, I asked.
“It is my fate”, he said, “My fate was made before I was born so what can I do. But I don’t believe in Karma and fate any more.”
What, you don’t believe in Karma, you, a great Satsangi? (Mr. Babani’s quote)
No, I don’t believe in anything anymore. I just pay attention to my life. (Walking Now)
We had some tea and refreshments and did some small talk during which he would interject, “It’s my fate”.
Later, I spoke to his relatives and they said that he is getting close to 70, maybe, he is getting Alzheimer’s.
(Here some property dealings were narrated hence omitted.)
I went up the cracked stairs of the Sawan Sadan building which seemed in disrepair. The steps were very high, because the height of the ground floor had been raised to accommodate the offices and halls, but the treads remained the same, width and the number of steps had remained the same.
I entered his room. He was sitting by the edge of the bed, shaved and showered and wearing clean clothes. At his bedside table were photographs of Maharaj Ji, one, an early Bombay photograph, in which he was also present.
“How are you”, I asked.
“How can I be”, he said, “my fate was formed before I was born and I am old now”.
“Forget about all this fate business and enjoy everyday of your life”.
I sat and he called for tea and we talked.
I said, “Forget about all this satsang and meditation business, just do what pleases you”.
“Can you meet me again in the evening?”
“Yes, if you come to the house before we leave for the airport”.
As it happened, he could not come and we bid goodbye on the phone. (Extracted from: http://www.unp.me/f16/radha-swami-satsang-beas-expose-business-dealings-65652/#ixzz20sgEaPG2)
I wonder who this interviewer was and why he wants to remain anonymous. But even in Alzheimer Babani was annoyed with his fate and not satisfied with fate. This depression is so common in old age of Satsangi. I have personally seen many. They all seem to be telling themselves that it is all-right (safe) to die but mind does not agree. Focus of life changes from living to death. Such a conflict.
In the above discourse (you tube link) Babani had advocated that by always remembering Guru/Master’s picture one is set free. Babani was often in company of his perceived God/Guru. In physical contact of ‘God’. Yet he died in frail health, suffering from depression and Alzheimer and not sure of anything. So much for the Satsang and Guru who is perceived as God. I would rather stay away from such God. It is better to stay away from illusion and observe what happens to human mind with age. And see how not to let it devolve.
The problem also lies in the fact that the meditation practised is a derivative of Vipasana Dhyan but Guru himself does not spend more than few minutes with the disciple that too only once. Now meditation is like a kick to start something. If that something did not start, to continue kicking, for the rest of life will not do it. The kick will break the leg. Similarly improper meditation wrecks the mind. Here is more about meditation.
It appears that present Guru has modernized his teaching methods and unleashed the Radhasoami 3.0. To know the difference read here. He is using contemporary words like consciousness. Would some one remind him to use the word ‘energy’ as well some times for change.
Ambiguity and Uncertainty is the only truth. May God save us from Gods.
©Sandeep Bhalla
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