Mauli Himself

Saint Baba Maharaj Arvikar frequently went to Alandi. One of these times, when he was staying there with a few sadhaks, coincided with the visit of an American, who was tired of material and intellectual pleasures. When he first arrived in Mumbai, somebody had told him about Saint Dnyaneshwar Mauli and he became very keen to learn more about the saint. He then went to Pune for a few days, where he asked around about Saint Dnyaneshwar. Finally, he found himself in Alandi, where someone directed him to Saint Baba as someone who would be able to tell him everything about Saint Dnyaneshwar. 

When the American went to meet Baba, Baba immediately got up, and stood in front of him, engaged in conversation. The American professed his deep curiosity and desire to learn about Saint Dnyaneshwar and asked Baba to share something about Saint Dnyaneshwar. 

Saint Baba said to him, “You and I. Both of us, today are in front of Saint Dnyaneshwar. Stay here for 8 days and do anushthan (follow through on a vow of spiritual practice), so that Saint Dnyaneshwar will tell you all about him, himself.”

When Baba was ready to leave for Mumbai, before departing, he gave his address in Mumbai to the American. 

As instructed, the American sat for anushthan (follow through on a vow of spiritual practice) every day. But even after 10 days, he didn’t find what he wanted to learn about Saint Dnyaneshwar. In the end, he left and went to meet Baba where he was staying, in Mumbai. 

As soon as the doorbell rang, Baba himself opened the door. The American spiritual seeker first saw Baba and then in the next second, he saw Saint Dnyaneshwar in Baba’s place. After this happened a few more times, he began to sob. Baba consoled/calmed him and then asked why he was crying. 

Humbly but hurriedly, he said to Baba, “You yourself are Saint Dnyaneshwar, so then why are you messing with me? Tell me everything about you.”

Then Saint Baba told him everything about Saint Dnyaneshwar -- his life, the context of that time period, and even about the supreme nature of the holy text, the Dnyaneshwari. 

Saint Baba Maharaj Arvikar says that restlessness and longing is a sign of spiritual progress. An awareness of incompleteness will create this longing, and our incompleteness will come with knowledge of the true form. And it is when our existence begins to feel empty and incomplete that we begin to experience the vast presence of god’s love and cosmic grandeur in every moment.