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Princeton, NJ Satsang

Sun 17 Nov 2019

Nothing matters much



from: Hari
date: 4:16 PM 04 Dec 2019

Namaskar All, 

Dennis made a surprise trip to the New Jersey monthly Satsang, held in Princeton, on Nov 17. After the Satsang, he continued to spend the rest of the afternoon, until late evening, with NJ devotees. One of the devotees captured certain portions of the conversation as videos.

Dennis, in his inimitable way, answered the question, “how have you changed over the last 40 years, as a devotee?”

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This short video is (also) available on: google drive

In Him


Transcription

Dennis: Bhakta Bhagavat's ashes, his ashes [ brought ] to there
   because he always said, "this is Ganga Jal"
   Bhagavan came from Shiva, He found it (the spring at Skandasramam)
   he said, "this is the Ganga"
   he used to be,.. [he] coveted the water from Skandasramam.
   so the stream is coming outside, I put Bhakta Bhagavat's ashes there...

   instead of going to... Varanasi. [ all laugh ]

Questioner: from 1977, you go back to ashram at that time, to today...
   are, you; have [you] settled that? how you have changed over the years ?

D: the thing i notice most, when all these old devotees die,
   because you could go, mix with all these devotees that used to live
   with Bhagavan.  Once they are all gone you know, for us, because they
   could make Bhagavan come alive!  when you speak with them,
   you moved with them,
   but after they passed away....

   of course physically everything changed,
   i could say, almost completely,
   but Bhagavan, the presence is there

Q: the only constant thing, that is the iluppai tree [1]
D: yes

Q: and from that time to now, do you see,
   are you aware of how you have changed?
   you as a devotee.
D: well, i changed, uh, 
Q: are you aware of it; because it's very... very subtle, right ? 
D: change is... less distraction... less thoughts...
   less 'me'; 
   you find that 'me' is peeling away.
   and you feel that... you are nothing [ all laugh ]
   that's what you find more,
   that's the only thing that you can find
   is that you're nothing;
   that's the only thing to find out; 
   you're not something more; you're just nothing. [ laughing ]
   we don't become something more,...   become nothing...
   and  nothing, you know, matters much

 


[1] The illupai tree in the front courtyard at Sri Ramanasramam where 'buildings have cropped all over and the tree has stood still witnessing it all.'