The Good Dalit

Rishi sought the itinerant guru he heard was traveling through the area. The guru went by the name Guru Ved, which was almost sacrilegious in itself, except for the rumors of his difficult but true words, and the following he was gathering across castes. The guru was known to speak stories with shocking, almost offensive, twists and promoted the view of vasudhaiva kutumbakam, the world is one family. To Guru Ved, true spiritual seekers adhered to the idea of sarva bhuta hite rataha, or rejoicing in the welfare of all beings. Rishi was a pandit, or teacher, of sacred texts as well, and he wanted to hear from the guru in person and validate his teachings.

Rishi had an ulterior motive. One of the other pandits in the temple, Krishiv, another Brahmin, frequently sneered at Rishi’s encouragement to embrace all peoples from all castes. Rishi argued that the sacred texts did not distinguish varna by birth but rather by character, but Krishiv disdained this as too modern. They argued often and heatedly about the importance and distinction between varna, the theoretical, four-fold order, and jati, the hereditary system developed throughout history. Rishi sought Guru Ved’s endorsement to outmaneuver Krishiv.

Rishi arrived at the Satsang that was situated on the outskirts of Kolkata. The earthy scent of the damp soil mixed with the spicy-woody smoke of the incense and warm, buttery notes from the burning oil. A few pavilion tents billowed in the early May winds. Temporary encampments followed the curve of the clearing. The heat and humidity caused Rishi’s pale buttoned-down shirt to stick to his arms and chest. He wore his white dhoti, which kept him cool, but did not feel this was the time to bare his chest. He walked between a couple of smaller tents and approached the pavilion where people gathered.

He unrolled his yoga mat once he stepped under the pavilion tent. A large tarp was spread close to the podium, and a few rows of chairs were set up behind this. Most of the attendees sat or lay on mats on the tarp, but a few blocks of older and more esteemed participants sat in the chairs. Rishi placed his mat in a space on the tarp to the right of the podium, close enough to get an unobstructed view of the guru.

Soon after Rishi sat, the murmuring of the crowd lessened and dropped to a few singular whisperings. A small group of nine men accompanied a middle-aged man wearing an ochre robe and white dhoti. Guru Ved. A matching ochre chadar draped across his shoulders, he carried prayer beads in his left hand, and he wore simple sandals on his feet. Rishi reasoned that the nine men were shishyas to the guru, his complete circle of disciples. Several took a seat near the front, but one each stood to either side of the front area. Guru Ved went to the podium and faced the crowd. He smiled.

Rishi marveled at the words he uttered, the fluidity of his voice, the insights he shared, and the aura he conveyed. Nothing remarkable could be said about his appearance, except that he contained the wisdom of much older sages. Guru Ved spoke of the gods as if he knew them personally, and he referenced one God above all. He used the words for I am as a label for this One, almost like a name, expressing bhakti as would befit a son. His words touched on themes that Rishi recollected when he studied the triune avatars of Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi, but Guru Ved alluded to a much closer integration than Rishi recalled. His expression of Brahman sounded more personal than Rishi had encountered.

When Guru Ved turned to the personal responsibility for followers of this One, he confirmed the rumors Rishi had heard. Followers of this One were to be known for their love, their sacrifice for those with no voice in society, and their embracing of the community on Earth. Rishi agreed with much of what Guru Ved propounded. He even agreed with the notion that the varna system given by the gods and outlined in the Bhagavad Gita and the Rigveda was not meant to be a rigid classification determined by birth. Rishi balked at the relationship Guru Ved claimed they all could have with the gods and the seemingly direct route to achieve moksha without working through the cycles of reincarnation. It almost felt like Guru Ved was advocating for the elimination of justice.

Rishi was one of the first to raise his hand and quietly speak out, “Guruji,” when prompted. Guru Ved answered a couple other questions and then noticed Rishi and pointed to him. Rishi stood and spoke clearly and politely so all could hear.

“Guru, it sounds like you speak of a direct route to achieve moksha. How can this be?” asked Rishi.

Guru Ved’s eyes sparkled, and he smiled as if finally someone had asked a question truly worthy of a response. But he answered with another question. “What do you read about this?”

Rishi knew a lot about how to achieve moksha following the incessant cycle of life and rebirth, but he knew that would not resolve his question. He decided to tread the path Guru Ved would most likely take. “I believe it could be summed up in recognizing that the world is one family and we should rejoice in the welfare of all beings.”

Guru Ved laughed. “You speak my own words back to me. I admire that.” He looked at Rishi with such love in his eyes that Rishi blushed. “Live this way then, and you shall achieve moksha.”

Rishi blinked. Was that it? Surely there was more to it than that, even though no one could truly do that. He must have misunderstood something.

Before Guru Ved could move on to the next questioner, Rishi blurted out, “But who should we rejoice in? All beings? That’s more than anyone can do. We will never meet all beings in our many lifetimes. Whose welfare, specifically, should we rejoice in?”

Guru Ved smiled and shared a story.

“A merchant once was traveling with his wares from Kolkata to Nadia along NH-12 when his car was struck by a lorry. His car turned over and rolled off the highway. He managed to crawl out of his car but soon passed out near the side of the road and was presumed dead by many who passed by.

“By chance, a Brahmin was driving along that stretch of road. He noticed the man laying helpless and dying but reasoned the authorities would be along soon to care for him. As he was late for a meeting at his bank, he quickly sped along and left the man there.

“Likewise, a Kshatriya happened along the same stretch of the highway, but as he had an important government event to facilitate, he noted the site of the accident in his mind and determined he would mention something about the highway and its dangers at the next committee meeting. He passed by and soon quickly forgot about it, his mind overwrought with all his responsibilities.

“Then a dalit came along. When he saw the man lying at the side of the highway and the wreck of the car off to the side, he felt compassion for him and stopped. Going over to the man, he checked on his condition. He pulled out his cell phone and called for emergency medical services. He happened to have some water with him, so he attempted to rouse the man, and when the man stirred, he offered the water. The man drank some and was refreshed.

“The dalit stayed with the man until an ambulance arrived. He followed the ambulance to the emergency room at the hospital and went in with them to explain what had happened and what he had found. He offered to pay expenses for the man, if the man could not afford medical care and left his name and number so the man could reach him later, if needed.

“Now,” said Guru Ved with a gleam in his eye, “which of these three truly rejoiced in the welfare of all beings?”

Rishi felt his face redden. “I know this story. This is not from our sacred texts but from a different tradition.”

“Nevertheless, my question still stands.”

Rishi looked around him. All eyes were on him as he stuttered, “The dalit, of course. The one who had compassion and took the time to care for him.”

“You have answered correctly.” Guru Ved’s eyes appeared damp as he turned to the listening crowd. “Now, all of you, go and do likewise.”

Rishi sat down slowly. Guru Ved moved on to other questions, but Rishi did not hear them or the guru’s responses. Rishi thought about the guru’s story and its meaning. Were they so caught up in what they thought was important that they missed the value of caring for the welfare of others, let alone rejoicing in their welfare? Could truths like this really be the key to getting off the endless cycle of birth and rebirth, trying harder each life to do better and act more purely? What freedom that would bring!

It couldn’t be, thought Rishi. The gods demanded more. Dharma demanded more. No one could live a life that good in one lifetime. It took many lifetimes to work through karma to achieve moksha. Rishi knew this.

But Guru Ved and his teachings were so attractive. Rishi wanted to learn more. He did not hope to become a disciple, but perhaps he could become a devotee. Guru Ved spoke like he had a direct connection to the One he named I am, and from what Rishi had heard and now seen, he felt Guru Ved understood reality better than he did.

After the end of the Satsang, Rishi stepped forward to speak with Guru Ved. Before he reached the front, a voice called out to him. Rishi wished he could ignore that voice. But he had been spotted. To not acknowledge that voice now would mean questions later. He turned to greet his rival, Krishiv.

“I liked how you questioned this guru. I didn’t quite expect that from you,” said Krishiv, after he approached and squared off with Rishi. “He talks of shortcuts and not paying homage to the gods.” Krishiv glared with a gleam in his eye. “I’ll go up with you to demand he explain himself.”

Rishi could not imagine a worse idea. “Krishiv, I thought his story--”

“Guru Ved, a word, please,” Krishiv called out, interrupting Rishi.

Guru Ved stepped over to them. “How may I help you, friends?”

Rishi turned and saw the kindness in Guru Ved’s face. He did not want to address the guru with Krishiv present, but Krishiv never did what he requested.

Krishiv demanded, “What business do you have instilling false hopes? It’s already difficult to get these people to do enough good necessary to generate punya.”

Guru Ved nodded. “I can agree with that. They will never exhaust karma this way and experience liberation from samsara.”

“No, that is not what I meant,” said Krishiv. His voice had a steel edge to it. “You twist words to distort meaning. These people already have more karma than they will exhaust in this lifetime. People following your ideas will transmigrate to a lower state of consciousness.”

“I believe it’s even worse than that,” explained Guru Ved. “Without help from the One of whom I speak, I believe we all will regress. Only He has the power to achieve moksha, breaking us free from samsara.”

Krishiv’s nostrils flared. He turned to Rishi. “Come on, Rishi. He’s only interested in riddles.”

“I will stay and question him further,” Rishi replied.

“It’s your time,” said Krishiv as he walked away, stepping deliberately out of people’s way.

“Your friend has a temper,” said Guru Ved.

“He’s not my friend,” explained Rishi. “We serve in the same temple, but we do not agree on much.”

“You have some influence with him,” said Guru Ved. “He may become a friend yet.”

Rishi gazed at Guru Ved and pondered what a friendship with Krishiv would accomplish. He shook his head and focused on his point for being there.

“Guru Ved, you believe we can achieve moksha in one lifetime. How is that possible?”

“With man, this is not possible,” said Guru Ved, “but with God, the one true God, all things are possible.”

“Of whom do you speak? Vishnu, Shiva? You can’t mean Devi?”

“I speak of the One who created all things and sustains all things. He is above all gods.” Guru Ved paused, and Rishi could feel his eyes boring into his soul. “I was sent to usher in His kingdom on Earth and to prepare my Bride for our wedding day.”

Rishi recognized this imagery, but it was not from the Hindu writings he knew. This was something different. He remembered hearing of a god like this, but he could not recall where. Yet his heart burned in him like it never had before. Rishi knew he did not comprehend what Guru Ved was teaching, but something within him yearned for it to be true. To receive moksha as a gift instead of striving through samsara to earn it; that was something Rishi wanted to hear more about.

Guru Ved raised a hand toward the nine men who were waiting for him. “Would you care to join us?” he asked Rishi. “We are about to join some others for a meal. We would be happy to have you as a guest.”

Rishi watched the crowd dispersing. He still had duties to perform at the temple back home. He was not one to neglect his responsibilities. He thought about what Krishiv would say to him, and about him, if he was seen now with Guru Ved and his devotees.

But his heart ached to know more. “Thank you. I will join you.”