How did this all start?

Let’s see. Now we’re preparing for Amma’s 55th birthday, and there are many new activities that are going to be launched by the Math. An interesting thing that is going to be released has been in the works for almost two years, and I have to admit I doubted that it would ever happen. It’s going to be the release by the Asram of a book on the Bhagavad Gita, which is a first for the MAth. The book is a collection of satsangs held in the asram by Swami Kaivalyananda for the Asram residents, when Amma is away on tour and also when she is here.

The coming about of the book is very interesting. Let me try to tell how it came through my eyes. When I first joined the asram as a permanent resident two years ago, I heard that a Swami was going to give classes on the Gita during the summer. Before leaving for the tour, Amma told everyone that it would be nice if somebody translated the classes for the Westerners. I didn’t think much of it. In my room darsan also, without any kind of reference, Amma said that I should study the scriptures. When Amma left, I asked through someone if I could try to translate the summer classes, and she agreed. That is when a wonderful relationship with Swami Kaivalyananda began.

In the beginning, it was tough for me, and took a lot of time to complete a single class. Someone told me that Swami wanted to see the classes, so I went before the class in the morning to see him. He pointed out some corrections, and we decided to sit together and correct the class. That first class, we spent more than three hours correcting! He was extremely patient, and had a good sense of humor. Slowly, Swami had to spend less and less time correcting the translations.

When Amma came back, another thing happened. I happened to be sitting right near Amma during darsan time, and she said something, though I wasn’t paying attention. Amma’s assistant turned to me and said, ‘Amma says that you should study the scriptures well.’ Then Amma turned to one or two brahmacharis and said that she wants Swami’s classes to be made into a book. She asked which classes he has taken, and we responded by saying he has taught the Brahma Sutras, Upanishads, etc. Amma said that all the classes should be made into books.

Now, I thought that since I was already typing the classes for the Westerners, it wouldn’t be difficult to collect them and organize them into a book. So I bravely said to Amma, ‘I can do it, Amma.’ Amma gave me a blank look, that I couldn’t make out. She didn’t reply.

When Amma left again on tour, I spent some time organizing the translations into a book. By the time Amma reached back, I had finished and printed a copy. When Amma gave darsan, I went to her with the copy of the book. I showed it to her and said, ‘Gita book!’ To my dismay, Amma said, ‘Ayo! Amma wanted the book in Malayalam!’ I then asked if the book could be distributed, and she said, ‘no Malayalam first!’

What a lila! AT this point, I thought that I am free of this matter. After all, what could I have to do with a Malayalam book? But that would be too easy. A month later, I went to darshan for my birthday. I told Amma, ‘Amma, today is my birthday.’ Amma said, ‘where’s the book?’ You couldn’t believe the shock on my face. I said that some brachmachari or other is doing some work on it.

Now I knew I had to do something, but what? I asked all the brahmacharis to help, but almost nobody knows to type in Malayalam. Those who do are also fully occupied with work, so the work went on at a snail’s pace. Some were interested, but weren’t able to type, or to work much. Thus, I tried, as well as the asram doctor, but there was little to no progress. A year later, I had given up hope. When people asked me about the book, I said that the chances were slim. Inside, I doubted that a book would ever happen, and I also felt said that I wasn’t able to do something that Amma had asked.

Like this, I became more sad about the situation, until two months ago, when something miraculous happened. Amma had granted Swami a personal interview in her room, which lasted for more than three hours. At the end, Amma called me in and asked about the book. I told Amma that there is nobody to type the classes. Some other brahmacharis responded with some names of people that could help. Amma said that she will release a book of Swami’s classes right away.

What happened after this incident is truly amazing. You see, Amma never said the name of someone she wanted to assign for this work. Instead, what happened is that the entire asram itself became inspired and took up the work. Hearing about Amma’s announcement, more than a dozen brahmacharis began listening and transcribing the classes, along with some of the Ammamars and brahmacharinis. These were handed to Swami for correction, and the corrected copy was given to a group for typing.

I myself noticed there were very few people to type. A few years ago, I had fooled around and tried learning to type in Malayalam, which is not easy, considering all the combinations of letters. However, I put my faith in Amma’s will, and I started to type classes. Slowly, I became familiar, and in total, I could completely type 6 classes, as well as helping with the corrections. This I feel is truly a wonder, as Malayalam is such a difficult language, and I would never trust myself to type for a book. Still, out of desperation I tried, and this also helped to contribute for the progress of the book.

Now, out of Amma’s sankalpa, the book is coming to full fruition, after so much hard work. There has been so much love and sacrifice put in by so many brahmacharis, brahmacharinis, and householders. Swami himself had to take up the task of editing, which consumed a lot of time. I feel that this book is unlike any other book, and will truly benefit the entire world, to continue the age-old message of the Gita. On Saturday, we will finally see the release of the book into Malayalam, which I’m sure will become available soon in all languages.
OM TAT SAT

– Piyush