“I made them naked!” — from chapter 3

“I made them naked”

“You, of course, want to know if I can teach you the secrets of the soul, the atma vidya, you want to know if I can show you who you really are, no? That’s why you came.

“Our tradition maintains the qualifications of a guru. The first is that since the guru has crossed over death and rebirth, he has the capacity to lead others along the same path. How do you know where I’ve been?

“In the case of the spiritual seeker who pursues knowledge of Brahman, which is the knowledge of the Self, a close personal association between the guru and disciple is established. The goal of such a relationship is transformation whereby the student, after his self‑realization, becomes a guru himself.

“Shastra is the only source of the knowledge of the truths regarding what is beyond the senses. What do I mean by Shastra? You would probably translate it as scripture or text but I’m talking about a different kind of text from what you are used to. It is not written, it’s not a book. This is text that goes way off the page, way beyond its front and back covers. Yes, you can print the mantras and the other sounds. You can print some version of the story but its authority and power lie in the empty spaces. On the paper these are the white spaces that haven’t been touched by ink. The printing can be perceived from as many different perspectives as there are people and spirits and gods. The text is the tradition manifested through its knower.”

One by one the babas crept into the room. They sat on the ground with no sacking underneath them after they had touched Hari Puri Baba’s feet. “I did that to them,” Hari Puri Baba said proudly. “I made them naked. I gave them initiation.”