Psychology of a Saint

 

Dennis

He mesmerized us for all those years he was with us. He went when his time was up. We can’t forget him. Keep discussing him. Keep imagining he is still with us. Such was his silent influence over us that, now we see Dennis in every dog we come across. When I remember those emotive eyes and rolled back ears of Dennis, I get a feeling of Dennis in every animal I see around. When I go to give fish food to  our pet fish, I feel Dennis staring at me, dancing in the water mouth ajar, like Dennis used to stamp on the floor with dripping saliva and mouth wide open. The other day I was on the terrace and I saw a Bharadwaj bird (crow pheasant) on the tree… and again I got a fleeting reflection of Dennis and his antics in the bird. In fact, I saw Dennis in him.

This happens when one really misses someone and starts seeing the missed one in every being.

Now to many it may be an outright case of insanity. To some it may appear that I am hallucinating and my condition has gone bad. For few, I may be a case of deep despair on the loss of a beloved. Those who are mature enough and know the importance of relation will understand it.

What phenomenon is this? It is a small part of devotion. Seeing Dennis in every animal is devotion. This dedication towards Dennis is so strong that it often leads to imagining Dennis as he is here and now standing with his wagging tail looking at me, complete with his smell and feel of his coat!!! This devotion is just a small part of bhakti. Which gives a momentary happiness. Sant Meerabai experienced Krishna in every living and nonliving being around her, which gave her joy. What happened next was that there remained no distinction between two living beings, or between nonliving and living, or between self and others because everywhere she saw Krishna. Everything for her, folded into one entity – Krishna. This is Bhakti.

Rational thinkers (सांख्ययोगी) view it as a play of energy and matter.  Matter in universe is made of energy. There is energy where there is no matter and there is energy with energy bonds where there is matter. Sankhyas think and act as everything is energy and feel the merging of matter in to matter and all forms of energies into one. When the matter is unmerged, still rationalists see the connect between matter and energy. When merged mass manifests as energy, everything folds up into a formless oneness. Even in unfolded condition rationalists see it as energy continuum. Only energy remains!!!

The social service minded (कर्मयोगी) tread the middle path and take the best out of devotion and rationality. Practice of devotion slowly usher in the change in chemical compositions of the brain, bringing in thoughts of serving the society, nation and mankind. They think rationally and devote the time without any distinction to serve for the larger good of the society.

All such persons carry a kernel around them. The bhakts (भक्तं) see ‘Him’ everywhere, and in everything. Sankhyayogis see and feel the energy everywhere and there is no distinction or division left. Karmayogis tread the middle path resulting in selfless service sans distinction and division.

If one thinks, sees, feels and is convinced that ‘it’ is everywhere and I am ‘it’ then the whole perception changes. The psychology of a saint is this. The division ends. The ego finishes. There is only energy and therefore saints live in the present. They don’t brood over the past and don’t worry about the future. Such saints experience permanent joy.