My Master moves on

A message from an Advaita Portal brought me the news of the passing away of my Master- Ramesh Balsekar. He is and will always be the one who held my hand as I began my spiritual quest. I met him some 5 years ago for the first time. I had just finished reading "I am That " based on the talks with Nisargadutta Maharaj and was desperate to meet the master. When I learnt that he was already gone and that his disciple was teaching at his home in Pedar road, I wasted no time to be in his presence. I took the hot seat and when he asked me how I came to know of him I told him the aforesaid story. He then asked, "So you have come to see me before I pass away?" Amidst laughter in the room, I answered in the affirmative and he laughed loudly. From that day on I have seen him every year and my last glimpse of him was on June 14, 2009. There were no questions in my mind that day and I just wanted to spend some time in his presence. But I found myself again on the hot seat. He walked in holding a walker for support and looked frail and weak. His speech was slurred and I could hardly hear him. I began by asking him who was there to be enlightened when it was clear that there was no one there. He said something which I could not decipher but then clearly asked me to read two of his recent books. After which my friend began to talk with Ramesh. He asked " Before you walked in to this room you stopped and prayed at the alter which has an idol of Rama and Sita . You are an Advaitin and i want to know if these idols have any meaning to you?" Ramesh only said :"That was an happening".
Ramesh, thank you for showing up in my life...

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