By: John Linnenmeyer (U.S.A)

I was about to leave on a six-month journey to Central America. Before leaving the United States, however, I felt a strong urge to meet my dear friend and mentor, Professor J.S. Puri. The world is filled with intelligent men, but truly wise man is a rare bird, indeed. On meeting him I have always felt not only warmed by his usual kindness but also enlightened by the spirit of devotion and wisdom of this great wise man.

My son, Jacques, and I arrived at Professor Puri’s residence- Nirankari Bhawan, Chicago- on a cold and wet October evening after a long drive up from Indiana. We were immediately made comfortable with hot tea and food served with divine smiles. When we were completely at ease, we began to talk. The subject of material needs came up and Professor Puri posed a question to my son, Jacques, "To whom, dear boy do you think you are doing a greater favour: the one whose desires you satisfy or the one whom you help to eliminate the same." My son immediately replied, "The person whose desires I really satisfy."

"Ah!" said the Professor, "So you fell, he is a happy person. Let us ponder deeply over the matter. Suppose, the man had a desire for a new car and tells you that if he this new car, only then he will be happy. So you buy him a new car. For a period of time, he will indeed be happy and satisfied. But before long, he will start looking for another larger or latest model. Even after acquiring that, this mad race and craze goes on and on to which there is no end. Don’t you think that a person having no car or no desire or craving for a much better and costlier car is far happier? The point is not whether it is better to have or not to have a car. A car in this country is not a luxury, but a dire necessity. You cannot do without it. We don’t have to renounce these worldly needs and live the life of a stoic. However, we must give a serious thought to the fact: Were these comforts made for us or were we made for these comforts alone? As per the very first basic principle of our Mission, if we just see all our possessions. Including our physical body and mind, as a trust from God, we shall not be overly upset as these come and go. The so-called religious leaders have preached renunciation to us and all that we have learnt is attached detachment, whereas we actually need detached attachment. If we keep on identifying ourselves with the body rather than the soul, this craze for worldly desires shall never lead us to real happiness."

Elaborating the soul, the Professor came up with another question: "What would be left to you if you are stripped of all your belongings, physical and mental? Nothing? And, this Nothing is something, which is directly related to all. O.K., if it is not so easy to give up and eliminate the possessions, then start expanding yourself. Go beyond the four walls of this room, edge of the city, borders of the country, this planet and the entire solar system this universe. What would you have then? Would it not be exactly as if you had stripped everything away!"

On the long drive back to Indiana, the next day, I had much to ponder over. I felt grateful to Nirankar (God Formless) and Baba Ji for blessing me with the company of such a wish man.