TV Channel

It is I who will give the fruits. You should work. My Master described what service was like when he, as Gurujī, lived with Mahāprabhujī. It was constant. At three o'clock in the morning, he would rise and bring a glass of water to Mahāprabhujī, who was already seated in meditation. Gurujī would wake him and remain in his service until four. From four to five, he would sweep and clean the entire ashram. From five to six, he would prepare warm water for Mahāprabhujī's bath, along with towels, heating the water on a small table, as there was no bathroom. During that time, he would immediately clean Mahāprabhujī's room and then wash his clothes. At seven o'clock, he would go to collect wood and dung—cow dung and camel dung—for the fire. Returning, he would fill all the water pots, for drinking and for the birds. By 7:30, he would walk two kilometers to a village to bring milk from there. Then, he would work for Mahāprabhujī, writing letters. He would take those letters and walk three or four kilometers to another village to post them, on foot, with no bicycle. It was a vast desert, with no cars. He would also do the shopping for vegetables and other items there before returning. Then, the service for Mahāprabhujī would continue the whole day, without rest. In the afternoon, from 1:30 to 4 o'clock, he would sit at the sewing machine, mending clothes and bedsheets, working constantly. Likewise, he was always working, sitting, helping, massaging—this is what is called guru-sevā. At that time, Mahāprabhujī was nearly over 100 years old; he lived to be 135. In the evening, they would sit in satsaṅg until 10 o'clock, much like we are sitting now. Then Mahāprabhujī would tell him, "Go to sleep." Gurujī would be so happy and lie down. But within one or two minutes, Mahāprabhujī would say, "I was..." And hearing this, he would then say, "Bring me a glass of water." Gurujī would wake up; he slept near Mahāprabhujī, about one and a half to two meters away. As soon as Gurujī was falling asleep, Mahāprabhujī would say, "Look how late it is now." So Gurujī would get up, look at the alarm clock, and Mahāprabhujī would say, "Okay, sit down, lie down, sleep." After half an hour of sleep, Mahāprabhujī would say, "Get up and look, my dog is barking. Somebody is outside. Go around the ashram and come back." It would be midnight, dark, with no torchlight. Gurujī would go around the ashram and return. "Master, there is nothing, nobody." "Okay. I thought there was nobody, but he is awake. Sleeping? Go and sleep, it's okay. You must be tired." He would go to sleep. After one hour: "Get up, bring me a piece of paper and pencil and the oil lamp, and write a bhajan. I must dictate you one bhajan." Gurujī said he was thinking inwardly, 'Why? Can't he dictate to me in the daytime? Must he dictate now?' It was already 1:30 at night. "Okay, go and sleep." After half an hour, Mahāprabhujī called, "Gurujī's name, Advaitānanda, get up. Read me again the last sentence. How did you write?" It was correct, a little. "But it is not musically, it is not melodically, it is not good." "Yes, Master, yes, that is okay. It is perfect. Lie down, sleep, okay." And at 3 o'clock: "Get up. It is Brahma Muhūrta, 3 o'clock. Go and wash yourself and come." Gurujī said he was thinking at that time, "Will I in my life sleep sometimes?" But it was such a divine experience for him. Now Gurujī says, "There is enough time for him to sleep or what he wants. Mahāprabhujī is not anymore," and so Gurujī said that. If Mahāprabhujī ever appears to him in a dream or meditation, then only one thing—he asked Shiva, "How divine was it, and how much did he love him?" He said.