Poonjaji

Alcohol, non-vegetarianism and aggression are some of the basic traits associated to a person from the army. God, devotion and spirituality, are certain aspects that generally come into the picture for them at times of war. So, for one coming from a military background, a vocation such as spiritual discourse as the reason for existence seems quite out of place. But, Poonjaji was one such man.

Early awakening
Hari Wansh Lal Poonja was born on October 13, 1910 in a town called Gujranwala, in undivided Punjab (now part of Pakistan). Born into an upper class Brahmin (the priests) family, Poonjaji showed a spiritual inclination at a very early age.

As a child he would insist on accompanying his father whenever he would go to meet visiting priests. In children's games of fancy dress, while the other kids dressed as thieves, cops or other such people, young Hari would dress up as a Buddhist monk.

One fine summer afternoon, when Poonjaji was just eight years, his senses spontaneously withdrew. This state of samadhi lasted for several days, while his family fervently tried to revive him. After a few days Poonjaji finally came to the state of normal consciousness and later recounted that he felt he was bathed in a feeling of profound peace and nothingness during the samadhi.

This was a turning point in his life and from that point onwards each day he spent a few hours in meditation and singing bhajans (holy songs) in praise of Lord Krishna with his mother as she too was a Krishna devotee.

At 20 he was married off to a Brahmin girl and the couple bore two children Surendra and Surendri. As a family man, Poonjaji had to earn for the upkeep of his family. He tried his hands at different activities and finally joined the British Army in the early 1940s.

Meeting Ramana Maharishi
While on leave at his parents house in Lahore, Poonjaji met a sadhu (wandering priest) in 1943. He welcomed the sadhu to his house and inquired of him whether there was any spiritual teacher anywhere in India who could make him see God. The sadhu directed him to a small town in South India called Thiruvannamalai, in present day Tamil Nadu.

Coincidently, Poonjaji was transferred to Madras, present day Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, where his wife and children accompanied him. After reaching Madras, Poonjaji made his way to Thiruvannamalai and reached the ashram of Ramana Maharishi located at Arunachala Hill.

He was shocked to see the same sadhu sitting in the ashram as Ramana Maharishi and more so when he was told that the latter hadn't left his ashram for over 40 years.

Poonjaji then decided to chant japa (hymns to the Gods) on the other side of Arunachala Hill from where Ramana Maharishi lived.

For four years Poonjaji would visit the ashram, working on weekdays in Madras and then returning to the ashram during weekends. With his interaction with Ramana Maharishi, Poonjaji realized the unchanging nature of the Self, and he was thus awakened.

Partition
Along with news of India's independence in 1947, came the shock of the partition of the sub-continent into Pakistan and India. On Ramana Maharishi's behest, Poonjaji left for his hometown to get his family members to safety in India. In the wake of the partition had come communal riots between the Hindus and Muslims, which left over a million dead and many more displaced. This was the last time Poonjaji was to see his guru in his physical form, who passed away in 1950.

Poonjaji along with 40 of his relatives managed to come back to India and settled in the town of Lucknow, in present-day Uttar Pradesh (about eight hours train ride south east of New Delhi). He settled there with his family in the Nahri district, near the town center. He was their only breadwinner for several years.

In Lucknow, Poonjaji became an insurance underwriter and then in 1951 joined an American mining company, which took him deep into the forests of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and other states in South India. He retired from this job in the 1960s at the age of 56.

Metamorphosis into a spiritual guru
Soon, people who would come in contact with Poonjaji would turn to him for spiritual advice and succor. Once he retired he began to make several pilgrimages to the holy towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh.

He became somewhat of a roving monk, who would not stay in one place for a long time. However, his fame as a spiritual guide continued to spread far and wide and many looked at him for guidance and instruction.

He began traveling overseas at the behest of his followers and visited several western countries like Spain, South America, North America, Canada, France, Switzerland. However, he never let any formal organization take shape on his name nor let too many people surround him at any given point in time. He used to say, "Where there is more than a handful of people gathered, you can be sure that the purity has been lost."

Health problems
In his late seventies, Poonjaji's health began to deteriorate. Due to pain in his legs he became immobile to some extent and began residing in Lucknow for a larger duration. In the 1980s many well-known Western meditation teachers came in contact with him including teachers from the Insight Meditation Society founded by Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, and others.

In 1991, after the demise of Rajneesh, founder of the Osho ashram in Pune, a larger number of Westerners began thronging his house in Lucknow. Unable to conduct satsangs from his residence anymore, due to the huge number of devotees, the following year a Satsang hall was built in the same area of Lucknow close to his house.

Till the time of his demise in 1997, several thousands of people came to him and he was able to help them realize the divine within themselves. Meetings with Poonjaji helped the people realize their true nature as infinite, unborn and undying, the Source of all Wisdom, Love and Peace.

His Teachings
Poonjaji fully committed his life to the recognition of freedom and peace. He believed that the answers to all questions lay within the human's soul and true fulfillment was in realizing the divinity within oneself, for that is where God is.

He was looked upon by his followers as a father, which is why he was affectionately addressed as "Papaji".

He was ever open to anyone who would come looking for him. He welcomed everyone with an open invitation to come inside his house and talk to him. He made each and every disciple of his feel precious, although when he was once questioned by a follower as to who his favorite was, he replied that no one was more favorite than another.

Poonjaji encouraged his followers to ask questions about Truth, Peace, Love and God to themselves, for he believed that within oneself lay the secrets of the world.

He believed that within ourselves was what we were seeking from the outside world, be it God, Truth or Happiness. And once we reconcile ourselves to this truth there would be an end to all strife..

His final words
At his deathbed, surrounded by several disciples, Poonjaji asked "Where is the Buddha?" Initially, his followers thought that he wanted a picture of his guru Ramana Maharishi. But, soon they realized that their guru was giving them his final teaching that the Buddha, who signifies, Truth, Love, Peace, Happiness, God and Life, lies within oneself. Each being houses a Buddha within oneself. His devotees stood silent around him and when he realized that his message was understood, he said "bring him in, bring him in." And these were the last words that this teacher ever spoke..

Poonjaji's health continued to deteriorate during this period and he finally passed away on September 6, 1997, just short of his 87th birthday..

Preaching Poonjaji's message
Poonjaji's teachings, which kindle the spirit of awakening, are now taught by some of his followers like Gangaji, Neelam, Issac Shapiro, Hanuman, Catherine Ingram, Yudishtara and Arjuna.