Dharma Stories about Papaji, Sri H.W.L. Poonja

Stories about
the Master
Sri H.W.L. Poonja

Since 1910 thousands of people have come into contact with Papaji. I'm sure there are countless stories about these encounters. If you have one that you would like to share, please feel free to email it to us at prashanti at igc.org If possible give the date, your name and where the event took place. Eventually we may publish these stories so please indicate whether or not you would like to have your story included. The Stories are posted with the newly added stories at the top.

.	Papaji always loves to tell a good story. Sometimes for fun, sometimes to illustrate a teaching, always to the enjoyment of all those around him.

Swami Rama Tirtha is the brother of Papaji's Mother. He is considered to be one of the most respected Indian Saints of the last century. He left his body about 4 years before Papaji was born.

Swami Rama Tirthi is the brother of Papaji's Mother. He is considered to be one of the most respected Indian Saints of the last century. He left his body about 4 years before Papaji was born.

Some devotees claim that Papaji is an incarnation of his Uncle, but I never heard Papaji say this or even hint at it, in fact, when speaking of his previous life, Papaji always spoke of being a Swami with an Ashram in South India. Papaji did show up mysteriously at the doorsteps of some of Swami Rama Tirthas disciples to give them support, darshan and blessings, with no way of knowing who they where. He was just guided to them. But they recognized Swami Rama Tirtha in him, which is probably why they thought he was his Uncle.
Mahasamadhi celebration here was really wonderful. We sang bhajans in His house and took prasad in the morning and repeated in the evening at Satsang Bhavan. Many devotees came. Reena told me a story of asking Papaji once while they were in Vrindavan, "But Papaji, is Krishna really here?" Papaji paused, looked down, and smiled. "Yes," he replied. Some moments passed and Papaji spoke again, "And now you are going to ask me, but why is He here and not in Delhi?" Reena smiled and nodded as He had read her mind as that was her very question. Papaji pointed to a man prostrating on the ground in Vrindaban putting the dirt on his head. Then He told her, "It is the devotees who bring Him here. He has to come when they are calling."
from Prem, Lucknow Mahasamadhi Celebration, 1998

He used to, and still does, come to me in my dreams in the most extaordinary ways. Early on I felt that these were not just dreams but genuine communication, and He confirmed that for me not just verbally, but through a few experiences, one of which I narrate here.

It happened a few months after I'd met him, I was staying at the Carlton hotel at the time, in September of 1990. I had been having a really difficult few days of immense emotional upheaval and one night before going to sleep I cried and prayed to Him because I felt that I just couldn't take any more. In the night I dreamed that I was running around in pain and confusion and then He appeared before me at a railway station platform. I told him of my troubles, and He smiled and laughed a little bit and said a single word, and all of my suffering disappeared completely and I fell at Papaji's feet feeling tremendous peace and gratitude.

I woke up, it was about 5 A.M. and the deep peace and bliss stayed with me. I went out to the house in Indira Nagar at about 9 o'clock that morning and arrived a bit early for satsang. In those days there were only 7 or 8 people around Papa so there was no queueing up or waiting outside; I went right into the living room and Master was sitting on His tucket, alone. He beamed at me, "Do you have a dream?" I said, "Yes, with you in it, I can't remember what you said, but I felt tremendous peace." He said, "I said 'peace'." After this I wondered, was I in his dream or was He in mine? Did we both dream each other? His Grace cleared away all such distinctions. Jai Gurudev.

by Ram Charan, Lucknow satsang, September, 1990

At Krishna Jayanti celebrations in 1992 there was a huge gathering. I was still having a hard time adjusting to the big crowd around Papaji. Madhukar was sitting between me and Papaji. Everyone got their dessert plates and Madhukar remarked to Papaji on how good the kheer was. I didn't have any kheer but I wanted some, so I looked wistfully at Papaji's plate. His gaze shot to my face and my plate for just a second then he went on with his dessert and other affairs of the evening.
The next day at about 11 A.M. I walked in to his house, and as I entered the living room he said loudly,"The other night you didn't get any kheer. Today you will have kheer." and he had kheer brought and I ate several catoris full. I remember thinking how this was truly Krishna's
lila; with 250 people in Lucknow all demanding His attention for all of their problems, He could remember to feed me kheer!

by Ram Charan, Lucknow August 1992

Once in Haridwar a doctor came from England for 2 days especially for Papaji's darshan. Papa was sitting in his chair on the porch of the Sindhi Dharamsala. There were about 15 of us sitting on the floor. The doctor came in and after preliminaries, Papaji asked him, "Do you have any questions?" The doctor said,"I'd like to speak with you when you're alone." Papaji replied, "I am alone." For me this was the Satguru revealing His condition. That He who manifests as the entire universe is always Alone. The doctor sort of laughed and said, "Yes, but you know what I mean." Papaji said, "Everyone is alone. Find any one person here who is not alone."

by Ram Charan, Haridwar around 1993

Once somebody told Papaji that they really respected him, "especially because he 'was' a disciple of Sri Ramana". Instantly he roared:

Young lady correct your Grammar! What do you mean I 'was' a disciple of Ramana? I am his disciple and he is my Master! Who do you think gives these Satsangs? If I thought it was me speaking for just one instant I would surely be destroyed. It is he who is speaking to you!

So much power released that the whole room quaked and at least half the people broke out crying and the other half disappeared into the Silence. To hear this 80 year old grand Master take zero credit for his peerless stature was too much for most of us. Without doubt Papaji surrenders all to his Beloved Ramana.

The other half of the story is that the woman had just asked a question about what had happened with Andrew Cohen, a disciple of the Master who had spent a few weeks with the him and then later turned against Sri Poonjaji. It seems that Sri Poonjaji was indicating that poor Andrew's obvious lack of respect is an indication that his cracked Surrender falls far short of being helpful. May we all learn from Andrew's faux pas.

by Prashanti, Lucknow satsang around 1992