Removal of Doubt

The Skeptical Heart

In May 1944, Ravi Prakash Pande — later known as Rajida — was working in Lucknow. When he returned from his office, he found his family excitedly preparing to visit a saint, a mysterious Baba who had arrived at a neighbour’s house. Although Rajida secretly revered holy men, he was a hardened skeptic. He could never tell the difference between a true saint and a fraud, and the thought of bowing before an unknown sadhu in a neighbour’s home filled him with unease. So he refused to go, claiming it would be disrespectful to offer salutations in such a setting.

After his family left, Rajida sat alone in deep meditation. Guilt and doubt washed over him. In the silence of his room, he issued a silent challenge to the saint: if Baba truly was an enlightened soul, he would either send for Rajida or come to his house to grant darshan. It was a test born of pride and intellectual arrogance, but he was unaware of its gravity.

The Summons

Miles away, at the neighbour’s house, Baba abruptly turned to Rajida’s sister and asked, “Where is your brother? Why has he not come here?” She tactfully replied that he had just returned from his office. Baba’s next words were a command: “Go and fetch him. Bring him here.”

When his sister arrived home and recounted what had happened, Rajida was stunned. His skepticism shattered, he rushed to the neighbour’s house and bowed at Baba’s feet. But Baba turned his eyes away, rose without a word, and left with another devotee. Rajida was left heartbroken and utterly alone.

The Lesson in Love

That evening, Rajida prayed again, asking Baba to visit his house. Shortly after, Baba arrived at his doorstep with several devotees, lay down on a wooden takhat, and chatted with everyone. Rajida sat massaging Baba’s feet, desperate to speak, but Baba refused to look at him. Then, as quickly as he had arrived, Baba got into a car and departed. Rajida felt miserable — this was the ugly consequence of testing a spiritually elevated soul.

Eight long years passed before Rajida met Baba again. This time, in Tagore Town, Allahabad, Baba took him by the hand, led him to a secluded spot, and began humming a song:

“Ramahi keval prem piyara”

The only thing dear to Ram is love. Through this simple, profound act, Baba taught Rajida that divine love — not intellectual testing — is the only true access to him. From that day forward, Rajida became Baba’s lifelong devotee.

Reflections

This leela reveals the innermost nature of a true saint. Baba did not need to be physically present to hear a thought; he responded to Rajida’s silent challenge immediately. Yet, he did not reward the ego. Instead, he administered a deep spiritual surgery: first exposing the skeptic’s pride by ignoring him, then later melting it with a song of pure love. It is a timeless reminder that the divine cannot be grasped by the intellect, but only by an open, trusting heart.

Rajida later wrote, “Baba took care of me and he still does.” The leela stands as a testament that no matter how far we stray into doubt, the guru’s grace patiently waits for our surrender.