THE INDIAN SAINT- SHRI NEEM KAROLI BABA JI

                 

                               THE INDIAN SAINT- SHRI NEEM KAROLI BABA JI

In a interview Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Facebook & Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple had mention the name of a India saint who had changed their life ….yes that great Saint was Shri Neem Karoli Baba ji…Let’s know something about this great saints.

 

Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj-ji, was a Hindu guru, mystic, and devotee of the Hindu deity Hanuman. He gained a significant following in India and the West for his teachings on spirituality, love, and selfless service. He is often associated with the practice of bhakti yoga, which emphasizes devotion and love for the divine. Neem Karoli Baba is known for his simple and compassionate approach to teaching, often using parables and stories to convey spiritual wisdom. His teachings had a profound impact on many individuals, including several prominent spiritual teachers and leaders. He passed away in 1973, but his teachings and legacy continue to inspire people around the world.

Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj-ji, was born as Lakshmi Narayan Sharma in 1900 in the village of Akbarpur, in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. He later became widely known as Neem Karoli Baba due to his association with the village of Neem Karoli. He was a charismatic and enigmatic figure who attracted a devoted following. His teachings emphasized the importance of love, selfless service (seva), and devotion to God. He often used simple stories and parables to convey deep spiritual insights. He was known to perform miracles, and his presence was said to have a profound impact on those who met him. One of his well-known teachings is "Love Everyone, Serve Everyone, Remember God," which encapsulates his emphasis on unconditional love and service to others as a path to spiritual growth. Neem Karoli Baba also emphasized the idea that all religions are paths to the same truth, and he encouraged his followers to practice their own faiths sincerely. Neem Karoli Baba had a significant influence on Western spiritual seekers, including Ram Dass (formerly known as Richard Alpert), who wrote the book "Be Here Now" based on his experiences and teachings. The book played a role in popularizing Eastern spirituality in the West during the 1960s and 1970s.Neem Karoli Baba left his physical body in 1973, but his teachings continue to inspire people from various backgrounds. His ashram in Kainchi Dham, India, remains a place of pilgrimage for his followers and spiritual seekers. His life and teachings are a testament to the idea that spiritual wisdom transcends cultural boundaries and that love and service are universal paths to spiritual realization.

 Neem Karoli Baba had a number of famous disciples who were profoundly influenced by his teachings. Some of the well-known individuals who became his followers include:

1.Ram Dass (Richard Alpert): Ram Dass was a Harvard psychologist and researcher who became one of Neem Karoli Baba's most prominent disciples. He wrote the influential book "Be Here Now," which chronicled his spiritual journey and the teachings he received from Maharaj-ji.

2.Krishna Das (Jeffrey Kagel): Krishna Das is a well-known kirtan singer and chant artist who studied under Neem Karoli Baba. He helped popularize kirtan, a form of devotional chanting, in the West.

3.Bhagavan Das: Bhagavan Das is a musician, author, and spiritual teacher who spent many years in India studying under Neem Karoli Baba. He is known for his eclectic blend of music, spirituality, and teachings.

4.Jai Uttal: Jai Uttal is a Grammy-nominated musician known for his contributions to the world of kirtan and devotional music. He also studied under Neem Karoli Baba and incorporates elements of Indian music into his work.

5.Lama Surya Das (Jeffrey Miller): Lama Surya Das is a prominent American Buddhist teacher who was influenced by Neem Karoli Baba's teachings. He is known for his books on Buddhism and meditation.

6.Raghu Markus: Raghu Markus is a writer, podcast host, and teacher who was a close associate of Neem Karoli Baba. He is also known for his work in spreading Maharaj-ji's teachings.These individuals, along with many others, were drawn to Neem Karoli Baba's teachings and were deeply impacted by his wisdom and presence. They have played a significant role in carrying forward his legacy and sharing his teachings with a wider audience.

7. Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Facebook (now Meta Platforms, Inc.), mentioned in interviews and posts that he drew inspiration from the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji). Zuckerberg visited India in the early 2010s and talked about how reading the book "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass, one of Neem Karoli Baba's disciples, had a significant impact on his perspective on life and work. Zuckerberg mentioned that the idea of approaching life with a sense of purpose, mindfulness, and service influenced his outlook and decisions. While Zuckerberg wasn't a direct disciple of Neem Karoli Baba, his exposure to the teachings of Maharaj-ji through Ram Dass's book had a noteworthy influence on his personal and professional philosophy.

8. Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., had a brief but impactful encounter with Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji) that left a lasting impression on him. In the early 1970s, Jobs traveled to India in search of spiritual experiences and meaning. During his journey, he visited Kainchi Dham, the ashram of Neem Karoli Baba. Although Jobs only spent a few days at the ashram, his encounter with Neem Karoli Baba had a profound impact on his life. Jobs later mentioned that meeting Maharaj-ji was one of the most significant experiences he had ever had. He found inspiration in Neem Karoli Baba's teachings on intuition, simplicity, and the interconnectedness of all things. Neem Karoli Baba's emphasis on spirituality, mindfulness, and service influenced Jobs' approach to both his personal life and his work at Apple. Jobs often referred to his time in India and his encounter with Neem Karoli Baba as transformative, and he integrated some of these spiritual principles into the design philosophy of Apple products.While Steve Jobs wasn't a formal disciple of Neem Karoli Baba and his connection to the guru was relatively short-lived, his visit to the ashram and the teachings he encountered there had a lasting impact on his life and his approach to creativity, design, and innovation.

Chinmay…