Proselytizing – Not in Thakur’s Vocabulary

Proselytizing (conversion) is not admitted by Sri Sri Thakur. This aspect of Sri Sri Thakur’s view is worth elucidating, in the backdrop of huge disturbances currently erupting in different parts of the world on this issue.  This view of Sri Sri Thakur that there will not be a proselyte (convert) in his disciples is a radical departure from the practices observed in other established religions.

In Sri Sri Thakur’s view, one believer will accept Sri Sri Thakur as Guru and follow Sri Sri Thakur’s principles. But that is not a reason for him to forsake his ‘religion’, whichever he or she is born into. That means, a Muslim by birth can accept Sri Sri Thakur and practice his principles, still he / she will remain a Muslim. Similarly, a Christian can follow Sri Sri Thakur’s principles and yet he / she will remain a Christian.

Satyanusaran (The Pursuit of Truth)

Introduction

In the hope that the ideas and thoughts expressed in the English version of Satyanusaran, now offered to the English- speaking public, may be rightly understood by those who may never have heard of Pabna Satsang, this brief note about its Life-Centre Thakur Anukulchandra and how and why he wrote the book, is given.

In the year 1910 in the jungles of North Bengal a young Indian, Atul Bhattacharya wended his way through the mass of bamboo clumps, jungle grass, mango and acacia trees that crowded up along the banks of the Padma. He was heading for a small village called Himaitpur. Nothing in particular distinguished Himaitpur's group of bamboo-thatched huts with their mud floors and narrow winding pathways from any of the other thousands of backward villages sprinkled over North Bengal at the time of the century. But instead of the sluggish, almost stagnant, life so characteristic of Indian villages at that time, Himaitpur rang with discussions on Life and Creation, with singing and dancing in love with Life and God.