Late Bro. A.S. Mundkur who has translated ” Founder’s Psalms ” had become a Mai-ist in an extremely interestingly way. The Founder and Mr. Mundkur were together for only an official duty, for five days.The Founder had gone to scrutinize his ‘award’ of acquired lands . They stayed in adjoining blocks the Nipani Travellers’ bungalow. One Friday night Mr. M entered F’s room and expressed his greatest surprise on finding him sitting before Mai’s picture in worship. ” What do I see ! Do you believe in Religion after so much learning and free thinking and contact with up-to-date things.? I hate religion.The greatest humbug that has worked horrors on the world.” F was equally staggered at such a contempt.Both were pulled into a serious discussion . M let loose his contempt in never stopping mail trains about weakness and abuse points of Hinduism.He won’t stop to hear a counter reply. After he had finished , Founder cool-mindedly told him,” You are right in whatever imputations you have made but let me have my say. Is there any God or not ? ” “Yes, but not…. “. ” Do you think for smooth running of the world, there must be some law ? ” ” Surely but not such a foolish…. ” ” Suppose you are the legislator, what would you have laid down ?”” Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, only live without hurting others , with Love . Help others as best as you can with Service. Remember your Creator, who has created such a happy , beautiful and man-serving world and live always cheerfully , taking life as it comes “.
The F asked ,” If the religion means this ? ” M got wrathfully wild : ” Don’t try to pull me. I am not a child. I am fifty-two my friend . I have studied all religions and have had long discussions with Swamis, Moulvis and Reverends “. F smiled to bring M’s wrathfulness down. But supposing some religion means what you say “. ” I know there is none “. ” Suppose such new religion comes forth ! ” In a respectful but convinced manner, he began to leave the room saying with the highest emphasis, ‘ Impossible ‘ . F told him he had to go that night to Belgaum to conduct a worship. M was too generous and offered his car for a distance over 30 miles and back. He smiled and taunted F with a pleasant vengeance . ” Please excuse me. I am impersonally telling you. That is my religion, to save your immense travelling trouble by giving you my car. “. He could not contain and repeated ” That is my religion “. Not going to temple but sparing one’s car for carrying a cooly fallen from scaffold in front of you to the hospital. ” F smiled, ” If you don’t mind, will you please have a glance at this book of mine . ” He accepted it and the Founder thanked him.
The F returned the next morning. As he entered the compound , forgetting his position as a collector , he came running and shouting , ” JAY MAI JAY MARKAND MAI ” and opened the motor-door like a brother. Founder was surprised. ” What has happened to you ? ” Said Mr. M , ” Conversion in a night ‘ Universal ‘ !! No bitterness of individual religions !! Religion itself to mean Love and Service !! What what what do you so boldly say !! Even if a man does not believe in the very existence of God, you call such a man Religious if he lives the life of Love and Service !! Has any religion said so in such a explicit bold terms ? “ Founder said with highest joy , ” It is not this humble creature who can dare say that.It is Jay Mai that has shown condescension to the suffering world , out of Her mercifulness for Her children, in this new age. “
Founder says ,” Let the patient in his last days eat whatever he likes. If he take these six Mother pills he will be saved.” Founder in the most deplorable condition of religion and religiosity takes the attitude of an examiner, who asks, ” Which chapter do you know best ? Which questions can you best answer ? You give me the questions I may examine you with, and answer them with your very text books before you. I don’t want to lock up my University and Colleges . Tomorrow most brilliant scholars will come forth, if these survive “.
There should be no startling consternation, at a large number of sub – religions. India with so many sub-religions , each one strictly followed by its followers , would be many times much superior to India with an idealistic, hazy, indefinite, chaotic, one Major Religion in Name, neither in belief, nor in action, nor in life .
I do appreciate the practical hardship and difficulty. A man may think one way today and his view may change tommorow. The wisest foresight is to define your religion as broadly as you can.Don’t be retreating step after step with the world’s slaps. It is not merely a defeat but a source and cause of contempt and of mutual hatred between the blinder and the bound.
Mai-ism brings down six thousand six hundred and sixty six things to six things only. Six things are also reduced to three trios’ (1) Humanity, Love and Service (2) Mother, Devotion and Self-surrender and (3) God, Guru and Disciple. Take up any trio and fire on. Mother speed you. No handicaps of what to dine, when to bath , whom not to touch, which temple, which river, which pilgrimage place, whom to marry, which priest, etc., etc.
Founder says, “ For all matters , ask your Mother yourself, when in fully serious and devotional mood. Consult your Guru if have any and chalk out your line of action, in which you don’t infringe your selected principles , with Love and Service , Devotion and Self-surrender; I have nothing else to lay down as a compulsory measure. ”
EXTRACT FROM : MAI-ISM AUTHOR : MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND , MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTACRUZ WEST, MUMBAI 400054 INDIA.
God as Mother and Father in MAIISM AND HINDUISM 