Bhaustock 2017

Dear All, thank you for a wonderful Bhaustock 2017
from Chai “Gatewalla” Van Haven,
father of Kailash Van Haven,
our Landlord

Bhaustock is actually a religious event that no one happens to know about.

Not even the attendees, including myself, could ever remember that it is a religious event.

When there is that much love flowing, how can it be a religious event?

Yet it is a religious event of the highest order,  sanctioned and attended by none other than, Baba’s last surviving disciple Uncle Bhauji, the turtle man.    This year even Baba’s family sent a representative Sorab to partake in the love feast, that is this ‘religious event’ called Bhaustock.

The Turtle-man actually attended the first Bhaustock (or two) through Skype, perhaps to properly inaugurate Bhaustock, with his most mischievous presence.  At the time, even I failed to recognize the significance of his majestic attendance.

Uncle Bhauji, if nothing else, is the funniest, and the cutest  old man I know.

His whole being reeks of that ‘Divine humor’.

Bhaustock, for me is a mighty joke.

And that is why I take it seriously.

After all wasn’t it Baba that said: “On trivial matters take no risks.”  Since Baba also assures me that “life is a mighty joke”, how can I take Bhaustock, this ‘supposedly’ serious religious event seriously.   That is why I don’t like to take any chances, for it is a ‘trivial matter’ indeed  — If life is a mighty joke — that is.   However, this year I did take some chances,  and it broke my heart in certain places.  From now on I planned to take less chances when it comes to trivial matters.

Baba also told us that “on business matters take some risks,”  but when Uncle Bhauji, the Turtle-man told me to become Goatwalla, I took it as a risk I could not afford not to take.   This is what Baba calls a “spiritual risk,” and when it comes to spiritual risks, Baba said the most interesting thing.  He said “but when it comes to spiritual risks, do not let a single one go to waste.”   Alright, I admit embellishing His words a bit.   His actual words were “but when it comes to spirituality take every risk.”   But I assure you,  my embellished version is what He really meant.

Bhaustock is about risk.   Bhaustock is a “mighty joke”; yet a serious religious event, but most of all it is a love-fest.  Everyone in attended, is he or she not God himself ?  What a glorious chance to serve God himself, I thought. To me  Bhaustock is about the joys of “mastery in servitude” – the only three words on Baba’s tomb — and the secret to all happiness in life.  I discovered that “mastery in servitude” (the art of making others happier than ever) is by far and away the single most, ultimate  funnest thing to do in Life.  The joys of Mastery in Servitude, have no equal, and none can compare.  When you make others happy, so steal all their happiness for yourself, and this can be overwhelming indeed.   Making others happy is the happiest possible thing to do.   And I sure to love doing it, for my own selfish reasons of course.   I am like a thief in the night, stealing the happiness of others, a wanna be kung-fu master in the art of serving others into bliss.

Mastery in Servitude is the only way to happiness, it is Baba’s mission in life, and Uncle Bhauji’s mission as  well.  And as a minion of Baba’s minion Bhauji, I too feel the desire to further master the art of servitude.  It is an art!  I tell you.   Serving others is and art.  It is play, not work.  Art is always play.   When your work becomes your play, you never have to work again.    All I ever saw Uncle Bhauji, the mischievous Turtle-man do —  is play.   Just playing and playing in His Love.  Serving others as if they were our own dear ones is WHAT WE ARE HERE ON EARTH TO DO!!!!!  for fun!!!!  as a joke!!!!!   for life is not serious.  It is not serious, because it is in His capable hands.

Taking care of me is God’s business, not mine.  And I don’t like to meddle in other’s business.  As his children we need not worry.  Jesus said “Ye worry not.” as an order.   When Baba says “Don’t worry Be happy,” is that a casual statement a friend might tell another who is in distress?  Or is it an order?   To me when Baba tells me “Don’t worry be happy, I see it (in a joking way, for life is a might joke) as an order of the highest importance.  A trivial matter to be taken very seriously, if you know what I mean?  My prank-goal in life, is to become the best possible minion I can for Bhauji, who is Baba’s minion — A prankster, of the highest order.   For life is a joke, because He finished everything for us already — because He loves us infinitely, and thereby could not have not finished it.     I actually do not have anything to worry about, even if I die tomorrow.  If God want’s me dead tomorrow –  I want to die tomorrow.   But if God wants me alive tomorrow, I am also very happy to be alive tomorrow.  I surrender my will to His, and choose to hang on to his daman, His loving embrace.  I trust and abandon all to him.  Instead I like to focus on my business.   As Baba says my business is to love God more and more, and the rest of it (luckily) is all His business.

Baba once said, it is not good to go crazy about anything.  However, he then said. There is but one thing that is, actually ok to go crazy over.    What could that be, I thought?  He then answered his own question with “God.”      God is the only thing that is ok to actually ‘lose your mind over’ — pun intended.    Well, I figured — If life is a mighty joke, why not give it a shot?   If I sound crazy, thats because I am.  I am crazy for God, because My God IS AWESOME!!!

For this Bhaustock I especially want to thank  David Choi for being so awesome; and Mahoo for doing dishes.  Peni for…….   Oooooopsii  I just realized that if I go down this path, this letter will get too long.  …there are too many people to thank because everyone was in the process of perfecting their art of mastery in servitude to others…. so it should suffice for me to say “you know who you are.”

Next year I am hoping that Bhaustock 2018 will be closer to His liking, where even higher levels of ‘mastery in servitude’ might be performed here at the “Annual Mastery in Servitude World Championships” — also known as Bhaustock.

Love to All sentient beings who exist only in His Mighty Joke, wherein He is the Sole Player in THIS Divine Game.

Chai Gatewalla

P.S.: This was a specimen of my mind for your perusal.  I admit, and at the same time, insist that I know Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  This is what Bhauji told my son Vishnu.  Ask him about it.

Love,
Vivien