Born in the early 20th century in Punjab, India, H. W. L. Poonja, or Papaji, was a spiritual seeker whose journey to enlightenment is both extraordinary and inspiring. At the age of eight, Papaji experienced a tremendous spiritual experience. When his mother interpreted it as a connection with Krishna, Papaji embraced devotion wholeheartedly. That’s how his life full of spiritual practice began, accompanied by mystical experiences, and an eventual encounter with ultimate realization.
The Call of Krishna
As a child, Papaji was captivated by visions of Krishna, which fueled his devotion. His life became the path of a devoted bhakta (devotee). He would chant Krishna’s name with unwavering determination, striving to align every breath with his beloved deity. Waking at 2 a.m. daily, Papaji dedicated himself to an intense regimen of prayer, chanting the Krishna mantra 50,000 times each day. “How could I breathe and not say the word of Krishna?”, he thought. His entire existence revolved around devotion, and he sought nothing but the ecstatic love for Krishna that filled his heart.
Yet, even in the heights of devotion, Papaji looked for deeper understanding. This longing led him to the celebrated sage Ramana Maharishi, renowned as a living embodiment of enlightenment.
A Meeting with Ramana Maharishi
Papaji’s encounter with Ramana Maharishi had a great influence on his life. While sharing his visions of Krishna, he was met with a profound challenge. Ramana asked, “Can you have it all the time, permanently?” Papaji admitted he could not. Ramana’s response struck a nerve: “What kind of God vision is it, if it comes and goes? God is not to be seen; God is the seer. You are that.”
Though initially resistant to this radical teaching, Papaji experienced a fleeting moment of self-revelation. Yet, his deep attachment to his devotion of Krishna led him to continue his path as a devotee.
The Night of Divine Visitors
One fateful night, as Papaji immersed himself in prayer, an unexpected knock at his door happened. Upon opening the door, he was astonished to see Hanuman, accompanied by Rama, Sita, and Lakshman — the great gods of Hinduism. Yet he had never prayed to or worshipped them. Inviting them in, he was mystified when his wife could not see them.
As Papaji gazed into Hanuman’s eyes, time seemed to dissolve, and an entire night passed in silent communion. By morning, everything had changed. The man who had once lived and breathed Krishna’s name found himself unable to pray, chant, or even to feel devotion. Stripped of the practices that had defined his spiritual identity, Papaji felt lost and confused.
Seeking answers, he revisited Ramana Maharishi. When Papaji explained his state, Ramana greeted him with joy: “You have arrived! The prayers and practices were your vehicle, and now you no longer need them. You are here. You have arrived” At that moment, Papaji’s inner struggle dissolved. He surrendered fully to the realization of his true nature, transcending the need for external practices.
Beyond Miracles: A Test of Enlightenment
Years later, Papaji being in perfect peace of mind took a journey to the Himalayas, where he met a yogi of extraordinary abilities. They decided to have some kind of competition to see who was the master and who was the disciple. This yogi, who had dedicated his life to rigorous spiritual discipline, demonstrated miraculous powers—levitation, manifestation of objects, speaking many languages fluently, and traversing dimensions. He was out of this world with spiritual radiance. He had been taught by a master, and the master had passed away and left him a stick. The stick carried a lot of paranormal powers.
The yogi showed Papaji most of the miraculous things he could do. While impressed, Papaji dismissed these feats as trivial compared to the ultimate goal of spiritual realization. When the yogi asked what Papaji could offer, he humbly responded, “Nothing. All I know is peace of mind. I know how to be totally silent all the time and in transcendence or in the state of revelation of the Self all the time. But I know nothing else.”
And then the yogi said, “Yes, my guru told me, if I find someone who knows that, I will follow him.” The yogi, recognizing the profundity of Papaji’s state, became his disciple. When Papaji demanded complete surrender, the yogi handed over his sacred stick, imbued with mystical powers. In a dramatic gesture, Papaji threw the stick into a river, stripping the yogi of his powers. What remained was silence — a silence that catalyzed the yogi’s own enlightenment.
The Essence of Spiritual Realization
Papaji’s story encapsulates a profound spiritual truth: devotion, practices, and even miracles are stepping stones on the path to ultimate realization. His journey illustrates that while devotion can ignite the spiritual fire, true liberation lies in transcending even the subtlest attachments, including the identity of being a seeker or devotee.
For Papaji, in the moment of the Guru reflecting to him his high state of realisation, he attained enlightenment. It was the last drop that needed to happen. It was part of his journey to have the grace of the Master lift him over the last bit, even if he already had a very elevated state. This impulse was needed for him to come to full realization. All the conditions were set, but he still had a margin there of a personality that could choose.
This little thing that wanted to stay, the old me, which was devotional, and wonderful, it was still there. And as soon as he realized, “I don’t need to be a bhakta anymore”, that little last spark of his personality relaxed. And then he could just flow.
The life of Papaji offers a profound message to spiritual seekers: the journey begins with devotion and effort but culminates in surrender and self-realization. Beyond all practices, visions, and miracles lies the ultimate truth—the eternal, blissful silence of the Self. In Papaji’s words, “Peace of mind, peace of mind.” It is this peace that transcends all else, revealing the divine essence within.
This article was transcribed and edited by Tony from the following video: