Power And Love

Power And Love

A few years ago I became extremely disturbed about the mortal illness that had befallen someone I knew. Somehow I allowed myself to be absolutely distraught about this, and it occupied many of my waking hours. I was praying that the sufferings of this friend would be lifted and that the illness would be cured. That was most unusual, since I was not even in the habit of praying for my own problems to be resolved! It was during Celebrations, and of course Guru was more occupied than usual with all the visiting disciples, but I was desperate. I wrote a note about my obsession or self-styled concern and put it next to Guru's chair at the function. In the course of the evening I saw him open the envelope and read my note. Then I saw him take out a pen. A few minutes later, he turned and handed me back my envelope, decorated with birds. I worked my way to the back of the room and, in the privacy of the crowd, read what Guru had written. He was extremely firm and extremely compassionate. He said that I must not do this kind of thing; I must not get involved in other people's karmic sufferings. He wrote several other lines, which I devoured intently. When I had finished reading Guru's words, first I was stunned, but then I practically said out loud, "OK!" Instantly I was absolutely cured of my preoccupation. It was as though Guru had amputated a diseased limb from me. I never gave the matter another thought, except to offer good will to the person inwardly, which Guru had said I could do. As a matter of fact, when this person's sufferings reached their fatal end a few weeks later, and many other people were deeply upset, I was absolutely calm and detached—no thanks to myself, but all thanks to Guru's miraculous power.

Nemi (New York)

Pilot Of Our Life Boat

Pilot Of Our Life Boat

In August 1996, I was asked to watch the apartment of a girl disciple who went to visit her relatives in Russia. One day I did not feel well, without any obvious reason. The situation worsened as days passed. I started thinking very bad thoughts about committing suicide. I felt as if somebody were putting these thoughts into my head. The tension was growing. During all this time I was crying inwardly for Guru's help. At the worst point in this experience, a voice sounded inside me to jump out the window from the fifth floor. At this moment I felt Guru's blessingful presence. He told me very strictly to go and sit in front of his Transcendental picture and not to go anywhere. In two minutes I inwardly saw a huge snake, much bigger than me, coming out of me. I had no fear at all because Guru was standing near me and I could feel his great power. He was very big and he was wearing a white dhoti. Then this huge snake very humbly settled itself in Guru's palm and turned into ashes. It totally disappeared. Guru was smiling and I felt his great concern; I was crying. After fifteen minutes this long nightmare finished and my consciousness became light again. I realised how carefully and lovingly Guru pilots our life-boat.

Vitaliy (Vinnitsa)

Guru's Light

Guru's Light

One evening in London I visited a friend of very long standing. She was not a disciple but a very good person, and I was very fond of her. When I arrived she was not at all well. She was very unhappy and crying. Her circumstances were indeed very difficult. Nothing I said could ease her distress. In the end I said, "Well, Betty, the only thing I believe could help you—my Guru's power and love— you don't believe in. So you sit down in that chair— don't try to do anything, just sit there—and I will sit in this chair and meditate on my Guru's picture." This she did and I took out a very small Transcendental picture that I had in my purse. I had not been a disciple very long and I did not have much faith in my meditation. In fact I was not sure that I could meditate at all. I just looked at Guru's picture. In a very short time, maybe only two or three minutes, she jumped up, her face shining with relief, saying, "It's gone, it's gone! I'm all right—Oh, it's so wonderful!" Exactly what had gone I never asked. Obviously some troubles had been tormenting her. Sadly, her very conventional mind never allowed her to come to Guru, but she was always grateful, and I have never forgotten. As a result of this, sometimes when I am travelling on the Underground (subway) and I see someone looking quite sad and worried, I take out Guru's picture and look at it for a few minutes. I quite often see that person relax and sometimes give a little smile to themselves, and I know that Guru's light has touched them. Then I think of Betty and our experience together.

Sushumna (Brighton)

Guru Spoke

Guru Spoke

In my sitting room, I have quite a big Transcendental picture in a central position. Usually before I go out, I bow to it. Sometimes I am in a big hurry and I'll whisper, "I'm going out now, Guru—'Bye!" On one such occasion, I was about to dash out when I was stopped dead in my tracks, as it were. Guru's lips were moving and Guru's voice was speaking, very gently, but clearly, almost like a stage whisper. Guru spoke only five words. I counted them and repeated them over and over, many times. It was a very, very important and private answer to a prayer of mine. It probably would not make any sense to anyone else, but it had a releasing effect on my spiritual life, and I realise Guru could not have given me this answer in any other way.

Sushumna (Brighton)

Garland

Garland

Sometimes after achieving a certain spiritual height, when I would feel that I was really aspiring, I would slip and find myself at the bottom again. Then the frustration of knowing that I had made myself fall would often leave me in a very sad mood. Such was this day, many years ago. On that day I went to rake leaves at Guru's house. Guru came out onto the porch, called my name and said "Hello" with a wave of his hand and his divine smile. Usually I would never see him when I went to rake, so this filled me with joy and consolation. Later that day I was making a garland for Guru to wear that night—he was to give a talk at Barnard College on the Vedas. I had some roses which were fully bloomed, and even though I knew they might drop some of their petals, I decided to use them. I just imagined someone seeing Guru for the first time, and as Guru was walking, the garland would be shedding petals, and this seeker would pick one up and cherish it forever. That night at Barnard, before the lecture, Guru was sitting alone in the back reading, but the whole hall was flooded with light and peace. As I sat down, I felt his force acting within my heart, inspiring me, even though I was not in a good consciousness. I closed my eyes, and soon I felt like I was climbing upwards within a vast light. I was very moved. I had not meditated so well in many months. In the joy of my meditation, I suddenly felt something brush by me. I assumed that someone was trying to get past my aisle seat, and their clothes were brushing against me. I opened my eyes to find Guru dropping his coat on my lap; he wanted me to hold it for him during his lecture. His compassion, his love and concern for me, even when I felt I had not been doing well, was very moving. His coat was like a blessing—it tingled with spirit. After the talk, Guru walked up to me, gave me a beautiful smile and took his coat. While he was turning to leave, a flower fell from his garland and landed at my feet, and I realised that I was the person whom I had imagined that afternoon.

Kanan (New York)

Don't Expect

"Don't Expect"

One day I was having a really difficult time. It had something to do with some other disciples. When I was driving Guru somewhere, I told him about the problem. Guru just pointed to my dashboard, which had his New Year's Message taped on it: "Don't expect, don't expect. Just give, give and give If you want to really survive." That was Guru's answer to my problems that day.

Databir (New York)

Beyond Amazing

Beyond Amazing

In late 1996, Guru was offering a concert series dedicated to the 50th anniversary of India's independence. At that time I was still living in Brooklyn and was very involved in teaching meditation classes and spreading Guru's light there. One particular week in November, everything that could go wrong went wrong. During this "week from hell", the forces were playing havoc with me and my consciousness was nowhere to be found. Finally Wednesday arrived, and I left my job and went straight to Jamaica to attend the weekly evening meditation. As I got off the train, I asked myself, "How am I going to face Guru? How will I be able to look at him feeling this way?" When I arrived at PS 86, I was in the school for no more than five minutes when somebody called my name and asked me to run to the public phone in the hallway. Shephali was on the other end of the line with a message from Guru. She said, "Sevananda, Guru would like you to organise a Peace Concert for India's 50th anniversary in Brooklyn." As she spoke, everything was immediately lifted. I felt brand new and cleansed and was literally lifted up to Heaven by Guru's compassionate and loving request. I said, "Shephali, please tell Guru that he is amazing." I went back to the meditation hall a "new man" and proceeded to tell a friend about the miracle that had just happened when I was called back to the phone. Again it was Shephali. She said, "Guru asked me to tell you that he is beyond amazing."

Sevananda (Puerto Rico)

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