About twenty years ago, when I was new on the path, I was going to visit my family at Christmas time. I took a taxi to LaGuardia Airport with a big suitcase full of my belongings and gifts for my family, but I had not considered that there would be heavy traffic for the holidays. When we got to LaGuardia, the driver informed me that he could not get near the departures area in time for me to make my flight, so he dropped me off on the other side of the road. I would have to cross eight lanes of traffic with my heavy suitcase, and this was in the days before suitcases had wheels. I could not see how this was possible, and I was runing out of time to make it to my flight. As I stood there, I prayed: "Please help me, Guru. I am not able to get over to the terminal. I am afraid I am going to miss my flight." I looked over toward the terminal and just then I saw a tall, middle-aged man wearing a cowboy hat come out of the door at the lower level. He walked across the lanes of congested traffic and, I could hardly believe it, headed straight for me! He came up to me and simply said, "May I help you?" I answered yes, that I was almost late for my flight. He easily picked up the bag, carried it through the correct set of doors (without even asking which airline I was taking) and took it up the escalator. At the top he handed my suitcase to me and I thanked him as profusely as I could manage through my astonishment. He turned around and melted into the crowd; I could not see where. He just disappeared! When I returned home, I was telling one of the older disciples about my experience, and she told me about Guru's inner beings who help in times of need. Surely this was the only explanation for my helper.

Suradhuni (New York)

I had been practising yoga, off and on, almost all of my life, but I knew that without purity, I could not progress to the next level. At the age of 35, with all of the ceremony and will that I had at my disposal, I decided that I would try being celibate for a month. This was so difficult that I gave up trying to achieve any degree of purity on my own. By the age of 45, I had prayed and prayed for a spiritual Master, but my prayers had still not been answered. One day, shortly after my wife had left me, I met a man who said that he was a disciple of a Master. We talked about yoga for the next two or three weeks or so. The disciple told me that his Master required his students to refrain from drinking alcohol and using drugs. Further, the Master required his students to practise celibacy. I explained that I had been searching for a Master, and I asked if he had a picture of his Master. He told me that all he had on him at the moment was his Master's Transcendental picture, which was used for meditation, and he explained that this picture was not generally shown to the public. The disciple asked me if I wished to attend an upcoming workshop on yoga given by a local Centre. I answered that I wished to look deep within myself and make sure that I was sincere and certain. The disciple told me that he could see that I was sincere. He then changed his mind and showed me the Transcendental photograph of his Master, Sri Chinmoy. We talked more about the spiritual life and the disciple left to return home. That night before retiring, I fell to my knees and cried out in prayer to the Master. I told him that I wished to follow a true Master, but I didn't know how to begin or what to do. I asked that if he was intended to be my Master, that he please guide me and show me the way. I then went to bed and fell into a deep sleep. I became conscious in the dream state when gently my astral body floated up from my body, lifted by some gentle force. Sri Chinmoy was standing in the corner of my bedroom and smiling at me as a father smiles at his son. The Master stood my astral body in front of a mirror in my bedroom to confirm to my mind that I was not dreaming. I could see in the reflection of the mirror that my physical body was lying in my bed fast asleep and that my astral body with my full consciousness was in front of the mirror. Words do not serve me at this point. I often say that I was in a "dream", but the state of consciousness that I was in was new to me. Without speaking a word, the Master gave me the knowledge of how I needed to meditate and what I needed to do to please the Supreme. How the Master did this without talking appears ridiculous to the mind, but he did! I accepted with great joy and exuberance. Interestingly enough, the Master was also overjoyed and exuberant at my acceptance. He then gently levitated me back into my physical body. My consciousness transitioned through the dream state back into sleep. The next morning when I awoke, I felt joy in my heart and as light as a feather. My mind was a little bewildered, but my mind knew that I was celibate. A few days later, I ceased drinking alcohol and eating meat, and had become what I can only describe as "a new person." I was constantly cheerful and felt true love in my heart for everybody and everything. Each morning my meditations grew more and more wonderful! That was seven years ago. And each and every day, I get down on my knees and thank Guru for his most precious and wonderful gift and for allowing me to become his disciple. I am also aware that Guru does not give an experience like this to many of his disciples out of his love and concern, not wishing to alarm them. Guru knew that he had to get my attention and that, without a display of power, I would not recognise him.

Richard (Carrboro)

On New Year's Day of the New Millennium 2000, which was also my Soul's Day, I was visiting New Mexico for the first time. Little did I suspect then what a spell this "Land of Enchantment" would cast on the next stage of my life. After spending a couple of days playing tourist in its largest city, Albuquerque, I headed up north to Santa Fe, "City of Faith". Founded by the Spanish in 1610, it is the second oldest U.S. city after Plymouth Rock. I went on to visit Taos and Los Alamos, but all the time I felt an intense longing to go back to Santa Fe, to breathe in its sacred air and to tread its sacred earth. When I did return there, I found myself asking Guru why no one had yet spread his light here at so deeply spiritual a place. Immediately I felt a firm and convincing answer that ‘it would be done!' Little did I know how it would be done...and by whom. Back in Seattle, Santa Fe's magic continued tugging at my heartstrings, and even stronger. The feeling became so compelling that I sent a question to Guru, even though he was still on the Christmas trip, whether to relocate to Santa Fe. His answer to do it came back on January 29th. Six months later, I am deeply humbled and honoured that Guru's grace has blessed our manifestation efforts here so magnanimously. Guru has accepted several new seekers for our meditation group, and a week ago Governor Gary Johnson proclaimed New Mexico a Sri Chinmoy Peace State. Starting this fall the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque will be offering our course, No. 475: "Meditation for Personal Enrichment". The challenge now is to keep transcending!

Sunamita (Santa Fe)