An Ever-Transcending Goal

An Ever-Transcending Goal

In 1985, I became by Guru's grace the first disciple to swim the English Channel. (Another disciple did it one day later, much faster; his pilot had wanted to wait one more day for even better weather conditions.) It was a very, very special experience. I could feel the inner and outer support and oneness of so many disciples. And, as I was told, Guru was sitting at home, meditating for most of the time on my swim, always trying to get information on how I was doing. I was blessed with an extremely easy swim. When I stepped into the Channel water at Shakespeare Beach at 7 a.m., others told me later, I was full of confidence that I would make it. After six hours into the swim, when I could see both coasts, I had the firm conviction that on the inner plane, it was already done—it just had to be executed outwardly. I felt carried by a wave of inner joy and bliss most of the time. After ten hours, the cross-current set in and it was slowly getting dark. Previously I could not imagine swimming in the dark. I would never have dared to get into pitchblack, unknown water at night. Now, with the gradual transition into night, I felt extremely comfortable. I enjoyed the star-strewn sky above me each time I took a breath. And when I looked down into the black water—where earlier I had enjoyed watching the dance of the rays of sunlight—I started to see bright light once again. In the midst of the darkness, Guru's face, his Transcendental, appeared. Because of the unpredictable, strong cross-current, I had to swim for five hours more, but it did not matter to me. For those hours, I was swimming into the light of the Transcendental, into Guru's infinite consciousness of light and delight, which was right in front of me like an ever-transcending goal.

Vasanti (Heidelberg)

Self-Transcendence Challenges

In my training to cross the English Channel, I decided to swim the length of Zurich Lake—16 miles. The water was very cold, about 59 degrees Fahrenheit. I greased up and swam for one hour, and was already very cold. I continued swimming, trying to convince my mind that it would get warmer when the sun came up, but when the sun appeared, it was still terribly cold. I was trembling and my legs were so tight that I was afraid I would get a cramp. It was the toughest experience I ever had, but I saw Guru's eyes looking at me, and I felt his tremendous determination and his wish that I finish this swim. After 12 hours of the hardest struggle, I managed to reach my destination. It showed me that you can do much more difficult things if you do them for Guru than if you do them for yourself. After this experience Guru asked me to gain weight, so I was never cold again while swimming.

Prafulla (Zurich)

Very Good

"Very Good"

Before Aspiration-Ground was built, Guru played tennis on a makeshift tennis court at Jamaica High School. The disciples watched and meditated from the sidelines. One day while Guru was playing tennis, I was visualising a film about the tennis star Jimmy Connors that we had seen the night before at Progress-Promise. The camera angles were imaginative and powerful and caught a gracefulness that Connors had when playing tennis. I was thinking that a film like that should be made of Guru's tennis. Just then, Guru looked over at me and blessed me. Weeks went by and I could not stop thinking about that blessing. I wrote to Guru and asked him if he was blessing me because he was happy I was thinking about him or because he liked the idea. A short time later Guru said, "So Niriha, you want to make movies?" I said, "Oh Guru, I was not thinking of my doing it. I just thought that someone should." Guru said, "You do it, you do it." So I started researching what equipment was needed and how much it would cost. Video was so new at the time that I did not really consider it. I was looking into film, but I discovered it was very expensive. A shop owner suggested I consider video, but in 1981 very few people even had video cameras and few stores sold them. I asked Guru if I should get a film camera or video camera, and Guru replied, "Video, video." The next question was how to get the money for the equipment. Within a week from the time I decided what equipment to get, my father informed me that he had just had a very successful transaction in his cable television business and that he was creating individual trusts for each of his seven children. I asked him if I could withdraw the amount I needed for the video equipment and he readily agreed. The timing was excellent, since I wanted to get the equipment soon—and since the "trust" rapidly disappeared when my father invested it in a bad scheme. On July 27, 1981, with my brother holding the heavy video recorder while I held the camera, I took my first video of Guru as he played tennis at Jamaica High School. Guru looked over at us and said, "Very good! Very good!"

Niriha (New York)

Prayer Works

Prayer Works

Many years ago, our music group Mountain-Silence was invited to give a concert tour in Hungary. It was wintertime and it was so extremely cold that it was impossible to put up even one poster, since the glue would turn into ice before the poster could be put on the walls. Andrea, who was in charge of the concert in Budapest, was helpless. They had a very big concert hall booked for us, but there was only one week to go and no hope for the weather to change—nor did she have enough money to advertise on radio or television. So she started praying to Guru. From her prayer she got the idea to go to the main train station and at least give out some leaflets to the passengers. Suddenly a man came up to her with a big video camera and a microphone. He said that he was from the national TV and they wanted to ask some people how this incredible cold weather was affecting them. Andrea then started telling him her problem with postering and that we were coming in only one week. He then said, "So, no problem, just say now all you want to say about the concert into the camera and hundreds of thousands of people will see it and hear it." She couldn't believe her ears and eyes, but she bravely told everything to the TV about the upcoming concert. Sure enough, the concert hall was completely full. This was quite obvious proof that prayer works, if you pray to the right person.

Gunthita (Zurich)

Oneness And Joy

Oneness And Joy

After only three months as a disciple, apartment living became unbearably depressing to me. I would gaze out of my 13th story window lovingly at homes in the neighbourhood. Without a word, my sister's heart knew my growing unhappiness. One day she shared her dream with me: a dream of a house with other disciples. I jumped with joy at the suggestion. The very next morning as we both prepared for work, Nishtha quickly read an ad for a house for rent. The description sounded unbelievable: "…colonial estate with sprawling gardens, 13 rooms, 5 bathrooms…" We decided to go right then and there before our jobs. It was a foggy morning. The directions we had led us off a major highway directly to the driveway of the homestead. On the pillars flanking the entry read a plaque: "The Old Mill Farm". We slowly drove down the long, bumpy, dirt driveway. From the fog first emerged a stable, complete with a horse and mules in a corral. We were shocked. A bit further down was an old colonial gristmill with a waterfall. We gasped. At the end of the driveway we saw "1776" atop a chimney of a sprawling grand estate and carriage house. Silence we became. The real estate agent had not arrived yet, so with excitement we began to explore. Both of us decided this was the home for us, without a moment's hesitation. With Guru's approval, soon after 13 disciples moved into the Old Mill Farm and a vision unfolded. After five months of living at the Old Mill Farm, painting, scraping and decorating, we received an unannounced visit from our Guru. All of us were off at work. Guru apparently walked in the unlocked doors and surveyed the premises. Soon afterwards we received a phone call that Guru would like to come to the Old Mill Farm for a Joy Day and an inauguration of the Farm as a divine enterprise. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony in one of the large fields, Guru said, "Here is an enterprise that everyone can own. It is from here that oneness and joy will grow." But even more spectacular was our next discovery: United Nations Secretary-General U Thant lived just up the hill. He accepted Guru's invitation to attend a performance of Guru's play "Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha". Guru now shows a video of that immortal evening each time he presents the U Thant Peace Award.

Pranika (New York)

Nothing Is Impossible

Nothing Is Impossible

In 1995, when Guru wanted to have the great Peace Concert in Prague for 13,000 people, he also said that he wanted a thousand Russian disciples to come to the concert. Somebody from our country had to go to Prague in advance to help organise the arrival of the Russians, and it happened to be Valentina from the Ukraine, a wonderful soul, and me. We stayed in Prague for a month before the concert, and it was an unforgettable experience from the beginning to the end. So many times we saw Guru's force doing something which seemed to be a miracle, and there were probably many other times when we were not conscious of his influence. Two days before the concert, we had to leave Prague to meet the Russian disciples. We decided to bring invitations to the railway station at the border between Slovakia and the Ukraine where all the Russians had to go through customs. We planned to travel from Prague by a train which had a transfer in Slovakia. Something went wrong and we just missed the connecting train by a few minutes. There was no time to wait for another train, so we had to go to the Ukraine by taxi. Suddenly things turned into a perfect thriller. It was a dark night, and we had only a few hours before the disciples would arrive. This Ukrainian border was a very dangerous and criminal place. They say that sometimes commercial trucks wait for days to cross it. In March 1999, when we were coming back from Guru's concert, our buses had to wait there for nine hours. We found a taxi and joined the long customs line, which was practically not moving because of those huge trucks. I thought, "This is how hostile forces probably look; great unconscious trucks moving ever so slowly and monotonously in the darkness, and we just have to wait hour upon hour and cannot do anything." If we did not arrive in time with the invitations, the disciples would probably not be allowed to cross the border. It became obvious that we would never cross in time, so we decided to ask the customs to let us go through on foot. Such things are never allowed at this kind of border, but that night they let us pass. Then we found another taxi to go to the station. We started off, but then there was another jam because of a truck accident. As soon as we could move again, our car broke down, and we had to look for a third taxi. Then suddenly, out of the blue, or I should say, out of the dark, a thick fog appeared; it was hardly possible to see anything. Our driver also discovered that the regular road to the station was blocked for repairs. He said, "For so many years I have been using this road, and I have never seen anything like that!" We only smiled. "Perhaps you will never see anything like that again," we thought. But we felt that Guru was leading us through these endless obstacles like a father would lead his little children. The driver said that he knew another road to get to the station, but it turned out to be a one-way road, and we had to go in the wrong direction. "Do not worry, there should not be so many cars at this hour," he said, "and I know a good way to drive in the fog: you just have to go with your headlights off." What could we do? There was practically no time left, so we travelled at night in the fog in the wrong direction on a one-way road with our headlights off. We went very fast in deep silence, and I wondered why I was not feeling any fear. Actually I felt perfectly peaceful and safe as if I were sitting at the Tennis Court. Guru's protection was so tangible. I almost felt sorry when the journey was over. Guru just took us in his hand and carried us all the way. We arrived at the station at the last moment and we were able to give the invitations so the disciples could clear immigration. In such situations, when you have no knowledge-power, no money-power, no physical power, nothing, you can only cry to Guru, hoping for a miracle. Then you learn that Guru's compassion-power is far superior to all these powers put together. That was my first experience that with Guru nothing is impossible.

Julia (Moscow)

Love Is My Nest

Love Is My Nest

O, Thy Love is my nest. Thy Smile is my rest. Thy Grace is my goal.

This poem, hand-written by Guru, is framed and hanging in the vestibule of my "nest". Let me tell you how I came to have my house. It is a story that shows Guru's power, sweetness and love. Right after being accepted as a disciple, Guru asked my son, Dhanu, to telephone me and tell me to come to New York. I thought, "Isn't that nice. He wants me to come for a visit." But Dhanu quickly corrected me by saying, "No, not for a visit. He wants you to move to New York." This was startling to me since I knew nothing about spiritual Masters, having been a devout Roman Catholic. In fact, my best friends were priests and nuns. I did not realise that I should not hesitate. Dhanu reminded me that when your spiritual Master asks you to do something, you should do it immediately. This was news to me. Weeks ran into months and then one day, almost unnoticed, I realised that I had been on the path for nearly five years—still living away from Guru. My birthday was coming up and Dhanu called to tell me that Guru really meant that I should move to New York and why was I delaying? In a few days I would be coming to celebrate my birthday, and Guru wanted me to stay and not return home, Dhanu told me sternly. When I packed I did not feel in my heart that I could stay in New York, so I took only a few belongings and very little money. The day of my birthday was a very special one. Guru was going to Woodstock—one of his most favourite spots on earth—to give a Peace Concert, and he had invited me to be on the bus with him. As I boarded the bus, Guru said, "Anne, Anne, this is your birthday, and tonight as a birthday celebration, I am inviting all the disciples who have come to this concert to come to my home. I am cooking an Indian feast just to celebrate your birthday." I was very happy and I thought, "Isn't that nice. On this path when you have a birthday, Guru cooks a feast to honour you." Little did I realise that this was an unusual event. That night of July 12, 1980, we were all sitting in Guru's back yard when he approached me with a heaping plate of Indian food, a veritable feast, and presented it to me. Yes, it was delicious. The girls later told me that he had actually done all the cooking, that they had just done the chopping of the vegetables. After the meal, there was a cake which Databir had brought and Dhanu presented to me. After blowing out the candles, Guru said that since it was my birthday, I could ask him one question. Lots of thoughts flashed through my mind. It was like in a fairy tale where you are allowed one boon. I didn't want to waste it. After some thought I found myself saying, "Guru, for years you have been asking me to move to New York. Why can't I do it?" Guru's answer really shocked me. Because of my Christian background, he said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich woman to get into Heaven." Guru made it clear to me that I was staying away from New York because I didn't want to give up my security and money. I knew my husband very well and realised that he would never part with any money, but these words were just what I needed to finally leave him. Who needs money if you have such a caring, loving Teacher to guide you? I didn't want to be one of those who chose money over God, so I never went back home. One day soon after, Ashrita called and said that Guru wanted me to buy a house. I asked, "How can I buy a house? Doesn't Guru know that I have no money?" He answered, "I don't know, Anne. All I can say is that Guru said, ‘Tell Anne to go buy a house.' " So I started looking for a house. I felt in my heart that there was a house out there that I could get if I just believed this. Every day I went out looking, knocking on doors. One day when Guru was in the Smile of the Beyond, he called me up to his table and asked, "How are you doing? Are you so fussy that you can't find a house?" I told him that I didn't want to spend a lot of time making repairs, and so many of the houses were in disrepair. From time to time I would find a house that I might be happy with and would ask Ashrita to ask Guru about it. The answers were, "That one is too big, the other is too small," or "That one is too close to my house," and then "That one is too far away." It seemed that I would never find a place. Then one night at a function at Progress-Promise, Guru asked me to come up and tell of my latest house experiences. That night when I returned home, the phone rang. It was a disciple who had heard my tales of woe. He said that when he came into the house where he rents a top floor apartment, he overheard his landlord, Mr. B., on the phone with a realtor. He called me very excited and told me that I should look at this house, which was in beautiful condition. It even had a twelve-foot stained glass window. The next day when I saw the window, I had to admit that it was pretty impressive and beautiful. It seems that a Catholic priest had this house built in 1900 for his widowed sister and her eight children. I set up an appointment with Mr. B. to view the inside. When I arrived, I wasn't very impressed by the interior for some reason. It seemed too dark. I did not want to hurt the man's feelings, but I really didn't think that this was the house for me. He, meanwhile, wanted very much to sell to a disciple because he had seen the change that Guru had brought about in the neighbourhood. He saw that I did not want the house and offered to take off $5,000 because I was a disciple. That still wouldn't do. Then he asked what it was about the house that I didn't care for. I answered that it had to be completely painted and wallpapered. He then took off another $5,000 for that. I still wasn't going to buy it. Then he asked me, did I like flowers? Of course, I love flowers and always had a huge garden in the home that I had left to move to New York. So he said, "Let's go out and I'll show you the garden." I thought, "What is there to see? It's January; in the winter all the plants are asleep!" But I didn't want to hurt his feelings, so I agreed. We went outdoors and right there, on this very brisk, cold day, sat a beautiful blue flower. I asked him, "Mr. B., what kind of flower is this? I've never seen such a bloom before." He was just as surprised as I was and said that he had never seen it in his garden although he had lived there since 1925. I took this as a sign from God that this was finally the house for me to buy. Now all I had to do was convince him that I could handle it financially, even though I did not have any money. It was a total surprise when he said, "Could you come up with $1,000? Can't you borrow that much from one of your friends?" I called Ashrita and told him about this house and Guru's answer came back in 20 minutes: "If Anne doesn't buy that house, she will never have a house." This man was willing to let me have a house that is worth something like $250,000 today for only one thousand dollars down, and he was willing to wait years for the rest. Can you see the miracle that our Guru has wrought?

Snehashila (New York)

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