I was a hard-core criminal, committing serious crimes one after the other. I was arrested with arms in Delhi and was sent to Tihar jail where I was introduced to the Art of Living program. The light that I first saw during my first Sudarshan Kriya has flooded my entire life with brilliance, shares DINESH GURJAR, a natural farming expert and an Art of Living faculty.
I was a hard-core criminal. After serving a sentence of four years, I escaped and absconded for 10 years. I started committing serious crimes one after the other, without even realizing what I was heading for. In 1999, I was arrested with arms in Delhi and was sent to Tihar jail. It was here that I was introduced to the Art of Living program. While doing my first Sudarshan Kriya, I had a vision of the Divine Light. The experience was incredible. Something happened within me and I felt connected with myself.
Two months later, I was released from jail. However, in 2000, I was again arrested for a criminal offense I had earlier committed. I was caught with 6.5 quintals of drugs at the Gujarat-Maharashtra border. I fell seriously ill in prison. I suffered from an attack of asthma and sciatica but recovered because of regular sadhana. This was when I realized that I wanted to be on the spiritual path and give up on my notorious acts.
For the next two years, I was kept in different jails and went through a lot of upheavals and finally, I was placed in Udaipur jail. My life took a new turn as I felt inspired from within to organize stress elimination workshops in prisons. While I was an inmate myself, regular sadhana had made me calm. I started motivating each and every individual in prison to attend the workshops. It was amazing to see a wave of devotion rising in the prison as inmates started participating in satsangs, discourses and other spiritual activities. I was entrusted with the responsibility of organizing a huge range of events in prison.
I enjoyed my new life thoroughly. It was a different intoxication here, a divine madness that took over me. In 2011, I was finally released from jail and forever. In the following year, Guruji visited Udaipur and felicitated me on the stage. It was the experience of a lifetime as Guruji applauded and appreciated my efforts. Now I started chasing Guruji, every now and then. I was smitten by him and mesmerized by his love. I would follow him wherever he went. Soon, I became a teacher in the same year.
I am now entirely dedicated to the Art of Living. I have conducted about 20 prison programs and touched the lives of 700-800 prisoners. My focus is on being an instrument for transforming the lives of criminals. I have also started doing Organic Farming in my village. Besides, a documentary film, Bawan Parinde, has been made on my life story, as an inspiration for people to contribute to society. As Guruji says, in every criminal there is a victim crying for help. I am no longer a victim, but I still cry only to bring out tears of joy. The light that I first saw during my first Sudarshan Kriya flooded my entire life with brilliance. Until now I have been looting the world, and Guruji has looted my heart with all his love. I am still basking in the glory. When you have a master in your life, you don’t need anything. Life is complete.
