After two months since I completed the Art of Living Happiness program, my teacher insisted to do the Advanced course at the Bangalore Ashram. I grudgingly registered, considering my health situation at that time & my finances. In those 5 days, there were many times when I cried and felt like running away from the ashram. However, Gurudev had different plans for me and I ended up doing the Sahaj Samadhi course also along with the Advanced course! Here are a few instances of how I felt His grace moved things for me –
Whenever I was at the edge, my teacher used to appear by my side, out of nowhere and I was taken care of. As a part of Seva during the course, we were assigned to clean dishes. I panicked! I can hardly hold my food plate without straining my back injury. So, I prayed to Gurudev to watch over me until the course ends. Post lunch, we were washing utensils and I was swept away by the joy of doing Seva! After a while, a sudden desire to eat payasam (that was served at lunch) sprung up. Moments later, a guy with a bucket and glass approached me, asking if I would like to have a glass of payasam. I was stupefied! I made a quick recovery from a mix of various emotions and politely declined while the rest enjoyed the gift. I was too embarrassed to say “Yes” hahaha. Also, because of that break, I was able to get some time to rest my back before heading back to the course.
I thought of buying a book but could not decide. I randomly picked one, and opened the 5th page, it was dated 10th July which is also my date of birth! I got excited but laughed at my stupidity to make it the reason. I said to myself “Gurudev, you choose and tell me”. With that, I was anticipating to hear it from someone by chance. The first name I heard was “Narada Bhakti Sutra” from my teacher while she was sharing an experience. But I was still unsure. I wanted to hear a more direct statement. That evening at Satsang, Gurudev was bestowing knowledge and in the midst of it he says, “You should read Narada Bhakti Sutra”. BULL’s EYE!! I was dumbfounded.
At the end, I bought my first Art of Living book which also happens to have my date of birth on page 5 🙂
Lesson learnt: Be careful of what you wish for, specifically in the ashram.
Jai Gurudev!
– Neeta Teerdhala
ਜੈ ਗੁਰੂਦੇਵ ਜੀ। ਸਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਰੱਖਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੀ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸੱਚ ਦੇ ਮਾਰਗ ਤੇ ਚੱਲਣ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਤ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਉਹ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਦੁੱਖ ਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਸਾਡਾ ਸਾਥ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਤਸਿੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਸ਼ਨ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ ਕਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਇਸ ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੋ ਲੋਕ ਭੋਲੇ ਭਾਲੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਕਿਉਂ ਦੁੱਖ ਤਕਲੀਫ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਤਾਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਜਨਮਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਰਮ ਕੱਟੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਸਤਸਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਤਿਸੰਗ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਧਨਾ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹਿਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਦੂਜੇ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਲ ਮਨ ਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਮਿਲਦੀ ਹੈ।
My GuruDev is the True Antharyami!
Feeling Blessed! 🙏