Sri Sri Stories
When Sri Sri Ravi Shankar launched Volunteer for a Better India, many people asked, “So what is it for? It’s a good idea broadly, sure, but what is it specifically about?” This question dwelt in their minds, and there were some very sincere attempts at finding out answers through discussions. But everybody had their own ideas and thoughts. While all this was going on, somebody put a bunch of people together and revived a dry river! That made it clear that there are those who discuss what VBI is over the dinner table and then, there are those who decide what it is.
A few months ago, Sri Sri started saying in public discourses that there were 12 crore voters who had not been registered for voting and that something had to be done about it. This thought got stuck into Dr. Vinod Kumar, a young teacher at the ashram. While he was mulling over this, one day, Sri Sri took him by the hands, looked into his eyes and told him, “You are here for a big reason. Live your life for the country. Go and shake colleges. Do something big.” Vinod left the ashram to fulfil his Master’s word.
With full faith in his heart, he set out to accomplish what his Guru had planned for him.
He began from Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh (A state in India) and started going and approaching colleges, sharing this information with them. Everybody agreed that something had to be done. He then developed a 1 day training program for the students. The students from the first few programs launched such an intense voter registration drive, that it caught the Collector’s attention, who then invited Vinod to his office. Vinod was a little late in arriving due to a session he was teaching, but was surprised to find the Collector still waiting for him, with the media. The Collector showered praise on the young teacher and asked him to share what he was doing.
Vinod explained with directness and simplicity, “We all want to make India better. Someone wants to clean a slum, someone else wants to plant trees and so on. But we do it when it suits us, at different times. If we do it together, we’ll make a bigger difference. VBI is just a platform for that. It is whatever YOU want it to be. I’m on a mission to register the maximum number of new voters.” When asked about the challenges he had been facing, he shared, “I waste half a day everyday waiting outside the Principals’ office in every college”. Impressed with VBI and Vinod, the Collector immediately offered to call all the principals at one place in a few days, which would help ease out Vinods’ daily struggle.
Meanwhile, Vinod took out all the data he needed from the Collector’s office – the number of unregistered voters in all the constituencies, the contacts of tahsildars and the colleges in those constituencies. There were 400+ colleges and 6 days to cover them until registration closed. Out of all these colleges, 44 principals showed up. The Collector introduced Vinod, who plainly asked the principals, “The future of the country is in the hands of the youth and the youth are in your hands. Can you give them to me for a day? I will train them and turn them into inspired role models.” After this, his phone kept ringing.
He made a plan, marking out the colleges where he would conduct the trainings each day. The host college had to invite colleges from neighbouring constituencies as well as the tahsildars. The sessions were an eye opener for everybody, instilling pride about being Indian as well as awakening a deep sense of responsibility towards the country. This went on for a week and created a massive wave in the whole region.
Vinod taught the 6 hour programs in the day, and then travelled hundreds of kilometres to the next place in the evening. A small detail that Vinod does not mention while telling this story is that during this time, while visiting a college, he slipped on the stairs and fractured his upper back. The doctor had advised him bed rest! But that did not stop him from marching enthusiastically towards his goal, towards volunteering for a better India. A month later, he received a letter from the Collector’s office stating that the 3000+ students that he trained had gone on to register 37000+ new voters aged 18-19 years.
Wow. Now that’s truly a huge number. It all fell in place, with hard work and grace! Hats off Vinod!
Why is it that we hear such awesomely inspiring stories so rarely? Why is it that we are merely the readers of such stories? Why can’t we be the creators? Is the country’s well being only Vinods’ responsibility? Isn’t each one of us equally accountable? Don’t we all want to be a part of the Masters’ vision of a Better India?
You can fill the happiness survey by clicking on this link http://www.ivoteforabetterindia.in/main/happiness_survey and understand how happy you are with the current situation of your nation!
Just have the faith and take the plunge. Volunteer for a Better India, Today!
Know that we have a master who is here only to bless us and provide us with all we need! He is someone who will not just teach us a meditation technique and go away, He will take us all the way to accomplish all our goals in life.
Love you Gurudev.
JGD
You always see those surreal moments in the news and movies, where people survive near-death experiences. But it doesn’t cross your mind that it could happen to you one day.
I went for a cooking competition in which my sister was participating. It was held on the rooftop of a well-known mall in Nairobi. All the participants were supposed to report to the mall by a certain time, but we left home after the reporting time, reaching the mall quite late. Before leaving home, I thought about going later with my cousin and other sister, but then I just had a gut feeling that I should go now.
We reached the mall, and I had to return a shirt that I had bought earlier. I told my mother to come along with me, but she said that we’d go after the competition finished. We were lucky that we didn’t enter the mall, because about 10 minutes later, we heard gunshots and saw hundreds of people storming out of the mall. It was a moment of confusion – assuming that it was probably a robbery. Then the intensity of the gunshots and explosions increased, and we realised that it was something bigger and we had to run.
Being at the top of the building meant that it was a long way out. The car-park was filled with cars, and we had no idea where to run. There were about 300 odd people and the majority were children. The gas cookers were on, but everyone just ran for their lives. As soon as we started running, I took my mum’s phone and called my cousin and sister, who were on their way to the mall. I told them not to come in, as something was wrong. It was the perfect timing, as they were just about to enter the gate, and so they drove somewhere else. The next phone call I made was to my friend, who was coming to meet me, with the same message – not to come.
We moved into a corner where cars couldn’t park because of the angle and ducked down, trying to hide ourselves. I was with my mum, sister and her friend. There were people trampling on top of anyone, trying to jump over the wall, assuming there was greater safety on the other side. We were all cramped and sitting on top of each other, with the effort of hiding ourselves, as best as possible.
There was gunshot after gunshot and explosion after explosion, and in that moment, I thought that the mall was going to collapse and we were all gone. During that time, I just kept remembering Guruji, and prayed to Him to protect us. The only word in my head and on my lips was ‘JAI GURUDEV’. Because there were so many people (especially children) there was a lot of shouting and crying. Initially I was quite uneasy, but once I thought of Guruji, I got this deep strength and faith, that He would protect us. My father then called and asked if everything was fine, and I think it may have been one of the most difficult calls of my life, because I told him that I didn’t know what was going on and asked him to pray for us.
We then figured that the mall had been attacked by terrorists. We all got extremely frightened on learning this. The terrorists then came onto the roof and were randomly shooting and throwing grenades. I think a bullet must have hit the gas cylinder, and the tent caught fire. I saw someone rolling out with his body on fire and asking for help, but no one could do anything. The terrorists threw grenades in our direction. As soon as it went off, we started running again to find a place with more safety, but there was actually nowhere to go, with cars all over. In the chaos, I got separated from my mum, sister and her friend. I was unsure if anything happened to them in the process of the grenade going off. I was really worried, as there was a man right in front of me who lost his leg, and a woman sitting beside me who had lost her hand due to the shrapnel. There was a grenade about 5 metres from us, which hadn’t gone off. The terrorist saw us but did not approach us; he had one of the biggest guns I have ever seen.
After spending 2 hours in the blazing heat, in a very uncomfortable position, someone came and told us the way out. We were unsure if he was a terrorist or not. But eventually we started running until we saw someone with a gun and decided to run back. The man told us that he was there for our security and that we shouldn’t worry. So we started running out. Because we had been in the same position for two hours, everyone’s legs were pretty stiff. My mum really struggled with her feet and couldn’t walk further. But there was no way we could leave her in that danger zone. So I held her hand and pulled her with me. She got some strength, but still found it difficult to run, and so I told my sister to run ahead with her friend, and my mother and I ran right behind them.
And in the end, we managed to get out of the mall, safe and sound. Truly, all’s well that ends well!
Now when I look back, the day was truly a miracle. A lot of people lost their lives, and I’m still sitting here, writing this. We managed to get out without an injury, when we could have been shot or hit by shrapnel, as it was the case for many people. The grenade didn’t go off. The terrorist had seen us and had been shooting randomly before that, but he didn’t do anything to us after that. My gut feeling to go to the mall with my sister and mum was a blessing in disguise, because I managed to pull my mum out, or else she would have fallen weak. I have no idea where I got the presence of mind to make the calls that I did, but that prevented a dangerous situation from occurring. I could have gone inside the mall to return the shirt, but it was strangely postponed. When I was there, I did not shed a single tear because I got this strong faith and strength from something that I couldn’t figure out then, but I was assured that everything would be okay.
The powerful force behind that miracle and protection was Guruji! He made us do things which we had thought about, but then changed our mind. He gave us strength. I had done my Kriya that day after about a month. Honestly, I can’t describe what He did for us that day. And even after that, I was quite traumatised because of the events of the day. I saw many dead and injured people who were brutally hurt. I could hear all the crying, shouting, gunshots, and explosions. I could see the terrorist who came in front of me, and wondered why he didn’t turn around and shoot us or throw more grenades at us. My mind was all over the place with the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. Then I did my Kriya and meditated every day, and I can say that after a month, I felt like I was my old self again, but much stronger. The support from Guruji, my family and friends was incredible. And I want to thank them every day for it.
What I learnt that day was nothing but a reflection of Guruji’s teachings. Life is too short! We need to live in the moment, because it truly is a present from God. We need to forgive and forget. But most importantly, I feel, we need to spread Love and Happiness, because that is what life is about.
JGD
Nikasha
Thank you so very much Guruji, love you the most! Out of the various instances of experiencing Gurujis grace this is one of them – while writing this I have tears of gratitude in thinking about how much HE loves each and every person and how HE has been there in each and every situation.
Below is one of the many situations of my life which happen a couple of years back in 2012 where HE has blessed me with unbounded Grace –
I studied the TYBMS (Bachelor of Management Studies) course in a top management college in Mumbai. I would graduate in April and was looking for a job. I was looking forward and highly depending on college campus placements. Four companies came to college; I got out after the first round for one, could not attend the second. For the next two, out of hundreds of applicants, I made it to the top five but still did not get the job. Due to this I was feeling bad as there were not too many companies coming in the future, but my faith in my Guru kept me going. I wanted a job in Marketing but these were all financial companies, but due to limited availability I did not mind taking up the Finance job. Two more companies came to college but even after clearing the final round I did not get any job offers. Most of my friends were already well placed and I started wondering why I was left out, in spite of having a Master.
It was the month of January now, I was kind of lost and did not how should I react and what my state of mind must be. Back then Shivratri celebrations were scheduled on 20th Feb in Ashram in the presence of Sri Sri. I had no intention of attending this celebration, until a friend who was already going, one day she suddenly told me that I must come along, we both were somewhere out on our way to satsang and she said with great conviction why don’t I come for shivratri ? I will help me gain the strength and the luck which I desperately needed. I thought to my self that I did not have any scheduled interviews for those 4 days, nor did I have any other plans, so I quickly booked my bus tickets and reached Ashram for Shivratri.
It was indeed a great experience, attending the Rudra Pooja on Maha Shivratri with Sri Sri, I was happy and blissful. I dropped all my wishes and fears on the humble feet of my Master. One day after shivratri, Sri Sri decided to meet everyone who had come to ashram, this was the turning point. I thought to myself if I get a chance, I will tell Guruji about my job situation. A darshan line was made, we were all seated, thousands of us, Sri Sri meeting each one, hearing their problems and coming up with solutions, what a sight it was! As Sri Sri neared me, my heart skipped a beat, He looked at me and I told Him ” Guruji, I am from Mumbai and in my final year, I am sitting for job placements, nothing is confirmed yet, please guide me”. I had told Him what ever I had to, Sri Sri hears me out and says ” don’t worry, something better is in store for you”. Wow, it was short and to the point but I needed that confidence!!! I felt so light after that and knew that I am taken care of by my beloved Master.
I came back to Mumbai and after a couple of weeks a multinational IT Firm came to college for placements. It’s the biggest firm in Asia dealing with web products, and they were offering a marketing job .One night before an Art of Living volunteer told me that he had been there and that it was a good company. That morning I did my kriya, prayed to Guruji as this was the final company coming to hire.
I cracked the Group Discussion and the initial Interview rounds, taking me into the Final round of interview where my first question was- if I had to start the Art Of Living work from scratch in Mumbai how would I do it (I was shocked and amazed) My interviewer was happy with the answer I gave and I made a good impression on him because the interview started off so well as I was asked something I know. The interview went on for one and a half hour, and I just could feel Gurujis presence and grace all around me. I was hired in this very firm- my name appeared right on top out of the 4 selected students.
It happened to be the best profile offered in campus and it was exactly what I was looking for. I felt fortunate and totally satisfied that Guruji gave me what I needed and what is best for me. If I had got any of the earlier jobs I wouldn’t have been happy or satisfied.
Guruji knows what is best for us and will give it to us at the very right time, we just need to have strong faith in him and just walk along with him.
Attending the Shivratri Celebration with Sri Sri was the turning point for me, it gave ma all the courage I needed. After that year, every year I have been attending Shivratri Pooja with Gurudev. Today on this occasion of Mahashivratri also I am with Gurudev :). He has always been there for me.
My message to all those reading this Guru Story, just feel the presence of the Master on this auspicious day and every moment of your life. He is there to guide you, love you, bless you with abundance and grace :).
So thankful to you Guruji for the way you are watching one and all and taking care of our lives. We should feel so humble and fortunate to have a Master who takes care of every need.
Life has changed since I have met you. HE indeed is the magician of our lives.
Jai Gurudeva,
Kunal
I was invited to be a part of the Fashion Show at the International Women’s Conference, Bangalore, this year. I have done Pageants in the past, however this one was very prestigious and close to my heart, for the obvious reason!
I met Gurudev a day prior to the event, and told Him that I had come for the ramp walk and took His blessings. My deepest desire was to see HIM watch me on stage. Rehearsals for the event were happening in full swing. My excitement levels were on the rise, as we came closer and closer to the final moments. On the day of the event, contestants were discussing whether Guruji would be present for the event. And I am sure HE KNEW THE RIGHT TIME TO BE THERE.
When it was my turn for the walk, I could see from the distance, Gurudev sitting on the couch. I knew exactly where to walk up to and then pause. As I walked the long pathway, my eyes were only on HIM. I continued my walk and took my stance, just opposite to where He was sitting on the couch – like a ‘King’, unperturbed and watching. I Smiled. THIS was MY moment !! This was what I had wanted right from the beginning ! This was what I sought for, since the time I got the call from IWC. As I took the U turn back, I felt so happy, I was thrilled and elated. I had got what I had come for !
On returning backstage, I heard my co-contestants discussing that Gurudev had not come for the event, and was watching the Live Webcast instead. I was shocked. It was simply unbelievable. This was just not true. I am a realist and do not get carried off by events or moments. I yet dare not say aloud what I had just encountered. What followed thereafter was a grand dinner, along with an auction for the gorgeous outfits, and wonderful and bonding time. I slept that night, knowing deep down that I could not be wrong, nor mistaken, nor dreaming about Gurudev’s presence right there before me. The following day, it was further confirmed that Guruji was not there the previous evening for the event.
I have read umpteen Miracle stories and heard how HE does incredible things. I know, HE KNEW THE RIGHT TIME TO BE THERE….For ME, IT WAS A CINDERELLA EVENING !!
Sanaya Wellington – Mumbai
I was very fond and attached to my Nanaji ( i.e my maternal grandfather) for whom I felt that I was the luckiest to have such a beautiful soul in my life. Many people I saw were simply drawn to him only because of the love he gave everyone. A sense of comfort and belongingness that he made me and everyone around feel with his spiritual discussion, always made it difficult to leave him. When I was 10, I used to wonder what was he doing by keeping his eyes closed and sitting still like a statue for half an hour every morning and evening. At that time, out of curiosity, I even tried sitting and imitating him and checking secretly every two minutes if there was some action that was going to take place after the silence, but it never did for me. Out of utter frustration I asked him what was happening with his eyes closed. What did he do? Didn’t he get bored? What did he see when his eyes were shut? Or did he get some secret powers from God? (I had seen on TV that rishis got powers from God personally after keeping their eyes closed). These questions were replied with a simple answer and with a smile “NOTHING” and then he tried giving me a few tips that I could use to meditate. I didn’t understand that and kept asking him to give me an honest answer to my query. But he had the same answer adding to my confusion OR THE START TO MY JOURNEY.
After my Nana passed away, it just felt that a lot of me went away too. It was the most difficult thing to accept as someone so close went away so far. I had so many unanswered questions which started to come up and wanted to ask him. I thought all my answers were gone with him. However, I now understand that he is always there with me. He also answered everything I needed without knowing it. Then I did my first Art of Living course where I got the glimpse of my answers. After my first Sudarshan Kriya things changed for good. I used to harass my Yes Course (my first course) teacher so much with so many questions and he always answered without getting irritated. I realised over time that so many tricky questions keep getting answered when knowledge is practiced.
For me, studying is the biggest mystery that I always had trouble solving. I locked horns with my books. The only thing that helped me clear my IPCC (Chartered Accountant) exams was Gurujis knowledge and my Yes+ teacher whom I called whenever I needed to boost my morale. Guruji made me realise and believe that I am as capable as others instead of always doubting myself and undermining my confidence. The way Guruji explains every knowledge point makes everything look so simple, bringing awareness about the self, mind and its power. Walking with Guruji on this path has made my life so much fun. HE makes problems looks so very small. When I am tired and have a lot of work left I just imagine how Guruji works effortlessly with a sleep of few hours. The thought pumps me with energy again and I am able to put my 100%.With so much to learn from my Friend, Guruji, and time feels so short. Every time his knowledge surprised me because he proves with science or logic and makes us aware about so many things about our self, mind and its power. Meditation is how it has all started for me and with so much more to learn I am sure I am under the right guidance. This addiction is the best addiction to have. I now feel that this journey from Nana to Guruji was my gift in the making with many miracles yet to unfold.
I wonder how anyone who is so busy and surrounded by so many people can be so caring, loving and peaceful. HE truly is my inspiration. With Guruji around, I feel the same comfort and love that my Nanaji gave me and thus Guruji always reminds me, when the mind is stuck somewhere that every present moment is actually a miracles and inevitable.
LOVE YOU LOADS GURUJI.
Jai Gurudev
Dhruv Bhatt
I would like to share with one and all a sweet story of my life. I am a Hindu girl who married a Parsi boy, in the year 1995. We had a Court marriage. We now have two children as well, who follow both the religions. Encouraged by my Gurus’ words, that now my boys have 2 religions to benefit from, I introduced spiritual practices taught in AOL into their lives, in order to keep them on the right path, and mould them well.
Having gone through a lot of turbulent times, while I swam against the tide, I finally found my saviour in SRI SRI in 2005. Still swimming against the same tide, albeit with a Smile(that happens when you find a GURU), I realized that following what HE said, and eventually becoming an AOL full time teacher while continuing my dental practice for 4 hours a day, I had seen and was moving towards the shore, which I never imagined actually existed. All my dreams had been realized, in just a span of 3 odd years since I met my GURU – SRI SRI.
But we all know and have experienced at some point, how one desire leads to more desires, and so the lingering pain of not having been married in the presence of Gurudev, and rather accepting blessings from Law instead, started raising its ugly head. Whenever a difference of opinion rose between me and my husband, or whenever we felt at crossroads, I fell back to our court marriage as the reason for it.
Finally in 2013, my husband decided to take that excuse away, and decided to take me for GURUJI’s blessings to the Bangalore Ashram. This was on the occasion of our 18th wedding anniversary. Deep in my heart, the dream of getting married in the presence of Gurudev, in a traditional Rajasthani way, started taking hold of me, first as dreams at night and then during the day too. As the date to visit Sri Sri came closer, I had visualized my marriage in the presence of Gurudev, and my husband and I taking a picture like newly-weds with Gurudev, to the very last detail. Of course I did not utter a word about this gorgeous dream of mine to anyone else.
Finally the day arrived, and we found ourselves standing in Shakti Kutir with H.H Sri Sri Ravishankar. I still have to pinch myself to wake up from what ensued. As soon as I told Guruji when He put sweets in my hands, that it was our wedding anniversary, what followed was MY DREAM, to the minutest detail, and that too without uttering a word to my Master about it. I was wonder-struck. Sri Sri asked some people around to bring 2 garlands, and then He made us exchange them, in His very presence, while He clapped for us. Then He cutely fussed over which Pagdi (Turban) to choose for my husband for a good 5 – 7 minutes, till all were brought to Him, and made my husband wear it HIMSELF! Wow, I felt so happy. I was blushing like a teenager. What followed was even more beautiful. Gurudev gave me a gorgeous purple saree, and after we had bowed down and touched His feet, He blessed us as a couple and asked if we wanted a picture with HIM. Oh My God. What more could I have asked for?
Today, adorning my wall, is a beautiful dream, not just realized, but amazingly captured, frame by frame of every moment and step, just like a photographer would do in a wedding. That day I finally felt married, with God’s blessings showering upon my marriage, as Gurudev Himself had blessed us. I am so grateful to my Master for giving me this lovely lifetime experience, and many more happy moments in my life. I feel most blissed when serving my MASTER. I also have become very careful and aware of what I wish for or dream about, as when you have a GURU like SRI SRI, your wishes and dreams do come true.
NOW MY ONLY WISH IS THAT HE UTILIZES MY LIFE FOR A HIGHER CAUSE, AND MY DREAM IS TO SERVE MY MASTER TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY ☺
JGD
Dr Shivani Billimoria
Jai Gurudev,
It’s been quite a while since I wanted to write about my experiences with the Art-of-Living, but I was waiting for that one great miracle to mention over here. I have been reading the experiences of other devotees as well, and it fills my heart with immense joy to know that they too share quite similar, yet completely unique miracles, of our beloved Guruji. Few months back when I lost my wallet in the bus and then somehow got it back due to Gurudev’s grace, I was filled with so much gratitude and love, and I thought that this one would be worth sharing. But then I found that something on the same lines had been shared by another devotee. So I kept waiting for another big miracle to happen. And then I realized something, something very beautiful. But before that, let me start from the beginning.
My journey with the Art of Living started in October 2009. Being the only child, I was having great difficulties in opening up to people and making new friends. Somewhere, I always felt lonely. I did not feel happiness and joy. And I wanted things to change.
I had been really attracted to the wisdom and knowledge shared by Guruji through books and talks since a very long while, but at that time, I thought that Art of Living just happens in Bangalore. And that it was far beyond my reach. Then a friend told me about a course which was to happen very close to my place.
The very first Satsang that I attended was at Kalpana ji’s (my teacher) place; and I wondered as to how the people there could be this happy? I did not seem to understand the reason for their happiness. I was curious to know their secret. And just within a month, I experienced my first Sudarshan Kriya. And it was like a miracle. Since then, I did not feel lonely. I stopped feeling out of place. I felt comfortable in talking to almost everyone. I felt happy, that too without any reason, as true happiness needs no reason. Now it’s been over five years with the organisation, and to be very honest, life didn’t completely cease to be challenging, but my outlook towards it changed. And that’s all that really matters. We need to change the way we look at tough situations in life, and trust me, then nothing seems tough. I have gained immense strength from this course, which has not only helped me survive through rough phases, but has truly made me a more evolved person. I have hit various lows in my life, but somehow, Guruji’s grace didn’t let those situations break me.
Miracles happen every day in my life. I pray to Guruji for the silliest of things like “Gurudev, please help me get the bus on time”, and the moment I think He is way too busy for my stupid requests, I see my bus right there. But now I have realised something much bigger than all this, the truth of my life.
Today I realized – the very presence of Guruji in my life is the biggest miracle ever. And allthe other small miracles are just subsets of it. Many things in life are yet to be sorted, but I am sureabout one thing, and even you should be, – that as long as Guruji is there, I have nothing to worry about.
Jai Gurudev,
Shrija R.
Art of Living came into my life at a time when I was in a totally miserable condition, when I needed a helping hand from the Divine, as I had given up all hope. My father died in 2007, in my own arms. It was very hard for me to face this loss as I was extremely attached to him. After spending almost a year in utter grief, another major problem surfaced, Marriage. I would feel horribly lonely and sad most of the times, as marriage was not working out in my life. I had no companion with whom I could share my pain, with the hope of reducing it a bit. I felt extremely victimised by life. I kept asking the question “Why me?”, for which I got no answer in return. I was in a pathetically depressed condition.
One fine day, my sister, who was staying in America then, called me and told me about AOL, and asked me to join the Course too, that was happening in my area. She took a promise from me that I would join the upcoming course in Gwalior. I had no reason to say no, and I started to gather more information about the same. I then called the course teacher, Meenakshi di, and she asked me to join from the following Monday. I was fully prepared for the course, and was also looking forward to it now, seeing my sisters’ determination to make me do it by hook or by crook, but due to sudden guests at home, I was not able to make it for the first day. On learning this, my sister forced me to join from the next day. She explained my situation to the Course teacher, and told her that she felt that it was only and only the AOL course that could help me get out of my sinking situation. The teacher very well understood the situation, and graciously agreed to let me join the next day.
The Course proved to be a life-changing experience for me. It taught me a lot of things about life, which I had never understood before. It changed my perspective towards many things, people and situations. It gave me a sense of courage and vigour, to live my life with a renewed smile. Miraculously, I started feeling alive. It was truly magical. I don’t know how, but everything started falling in place somehow. I felt enthusiastic and full of life. My negative emotions started to fade away. I felt my life floating over an ocean of positivity. I took up a new job, with full enthusiasm. I started doing well at my work, which really boosted my morale. I felt protected and secured at all times. Whenever I would have any kind of problems, people around me would always stand by me and help me solve them.
Just by being with Guruji, I was protected by a shield, always. I can never forget this particular incident – One night, I had pain on my chest, and I got really worried as a similar thing had happened in the past as well, and it had been really painful for me. I really did not want the same thing to repeat. I then just prayed to Guruji and said with faith, “Jai Gurudev”. And believe you me, the very next morning, the pain had disappeared. This was one of the sweetest miracles that I have experienced on the path, and I know there will be many such more in the future as well. I have the faith.
And till today, Gurudev is taking care of me at every step, I know it and I feel it each moment. Thank you Gurudev, for your abundant Grace and Blessings.
Aise Guru ke charno main shat shat naman ho.
(I bow down with Gratitude to the humble feet of my Master)
JGD
Anonyomous
At the age of 44, I happened to be an unfortunate victim of the deadly disease named Leukemia. Its treatment with modern day medicines had made me a 90% dead man. I had become extremely weak, physically as well as mentally, and was also under-going a great amount of depression due to the state of matters. Doctors were of the opinion that even after treatment, I wouldn’t live long. My life was truly miserable. I was living the life of a scared, feeble, fragile and helpless person, knowing that I would die soon. The attachment towards my parents, wife & my lovely two kids, and the thought that I was going to lose them in a few days, haunted me every second.
One of those days, a close relative of mine, along with a few friends, invited me to do the Art of Living Basic Course. This proved to be the starting point of a truly magical phase in my life. Guruji really opened up a new door to my life, a door of hope, a door of peace, a door of strength.
I regularly practiced my Sadhana and Sudarshan Kriya. It was healing me. It was helping me progress towards good health. To the surprise of my doctors, I started responding very well to their medicines, my health was showing extremely positive signs of a speedy and successful recovery. My blood counts had become normal. I was very hopeful at this stage, seeing the positive effects of the Sudarshan Kriya in my life.
One particular night, Guruji appeared in my dream and in a soothing voice told me “You are alright now.” This was truly magical. I had never experienced something so powerful, yet so peaceful, ever before. This dream really boosted my confidence, and it also re-assured me that I am being taken care of.
Soon after that, I did the Part 2 Course in my village itself. I then proceeded to the Ashram to do another Part 2 Course, with the hope that I could meet Guruji there. And yes, I did meet Him; and met Him really well. Guruji spoke to me as though He knew everything about me. He then asked me to share my experience with the video there.
The best part of my meeting with the Master was that, Guruji had the same look, same clothes, same voice, same appearance, as He had in my dream. I just could not believe that all that was happening with me was actually a reality. It seemed more like a Fairy-tale.
And I happily continued my fruitful journey with the Art of Living. I did the DSN, Sahaj Samadhi meditation, Sri Sri Yoga, Gurupooja course, and finally the TTC (Teachers Training Course). I am 56 now, happily organising and teaching Basic as well as Gurupooja courses every now and then.
Thank you Gurudev, for turning my life into heaven, from hell. Living has truly become like a celebration for me, all thanks to YOU☺
I hope and pray that Miracles happen to all those who read this, just like they happened to me.
JGD
Mithran Tk
I am Devendra working with an MNC in Mumbai. I did my basic course in 2008 and have done six advance courses until now. I have experienced so many guru miracles in my life but I want to share this one. While traveling in an auto two days back, I lost my wallet which had my driving license, pancard and other debit & credit cards along with a sum of 5000Rs. I was feeling so bad and sulking on me being so careless. I didn’t even share this with my wife who is an art of living teacher but she noticed that I am little sad so when she insisted on the reason, I told her everything and she asked me to simply pray to Guruji and that I may get my wallet back. I thought how will Guruji bring my wallet back or why should I trouble him by asking such things however she still insisted and I prayed.
After sometime I got a call from an unknown number and the person told me that he found my wallet somewhere and wanted to return it to me. Tears of gratitude started flowing from my eyes and looking at Guruji’s photo I said – What are you Guruji and till how far you will help us. Today my belief has become stronger that he will take care of all of us all the time. Next morning I met that person and took my wallet back with everything in place. I thanked that person gave him 2000Rs. as a prasad (offering in gratitude) to the god in him which he refused initially but after my request, accepted it.
I remembered two lines of SACHINJI’S SONG..
NA SABOOT HAI NA DALEEL HAI,
MERE PAAS RAB-A-JALEEL HAI..
(Nor do I have any proof nor any argument, that I have my Greatest God with me)
I LOVE YOU GURUJI
Devendra
