Sri Sri Stories
One often wonders; if the Master is watching over us all the time and if he is monitoring each and every second that is passing by in our life? I used to ponder over the same until a series of events made me believe that, YES, I am being watched over and being guided and protected by unseen forces.
I am a vivid biker and car enthusiast. I love travelling alone on my bike and car, since the revving engines make me feel connected to Mother Nature and bring out the better in me. As I pen down these words, my mind goes back to the incident that happened on the National Highway 7 (NH7). I had decided to travel from Hyderabad to Kanyakumari (2 different cities in Southern India) and made sure all the systems of my bike were in order. I started at midnight from Hyderabad. I travelled comfortably without any trouble for around 2.5 hours. At an average speed of 110-130 KMPH, I had reached Kurnool which is at a distance of 200 KM from Hyderabad. I stopped to inspect the machine on the highway and as everything seemed normal, I again pulled it over to the highway and started zooming at 151 KMPH.
Roughly ten minutes later, I saw a pair of lights coming at full speed and on high beams. Repeated signalling to lower them was futile and they still were continuing in the same manner. It came to me as a shock when I realised they were in my lane. It was too late to brake hard, since, the brakes would definitely cause my tyre to lose traction and skid off. Far from a distance, I could make out that there was a Tonner truck travelling at a slow pace. I thought hard, let out a silent prayer and jumped from the right lane to the left lane banking almost till my stands touched the ground. I now had to brake cautiously, since, any mistake would be fatal. I still was at 140Kms/hr+ speed. In that short time, I started applying the front brake first and then the rear brakes. In a fraction of a second, I felt the pistons of the brakes applying their maximum pressure on the brake discs. At the same time, I geared down hard from 5th gear to 4th gear and let go off the clutch. The engine roared due to the surge in the air intake from the air filter and the jets of the carburettor siphoned off petrol from the tank to keep up with the petrol to air ratio. The radiator was pumping in the fully synthetic oil that was being routed through the sump to prevent the piston from abruptly jamming midway at 11,000 RPM. This caused a sudden decrease in speed from 140 to 90 KMPH. I still had to get it down to 30 KMPH before I could avoid a collision. I applied more pressure onto the brakes and this time, lowered the gear from 4th to 3rd and subsequently to 2nd. The engine was well over the RPM and was being redlined (the limit that an engine has to a particular RPM). I didn’t bother, and with the piston knocking high, the handle struggling for control and the tyres, almost on the verge of losing traction, I managed to halt it just 4 feet away from the trailer.
A major accident was thus averted. I immediately switched on the parking lights and pulled over to a service road and stopped. The surge of adrenalin was so immense that I hardly felt the weight of my bike which is more than 165 kilos. I got down, and started thinking that I could have never ever managed to get out of a situation so sticky. It was as if I was not there while the incident happened. No matter how ace a rider I am, I simply would have failed in stopping my bike from ramming into the trailer. It was nothing but a miracle that I had managed to brake from 140 to 20 KMPH in less than a distance of 100 feet without skidding.
I am writing this today because I am alive by the Grace of my Guru. Love you dear Guruji, those angels that you sent that day saved me from being dead!!
Jai Gurudeva
Abhijit Murthy
It is said that in the presence of a Guru, five things blossom. One of them is that all talents in a person manifest. I used to wonder, “Is this really true?”
I used to play the guitar very casually, and knew a few Bollywood songs and chords, prior to the following event. I always wished to play AOL songs on the guitar, but struggled finding the right chords for them. My guitar teachers were also of no help, as AOL songs are Bhajans and the guitar teachers are not too fine-tuned with the same.
One day, I got to know about an Art of Living Songs chord’s book, which had the guitar chords for all the AOL Bhajans. I was so happy at this discovery. It was as if someone knew I needed the chord’s book. Soon, I formed a musical team in which I played the guitar, and my friend sang. We started singing in local YES!+ courses and conducted weekly Satsangs (hymns and chants) at various places. It was going great, and soon I bought a new electric guitar.
Eventually, my singer friend became irregular in attending Satsangs, due to certain personal commitments. By that time, I was not confident enough of playing the guitar as well as singing together. Rather, I wasn’t confident about singing at all. But I did not want to give up this beautiful practice of conducting Satsangs, so we continued to do so, taking Gurudev’s name each time we sang.
Once, there was a Satsang organized at a Yes+ devotees’ house, and we were invited to sing at the same. However, I would have to handle both the departments, guitar as well as singing, as my singer friend was not going to be able to make it that day as well. It was a new participant’s house, so I wanted the Satsang to be as amazing as possible, so that we could touch the hearts and lives of all the devotees present there. That day, the participant’s parents were also present, and many devotees sat across me. At that stage, I had only two options: either to cancel it or to go ahead with it. So I gathered all my strength and decided that I would sing. I closed my eyes and surrendered to Guruji. He would sail me through this, I had that faith.
Surprisingly, it went off well. I sang for one hour nonstop. I might have made a few mistakes during singing, and even contemplated in my mind about not singing again. But to my disbelief, both, the participant’s parents, complimented me by saying that my voice was very pleasant and soothing & that it took them to a different world altogether. I was thrilled on hearing this. It was all that my ears had been longing for. I realized that when you do something with utmost sincerity and a feeling of surrender, you are always appreciated. One must learn to strike the right balance between effort and effortlessness. This is a beautiful as well as beneficial skill.
All thanks to the Masters’ blessings, I was happy with myself. I felt victorious. Since this event, I started singing regularly at AOL Satsangs, and have also been a part of various on-stage performances for AOL, with audiences of over 500 persons. Truly, Guruji is always looking after us. We just need to have the faith, take the leap and surrender ourselves completely.
JGD
Rajat Mittal
JGD
Being in the software industry, I used to work late hours, eat lot of junk food, have meals at irregular timings and would not even do any kind of physical activity or exercise. On the contrary, I used to feel that nothing would happen to me at such a young age, and thus I would keep procrastinating the idea of living a healthy and fit life, in spite of knowing that my father and wife were already facing health issues. Putting a brave front, I would try and move forward.
But my health was deteriorating significantly. I used to get frequent headaches. I would wake up early in the morning with severe headaches. Then one fine day, I reluctantly went to the doctor, only to be told that I had high blood pressure. At that time, I was not aware of the reasons for high blood pressure and its long term impacts. I was asked to take BP medicines for a few weeks and then called for a review. While it looked to have settled, the doctor advised me to continue with the medicines.
Upon research, I found out as to how deadly BP can be, and its long term impact with medicine. Taking BP medicines also has side effects in the long term. I cursed myself for being so ignorant of the health problems arising due to irregular food and work habits. I realized that I had to accept the situation first. On doing so, I then focused on finding a solution to this health problem, and started some physical activity. It was very difficult to continue due to motivational issues. I started some Yoga but then discontinued in between. Somehow I wasn’t able to regularize my schedule. I was finding the entire process very tough. After 2 years of medication, I decided to give myself one last chance of getting back to shape and worked very hard. I became energetic, lost good amount of weight and started to feel healthy. However the BP was still an issue, and I continued on medication.
After 5 years of using BP medicines, in the year 2008, I came to know about the Sudharshan Kriya and did the AOL course. The first Kriya session was an amazing experience! I instantly fell in love with it and became very curious about it. I started reading books about Guruji, listening to His knowledge tapes, bhajans(devotional songs) etc. The knowledge tapes were just so amazing, and they made me realize as to how little I knew about life and the way of leading a happy life! The course truly transformed me from within.
The doctors reviewed my BP on regular visits, and the dosage came down significantly but couldn’t be avoided completely. In 2009, I did my DSN course and learnt the Padmasadhana , its series of Yoga postures. This particular technique swept me off my feet, as I felt very happy and energetic, yet calm and empty, after each session of Padmasadhana. I continued the Padmasadhana religiously! I also prayed to Sri Sri, all these years, to help me get out of this health condition, and I also pledged to lead a healthy life.
In the year 2010, my BP came to normal levels. Doctors were surprised at this, and told me that I no longer needed medication. Till date, all regular checkups continue to show my BP as normal. This was truly a big miracle for me, as health is wealth. It is one of the many instances where Guruji helped me. Sri Sri takes care of each one of us in His own way!
Thank you, Gurudev
Ardent Devotee
I was looking for job opportunities in Bangalore and went home for a few days as I was feeling home sick. I was happy to see and meet my parents and friends but from inside I felt tensed, was thinking if I would get a job or not, and was constantly praying to Sri Sri.
As I was at home, I was relaxed and had left my preparation for the interviews. All of a sudden, I got a call from an MNC saying that I had to attend their written exam the next day. I had to rush to Bangalore and didn’t have the time to prepare well, and couldn’t go through my study notes even once as I was informed only the previous night. Next morning when I reached at my room, I cried and asked Guruji to be on my side. I completed my 1st round of exam which went on very well and the topics that I had revised long were asked. Finally I was happy.
After a week I got a call from the company asking me to attend the second round of the interview. I prepared well and went, but couldn’t perform well. I was depressed and as I expected didn’t get a call from them. All my friends who attended interview with me got selected and I was feeling sad for a few days that I couldn’t make it. Still I kept faith in Guruji and moved on.
I was still looking out for jobs but inside still there was a little prick that I could not make it to my dream company. But surprisingly, after two weeks, the same MNC called me and told that though I did not do well in the second round, I was still in the top 5 in the first round so they wanted to conduct another two rounds of interview for me. How could anybody who got rejected first, get a call again? I was so excited that day and it was nothing but Guru’s Grace. I couldn’t believe myself, but one thing I promised Guruji that I will not let go of this opportunity that my Master gave me and will completely utilize it. The next two rounds went pretty well and I finally got selected!! I had Guruji in my mind and tears in my eyes. I just couldn’t believe how the opportunity that had left me, came to me again.
Guruji is there for me, for every body. All we need to do is to keep up his vision for violence-free, stress-free world and live a life with Faith, Trust and Love.
Jai Gurudev!
With pleasure,
Aparajitha
Jai Gurudev!
My Guru story goes as follows…
There was this one late evening, me and my mother were going back home from a meeting at the Art of Living center, Jaipur. There was joy and enthusiasm in the air, as Sri Sri was to visit Jaipur (a city in India) and there was full-fledged work going on for the same. Banners & hoarding had been put across the city.
While driving, we came across a circle and began looking for the event banner (though I had already seen it at many different places). I could only see one big hoarding of some FM channel, but my mother saw the one for our AOL event, with Guruji’s picture on it. This led to an argument between us. I was telling her that there was no hoarding there, while she said there was one! By then, we had already gone half a km away from the circle, and were on the main road. My mother was still adamant on showing me the hoarding and told me to stop the car. So I parked the car at the side, though that was a pretty narrow road and only one vehicle could pass at a time, so I parked in front of someone’s house. Then we got down, went closer to the hoarding location, saw it properly and then returned. All this was happening somewhere close to 10 pm.
Till now, everything sounds so meaningless to you right? Firstly, wanting to see a hoarding which we have already seen before, then arguing over it, and then literally getting down the car to see it, that too at 10 pm at night! I was not able to understand the purpose of this entire episode. I did not see any meaning or sense in it.
But just then, everything started making sense. Just as I parked the car and got down, something had happened. There was this big SUV going through that road. It passed by at a very high speed and the driver was extremely rash in his driving. Behind the SUV, there were two police vans, driving at almost the same speed. Considering the narrow width of the road, had we passed by that road and not taken the diversion to see the hoarding, there would have been a very high probability of an accident, as the cars passed by at such high speed. There would have been immense damage caused to our car as well as injuries borne by us. Later on, I also got to know that the SUV had banged into a divider, just a little ahead from where we were.
There had been a strong meaning behind this entire episode, which seemed pretty much meaningless at the start. It was all for a cause, and for a good cause. It happened to save us from the possibility of a bad accident. Sometimes in life, it’s just best to go with the flow, instead of thinking and analyzing too much. Sometimes, it’s good to follow your very gut feeling, your inner instinct and have faith in it. You will realize with time that whatever happens, happens for the best, and I can say this with experience.
It was this incident which made me believe in the truest sense that I am being taken care of! 🙂
Regards,
Pragya Chauhan
YES!+ faculty, Jaipur
Art Of Living
The story I am going to narrate happened on 31 Oct 2013. I was going home after ten months, from Bangalore. More importantly, it was a surprise for my parents, as I had told them that I would be home on 02 Nov 2013, for Diwali. My flight was at 15.45 hrs and the boarding pass was to be issued till 15.00 hrs only. To maintain punctuality, many airlines don’t issue the boarding pass if a passenger is late.
I stay about 28 km from Bangalore airport. A friend of mine who stays nearby, said that it would take me around 30 minutes to reach the airport by bus. So, I set out from my home at 13.30 hrs. I was in the bus by 14.05 hrs. When one of the passengers asked about the time it would take to reach the airport, the conductor said that it would take at least 50 minutes. On hearing this, I was shocked because that meant I would reach the airport at 15.00 hrs, and stood a chance to miss the flight.
I have read many Guru stories on this website, and so I thought of trying out my own faith this time. This was going to be like a test of my faith in the Master. So I prayed to Guruji telling Him that I wanted to catch the flight, I don’t know how I would, but I really wanted to go home and surprise my parents, rather than me getting surprised by missing the flight. Then I was just looking outside the window, killing time, when I got a phone call from the airline. I thought it would be to remind me about the flight. But to my surprise, it was not so. The automated message was something like this, “Dear passenger your flight ***** has been rescheduled to 1620 hrs. We regret the inconvenience caused.”
Oh My God! What just happened. I knew prayers get answered, but this fast! I couldn’t have asked for more at that time. I was just so happy with this lovely miracle that I had experienced. The 35 minute delay was perfect for me. It meant that I could collect the boarding pass till 15.35 hrs. I reached the airport by 14.50 hrs, got the boarding pass, and went for security check. As there were many passengers at the airport, the entire process took time, and by the time I was done with the security check, boarding for my flight was announced. I was the second passenger who boarded the aircraft. The journey from missing the flight to being the second person boarding the aircraft was just unbelievable. I couldn’t thank Guru’s Grace enough for this.
In the aircraft, the pilot said that the 35 minute delay was because the aircraft came in late from Mumbai. Guruji knew that I would be late and planned everything accordingly. This experience reaffirmed my faith that whatever happens, happens for good!
Jai Guru Dev
Himanshu
My son is very sweet and creative. He has a rare combination of interests. He had completed his post- graduation in Design management in 2010 and searched for a job in the same field, but did not get it. So he started staying at home and doing something with software applications or watching some funny videos on YouTube on his computer. His sleeping and waking hours were abnormal (at least to me). He used to sleep at 3 or 4 in the night and mostly woke up at any time after 12 during day. Gradually he would not want to mix up even with his neighbours and this had become his routine. Following this he lost interest and didn’t want to study any further for any specialization. Then slowly he started his own company, an online magazine for social issues. Though he was not a software professional, he learned everything himself that was related and necessary for his online website through web tutorials and through discussions with online friends and my husband (who is a computer professional). I knew he was working very hard to do something good. But his sleeping, eating habits were very weird and almost had no social circle. I was more worried about his health and lack of socialization. Though he was giving his 100% on the work front, like any other “one-man” websites, it was not yielding any good result.
We were wondering what would he be doing ten years down the lane. We didn’t want him to leave his passion for his website, and on the other hand, he could not afford to waste the best time of his life by confining himself to his room and living in future and being very stubborn to not to continue with any conventional studies. All of us were very upset and we did not know what to do. We desperately wanted him to go out, meet people and mix with the main stream. I have been praying Guruji to show us some way. But nothing worked, it seems. Then, few weeks ago I wrote all my botherations and mailed it to Guruji. At once I felt very light in my heart. As per Guruji’s advise I didn’t stop, to do the best I could do and to motivate him. Then all of a sudden things started moving very fast- at rocket speed. For a change, my son sent his CV to my husband (which he had been resisting for a long time). Within a couple of days my husband met a friend of his for last 25 years, on an official meeting. He told my husband that he had shifted from the present position to training section in the same company and would be going to start a course in information security. As a computer professional, my husband knew our son’s potential and the fact that he would be interested in this field. My husband talked to him and he immediately agreed to join the course, which never happened in the past. Now everything is in order as he gets up early in the morning, eats food regularly, goes out and meet people, is continuing the education in the same field which was close to his heart and following his passion also. This is the grace of my Guruji!
Sandhya Kolarani
Jai Gurudev.
Below is an incident which changed the direction of my life and showed me the right way.
I dragged myself through my SSC (10th standard exams), just dreaming of getting into the best possible college in Mumbai. My dream surely came true when I took Science in R. D. National College & W. A. Science College in Bandra. However things didn’t quite work out well with the studies part and I dropped out of FYJC (11th standard) due to my disinterest in Sciences. I was dejected thinking that perhaps now I wouldn’t be able to get into a good college as I had just dropped out of 11th grade FYJC . I did my FYJC in commerce as I changed field, in a not so palatable college. Then my life took a sharp turn when I did Yes Course in 2005. And just after doing my YES (Youth Empowerment Skills Workshop) course in 10 days I got blessed to do a YES II Course in Bangalore Ashram.
Before coming to ashram, I had applied for admissions in SYJC (12th standard) in MCC Commerce College in Mulund. To my surprise they accepted me in SYJC and it was just his grace that where people don’t get admissions even scoring 80% marks, I got in with 56 %. The icing on top was that on 1st day of college I made a huge group, and more miracles were graced at me when I found that few of my friends in that group had already done YES course although I got to know about this a little late next year. I now wonder that if I had continued with Sciences, I might have been in a completely different place now.
I would have never enjoyed a typical and adventurous commerce student’s life. I would have never got into HDFC Bank where I am having a good time both working and enjoying.
Master’s plan is always better than a disciple’s plan. Big mind always knows what is best for the small mind.
Love
Dhiraj Hotwani
The day was August 23, 2013. It was supposed to be just another ordinary Friday at work. Just as I was about to leave for office, I decided to go for an Ultrasound test of my stomach. I was reeling with slight but constant pain on right-hand side of my abdomen since the previous day. Somewhere, I knew this wasn’t regular stomach cramp that one usually feels during a posture stretch in daily Surya Namaskaar (formof Yoga and exercise). I was thinking this could be something more, but I tried to brush away the negative thought.
I went for the test and just as I got my report, I realized that the report read – “Acute Appendicitis”. The moment I was all set to dump all thoughts of negativity out of the window; I got this unpleasant surprise. I stood still, thinking – “Oh My God! Operation Theater ?? Guruji – Why? Why? Can’t something nice happen for once?” I felt scared for a minute, thinking this was just not needed.
The consulting physician saw the report and advised me immediate hospitalization and appendix removal. So, my father and I quickly drove down to the nearest hospital and sought an OPD appointment with the available General Surgeon. The Surgeon looked at my reports and said that an operation was imminent. His words made me feel so unprotected and uncared for; just because I had to get admitted then and there.
My father and I decided to get the operation done the same day itself. We knew waiting was senseless as Appendicitis is a sudden revelation and has only one remedy to it. It can’t be treated orally.
Just then, I asked my dad to get my TPA card and my Office I-card for the admission formalities. In the meantime, I reached the desk and started filling the form. Suddenly, I felt a tear trickling down my eye. I wiped it gently, and closed my eyes and engulfed myself in a sea of faith, believing and knowing that I am watched, cared for and protected.
It must have been a few seconds when I quickly felt my phone ringing. There was a call from an unknown number, I picked up and said “Hello”, just then, a lady, gentle in her voice, came out with “Jai Gurudev! Is this Juhi? I am calling from the Art of Living International Center, Bangalore…How are you?” I couldn’t understand why I was getting this call from the Ashram since it had never happened before. Seconds later, she said – “Actually, I wanted to confirm your address”. I responded to her query, and was about to put the phone down saying that I’m busy, but I don’t know, what came over me! I found myself asking her, “Is Guruji in the ashram?? I so need his blessings right now!I am about to get admitted for a surgery and it doesn’t feel too good, in fact, I feel really afraid.” A pause later, the lady said “Gurudev wanted you to know that he is with you right now and that your operation will be successful. Don’t worry, complete the form and just go ahead…sab theek hoga (everything will be alright). Jai Gurudev.”
I was stunned. How did the lady know that I was filling up the form? Why did that call come there and then? Some more tears came trickling down, and I felt a wave of grace splashing me. I wiped the tears and finished filling the form.
The operation happened, and I recovered in a few weeks’ time.
Today when I look back, I feel stirred. Appendicitis is not a major surgery but I felt so shaken. And today I realize, our master is not here to gauge or judge our lives’ trials and be with us on that accordance. Our master is with us on our every step. I refrained from sharing this experience thinking it to be trivial, but truth remains, it was enough to shake me, and my Guru came to ease me. Today, I got the courage to let the world know that it is just a pure cry from the heart that matters, the richness of the guru experience is not measured my mammoth situations but the sense of grace that blankets you, even in the smallest of life’s moments. It could be chancing upon your favorite Ice-cream flavor on the day you wished for it or it could be chancing upon Guruji’s picture at the airport shop while traveling, he makes every cry of the heart for him worth it and special.
I wish, I learn to value his grace and blessings on me every living second from here. Maybe, I know that I will. 🙂
May you, the reader, feel his presence in every breath of your existence.
Jai Gurudev
Juhi
Jai Gurudev! I did my basic course in December 2003 at Chennai, greatly inspired by Guruji’s visit to Guindy Engineering College, shortly before the course. Needless to say life has become more and more meaningful and beautiful since then. I have rejoiced in many Guru stories thereafter, but the most favorite one is this:
I do the travel bookings for my office and have often struggled with doing train bookings. This time my boss wanted to travel to Kochi, Kerala for visiting Sabari Mala (pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of India). He was wearing the “Mala”(a ritual) for Iyappa (a diety) and had commenced the austerities related to the travel. The rush for train reservations was unbelievable, but somehow we adjusted the dates and squeezed a couple of reservations for him, his son and son-in-law.
A couple of weeks later owing to some communication gap between my boss’s instruction and my understanding, I cancelled the tickets by mistake which I had booked with great difficulty. After coming to know about my mistake, I was immobilized. I didn’t know what else could be done other than travelling tediously by road or taking an expensive flight only because of my mistake. I normally work with Guruji’s photograph pinned up before me, on and off looking at his smiling face and taking strength as I work. This time I looked up helplessly at him and told him “Gurudev, do something, there is no one else to help me out of this. You got me into this and now you get me out of it”.
I never do any booking or cancellation before looking at his picture and I was positive that he had to help me out. When I logged into IRCTC website and glanced at it fearfully, my heart jumped. There were three tickets available for booking which I had cancelled. I felt so blessed. After quickly completing the bookings, i confessed my mistake to my boss. Though he chastised me for the blunder, he was mollified that things were set right and I walked away with a light-heart. I love you Gurudev and I’m grateful that you included me in your fold. Since knowing you, my life has been one series of happy endings. May God bless you and all your loved ones – now and always!
Renuka Ramesh
