In 1997, I met Meenakshi, an Art of Living teacher in the Bay Area of California, and I was taken in by her enormous energy and enthusiasm.
As an ardent devotee of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar Ji, I find it almost impossible to express the inexpressible. But today, on the occasion of Guru Purnima, I feel compelled to sing the glory of the Guru Principle and the immeasurable love and compassion of my beloved Gurudev.
I signed up for part 2 after my friend encouraged me to do so. Additionally, with Gurudev visiting Houston, I was curious to find out who this person was that had such a significant influence on people’s lives.
Dearest Gurudev, I take this golden opportunity to express my gratitude to you on Gurupurnima! Gurudev, you came into my life when I needed you the most.
I used to be an atheist and firmly believed that science alone created the world without the intervention of any god or guru.
Walking up the interlocked concrete roads, uphill, from the parking lot and past the divine stores, I am out of breath when I finally reach this sacred place.
Once in June 2014, as I walked from my room to the amphitheater for the evening Satang at the Art of Living Bangalore ashram, I stopped on the way as I noticed Gurudev’s car parked outside a hall which was under construction.
If I too can be a blade of grass under his feet, in his long journey and walks of thousands of miles, I would be content.
I was attending a 7-day Advanced Meditation Program with Bhagavad Gita Live discourse by Gurudev at our Bangalore Ashram. As I made my way to Saraswathi Hall for the Gita session, my mind and heart were at war.
It’s difficult to put into words how much the Sudarshan Kriya has changed my life. Since learning this spiritual practice, I’ve experienced a profound transformation.
My name is Uthama Shankar, and I am a teacher by profession and a proud mother of two lovely kids. In 2005, my brother introduced me to the Art of Living Program, which I enjoyed immensely.
Words are not enough to express my gratitude and grace for our beloved Gurudev who has given us such wonderful courses for life.
I first attended the Art of Living basic course (now called the Happiness Program) way back in January 1999 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
I was not mainly a devotee of Guruji, but on December 26, 2013, I lost my brother-in-law to mouth cancer. My sister was grieving, as was my entire family.
I did the Happiness Program in 2004, and I started attending the weekly follow-up sessions after the course. I always had a soothing, peaceful feeling each time, and there was a natural cheerfulness and feeling of being healthy at all levels, even if I wasn’t mindfully aware of it.
Jai Gurudev, I am sharing my guru bodha गुरु ब्रम्हा गुरु विष्णू गुरुः देवो महेश्वराः।गुरु शाक्षात परब्रम्हा तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमःः।। Salutations to Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji Grace of guru is inevitable for a seekerPresence of Guru or Live Guru is a blessing साक्षात् गुरुःप्रणमामि I hereby express my gratitude to Gurudev, the embodiment of art, music, dance, knowledge, culture, service, peace, and humanity.
I walk all the way from the parking lot, crossing stores on the interlocked concrete roads, climbing uphill till I reach the divine abode and have to catch my breath.
On 16th June, I got a missed video call, from an unknown number at 9:10 PM. I saw the profile picture, a young devotee, a selfie picture with Gurudev.
Tears of Gratitude are always flowing from my eyes. My whole life is wrapped in Guru’s grace. Words are not enough to describe what I experience each moment!
Words fail when I sit down to write about my overwhelming gratitude towards my Guru, Poojya Gurudev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji, whom we lovingly call “Guruji” across the globe.
I visited Mumbai ( then called Bombay) for a wedding when I was 18. It was monsoon season and in the mornings about 20 of us would gather around a blazing pump kerosine stove waiting for hot tea to be served in cup and saucer.
Jai Gurudev, My wife and I met in Art Of Living, and it was always our dream to get married at the Art of Living International Center Bengaluru, in Gurudev’s presence.
My name is Francis D’Souza. I did my Art Of Living course in August 2017. I’m now teaching Yoga full-time and serving society.
It was the year 2017. I was supposed to travel to Jalgaon and Chopada districts in Maharashtra to teach the first ever Spine Care Course conducted in that region.
I had a beautiful experience during Mahashivratri 2020 at Bangalore Ashram! I was having a very rough time in my personal life and was even losing faith in Art of Living, even though I have been associated since 2013.
Once Guruji was returning to the German Ashram from Caracas, Venezuela. However, due to unavailability of a direct flight to Frankfurt, he landed in Paris before going to the Ashram.
Few months ago while traveling in the local train in Mumbai, a lady who was seated next to me asked me to lend an extra pair of earrings to her, if I had any!
After two months since I completed the Art of Living Happiness program, my teacher insisted to do the Advanced course at the Bangalore Ashram.
My name is Divesh Sharma & I am an Art of Living follower since 2015. Life with Gurudev is always so protected, so special &
I am Manisha and I have been an Art of Living devotee since 2015. My life has become full of happiness and joy after becoming a part of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision of a One World Family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam).
When Gurudev was in Denver, I took a last-minute trip to meet him. I loved the entire event and I was extremely grateful that I got this opportunity to be with Him.
Gurudev always says the Divine is dwelling inside you and He takes care of you. I decided to test this phenomena in an experiential way.
Ten years ago, I attended a Satsang at Vishalakshi Mantap (Central Dome of the Art of Living International Center Bengaluru). It was my fourth week at the Ashram and I did my YesPlus Advance Course, Blessing Course and Gurupuja Phase I.
In the year 2013, I was 29 and having many health troubles. My friends suggested various healing treatments and Art of Living was one of it.
When you are on this path, every day is a miracle. My name is Shruti and I am sharing another wonderful story of Gurudev’s Grace.
Dr. Sarla Vohra from Mumbai shares her life transforming experience of how her ectopic pregnancy was completely cured within just 6 days when she did her Art of Living course in the year 1999.
Dr. Meenakshi Verma shares how the practice of Sudarshan Kriya helped her become a Yoga teacher despite having a congenital malformed hip joint.
In the year 2014, I secured admission in an engineering college in Nagpur, India. It was here that I was introduced to Art of Living &
In the summer of 2014, we were living in Boston. My husband got a new job offer from Amazon. We were not sure whether to accept it as the position was based in Seattle and would require us to relocate. We came to know that Gurudev was going to be at Boone Ashram during Guru Purnima and decided to seek His guidance.
In July 2011, Gurudev had announced the ‘World Cultural Festival’ to be held at Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. The event would mark 30 years since the foundation of The Art of Living.
I did my first Art of Living course in 2010. I want to share a story that shook me from inside and instilled my faith in Gurudev.
I was studying in VJTI Mumbai and we were given a sudden holiday. With nothing interesting to do, I was casually browsing Gurudev’s Facebook page & realised He was conducting a discourse in Rishikesh. Gurudev says, “The sign of youth is the ability to take challenges”. So, despite no preparations I decided to immediately fly out to Rishikesh to meet Him!
Few years ago, I suffered from clinical depression. The doctors had prescribed me anti-depressants. My family and friends were reluctant about my taking anti-depressants due to its side effects and addictive tendencies. It was at that time Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar showered His blessings on me!
I recently conducted a follow-up session at a center in Pune. After the follow-up, I told the following story which I heard in Narad Bhakti Sutra: “Once a saint visits a city.
Miracles have become a part of my life since I joined the Art of Living. Here are a few I want to share.
I would like to share my story with Guruji, right from the scratch. Well, the journey started in the year 2009.
My name is Deepa Singh and I am a Yoga teacher. I stay in Mumbai. I have been into Art of Living for the past ten years and life has been a blissful journey since.
After taking a one year break from work, I was eager to get back to my career. I was searching for a well-suited job.
I was not really a part of the Art of Living family or a devotee but thanks to the miracle I experienced recently, it has made me want to be a part of this family.
I did my first Art of Living course in 1995 at Model Town in Delhi with teacher Rajesh Sharma. I was not a spiritually inclined person back then.
After reading so many Guru stories and the miracles that so many devotees have experienced, I couldn’t contain myself from sharing my own experience during the World Culture Festival celebrations in Delhi, India, in 2016.
Art of Living came into my life at a time when I needed it the most. I was in a totally miserable condition.
At the age of 44, I happened to be an unfortunate victim of a deadly disease, Leukemia. Its treatment with modern day medicines had made me a 90% dead man.
It has been quite a while since I’ve been wanting to write about my experiences with Art of Living and having Sri Sri as a Guru.
I am a Hindu woman who got married in 1995 to a Parsi man. We had a court marriage. Now, we have two children who follow both our religions.
The day I attended my first Art of Living course, I knew I had opened a new dimension in my life.
I did my Art Of Living basic course 7 years back in Mumbai. It has been the best experience of my life.
Every time I complete any Art of living program, starting from my first ever experience with Sudarshan Kriya to doing an advance course , the beautiful blessings program , Shakti kriya, TTC, to Samyama , I am reborn!
I have always felt connected to Sri Sri, even before meeting him. After my 12th grade exams, I visited the Art of Living International Center in Bangalore with my family.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was visiting the United States in the summer of 2015 when I met him at the Newark airport in New Jersey.
I did my first Art of Living course three years ago. Before doing the course, if someone would ask for my help with something, I would say no.
I recently did the Art of Silence Course (Mar 19 – 22, 2015) with the absolutely brilliant and awesome teacher Percyji.
I was only 16 when I did my first Art of Living course, Yes+. I was a medical student suffering from clinical depression.
There is a famous song, whose lyrics are “ When you meet the one that you’ve been waiting for And she’s everything that you want and more You look at her and you finally start to live for someone else And then you find yourself, yeah, thats when you find yourself.” I felt the same in 2008, but it wasn’t a boy or girl, it was my MASTER –
When I was in my 20s, I was suffering from terrible depression after several traumatic life experiences. There is a history of suicide in my family and at that point, I was also very close to killing myself.
I am writing this story with moist eyes. I don’t know how to say thanks to Him, and that would be less too.
Jai Gurudev, My parents had gone to Rishikesh once, as Guruji was there. That day was an extremely auspicious one, which had come after 400 years. Guruji, along with other devotees, were going to take a dip in the holy water of the River Ganges. My relatives Sumit and Dipti had also decided to go to Rishikesh via road because they couldn’t get the train tickets. They were very excited, and all this while I was at home, relaxing on the couch.
This was during Gurudev's recent visit to the Boone Ashram in U.S., in Dec 2014. One day, during an argument, my twelve year-old son said "Nobody loves me". I told him, "Daddy and I love you". He still looked dejected. So I said "When you feel like that, remember Guruji loves you". He said "But Guruji does not even know who I am!". At Boone, we'd attend the Satsangs at evenings. Guruji spent a lot of time during those five days, answering questions and giving knowledge.
This is Leena Singh from Mumbai. I am a part-time model & actress. I did my first AOL course in January, 2007, & became a devotee soon after the course. I do the Kriya daily without fail, & I have done almost 16 advance courses with Guruji's Grace. The Sudarshan Kriya really helped me smoothly sail through the hardships of life. What Guruji did for me cannot be described in mere words. Recently one big miracle happened in my life, which really shocked me and made me realise the vastness of my Masters' Grace. My husband Rakesh, had once gone to a doctor for some hair treatment. Before starting the treatment, the doctor asked him if he has any health issue, or if there was anything that made him feel uncomfortable.
Jai Gurudev to all, Four years back I had a severe viral attack. I was taking treatment but there was no improvement in my condition. To my utter dismay, the situation worsened to herpes attack. One of my facial nerve could not be diagnosed in time and this led to a facial paralysis attack. These were very tough times of my life. I had almost lost all hope of proper recovery. Because of late diagnosis, the neurologist believed that only 60-70% of the face could be restored back to its normal condition. Waves of depression had started to grip my mind.
This note describes my placement story - 20 November, 2014... It was the seventh semester of the 4 year B.tech (CSE) programme. Every student was preparing to get a job and be placed somewhere. My plans were pretty much the same. A 15 day placement practice class was introduced by the authority, which would benefit the students in getting well prepared for the corporate world. It was in the month of September when "Cognizant Technology Solutions" came to my university for placements. The process took three days and there were 3 rounds post which 600 students were selected from the 1900 odd seekers. I got rejected in the second round itself while quite a few of my friends landed in the final round and got placed as well. It was extremely disheartening for me at that time, as I was very enthusiastic about getting a job.
On the 27th of October, 2014, I was blessed with the birth of a baby boy, my son. But on the same day, we were informed that the baby's food canal was blocked, as the baby was not in-taking Milk. Due to this, the Milk was flowing out from his nose and mouth. This was a very grave situation for me and my entire family. We were all shocked as to how such a tragedy could happen to a child who is just one day old on this planet. But there was no answer to our questions. A feeling of deep helplessness gripped me. Our Doctor advised for surgery, in order to open the baby's blocked canal, as that was the only option left. The Doctor also told us that this surgery would be risky and critical, and would have 50-50 chances of saving the baby.
Guruji's presence in my life has always been so unspectacular, yet, always so profound and deep. His grace in my live is immeasurable and yet so subtle. Recently, after a very hectic schedule of late nights and early mornings, we (my wife, my 4 year old daughter and I ) were returning from Dubai to Abu Dhabi after attending Rishi Vidhyadharji's morning Sadhana.In about 10 minutes from the time I actually touched the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway, I started feeling sleepy. As Priyanka, my wife and Avni, my daughter, too were tired, they dozed off a little later and I kept driving to be on time for a meeting at Abu Dhabi.
Jai Gurudev, My name is Ved Prakash Gupta. I was born on the 7th of November, 1951, at Delhi. I did my Bachelor of Technology-Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in1973 and MBA, HR from IGNOU in the year 2000. I then joined the Department of Telecommunication,(DOT) Government Of India as a Class-I Officer in the year 1974 and retired in April, 2011, as Principal General Manager(Elect), (equivalent to Add Secretary to Government of India), Head of Electrical wing of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL), Corporate Office, New Delhi. The begining of my journey at the Art of Living: In the November of 1999, I got a VVIP pass for attending a Satsang with Sri Sri at Chatarpur, New Delhi.
I had read many of Guruji’s articles, books and watched His knowledge sheets in audio, but it wasn't until 2006 that I met Him for the first time. That’s when the feeling actually started sinking in. It’s like when you make a scrumptious dish, you need to know the right recipe, but it’s only when you taste the dish that you realize its value. Same was my encounter with Gurudev. Since then, my life has witnessed various ups and downs, and other challenges. But I have always sensed a Divine hand on my soul. I have always sailed through, with a smile on my face:) With His grace, I have been able to endure it all, with my calm intact, always.
I have been an Art of Living volunteer for almost two years and have experienced many miracles in my life, but there is one particular incident which requires a special mention. I was working in a Company as an Assistant Manager and was in a comfortable position. However for further growth I was looking to switch my job. One company offered me a good job with high salary in Ghana, and I was supposed to join them. So I resigned from my existing company. Unfortunately, during the notice period, the new company suffered some problems mainly because of the EBOLA outbreak hence my joining got delayed by three months. My marriage was on the cards as well, but things started to look worse.
I did my first Art of Living course in August, 2012, and that day transformed me forever. I was keen on doing the course since a long time, but as Guruji says, there is a prefect time for everything. I did my course when I needed it the most. I had done my Engineering and was confused about what I should do further. I thought of preparing for GATE at home and I studied for 6 months and gave the Exam, but the result was disastrous. I was not able to clear the cut-off. This made me extremely disheartened and depressed. Then I gave one more exam, though I was not able to get a good percentile in that too. It was truly the worst phase of my life but I still kept my faith strong and hope going, and I would do my Kriya very regularly and on time. Finally one night, Guruji came in my dream.
I am Manali Pimple from Mumbai. I am currently working as a Compliance Executive at Kotak Mahindra. I did the Art Of Living course in Febuary, 2011, & became a devotee & a lover of Guruji since then. I found the Sudarshan Kriya so amazing that I can say only 1 thing, "THE KRIYA GAVE ME LIFE". So a few years ago, in the year 2005, when I was in the fifth standard, suddenly one day, I started getting a very bad headache. The simplest thing that anyone does during a headache, is to just eat a Crocin. I did the same thing, but it did not help me at all. The pain remained. I also did not have any fever or high blood pressure or any other health problem, so was not sure about the reason for this ache. By late night, the ache reduced & it finally vanished. The next day, at the same time, sometime around 5 pm, again I started getting the same headache. I started getting headaches on a daily basis, at the same time, in the evening.
I would like to share this beautiful experience of mine that made me realize the importance of Sankalpa, and how a pure desire truly manifests. One day while we were taking a walk, my husband said to me "Wouldn't it be nice to purchase a school and run it?" We both had always been in favour of education to all, as we believe that it is extremely essential in order to be self sufficient in today's world. So we made a strong Sankalpa in our minds that we wanted to teach and educate in a big way, and we then surrendered it at the Lotus feet of Sri Sri.
Jai Gurudev! I wanted to share with you all, a beautiful incident that made me realise the power of my Master and elevated my faith and trust in Him, multi fold!!! My husband and I were residing in Surat since a couple of years. During July 2006, we went to meet Guruji at Rishikesh, as He was to be there for a few days, and we did not want to miss out on such a wonderful opportunity of seeking blessings from the Master Himself! So with happiness and excitement in our hearts, we set out to visit Him on the very day that we arrived.
This is Anuj Khanijau from Mumbai. I did my first AOL course in January, 2005. From being a firm non believer till I met Guruji in 2003, to date : it has been a journey that even I find difficult to fathom. For some unknown reason, even though reluctant to carry on, I kept continuing the practices, on account of my commitment to the teacher during the course. Again reluctantly, my legs started pulling me onto one Advance (Part 2) course after the other. I knew I was losing control and Someone was taking over, but for a weird reason, I did not mind this happening, right to the point of walking into a TTC (Teacher's Training Course)!!!
Noise to Silence, Spoiled Teenager to Youth Leader, From a Rough Stone to Polished Diamond, yes, that's the Miraculous journey of Kapil Bhatia, a 27 Years Young Dynamic Art of Breathing Workshop and Yes Plus Teacher from a very small island which is even hard to see on a globe, but, when drop meets the ocean it’s no longer a single drop, it itself becomes the ocean.
It was about 10 years back that I did my first Art of Living Course. Meanwhile, I had been facing several problems in my personal life, especially on the health front, which was one of my main motives to do this course, which I had already heard so much praise about. No doubt, the course lived up to every bit of my expectations, and I had a truly wonderful experience, mainly while learning the ever so powerful technique called the Sudarshan Kriya!
I feel extremely blessed to get this opportunity to share with you all, a simply Divine encounter that I recently experienced. It brought me closer to my inner self, I realised how fortunate I am to have the presence of a living Master in my life!:) So loved and so blessed!!! So here goes...
This is Dipti Deshpande from Mumbai. I did the AOL course a few years back & I am a devotee since then. The course really changed my life, in fact I am alive only because of the Sudarshan Kriya & Guruji's blessings. I was a Chemical Engineering student. I have been able to complete my course, the tough course, only because of Guruji's blessings. It took me a lot of time to complete the course though, as it is obviously not everyone's cup of tea. You really have to struggle a lot. Many expert students have had a difficult time accomplishing this degree.
It's Saturday night and I'm getting ready to see Sri Sri tomorrow. I just took a hot bath and I'm ready for bed when the phone rings. I assume it's someone from Los Angeles wanting a ride up North to a course, or my daughter calling to make sure I'm still alive. I answer the phone and someone on the other line says: "Dvorahji? Guruji wants to talk to you?" "Me???" I chirp. "Why would He want to talk to me?" Then I suddenly hear laughter: "Dvorah!! How are you?" It's Guruji. I'm speechless but my "brain" kicks in. "Hi Guruji. You're calling Me????"
My name is Gunjan Malhotra and I did my first AOL course in 2008.I would now like to share with you all, a realization, an experience, that took me miles ahead in achieving my all-time dream! Initially, as a fresher into the AOL family, I was not particular about doing my Sudarshan Kriya. I was very laid back about it as back then and I did not feel it's importance and would seldom do it. By profession, I am a model. But three years back, I would not be able to say that. It all started in 2011, when I began my journey to stardom. I started going for audition after audition with the hope of getting the right break. At every audition, the story remained the same:better looking girls, stiffer competition-lesser motivation.
Today 21 July 2014, is my birthday. On this day, in this very moment, after my morning sadhana, my heart is filled with total gratitude for all that I have been blessed with. With this gratitude, tears flowing from my eyes, I wish to share my story with my Guru. Since a young age, I have always been drawn towards the Divine withvregular visits to our local Temple in the area. I recall spending lots of time praying very hard that I pass my university exams, find a good job and continue my work in the field of human rights, my life long passion. And with the grace of the Divine I was fortunate to have received a scholarship from the US government to further my law studies at a prestigious law school in Washington DC. On my return to South Africa, my wishes were further fulfilled, when I was offered employment by the first democratic government of South Africa as a Legislative Drafter in 1994.
I was in dire need to do an Advance course but something or the other would keep coming up. I was praying to Gurudev for it and then Blessings came to me in many forms. I happened to get the opportunity, this Gurupoornima, in the form of Kamalashile Gurupoornima Special Advance course. Kamalashile is a tranquil, beautiful village with dense forests and amazing waterfalls located in Mangalore. Our course venue was Sri Brahmi Durga Parmeshwari temple on the banks of a beautiful river in Kamalashile. Eight days spent in those surroundings were the most blessed and serene days of my life as they were soaked silence, meditation, knowledge, seva, satsang, homas, poojas, tears of gratitude tasty food made with lots of love by the volunteers, amazing people, sound of the flowing rivers and rain that never stopped, Chaya Aana (our course teacher) and Gurudev (whose presence could be felt every second). As every drop of rain fell and mother earth received love, I went into a deeper state of meditation.
In my unquenchable thirst for Knowledge, I decided to follow Sri Sri around for a while. I wanted to become whatever He was. I went wherever He went, laughed whenever He laughed, sat wherever He sat, and I just hung around Him. Maybe, I just might get IT! (Whatever "it" was.) I followed Him to a retreat in Canada. It was beautiful, and about 200 people showed up. Some of the regular devotees had spent a lot of time with Him. I decided to be one of the in-crowd and began to follow Him around.
I came into the Art of Living family in December, 2006. My husband and I were keen on doing the Basic course much earlier, but somehow nothing worked out because of my mother's old age and poor health condition. She had dementia, and no one was ready to take her responsibility during the period of the Basic course, when I would be away from home. So unfortunately, I could not experience the course then. With the passage of time, performing the role of a caregiver to my mother took a toll on me. Slowly by slowly, I started to slip into depression. And soon, I was in a bad condition. I consulted a doctor who gave me anti depressant tablets, and it made my condition worse. After a week of medication, my husband felt that there was no improvement and therefore we decided to consult our family doctor, who was also treating my mother then. This doctor advised me to do the Basic course (AOL), which he said would do me good, rather than getting addicted to medicines. The same day, we telephoned the Ashram to inquire about the ongoing courses, and to my good luck, the course had started that very day. So the next day, I joined the course, along with my husband.
Recently, I did an AMC at the Ashram. Normally Guruji gives Darshan to all the AMC participants at the end of the course. This time was no exception either. The Darshan went really well and I was really happy after meeting the Master. I met Guruji once more that week, and I felt that all my questions were answered. It’s such a state of bliss one feels on seeing Him, it’s truly unexplainable! The following week, while working with the Ashram Events & Promotions team, news came that Guruji was going to meet people in the evening. One of my fellow Ashram sevak (volunteer) was the first one to know about it. He was really excited to meet Guruji, as this was his first time at the ashram. He asked me if I could accompany him in the evening at the Darshan queue. I was in two minds. It was only last week that I had met Guruji, and secondly there was a lot of pending work. But still I said a ‘yes’ to my friend, just to keep him motivated. Very soon our day's work was allotted and it turned out that my friend was supposed to visit the city at 4.30 pm, which was precisely the time when Guruji would meet the devotees. And I was given the responsibility of staying back in the Ashram and handling other matters. My friend was really heartbroken, and I felt very sad for him. I even suggested that we switch responsibilities, but that was not approved by our seniors. So we went ahead as per the plan.
I've had several amazing experiences since Gurujis’ presence in my life. I ask a question in my mind and pat comes the answer. I'm out of town thinking of Him, and there He appears on some random channel, at some random time, while I'm flipping the channels. I cannot count these occasions - there are just so many. But there was one incident that really resonates in my heart, and truly makes me feel that while there is the Divine in everyone, Gurus like Sri Sri are drenched in the Divine spirit.
The most beautiful memory of Gurudev is that of the one with my father. My father was a Gurupooja Pundit. He completed the Gurupooja course in 2006, and I followed in 2007. Before that I completed the TTC (Teacher’s Training Course). Papa (father) was devoted to chanting many verses daily and he believed in Guruji immensely. In May 2012 papa was taken ill. It started out gradually with swellings in his feet, but his condition did not improve over time. The doctors said it might be a problem with his liver, but they couldn’t put a finger on exactly what it was. We decided to visit the Ayurveda Hospital first. My brother took him there. He underwent treatment for 6 days – various cleansing procedures. During this time, I was at my Sahej TTC (teachers training course). So in May he was at the hospital and when he came back he was slightly better than before. We all visited Srinathji (a temple) in Rajasthan (a state in India); my father believed in Srinathji very strongly too. After that he went with my brother and his family to Kumbalgarh (a fort). On his way back from there he suffered from a phase of disorientation. We admitted him to the hospital and he was diagnosed with a malfunctioning liver. The doctors and we were contemplating certain paths of treatment including blood transfusion.
This is not a very recent experience but it’s my favorite Guru Story so thought to share it. One fortunate day, I rushed from the office to the airport to see off Guruji but he had already entered the gate when I reached so I just leaned on the glass wall waiting for his last glimpse. I could already feel his presence so strong and intense and as I stopped to look at him, he turned & waved at me and the time froze there and then. I knew that he turned just for me and he started walking, I walked with him. After a few steps, he turned again and to my surprise, he moved towards the exit door and came out. He came out for me, that's all I know and we walked amidst others. I wasn't walking just next to Guruji but I could see him all the time and keenly observing him throughout. Guruji looked towards me, pampered me and patted my cheeks.
This is another story of my Guru's Miracle which has strengthened my faith in Him. My family and I came to the US just a few days back. As we were new to the place, there were a lot of apprehensions in mind, which were causing me a lot of tension and stress. But this was a part of travelling to a new place, so I accepted it and surrendered all my fears to Gurudev. The next day of our stay, my 2.5 year old son had to be dropped to his Day Care Centre, before I and my husband would head to complete our work. This Centre was around 5-6 miles away from our home, but since we were new to the city, we were not aware of the routes, and were not able to locate the Centre. So my husband took some assistance from the GPS on his mobile phone. At the time, we didn't have a car and my husband was using his bicycle to drop my son. In spite of trying for a while, he still wasn't able to find the route and seemed to have lost his way. After about 1 hour, when I called my husband, he was still on the road, with no clue of the way. This news really got me worked up. I wanted to help my husband, but knew not how to, as I myself did not know the ways well. So I decided to pray to my Master and seek for help. This was my only resort in this helpless situation. I did my Kriya, with hope and faith in my heart. I then sincerely prayed to Guruji and pleaded Him to show my husband the right path.
I have been into Art of Living since 2007. I have done my Sahaj Samadhi Meditation course in Mumbai & have also done the Advanced course 5 times at the Bangalore Ashram, with Guruji. Ever since then, Guruji has become an integral part of my life. He is within me, my body, mind & soul! I bow down at His holy feet & pray to Him at all times, irrespective of my needs / times of distress. I am grateful & feel immensely blessed to have Him as a Guru in my life; and I have unshaken trust, love and faith in His Divine Powers. He is my Divine Mentor indeed!
I visited the Bangalore Ashram in August 2011, where I got an opportunity to see our beloved Guruji. There was something mesmerizing about Him. His presence felt just so divine. His being was not that of a human. I felt as though I was in a different world, a world of peace and bliss. A world that seemed like heaven on earth. And before I could realize what it was, I found myself sitting for the next Yes+ course in the Ashram, in the presence of Sri Sri Himself. I have been staying all by myself in Bangalore since I started college. It’s been quite difficult for me to survive here alone. Living by yourself in a new city is never too easy. I had started smoking and alcohol had become an integral part of my life. I felt I could not do without it. It was more of a psychological thing. I kept looking for support in the outside world. Little did I know, it was all within. Since the time I did my first Sudarshan Kriya (meditation and breathing technique taught in the Art of Living basic course), I started feeling the positivity in my life. I could feel the energies changing. My life had taken a big turn since then. Things that seemed impossible were actually materializing. I had quit smoking and drinking and there was no urge to get back to it ever again. I know it was all Guruji’s Grace.
This was way back in September 2011, when a silly conversation between two friends introduced me to a world of unknown. The conversation went something like this: Namita: “Prads, why don't you do the Art of Living (AOL) Part 1 course. You do this course now, and since I am in Bangalore, you come here in December and we will do the Advanced course at the Ashram. It will be amazing!” Pradnya (Me): “Ok Nami :)”
