Presence Of My Master

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