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.
- Dr Shivani Billimoria
