My First Encounter With Gurudev At The Part 2 Program In Houston

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. The Part 2 program in Houston in October 2008 was nothing short of amazing. 

Gurudev came in three times, gave discourses, conducted meditation, and even led Sports Yoga! I was in silence, standing by, when he was walking out after the discourse. I wanted to see him up close and take a detailed look at him. As he passed by, he looked at me and asked, “What is your name?” I couldn’t explain what went through my mind. It was a great experience, and I was totally transfixed, but I thoroughly enjoyed his presence and blurted out my full name, forgetting that I was supposed to be in silence. That moment, that question from him, made so many changes in me. I was taken aback by his knowledge and his spontaneous responses to questions. I look forward to having more interactions with him. Jai Guru Dev. 

~ A Devotee 

My First Encounter with Gurudev at the Part 2 Program in Houston - Sri Sri Stories

The Divine Abode

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. Grateful for a spot to sit and close my eyes, I take a moment to catch my breath as the cool breeze offers comfort to my wet back and shoulders. It has been quite a while since I last made eye contact with Gurudev, and I wait patiently, sometimes meditating with my eyes closed before opening them in anticipation of his arrival. 

And finally, Gurudev arrives, holding a lotus in his right hand and dressed in full white, his hair waving rhythmically in the breeze. I kneel and wait for him to approach. As he draws nearer, I look up to him and he acknowledges me with raised eyebrows, which then turn into a smile. He pats my head with the lotus and moves on, the white angavastram caressing my face. On another day, after playing cricket with my new bat that cost only Rs. 3, I take my bat proudly and head home. Running on the rough hard soil of the pitch, sweating all over, a few runs scored, and then it’s my turn to bowl and field. As the sun begins to set on the western horizon, I know it’s time to go home. Once home, I wash my face and legs randomly, and as I enter the kitchen, my mother scans me and takes the end of her saree to wipe the sweat and water from my face. Even though I resist, the touch of her cotton saree across my face gives me comfort and reminds me of her unconditional love for me. As Gurudev walks away, the white sheet of cloth reminds me of my mother’s love, and then he turns back and smiles at me, confirming and acknowledging that he too loves and cares for me in the same way. Overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness, tears roll down my eyes as I realize that Gurudev will always be there for me, and will love me regardless of my mistakes. I bow down my head, close my eyes and sit silently until the emotions pass.

~ Ramesh Jalihal, Bangalore

The Divine Abode - Sri Sri Stories

From Atheist To Priest: A Journey With Gurudev

I used to be an atheist and firmly believed that science alone created the world without the intervention of any god or guru. However, in April 1992, when my friends and I went to a nearby temple,

 I stumbled upon a discourse by Sri Sri, without knowing who he was. I saw the bearded man on the stage distributing prasadam and everyone was happy. I too was drawn into the positive energy and decided to take his blessings before leaving. Years later, I found myself in the ashram doing the Part 1 course, followed by Part 2, DSN, and Sahaj. I couldn’t believe that Gurudev had transformed me from an atheist to a priest. I am still awed by the power that he exudes with just a glance. How did it all happen? Who knows? But I am grateful to have such a wonderful master, and it’s his grace that keeps me going. I love my master because he pulled me towards him when I knew nothing about him. Jai Guru Dev. 

~ Ravi 

From Atheist to Priest: A Journey with Gurudev - Sri Sri Stories

Walking With Gurudev

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. Two people were waiting for him outside. I peeped in to take a look, there he was, small in height as compared to the tall men he was surrounded with, but towering above them all in demeanor. After a rather unhappy and emotionally turbulent day, I did not feel like going for Satsang. I just wanted to hide in my room and not bother anyone with the sadness and pain that I felt. But here I was, waiting for my Gurudev outside that hall. He was giving instructions for further construction of the hall. As he came out, a smile automatically came to my face and with folded hands, I just stood there looking at him. Once he was done with the inspection, he suddenly looked in my direction and gave a sweet smile and waved at me. I couldn’t utter a word. I continued to smile and stare at him. Then I thought he would just sit in his car and go for Satsang, as he usually does. He never ever walks down from that place to the amphitheater, due to the massive crowds that line up to greet him. But that day he decided to walk. “Ready for the chaos?” said my Master, turning around and laughing lovingly at us. He’s never been afraid for himself, for his own security. He just walks on with confidence! By that time, I was grinning and I was walking right behind him, following his footsteps to wherever he walked. There were only seven of us, so this could happen easily. After a point, I realized that I had come to walk right next to him. He was saying something to someone, but I never heard the words. I just looked at him silently. I felt that words were not needed at that moment. I was overwhelmed that Gurudev and I were walking together. He was walking down to the amphitheater silently, when some devotees turned around and finally took notice of his presence. “Oye” one devotee exclaimed. 

Many others turned around to see, equally surprised at seeing Gurudev walking down towards them. All of us walking with Gurudev burst out laughing at that devotee’s exclamation. Gurudev too, laughed along and gave the widest and most innocent grin. My gaze was fixed on him and I helped set aside the huge crowd that clamored around him. Being rather tiny and petite, I was lost amidst the crowd as Gurudev walked on. I didn’t struggle to go forward and meddle in the crowd. I was content. My heart was so full of love, as I watched Gurudev walk to his seat, smiling as ever. I can’t recall what bhajan played that moment to greet him for Satsang, but I can recall how good it made me feel. Then it struck me – HE KNOWS EVERYTHING! He knew that I would have pined in my loneliness, so he came to my rescue! The Divine worked in such mysterious ways. This was so much more than just a few beautiful moments spent with my Lord, it was a beautiful realization. His love was an instant healing balm on my self-inflicted wounds. As I sat down with the realization that I was being taken care of at all times, I felt tears of gratitude trickle down my face. This was Gurudev’s way of showing his love for me. When I had no expectations, he had given me the sweetest surprise. I felt so lucky to have him in my life and valued it beyond comprehension. 

~ Aashna

Walking with Gurudev - Sri Sri Stories

Arjuna Vishada Yoga Originally published on https://srisristories.com/arjuna-vishada-yoga/ | Sri Sri Stories

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 seemed like I might have to forego serving the vision of my Guru due to a family situation. As I reached the hall, I found two corner chairs vacant in the second row, which was a wonder considering the hall was already overfull. Overcome with stress, 

I dozed off during the Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya chanting, missing the moment when Gurudev walked in and the discourse started. Suddenly, I felt a tap on my right shoulder, and when I turned to look, there was no one there. I was wide awake, and I felt Gurudev’s piercing eyes staring right at me, saying, “Arjuna, keep me with you and fight the war.” All my misery dissolved in that very instant, and I realized that He had heard my prayers. Although I may have to attend to family priorities for a short spell of time, my seva continues till date, and I am grateful for the skill Gurudev has given me to manage both my home front and my path as a seeker. It is the ultimate blessing to be part of the divine vision and contribute my bit, with my husband walking alongside me. Thanks to the love and compassion of my Guru, I am stronger, steadier, and more balanced. It has been the ultimate blessing, next only to the joy of motherhood. 

~ Leela Ramesh, Bangalore

Arjuna Vishada Yoga - Sri Sri Stories

Compassion For Prison Inmates

I first attended the Art of Living basic course (now called the Happiness Program) way back in January 1999 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Though I joined reluctantly, I gave my 100% to all the processes and continued the practice diligently. Doing the course turned out to be a great blessing. I used to suffer from migraine and sinusitis since my school days. It meant living in misery for at least a week as the seasons changed. To my great relief,

 I realized after about a year of doing the basic course that I was completely free from migraine and sinusitis. Upon retirement and my return to Bangalore, I started doing seva in the city’s central jail, conducting courses for male inmates. I started earning their trust and love, and eventually crafted a rehabilitation program. It was one of the most fulfilling and satisfying acts of service. I could feel compassion for the inmates, and Gurudev’s words resonated in my heart: “Behind every culprit is a victim crying for help.” I am grateful to Gurudev for giving me this unique opportunity to interact with the inmates and do my bit to rehabilitate some of them. Without His grace, it would not have been possible. Another opportunity I received was when He blessed my wife Leela Ramesh and me to travel throughout the Indian state of Karnataka to set up District Development Committee. His words of guidance were: “Walk with a map. Touch every district.” We were totally unfamiliar with the place or anyone we would be approaching. Yet with a clean slate, we set out on a two-year road trip and set up the development committees in many districts. By entrusting us with this opportunity, He also fulfilled our personal wish to travel and explore Karnataka. The love and care extended by the devotees we met will always be cherished. If not for these seva assignments, I would have remained unaware of my own potential! I am again grateful to Pujya Gurudev for this precious gift. On various and innumerable occasions, He has made me melt in gratitude. 

~ Ramesh Kumar, Bangalore

Compassion for prison inmates - Sri Sri Stories

Gratitude For Beloved Gurudev

Words are not enough to express my gratitude and grace for our beloved Gurudev who has given us such wonderful courses for life. He is my precious love, my God, my everything. I have been helped in many ways, even when I was unaware of it. 

I consider myself lucky and blessed to have such a great and wonderful master who has been my strength and support throughout. He chose me and led me to this path, taking care of me even before I knew him. Gurudev has been a constant presence in my life, guiding and shaping me into the person I am today. I am forever grateful for his unconditional love and support. Thank you, Gurudev, for everything.

~ Reshma Murthy

Gratitude for Beloved Gurudev - Sri Sri Stories

Finding Peace And Joy Through Meditation

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. I was actively involved in Seva projects and Satsangs, but after getting married and having children, I couldn’t continue my practice actively. However, in 2017, I met AnupUnnikrishnan Ji, who helped me return to my path of meditation with his constant support and loving guidance. During the lockdown in 2020, I also completed the Sri Sri Sanskar Kendra Teachers’ Training Program, which helped me learn how to nurture children and inculcate Indian cultural values in them.

 My own children attended the Sanskar Kendra classes, and I noticed a significant difference in their behavior. They now enjoy sitting and chanting for a few minutes every day, and they’re eager to hear stories from Indian scriptures. As a parent, I’ve learned to appreciate my children as individual divine souls and communicate more skillfully with them instead of losing my temper on small issues. This has brought harmony and peace to our home. During the Covid pandemic, when there was so much negativity around, the Art of Living family held each other with so much love. Gurudev organized many meditations, Satsangs, and online courses that kept us all busy and happy. The Prana Shakti we received through Kriya, Satsang, and Seva kept us all healthy and joyful. On the auspicious occasion of Guru Poornima, I express my gratitude to our beloved Master for sharing profound wisdom with the world in such simple ways. Although I now live in Berlin, Germany, I know that I will never be alone because Gurudev has created a family for all of us worldwide. Wishing everyone a Happy Guru Poornima. Jai Guru Dev. 

~ Uthama

Finding Peace and Joy through Meditation - Sri Sri Stories

Gurudev Is Truly Divine

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. Due to my sister’s unstable emotional state, she drove me out of her house. I was visiting her from the U.S., and at that time, I decided to go and stay at the Bangalore ashram. I went every evening to Vishalakshi Mantap, the main meditation hall (or the lotus hall, as I like to call it), and Guruji was there every day in January 2014. I enjoyed my Ayurvedic treatment and the Sudarshan Kriya. I had learned the kriya while in the US when I was forced by friends a couple of years earlier but was not practicing it. I felt different doing the kriya at the ashram. I felt as if I was happy for no reason. I had dreams of Guruji during my Ayurvedic treatments. In mid-January, I entered the hall with my mother, who had come to visit me at the ashram. Guruji asked if it was anyone’s birthday during that week. I celebrated my own birthday recently, but my husband’s birthday was on the 16th. Everyone whose birthday it was stood up, so I too stood up and shouted, looking towards Him, that 16th was my husband’s birthday. He was throwing flowers at all the people, but He saw me, and took a garland from His hand, and threw it towards me. It landed precisely around my neck! Everyone inside the hall shouted and gasped. My mom, who was next to me, had tears in her eyes, and she was proud of me. Till then, I was simply going to the ashram blindly. I recently joined the Sahaj Samadhi course in August 2022, but until then, I didn’t realize the magnitude of my experience. Now when I meditate, He sits in front of me. 

He has been visiting me in my dreams every month. Just last night, He again came into my dreams. I was just sitting next to Him, and He kept smiling. In my dream, I told myself to ask Him the questions I had always wanted. But my mind in my dream was dumbstruck and in shock. I asked him later what the physics behind negative energy was. For that, He jumped and said Ah, on Amavasya day, write “Om Shri Rama” around your puja altar. He showed me my puja altar. I woke up at 7 a.m., and I usually wake up at 5.30 and do my meditation around 6 a.m. But today, I couldn’t as I was in pain due to my uterine fibroid. I felt a little sad that I didn’t ask him anything about my family’s welfare or my health issues. Then I consoled myself that it was a blessing He even came into my dream. I am a nobody, not a real devotee, no knowledge, no discipline, nothing. All I can say is He is truly divine, and I got lucky. I am grateful to the divine for forever showing me the path and sending divine souls to teach me and guide me further on my path. I pray that my children and husband realize the divine being that Guruji is and find their peace too. I am a Shirdi Saibaba devotee, and I see that Baba speaks through Gurudev too.

~ A Devotee 

Gurudev is truly divine - Sri Sri Stories

This is the power of my Guru grace.

I'm associated with AOL since 2001 and have done all the possible courses many times and the recent one is Sanyam in April 2021. I was always aware that Guruji is taking care of me and my family but believed when this incident took place. 

It was March 2020 when lockdown was announced and we all started working from home. I worked for a export company for 15 years as a Manager. Markets which were handled by me were badly affected by covid resulting delay in payments and 70-80% drop in business. 

25th June 2020 I received a call from my stakeholder asking me to step down gracefully with 3 months notice period (I was entitled only for 30 days notice period) during my conversation with the stake holder I felt relived and happy that he asking me to quit . I don't know why but I felt. I could see hazy smiling picture of Gurudev for that moment and then vanished. 

So then all the melo drama started in my mind. What will I do now, kids education, living is expensive etc etc. But some where in my heart I was peaceful and had faith that all will be okay. I reached home told my wife she was cool too and said it's okay. We will manage. I said 'Gurudev hain na sab theek hoga'. She kept quiet but was distrubed. 

Next day morning my wife was covid positive, she recovered fast though. So I had three months salary coming in and had time to find a job. Two months I enjoyed lockdown watching Netflix and sleeping. My wife wasn't understanding my this behaviour that no job and still no worry. Then in the month of September one of my friend called me that can I help him setting up his export business and money offered was almost same that I was earring earlier. 

I worked with my friend then in May 2021 got a cal from another export company that they would like to hire me and office is just 5 km from my residence. I accepted this offer and started working on good package and I'm happy. I could sail through that difficult situation only because of Guru's grace because I surrendered myself to him. This is the power of my Guru grace.

Guru Purnima is such a precious time to be in the company of the Guru

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.

 My husband met Gurudev and told him about the job offer. Gurudev did not say anything . He just kept His hand on my husband’s head and walked away. After Guru Purnima celebrations, while driving to the Charlotte airport from Boone, we decided to accept the offer. Next step was to decide about relocation so I called up a friend of mine who I knew was looking to buy a house and told her that we may be selling our house. On Monday, my friend came, saw our house and made an offer! So, with our own house sold, we decided to look for a new house in Seattle. We spent a full day looking at various options. At the end of an extremely tiring and frustrating day, we decided to place an offer on one house. Unfortunately or fortunately, someone else placed a significantly higher offer for all cash and we lost that house. We regretfully returned back to Boston. A few days later, our realtor contacted us on FaceTime and showed us another house near Seattle. We trusted her so we placed an offer on the house without physically seeing it. The offer was accepted and after inspections etc, we got the house for 10k below asking price (This is when houses on our street have gone for 50k above asking price!) Eventually, we moved into our new home. It was then I realized the most astounding thing. Every single thing that I had dreamed in my home was available here. 1. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a very good school district. 2. High ceilings and natural beauty. 3. Hardwood floors throughout the house, upstairs and downstairs. Since we have dust allergies in our family, this was a necessity. 4. Children playing outside on the street. 5. Walking distance to the bus stop. This is when I truly recognized to what extent we are taken care of. Guru Purnima is such a precious time to be in the company of the Guru! We were very blessed to have the chance to be with him physically on that day. The important thing is not the material gain in this story, but just the extent to which we are all blessed to have a living master.

A Celebration

I was in the 9th standard when I first joined the ‘Yes’ course of the Art of Living. I felt immense positive energy and goodness all around me after doing this Course. I then started doing my Sadhna daily and really wanted to meet Guruji. Finally one day, during my board exams, Lalit bhaiya was going to Jaipur for attending an AOL function which Guruji was also going to attend. I somehow convinced my parents and got their permission to go to for the function so that I could get a chance to meet the Master. Once we reached there we came to know that Guruji was coming to an auditorium before the function. 

I really wanted to go and meet Him there. In the end, bhaiya told me to go on stage to meet Guruji. So I went and nobody stopped me. I reached right in front of Gurudev. He was looking at me as though he knew me since years. I felt such happiness and bliss in that one moment that I cannot express that ecstatic feeling in words. Just one glance of your beloved Master is enough to brighten up your life. I could feel how everything that you want from your heart automatically happens in His divine presence. It has been six long years now to this incident. I had not been very regular with my Sadhna since the last five years as I went out to study. But Guruji was always with me every second. Last year, I got a beautiful chance to do the Basic & Yes plus courses and I have also completed 1 year of doing Sadhna. I have become very confident as a person and have experienced immense growth in every sphere of my life. I took a drop last year and was extremely tensed as to where I would get admission for further studies. Only with His grace, I got into Sri Sri University in Cuttack which is a great institute to get into. One must look forward to getting into this institute. I am truly happy with the way my life has shaped now. I want to give my great gratitude to Guruji for always being there with me and blessing me with so much of His love that I am able to experience this sea of happiness and bliss in my life. And also a special thanks to Lalit bhaiya for influencing me to do the AOL courses as well as Hittul bhaiya as he was my first teacher on the course. Thank you Gurudev. Love You.

- Priyanka Agarwal

 Life Has Become A Celebration - Sri Sri Stories

A Dream Visit From Gurudev

I was part of the core seva group that organized the Kathopnishad in Los Angeles in April 2010. At the same time, my mother was fighting blood cancer in India. When I briefly met Gurudev at the LA center, I informed him about my mother’s condition and asked him to take care of her. Gurudev showed me the Abhay mudra, and I felt relieved. 

However, my mother’s condition continued to deteriorate, and I had to return to India within a month. She eventually passed away on May 15, and I was devastated that Gurudev had not kept his promise to take care of her. But then, on the day I performed my mother’s last rites, Gurudev visited me in a dream. In the dream, my mother was standing behind him, and Gurudev was smiling while showing me the same Abhay mudra he had shown me before. My mother was wearing the same silver bracelet that Gurudev had gifted to each volunteer during the Kathopnishad, which I had tied on her arm for safety. I realized that my mother was now in the presence of a realized master in another realm and was experiencing the ultimate joy. I thanked Gurudev for taking care of my mother and for enlightening me with this dream.

~ A Devotee

A Dream Visit from Gurudev - Sri Sri Stories

Welcome Home

From the time we were married, my husband and I dreamt of building a beautiful, old fashioned house we call Thotti Mane’ (Courtyard House) in Kannada. Thotti mane has a square hollow space in the centre, with pillars on all four sides. Dreaming big uplifted our spirit and we also believed it would be possible someday. Eventually we did build a 36 square bunglow and rented it out as we lived outside India. Time Share concept was trending in 90s. We took membership of Sterling Holidays Time share and went to Goa in 1996. We were put up in a studio apartment that was very convenient to manage. It was the first revelation to me that a couple did not need a big house to live in. Our only daughter had moved to the US with no intention of returning to India.

 I realized that the house was more of a liability than an asset that robbed our peace of mind due to various reasons. A seed was sown by the divine, ‘Let go’. We were not in the Art of Living yet, but in retrospect I can see how Gurudev was preparing me for a bigger vision. In late 90s we came under the fold of Gurudev and one time I had planned to ask Him whether we should keep the house or sell. I was sitting in close audience with Him in a group and instead of asking my question I exclaimed ‘ Guruji, our Vishalakshi Mantap is more beautiful than Taj Mahal!’ referring to the newly built meditation hall that is an architectural wonder! He looked at me and said with the enthusiasm of a child ‘ And, you are even more beautiful than Taj Mahal’. I forgot everything else and remained silent revelling in His childlike presence! My husband and I concurred on selling the house. Buyers were queueing up. We realized we had not registered the house nor did we possess a Katha (a necessary document) without which one cannot sell any property. 

I happened to be in India for a short holiday. I decided to get this done. The morning I had to go to the Registrar Office, I was sitting on an old wooden chair in my mother’s house remembering my father who had got two of these identical chairs made. A sofa cum bed, two wooden chairs, and a centre table to keep his favourite newspaper, ‘The Indian Express’- that was all the furniture we had. Simple, contented life. As I was reminiscing, something happened that shook me to the core! There was a tremor and the coffee cup in my hand spilled lot of coffee on my dress. It was an earthquake! Mild, but an earthquake. At that very moment a mountain of dispassion dawned on me. Nature can wipe off in a moment what we have struggled a lifetime to build! We sold the house and regained our peace of mind and freedom. Upon returning to Bangalore for good, our hometown, we purchased an apartment closer to our Ashram, The Art of Living International Centre. Never been happier! Soon after a baby is born, it learns to grab whatever comes in its grip. It takes an enlightened Master to teach us the art of ‘letting go’ because ‘letting go is nectar’ . I marvel at the subtle way He prepared us to let go of the ‘Dream house’ we had built, even before He had made His grand entry in my humble life. I marvel at the way He never allowed me to ask Him, sell or not sell? I marvel at the way He made us realize for ourselves what is best for us by creating situations to help the process of letting go. Today, we have a home wherever in the world we go that says warmly ‘ Welcome Home’.  

~ Leela Ramesh

Welcome Home! - Sri Sri Stories

Miracles Happen For Those Who Believe

It was in the year 2007 that a life changing event occurred with a boy named Sagnik, 4 years of age, who happened to take admission in my mother’s school “The Divine Grace”. In the initial days, he presented a condition in which he wasn’t able to speak at all. The only word that would come out of his mouth was “Ma” (Mother). He could not say anything else apart from this. It was very distressing for the child and equally agonizing for the parents. Even the doctors failed to make him speak. My heart would sink each time I’d see this little boy.

 Miracles Happen For Those Who Believe But as Sri Sri says “Anything can change any time, in any manner”, the change did take place in Sagnik’s life. One fine morning, as the classes were going on, miraculously, he fell down and cut his tongue. There was slight bleeding but the teachers handled the situation. However, for the next 2 days, he was absent. We all prayed to Guruji, for taking care of Sagnik so that he could lead a normal life like any other person. Sagnik resumed school on the 3rd day. The class started as per routine, but what followed was truly stunning. The class teacher heard Sagnik saying words like “Apple, Orange, Triangle, Rectangle.” The teacher could not believe her ears and was clueless as to how this could have happened. The boy’s parents were immediately called and they too were speechless on hearing this astounding piece of news. Tears of joy and gratitude flowed down the mother’s cheeks. Presently, Sagnik is excelling in academics and winning prizes for elocution. He has done the Art Excel Course ( An art of living workshop designed for chidren) and is regular with his meditations and Kriya. We have to have the correct intention and make the effort, everything else falls into place. Sri Sri takes care of everyone uniquely. All we need to do is to give a chance for miracles to happen. Jai Gurudev.

- Rishika

Dreams gets fulfilled

I would like to share my story with Guruji, right from the scratch. Well, the journey started in the year 2009. I got into Engineering College. I then did the Art of Living Basic course, but couldn’t continue doing Short Kriya on a regular basis. You know the engineering life. I would find it difficult to make time. But at the end, I knew I could if I really wanted to. As they say “Nothing is impossible!” Then in 2012, Guruji visited my home in Durgapur (West-Bengal). My parents are active volunteers serving AOL since years. Well, it was that day which changed my life completely. Guruji spoke with me for a while, and I showed my urge to study abroad. He just asked me one question “Kriya karte ho daily”? (Do you do your kriya daily?). Then, I replied “Haan Gurudev, kabhi kabhi” (Yes Guruji, sometimes). He saw my expression and gave me a smile and said “Har din kiya karo”(you must do it daily). He then asked me “Tumhe sach mein jaana hai USA padhne”? (Do you really want to go in the US and study ?) I said “Yes Guruji, I eagerly want to go! He then kept His hand on my head for a while and blessed me saying “Dont worry ho jaayega! ” (Don’t worry it will happen) It was from that day, when He blessed me that I started doing my Kriya after months. I then got admits from Universities and I was on cloud nine. Usually, the Visa interviews are difficult to crack, but you might not believe me when I say, I had my interview only for 30 seconds. I was just asked what my parents do and I was instantly approved the Visa. All doors seemed to be opening for me slowly. I went to the States and studied well, with all my focus and dedication. But there were still some closed doors. Life is not all that easy, after all. In the course of my exams, 

I had a subject due in engineering. This was my last chance to clear it. If not this time, then it would cost me thousands of dollars, as all of my fees were paid for university abroad. I had my return flight on August 9, and the result came out just 2 days before that. I took a sigh of relief. I had finally cleared it! I am just so grateful to Guruji for being with me through my testing times and sailing me through, all victorious!!! Another positive change that took place in my life after coming to USA was that I started going to long Kriya weekly sessions and started doing the short Kriya regularly. This gave me a whole lot of steadiness in my life. Coming to the present, I was searching for an internship in USA for summer. And with His constant blessing, I got into IBM. Well, you all may think “So big deal!” But it truly is a big deal. Getting an internship in USA is a whole lot of big deal, and that too with such a well reputed brand. I applied only to one company and I got through it. I was the first one in my class to get Internship. This beautiful and fruitful journey of mine would have never been possible without my Masters support. Don’t underestimate the power of a Guru in your life. Just keep a positive thought and keep focus on what you want. The Guru will take care of it. You just need to walk ahead, and the path will be created for you. And always show your gratitude towards Him, that’s very important. I sincerely hope and pray that each one of your dreams gets fulfilled, just like mine did. Jai Guru Dev. Regards, 

- Karan Goenka

My Guru’s Blessing worked for me

On 22 November, 2012, which was a very special day of my life, I entered into the magical world of the Art of Living. I did the Part1, Yes!+ and DSN courses. I heard a lot about the Advance Course, but did not get a chance to do the course because it was a full day course of four days and somehow I was not able to take leave for it. My craving for doing the course was increasing day by day. One day, Saleel Bhaiya, who was my Part1 and DSN Teacher happened to talk to me and suggested that I go to the Ashram for an Advance course with Guruji.

 I liked the idea very much but my mom and dad refused to give permission to go alone so far. Later on, fortunately, they agreed to send me to Bangalore on Maha Shivaratri with my friends. I was happy in doing the course in Mumbai only, but Guruji always gives me the best, so He wanted me to do the course in the Ashram so that I could have the best experience of this course. In order to reach the Bangalore ashram, I needed to travel by bus for approximately 17-18 hours but since I feel very nauseous in buses, I was really afraid of travelling all the way. However, as I really wanted to attend the Maha Shivratri celebrations in the presence of the Master, I took the name of Guruji and boarded the bus. I was originally supposed to travel by another bus which got cancelled at the very last moment; hence I finally took the bus in which a friend of mine from Art of Living was also there. Unfortunately, I had left my water bottle in the luggage section of the bus. After an hour, I started feeling pain in my body, which scared me. Luckily my Art of Living friend Dhruv was with me, so I asked him for a water bottle, and felt better after that. After a while, we got down for taking a break of half an hour. At that time, Dhruv bought me a water bottle and juice so that I could have it to reduce my pain. I was just thinking what would have happened if I would have gone alone by another bus. I felt like My Guru sent Dhruv in His form just to take care of me. Finally, I was in the Ashram and feeling like I reached heaven. Then while returning, again I had to travel by the AC bus and that too alone this time. I boarded the bus at night, so I dint feel any pain at night as such, but next morning, the pain was so severe that I felt like getting down that very moment. Then My Guru’s Blessing worked for me. I messaged my Art of Living friends to bless me as I was not feeling well and was alone too. I was praying really hard to Guruji to get some natural air somehow just for two minutes so that I could get rid of the suffocation. It was just unbelievable that within 15 minutes, the bus stopped at a place only for two minutes. I felt like My Guru gave me life. It happened only because of my friends blessings. I have firm belief that whenever I face any problem, Guruji always comes to me in the form of a person (like this time it was Dhruv) and helps me. Love you Gurudev. JGD 

- Sapna Kushwaha

In the worst of situations

Gurudev came to Delhi on 18th March, 2014 and his flight was supposed to land at 4:00PM. As I couldn't leave office before 5:00PM, I thought I would go to meet him after he reaches Vasant Vihar where he was supposed to be staying. 

To my surprise and his wish the flight got delayed by 2 hours and by that time we could easily reach airport and meet him. So we reached at the airport but we did not have any conveyance to go from the airport to Vasant Vihar. 

Before he landed he even fixed that and we got a car arranged. Guruji finally landed and we met him at the airport and went behind him to Vasant Vihar. We reached just in time when he was there and I again got a tap on the head with the bouquet of flowers he was holding. 

Then he went inside and we waited in the hall amidst hundreds of people. He finally came out in the hall and took our hearts away. As he rightly says he is a "Chit Chor" (who steals the heart too). 

On being asked to meet one to one, Gurudev replied "Dil mein to milta hoon one to one" (In your heart I always meet you). However after that one to one meeting started. I felt something touched from inside as I met him. 

All I wanted after that was to cry every tension and burden off that I have been carrying with me. And I came back and just hugged his photo and slept. He was scheduled to leave on March 19, 2014 at around 1 PM for Rishikesh. 

People had already left from Delhi to be with him on the banks of holy Ganges. I got an offer too but had to cancel it as I couldn't take an off from work. I was sad that I couldn't even leave office to go and bid him good bye to the airport. 

All I had was a sincere prayer in my heart that his flight gets delayed or his trip gets cancelled. And to my surprise, Gurudev cancelled his trip to Rishikesh and stayed until 21st March in Vasant Vihar which is around 45 minutes distance from my place. 

This wonderful feeling that he loves you so much can bring a smile on anyone's face and can turn sad tears into sweet. Gurudev can make you feel soaked in love and drenched in joy and can change the disappointment into wonder "Koi itna pyaar kaise kar sakta hai?" (How can anyone love so much?) 

He has truly said in Narada Bhakti Sutras that "In the worst of situations if I can just remember that Divine loves me, there is Divine Unconditional love my misery will not be there". 

- Madhvi Mehra

Inexplicable power, a divine pull, that made me go through a deep experience.

Does a Guru know exactly what you need and when? Psychologist and senior Art of Living faculty member, DR PREMA SESHADRI’s travels got deepened with a copy of an ancient scripture Her Guru mysteriously guided her towards. 

During the late 90s, Gurudev had asked us all to read Swami Venkateswarananda’s Yoga Vashistha. I couldn’t wait to get started. It was perhaps only half hour into the book I realized I had got stuck on page 7. I could not comprehend a single sentence! I felt stuck in a maze and put the book away. A few months later, I traveled to the German ashram. I went to the meeting room, sat at his feet. He looked at me with those smiling eyes and asked, “How was it?” For a few seconds, I didn’t quite understand what He was asking about. And then, I got it! And I just said, “I hated it. I couldn’t understand a single thing in that book.” Gurudev smiled and said, “I have a solution for your problem. Don’t read the book.” I was so relieved. But then, my Master is not ever just a few steps ahead, he is always infinite eons ahead. 

During the evening Satsang, a young girl came up to the stage and read out a small excerpt from the Yoga Vashistha as dictated by Gurudev. Hearing it, I was floored. There was this inexplicable power, a divine pull, that made me go through a deep experience. It had the telling warmth of a reassurance and the breathing largeness of infinity. Gurudev looked at me with a smile. And this reassurance became my foundation for the years of travel that Gurudev not only blessed me to embark on, but also led me through, moment to moment.

My desire to be a full-time Art of Living teacher came to fruition in 2000, traveling and teaching across the Gulf countries. In 2001, while I was on the phone taking His blessings on my birthday, He just said, “Go to Egypt” and the call ended. And the first panic thought was oh my god! I don’t know anybody in Egypt! Slowly I began to realize the futility of worry, not because I couldn’t get the answers but just knowing that if he has asked me to go, he will take care of the “going” and everything else after.

Before I knew it, in just a few days, I was packing for Egypt. On a whim, at the last minute, I decided to put the Yoga Vashistha into my suitcase.

My almost on-and-off 3-year stint in Egypt was a journey of introspection, realizations, redefining trust, affirmation of faith, and the beauty of wonder. And right through, Yoga Vashistha became my strong companion. Did I understand the Yoga Vashistha then? Not at all! But, somewhere, somehow, it was working. Increasingly, it was becoming an experience. I would remember what Gurudev once said, our consciousness is so ancient and so deep, it holds all the knowledge, we just need something to awaken it. 

Egypt was all about realising two things : that the mind is one big monkey and the power of surrender. Knowing that there is a greater power at work is extraordinarily liberating. My different hosts helped me see how beauty, hospitality, and warmth take all shapes and forms. An Egyptian driver ferried me around day after day for months, without uttering a word and I realized how language was not made up of words but by silent kindness.

Food, during those days was a challenge for vegetarians. Come lunchtime I would take a break and walk down the pavements looking for a “suitable” place for a bite. On one such occasion as I stood in front of a restaurant debating on whether to enter or not, a call came on my phone. It was Gurudev, and his first question was, “Are you getting proper food to eat?” After that, I was taken care of. 

An experience in Alexandria remains etched in memory. It was a reminder that my Guru knows; and if my Guru admonishes me, it is a blessing! I had finished a program in Alexandria and was beginning to feel a little homesick. But I was to get back to Cairo where a large course was being organized. But I had also heard about a visit by Gurudev to Lebanon. This grandiose plan of making a quick dash to Lebanon to be with Gurudev began to form in my head. On reaching, I was told by the organizer that the course had to be postponed. I’m never happy when a course is cancelled. But for the first time, I was ecstatic that it was! It meant I could actually fly to Beirut. 

I called Gurudev, who said a stern no and then compassionately asked me to drive back to Alexandria “where 27 executives were waiting to do the course”. As I got ready to take the ride back to Alexandria, an organizer called. I could feel the enthusiasm rising. And out of curiosity, I asked him how many people there were for the course. He said, “27”...

What a journey it was a life journey made up of excitement, witnessing the unknown, savoring the surprises, embracing the Grace, and a constant overwhelming gratitude to Infinity, to the Divine, to my Master. 

And yes, I continued to have Yoga Vashistha as my companion till I returned to India. When I entered Gurudev’s Kutir on my return to the Bangalore ashram, He asked me, “So, how was the book?” This time I knew. I said, "Amazing!". And he had a good laugh.

Give it to them

Celebrity Fashion Stylist, shares one of her sweet and special memory with her Guru.

Many years ago when Gurudev used to be in Shakti Kutir, I was sitting there amongst other devotees and I had a thought, a wish. I really wanted to ask Gurudev to give me something that I could take back for all the volunteers in Mumbai. That would make them so happy if they get something from him. This thought kept playing on my mind but I didn’t say anything because I felt really shy to say that. 

After a little while Gurudev got up and went into his room and came out with a brown paper bag and lowered the bag. There were some people sitting around me and all of them raised their hands to get the bag. But he dropped it in my lap and he just said, "Give it to them." I just looked at him and was stunned. “Oh my God,” I thought, "How has he read my thoughts! How does he do this?" Obviously he does this all the time but this time it became so evident that he could read my thoughts. This was just something that has always stayed with me and it’s been a very, very special experience. 

- Ami Patel