Story - I

This is my first post from this year’s Winter Break. Whosoever has come and done some courses with AOL knows of many Guru Stories. I am not sure if I can classify this as one of those. Does not matter, because, this will be always a very special one for me and so I know I have to share this with everyone else.

So it was the second day of the New Year. We are having a grand grand Satsang with Vikram Hazra. More about him and the Satsangs later. Before the satsang started I was doing my Sadhana which I could not do in that morning, and I realized someone else, a girl sitting next to me is also doing her Sadhana. However, the story is about her friend, not her. As we finished with our Sadhana, she called out to her friend to sit there with us. As I heard the name, all my senses were like suddenly awakened and I felt a chilled wave running down my spine. She was a Muslim Girl! Now what the fuss about that? Or did not I expect to see a single Muslim girl among the crowd of 1400 people where there were many Christians also. Yes, to extent. I heard of many incidents where Guruji had sessions with some Muslim scholars and how those discussions went. But I was also aware that Guruji was the first spiritual person from India to visit Pakistan post independence and how famous or loved he is there! We also have around 40+ Yes+ teachers in Pakistan at this moment.

But that is not the reason of my botheration. Only when it was the end of the day I realized how special it was. How well Guruji has decided to give me that special knowledge.

Here are some moments from that Satsang. She is really very enthusiastic and full of energy! And she knows for sure how to blow a whistle! Boys will forfeit to her and I always had to put my hand on my ears sitting next to her whenever I will see her getting ready for the act! She enjoyed thoroughly all the songs from the concert.
Then someone came and removed Guruji’s photo from the stage. God! She was so upset about it. All the while she was saying, ‘I need my Guruji! I want to see him! Bring Him back!’ Her friend tried, unsuccessfully, to calm down her saying, ‘You do not need a photo of Him! He is always with us!’ She replied, when you can keep your eyes open and see Him, then no need to search in the heart! Well, well, great! So she was back to those days of kindergartens where they will through their hands and legs for the things they are asking for and their parents will go nuts. Only difference would have been here is that Guruji will be smiling!
And then there was a buzz in the air that Guruji might cut short his trip in Germany and be back a day early, just for us!!! And now that they have removed His photo, she started praying deeply, “Insha’Allah! Khuda duya kare ke mere Guruji aaj hi wapas aajaye hamare pass!” This will translate to – ‘God! Please make my Guruji come to me today only.’ Sitting next to her I was simply blown away by her this simple, subtle and powerful prayer. She made the prayer but I felt the strength of that in and around me!

Guruji had to oblige!

Lastly Vikram said he is going to sing a special song, ‘Shivoham’ which we need to listen from our heart in silence. The crowd till then was on their toes singing and dancing all the while! So as we sat quietly and Vikram started spelling the magic of his voice, everyone was on an upward ride of joy and happiness. I hoped that I will cry! But you know Guruji does not let me cry all the time! J He picks up very special moments for me. But I sensed that there were tears on her eyes. Uncontrollable. Though it was the tear of grace and love, it was a treat for my heart to see someone being lost in the ecstasy of it! I silently prayed and thanked Him!

So what is the moral of the story? As I said the issue was not having a girl from a different religion in an event which finds it roots deep into another religion, the two of which are on extremes. Apparently (?). But the concern was with me. Need to go back to the days of the starting of my journey in this path.

When I started my journey with AOL I had few serious doubts in my mind, and many of us have it. First I saw that in the Ashram everything will find a reference to only and only Hindu mythology or characters. While we say that now AOL is spread over 150 countries all over the world and have transformed the lives of millions irrespective of their cultures and religion, I could not accept that idea kind of fully to have only Hindu connection. The worst part is I was not very fond of Satsangs those days. I mean I loved the songs and the chants. They invoke huge power and positive energy. But I think I was not able to that sense that fully. And the songs were again for Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, Durga – all the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. I personally always liked Sufi songs and felt the same energy in those songs when I will sit quietly and listen to them. I loved Kabira’s dohas. I loved Junoon’s and Agnee’s songs. So it always used to bother me why and why there are no songs being sung like those in the Satsangs?

All these used to irritate me. I would go and ask these questions to my teacher or see when someone asks same type of questions how do the teachers reply. But after this incident, I had all my answers. And I felt very stupid because I thought like an idiot. Forget about Gods and religions and different beliefs or ideologies. All these are created by us for the sake of our own interest. To keep our dominance, to show our power over others. Above all these there is only this one power – Adi Shakti or Maha Shakti or the invisible unified universal force which keep us all united and make us move constantly. The only way to know everything is to know that power and source of energy. Religion is sought after as a medium to reach there but mostly acts as a distraction rather.

When your heart is open and spirit is up you will feel the vibrations and the energy anywhere on the earth and beyond it. When I went to Ajmer’s Darga I felt the same energy. When I went to Taj Mahal I felt the same love. And when I am anywhere else, now I feel the same energy and love. Just embrace all of it with an open heart. And you will be enlightened!

Jai Gurudev!

Love!