I stepped out of car with two giant bags of books.
It was 8 pm, and I managed to reach the book seller’s stall before its closing time.
Dahanukar Wadi in Kandivali West looked crowded.
In Mumbai, you can find roadside book sellers who offer second-hand books at very cheap rates. Sometimes, they even rent out books.
The book seller had a few customers already, so I waited until he finished with them.
“Bhaiya, yeah mere books hai, kya aap kharidana chahoge?” I asked him, , pointing to my bags. (“are you interested in buying these books?”)
“Batao” (tell me) he replied.
He selected around 30 books and made an offer.
He selected all the famous books like “The Secret,” “Power,” and “The Artist’s Way” and skipped the comparatively less famous ones.
The less popular books on meditation, other self-help techniques like Reiki, Ho’oponopono, sound healing, water healing, along with some books from amazing self-help teachers like Abraham Hicks and Shakti Gawain were left untouched.
“Woh baki ke 50 books aapko nahi chahiye?” (do you not want remaining 50 books) I asked, pointing to the pile of books he hadn’t selected.
“No” He shook his head
My discussion with the book seller got interrupted by a soft voice.
“Bhaiya, how much for this?” she asked.
I looked in the direction of that voice.
Just 10 feet away from me stood a girl.
She must be in school or early years of college.
She was in a simple loose t-shirt and jeans, her hair tied with a hair clip. She had no makeup on her face.
Innocence was clearly visible on her face.
After such a long time, I saw such an innocent face in Mumbai.
She was holding a book in one hand and hand of a little girl in other.
“Is that her little sister?” I wondered.
She had selected a book and hesitantly asked for its price.
“Hellooo, I have some books here, if you want, you can take them,” I suggested to her, pointing to a rack of books that the bookseller had rejected.
Her face lit up with happiness, as if she had just found some hidden treasure.
It reminded me of my younger self; I would have reacted the same way.
“If you want them all, then take them all,” I added.
She happily started digging into the mountain of books.
“Do you have so many books?” she asked.
“Yes, it’s a collection of many years,” I replied.
“I also like self-help books,” she said.
It’s good that the bookseller rejected these books.
Some of them are the best ones I have read, and this girl will get them.
As she selected so many books, I gave her a cotton bag to carry them.
Turning to the bookseller, I said, “Let her take what she wants, and you can keep remaining books.”
Saying this, I left.
And just like that, I let go of ALL my book collection.
Now at home, I have another giant bag of yoga books that I’ve kept for another girl who is interested in yoga.
The only book collection I’ve kept for myself is books by my Guru Shri Paramhansa Yogananda and his organization YSS.
At the beginning of this year, I mentioned my wish to stay loyal to my Guru.
Staying loyal to him also means stop exploring other spiritual paths.
Do I argue or fight with others claiming my guru is the BEST? No.
Do I argue or fight with others claiming my path is the BEST? No.
I have started sharing/talking about my Guru on social media and with family and friends.
However, I don’t force anyone to follow this path or my guru.
I won’t do it.
You may not like or follow my Guru and his teachings, but…
… you may like the changes within me that are happening as a result of my guru’s teachings.
… you may like the way I write these articles.
… you may like the way I love my Guru.
And then one day…
… you will find someone in your life who uplifts your soul, who helps you to grow spiritually.
… and if you introduce me to him/her, I will bow down, staying loyal to my Guru.
Why waste our precious time arguing or fighting for who or what is the best?
Is it the duty of the Guru and the disciple to be wholly loyal to one another, not only in one life, but for as many lives as are needed by the disciple to reach God – Shri Paramhansa Yogananda
If you met me last year around this time, I was writing affirmations and creating yoga asana/mental health content for Yogarati’s social media.
At this time last year, finding Guru , accelerating my spiritual journey beyond yoga asana and pranayam was not in my list.
In my daily life, discussions about God were limited, maybe during visits to temples or prayers, but not very frequent.
I never imagined that one day I would openly talk about Guru/God on social media, with my family and friends, or write about it.
… seeing this transition, some people may call me “retarded” … but no worries … I will try not to miss an opportunity to spread Guruji’s work and talk about God.
first they may laugh at you.. and then they ask you HOW/WHAT/WHERE…
People like me may come and go who talk to you about God, and you may read countless books about Him, but neither of these will give you divine satisfaction.
Divine satisfaction will come only when you make efforts.
God has given us 24 hours every day. We waste much of this time. Can we not set aside some of it for God alone?
We often make excuses that we have so many worries and responsibilities that we don’t have much time for meditation or prayer.
But what if God says that He has no time for us?
In an instant, all our so-called important tasks would be canceled.
Today is Saturday. In the balcony, I can see a fresh new pink rose has bloomed, and I am still waiting for tomatoes.
Summer is almost here, reminding me of mangoes and trips to my village in Kokan.
What does summer remind you of?
and after few months, everything will become green.
Just a little more waiting, just a couple more months.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Stay happy, stay blessed always.
Much love,
Arati
❤️
