On Gudi Padwa, which was on April 9th, I wore my aai’s saree with a matching blouse.
My aai always takes an interest when I wear traditional clothes.
She checks jewellery, the saree I choose, and if my blouse matches.
Usually, I disappoint her, not because I disrespect her opinion, but because I prefer simple outfits and not particular about it.
She liked what I wore that day. It was a Maharashtrian saree with a matching blouse and a small flower in my hair.
So, on Gudi Padwa, I got ready and I wanted to put a flower garland on the main door.
I was alone at home at that time.
I opened the main door and stepped outside. While putting garland on the door, it got shut and locked on its own.
I was outside home, without phone and home keys.
Now what?
I rang neighbour’s doorbell, wished them a Happy Gudi Padwa, and explained the situation.
They kindly invited me inside and suggested I stay there until someone came home.
“Yeah, it’s better than aimlessly wandering on streets of Mumbai in a saree in this hot afternoon,” me in my mind
So, I spent next two hours with my neighbour – Dada, and his teenage daughter.
In daily routine life, I don’t talk much. There’s usually no need.
Most of the times, I stay quiet during meditation sessions and while checking charts too no need to talk.
That day after spending two hours at my neighbour’s place, I felt like my weekly quota for talking was over.😂
In my early spiritual journey, it wasn’t like that.
A couple of years back, I had a strong urge to share knowledge, almost with a sense of force.
The intention behind it was that others should also benefit from it.
One mistake often many of us make on the spiritual path is that, the moment we feel enthusiasm for seeking God, we want to change the whole world.
People start a spiritual revolution in the home, with an effort to change their loved ones parents, husband, wife, children , friends, neighbour.
Guruji said , ” Change yourself first, reform yourself and you will reform thousands.”
People dont like to be told what to do, unless they are seeking guidance.
No one likes to have advice forced upon him.
If someone really wants to take spiritual path..then most of the times……..
it starts with curiosity -> it creates questions -> which starts journey as a seeker -> leads to talking/reading/watching/hearing spiritual knowledge.
Guruji used to say that if you are thirsty, just reading about water or hearing about it will not satisfy you.
It is only when you go to the well and drink refreshing water then your thirst is completely satisfied.
Similarly we can discuss/talk about spirituality, we can read spiritual scriptures , but they will never be able to satisfy inner thirst for divine love.
In deep meditation we can experience this divine love. And when that happens, a wave of peace, calmness , bliss will come to you.
“Mam, just one more question. How far is Babaji’s cave from Ranchi Ashram?” I asked her.
“Beta, it’s very far, in a different area,” a lady at the Ranchi help desk answered my phone call.
In the previous weekend post, I mentioned that I will be visiting Guruji’s Ranchi Ashram.
I have never been to Ranchi, Jharkhand before.
With every passing day, my curiosity and happiness are increasing as I will get an opportunity to spend a week at Guruji’s Ashram.
I have no clue what this experience will be like.
In this post, I don’t have much to share.
If you are reading this, then either you are curious about spirituality, suffering/recovering from pain, or already on a spiritual journey.
During this journey, if you are helping others, bringing a smile to their faces, giving them love… you are doing an amazing job 🤗
Big hug to you.
Today, my mom and I spent some time looking for my old childhood photos. I dont have them on my laptop or phone.
She found hard copies in her cupboard, took pictures, and sent them to me.
I have shared some of them end of this post.
It’s 4:12 pm in Mumbai. Saturday.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend.
Stay blessed. Satay happy always.
Much Love,
Arati
❤️
