“Talk to him more often. Tell him everything,” she told me yesterday.
From 1st March to 3rd March, we have YSS Monastic Tours in Wadala, Mumbai. Each year, Yogoda Satsanga Society of India monks visit cities around the country.
They conduct weekend retreats and inspirational programs that include classes on Paramahansaji’s “How-to-Live” teachings, a review of the YSS yoga techniques, group meditations, chanting, audio-visual presentations, and Kriya Yoga initiation ceremonies.
I have registered for it, and yesterday was the first day. The day starts at 7 am and ends at 8.30 pm.
One of the senior devotees of Guruji said, “Imagine if there were only two of you in this world (you and Guruji), then what would you have done? You would have shared everything with him, right? Share everything with your Guru. Small things, big things, your worries, happy moments, everything. And you will get his guidance.”
If you are following your Guru’s path or worshipping God/goddess, talking to them helps to create a personal bond.
I share many things with my guru, Shri Paramhansa Yogananda.
I don’t share anything with others. I keep my worries to myself, and happy moments are shared with others depending on their availability.
However, I talk to my Guru often.
I cry in front of him, tell him silly jokes and laugh. When I go for a trip, I say, ‘Come with me.’
While watching that beautiful sunset in Goa last month, I joined my hands in Namaskar, thanked him and God for that wonderful experience.
I treat him like my friend, Guru, mother, father. I seek all relationships with him. Many times I kiss his photographs, sometimes I bow down to get his blessings, sometimes I just sit in my meditation room and stare at his picture. Sometimes I tell him how stupid I am and what all stupid things I do. Sometimes I wish he was there in his physical body. Sometimes, I imagine his hand on my head like a father. Sometimes, I imagine placing my head in his lap and sleep like a child.”
There is an incident mentioned in the book “Finding the Joy Within You” by Shri Shri Daya Mata. Daya Mata was a direct disciple of Guruji.
In her book, she says:
Near the end of Gurudeva’s life, he was preparing to receive the Indian ambassador, Dr. Binay R. Sen, who was to visit Guruji at the headquarters the following morning.
Guruji called the disciples into the Ashram kitchen and said, “Today we will prepare curries and Indian sweetmeats for the ambassador.”
We cooked all day long, and Guruji was in a state of great joy.
Late that evening, he called me to him and said, “Come, let us take a walk.”
The ashram is a large three-story building. As we walked down the three-floor hall, he paused in front of a picture of his guru, Swami Shri Yukteshwarji.
He gazed at that picture for a long time, eyes unblinking. And then very quietly, he turned to me and said:
“Do you realize that it is just a matter of hours, and I will be gone from this earth?”
Tears flooded my eyes. Intuitively, I knew that what he said was to come to pass.
A short time earlier, when he spoke to me of leaving his body, I had cried to him, “Master, how can we carry on without you?”
With such sweet love and compassion, his eyes like soft pools of divine bliss, he answered: “When I am gone, only love can take my place. Be so drunk with the love of God that you will know nothing but God and give that love to all.“
He is no longer in his physical body…
Since last year, when I started following him and became his devotee, my life has changed.
Because of God’s grace and my Guru’s/maha guru’s guidance, I have received so many blessings.
When we love a person, there is no guarantee that person will love you back, and they say what you give out, you receive.
Yes, we will get that love, but not necessarily from the same person, same place, or at the same time.
When two people are in love, there is no comparison, jealousy, or insecurity.
When two people are in love, they find ways to become one at the physical, mental, and later spiritual levels — alignment at all levels.
Similarly, when we love God, the highest goal of our Sadhana is to become one with God.
Meditation is a path that can help us reach God.
Our relationship with God becomes very simple and sweet when we remember how close He is to us at every moment.
Today is the second day of YSS Wadala Monastic Tours. I wanted to write more, but I have limited time.
In next weekend post, I will write more.
Its Saturday, I wish you a wonderful weekend.
I hope you are surrendered by love , peace and God’s blessing.
Stay happy, stay blessed always.
Much love,
Arati
❤️
