A STORY OF FAITH AND MIRACLES- in a different zone

CHAPTER 16 In a Different zone Miracles suddenly occurred once I could overcome the craving for liquor. For years I lived in the throes of fear that my alcoholism could act as a deterrent to get promoted to the Senior Administrative Grade. But once I could eschew alcoholism there was an aperture of hope. My conscience merely said, “This is what I was always trying to convey to your brain, but you never heeded to the advice. However better late than never.” “Boss, you have been promoted and posted as the Chief Freight Traffic Manager (CFTM), North East Frontier Railway,” a batch mate from Mumbai called up to inform me and then hung up before I could react or get any further details. I was taken aback on hearing the news. “Me and CFTM? This is what we as operating officers dream to become,” I reckoned. “The faith and prayers of my close ones is responsible for an extraordinary miracle,” was my grateful thought. That evening my wife and I tried to check the list of promoted candidates, but we could not locate it on the official web site and felt it was a prank. We were despondent. We did share the news with my parents but were still not sure. I placed a slip below Gurudev’s photograph and prayed for his divine intercession. The following day turned out to be time to carouse as the official communique from Railway Board was received. The family was ecstatic about the development. Meanwhile Cassandras of doubt and Prophets of doom (there are Bumboos everywhere) prognosticated that I would be a sure shot failure in the coveted position. I was in a different zone and those covetous about me, these small minds were to spread falsehoods and canards that I was still addicted to alcohol. However, the concerned ministering angels ensured that I was posted as CFTM, NF Railway. I had finally crossed the Rubicon. In fact, one of the foremost Art of Living teacher, an extremely intelligent and cerebral gentleman, during a conversation was once to quiz me as to how many CFTMs were there on Indian Railways. I replied that there were eighteen in all. “Well imagine you are one among the chosen 18 in the entire Indian Railway network and for that matter the country, which speaks volumes about your professional capacity,” he remarked. Once again, the auspicious number 9 (18= 1+8 was looking at me with hope and contentment). As my drinking was legendary some seniors, juniors and peers who had written my professional epitaph were gleefully waiting for me to slip once again and land in the cesspool of drinking. Thus, I had to remain sober and achieve something out of the box to prove my worth to the organisation. My conscience had cautioned me against the green-eyed monsters and envious people and asked me to just stay tuned with the grace of the Master. NFR Bound The Northeast Frontier Railway (abbreviated NFR), is one of the 18 railway zones of the Indian Railways. It is headquartered at Maligaon, Guwahati in the state of Assam. It is responsible for operation and expansion of rail network all across North-eastern states and some districts of eastern Bihar and northern West Bengal. This difficult terrain limits the rail network expansion, and the only state with a decent rail network is Assam. The network is not broad gauge in many parts and the rail lines are antiquated with speeds at some sections being limited to a maximum of thirty kilometres per hour. So, with this geography of the area in my thoughts I looked forward to take charge as CFTM, NF Railway. The enfeebled mind was the enemy and alcoholism was a manifestation. This battle had to be won. Victory over the bottle was achieved once I did not succumb to the weakness. Once I could discover the adversary, I fought it by practising Sudarshan Kriya at the behest of my wife. But above all it was the X-factor in form of the grace of the Master or Guru which played a decisive role in countering any physical, emotional or psychological blockade which triggers a negative change. Upon joining as CFTM, I was in a different zone altogether, both metaphorically and physically. Now that the mandarins of the Traffic directorate had zeroed-in on me to occupy this prominent post, it became incumbent to maintain my sobriety which was barely a year old. Every day of remaining sober and dry counted. A single slip would have sucked a person into the abyss once again. I was fortuitously able to establish contact with an Art of Living Teacher, through my batch mate on the very day I had taken over the charge of CFTM. This was once again a miracle, which just happened in a jiffy. Thus, I could identify a place to attend Long Sudarshan Kriya. Evening falls early in the North-Eastern parts of India. As shadows were lengthening, one could feel the chill in the air. My wife and I reached Pandu Ashram of the Art of Living. The sun was sinking in the colossal Brahmaputra and we were suffused with amazing energy and positive feelings. Pandu Ashram is situated right on the bank of the Brahmaputra River. Standing in the holy precincts of the Ashram if the devout strains his neck, almost akin to perform say bhujang asana he or she can see the shikhara of the majestic Kamakhya Temple. In the ardha matsyendra asana, a seeker can witness the flow of the colossal Brahmaputra. The Ashram reminded us of old times Gurukul where young tutees were imparted esoteric skills by learned scholars. Often when I attended Long Kriya sessions at the Pandu Ashram, I would ponder on the question as to why did I did not learn Sudarshan Kriya earlier in my life. I really wish I had as the trajectory of my life would have been so different. Meanwhile the atmospherics (situated in proximity to the Kamakhya Temple and on the banks of the massive Brahmaputra River) of the Pandu Ashram were such that devotees slipped into meditation in the presence of a large photograph of Pujya Gurudev. Regaining sobriety ensured that the strained and torn relationship between me and my immediate family was repaired. Waves of happiness eclipsed the gloom we had all been enveloped in. My mother who was instrumental in my transfer from Jaipur to Hyderabad was ready to snap the umbilical cord once again as she was convinced the blanket of the grace of Gurudev, practising yoga, pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya and meditation would ward off the baleful eye and most importantly the craving to have liquor. Now it was Gurudev and the Art of Living through Sudarshan Kriya which brought an element of sanity in my life. Faith and belief in the techniques were the harbinger of change which transformed my personality and nothing short of a miracle was performed. While members of the immediate family were deliriously happy, several so-called friends continued to perpetuate the fallacious and malicious theory that behind the veneer of Art of Living, I was still drinking. Every Sunday along with my wife I would attend the Long Sudarshan Kriya at the Pandu Ashram and soon there were a sequence of breath-taking events which rendered us speechless. Divinity manifested in the most facile manner and miracles took place. The Pandu Ashram was administered by one gentleman by the name, Bhanu Bhaiyya (he is now an evolved soul with the appellation Swami Bhavya Tej). This bearded gentleman from Uttarakhand lived in a thatched roof and braved all the vagaries of the inclement weather through the practice of yoga, pranayama, meditation, Sudarshan Kriya and seva. He looked like an attractive youngster with a chiselled body endowed with a long attractive mane and a beard. Ram rod straight back, he almost looked like a rishi of the yore walking straight out of our myths. There was a wonderful, extremely positive aura around him. For some inexplicable reason he took a liking towards me and used to interact after the Sunday Long Kriya We confabulated on a variety of subject ranging from the mundane to the spiritual, from politics to religiosity, about the law-and-order conditions in the North East, to the problems faced in Assam and most importantly Guru stories. The man described various facets of Gurudev, his deep commitment to humanity and the innate divinity as I heard him in rapt attention. Bhanu Bhaiyya was to listen to my long winding story of dalliance with alcohol and subsequent recovery from alcoholism, the problem of fistula and about my parents and childhood with great interest. He merely laughed aloud and remarked, “Ab toh sab theek hai na Guru kripa sey.” One Sunday morning, Bhanu Bhaiyya played the Long Kriya cassette after a session of Suryanamaskar and the yogic practice of Padmasadhana as designed by Gurudev. All the participants were startled at the sound emanating from the cassette player. It sounded as if an individual who was totally inebriated was reciting the Soham Soham (the syllable used by Gurudev in Sudarshan Kriya) chants and we failed to maintain the pace. The cyclical and rhythmic breathing process was getting disrupted and a few started sniggering. A few of us were startled about the development. Bhanu Bhaiyya maintained his poise and composure and stopped playing the cassette and sprinted to his kutir. After some tinkering with the tape recorder, he played he cassette again which settled us down and we were engulfed in profound silence and were deeply rested after completion of the session. Upon completion of the Long Kriya, we interacted with, Bhanu Bhaiyya who often treated my wife and me to a cup of tea and some biscuits. My inquisitive mind kept inquiring from him as to what happened while playing the cassette in the first instance. He parried my queries and laughed. “Guruji ke saanidhya mein yeh sab hota rehata hai. Bas unko pakad ke rakho,” (All this happens under Guruji's grace and presence. Just hold on to him tightly) What was most mystifying was that the batteries in the tape recorder were placed with both + ends touching (not + and – as it ought to have been), yet the cassette played. We were stupefied on hearing this, but such is the power of the Long Sudarshan Kriya cassette that it played despite the batteries being wrongly placed. “If the cassette is so potent, imagine how powerful is the Long Kriya. And Gurudev is none other than a divine personality. We are blessed to be amidst a supernatural one such as Him,” Bhanu Bhaiyya was to add. The administrator of the Pandu Ashram in the meantime set up a meeting between me and a senior faculty of Art of Living. The mission was to counsel the Chief Manager of a leading hotel in Guwahati. “Now begin with performing some seva,” Bhanu Bhaiyya was to tell me quite firmly. As night fell and Guwahati was plunged in darkness, the senior faculty of Art of Living and I interacted with the alcoholic. We made several visits and over a period of time, miraculously the gentleman stayed off liquor and cigarettes. The seeds for transformation were thus implanted in his mind, I reckoned. This miracle occurred only through the narration of Guru stories. One evening, once again I accompanied the Art of Living teacher. I thought we were again going to visit the manager of the ITDC Hotel. But to my surprise he took a detour and we went through a narrow alley and were in a room. What I saw petrified and almost numbed me. I was seeing some known and several unknown faces. They were none other than the top brass of ultras belonging to AASU, ULFA and some other top militant organizations. The teacher had been working with the members of these dreaded organizations, performing yeoman service and spreading Gurudev’s message of universal love, peace and harmony so that they would eschew violence, give up arms and join the mainstream once again. The group present raised their war cries, demanding freedom, sloganeering against the government and the persecution they faced under the rule an oppressive regime. Very soon they were connected through a Skpe call to Bangalore Ashram and they spoke to Gurudev and after some dialogue and quiet persuasion by the Master, the terrorists agreed to undergo a rehabilitation programme at the Bangalore Ashram where they were to eschew violence, be fully disarmed, learn techniques of yoga, pranayama, meditation, Sudarshan Kriya and perform seva. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Army had sanctioned a programme of rehabilitation of these personnel. It so happened that I was tasked to organise the rolling stock to arrange for their transportation from the North East to Bangalore Ashram. It was an onerous responsibility to organise the rolling stock. On the appointed day, a little more than two hundred sullen, dour, angry and hostile groups of rebels who were chained from head to toe, totally disarmed, boarded a train to Bangalore Ashram of the Art of Living to undergo the rehabilitation programme. The terrorists were heavily escorted by army, para military and police officials. As the train chugged out of the Kamakhya station some of them attempted to jump out the moving train and the entire exercise went in vain as there was a virtual pandemonium. I was soundly remonstrated by my bosses on NF Railways for participating in what they considered to be a foolhardy exercise. All my efforts of explanations were unheard and I was questioned by the top officials of the zone. The pleas of NF Railway not to proceed with transportation were turned down by the mandarins of power in Delhi and this time the group boarded the train which chugged along the tracks to Bangalore. The dreaded gun totting menacing men were a transformed lot after participating in the course which became the tipping point in their lives. This was nothing but the grace of the Divine which was again concurred by my conscience. These are nothing but positive vibrations and only an individual blessed with faith and belief can be a witness when miraculous events take place. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The northeast region of India has had a long history of movements for autonomy on behalf of several ethnic groups. Bhanu Bhaiyya was aware about my journey and the transformation in the lives of these terrorists. He was extremely happy about the development and on my participation albeit indirectly in the process. The story resonated with my mother who was to reiterate that, “Faith and belief in almighty can make one accomplish insurmountable tasks.” After a couple of months, upon completing the Sunday Long Kriya, Bhanu Bhaiyya brought a few sheets of papers, he prayed to Gurudev and asked me to sign at the places that he indicated. This was the Teacher’s Training Course (TTC) Phase 1 form. Sometime back in 2007, when we broke silence upon completion of the Advanced Meditation Course at Bangalore Ashram, I was on the terrace of Vishalakshi Mantapam along with a course mate and my wife and daughter who had returned from Ooty to pick me up from the Ashram. Suddenly a stranger walked up to me and she remarked, “You are looking so bright and incandescent. I can foretell that one day you will become an Art of Living Teacher.” Back then I was befuddled by her remark. Many years later, as recently in 2022 when Gurudev visited Tamil Nadu, I was to travel together with the same lady, a senior faculty member. She remarked, “Fifteen years ago I made a prophecy, do you recall?” This is journey of strange incidences, beliefs, faith and miracles which can be appreciated in divine reverie. On the insistence of Bhanu Bhaiyya, I filled up the form where he had proposed my name as a candidate for TTC. Subsequently I was in Bangalore Ashram to undertake Phase 1 of the TTC. The fifteen days of training, spent at the Bangalore Ashram required immense tapasya from four in the morning to twelve in the night. Yoga, pranayama, intense meditation sessions, Sudarshan Kriya, seva, satsang and most importantly a direct contact with Gurudev, all these were part and parcel of the training programme. Celebrating life with Divinity is an experiential feeling which cannot be described in words. No amount of carousing, no pleasure on the world, fame or sharing the stage with a celebrity can match the moments spent in the presence of Divinity. But the moments spent in Gurudev’s saanidhya surpassed all and now outshone everything else. The longing and pining to have his glimpse and meet him is unimaginable, unfathomable and indescribable. For us Gurudev is Lord Krishna or Lord Narayana, reborn after 5,710 years who with his impish smile, soft voice, esoteric knowledge, profound wisdom and contact passes on vibrations to the devotee, seeker, disciple, swami, rishi, celebrities, ultras, politicians and any stock individual. It is dedication on part of the seeker to person to expand his bowl of acceptance to receive the grace transmitted by the Master. Our Gurus or teachers during the TTC were extremely astute and could easily decipher the personalities of all the tutees and remonstrated a participant if his/her gaze fell on some other participant during a momentary lapse of concentration. They knew this meant loss of listening to precious knowledge and capitulating to the mundane and gross when our focus ought to be on the subtle and sublime form of Gurudev and his knowledge. In the Ashram, everything gets dropped as Gurudev through his teachings only promoted happiness through various techniques of Art of Living. During the courses two baskets were kept in all the sessions - a) drop all your worries and b) drop all botheration. Only when the participant dropped all worries and botheration would he or she blossom. Once a person is bereft of problems, he/she lives in the present moment and spreads waves of happiness. We were cautioned to tread the path of sattva very carefully as only the chosen ones are nominated for this taxing course. Thus, a seeker had to necessarily overcome baser instincts of rajas and tamas and tune-in to be at the same frequency as Gurudev to be eligible to be seated on Vyasa Peetha (as the sacred seat is referred to) from where the faculty of Art of Living would be an instrument to impart the profound and life changing knowledge. “The processes are such in the Art of Living TTC, it's amazing, a blossoming of your personality. Just go for it!” says Gurudev. This game changing experience of sadhana, seva, satsang, Sudarshan Kriya, meditation and silence was completed within a period of fourteen days and we transformed personalities, shining like stars and had surrendered all our scars. The transformation one undergoes through intense sessions of Sudarshan Kriya, pranayama, meditation, yoga and seva is to be seen to be believed. One is emboldened to transform society. Several participants in the course were to tell our teachers that TTC is tougher than the commando course a soldier in battle fatigue undergoes. “One should walk like a King and be a humble servant,” says Gurudev. This is essential for all teachers who sit on the Vyasa Peetha to impart the wisdom. “Ab toh railway afsar aadhe teacher ban gaye. Khoob seva karo, meditation karo, seva karo. Jai Guru Dev.” (Now a railway officer has become half a teacher. It is necessary that you engage in plenty of meditation and participate in seva. Jai Guru Dev.) Bhanu Bhaiyya held me tightly and uttered these words. He was in particular very happy for he had been instrumental in journey to the Teacher’s Training programme. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Assam was meanwhile rocked by a series of terror-violence incidents. The IGP (Law and Order) was my batchmate who sought the services of Art of Living to reach out the terror affected people. We were four They were four hundred Hurt and Wounded They were numbed and stunned We approached with caution and the grace of the Master To assuage their feelings and emotions They were terror affected children and women Terror-affected widows and their children were all kept in police custody in some camps. All the bread earners were either annihilated by bloodletting terrorists or had fled the state. We conducted a three-day shivir or camp in which simple techniques of pranayama and meditation were taught. Thereafter, the participants performed some seva, which was followed by a set of games specially designed for the distraught women who had lost their loved ones and for the orphaned children. These 400 people virtually uttered not a word for almost a month once violence wrecked their lives. They looked at us grimly with suspicion while some women spoke in hushed tones. Once the candle of flame which sustained the family was extinguished, the lifeboat had sunk. They had no place to fasten their anchorage. “What could a self-help group do their lives?” was a valid question in the minds of the widows and orphans. At the end of the three-day breath, yoga and meditation workshop their lives were transformed. Torrential tears flowed from the blank eyes of women, who wept inconsolably and hugged each other. The games designed in the workshop turned out to be game changers in their lives. It was like operating simple keys on the key board. Ctrl+Alt+Del Control yourself Alter your thoughts Delete all anger and negativity. The negative emotions file in the computer of the mind were erased and the corrupted file was cleansed. Those were indeed satisfying and fulfilling moments of performing seva. But were we doing the seva? The answer is a plain no as we were only instruments and it was essentially the grace of the Master which was operating and resolving the misadventure encountered by the left-over members of the family. Satsang hastens the seeker to inner peace. “In satsang, both the left and right hemispheres of the brain get balanced. The wandering mind comes back to the present moment and experiences a deeper dimension to life,” explains Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. “The word bhajan is very precious. Bhaj means to share, sharing all that the divine. It is not necessary to know the words or meaning to any song. Singing helps to bring serenity. Sound is energy. Our human nervous system responds to the sounds bhajans and vibrations of ancient Sanskrit chants. Listening to these sounds has a rejuvenating effect on the body, mind and spirit. Gurudev provided us with a wonderful opportunity to organise a satsang to be conducted by a brilliant singer and senior faculty of the Art of Living, none other than Vikram Hazra. Vikram Hazra is like a finely cut diamond with multiple facets, each distinct yet collaborating to sparkle. Vikram was once a journalist and when he filed a story on the AOL, his curiosity got the better of him and he ended up doing the basic course. It is a matter of great pride for this Indian spiritual rock star that people groove to his music at bars in places like Argentina and on those days, liquor is not served. This is once again nothing but spiritual prowess of Gurudev. I had a fortuitous meeting with Vikram Bhaiyya at Pandu Ashram. He was full of positive energy and effervescence and regaled us with numerous Guru stories. A devotee was to tell me, “Vikram is indeed the apple of Gurudev’s eye.” A fleeting greedy thought flitted across my mind. I wished to become someone like Vikram Bhaiyya. Someone close to the Master. “Ravi, can you feel the energy and vibrancy of this place. Ages ago rishis and munis have all performed arduous tapas at this place,” he remarked. The spiritual rockstar soon began strumming his guitar and broke into a soulful number Raadhe, Radhe Radhe Shyam Govindaa Gopalaa Radhe Radhe Shyam It was an ethereal experience which transported all of us to divine ecstasy. The back-to-back satsangs by Vikram Hazra were a big draw as people and devotees of Shillong and Guwahati grooved to the music. For some strange reason I struck a chord with this brilliant musician and mellifluous singer. I also got an opportunity to compere his programme at Guwahati which was not quite appreciated by some AOL followers. They were covetous as they felt an interloper had usurped their place. A person who had merely done TTC Phase 1 and was not even a full-fledged teacher was provided the latitude to toastmaster the programme. The Blast The symphony spun by Vikram Hazra was shattered by the cacophony which rocked North East Frontier Railway headquarters office. A blast killed several railway personnel. Apparently, the terrorists had planted the bombs in the two wheelers and cycles of innocent railwaymen parked outside the office. My driver rushed me home and advised me not to go for the customary evening walk. Section 144 was clamped. A few days later, at the suggestion of an Art of Living devotee and Member of Parliament from Shillong, we conducted a satsang and meditation session in the railway auditorium. This was a welcome move as a large number of railway families who were all locked indoors for almost ten days, stepped out to take part in the celebrations. The session included videos on Gurudev, the work of the Art of Living teachers under the guidance of Gurudev in the terror afflicted places, a satsang, breathing exercises and a session of meditation. This had a salutary impact and several railway personnel enrolled for the Art of Living courses to learn the unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. The district administration, police and railway administration were entirely thankful to the organisation for undertaking this unique seva. We were to witness yet another manifestation of Guru’s grace and kripa. I was to see once again faith transforming into a miracle. Mai Tera, Tera Main Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was born in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, to Visalakshi and R.S.Venkat Ratnam on the 13th of May 1956. Gurudev always jokes about the implication of his birthday being on 13 May. 13th May, in Hindi reads as Tera Mai(n). Gurudev ingenuously flips this around to call it Mai(n) Tera…meaning I am yours. Pandu Ashram at Guwahati, like all other Art of Living ashrams was decked up and teeming with faithful devotees. The day began with several pujas invoking the divine power and seeking blessings from the almighty. This was followed by Guru Puja which is so special as it is the Guru who opens the doors to the Lord. Thereafter teachers conducted yoga, pranayama and meditation sessions and then the army of devotees embarked upon cleaning and sweeping the streets of Guwahati as part of seva, feeding the hungry and planting trees as part of clean and green Guwahati project. But we all were waiting with bated breath for the evening session which included the Long Sudashan Kriya and to be followed by satsang and prasadam. Very soon the assemblage was in deep rest after Long Sudarshan Kriya. They got up totally refreshed. By now it was dark as the sun had set. Only the last leg of the programme, which was the satsang remained. After that devotees would have prasadam and the programme would conclude. Pandu Ashram is situated on hilly terrain. While the main Yagnyashala or hall is at the lowest level, the rest of the structures are situated at increasing elevation, on three different levels. As a result, the topmost structure which was Gurudev’s kutir overlooked the entire complex. All the beautiful white buildings were decked out in fairy lights and against the dark night time background looked magical. In fact, this was the sight devotees saw as they emerged from the deep slumber after the Long Sudarshan Kriya. Suddenly, there seemed to be a wave of excitement which seemed to pick up momentum. As devotees were attempting to capture the beautiful surroundings, some of them were amazed when the white structures against the night sky appeared in their phones as the silhouette of a bearded man in flowing white robes. This was incredible. We all were well aware that Gurudev was at Buenos Aires on May 13th for the birthday celebrations. So, the question was how Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had appeared in Pandu Ashram? The joy and happiness of us over there at the Ashram knew no bounds. We felt that Gurudev had specially blessed us. It took a while before Bhanu Bhaiyya silenced all by loudly proclaiming, “Jai Gurudev” and brandished the mobile phone and directed the present devotees to pay their obeisance to the Master. This was followed by a grand satsang where everyone present was immersed in the blanket of positivity. On closer look of the photograph, it was apparent that Gurudev was seated just behind a white curtain and one wonders for how long his astral body and spirit was present at Pandu ashram though physically he was at Buenos Aires. Interacting with Gurudev at Itanagar Founded in 2006, the Art of Living Ashram in Jully Basti, midway between Itanagar and Naharlagun is the headquarters of Art of Living in Arunachal Pradesh. The ashram is a perfect place for spiritual practice. Way back in 2008 the Itanagar Ashram was being manned by Bhanu Bhaiyya, who had moved there from the Pandu Ashram. My wife had enrolled for the Advanced Meditation Course. For most people attending the course, it was just an opportunity to be in the presence of Gurudev, rather than actually maintain silence. While most participants in the course were running after Gurudev very few, including my wife were deeply immersed in the Advanced Meditation Course. The belief and faith in Gurudev and in his teachings is more than adequate for miracles to take place and one People in hordes from all parts of the North East descended on Itanagar to have a glimpse of the Master. And when people are in multitudes it is always efficacious to be blessed with positive connections. What are connections? I was blessed to suddenly discover two such connections. One in Vikram Hazra, the man with a golden voice and the other the senior faculty of Art of Living from Calcutta (the teacher who prophesised that I would become an Art of Living faculty one day). These connections helped me and my family to have Gurudev’s darshan several times. If one is not feeling close to the Guru, it is because of one’s own perceptions and predilections. Because of our vacillating mind, on account of our ego concepts we lose the connection with the Master. Gurudev says, “Share with the Guru that which is very important or intimate to you. Share that. Do not feel shame, shy, or judgmental about yourself.” “Unless you express to the Master that which is very intimate and important to you, just being on the formal and informal communication levels cannot make you feel close.” “If you don't feel close to the Master, there's no point in having a Master. It is just another burden to you. You have enough already. Just say goodbye, get rid of it.” We were all stunned when divinity just passes by you like a cloud or touches a person so calmly and gently. The person feels numbed and as light as a feather. The mind is flooded with positive emotions, the heart beats rapidly and only tears of gratitude flow torrentially. It is well-nigh impossible to verbalise with the Master and one can only graciously accept his blessings and feel the vibrations and energy he passes by. It seemed like eternity when I along with my son and daughter were in the Divine aura of the Master in a small room at the Itanagar Ashram. He was looking radiant, neatly attired in a dhoti, kurta and shawl and had a rosary in his hands with his trademark flowing mane. His bright eyes pierced us. We bowed before the Master, touched his feet, but could barely utter any word. We remained speechless and transfixed at our seats A smiling Guruji offered chocolates to my children. These are of Chinese make,” he laughed. There was so much that I was desirous of asking Gurudev but was rendered speechless. My throat was parched and Guruji was quietly observing us and smiling. But he disarmed us, “Kaise ho tum sab log? How are you all?” These words were so comforting. Memories of those twenty to twenty-five minutes spent alone with Guruji, with just my children totally undisturbed, while my wife was going through the processes of Advanced Meditation Course will forever remain etched in the alcoves of our minds. There are millions of devotees of Gurudev across the globe and here me and my children spent quality time with Master all alone as he illuminated us with immense positive vibrations, thoughts and energy. We all were in deep silence just covered by the blanket of love, affection, compassion of Gurudev. “What more could a follower ask for?” I thought. There were several such interactions with Gurudev who to my mind was cleansing and purifying us. There were early morning dhyaan, yoga, pranayama and meditation shivirs. During the evenings, Vikram Hazra played mellifluous numbers which transported all to a different planet altogether. A Bombshell Suddenly, there was a bombshell, volcanic news. Mumbai was attacked by a group of terrorists. The 2008 Mumbai attacks were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in November that year. Ten members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist terrorist organisation from Pakistan, carried out twelve coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. In all, at least 174 people, including twenty security force personnel and twenty-six foreign nationals, were killed. More than 300 people were injured in the dastardly attack by the ultras. On receiving the news of this deadly attack, the spiritual and humanitarian master cancelled his programmes in the North East and rush to Mumbai to provide succour to the terror-stricken denizens of Mumbai. Those in North East obviously felt the pain of parting from Gurudev, quite like gopas and gopikas felt 5000 years back whenever Krishna would move on a mission mode to maintain equilibrium and balance in the world. However, they accepted the departure as they themselves had been a witness to the spectre of wanton violence. Amidst various activities of Art of Living, the Teacher’s Training programme, enrolling people for courses, attending Navaratri celebrations at Pandu ashram and attending a few Art of Living Courses, my work schedule continued to be quite hectic. As the CFTM, NF Railway, it was incumbent on the operating organisation to supply essential commodities to the seven sisters of India, parts of Bihar and Bengal. People of the mainland have scarce idea about North East and the people are unfortunately referred to as chinki, cast as sexually depraved, drug addicts and alcoholics. While some of these problems are prevalent in these parts of the country but it is also rampant across India. This is where Art of Living has played a pivotal role in organising courses for prison inmates, addicts, ultras, those suffering from medical issues and provide a palliative and an alternative way of living. Meanwhile my immediate bosses found me to be inflexible while discharging official duties. However, I smelt a rat and opined they were not to clean in their dealings. This led to showdowns and repeated difference of opinions. The year was 2008 and I received the call letter for Teacher’s Training Course (TTC) Phase 2. This course is mandatory for an individual to become part of Art of Living faculty. I had applied for twenty-one days leave-against-pay (in government parlance LAP), but it was shot down by the local administration. No amount on entreaties and placatory supplications could convince my superiors, who were bent upon torturing me. In all such tricky situations my mother’s salutary advice was to keep a petition below Gurudev’s photograph, pray and surrender. I persisted with the sagacious counsel and with hope, faith and belief expecting a miracle. Persistence While fervently praying to Gurudev, I had sounded the top honchos of Railway Board about my proposed trip to Bangalore Ashram. And then the miracle happened. The suzerains of NF Railway, were categorically informed that leave had to be granted. Fortuitously my bandwidth with the officers in Railway Board was on a different plane, unlike the trust deficit which I faced with my superiors at the zonal headquarters. Officials at Railway Board were aware as to how I had battled with alcoholism and regained sobriety through the Art of Living programmes. I headed for Bangalore Ashram after a brief stop to see my parents. My father did not quite approve the stand I had taken in infuriating the zonal officials, while my mother stood like a rock and supported my decision. Quite unexpectedly I suffered a severe bout of gastroenteritis at Hyderabad. Since childhood stomach related ailments have always been my bugbear and played havoc innumerable times. Once again with a bruised stomach I arrived at the Ashram running temperature, to undergo the TTC Phase 2 course. A few years later, a noted astrologer based in Hyderabad asked me to recite Hanuman Chalisa unfailingly to ward of any malefic effects of stomach ailments. This was to also to pacify the vata dosha present in my body. The first few days were quite a challenge as I was struggling with the abdominal bug, but finally overcame the pestilence. With a hectic schedule of sadhna, seva, satsang and the stomach ailment I had lost quite a bit of weight, but like a brave warrior kept soldering on with the grace of the Master. Encounter with the Master Meanwhile TTC Phase 2 was in full swing. I realised that the power-packed programme included an absolute surrender to the Guru, to the Master. But there were a few stand outs in the course which were truly path breaking and my conscience was in 100% agreement. The course participants had to identify a buddy in their group and travel around the precincts of the Ashram, with one blindfolded holding the hand of the other and then the process was reversed. On several occasions the participant who was blindfolded fell, slipped, tripped and almost sprained their ankles but fortuitously the buddy with clear vision chaperoned the partner to shores of safety. The theme behind the process and technique meant that whatever be the predicament or misadventure, Gurudev in some form or the other would be appear to save his devotee. The Buddha Process All the TTC participants were to dress up like mendicants and behave like them and seek alms. Seeking alms like Buddha was to shatter our egos totally and surrender to the Master. Upon completion of the process, we were shimmering like prized trophies. That evening during evening satsang every participant of TTC was shining like a star. We felt immensely close to the Master. After the satsang, in a divine reverie Gurudev normally floats away to his kutir or some other place for a small meal or to meet someone. But for a strange reason we found that the Master stayed on, and was perhaps waiting for someone. “He is waiting for you. Muster the necessary courage and go and speak up and share your problem. If you cannot surrender and share your problems, disturbances, botheration with the Master what is the point of having one,” my conscience goaded me. But I could not muster adequate courage to go up to Gurudev. A few days later, once the satsang was over, Gurudev was toying with a garland and playing with it as he placed it on a Nataraja statue at Vishalakshi Mantapam. I finally mustered courage and rushed on to the stage and went straight to Gurudev as a stunned audience on. Gurudev’s secretaries tried to prevent me from tearing into the fold of the Master, but he disarmed all of us and called me over towards him and asked me to speak up. “Gurudev, the General Manager and officers of my railway have been repeatedly sending messages, ringing up and sending fax messages that I return back to Guwahati,” I blurted out. “Complete your training and return,” said the Master and levitated away as strains of the bhajan Jai Jai Radha Raman Hari Bol resonated at Vishalakshi Mantapam. Our General Manager was singularly offended with me as I had managed to attend the TTC using my contacts in the Railway Board. Despite Gurudev’s simple and direct message to go back to Guwahati after completing the training, my mind was cannonaded with antipathetic and confused thoughts. I was to send messages to my wife and mother, who were both surprised and vexed and asked me to have faith in Gurudev’s words and allow the miracle to occur. The TTC reached its summit and upon completion of the course we were given two precious gifts by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Teacher’s Manual and the Sudarshan Kriya cassette. We had all stumbled into infinity and were to share this invaluable knowledge with the world and had joined the army of teachers to spread waves of happiness.