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Aligning Action To Intention

What They Say...

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Experience 1 – Removal of karma

According to Indian mythology, Kalpataru is the name of the wishfulfilling tree. In the Kalpataru Program, the living enlightened master showers his compassion on devotees and fulfills their deep wishes. He blesses every individual with the energy to fulfill their wishes in any aspect be it health, wealth, progeny, relationships, career, education or spirituality. It is a life time opportunity to be in the presence of an enlightened master and get rid of our karmic baggage, to be liberated from it. I feel there is nothing more that one needs.

In deep gratitude and love to the master,

-Annapurani Chidambaram, Bengaluru, India ([email protected])

Experience 2 – Cure from Post-herpetic Neuralgia

My name is Saravanan. I am 33 years old. I stay in Vizhupuram, Tamilnadu. Around three years back, I developed a pain in my left cheek. I could not even open my mouth. I visited a dentist and took the medicines he prescribed for a few months. The pain did not get better. The doctors named it post-herpetic neuralgia. They said that for some people this pain will stay for even a whole lifetime. I heard about Swamiji and went to him for healing. I participated in Swamiji's Kalpataru meditation program. At the time of darshan, I told Swamiji that my pain was still persisting. Swamiji immediately tapped my cheek and told me that it will become alright! To my amazement and joy, the pain soon disappeared completely. I stopped all my medicines. I am eternally grateful to Swamiji for healing me.

  • M. Saravanan, Vizhupuram, India Ph.: 98426 52774 / 04146 225593

Experience 3 – Cosmic Kalpataru darshan...!

I attended the Houston Kalpataru darshan program on Saturday, March 21, 2009 without any personal expectations of divine experiences or anything else happening, except to enjoy being in the presence of an enlightened master that day.

As it turned out, the Houston Kalpataru program with Swamiji was a very powerful inner experience and transformative spiritual process for me when he blessed the group with the Cosmic Energy throughout the intense meditations.

During the morning meditation session, to assist me in awakening the energy of enlightenment, he suddenly appeared in front of me not physically but on a subtle level in my inner space and directly activated the third eye chakra by repeatedly touching it many times in succession and gently touching the crown chakra area with his hand as well. Immediately, I personally felt intense bliss energy radiating throughout my being and body as an explosion of Cosmic Energy within me. This blissful energy filled me with sweetness and ecstasy that continued to bubble inside throughout the day during the various meditation sessions. I felt intense inner peace and happiness that is difficult to express through words.

By the time the energy darshan session with Swamiji began on early Saturday evening, I felt so much inner contentment and immense fulfillment from the intensive meditation programs with him during the day that it was not possible for me to ask him for anything else! There was nothing left to receive, except once again to be open to whatever he blessed me with in my consciousness to ‘Be blissful’.

It is such a divine gift to receive his instruction and to be simply in his energy field. The Kalpataru program was a fantastic inner experience. It was also a great joy to hear that so many others were being spiritually transformed as a result of the process Swamiji conducted in Houston.

Experience 4 – Relief from back pain, a fresh lease of life...

I attended my first Nithya Dhyaan meditation session at a local yoga studio having learned of the program by word of mouth from one of the asana teachers there. Captured with the sounds of vedic chanting I experienced a restful joy that banished any trace of the homesickness I had felt until that morning. I gazed at the photo of a radiant man sitting under a banyan tree, whose infinite smile announced to my heart that I had at last found my teacher.

I have explored various spiritual traditions, including Judaism, the Anglican Church, Santeria and most recently, Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism. My parents both have Jewish ancestry and were brought up in Christian environments but neither of them instilled in me the values or rituals of any one particular religion. Though I learned a great deal from reading many books, chanting beautiful chants, and singing as a professional church musician, I had all but given up hope of finding a master who is as realized or boundless as Swamiji.

For the past year and a half, I have been recovering from a back injury and have done a great deal of self-inquiry to try to figure out what memories and psychological patterns could be keeping me from recovering fully, on a physical level, from a state of discomfort and suffering.

I attended the Kalpataru program on March 21 with a strong hunger for relief, and a deep curiosity about myself. I began to sink into a space of deep gratitude for Swamiji's presence, and more profoundly, for the connection it was awakening within me. By the time I went up for darshan, I was nearly speechless. Here was a man who radiated energy like the very sun itself, and I had been looking at him all day!

The next morning I woke up to find that my vision had indeed changed! The world looked brighter, more kinetic. I felt lighter, more fluid, more as though I was a part of everything around me rather than some separate executive entity trying to control it all.

Since then, I have practiced Swamiji's meditations daily. I am beginning to experience a sense of wholeness in my body that I don't remember ever feeling in my adult life. My mood is more even, lighter, and there is a lot less struggle in my life with tasks that I used to dread. I am able to live with more grace and surrender with each passing day.

I have tried many remedies and healing modalities for my back injury. After just two weeks with Nithyananda's meditations and teachings, I feel my body healing to a state of wellness that is beyond recognition. I feel as though I am being given a second chance at life.

Since I began to assimilate Swamiji's teachings, the colors of my life have become more vivid; my actions are more effective, and my mind less mysterious. I am on a path of inner peace and awareness that can only serve to benefit everyone around me.

Since childhood I have felt that something of profound importance is missing in my life. Parmahamsa Nithyananda is revealing to me in a way no one else has, that it is I who have been missing. I am the one I've been waiting for!

Experience 5 – Disappearance of Gall Bladder Stone

My father, M.Srinivas Murthy (63yrs), was diagnosed with Gall bladder stone on 12.07.2008. My family members were shattered and lost our peace of mind. The report said the stone size was almost 12mm & had blocked the bile duct; due to this he was affected by jaundice. My father underwent a lot of treatment for a span of one month. The doctors told us he needed to undergo surgery and the gall bladder needed to be removed. One of the top surgeons told us there is indication of the problem turning out be to be cancer.

I decided to send my elder brother to Swamiji's Vaazhum Varalaru program and he briefed about dad’s problem in energy darshan with tears rolling down his cheeks non-stop. The tears and his hope did not fritter away because Swamiji gave him a motherly hug and said ‘Don't bother, I will take care.’

The magical words turned our problem into solution. My brother had a super vision exactly on 4ᵗʰ August about father being healed by Swamiji and getting completely cured. My father then attended ASP after which he was feeling relaxed internally and blessed by the sacred japa mala and bracelet.

Swamiji was giving Kalpaturu in Bidadi ashram held on Sep 7 2008. My parents rushed to get His blessing and in the evening father was touched by Swamiji and Swamiji gave a slap exactly on my father’s right side upper belly (the location of gall bladder) and said ‘Nothing to worry; you are healed.’ Exactly seven days after this Kalpaturu darshan my father had a very strong feeling in his gall bladder of something moving out with lot of force and was relaxed after a couple of minutes.

In between, my brother and I had visited the ashram to place a request of distance healing. After few days, we even received the prasad from ashram. When we went to the hospital for the regular check-up, the surgeon told us that we needed to do ERCP with stenting. We prayed to Swamiji to take care all and proceeded for the process. Swamiji’s blessing was very much with all of us and father was safeguarded during the whole process.

Since we did not want my father to undergo surgery, all my family members thought of getting him treated by homeopathy medicine. Finally, one of our well-wishers insisted on us visiting a homeopathy doctor and we visited him. We had a surprise of our lives! I found the photo of Anandeshwara and Anandeshwari kept in the clinic! I was thrilled, no words to express, I was in supreme bliss. I recalled Swamiji's words uttered to my brother, ‘Don't worry; I will take care.’ It was just not words but a promise and blessing.

After all these miracles happening to my father and family the day came for Kalpataru Darshan at Bidadi ashram on Oct 4th. My family members along with my father went to get His Divine blessing in energy darshan. Swamiji touched, healed and blessed my father. Since then dad is regularly chanting the MahaMantra ‘Om hreem nithyanandaya namaha’ he has been very, very relaxed these days and in bliss.

Finally, the day came for removing the stenting that was scheduled on 22.01.09. A week before we did an ultrasound scan to check the health position. Then raised a new problem, the surgeon told us they can’t remove the stent just like that and once placed they will remove it only by surgery and if anything went wrong they would place additional stent.

We all prayed to Swamiji for safeguarding my father from this gigantic problem and we kept fasting on this day (22.01.09). Then one more ultimate miracle happened…the surgeon himself was shocked to see the stent missing and declared it had been moved out of his body! So there was no need of surgery or additional stunting.

Since then until this moment, my father is perfect and living without any sufferings. It is all because of one and only The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam’s grace and blessing.

NOTE: For further verification am enclosing here with the scan reports for your references.

Deep from our heart and soul, my family members and I thank once again Swamiji for His nonstop, continuous, unremitting blessing…..

  • Brother of Srinivas Murthy, Bangalore

Experience 6 – Uprooting of Deep Problems

The Kalpataru experience is not describable in mere words but I will give it my best shot. It was almost as though I was in direct communion with the universe and could tell it my most private thoughts. Almost as though I was a small child again with my parents and I just had to tell them my issues and be confident that they would solve all my problems. Before leaving Singapore, I had a laundry list of wishes; but with the various meditation sessions, I realized that I had only one strong desire that my mind, body and soul was screaming out for, and all others melted away into nothingness.

When I told Swami about my desire, I could not even articulate well, I just burst into tears and faltered out my problem. He hugged me and said, ‘Don't worry, I will take care.’ When I looked at him in amazement, He said, ‘I am responsible for what I say. You will see the difference.’ I came away from the darshan feeling that a huge load had been lifted off my shoulder. I felt truly blessed to be able to experience the unconditional love of Swamiji who readily took on my burden with a smile. It was moving to see him touch every person at the darshan, to show love and compassion for every one of us – an unforgettable and truly touching experience.

  • Trupti Wagh, Singapore

Experience 7 – Divine Touch and Deep Relaxation

I was first introduced to watch Life Bliss Youtube and tag along to participate in a one day seminar held in Singapore in August 2008. I set eyes on the Master when he walked gracefully into the auditorium and I sort of felt an ‘instant connection, instant liking’ watching him and enjoying his lectures and guided meditations.

I read about the Kuala Lumpur Kalpataru Darshan. Deep down in my heart i wanted to go along with my friends, but due to our financial constraints I just brushed the trip aside. Meanwhile for weeks, my friends constantly kept encouraging me to join them and I kept telling them I can't afford it. Sensing my eagerness, my husband managed to provide the means less than a week just before departure!

Reaching the hall, I just sat in the hall with open mind, open heart. During the second half of the session when Master was conducting the guided meditations, I had tears, I felt calm and light also, like I was transported into another realm.

I melted just seeing him as it was a tremendous consolation like he was telling me ‘Don’t worry; all is fine. Just trust’. When he finally blessed me he said, ‘I am always with you’, I melted even more with more tears. I totally didn't expect to feel so blissful and such calmness within me!

  • Molly Wee, Singapore

Experience 8 – Fulfillment

As a coordinator for the mission, I am so grateful and happy that 40 blessed souls from Singapore got to attend the powerful Kalpataru program in Malaysia. I know many from our group who started off from Singapore with a wishlist to ask Him, but when they went up there, they said they did not feel the need to ask anything, because they just felt so blissful and fullfilled at the end of the day!

A stunning definition of prayer that He gave us - prayer is uniting all our energies into seeking fulfillment directly rather than dissipating it by seeking various things which we believe will give us fulfillment.

  • Ma Nithyananda Arpana, Mission Coordinator (----)

Experience 9 – Getting Back Vision

I am an eye specialist working as a Deputy Director in Government Medical Service. I am able to see this world today because of The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam’s blessings.

Two and a half years back, my left eye was affected by Intraocular tension-glaucoma and this affected my vision very badly. My field of vision was affected and my sense of vision was weakening and was going towards nerve degeneration. I was experiencing unbearable pain in the left eye.

At this moment, I happened to receive Swami’s blessings and his divine healing touch. Standing in front of him, I totally lost myself and experienced joyful tears rolling down my eyes. Swamiji’s compassionate hands embraced me and with his flowery hands he touched my left eye.

The diminished vision came back to normal and I was relieved from pain. From the moment Swamiji’s look fell on me, miraculous changes took place in my life. I pay my humble gratitude to The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam with joyful tears for curing me completely and giving me my vision.

-[???]

Experience 10 – Cure from Colo-Rectal Cancer

Lucy’s mother Madam Juliet Lazar was diagnosed with end-stage colo-rectal cancer. She was steadfast in refusing surgery as she had been the major care-giver for Lucy’s late father who underwent the same surgery 20 years before. She however consented to go for the Kalpataru program which was conducted in October in Swamiji’s Ashram in Banglore.

Having been a Roman Catholic all her life and also being a descendant of one of the oldest Catholic families in Kerala, it was a huge decision for her. Her condition was so bad that she had to go to the washroom every 15 minutes or so and she bled each time she went. After Swamiji’s darshan, she felt physically and mentally very much better. Now there is no evidence of any tumor in the scans that have been performed.

Motehr also looks amazingly well by Swamiji’s grace. She is just one of the innumerable examples of people healed by Swamiji’s grace. There is also a transformation in her general outlook and attitude and she appears so blissful at all times. Our daughters have also experienced many miracles in their lives since Kalpataru.

-K. Pillai, Malaysia

Experience 11 – Cure from Diabetes

My name is R. Rajendran. I am working as a shift in-charge at a cement factory. In the year 2008, my blood sugar was 300 mg. I did not take any medicine. I attented Swamiji’s NSP and regularly did meditiation. I later attended kalpatharu on 24.1.2009. Now my blood sugar is 110 mg. I am hale and healthy now.

  • Rajendran

Experience 12 – Cure from Glaucoma

My left eye had been affected by glaucoma and was going towards nerve degeneration with partial dimness of vision. Swamiji touched my left eye; I didn’t ask him anything. My hands were trembling, my whole body was shaking. It is a miracle of the healing touch that my eyes are now normal.

Experience 13 – Cure from Rheumatoid Arthritis

My mother Jalaja Kumar was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for 18 years. She was suffering severely and was asked to consume medicine for the rest of her life. By the grace of Swami, now my mother has stopped all her medicines and she is keeping good health.

I am myself a widow and have a daughter and dependent parents. I need to support my family. I was working for a company for the past 4 years as a contract employee and my job was not secured at all. By Swami’s blessing, my job was made permanent within a week.

Experience 14 – Cure from Breast Cancer

I was detected with a tumor in my breast. I went to the doctor who gave me some tablets to be taken for a month, after which they would test me to see if it was cleared or it needed an operation. By Swami's healing, in two days the tumor disappeared.

My sister also had a miracle. She was pregnant but there was no movement of the child for upto six months. Swami blessed her and gave her an apple to eat. On that day itself after eating the apple, she sensed movement of the child.

  • Ma Nithya Sarvikananda, Hosur, India

Experience 15 – Understanding Life

I and my husband were introduced to Swamiji by someone providing me with his Mahabharata discourse on dvd. I couldn't quite understand the numbers he was talking about in the discourse. We then came to the temple and bought the sculpture of Saraswati. I couldn't understand why? We then started to listen to his discourses for 6 months. The knowledge grew. However, when we took Kalpataru program, that's when knowledge and experience were bonded together to create a glimpse of what Swamiji is always talking about. The Yoga Spurana program followed by Kalpataru has literally created a space within me where I am always drawn to. I now always operate from the being level. I now know what Swamiji means by Bliss. And I am sure I have a long path ahead of me. I can surely say that my search is over. Now its all about growing inward for me. I truly appreciate Swamiji's encounter. I have no more regrets, guilt, fear or greed. I am truly blessed with all that I have ever had and that I will have. I am now understanding what living in the moment is.

  • Shoba Shah, USA

Experience 16 – Dropping Worries and Enjoying Mental Peace

I was registered for Kalpataru program in Brampton, Canada on March 8, 09. This program was conducted by Swamiji exclusively. During the Kalpataru meditation I just had to make one strong wish and I knew Swamiji would fulfill it by giving his presence. I strongly felt his presence. In this second part of meditation I felt my spine was feeling a strong flow of energy. It was a very blissful moment.

The final climax was during Kalpataru Darshan. When my turn came for energy darshan I forgot the words and was totally speechless. I felt a very strong connection with Swamiji. The tears came continuously. Swamiji blessed me and told me 'I am always with you.' This statement was like a jolt to my system. I was in complete bliss.

My life changed a lot after Kalpataru program. My worries suddenly disappeared. My mind has become very calm. My decisions are getting sharper. I feel strong presence of Swamiji always with me

  • Bijal Kantawala, Anaheim, CA

Experience 17 – Beyond Words

Sitting cross-legged with closed eyes

perhaps I would have waited

minutes, hours, days, weeks
months, years, or lives
not knowing how long
not knowing what for

Yet ... with one touch of your thumb on my varanasi one hug, one word, one grin or one moment's presence You gave even though I didn't know what or how to ask

Now someone invisible
is doing an abhishekam on me
continuously
I cannot remember
doing anything important
to receive such honor

It keeps pouring
and pouring
a flood that doesn't drown
I am floating in an ocean of compassion
with a smile etched into my face

  • Mamata Misra

Experience 18 – Dropping Addictions

On the day of Kalpataru I can honestly say that a tremendous shift happened within me.

I seem to have dropped a few 'bad' habits. My sugar cravings were off the chart. I no longer crave for sweets with the kind of intensity I used to. That dropped by about 90%. My daily TV watching habits for hours was not healthy and I can say that since I have met Master, in the past month I may have turned the TV on no more than 3 times. That daily bad habit seems to have dropped also.

During the Kalpataru, an attendee from the previous year's Inner Awakening was talking about her experience and she said, 'If you can go, you must go. If you can't go, you still must go.'

After the program was over I got into my car to go home and I instantly remembered about the program in India. Right then and there I made up my mind that I was going to attend the Inner Awakening in June. I didn't know how it would be possible, but I knew I didn't need to know how. I had Master with me, guiding me. All of a sudden I felt that Master was telling me, 'You don't even have to ask, just let it happen.' I trusted that feeling and drove home with a smile on my face!

The next day I was telling a very dear patient of mine who is also spiritual, about meeting Master and she got so interested and started asking me a lot of questions which brought us to the subject of Inner Awakening. Before I could even finish telling her about the program she offered to send me to India. It is still very overwhelming for me that someone not even related to me would give me this gift! The way my life has already shifted in so many ways since meeting Master and it all happened within a week of meeting him!

  • Julia P

Experience 19 – Experiencing Fulfillment

The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam offers many different workshops and meditation courses around the world, but Kalpataru is a one of a kind event that one does not want to miss! Essentially this one-day event boils down all of the teachings of Paramahamsa into one day, words can only fail to express the totality of the day!

At the Los Angeles 2009 Kalpataru Paramahamsa revealed the secret of our human desire: fulfillment. Not only did he penetrate our being with his words and meditations but he also gave us the ultimate experience of being fulfilled. Children received the toys of their dreams, and parents had their worried relieved.

Personally, not only did Kalpataru change my life, but it also touched my being on such a deep level that ultimately made way for huge shifts in my outer world! If you seek fulfillment in all that you do I recommend Kalpataru for you.

  • Tekla Kostek

Dancer, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet

Faculty, Loyola Marymount University

Experience 20 – Getting back Vision

I attended the Kalpataru program. In the last meditation the releasing of the energy was incredible. As He directed the release of the energy, with my eyes closed, a brilliant white light was in my eyes, and I felt my entire body shudder and shake quite hard. The movement up my spine from bottom to top was very pronounced, and the Kundalini energy was released. Afterward, I could not stop crying for quite some time, but crying with a smile of happiness and gratitude. People who knew me as well as complete strangers would see me and hug me.

The final part was the Energy Darshan. As I was at the bottom of the steps, about to walk up to be before my Master, I started crying. I am not sure how I walked up the steps and across the stage to appear before Him. As I waited right beside Him, my head was swirling, and then I approached Him, He looked at me and hugged me first without anything else said.

He then asked me to speak, and I told Him I had high blood pressure and was losing my vision rapidly and did not want to go blind. He hugged me again, then held me away and looked at me very directly in my eyes. He spoke to me and told me the words, ‘I will heal you, you will not lose your sight,’ then placed His thumb upon my Ajna chakra and held His thumb there. He then released it and hugged me again for what seemed quite some time, and my arms went around Him and I had my face buried against Him.

As I walked away down the steps off the stage, I do not know how I made it, I could not feel my feet or legs, and could not see because of the tears. After sitting down I could not stop crying or looking at Him. When I got home, my head was swirling. I went to bed and slept more soundly than I have for quite some time. When I woke up, I instinctively looked at the clock. And I could see it. Without glasses. And without having to move close to it. My vision today has actually improved to the point that at times I even now drive without my glasses.

There is another very big thing that occurred within me at Kalpataru. I now know what it means to truly love someone. No conditions, no strings, no disappointments. When Swamiji looked into my very being, I felt what love is, and knew then and there that all along I had never known until that moment.

My life has changed after Swamiji looked into my very being, it was a moment that will be forever the greatest feeling I have ever known.

  • Mike Nelson, Chandler, Arizona, USA (480-980-2559)

Experience 21 – Out of Body Experience

My experience at Kalpataru was amazing. During the first two meditations I felt a great joy, a great release of pressure. I also felt what I can only call a cosmic force working on my being. During the final two meditations the Master gave me my first out of body experience. It was not scared. I did not even realize it was happening. I just glanced down (though my eyes we closed and my head had not moved), and realized that I was clearly not in my body. I tried to move my foot, but I actually had to enter my body to feel that it was asleep. It was then that I realized I had been out of my body. The really amazing thing is that I was very calm about all this. I felt and knew that if this was my first experience sitting with the Master I was blessed.

After Kalpataru, with the daily meditation I have continually felt the divine love pouring out of me. There is a song in my heart, and a dance to my steps that I have not felt since I was 5 years old. My senses have been alive over the past month. With my increased awareness I now can use my hearing to attune to nature and spaces in a way that I never thought was possible Not only are the colors of nature brighter but all my Buddha statues have come to life. I can now fully understand worship of statues and deity in a more meaningful way.

I also am attracting people to me in a positive way. My massage therapy business has drawn new clients easily. I have people coming up to me and telling me of their difficulties in learning meditation (out of nowhere). I just tell them about Nithya Dhyaan and help them get the CD.

Also, I have adopted a more yogic lifestyle to further attune my own vibration as I sit in meditation daily. It is now simple to make the required diet changes whereas before I would struggle with being forced to make any changes that I did not feel was natural. So now I eat vegetarian more frequently.

I have easily dropped my worries about money and relationships and now have more energy to create better relationships with people, money, and everything. I really feel no limit. I am continually learning and growing.

Experience 22 – Realizing the Meaning of Life

Before meeting The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam in Kalpataru, life for me was more of an endurance test than about experiencing any deep, fulfilling joy. The common challenges from work and personal life were taking a burden while keeping me on a continuous state of high stress. Life in itself was becoming almost tasteless.

During the Kalpataru, the inner events of self-perception and understanding that took place inside myself, produced a tremendous change in the way I see life. In particular, during the meditation session, the inrush of energy that I felt flowing through my body and the understanding about how to become aware of our own thoughts and let them be without affecting us changed the way I perceive myself and relate to life forever.

After his introduction about what he was going to do for the program and what he expected from each of us, I was thinking, ‘What is going on? This is not an ordinary intelligent person, there is a tremendously beautiful and powerful healing factor in his words and movements!’ From that point on, each one of his words throughout the day touched me intensely and deeply, they also propelled me into a very profound transformation that is still taking place.

‘Be un-clutched’, ‘add life to your years, not years to your life’, ‘let me explain…’, his words began to feel like nectar and I could not take enough of them. No more ‘Life is such a burden’, ‘I feel depressed’, ‘How many lives do I have to live yet?’, ‘Oh, my karma…’!

Somehow, the Divinity shaped in his human body reaches you far beyond his speech! He simply helps you understand what life is really about. Choose to understand and try it! You might find yourself feeling so free and blissful. Spread the word – you can live the real life, a better life. Help has arrived.

  • Luciano S. Fernandes

Experience 23 – From Doubt to Gratitude

When I first heard about Kalpataru, I did not trust it. I am born and brought up in a Jain family. In Jain Darshan, the concept of ‘granting a desire’ of a devotee by a guru does not exist – so obviously, at first - I brushed off the idea of going to the program. But eventually something pulled me to the program.

After listening to Paramahamsa’s opening talk for a f ew minutes, I found myself telling within me, ‘Well, I don’t mind him anymore.’ He said there is no such thing as ‘granting to anybody any desire’ Yes, this is what I have believed all my life! And then he said, ‘It is about finding the fulfillment...’

His innocent eyes, his innocent face, his candid appeal in which he said that he is responsible for what he is telling us…I closed my eyes suspecting if I am coming under some spell. I have a strong mind and in the past I had ruined a hypnotic experiment in public to the dismay of the showman, utterly annoying people present. So I knew this is not some kind of hypnotism!

During the break, I met two Jain monks who too were attending this program. My Jain heart took it as a significant sign and my resistance and anxiety decreased significantly. If our Jain leaders, who have dedicated their whole life to a cause, were attending this program, what reason did I as a householder have to doubt it?

The time for darshan came. It was time for me to ask what I wanted. I said, 'Swamiji - I want Abhay Daan from you.' He asked me, 'What?' This time, instead of explaining what it means, I added the entire family to it and said, 'I want Abhay Daan for the entire family.' I was not sure if he knew Gujarati or if he understood the term 'Abhay Daan' (boon of fearlessness). But I realized he understood it as I saw a beautiful smile break out on his face. He also approved it saying, 'Granted'. At that time he told both my wife and me, 'Do Nithya Dhyaan everyday.' What was striking about this instruction was he told us with an authority that only a grandfather, who knows his children forever, holds.

The volunteer from whom we had learnt Nithya Dhyaan at the meditation seminar told him that we are Jains. I could see the fresh delight appear on his face, it was similar to a child's delight when he shows off his toy! Swamiji said, 'I have spoken on Jain Sutras!' His words had no ego in them, but only a child's delight as if he was talking to some old acquaintance. Of course I h about his talks on Jain Sutras; so I said with equal enthusiasm, 'Yes!' There was only delight in our exchange. He hugged both me and my wife with our heads to his chest. I felt for a minute that I am a small kid and he is my mother - not father, not guru, not God but mother - pure, innocent and down-to-earth mother. He touched our foreheads and I touched his feet. It was overflowing gratitude for all that he had given us.

  • Urmish Mehta, Columbus, Ohio, USA