  On Sunday April 28th, 2013; we were in Tennessee for the weekend and had a flight back to Bloomington at 6:05 am. Of course, things did not go smoothly. For some reason our alarm didn’t go on and when we woke up, it was already 5:27 am!!! We all were freaked out and started rushing. We all thought we won’t be able to make it. But then I had a faint thought to try our best at least. Silently, in my mind I prayed to Guruji to please take care of this. We were out of the door in 3 minutes but it was 5:30 am and we still had to get to the airport, check in, and get the boarding passes. At this point, we thought that there was no way we would make it to the flight. We tried to check in online, but it was too late for that. People had already started boarding the plane. We tried thinking of all the other alternatives to drive to Bloomington which will take 8-10 hours to reach. Going by flight and buying 3 tickets for two connecting flights would have cost too much; which we couldn’t afford. When we finally got to the airport, it was 5:45am. There was a line at the check-in station to get boarding pass and an even longer one for security check. Everyone was telling us that there was no way we would be able to catch that flight. In between we kept thinking of all other alternatives as we got our boarding passes. We got to the security line and thankfully, the wonderful people in front of us did let us go first. By now we only had 2-3 minutes for takeoff of the plane. By wait, that wasn't all. In hurry and haze; my daughter's shoes went missing with all the things at the security line. In the end, she gave up and ran with us through the airport in socks as we rushed to get into the terminal. But they had closed the door to the plane. When I was running to flight gate, agent said ‘lady, don’t run it’s too late!’ Disappointed, we were about to turn away when suddenly the door to the plane swings open. A flight attendant came out and rushed us in. We couldn't believe it!! We weren't going to miss the plane after all! As we boarded the plane, ten other flight attendants noticed that my daughter wasn't wearing shoes. As we were getting seated, still in awe that we made it to the plane, the attendant came up to my daughter and said that they could not allow passengers on the plane without shoes. That was just a bit outrageous. How were we supposed to explain what had happened. She asked me if I had extra shoes. I looked down in my bag and realized that i was holding her shoes. Wait what! Yeah, I must have grabbed them along with the other stuff. Oops :) So my daughter was allowed to stay in the plane and we made it to Bloomington on time! My younger daughter could participate in talent show as she was Mistress of Ceremony to the program... And Elder daughter had to submit a term paper. It was really impossible; still I cannot believe we made it. Thank you so much Guruji for grace; you have showered on us. Jai Gurudev! Rekha Bharani Bloomington, Illinois, USA Wish to share YOUR Guru Story with the whole world? Mail it to us at mygurustory@artoflivinguniverse.org and we will share it with everyone. Jai Gurudev!       Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest |
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Flight of Faith
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Following Sri Sri
In 2007, I went to Bangalore ashram to present my marriage invitation to dearest Gurudev. However, I was disheartened as Guruji was on a world trip and there was no way I could meet him. Heartbroken, I stood near Guruji’s photo and prayed for his blessings, left the invitation near the photo and left the ashram.
A week before my marriage, while I and my fiancee were shopping for the wedding in town, both of us received a text message from our AOL teacher, that Guruji is on a short surprise visit to Chennai and will be attending a satsang in about ½ an hour at a venue in Thiruvanmiyur. We were elated and surprisingly we were just a few minutes drive from that venue! Not wanting to miss any chance of seeking blessings from Guruji before the wedding, we rushed to the venue and within few minutes Guruji entered the hall, where so many AOL teachers, volunteers and devotees had gathered for darshan. After a wonderful satsang, as a regular practice, Guruji called out for all those who had birthdays and anniversaries that day. In all our excitement, myself and my fiancee, Preeti stood up and said in unison, “Guruji we are getting married on the 5th December!” Guruji smiled, took a garland from around his neck and threw it as us and it flew straight into our hands. Without any delay, we bowed down in respect and wore it. After marriage, we moved to Melbourne. Two year later, in 2009, when Guruji came to Melbourne, we were informed that he would be attending a satsang at nearby centre. In all anticipation and excitement about meeting Him again, we reached the venue. However, due to some meetings at the parliament house, Guruji could not arrive in time for the satsang that day. Everyone present there was requested to participate in the Mahasatsang that weekend at Philip Island (150 kms from my house). On 5th December 2009, in yet another attempt to follow our Master, we drove to Philip Island for the Mahasatsang, with our 4 months old baby SAATHVIK. There we met Guruji. Guruji blessed our son, gave us Prasad and blessed us on our second Wedding Anniversary! It is amazing how he takes care of our simplest desires! A sincere prayer never goes unanswered and a devoted seeker is never left disheartened! Jai Gurudev! Prem
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Sunday, June 23, 2013
NOW is When I Begin.. Just NOW
It’s been ten years on this spiritual journey with dearest Guruji now. Unlike a lot of devotees it took me a while (one whole year!) to realize that He is my true calling, I belong to Him. But, my highly analytical and logical mind realized the power of the Sudarshan Kriya right after I got my “1st Shot” at it and it became a part of my daily routine. My Teachers for the course were dearest Bau and Dinesh Bhaiya. Their cool and relaxed approach to spirituality, not pressurizing us into believing any set Doctrine or ideology was a relief and also very inspiring. Most of my course mates (half of them are teachers now), started making plans to visit their “new home” Bangalore Ashram, almost as soon as the course was over. But for me even the thought of it was out of question. I had a very demanding job, and an over demanding and protective family, who would never agree to me visiting an “ashram” to meet a “guru”!! In the coming years, attending satsangs (daily knowledge sessions), volunteering for events, organizing courses and assisting some wonderful teachers became a part of myself. I did not really realize how my Guru was slowly entering my life and making me His own through these amazing acts. As my involvement with AOL increased so did my Faith and Love for Him. Soon I did my first Advanced course with Guruji in Ahmedabad and witnessed the vastness of Divinity in the Shivratri Puja.. I was lost.. and found! I had found Him and He had found me… No thoughts, No ideas... out of question. Life became busy, took major turns, my Sadhana (Meditation) and faith in Him sailed me through. There were times I questioned Him and doubted Him, when I felt left out and uncared for but He was always within reach, it was me who would lose vision from time to time.
Eventually, since 2011, I started thinking about the Ashram, checking it out on social networking sites, following the webcasts, getting in contact with a few friends from the ashram. Curiosity and a silent desire had kicked in. I started discussing about ashram activities at home and often casually mentioned that I’d like to visit it one day, and thankfully no one objected, actual plans were still out of question. I was still oblivious of the fact that my desire had been heard and plans were being made!! My time had come. And soon dearest Gurudev walked his way into my life almost magically in May 2012 in the form of My Angel. A Friend from Bangalore Ashram, who motivated me and inspired me to come Home. “You should come and visit your home and meet your Guru who has been waiting for you for so long.” His words were my true calling. Soon, things happened as gracefully and magically as Him and I was on my way Home! With fear, doubts, questions, curiosity, anxiety and panic as my companions, I set out to experience His grace yet again. The entire journey, from the moment I boarded the flight was like a huge “homecoming” celebration. Gurudev was making it sure I felt warm and welcome and loved each moment of this journey. From co-passengers (who are friends till date), to the wonder play of the clouds during the flight, to the warmest reception at the ashram by dearest ones personally, by messages and phone calls, the amazing comfort of my room at Yagnashala, the breath of Grace and Gratitude every day, every moment that I spent in the ashram was beyond expression! How wonderfully He conspired to meet me in person, just to fulfil a silly desire! What all He does to make us happy! Leaving the ashram after the wonderful Gurupuja Course with Bhanu Ma was painful! As soon as I left the ashram, I was already planning my next visit and somehow, I was damn sure it would be very soon and I was back Home in two months for CST part -1 with Dr. Bente !! Since these two visits at my Home, my life has changed. I am relaxed and positive! My love and Faith in Him has grown leaps and bounds and is growing with each breath, I am a wee bit more confident, I smile almost all the time, people love me a little more, and respect me a little more… my Sadhana (Meditation) has become effortless.. I connect to Him and my inner self more easily now and my longing for divinity is intensifying every moment! Staying away from my Guru and my Home is like a Tapasya (longing) for me now. Longing for the Omnipresent is such a blessed feeling. He is always with me, I reach Him so easily and comfortably, but I still long for Him. His physical presence, His words of wisdom, His ever smiling aura, His deepest gaze, His laughs and naughty grins, His presence that is felt in the Ashram even when He is away. I can just continue my “Taspasya” and count moments when I shall be with Him again soon… At Home.. To Stay.. Now I know why he kept me away so long.. My Home is an addiction, and perhaps now is the right time for me to get addicted??!! Perhaps, now I won’t have to wait too long…. Jai Gurudev! Anamika Khosla
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Thursday, June 20, 2013
Stationary delivered at doorstep
I was responsible for the proper functioning of credit card machines during Guruji's recent visit to Calgary. During one of the courses, I was informed that we were almost running out of paper rolls for those machines. It was friday afternoon and the company was unable to ship the rolls to us at such a short notice. So my wife Urvashi and I looked in all kinds of stationary and electronic stores, including staples, but without success. Finally a lady at Wall Mart suggested us to try at a nearby dollar store. Subconsciously, I did not expect dollar stores to carry an item which was not available at Staples but we still went and asked the cashier at the dollar store if they carried the paper rolls for those wireless machines. First she said no and suggested us to try a stationary store. When we were about to leave, she called us and said, 'Why don't you speak to this gentleman here who supplies the rolls for our store's machines'. I was astonished and taken aback! We then talked to the gentleman and though he did not have those kind of rolls with him at that time, he agreed to deliver them to us. As promised, the man delivered 100 rolls of paper at our doorstep. My Guru had intervened and as usual a miracle had happened. Something that even the biggest stores did not carry, got delivered to us. We are grateful to our Guru for his grace through which he keeps reminding us that he is always with us.
Jai Gurudev! Urvashi and Simrat
Wish to share YOUR Guru Story with the whole world? Mail it to us at mygurustory@artoflivinguniverse.org and we will share it with everyone. Jai Gurudev!
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Sunday, June 16, 2013
Guru Pooja Day
 I have a guru story to share with the entire AOL family. I keep wondering, whenever I get a chance to read astonishing experiences of other people, how guruji embraces his kripa on all of us. Similar incident happened with me. From the last few months, I listen to Guru Puja on the third thursday of the month right in the morning when I start my day for office. I wait for this day as thursday is the satsang day as well. Normally I go to office by driving my car and hence there is no issues in starting my day with the ever lively Guru Puja being played in my car. But this time on the third thursday of the month, I as a matter of chance had to travel by metro. Right from the time when I woke up in the morning, I was thinking that how I will listen to guru puja. I knew my earphones were not working and I didnt had the gurupuja in my laptop as well. I was just standing on the platform and waiting for metro, and suddenly a thought came in my mind and I just murmured - "Guruji, please mere earphone thik kar do (make my earphones start working), I have to listen my guru puja - its third thursday and I am on my way to office". Guess what, I didn't even inserted the entire nob of the earphone in my ear yet - and it started working !!! I was taken aback by the fact that the earphones which were not working from the last few months started working suddenly this morning. I know it was beacuse of the kripa (grace) of our beloved Guruji who takes care of all of us in such a manner we cannot even think of. Thank you Guruji for being in our life and I just pray that our faith in you and your kripa keeps on showering on all of us and we keep on blossoming the way we are now !!!!! Jai Gurudev! Sumit Goenka Delhi, India
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Thursday, June 13, 2013
Blessings for the Printer!
 I was in the process of organizing an introductory talk for the Art of Living Part-1 course on May 25th 2013, Saturday in Bethesda Public Library, (Bethesda, MD, USA). I needed some flyers for the programme and decided to get them printed at the printing shop at my workplace. While I was placing the order, explaining the programme concept and trying to negotiate the pricing with the sales person at the shop, the supervisor of that printing shop walked in and heard our conversation. He, surprisingly meddled in and said, “We would like to design this flyer attractively and even print it for you free of cost!” I was stunned and asked him, "Why would you want to do this for me?” His reply was very heart warming and reminded me yet again how the grace of dearest Gurudev works in the most mysterious ways. He said, “I will do it! I feel like I should do this for you. There is no special reason. Just email the information to me and I shall get it done.” With these words he handed me his business card. As a gesture of goodwill I blessed him and all I could say was, “This little act of kindness will not only benefit you and your family but also your ancestors.” He smiled, shook his hand and replied, “That’s good enough for me.” Giving him some information on Art of living courses and the foundation, with gratitude in my heart and a smile on my face, I left the printing shop. That was just another day that I was reminded of how blessed are we to have found a Guru in our life. Amazing! Jai Gurudev! Indira Sampath
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