  It was the December of 2009. Having been associated with the Art of Living for just about 4 odd years, I was very keen to do an advance course in the presence of Pujya Gurudev at Rishikesh. Those associated with AOL would know how beautiful and serene the environs of Rishikesh are and what fun it is to partake in an advance course there...Guruji's presence simply makes it the perfect setting for a spiritual sojourn! I booked myself for the last of the 4 batches for the Rishikesh course which was to happen in February 2010! With the excitement comparable to that of a child eagerly waiting to meet his mother after a long stint at boarding school, I reached Rishikesh a day prior to when the course was scheduled to start. Partly because it was quasi mandatory to register for the course a day prior and make the stay arrangements etc, but largely because I was keen and hopeful to meet Pujya Gurudev somehow and seek his blessings at least in a darshan line. (Given that there are thousands of devotees thronging to meet HIM at any point in time) Guruji was to be busy in meetings in the city that day I was informed, hence I hadn’t got the opportunity to meet HIM. Also, by the time I completed all the registration formalities necessary for the course, finished satsang and dinner, it was around 10pm. I rushed to Gurudev's kutir with the hope to seek his blessings and get a glimpse. I was aware that it was quite late in the evening but I was very keen to meet him as I had not seen HIM during the entire day. As soon as I reached the kutir, I asked one of the volunteers if Guruji was still meeting devotees. Like he had informed the 25-30 other devotees waiting for darshan, I too was informed that Gurudev was busy meeting visitors with prior appointments only and given that it was already past 10 pm chances of Gurudev meeting devotees in a darshan line were bleak and that I should meet HIM at the course the next day. I tried reasoning with him that I had come all the way from Mumbai and was a teacher and if he could please permit me inside the kutir at least - but, he persisted and I was denied permission. While the volunteer was doing his rightful duty, my heart sank. I could not believe that I would end up returning to my room that night without having sought Gurudev's blessings during the entire day. Dejected and heartbroken, I dragged myself onto the promenade by the banks of the Ganges, from where I could catch a glimpse of Gurudev sitting on the 2nd floor balcony meeting visitors. Before I could realize, my mind started conversing with HIS, asking questions like, "what would it take me to see you tonight".. "Do I need to know some influential teacher who could sneak me inside the kutir"... "Why do I need to go through multiple layers of people to meet you, my master"... With tears rolling down my cheeks, I just kept looking at HIM, from that distance, hoping for a miracle to make me meet HIM. With no possibility of a meeting in sight after a 45 minute wait by about 11 pm, I dialed my mother from my cell phone to update her and get some consolation and started walking towards my room. Just as I was crossing the kutir, miraculously, the volunteer opened the gate and asked me to come in as he had received and instruction from Gurudev that he should let all those waiting for darshan to come in. I could not believe my luck. With a spring in my step, I ran inside the kutir and settled myself in one corner of the huge balcony on the ground floor, where Guruji was coming to meet us. There were just 5 of us to meet HIM; a family of 4 and me! As soon as he entered the room, he looked at me and smiled and my day was made. Little did I know that it was to be the most remarkable day of my ENTIRE Life! As soon as the family of 4 had been met with, Guruji looked straight into my eyes and with a look that I feel meant, "I know what you have been up to!" called me towards him. Sheepishly, I made the 5 step walk on my knees itself and there I was, in front of Guruji. (Little did I know that the next 5 minutes would change my life) Click here to continue reading this wonderful Guru Story.......... 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 |
Thursday, March 27, 2014
The Miraculous Meet
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Masters’ Care
 Three weeks ago, my only child complained of experiencing excruciating pain in her abdomen. The pain was so severe that it was radiating to her back and rib cage. She was not in the state to eat anything, and even water that she drank was vomited out immediately. Owing to this terrible situation, we rushed her to the Hospital. But seeing my daughter in so much agony was definitely not easy for me. It was quite late in the night. The concerned Doctor, a Gastroenterologist, suspected pancreatitis, or colitis or abscess in the liver. Naturally, we were devastated on learning the same. We did not know how to react. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, to face such a complicated health situation was very painful for us. Next day the investigations began. An ultrasound was also conducted, where all was found ok, but a huge solitary gall stone was discovered in the gall bladder, and a severe case of infection was evidenced by the blood report. It was then agreed upon to operate the next day. Now suddenly, the Doctor wanted to do a CT Scan the following day, before the surgery. This CT Scan also happened, and all was found normal, but we were resigned to the situation that within an hours’ time, the operation would commence. All this while, for 4 consecutive days, I kept chanting the Guru Mantra and what followed was a much needed miracle. Click here to continue reading this wonderful Guru Story.......... 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, March 23, 2014
Beautiful Birthday
 It was my 19th birthday. As most other people, even I had plans for the big day, and was looking forward to the celebrations. On my birthday night, owing to the bad behaviour of my very close friend, I got very upset and I cried almost all night. And then, all my birthday plans got cancelled, which made me even more upset! I was just so disheartened and dejected. Half the day passed, and I was at home, crying and sulking, as it was my birthday and I wanted it to be special! I was feeling very terrible. I knew not what to do. I made a small prayer to Gurudev, pleading Him to make everything alright, for the rest of the day was still left, and I wanted a miracle to happen. And all of a sudden, out of nowhere, my mother received a call from my uncle, who is an Art of Living teacher as well. He excitedly informed her that Guruji was in Delhi, and He had a flight to catch in a while, so there was a good chance of Him giving Darshan to the devotees before leaving. On hearing this, I got extremely happy, bought my birthday cake and went to Vasant Vihar, with the hope of meeting Him. As we entered, the room was full with people. I quietly went and sat in a corner with my mom and dad. Bhajans (devotional hyms) were going on. I sat patiently, yet there was a bit of anxiety in my mind, as Gurudev had a flight to board, which meant that He would have to leave the room soon. And then suddenly, the moment arrived. Guruji started walking towards us. On seeing Him, I ran with the cake in my hand and went and stood near Gurudev. He was looking directly into my eyes. Click here to continue reading this wonderful Guru Story.......... 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 |
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Blessed in Silence
 After I did my Yes!+ course in March 2011, I was waiting to do an Advance course. I got the opportunity to do the course in December 2011 in Mumbai. I thought it would be nearly impossible to stay in silence for those 2-3 days. Plus, I was suffering from a knee injury so sitting for meditation all day long seemed like a task. However, the course was perfect and Guruji made sure that I faced no problems. The course transformed me completely. I did my second advance course in May 2012 in the Bangalore Ashram. The whole trip was a miracle in itself! I had gone three days prior to my course, on Monday, with a few friends with the intention of spending more time with Guruji. However, a day before we were to leave we found out Guruji was leaving the Ashram on the day we were to reach. Click here to continue reading this wonderful Guru Story.......... 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 |
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
A Fire that Lit my Faith
 It was Holi and I had planned a celebration in the evening with friends. But when I returned home after work I saw a fire engine standing in front of my house. All my neighbours had gathered at the spot. As I climbed the stairs, I saw that the door was broken open and the house was covered with water, sand and ash. Firemen told me that the fire was due to leaking gas cylinder and high phosphorous content in the air. There was no major damage because it was detected early. I thanked God that there was no damage to life or to any important thing. My entire evening and night went in dusting and mopping. Click here to continue reading this wonderful Guru Story.......... 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 |
Thursday, March 13, 2014
The Power of Seva
 I passed out of Stephens with sour memories - my friends had left me and my career was nothing to boast of. I wanted to meet Guruji so that He could give me some guidance and I would get out of my mess, the mess that was more in the mind. There were too many things that I desired, but my hands were empty. I knew not what to do and how to do. I was a lost soul then. Finally, I decided to meet Him at the Ashram during Navratri. But what followed was not something I had planned or wanted. Guruji constantly ignored me. He just did not look my way. I wondered why. I had tonnes of encounters with Him, but all in vain. Forget talking to me, He did not even look at me. All my questions were unanswered, all my confusions doubled. I returned to Delhi with utter sadness. A week later, I went for a YES!+ follow up session with Atika didi. While she was inspiring all the young YES!+ folks to do Seva, she quoted Guruji, stating that if we did His work, He would take care of our work. I felt those words were only for me, as though it was my Masters’ message to my situation. Click here to continue reading this wonderful Guru Story.......... 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 |
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
My Faith
 This is probably my biggest Guru story after which my faith on Guruji has grown immensely. I was on my way back from home to SSU (Sri Sri University). I was wearing a new flannel and had kept my wallet with around 1500 Rs along with ATM and pan card, among other things. I stay in Kolkata and we usually travel by the metro. I was on a crowded metro and it was the rush hour with people travelling back home. When I got up from my seat to get off the metro, my wallet fell off unknowingly. It was only then that I realized that it had fallen when the metro gates closed but I could do nothing. Me and my father who was accompanying me informed the station master and he told us that he would get back if he comes to know of a lost wallet. Meanwhile I had a train to catch to come back to Cuttack, SSU in about 25 minutes. My father maintained his calm and withdrew some money from the ATM to hand it to me and put me on a cab to the station. I reached the station on time to catch the train and was strangely in a cheerful mood (happens only in the Art of Living). I knew that we rely on miracles and not just believe in it. I even updated a status saying that I rely in miracles and not just believe as I had faith in relation to this incident. Click here to continue reading this wonderful Guru Story.......... 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 |