The 41-day Rudram Namakam and Chamakam learning and chanting programme has been a beautiful journey of grace and blessings. While helping others learn to chant, I have also learned and discovered so much, not just in improving my chanting but also in discipline, self-confidence, willpower, gratitude, and humility.
As usual, before the start of the session, there was an open discussion and thereafter an explanation on Mohanji’s quote on, “Truth as it is”. I could not understand much about the various points discussed like time, space, measuring tape, shapelessness, mindlessness etc. Maybe due to my lack of proficiency/fluency in English, I preferred to keep quiet.
It’s been a year, and the whole world is grappling with the Covid 19 pandemic. No one is immune to this disease afflicted by the Corona virus; be it any age, sex, caste, creed, profession or religion, everyone is equally vulnerable. Being a health care professional, we are more exposed and need to be very vigilant and cautious.
Anyone who knows Mohanji or has heard about him will be taken aback by the title of this article, but perhaps those who don’t know him will quickly seek him out for a new panacea for their ailments as they must not have had success with medications earlier taken. Yes, life is stressful with new challenging situations cropping up daily where people either have to face them, pretend the challenges don’t exist, flee, or impotently wish the challenges away.
As I sit down in Ahimsa The Vegan Café today on the 22nd of December 2018 (Datta Jayanti) finishing off this article on my laptop, with Mohanji’s picture up on the wall of the Café in front of me, I can’t help but reflect on that day over seven years ago, the 4th of November 2011. On that fateful day, I was waiting anxiously at Heathrow airport terminal 3 with my 10-year-old son Vivek and a bunch of bright orange roses in my hand to meet Mohanji for the first time. Little did I know how he was to change my life and what experiences lay ahead of me! This was the start of an amazing new journey in my life. What a journey it has been so far!
Mohanji has said that fear has a better chance of manifesting in our lives because mind nurtures the negative more than the positive. This became true when I was Covid positive during Navaratri 2020 and put a message on one of the Mohanji Whatsapp groups.
Today there was no salt, no oil, nothing at home. I was offering Mohanji just plain rice, and the doorbell rang. I saw two guys standing with many boxes saying they were in my name. I said they are not mine. (For the last three months, I have not had proper food, just porridge.) After seeing all the grocery that Ammucare sent, it took me some time to come to my senses.
I was recently fortunate to meet Devi Amma (a spiritual Master from South India) and receive her blessings. When I prayed to her that I wanted to walk the path of spirituality and serve mankind, she asked me to go to Shri Mohanji. Coincidentally, the 21-day program was initiated, and that is how I became a part of Mohanji’s group. Before I share my experiences with the beloved Masters and Acharyas during my sessions, I want to share a little about myself. My apologies for the length, but I just wanted to pour out my feelings and gratitude.
I already knew that this house that Mohanji had blessed us with was the best one for us, but Mohanji also decided to let us know why he didn’t let the process of purchasing house number 71 begin.
As Mohanji reminded us all, “A visit to Girnar is not an ordinary journey. It is a surrender and commitment to the Tradition. Unless you have deep commitment and conviction, you may not be in this land. In fact, there is no better place, more powerful and more relevant than Girnar for a true spiritualist in the path of the Avadhootas (total dissolution). We aren’t talking about enlightenment or even the Path of the Siddhas here – this is much beyond human realms or thinking. Even today, the nine Naths and 84 Siddhas visit Girnar in sookshma form, chant and pray for the darshan of Lord Dattatreya who continues to guide them. Grace alone can bring an individual to this land. Grace and surrender alone will help one complete this holy pilgrimage. Jai Gurudev Datta!”
