Anu Krishnan, Canada
A Beautiful Thanksgiving Sunday Experience
I would like to share a beautiful and unexpected experience that happened to me on Thanksgiving Sunday. We had planned to visit FARRM Rescue Sanctuary near Wetaskiwin, Alberta, as part of our ACT4Animals volunteer activities. I was driving our maroon Toyota Sequoia with my three children, Jaanki, Jia, and Jay. Everything was going well until my maps started confusing me! I tried both Apple Maps and Google Maps, but somehow neither took me to the right location.
I reached Gwynne (the place where the Sanctuary is), but I still couldn’t figure out how to get to FARRM. Our fellow volunteers, Bimal and Nisha, had already reached the rescue sanctuary, and here I was, driving around with my three kids, trying to find the place! Internally, I started talking to Mohanji. “Mohanji, I don’t know how to reach this place. Everyone has already reached there, and I’m still struggling to find the way. Please help me. I don’t know what to do now.”
I continued driving and eventually reached a gravel road on top of a hill overlooking a valley. I stopped there and was still checking my maps, trying to understand where I needed to go. And then something interesting happened! I noticed a RAM pickup truck coming towards me. A gentleman was driving it, and I could see several dogs inside the truck, sitting in the back passenger seats.
As he passed, he looked at me. Then he drove a little farther, parked his truck, and continued looking in my direction. Meanwhile, I was still busy figuring out my maps! Finally, I managed to get the destination on my phone, which showed another six minutes to reach FARRM. But suddenly, I had an inner feeling telling me to ask that gentleman for directions.
So I drove towards his truck, rolled down my driver’s side window, and asked him if he knew where FARRM Rescue Sanctuary was. My kids were sitting in the back seats, curiously trying to peek out to see what was happening, especially my little boy, Jay! The gentleman was a white man with a beard and short hair. He was wearing a red-and-black checkered shirt. He immediately told me that the sanctuary was on the other side of the valley. Then he patiently gave me very clear directions.
He told me to turn around, drive back to the stop sign, take a left, and keep going until the next left turn. Then follow that road down the valley all the way to the end, where you’ll see another stop sign. From there, take a right, and FARRM would be the second building. I felt so relieved! His directions were so clear that I can still remember them. I thanked him, and my kids also greeted him and said thank you.
And then he smiled and said something that caught my attention. He smiled and said, “Shukriya!” I was a little surprised to hear that word from him! I noticed something different about this gentleman, but at that moment, my mind was completely occupied with reaching the sanctuary. I didn’t think much about it and simply continued driving. Following his directions, we finally reached FARRM!
When I arrived, Bimal (fellow team lead and volunteer) told me that he had been wondering whether I would get confused finding the place and how I would manage to reach there. I told him, “Yes, Bimal, I was confused, but a gentleman helped me and gave me the directions.” Immediately, Bimal Ji asked, “Maybe it was Mohanji who came to help you.”
For a moment, I wondered, “Could that have been Mohanji?” But we had volunteer responsibilities to attend to, and we got busy with activities at the sanctuary. I didn’t think much about the incident for the rest of that day. However, something interesting happened the next day. The entire experience started coming back to my mind, again and again. Especially that one word the gentleman had said at the end of our conversation.
“Shukriya!”
I started wondering, “Why am I remembering that word so clearly? Why is it coming back to my mind?” And then I began recalling all the little details of our encounter. The way the gentleman looked at me as he passed by. The way he parked his truck a little farther away and continued looking in my direction. The inner feeling that prompted me to approach him. His kindness and patience as he gave me directions. His smile. And finally, that unexpected word, “Shukriya!”
Then I remembered a particular photograph of Mohanji. The gentleman didn’t have Mohanji’s long hair, but something about his face, beard, and expression reminded me of that picture. And suddenly, I started connecting everything. Just a few minutes before meeting him, I had been silently asking Mohanji for help because I couldn’t find my way. Then a gentleman appeared at exactly the right moment and guided me clearly to the destination.
Was that you, Mohanji?
I really don’t know how to explain it. I cannot say for certain who that gentleman was, but deep inside, I felt Mohanji’s presence. And what made the experience even more interesting was that we were on our way to serve rescued animals, and the gentleman who helped us was travelling with several dogs! As I connected these little moments, I felt so much happiness and gratitude.
I have heard many devotees sharing their beautiful experiences of Mohanji’s presence and grace in unexpected situations. And this time, something happened in my own life that made me feel that connection so deeply. Maybe someone else would see it as a simple coincidence or a kind stranger helping a lost traveller. But for me, it was a beautiful and deeply personal experience. I had asked Mohanji for help in my heart, and help came immediately.
It reminded me once again of the importance of trust, surrender, and acceptance. Sometimes, we may not know the way forward, but help can arrive in ways we never expected. I am so grateful to that gentleman, whoever he was, for patiently helping me. And thank you, Bimal, for that one question that made me reflect on the whole experience!
Thank you, Mohanji, for this beautiful experience. Thank you for your love, guidance, and grace. I will always remember that gentleman’s smile and that beautiful word…
“Shukriya!”
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 22nd October 2026
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