Eternal Grace and Protection of the Guru

Written by Arpana Nazre (India)

The day is Thursday (30th June 2016) – Guruvaar.

My beloved Guruji’s day, though every day of mine is dedicated to him. I got up in the morning as usual with the same vigour and enthusiasm to finish my daily chores and reach office. I was looking forward to the Power of Purity meditation in the evening in our dear Preethiji’s house in Bangalore.

We had not conducted the meditation for a couple of weeks now. I was somehow missing these meditations, as these sessions always purify me and bring me back to a blissful, peaceful state. I observed that my state had gone from bliss, to being irritable, emotional, depressed, cry at the drop of a hat. I had no idea why this was happening to me. I used to be usually in an otherwise happy-go-lucky phase and this current phase was bringing back all my older emotions, unpleasant memories, feeling a victim of my past and those circumstances. I did not understand what was happening at all. It was like a ruffled ocean, where all the mud was settled at the bed of the ocean, and now suddenly for unknown reasons, the water was getting ruffled. All mixed emotions, mainly negative.

So coming back to the day, I finished my chores, sent my kid to school, sat there on the sofa to eat my breakfast near the pooja room. My mother had done the pooja for the day. In her usual customary manner, she lit a candle to Infant Jesus (whose small picture we have in the altar). To the left of the Infant Jesus picture my beloved Guruji’s Photo Frame was placed. We worship and light diyas to it every day. This frame is made of wood, and Mohanji’s picture was covered with the usual glass and the wooden frame rim. While I was sitting nearby, I heard something fall in the pooja room with a very low sound. So I just neglected it, thinking that something small must have fallen and continued my breakfast. After around a minute or so, I could smell something burning, and I peeped into the pooja room, to see Mohanji’s photo in flames.

My heart broke at the devastating scene. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I immediately called out to my mother, and doused the flames. It was heart wrenching to see my beloved Guru’s photo burning and the black soot on the photo. Apparently the candle that was lit, had fallen onto the side where Mohanji’s photo was there, and the wooden frame had caught fire. Technically that’s the explanation. And all this had to happen on a Thursday???

A range of emotions and thoughts flooded my mind. I was in tears. What’s happening? Is it a bad omen? Is my Guruji safe? Or does it signify something is going to happen to us? What’s the significance of this whole incidence? Whatever the questions in my mind, my heart and soul cried at this incidence. I somehow gathered myself and drove to the office, with tears just rolling down my cheeks. I cannot put the right words for the emotions I felt. Only father knows what they were.

I came to the office and messaged Mohanji on Facebook, asking him if he was fine and explaining the whole incident. Within an hour I got a reply from Mohanji saying, “Does not matter. Keep another picture. A big fire has been averted“. The whole thing took some time to seep into my brain and understand what he said. I thanked him for everything still very emotional, and now almost choking for what he said. And my next sentence was, “So you took it all on yourself“, to which he replied, “Don’t worry. I always do that. I take care of my people always.” Good Lord. I was worrying if it was a bad omen, if something would happen to me or my family. And here was Mohanji, who is burning all our karmas taking it on him, working for us day and night. The whole day I was left speechless, not knowing what to say or do.

Our words can never express how we feel, or how much gratitude we feel towards our Guru. For no one else in this world, apart from your parents and GURU, think of your well-being as much as they do. And when it comes to taking your Karmas, only GURU bears the pain for you. They make all your pain, theirs. They forgive you time and again, in spite of all our misdoings. They love us unconditionally. Guru allows you to act according to your free will, roam around and experience the world, good and bad. Yet when we go back, they are always there with welcoming arms and unconditional love. I don’t understand what my merits are in this or previous life (for I know none) that I am blessed to have the grace of such a Rajayogi, Brahmarishi as my Guru. All I can say is Koti Koti Pranam and hope to live up to my Guru’s words and teachings and get him a good name in this world.

Manasa bhajare Guru charanam

Dusthara bhava saagara taranam

“Meditate in thy mind on the Feet of the Guru. This can take you across the difficult sea of existence in birth after birth.“

Koti Koti Pranams to my Beloved Guru now and always!

Jai Mohanji!