Finger Licking Good- Food For Soul in Chandigarh

FINGER LICKING GOOD- FOOD FOR SOUL IN CHANDIGARH

Written by

Aparrna Sharma

Once again the Buddha Purnima brought experiences unexperienced till now- Meditation with Mohanji in Chandigarh. After almost two years of his first visit here.

Things started from scratch, once again. In 2011, Mohanji had first visited the tricity and we had held a meditation in Panchkula. At that time there was a certain momentum since I was already holding meditation sessions in an orphanage called Aashiana. Although there were no initiates in Chandigarh, yet the Power of Purity was there. So Mohanji graced us.

This time there was nothing. I had lost contact with most of the people who came last time, the sessions in the orphanage had stopped and all in all, Chandigarh was a sleepy city true to its reputation.
But there were one or two curious cases. One Mr. Menon who couldn’t ever have travelled to Delhi, but had a strong longing to meet the Master ever since he had read an article about him in Life Positive magazine. Another Puneeta, who, similarly unequipped to travel herself, was intensely pulling the Master from her soul call. Perhaps some others whose ‘sadhana’ had brought them to this point to experience the living presence of a Master. Anyhow, the idea of a meditation session in Chandigarh was conceived but we had our doubts. Shashank genuinely questioned if we needed to do a reality check. Whether it was even practical to bring Mohanji to Chandigarh for a handful of people. Wouldn’t it be a waste of his time? For once, my stubborn streak came handy for something constructive, and we started looking for a venue.

Things were not forthcoming. Lethargy, tamas, obstacles and deadlocks were playing their course. We just wouldn’t get a venue. At one point of time I almost gave up, sharing my frustration with the Delhi team. The same day I got a confirmation for two options for the venue. I don’t know what made me decide for the one farther away. Though it was far away and in a lesser known area, but seemed more convenient in terms of food preparation. (The NITTTR venue also had a mess from where we ordered the food)

I had my fingers crossed, hoping that at least 20-30 persons should come. Made arrangements for 50-60 and finally had over 70 persons come for the meditation, 90% attending Power of Purity for the first time. The session was amazingly beautiful, as it was bound to be with Mohanji. I didn’t have to lift a finger, as all the work was done by someone or the other, somehow or the other. I simply had to bring people together. Eg My father+invitations. Mr Duggal+venue & mess arrangements. Smriti+Venue decorations. Puneeta+ Mohanji’s room setting, Mr M.M. Malhotra & Vishal Ghai+ pick-n-drop of some guests, Leena didi + packing up, Beating my own tamas+ informing my yoga class.

A day before the meditation one of the invitees, a classical singer and music teacher, “Vandana ma’am” called up and offered a bhajan session.

As Mohanji often says to a friend of mine- ‘Sab kuchh ho jayega, main hoon na!”

So today we had this beautiful and amazing session in a beautiful, green NITTTR campus in Chandigarh. The meditation, Q&A and Shaktipat were followed by two beautifully sung live bhajans with complete music and emotion.  (I, who frown at any display of emotion was crying openly by the time they finished singing ‘Rudrashtakam’). While most of the people had their lunch, Mohanji declined to eat anything, giving personal guidance to some, instead. My day was made when he went back to the hotel room and had the fruits Puneeta and I had bought for him.

Thus went Mohanji’s second visit ever to the City Beautiful. Some new experiences and some old memories revisited.

All the first time meditators too left feeling completely fulfilled and amazed that such an experience exists on earth plane. A lot many thanking me for everything while I looked sheepishly around, knowing that at least the Master knew I didn’t lift a finger!!   ;p