This program has shed a lot of light on me, as both Mohanji and I intended to set the ground for my future path. Endless gratitude to Mohanji, Tradition, all the wonderful Acharyas, and all the participants. Immense GRATITUDE to everyone and everything.
I shared that we just started playing badminton again after about three months. That’s because, from the 22nd of September, Mohanji was pretty much bedridden. Probably not many people know this because he kept it to himself, but he was in extreme pain for at least two months. Then by the third month, it began to heal. The pain was strong enough to keep him awake through the night. It was located in his foot; the foot was swollen that it looked like a turtle; it had a shape of a turtle with the little toes protruding – it was that swollen. And even if the bed sheets brushed across his toes, it would be excruciating pain.
This year of the pandemic has been volatile yet transformative for most of us. We have all learnt to let go, accept life as is, adapt to the new ‘norm’. Amidst all this, we are still going through turmoil, upsets, emotional upheaval, and loss of possessions, positions and relationships.
When I saw the first Facebook post of the Festival of Consciousness, I was amazed! This was something I had thought in my mind after attending the International Yoga Festival 2019 in the UK. “We need our own festival (Mohanji’s festival).” Now it had manifested! And I heard some of the UK families would be there.
Mohanji keeps very up-to-date on current affairs and news. Sometimes certain events or situations will reach him; normally, it happens because he has to act on them for some reason. It comes to him, he doesn’t go searching for it, but something will present itself to him, and he acts on it naturally, spontaneously. This sometimes becomes part of our morning conversation; there’ll be something to act upon. When I witness it, it’s like he’s constantly on the pulse of the consciousness of people generally around and within the organization, across the platforms.
During the time spent with Mohanji, a couple of important thoughts related to what we believe in popped up in my mind. Since I come from the Balkans, I know that Gurus are not easily accepted in our region. Here, I will not go into the importance of Gurus and why, but from my experience, no spiritual practice or ‘direct connection with God’ is enough to reach the highest human potential.
My deepest transformations started happening with Mohanji after this. It has been a rapid journey after that. It took me a while to understand that the connection became pure, and all distractions and loopholes for doubts were eliminated so that the Master could deliver. I could be receptive only after that incident. I still have a long way to go, but that’s surrendered at his feet now. It’s his job; mine is to hang in there however difficult the ride turns out to be!
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.
The mind is a monkey. It has to jump in and share its opinion on this glimpse of the state of pure love. So, my next thought was – if I live like this, with a wide-open heart, the world will dry my heart into pieces easily. So, how do I protect it? How do I live with an open heart and at the same time keep it protected?
He has unequivocally fulfilled his promise to watch over his devotee’s every need while blessing me with the realization that the relationship with an authentic Master is reciprocal in nature requiring me to not only receive but to live the teaching by continually giving back.
