The day I met Srila Gurudeva - 25th January, 25 years ago!

Today on this date 25th January, 25 years ago, I met my Srila Gurudeva and it was on my birthday.

Although, I may think I met Srila Gurudeva, actually it was Srila Gurudeva who took me under his wings. I really didn't realise it then, and I hope to realise something eventually...

I still remember that day. We didn't have a car, so my husband asked a friend of his to come along to Sungai Long, a new house in a relatively new housing estate. The place was quite a distance from our house. A would be godbrother's brother welcomed Srila Gurudeva to this new house of his.

We waited and waited and finally a phone call came. My heart just broke. My husband's friend said his car broke down and it will take a while before he could reach us. My husband suggested we go the next day, but I was adamant. I wanted to meet this saint, whom I heard once or twice when I was still in Iskcon. His name resonated with my biological father's name and somehow I wanted to meet him.

After what seemed to be ages, we hopped into the car on the way to Sungai Long. When we finally reached there, the program was over. Everyone was standing up, for Srila Gurudeva to go upstairs to his room to rest. I watched this beautiful saintly figure, didn't know what to say or even think.

We decided to come again the next day to check things out. On the third day, which was our wedding anniversary, my husband asked for initiation. Srila Gurudeva blessed us by showering flowers and ordered us to come to Singapore, (his next stop) for initiation. We did so and on Jaya Ekadasi we were initiated with harinama and Srila Gurudeva said in one year he will give us diksha.

If Srila Gurudeva did not mercifully come into my life, I think I would be a goner. The best thing that ever happened to me is Srila Gurudeva. I will always remember this day, no so much because it is my birthday but only because of Srila Gurudeva.

Jaya Srila Gurudeva ki jaya!!

Comments

Life & Times of Sripad Bhakti Prakash Hrishikesh Maharaja in Malaysia

When I heard about the passing away of Sripad Bhakti Prakash Hrishikesh Maharaja, I was a little numb at first. My feelings were not completely settled to his passing. But after looking at his pictures, it finally dawned upon me that His Holiness was no more in this planet. Maharaja reminded me of someone so dynamic in serving Sri Hari, Guru & Vaishnavas. Nothing was impossible for him. Maharaja used to go heads on without thinking of any consequences. He did not believe much in meetings and talking about how to do a seva because he was an action man. He always said to me, “Let’s just do it. Krsna will take care of everything!!!” Maharaja was the first person to assist me in printing the book “Shower of Love.” When Srila Gurudeva ordered me to always write, I was totally lost as what to do. With whatever little knowledge I had, the compilation of lectures took place. But it was Maharaja who showed me the ropes of how to put in the footnotes, headings, sub-headings, titles etc. I re...

Telling Children Stories (Harikatha)

The other day I told my 9 year old student about the story of the "Talking Pot." Sometimes I try to inject in a very "tricky" manner about our Krsna conscious philosophy after a lesson. I usually start by asking my students whether they would love to hear a story or not. They would always say "Y - E - S!!!" in a cheerful manner. These children have no idea who Krsna is. Besides they are not devotees' children either. So story telling is the best way to get the message across. OK coming back to the "Talking Pot." It's a story about how a disciple felt he could do better if he left his Guru's ashram. His service was to fetch water from the Yamuna daily. The disciple thought he would be better off if he found a job and got married. But the pot talked him out of it and he ran back to his Guru. For the full story click here: h ttp://shukasari.blogspot.com/2009/04/talking-water-pot.html After the story I asked my student, Darren, about the ...

Inquire Submissively From A Bona-fide Guru

Nowadays there's so many bogus gurus. These self-professed 'saints' are only interested in making followers and collecting money. But a true sad-guru is indeed very rare. He honours all, be it a dog or an ant. Such a bona-fide guru is never afraid to carry out the instructions of his gurudeva and the entire guru-parampara as it is. Bogus gurus may try to stop their charge from hearing harikatha from a bona-fide personality, but a true bona-fide guru is never shaken and will rise high despite the so-called tidal wave or obstacles thrown in front of him. For he is truly a saint and has fully controlled Krsna with divine love. He is an uttama-bhagavata, a topmost devotee of the Lord. tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti te jnanam jnanimas tattva-darsinah (Bhagavad-gita, 4.34) "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-r...

Shukasari

Search This Blog