July 15, 1997
Ashadhi Ekadashi Day
We were at Gurumayi’s Ashram in New York to attend the Guru Purnima saptah (सप्ताह). This evening, there was a chant at 7 pm, and since the Ashram has a strict schedule, it was imperative that we be punctual. However, Vikram, who was 6 years old at the time, had eaten his dinner too slowly and we missed the last bus that would take us from the dining hall to the chant mandap, where the evening chant was to be held. There was considerable walking distance from the dining hall to the mandap and with only 15 minutes left, Nitin decided that we would walk quickly to the mandap. The path was narrow and downhill, the temperature was already slightly chilly, and on top of that, it started to drizzle. Nitin held Vikram’s hand as we walked briskly so Vikram could keep up with us. Because of the drizzle and the evening chill, I told Nitin that the rain was going to make Vikram catch a cold. Our heads and clothes were slowly getting wet. Nitin motioned to me to keep repeating Naam and not to talk.
The drizzle had stopped as we reached the mandap. We entered and quickly took some empty seats, and I saw we were wet. As the program commenced, the lady started explaining that today is Ashadhi Ekadashi, a particular day in the Hindu calendar when devotees go on a pilgrimage to Pandharpur. Therefore, we would be chanting 'Jai Jai Vitthale' this evening. The pilgrims sing and dance in ecstasy in Lord Vitthal’s Glory and when it rains during the journey to Pandharpur, they considered it His Blessing. As she described all this, I remember very clearly that at that moment, Nitin turned and just looked at me, and it totally changed my perspective about us getting wet. I realized that it drizzled just enough because the Lord wanted to bless Nitin, and for me to experience this firsthand.
The entire day till then had been dry. The situation created was such, that Vikram would eat slowly and that we would miss the bus so that it could drizzle on us only for just those few minutes while we walked. It was like the shower was being held only over our heads. I was so overwhelmed; I thought, "O God, what a great blessing You showered on us!" The way the lady had verbally illustrated the message behind the rain changed my mindset entirely, and the whole outlook became divine. I literally could feel the blessing on us.
In those days, Vikram caught colds very easily but since the drizzle was special, nothing happened to Vikram at all, not even a sneeze. The only reason I complained was that I would miss out on the Ashram programs to take care of him if he fell sick, but the next morning, as usual, Vikram cooperatively woke up at 5 am to chant the GuruGita (in Sanskrit). He would sing with such enthusiasm, and he was the only child who attended.
Reliving this whole episode makes the mind so grateful. It’s indescribable happiness.
From Nitin, I have now understood that our mind, at the core of it, is very pure, and the mind is God. Our mind has all the characteristics of God. Our brain is what we confuse with the mind. Our brain thinks and complicates everything. We have started to use the word ‘mind’ colloquially in place of the brain.
This is what the SatGuru does for us: He shows us our mental conditioning and changes it. We can then see His real intention behind the situation and see that in fact, it is all divine. Just fantastic!!!
Jai SriRam
02-07-2020 07:34 am / POSTED BY : Indira Samant / Where the Experience took place : South Fallsburg, New York - Gurumayi's Ashram
