ShivYog Miracles Series: Yuri Dripual

A real-life experience of self-transformation, empowerment, healing miracles and cosmic consciousness. A bi-weekly series, ShivYog sadhaks share their stories with the world.

Tiranga
Tiranga
Jul 25, 2017 · 8 min read

By Nisha Purohit Balser June, 2017

It is approximately 8:00 on a Tuesday morning, and more than 500 ShivYog sadhaks (those who practices ShivYog) from all over the United States and Canada are gathered at a local community center in Long Island, New York.

They are here to see Avdhoot Baba Shivanand Ji better known as simply “Babaji’, meaning father in Hindi in the Shivyog Parivar (family). In India, he is known as the father of healing.

Avdhoot Baba Shivanand Ji has dedicated his entire life to raising individual and collective consciousness for the greater good of the mankind. He helps his community in the form of healing, self-empowerment, feeding the hungry, educating children and much more.

Photo Credit: Shiv Yog

These diverse group of people from different generations, religious backgrounds and education levels, are here because they share common goals: to receive Babaji’s deeksha (blessings), to learn Advait Shree Vidya Sadhana (practice and meditation of non-duality) from the only living master. Above all, these devotees want to simply be in Babaji’s divine presences.

ShivYog Babaji offers a unique perspective on spirituality and ancient wisdom that I haven’t seen from any other “guru”. He combines the balance of ancient religious practices, with modern science. He calls Shiv Yog, science beyond science.

Good Vibrations

On this early Tuesday morning, the ShivYog sewa teams have been here since 6:30am. Sewa means service in Hindi. The teams are divided into multiple groups. Some are decorating the stage for Babaji, some are setting up chairs, others attend to the sound system and video recordings, etc. More importantly, the sewa team sadhaks arrive early to elevate the energy of the space through the universal power of music. They are singing bhajans (spiritual songs), chanting mantras, and dancing as if no one is watching. I can feel the peaceful, loving, and supportive energy as soon I walk in.

As the sadhaks enter the space known as shivir (spiritual space), they greet each other with a mantra “Namah Shivaya”. Babaji says that the sound of Na-Mah Shi-vaya carries vibrations, which helps awaken our five senses. It also means “I bow to the inner self”. It is a simple and beautiful way of acknowledging and respecting the inner divine that dwells within all of us.

Self-Empowerment

As a lifetime seeker of the ultimate truth, I’ve been to many, MANY spiritual events. I think all spiritual teachings at the core have the same message that is rooted in unconditional love and self-realization, they just practice different modalities.

Many of the spiritual groups originated from different religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, etc. However, in order to separate itself from religion, ShivYog is categorized under a broader, more ambiguous label of “new age” philosophy. However, there is nothing ambiguous about ShivYog.

Photo Credit: ShivYog

Yes, ShivYog’ origin is in the wisdom of ancient Hindu scriptures, but its message is rooted in the universal language of science. ShivYog practices and message connects ancient wisdom to modern-day science.

ShivYog teaches self-empowerment, cosmic healing, the importance of family values, and unconditional love.

Almost all, ShivYog shivirs includes wide variety of professional doctors -neuroscientists, psychotherapists, cardiologist and energy healers.

An Inspiration from Within

I should tell you that I’ve been a ShivYog sadhak for only 2 years. This is my first ShivYog shivir with Babaji. I went to the shivir with open mind and heart, Babaji filled both with exactly what I needed — clarity, self confidence and a guru for life. I was completely memorized by Babaji’s innocences and jolly presence.

I was impressed by the community and how supportive everyone is of each other. Most importantly, I was fascinated with the teaching and practices. I thought

…finally a guru that is guiding his student through ShivYog sadhnas so they themselves can experience sat-chit-ananda. Satchitananda represents the ultimate truth, consciousness, and bliss.

I was filled with excitement and inspiration. Every fiber in my body screamed that the world needs to know about this teaching. Babaji says ShivYog holds the key that unlocks the universe secrets. I thought…

…I thought this country need this positive message now more than ever. I wondered why the mainstream media was not covering this.

Beautiful photo of Babaji. Photo Credit: Priya Ji

I wanted to talk to every single soul at the shivir. I wished I could give them a platform to share their miraculous stories.

This urge within gave me the courage to talk to so many beautiful souls and to kick start this ShivYog Miracles Series. I am so thankful to all the sadhaks who shared their stories with me. I thank TirangaNJ for giving me this opportunity. I am honored to narrate their experience of transformation to the world.


Yuri’s Journey

Meet Yuri Dripual, an auto mechanic in his late 30s. Yuri is originally from Gayana, but now he lives in New Jersey with his wife and two kids. Yuri doesn’t consider himself a very religious person, but he always believed in God.

It was by chance that Yuri discovered ShivYog. During a challenging time in his life, a co-worker told him about ShivYog and the power of positive thinking. At first, Yuri ignored his co-worker’s advice. He searched for peace and answers in other teachings and methods, but a nagging inner voice kept pointing him to ShivYog.

One day Yuri was having a bad day at work, so his co-worker just started playing a video of Babaji from ShivYog’s YouTube channel. Yuri instantly felt an inner sense of knowing and connection with Babaji. In the video Babaji was speaking in Hindi, but Yuri felt he was able to understand everything Babaji was saying.

As I sat with Yuri and listened to him talk about his experiences, it was clear that Babaji has transformed his life. ShivYog teaching and practices have made him more self-aware, empathic, and loving towards his family and community. He is more available, present and engaged with his children than ever before. He is able to create quality experiences and moments of true love with his children, that they will remember forever.

Yuri with his children at a birthday party

After ShivYog, Yuri noticed that his kids’ behavior has changed; they are more open towards him. Before, they were afraid of him, but now they are able to express their themselves and their uniqueness with him.

Yuri’s son enjoying ShivYog chant “Aye Giri Nandini”

I have no doubt that his change in Yuri and his relationships with his kids will instill self-confidence, courage, values and a strong sense of self. This change will affect his children’s future for the better.

Guru Connection

Yuri declares with such passion and conviction. As I played back the recording of my conversation with Yuri and went through my notes, I had a sudden realization — Yuri’s connection is just with Babaji, not ShivYog. When he talked about his experiences, he hardly refers to “ShivYog” or “ShivYog teachings”. He primarily talks about Babaji, and his entire face lights up.

He goes on and on about Babaji’s charisma and style. Many times during our conversation, he compares Babaji’s charisma to Ayrton Senna, a Brazilian race car driver known for his championships and his good looks.

I can barely contain my amusement as I imagine Babaji and Senna competing in the category of charisma. #Babaji4TheWin

Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna

I can sense the enthusiasm in Yuri’s voice, see the passion and excitement from his body language. Finally Yuri has found his guru, his life long friend.

Before meeting Babaji, he thought gurus were senior members of religious communities. He thought gurus were extremely religious people who knew more about God than others. Now he knows a guru doesn’t have to be a religious person — a guru has to be a spiritual person.

Yuri wholeheartedly believes Babaji to be his guru. He feels a deep connection with Babaji that can not be explained through words. Babaji’s presences and words affect him so profoundly to his core.

During our conversations we sat in silence for few hours, enjoying the nature. After a deep contemplation, he says..

“I want to reach the light” he continues, “After I reach the light, I don’t want to come back, because what if I don’t meet Babaji again.”

Yuri’s love for his guru got me all teared up. I thought how BEAUTIFUL it was to share this personal and life-changing experience with Yuri, a person I had just met few hour ago.

Yuri feels so lucky to have been born into a Hindu family. He believes that though Hinduism, he was able to find his Guru.

Personally I think regardless of birth family, birth place, religion, culture, or life circumstances, Yuri was meant to find Babaji in this life. A bond this powerful, a connection this profound, this kind of love is unstoppable. Their union was inevitable.

I’m so thankful that I met Yuri Dripual. I have already learned so much from him. I am grateful for his honestly, trust, and vulnerability.

I leave you with my favorite quotes from Babaji’s son Ishaanji “The divine in me honors and loves the divine in you.”

I thank you. I love you. Namah Shivay.

Happy Babaji. I love this photo. Pure Joy. Photo Credit: Priya Ji

Tiranga

Written by

Tiranga

Covering South Asian news and local events in the tri-state area since 1998.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade