How I met my mother — 19

Counting my blessings

Please click here for part eighteen.

When you have no expectations from life, and when things start happening, every day is Diwali, Christmas or Eid, and so on. I came to Sri Badrika Ashram wanting nothing, and Bhagwan Sri Hari Ji was showering me more than I deserved. Slowly and gently, he was expanding my love for all, wisdom, and knowledge.

Guruji’s birthday celebration

It was beyond what words could describe. He gave us discourse, answered our questions, performed aarti and a special treat to all, he played piano and sang so many beautiful bhajans. We all celebrated the opening of the book “Rainmaker.” The Divine himself was offering us so many gifts, and I had nothing in my hand to provide him with. The evening was over. We all went back to our rooms. It was time to fly back to Pune in a few days. When would I see my Guruji again? The thought of leaving the ashram was unbearable. It reminded me of the song (Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons):

All of me
Why not take all of me
Can’t you see
I’m no good without you

Your goodbye
Left me with eyes that cry
How can I
Get along without you

Jatoli Shiv Temple

I did not know when I would be back again. It’s hard to say goodbyes, so I said, “See you soon.” While driving back to Chandigarh, Rinku Bhaiya Ji (driver) suggested we should visit Jatoli Shiv Temple. The temple is 8 Km from Solan, which is on our way to the airport. It is one of the oldest temples of Lord Shiva. The base of the lingam is made of smooth black stone with a silver top. And, there rest a glorious crystal-like lingam on top. It would be underestimating to say that it is just a crystal lingam. When you look at it, it gives an impression of a crystal or maybe a glass-like material. The legend says the material of the lingam is not made from earthly matter.

Behind the temple is a natural freshwater source close to another small Shiva lingam. This cool water originates from stones throughout the year; no one knows where the source is. There is a local legend that one time there was a drought and getting water from the river Giri was impossible due to distance. Everyone was desperate for water in the town, so with Swami Ji’s grace and command, the water started emerging from the stones. Local believes that it has healing power. The taste of that water is so pure; it comes directly from the Himalayas and emerges close to that Shiva lingam.

As we headed back to the airport, I counted my blessings and loved my new life. I have yearned for this feeling throughout my life, and now I am living it.

Swami Vivekananda

I remember, a long time ago, one of the incidents I wrote in my diary when we were visiting Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari, located on the rock, where he meditated & discovered the mission of his life. After seeing that place, this is what I wrote in my diary (December 30, 1985).
“Looking at all these beautiful temples in Trivandrum and now Swami Vivekananda’s Kendra in Kanyakumari made me realize that our lives are so dry that we live without any purpose. That Swami Vivekananda statue opened my eyes well and left me so emotional. I wanted to drop my body there at his feet and leave this world; maybe my life would have some meaning. That enormous ocean and those waves…. Is there any meaning in life? Why am I living? I laugh and cry for every little thing and call myself I am living. Everything around me and my life is useless without meaning or purpose. Those magnificent waves are so lucky and pure, and before ending their journey, they get a chance to bow to the rock where Vivekananda meditated once.”
I asked this question to the Divine, and 30-plus years later, I found my answer.

I am fortunate that I found the answer; Guruji is with me now. If anyone is looking for an answer, don’t waste your time. Surrender yourself to the Divine. Let go of your Ego. Go inward, find that Divine in you and everyone around you. Be kinder, mindful, and compassionate to the world and our mother earth.

Please click here for part twenty.