Jai Sri Ram

At the outset let me say that we are extremely blessed to have Swamiji as our Guru and guide. We can feel his presence every day, every hour and every minute.

There are numerous miracles in our lives and that is due to Swamiji’s blessings. I will relate a few below.

India wins the World Cup in 2011

I remember when I gave Swamiji the World Cup t-shirt during a puja in Feb 2011 just days before I left for India on World Cup duty, Swamiji looked at the shirt and said ‘very nice’. I told him that I was leaving for India. He said ‘Sheila, what are you thinking?’ I grabbed the opportunity and told him to bless the Indian team and bless India to win the World Cup. He smiled and said ‘okay, India will win the World Cup’. I cannot express as to how happy I was and there was great confidence that India will win the World Cup. Even during some of the close games there was never any doubt in my mind that India would not make it to the finals. India played brilliantly and won the final against Sri Lanka at Mumbai. I was very fortunate to be there and as soon as the winning runs were hit, I said a silent ‘Thank you’ to Swamiji.

Cricket Ground in Dubai

Swamiji would always ask Roop why he is not doing anything for cricket. In Nov 2010, Swamiji visited our house to light the lamp. He told Roop during one conversation, that ‘he will get land’. Roop and I looked at each other, considering the finances, this looked a bit improbable, but we also knew that if Swamiji can work any miracle. A couple of months later, one of Roop’s friends took him to see a ground at one of the Colleges. The College wanted the ground to be developed for cricket. There were quite a few promoters and Roop was perhaps the last. We quickly got his cricket portfolio ready and submitted this to the committee. Roop won the stiff competition and as they say ‘rest is history’. There were a lot of ups and downs and many obstacles, ultimately the ground was ready with floodlights and today is one, if not the busiest grounds in Dubai. Swamiji had said that Roop will be in the papers and true enough articles about the ground and Roop’s photos have been published in many newspapers in the sports pages. Roop is enjoying doing what he loves, providing excellent facilities to cricket enthusiasts in the UAE. He is busy 24x7 and all thanks to Swamiji.

Double increment

Last year, sometime in Feb I told Swamji our increments were due and I was hoping that we would get a good raise. Swamiji smiled and said ‘how many increments, one or two?’ I just smiled back. We got our regular increments in March and I did get a good bonus (2011 World Cup) and a substantial increment. In July, we had a new CEO and one of the first things he did was to give me my long overdue promotion with an increment. So as Swamiji said, I got two increments!!

My sister’s house in Mumbai

Ten years ago, my sister was planning to buy a house and she was very keen to buy a place in the colony close to where she was staying in rental as it was convenient. All the buildings in the colony were over 50 years old and this would pose to be a problem for a bank loan. As is usual with her, she was praying to Swamiji and called him in Chennai. Swamiji told her not to worry a small ‘bungalow’ is waiting for her. She immediately called me and said Swamiji said a ‘bungalow’, I am looking for a small flat. She had seen a one bedroom flat on the ground floor in the building just across her current apartment. She went to the many banks and all of them refused. My sister was a bit disheartened but she said Swamiji has said, I am sure some surprise is round the corner. She had almost given up. After three months, one of the banks called her and asked her if she had bought a house. She said no and explained to them why. He told her to come to the house she was proposing to buy and he would have a look. She quickly got the key from the owner and showed the flat to the bank guy. He told her he would do his best. A week later she got a call from the bank to say that her loan was approved and she could now begin the process of buying the flat. My sister was very, very happy and in about three weeks’ time she got her apartment.

She then realized why Swamiji told her about the ‘bungalow’, at the back of the house was full of trees and this was connected with the apartment. In reality, my sister was living in a bungalow as she had chairs outside, a clothes line, etc. She performed the griha-pravesh puja on Swamiji’s birthday, Mar 20 and always says how blessed we are to have a Guru with whom we can share our thoughts, troubles and joy.

There are numerous such incidents where Swamiji has ‘worked behind the scenes’ to fulfill our dreams and meet our requirements, even for trivial things such as getting a parking spot in a crowded locality, getting a taxi, even not being late to work. For both of us, Abhishek and our respective families Swamiji is part of our lives. The thought/fact knowing that he is there gives us all the courage, strength and confidence to meet and go through our day-to-day life with all its ups and downs.

In one of Kabir’s songs, he has described the ‘Satguru’:

He is the real Sadhu, who can reveal the form of the Formless to the vision of these eyes;

Who teaches the simple way of attaining Him, that is other than rites or ceremonies;

Who does not make you close the doors, and hold the breath, and renounce the world;

Who makes you perceive the Supreme Spirit wherever the mind attaches itself;

Who teaches you to be still in the midst of all your activities.

Ever immersed in bliss, having no fear in his mind, he keeps the spirit of union in the midst of all enjoyments.

The infinite dwelling of the Infinite Being is everywhere: in earth, water, sky, and air;

Firm as the thunderbolt, the seat of the seeker is established above the void.

He who is within is without: I see Him and none else.

Thank you Swamiji for being part of our lives and always being there for us – you are just a thought away.

Sheila & Roop Razdan