A New Person

I had been practising yoga, off and on, almost all of my life, but I knew that without purity, I could not progress to the next level. At the age of 35, with all of the ceremony and will that I had at my disposal, I decided that I would try being celibate for a month. This was so difficult that I gave up trying to achieve any degree of purity on my own. By the age of 45, I had prayed and prayed for a spiritual Master, but my prayers had still not been answered. One day, shortly after my wife had left me, I met a man who said that he was a disciple of a Master. We talked about yoga for the next two or three weeks or so. The disciple told me that his Master required his students to refrain from drinking alcohol and using drugs. Further, the Master required his students to practise celibacy. I explained that I had been searching for a Master, and I asked if he had a picture of his Master. He told me that all he had on him at the moment was his Master's Transcendental picture, which was used for meditation, and he explained that this picture was not generally shown to the public. The disciple asked me if I wished to attend an upcoming workshop on yoga given by a local Centre. I answered that I wished to look deep within myself and make sure that I was sincere and certain. The disciple told me that he could see that I was sincere. He then changed his mind and showed me the Transcendental photograph of his Master, Sri Chinmoy. We talked more about the spiritual life and the disciple left to return home. That night before retiring, I fell to my knees and cried out in prayer to the Master. I told him that I wished to follow a true Master, but I didn't know how to begin or what to do. I asked that if he was intended to be my Master, that he please guide me and show me the way. I then went to bed and fell into a deep sleep. I became conscious in the dream state when gently my astral body floated up from my body, lifted by some gentle force. Sri Chinmoy was standing in the corner of my bedroom and smiling at me as a father smiles at his son. The Master stood my astral body in front of a mirror in my bedroom to confirm to my mind that I was not dreaming. I could see in the reflection of the mirror that my physical body was lying in my bed fast asleep and that my astral body with my full consciousness was in front of the mirror. Words do not serve me at this point. I often say that I was in a "dream", but the state of consciousness that I was in was new to me. Without speaking a word, the Master gave me the knowledge of how I needed to meditate and what I needed to do to please the Supreme. How the Master did this without talking appears ridiculous to the mind, but he did! I accepted with great joy and exuberance. Interestingly enough, the Master was also overjoyed and exuberant at my acceptance. He then gently levitated me back into my physical body. My consciousness transitioned through the dream state back into sleep. The next morning when I awoke, I felt joy in my heart and as light as a feather. My mind was a little bewildered, but my mind knew that I was celibate. A few days later, I ceased drinking alcohol and eating meat, and had become what I can only describe as "a new person." I was constantly cheerful and felt true love in my heart for everybody and everything. Each morning my meditations grew more and more wonderful! That was seven years ago. And each and every day, I get down on my knees and thank Guru for his most precious and wonderful gift and for allowing me to become his disciple. I am also aware that Guru does not give an experience like this to many of his disciples out of his love and concern, not wishing to alarm them. Guru knew that he had to get my attention and that, without a display of power, I would not recognise him.

Richard (Carrboro)