So Inspired

In 1973, Guru suggested that I open a divine enterprise. Of course, I had no money, so I decided to go with Pranika to visit our relatives in Arizona. At that time our uncle was still alive, and he was very wealthy. I was going to beg my aunt and uncle to give me some money to open a divine enterprise. While we were there for a few days, I was reading Guru's book My Ivy League Leaves. In it there is a story that Guru relates about Margaret Wilson, President Woodrow Wilson's daughter, who was named Nishtha by Sri Aurobindo. I remember reading the story over and over and being so inspired and fascinated by it. Despite the fact that my relatives were not interested, I was even reading it to them. Pranika told me later that she even remembers me recounting the story to her and being very inspired by it. Then we returned to New York, though were not successful in getting money. Some time later Guru very kindly said he would give me an interview about opening a divine enterprise. Guru said to me, "So at that time I told you that you would get your spiritual name." I was shocked. At first I blurted out, "Guru, when you told me about opening a divine enterprise, you did not tell me that I would get my name." Then I realised that this was not the right thing to say to my Master. I said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I did not hear you tell me that you would give me my name." Maybe four or five months went by, and then one night at the church in Bayside, I did get my spiritual name. When I heard the name, I was so surprised. I thought to myself, "Is this the same name?" I rushed home and opened My Ivy League Leaves to double check if it really could be the same name that I was so inspired by when we were out in Arizona months ago. Of course it was! Then I realised that Guru had told me, just as he said, that I would get my spiritual name, even though he had not said it to me outwardly.

Nishtha (New York)