I was not an overly religious person while growing up. I did not pray to a God or any gods, and had no affinity for worshipping deities. In the 20s, the only spiritual thing that I had in my life was the Bhagavad Gita, which a dear friend had gifted when I was going through my first heartbreak.
The Gita became my go-to thing. Every time I was sad, I would flip through its pages, read chapters and, since it was so deep, fall asleep. I started having premonitions; I would see things before they would happen. I was going through so many problems that one night I earnestly prayed before sleeping: "Is there a God in this world? How could I be going through so many problems with no one there for me?"
That night I had a vision. I saw a bald and slightly chubby person, who looked really huge while I was comparatively tiny. He said to me: "You are not on the right path; let me show you the path." I asked him what he meant and he repeated the sentence. I kept asking him, but he merely laughed and disappeared.
That morning when I woke up, I felt such a surge of energy. I didn't know who I had seen in my dream. I had been born in Dubai, studied in the US, but had never come across this person. I began referring to him as the genie-like figure!
After that, I went back to my friend who had gifted me the Gita—which I had read for five years—and told her. She laughed and asked me to see the path in my dream the next time and then tell her about it.
I kept wondering about my mysterious vision.
A year later, a very close Sikh friend of mine took me to one of Guruji's
satsangs. I enjoyed the gathering. It definitely felt like I had come to the right place. I felt at home.
I went to my second
satsang on Guru Purnima day in Dubai, and that was when it clicked: I recognized Guruji's photograph, realizing that it was of the same genie-like person I had seen in my dream a year ago.
Guruji had responded to my prayer to God and given me
darshan. He had known of me before I had an inkling of the path I was to take. Of course, it happened on Guru Purnima—I realized the significance of the day as I read about it over the internet. How special it was to be blessed by Him on Guru Purnima. He was meant to be my Guru.
Now this sacred day reminds me that no matter how many problems we face, He is always there by our side, through it all. As He has said, He takes up 90% of our karmas upon himself, but we have to go through the rest.
It's a long journey with Guruji. I had been going through hell - be it my career, family, or personal issues. And this day felt no different—so I decided to write down my satsang.
Remembering Him always takes me back to how miraculous He is, how beautiful He is and how He is there for you forever.
Thank you, Guruji, for having me in your
sharan. I will forever be indebted to you. Lots of love to you for watching over all of us and guiding us through it all.
Please always keep us in your refuge. Jai Guruji!
Dimple Rupani, a devotee
January 2020