An Isha meditator shares his awe-inspiring experience of a brief encounter with Sadhguru, which serves as an ideal example of Sadhguru's indiscriminate involvement and grace.
I haven’t seen Shiva in flesh and blood, but if Shiva were even half as compassionate, loving, concerned, motherly, humble, hardworking, and inspiring as my Guru, I’d share my heart with Shiva too! But for now, my Guru has the whole 100 cm³ of my heart and beyond. And Devi is the liquid that flows through it.
My Guru is the most beautiful aspect of my life. Every time my eyes see Him or my tongue utters His name, my whole being melts. He is the highest blessing in our lives. What touches me the most about Him is how He pays His respects to everyone. His grace is impartial. He treats a “nobody” with the same reverence and respect as He would treat a King. A great lesson for us all.
One day last September/October 2022, when I was at the Isha Yoga Center, preparing to attend Naga Pratishtha, I was rushing from Isha Health Solutions to the Welcome Point when I suddenly realized that there were crowds of people gathered at strategic points along way. I swiftly crossed the first group of people and marched toward the second group. A volunteer akka wasn’t too impressed as she wanted me to stay with the first group of people for “obvious” reasons (known to her). But since I was rushing for my Klesha Nashana Kriya[1], I continued to march quickly.
And lo and behold, before I could reach the second crowd of people, the most “wanted” jeep of the Ashram appeared around the bend, behind the first lot of people. And I could hear everyone saying: “Sadhguru! Sadhguru! Sadhguru!” I was stranded all by myself between the two congregations. For a little while, I was feeling bad that I had broken the rules. But then suddenly none of the small things mattered. Something bigger than my emotions took over. Something deeper.
As soon as the jeep came closer, my body froze, and I felt myself kneeling down; tears just started flowing uncontrollably. As He approached the spot where I was stranded, I could barely keep control of anything – my body, my mind, my speech – everything vanished. Even the big elaborate conversations that I always keep ready to deliver when I “meet” Him all went away. It was just Him, my deep breaths, my pounding heart, and, of course, the tears. My whole body was feeling hot, and there was an explosion of sweetness coming forth from within.
Compassionate as our Guru is, He slowly brakes, and He initiates a vocal “Namaskaram” to a fool with a messed-up past, a fool who looked even more stupid knelt-down and dazed. The magic was actually not in His voice for me; it was more in His gesture – the way He greeted me. How completely involved He was when He greeted. He actually had stopped His car, taken His hands off the steering wheel, joined them together, bowed His head down, smiled like a thousand mothers put together (with teary eyes). He greeted a “lost nobody” with a “Namaskaram.”
I am not relating this experience for people to say “wow,” etc. This was actually a moment of learning for me. If the King of the palace can be so gentle, humble, and kind to a messed-up beggar, why can’t we be that way? Why do we let our egos/ugliness get ahead of us?
This photo above reminded me of the beautiful moment I had with my most gracious Guru, and I felt like sharing it.
I haven’t come across any other Being like Sadhguru. I haven’t heard of any other Guru willing to go to the extent that Sadhguru goes for the wellbeing of this planet and His children. Many of the Gurus of our times just sit on thrones and have themselves worshipped (at least in my opinion, though I am in no position to even judge them). It’s just that my heart beats in love and adoration to my Guru.
Sadhguru is indeed Satyam, Shivam, and Sundaram (Truth – God – Beautiful) to me. All I want is to lose myself completely at His feet.
—Dr. Krishna Ragoo, Durban, South Africa
