Instant Community
I stumbled upon this piece of writing dated 12th Oct, 2010. This is a share with loved ones about my experience when I traveled for the first time outside of India to visit my sister in the UK for a few months. The context is my fervent efforts to move Earth and Sun to be part of a community meditation service in a foreign land. And how many people came together to make it possible for me.
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Deareat all,
On the 12th of October, 2010, two monastics from or SRF (self realization fellowship worldwide/Yss in india) came to the Manchester Meditation Circle. As Guruji always plans impeccably, this time also besides all the odds I was able to attend this beautiful programme with so much help and support from Chhavi, Mom and dad. And id like to give a special mention of Mr & Mrs. Graham Brew.
Having informed them about my presence here in the uk they were so helpful to let me have the wonderful experience of being in my Guru’s spiritual home, so away from home. Mr Graham drove almost 30 miles detour to come and pick me up from here in Chester. Whats wonderful is the moment he saw me he greeted me with a heartful Namaste ( with hands folded and all J) and Jai Guru. So nice to find truth seeking souls close here. Guruji says that the magnet of spiritual truth always attracts true seekers no matter where. Accompanying Mr. Graham was the oldest devotees of Guruji I have met till date, John & Mary a couple both above 85 and ardent followers of the path since long. Such sweetness!
A group of 15 or so devotees in Mancheter and the area around hire a place every Sunday and special occasions to come together and dive deep in their mutual love for God & Guru. Small but very pure in its vibrations the building is called the Quaker Friends Meeting house, so apt for this congregation of divine friends who are connected not by blood , race , colour but by the thought of God.
I was greeted like a long known close friend with such love. I met so many devotees and all so full of love. There was a Sri Lankan lady who has stayed here for 33 yrs now. A New Zealander, Two Irish, Three English, one japanese lady and Scottish gentlemen. It was like a world conference of sorts, but of a divine nature.
Cathy, a newcomer helped me put my coat away and showed me around the place. I spoke with some of the devotes, all had such miraculous ways of finding the path, one gentleman, Hadden, was a air force pilot and found Guruji through a leaflet about the centre and received his Kriya initiation almost 9 months later. A miracle!! He had been to Mumbai so many times. He had also served in the south east for some time. He also told me he was on lesson number 141. Heheh!
Chris, oh what an angel. The warm hug with which she greeted me, ahh!! I cannot express the love I felt and in fact these are all complete strangers well in the worldy sense at least. If only all people can find such friendship, what a world this will be.
We then prepared to greet the monastics, Brother Vijayananda & Brahmachari Jason. In the pics, the gentlemen with the Orange colour shirt is Brother VIjayananda and yellow shirt is Brahmachari Jason.
Once they were welcomed they interacted with everyone in the room. Branhachari Jason inquired about our centres in Mumbai and its capcity. He was very pleased to see a YSS devotee. They inquired about how long I was staying etc. We then had an Hour long meditation. We sang two chants, Thou art my life and Under Blue sky, under blue cover has thou hidden my beloved lord, It was beautiful. Post that the monastics shared with us some good stories and information and answered questions related to group interactions, as their purpose to visit also included helping small groups functioning properly and to address their problems. Bramhachari Jason shared a very inspiring story that in China or Japan, I don’t recall, SRF groups function incognito, where they keep having services in different houses in order to prevet being caught by the govt and also they send n receive all communication without any letterhead or name of SRF, He mentioned having met them that those people were still so determined and loyal to the path dispite the difficulties they face. He also shared other stories especially pertaining to his life and how he came about to be a monk. It was very nice and inspiring.
Post this we prayed and went into the dining room to have a feast, I must say. There was so much vegetarian food under one roof, so much variety, in England it was quite amazing. I had such lovely chocolate muffins, shortbread, potato chips, sandwiches of several types, potato salad, vegetable quiche, etc etc. hot coffee, tea, juices etc. It was all very tasty. I was speaking to some of the devotees and I had mentioned how I had been having difficulty finding vegetarian food. They quitly took me into their kitchen and asked me to pick from three boxes full of food. I took two boxes full of a greek salad and a tofu salad. That was very thoughtful. They said u can eat that while it lasts. It was almost time to leave and chav came to pick me up and then she met christene and graham. We then drove back from Manchester to home.
It was yet another memorable day amongst my guru brothers and sisters among the many memorable days God has blessed me with. Filled with Gratitude.
Love & Light
