Meeting with my Master

In the year 2010, I had an intense inner desire to read the Bhagavad Gita. After reading, the only thing I understood was that I have to follow my heart, and not doing so would be something like eating me from inside. My destiny had a plan for me and I was ready to receive it.

My grandmother died and we all went to Haridwar for the cremation ceremony. After rituals got over, my family decided to go to Rishikesh to a known ashram near Triveni Ghat. After spending two days in peace, on the third and last day, I along with my papa, sister, went to Triveni Ghat for an early morning walk.

The view of the Ganga and the Ghat – what to say how I felt; love at first sight. I did not want to leave the place. My sister had to drag me away. We all returned back to Delhi.

I then started experiencing beautiful dreams connected to rivers and water. Something was pulling me. One day, I packed my little bag and took a night bus to Haridwar.

I got down in the early dark morning somewhere in Haridwar. I took an auto and went to the same ashram in Rishikesh where I had earlier stayed. The view of the Ganga gave me immense happiness. The first whole day I kept sitting on the bank, doing nothing, except watching the Ganga, taking an occasional bath, and eating a little.

On the second day, by the afternoon, I suddenly became very sad. While walking on the bank of the river, I asked God “Why am I here? How can I find you?” Immediately I got an answer from inside, “No duality”. I asked again, “Tell me the path to no duality”. I kept waiting but no reply seemed to emerge.

In the evening, out of nowhere, I had a desire to buy my birthstone. I remembered a visit during childhood to Laxman Jhula where there were many shops selling gemstones.

The next morning, I took an auto and went to Laxman Jhula and got down in front of the Kriya Yoga Ashram Gate. I overlooked the gate, and went straight to the closest gem shop and bought my birthstone. Soon after that, I got a phone call from a friend, who very casually in the middle of our conversation mentioned something about Kriya yoga.

I don’t know why but the word Kriya Yoga was now all over my mind without knowing anything about Kriya yoga. I wondered, “If I am here then why not look for Kriya Yoga”. I then started searching all around intensely.  

I walked down the whole mountain and around the Ganga and eventually became very tired. I finally reached the other end to the Ram Jhula where I stopped by at Sivananda Ashram and asked, “Is there any Kriya Yoga learning center nearby?”. The gentleman told me I had just passed it on my way up.

Mystically, my starting point was my destination and I guess I had to make the whole journey to realize this. The next day, before catching the bus back to Delhi, I went straight to the kriya yoga ashram. Where I met a disciple of the master, he was coming out of the meditation hall. What I saw in his eyes, I wanted that for myself. I asked no questions and asked him to enroll me for the next upcoming kriya retreat conducted by Master Per.

It was the 6th of September 2012, and for the first time, I saw the Master at the initiation. His silence needed no introduction. He was very different from the conventional and traditional Sadhus as he was not sporting any outer symbolic signs such as a saffron robe, beard, and an attitude of attainment.

At first, I thought how could he teach about the most difficult thing ‘to meet the true self, in the most simple way.

Soon I realized that the one who knows the subject so very well is only the one able to teach and make it simple for others.

What I liked the most was his way of teaching, to the essence of having one’s own experience without going into the theoretical aspect.

On my first two residential retreats, I consciously maintained outer quietness. It was the third residential retreat when he approached me and asked some questions. Though it was a brief five-minute talk, his presence intoxicated me.

I went back home after the retreat. Two things I was sure of – first Kriya Yoga was for me and second, I would like to contribute to this work.

I took the practice very sincerely back home. In meditation, I could feel his presence, it was very strong. Ever since, I have been with him, organizing retreats in Delhi and different places.