When I first met Gurumayi in Rome on April 1, 1989, I couldn’t have imagined that she would soon become my Master, my Guru on my Siddha Yoga spiritual journey. To honor the anniversary of this sacred and significant occasion, I began this morning with meditation, followed by chanting the day’s namasankirtana. After these practices, I opened the Siddha Yoga path website and found Eesha’s incredible “Concluding Thoughts” on the “Meditation on Gurumayi’s Words” for Mahashivaratri.

I saw in all of this the unfolding of my entire spiritual journey.

I wept over the synchronicity and my heart’s predisposition to read meticulously, and with pause. And so, I am honoring this important day in my life as a ceremony. I feel so fortunate, so protected, so blessed and filled with love and hope.

I offer my thanks to Eesha, and I will treat her reflections with care and attention, considering them a special gift from Gurumayi for my initiation and my entire spiritual path.

San Giorgio a Cremano, Italy

Eesha’s words about darshan were so poignant for me. I thought about all the ways I experience Gurumayi’s and God’s darshan in my life. When I tune in, I am aware of such a great constancy to Gurumayi’s and God’s presence in my life; it’s like an ongoing dialogue, and it happens both during spiritual practices and in the moment-to-moment daily happenings.

Yesterday was an important court case for a loved one, and I had been praying for blessings and offering practical help. That morning as I cracked an egg in a bowl for my breakfast, the yolk immediately took on a heart shape! I felt God was expressing love and blessings for her and me—in a very visible way.

I often reach out and talk to Gurumayi aloud (when I am alone) throughout the day. I connect and ask for guidance and clarity, and I share things I am grateful for. When I feel stuck or unsure, I reach out to Gurumayi, and things shift in some way. For example, I figure out what to do next; I feel my intensity soften; words of guidance arise within me; I experience compassion toward myself and/or others.

California, United States

What a gift these reflections are. What a profoundly positive sadhana buddy and constant companion in my journey to unfold the profundity of Gurumayi’s teachings. Thank you.

New York, United States

Eesha’s words that the photos on the Siddha Yoga path website represent what Gurumayi sees every day reflect my own thoughts and feelings when viewing the Nature Gallery as a sweet, daily practice. Moreover, I’ve always thought that Gurumayi, through my eyes, sees what I see around me, every day. So, when I see something beautiful around me, sometimes I say, “Look, Gurumayi, look how beautiful!” And I try, as much as I can, to gaze upon beautiful things.

Thinking of all the creatures who have darshan of Gurumayi on the Ashram grounds, and identifying with them, I wrote these words:

Hide-and-Seek

In the forest of Eternal Wisdom,

there is a lake, a bridge, a stream,

and there is a point where the path

that she walks every day

enters the meadow.

So that she won’t see me,

I become very small

and I stay there hidden among the blades of grass

that now I see towering

like the trees of a forest.

The frog looks at me in amazement

the curious dragonfly flies near me

the grazing deer sniffs me

and wonders who I am

and from my hiding place

I look at the sky and wait for the Goddess of Sublime Play to pass by.

Florence, Italy

I do feel that I’m in Gurumayi’s presence forever. I sense her watching me, listening to my spoken and unspoken words, showering me with compassion at my foolishness, coming to my rescue whether I ask for it or not. I sense that my enjoyment is her enjoyment. I can talk to her whenever I wish, and she is a constant comfort to me through all of life’s challenges.

A verse from Psalm 23 comes to my mind: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

California, United States

I did read the essay in one session, and I enjoyed it—I could feel the sweetness. What touched me most was the story of when Gurumayi asked an elder if God also prays—and the revelation that Gurumayi is praying for us. I never imagined this. I find it truly awesome.

I had so many questions about the essay, and as I put them into words, contemplating them, they vanished, and simple answers arose, like this:

Shiva is the best. I am Shiva. I am the best.

You are Shiva. You are the best.

We are Shiva. We are the best.

Everyone is Shiva. Everyone is the best.

Shiva is light. I am light—one of his rays.

Each ray is the best.

All rays together enlighten the world.

Light is love is warmth is joy is peace is oneness is eternity.

I pray for peace—we all pray together with Gurumayi.

I am peace. We are peace. 

Hindelang, Germany