Gurumayi’s prayer touched my soul. It felt like the perfect antidote to all the things that are going on in the world today. It gave me the power to step back from my emotions and conceptions of right and wrong and to view the world as the “field” where karmas are worked out. It gave me the understanding that I can live cheerfully and happily and allow that cheerfulness and happiness to ripple out around me. Instead of feeling helpless, I can allow the Guru’s grace and my own efforts to transform myself and the world around me.
Vancouver, Canada
Eesha’s words about praying for others reminded me of a wondrous experience.
In 2000 I celebrated my fiftieth birthday at Shree Muktananda Ashram. I longed to offer something special coming from my heart, but I didn’t know what that could be. Sitting in meditation in the Temple, I suddenly knew what to do. I left the Temple—thanking Bade Baba, for I felt I had received inspiration directly from him.
The inspiration I received was to offer prayer sticks to fifty people around the Ashram. I approached each one and said, “My prayer is that your most heartfelt prayer be heard and answered.” Everyone received my gift with respect and gratitude.
I remember one person who touched me deeply. He was a young man who looked sad. When he received the prayer stick, tears welled up in his eyes. He said, “This is exactly what I needed. Thank you!” and he ran off toward the Shiva Nataraj. I stood in awe at the power of the Guru’s grace and infinite compassion.
When there was one last prayer stick left, I wrote my own prayer: “May the prayers of the people I offered prayer sticks to be heard and answered.”
Québec, Canada
When I read “Gurumayi’s Prayer” today, I realized that peace has so many levels and that it begins within me!
I will now try to clearly recognize my inner disharmonies by being honest with myself and never again doubting the love and light within me and others. If I love and respect myself unconditionally, I can also love and respect others unconditionally.
If someone criticizes me, it certainly does not mean that I am not a good person and that I must question my integrity. I can view criticism as fertilizer to support growth so that I can become stronger.
I am certain that I can cultivate more harmonious relationships when I am at peace with myself.
Konolfingen, Switzerland
After listening to the audio recording of “Gurumayi’s Prayer,” the part that stood out for me was about using language to maintain a “prayerful heart.” I noticed that, at first, I could not come up with any “tsāngla“ shabda—good words—to describe the ones closest to me!
I then meditated to really see what I was blind to—their good qualities and their positive impact on my life. I now feel a new appreciation and gratefulness for their presence—and a wholeness in myself I hadn’t felt before.
Pune, India
Every day for the past several months, I have been chanting Om Dyauh Shanti, a prayer for universal peace, available on the Siddha Yoga path website. As I chant these syllables, I feel the vibrations of a deep and calming connection to my heart, a peacefulness that I inherently know I am sending out to the world.
New York, United States
