My First meeting with Guruji!

Our team meeting was scheduled with Guruji on Friday, 8th June 2012. This was gonna be the 1st time that I would be interacting with Guruji. I was excited and looking forward to talk to Him. But somewhere the longing was not there. The venue was decided. It was gonna be Ganga Kutir. Everyone (other team members) were excited to meet Guruji in Ganga Kutir! Suddenly the venue got changed to Badrivishala (a chance of personal interaction is less likely to happen in Badrivishala). If you ask me, I was ok with any venue! (Wherever it is, I will atleast be with Him :D). Then again the venue was changed to Ganga Kutir@. After some wait, we finally entered the Kutir.

I stood there (at a distance). He was sitting on the chair and was having meetings with different departments (of Bangalore Ashram). We opened our laptop and rehearsed our presentation, waiting for our turn. After sometime, Guruji said: Ohh it's time now, lets have other meetings on Monday (11th June). Others were a little disappointed. Again, I didn't feel much about this news.

On Sunday (9th June 2012), my roommate 'Ajith' gave me a Guruji's book 'Guru', to read. I started reading the interesting Question-Answers (QnA's) in it. This continued till Sunday (10th June). After reading the QnA's I was so grateful that Guruji has come in my life. I was in tears. It was like I was now longing to meet Him, the next day.

11th June, my team mate said she won't take the presentation (coz she was not so sure if she would be able to utter anything in front of Him). So others asked me, if I want to take it, and was I confident enough to speak in front of Him. I said Yes! (with a little amazed look, as to why are they asking me like that! :D)

We entered Ganga Kutir. Sat down on the beautiful carpet, waiting for Guruji. He took about 15 minutes to come before us, so we all started meditating. In meditation, I was just asking Guruji to give me strength to show the presentation to Him! :D I just did a short meditation and opened my eyes, waiting for Him. Once He entered the room, He was constantly looking at my teammate (who was still meditating). And as soon as she opened her eyes, He looked elsewhere! :D (Guruji has himself said this, in 1 of the satsang's: When you don't look at me that is when I am looking at you! :))

Moments later, he said 'Everyone is a Yogi here!' (I would like to believe that He said this for me! :D :P )

There were 2 people who were supposed to give presentation before me. So this 1st person started showing the presentation. This is how the seating arrangement was: The laptop was on the table in front of Guruji. Presenter was seated besides Guruji. Next presenter behind him. And I was behind the 2nd presenter. Guruji is on His chair. Besides Him, my manager was standing.

After some time, Guruji opened a sweet box, and started eating few sweets. As soon as He did that a thought came in my mind: Guruji give me one too :D. Once the 1st presenter was done with his presentation, Guruji offered him one sweet (in a napkin). Then Guruji started throwing some sweets at the crowd (other teammates). Then He gave sweet to the 2nd presenter, then to my manager. All of them took the sweets in their hands. And I was like: Forget it, I am not getting one today. So, I left the hope. As soon as I said that in my mind, He extended His hand, and offered me a sweet. I just opened my mouth. He put it in! (Seriously why would someone take the sweet in hand, if God Himself is offering you one!). That moment, He smiled, I smiled.. and in that room, it felt, as if there were only 2 of us. And once the sweet was in my mouth, there was only 1. It was a beautiful feeling, wonderful moment.

Now, the 2nd presenter was giving his presentation, and my manager told me that this is the right time to tell Guruji about a new feature. So I interrupted and said 'Guruji this is a new feature that has come in... etc. etc.'. Then Guruji said: 'What's your name?' I said' Yogendra'. Then He smiled and said.. Hmm.. Yogendra.. (in wonder). Then some of them said, Ohh He is Yogi, come from Mumbai, who is involved in xyz AOL projects. Then Guruji again.. Hmmm... Yogi... :)

Once the 2nd presenter was done. I took over. He asked me, so what all do you have in your project. I told Him 'Guruji we will see all that in this presentation now'. He smiled. I started with the presentation. Throughout the presentation, He was just smiling, as if He is saying to me 'Ohh, I have seen this presentation already'. Once, I was done with my presentation, He said done. I said Yes. Then I just looked in His eyes, and said 'Jai Gurudev'. He smiled, patted on my back and said 'Jai Gurudev'.

The meeting continued for about 15 more minutes, and I was seated near His feet (at times, touching His robe, feeling lucky). Once the meeting was over, Guruji said, does anyone wants to say something. Now I thought, I spent a lot of time with Him, so I better leave. As I was leaving the room, I saw, my all other teammates are going towards Him. So I thought, may be I should tell Him about the new job I got. I turned around. I saw that there was this person who was sharing something with Guruji. So I waited at a distance looking at Him, and waiting for that person to stop, so I could start. Just seconds later, Guruji suddently looked at me, and just with facial expressions, He started asking me, What what?? What do you want to tell? Tell me.. tell me.. So, I told Him, Guruji I got xyz job. He said: where in Bangalore? I said: no in Maharashtra. Then I looked in His eyes, and said: 'Guruji I was trying for this for years now, and You made it possible!'. He smiled. I seeked His blessings. He patted my back, and blessed me.

(In Maharashtra, I could had been posted anywhere - even in villages etc. I preferred a Mumbai posting, since my family is in Mumbai. Just 2 days after this meeting, I got the news that I got posting in Mumbai :))

I don't have any picture of this event, but it was one of the best day's of my life! :)

Jai Gurudev :)