Insights from a cab driver

April 28,2009, 9:30 PM , Banglore. The economy slowdown has hit really hard. Realised this time and time again this summer.One instance is today. After a long day at office , was going home in the cab at 9PM. The driver was in a conversation with another individual on the impacts he has seen to his community due to the recession. Many cab drivers are suffering as their business has really dried up. Mine was only the second pick up of the evening and the first for this cab.On a usual day , it would have been 6th or 7th.Many cab owners are not able to sustain and are selling off their cabs for peanuts.Many cabs are seized by banks due to non payment of EMIs.He offered to sell a cab for 10K , which has a due of more that 2.5 laksh loan not payed.Some of his friends are ready to work anywhere which pays them a fixed monthly salary instead of driving a taxi.I had been a silent listener to the conversation.
Felt a deep sense of gratitude for whatever I have and silently promised to put in more efforts into my projects.

Superb evening at Ashram

April 18,2009. It was a bright saturday afternoon that we decided to go to the AOL ashram. A phone call to AOL confirmed that Guruji would indeed be physically present at the satsang that evening.We set out on our way. There were couple of DVDs that i had promised as a birthday gift that we bought at the Divine Store. The Satsang was arranged in the amphitheatre in front of the VM. As Guruji walked in , the usual crowd of devotees thronged the steps near the stage. Bhajans were on full swing, guess it was Srinivasji leading the group. Some time later Guruji opened the QA sessions. There were many questions from devotees. I have tried to capture some of the gyaan which came from the Master. This is my first attempt at this, more like a reminder to me about the knowledge.
Q: Can we take a sankalpa to change somebody elses behaviour ?
Guruji: Yes, do it. Take it up. But ensure that its not for your motive. You should take the sankalpa with intention that the change in behaviour is for the good of that individual, not for your good.
Q: My father is an astrologer and whatever he has predicted has become true. He has predicted that i would be mentally ill after few years. Am worried.
Guruji: Please remind your father that every problem has a remedy in astrology. Ask him what is the upaya for this problem. When you do sadhana , meditation , seva and satsang , that will take care of you. That is the upaya. Chant "Om Namah Shivaya". This mantra has the power to solve any problem.
Q: After doing SudarshanKriya, i used to feel a "high" earier. But when i do the kriya regularly, this feeling is not there. If a stop for some days in between and then do the kriya , i feel the "high" again.
Guruji : It seems you have lots of free time. Involve in Seva and continue the sadhana.