Meeting with my Master

In the year 2010, my grandmother died, and we all went to Haridwar for the cremation ceremony. After the rituals, 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 went to Triveni Ghat for an early morning walk, along with my papa and sister.

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 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 my childhood to Laxman Jhula, where there were many shops selling gemstones.

The next morning, I took an auto and went to Laxman Jhula. I 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 mentioned something about Kriya yoga in the middle of our conversation.

I don’t know why, but the word Kriya Yoga was now all over my mind without knowing anything about it.

I wondered, “If I am here, then why not look for Kriya Yog?”. I then started searching all around intensely.

I walked down the whole mountain around the Ganga, and 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.

I was very tired and decided to come again tomorrow before catching the bus back to Delhi. The next day, I went straight to the Kriya Yoga ashram. I met a disciple of the master; he was coming out of the meditation hall. What I saw in his eyes, I wanted the same for myself. I asked no questions and asked him to enroll me for the upcoming Kriya Yoga retreat conducted by Master Per.H.Wibe.

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 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 about how he could teach the most difficult thing, meet the true self, in the simplest way. Soon, I realized that the one who knows the subject so very well can only 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. He is sitting silently and comfortably in front of many people for a long time, guiding with a few words only. His silence reflects his whole being and has a great impact on everyone in the retreat. The whole atmosphere at the retreat is filled with love, happiness, and silence without him saying many words. 

In the first retreat itself, I felt that what I experienced in my near-death experience – the beyond, the place where we all belong, the master is going there now and then, and has the ability to take me there.

I consciously maintained outer quietness in the residential retreats. And in the second retreat, he approached me and asked some questions. Though it was a brief five-minute talk, his presence and silence 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, and it was very strong. Ever since, I have been with him, organizing retreats in Delhi and different places in India.