What is it like, to be the disciple of a real spiritual master?
How is life different from those who don't follow a path?
This book is the continuation of my first one: The Hidden Path.
If you are not yet familiar with the topic, if you are new to t...
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Running on my usual route I listened to the rhythmic pounding of my feet, marveling at the mystery of it all.
I definitely have come a long way since my first attempts at running, I mused, as I was about to complete yet another twenty kilometers in the brisk winter air.
True, my body was hurting in places and it was not entirely thrilled with the distance, but my heart was bursting with joy. Actually, my whole being felt like an upward burning flame, alight with the powerful longing for inner progress and light that had started surging through me at about the seven kilometer mark.
With all the spiritual exercises that I performed on a regular - most of it even daily - basis (like singing, meditating, reading, giving classes), I was no stranger to that feeling. But it only ever turned intense like this while I was running.
Dearest Guru, how much stronger can this possibly get?! I called out to my Master inwardly, as that sensation took completely hold of me. For the first time, I truly understood why the image of a flame is often used in meditation exercises. It was exactly what I felt that I had become (minus the heat, of course).
I also felt that my whole being was offering itself at Guru's feet. For Him to lead me from a little light to more light and abundant light. Maybe even to infinite light. Even though I still couldn't fathom this aspect of our reality.
I chuckled, remembering my teenage efforts to understand the vastness of the universe. It appeared that I had not made much progress on that front, yet.
Although that was not entirely true. Through my meditations, I had come to realize that it was not really a matter of mentally understanding, but of experiencing it as a reality. So far, I had only been able to get a few glimpses of what that truly meant.
Still, I had had those, at least. And therefore knew where this was heading.
Anyway.
I was also aware of the fact that this burning, all encompassing sensation of mine was a sign of intense aspiration. Which is the most important quality to have, if one wants to make progress on the road to self-discovery. In my case, it made me feel that my inner being was spontaneously offering everything that it had and everything that it was, to the Divine.
In the meantime, and unbeknownst to me, my inner call must have reached Guru. Or rather: he must have had some understanding through his connection with me of what was going on.
Otherwise, what came next would have been too much of an coincident.
And I don't believe in coincidences.
You see: on our path, Guru used to give spiritual names to his disciples, as soon as their souls asked for it. Which they usually did, as soon as they saw that their outer beings were ready (which often expressed itself outwardly in the form of aspiration) to take true advantage of the opportunity.
