On The Path

Unexpected

Listen to the inner light;

It will guide you.

Listen to the inner peace;

It will feed you.

Listen to the inner love;

It will transform you.

- Sri Chinmoy

As the last part of the ceremony, Guru inaugurate the peace-mile by slowly walking along the roughly 1,6 km long loop.

At least that was what I gathered from watching all those tall, warmly clad people in front of me turn to their right and start moving down the paved path. I also vaguely remembered it as the last part of the program before prasad.

But don't take my word for it.

Because I was not one of those who were good at remembering schedules, as schedules change more often than not. Therefore, I usually just went with the flow. Unfortunately, this often meant that I was not among the first ones to arrive at places and consequently had to stand somewhere in the back.

Although... come to think of it... that tended to happen even when I occasionally managed to be early.

Don't ask me why or how.

The whole thing is still a mystery to me.

Maybe it was meant to teach me patience, acceptance and how to deal with the strong sense of irritation that would invariably spring up within me every time this situation occurred.

Yes, that had to be it.

Deeply breathing in the brisk Autumn air to center myself and get rid of the anger at all those people blocking my view, I absentmindedly noted the earthy sent of fallen leaves. Winter was close, no doubt.

But what concerned me more at that moment was the fact that Guru was very close - just behind the wall of coats and track suits moving in front of me - but I was not in a good consciousness.

Which is not very helpful when you try to be receptive to your Master's light.

No, not at all.

Therefore - and since attempting to get to the front of those hundreds of people in order to be able to see Guru was not really an option - I decided to make an effort to be spiritual by surrendering to the circumstances and by trying to dive deep within.

Pitty, being able to observe Guru's meditative form was just such an immediate consciousness-booster. But I was simply not tall enough.

Or pushy enough.

Taking one slow step after the other I closed my eyes, in order not to be too distracted by all that movement before me. Every few steps I squinted at the ground, to make sure I did not completely veer off course and run into one of the trees lining the paved path.

My hands soulfully clasp before me I managed to dive deeper and deeper into my heart, pacifying my emotions and quietening my mind.

Snuggled deeply into the protective warmth of my clothing - winter boots, long red duffle coat, white gloves and headband - I peacefully and slowly trailed everyone. The crunching of a multitude of shoes on the small stones littering the otherwise smooth surface of the path was the only sound audible.

I was not the only one trying to be in a soulful mood, it seemed.

„Turn around! Everyone turn around!" Two or three of the boys that were usually close to Guru herded the crowd into the direction we'd just come from.

My (for once) quiet mind registered the fact that all of a sudden everybody was heading towards me, but didn't question the reason why. Thoughtlessly, I turned around and continued my slow, introspective walk.

Until I felt something like a joyful and at the same time light forcefield touching my whole body, but especially my heart. An unexpected surge of vibrating, powerful energy lifted my heart and spirit.

In the next moment I saw - out of the corner of my eyes - a figure passing me on my left.

My concentration still fully focused on my heart, I instinctively turned my head to look at the person less than two meters away from me.

Guru!

In my surprise, I immediately jumped to the side, intuitively folding my hands.

Guru, who appeared to be deep in meditation gave me a brief, blessingful smile and went ahead. And I simply continued on with my slow pace, a bit dazed by this unexpected turn of events.

Now I had not only been able to see Guru properly, I had even had the privilege to be really close to him and be gifted with a smile!

Once more immersed in the crowd that had caught up with me in the meantime I reveled in the joyful feeling in my heart, gratefully marveling at the mystery of it all...