A Miracle in a Mix-Up: My Unexpected Gift from Maharaji

2018

When I first began studying with my Gurudeva, a devotee friend recommended I read A Miracle of Love by Ram Dass. "I don’t know," he said, "but when I read it, something happens, it’s like pure Grace." I smiled, "You know, I’ve just met Gurudeva, and it all feels so complete. Plus I have plenty of His teachings to study at the moment." At the time, I was immersed in my studies under my Guru's guidance, and the idea of adding another teacher felt overwhelming. My path was clear, and my heart was full.

2019

With the end of my US visa looming and travel restrictions tightening, I booked a one-way ticket to Europe in a rush. I remember the heaviness in the air at LAX, the way everyone was masked, all of us gloved up and clutching disinfectant wipes. Fear was palpable. I walked through the airport, looking for a little souvenir, something special I could hold onto. I found a pair of silly socks, packed them up, and boarded that plane. Little did I know that for the next three years, due to travel bans and other medical restrictions, I would remain far away from my beloved California. Me and my little nostalgic heart wore those socks out until the holes were just too wide to ignore and the heels thinned out like silk.

November 2020

Here I was back in Switzerland, nestled in the dreamy silence of the mountains. It wasn't really my plan but this dreadful virus took away my step father and well nothing at this point was "going to plan." But I felt held by my faith and kept going through it all and somehow found someone who gave me a chance on their lease and that apartment was nothing short of a dream. Nestled up in Valais, above the clouds, not too high in altitude in a small mountain village with a quiet neighbor. I surrendered to this new journey, after all I now was "a good yogi." In the mountains alone with my dog. I woke up early practiced deeply, made my one meal a day, walked the forest and began my Vedic Astrology studies. Life was simple and anyways I had very little with me at that point. A cot, a desk, a few sheets and two change of clothes. All my stuff was still in California.

I started listening to Ram Dass at this point, and was instantly smitten. His talks on spiritual pride, on the desire to be "holy" landed in my heart just at the right moment. I was deep in my own renunciation, and his words offered perspective and a reminder of what was truly important. He had done it all the robe, the hours in meditation getting "high" on the exhilaration of the practice. Returning to the west remembering that we're all just here in this moment. The release of wanting to be special...

After some time, I downloaded A Miracle of Love, Ram Dass’s book about his Guru, Maharaji. And like my friend had talked about I started reading and felt Maharaji’s presence His joy, His grace, His playful, jokester energy. Every day, I set aside a bit of my home-cooked yogi food on a small plate, found His photo in the book, and made an offering. I’d pray, then eat. It became a sweet, sacred ritual between us.

A few months past and I traveled to Paris to visit family. I had been wanting to order a lotus seed mala for some time and decided to look through Ram Dass’s nonprofit store. I found the Mala and decided to browse through thinking maybe it would be nice to have a small photo of Ram Dass on my altar. I found this travel puja set, a small metal box, embroidered with Ram Dass’s photo on one side and Hanuman on the other. Inside, it came with a mini candle and incense. They also had a version with Maharaji’s photo. I hesitated. No, no, I already have a Guru. I’ll get the one with Ram Dass.

I placed my order and forgot about it.

A few weeks later, the package arrived. I discovered my unexpected spiritual gift from Maharaji. I opened it, expecting Ram Dass’s face to greet me. Instead, there was Maharaji, smiling, playful, there. I burst out laughing. The box was labeled "Ram Dass Puja travel set," but it was Maharaji inside. It felt like a cosmic joke, a wink from the universe. I laughed until tears came, and in that moment, I made a promise: "I’ll never travel without you. I’ll always take you with me." I surrendered to him once and for all.

Five years later, that little puja box with Maharaji’s photo still travels with me everywhere. A reminder that the divine doesn’t always arrive as we expect, but always as we need.