Category: Chapter 11

  • Stonehenge and strawberries

    Stonehenge and strawberries

    We used to go on trips out of London with Shri Mataji to different places. Once, we went on a long journey to the West Country of England, when I was about eight or nine. Along the way, going to Stonehenge, we stopped at a strawberry farm and Shri Mataji bought everybody strawberries. I said…

  • Shri Mataji would attend to each person

    Shri Mataji would attend to each person

    I remember one public programme in Caxton Hall, probably in 1978. Shri Mataji used to attend to each person in the audience. She would come down from the stage and go to each one in turn. At this particular meeting, She stopped in front of one man, who was Indian, and said with great feeling…

  • Shri Mataji created a strong relationship of friendship

    Shri Mataji created a strong relationship of friendship

    Shri Mataji came to Colombia in 1978 with Her husband, then Mr CP Srivastava, for an official visit, when he was invited by the government of Colombia. There was one lady who accompanied Shri Mataji all the time. By chance we met her and got her story. We discovered that when Shri Mataji was there,…

  • I realised this lady was something very high

    I realised this lady was something very high

    My first reaction to Shri Mataji, in 1978, was that I felt that I had met this lady before. I thought I had seen Her in Oxford Street in London, in a shop somewhere. ‘You will be all right,’ She said, and touched my hand. ‘You are not all right now, but you will be…

  • Greet Me as you would greet your mother

    Greet Me as you would greet your mother

    My second visit to Ashley Gardens was with two friends – one was completely new and had her six month old son with her and the other, who had attended one programme a few months earlier, was having emotional problems because she was breaking up with her partner. When Shri Mataji entered the sitting room…

  • Shri Mataji had this way of putting people at their ease

    Shri Mataji had this way of putting people at their ease

    My first ever visit to Ashley Gardens came after attending only two of Shri Mataji’s programmes, so it was my third encounter with Her. She had this way of putting people at their ease — instantly. I walked in clutching a bag containing seven limes and seven chillies without the faintest idea why She had…

  • She was creating the collective

    She was creating the collective

    I attended my first Caxton Hall programme in the early summer of 1978. In those days, Mother held programmes every Monday near St. James Park in London. Even outside Caxton Hall and across the road there was this sensation of tranquility. There were three of us; we were late and Shri Mataji had already begun…

  • An auspicious meeting

    An auspicious meeting

    Switzerland is a very special country not just because of its beautiful snowy mountains but because it happens to be the headquarters of many international organizations: world health, refugees and commerce etc. Back in the early days of Sahaja Yoga in Europe, the Swiss collective, with the help of the Kalbermatten family, became a powerful…

  • Bubbling with joy

    Bubbling with joy

    At the time, 1978, I already had my realisation, but I didn’t know really what it was. I had pictures of Shri Mataji with me, but at the time there was nothing written, no material, no explanation, no raising Kundalini, no bandhan, no meditation, no self realisation exercise, so I just had Shri Mataji’s pictures…

  • So filled with joy and coolness

    So filled with joy and coolness

    My very first puja was in early 1978 at the Finchley ashram. It was an awe-inspiring, amazing experience. At the end of the puja we were each invited to Shri Mataji’s Feet. She looked down at me and asked if I was feeling the vibrations – I was so filled with joy and coolness, I…