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Awakening of the Soul  

Awakening of the Soul
A Personal Narrative

The Beginning

If you've ever wondered what a spiritual awakening is, sit back and join me as I share my awakening of the soul story. 

About four years ago, I experienced a life-changing event. It was a time filled with great inner turmoil. My mother, who was my closest friend, passed away, and I felt her absence deeply. My daily life lacked true meaning. I felt lonely and was desperately searching for comfort, but I found none. It's a human experience I don't wish on anyone. 

Despite having lucid dreams where she reassured me she was okay, the emotional pain and loneliness persisted.

Even though I believe in life after death, I could not let go of the vast emotional pain and void. I felt as though the light of my soul had been turned off. I was an empty shell pretending to be alive. All I wanted was to sleep and wake up to discover that it was simply a dreadful dream.

While doing household chores, I unexpectedly came across a book that someone had gifted me three years prior to my mother's passing. He highly recommended it. I clearly remember taking the book from him, expressing my gratitude, and carefully placing it on my bookshelf, where it quickly faded from my memory.
For three long years, that book lay dormant, tucked away and forgotten among other books. Then, quite inexplicably, it reappeared. I reached for it, curious, and read the title: A Healer's Journey by Sree Chakravarti.

This captivating autobiography recounts the extraordinary life of an Indian woman endowed with a remarkable spiritual healing gift that transcends the ordinary. As I delved into the first few pages, I found myself enchanted by her vivid storytelling. I proceeded to read on.

With each turn of the page, my spiritual curiosity deepened, and I felt as if I were being pulled deeper and deeper into the author's narrative. It was the beginning of an unforgettable spiritual experience and a life-changing event.

Unexpectedly, something happened that transformed my world. It was a chapter on Sai Baba, an Indian Saint. I read the chapter three or four times. I became obsessed with Sai Baba and did not know why.

After a week of contemplation, I couldn't shake my thoughts about Sai Baba. An overwhelming urge compelled me to travel to Shirdi, India, and I knew I had to go right away.

Without hesitation, I purchased airline tickets, obtained a visa, and set off for India—an unfamiliar territory that marked the beginning of my spiritual awakening.

Even though Sai Baba had passed away in the early 1900s, I felt a strong belief that his spirit would be there to welcome me. So, I embarked on this journey into the unknown.

The Journey

The trip to Mumbai, India, was long and exhausting. While I waited in line to present my passport and visa, I discovered something astonishing. When I opened my passport and looked at the photo, I was shocked to see a picture of my mother. Somehow, both our passports had ended up in the same carrying case. I realized that it was her way of saying, "You are not alone. I am here with you." The thought of her spirit being by my side gave me immense comfort.

Once I made my way through customs and approached the luggage carousel, I soon discovered that my suitcase had not arrived. It was still in Dubai. A friendly airport employee reassured me that they would take care of the situation and that someone would contact me once my suitcase arrived in Mumbai. Instead of getting upset, I remained calm and walked away.

The fact that my suitcase had not arrived was inconsequential. My primary objective was to visit Shirdi, regardless of whether I had my luggage with me. I was determined not to let anything or anyone hinder my plans. All I wanted at that moment was to get to my hotel room, sleep, wake up, and prepare for my spiritual journey to Shirdi.

Around 5 a.m., the phone rang. An airport employee informed me that my suitcase had arrived and was ready for pickup.

I quickly got up, dressed, and asked the man at the front desk to arrange a taxi for me. I didn’t feel any fear about being alone in a foreign country, in the early morning hours, with a stranger. I felt well protected by a Divine force.

Upon arriving from the airport, I went directly to my room to prepare for my departure to Shirdi. I was getting closer to my destination.

I had hired a private vehicle to take me to Shirdi. Although I was told that the trip would take approximately five hours, it actually took around six to seven hours due to a serious road accident and several rest stops along the way.

Although it was just the driver and me in the car, there was minimal communication between us. Since I was still grieving the loss of my mother, I wasn’t in the mood for conversation. Instead, I welcomed the solitude and took the opportunity to enjoy the picturesque views of the countryside.

The Arrival to Shirdi

Upon entering Shirdi, I observed a village that seemed untouched by modern life. The air was free from the chaos of traffic jams, and the landscape lacked towering skyscrapers or familiar commercial giants like Walmart and McDonald's. Instead, the charm of Shirdi lay in its simplicity and tranquility. The only modern structures present were a handful of luxury hotels designed to welcome the steady stream of devoted pilgrims who arrive daily. The village of Shirdi appeared to be frozen in time.

Shraddha Inn

When l arrived at the Shraddha Inn, a warm and friendly staff greeted me. The place was attractive and immaculate.

One of the many amenities offered was a meditation room for their guests' spiritual practices and needs, which I used often.

When I got to my room, I quickly showered, dressed, and headed to Sai Baba's Samadhi Mandir (Sai Baba's resting place), approximately a five-minute walk from the hotel.

Samadhi Mandir-Sai Baba Resting Place

Upon arriving at Samadhi Mandir, I was astonished by the enormous number of people in attendance, each likely creating their own personal experiences. Many of them kept staring at me, and I felt as if I were the only foreigner there. I chose to ignore the stares and focused on the energy around me.

One friendly man approached me, introduced himself, and asked, "Do people believe in Sai Baba where you come from?"

I smiled and responded, "I believe Sai Baba is everywhere." He grinned and nodded in agreement.

Giving Homage to Sai Baba

The next day, I was awakened by morning prayers around 5 a.m. I got up and headed to Sai Baba's Samadhi Mandir. When I arrived, it was filled with devotees. I immediately joined the line to pay my respects at the tomb and statue of Sai Baba.

Although the line was extremely long, it was worth the wait. You could feel the spiritual energy in the air; it was intoxicating and healing.

After saluting Sai Baba, I went to the meditation hall in the same building and meditated for a while. I was eager to discover a deeper meaning to my entire life, find joy, and awakening the soul.

The Ceremony

After an hour or so, I noticed people gathering around the hall. A few minutes later, a security guard began speaking to the crowd. Although I did not verbally understand what he was saying, his gestures indicated that he wanted them to form a line. I got up and joined the group.

Despite the fact that I was clueless about what was about to happen, I did not care. I was in Sai Baba's home and felt well protected.

As the line moved, I quickly found myself standing in front of a desk where a man was collecting money and handing out tickets. I paid him the required fee, which was minimal, and received two tickets. I presented the tickets to another man, who gave me a tray, which contained flower petals, rice, red and yellow powder, and a coconut.

From there, I went to the area where the ceremony would take place, and sat on the floor. Sitting on the floor with the tray in front of me, I waited eagerly for the activities to commence. By now, a large group had converged around the room.

A few minutes later, two priests walked in carrying two statues-a large statue of Sai Baba and a smaller one of Ganesh -the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, known by devotees as the Supreme God of wisdom, good fortune, prosperity, inner peace and remover of obstacles.

While one of the priests was performing a ritual- saturating the statue of Ganesh with a milky substance, cleansing the statue of Sai Baba, and covering it with a piece of fabric- the other priest was engrossed in prayer. Everything was done methodically.

Visit Ganesha Page

The Prayers

The prayers that were sung created an electrifying atmosphere. Occasionally, the audience would join in and repeat the words spoken by the priest, and I did the same. Even though I did not know what I was saying, I joyfully participated.

Later, people began placing red powder on their third eye chakra, located in the middle of the forehead between the eyebrows, which is believed to be an energy and spiritual focal point. They also scattered rice and petals on top of a coconut. The prayers continued without pause.

Sensing my confusion, the person next to me began explaining the process, and I was extremely grateful for the person's help.

As we continued to pray, one of the priests sprinkled water over us. I felt goosebumps all over my body. Undoubtedly, Sai Baba's energy was present. This was not a response to the cold water—it was an extremely hot day, and the water was refreshing. I believe the goosebumps came from the heightened awareness of the spiritual phenomenon that had manifested in the room—something that could not be seen but was clearly felt.

When the prayers concluded, we were instructed to rise and proceed towards Sai Baba's tomb.

There, I closed my eyes, thanked Sai Baba for a glorious day, and threw some flower petals.

By the end of the ceremony, I felt reborn.

Visit Sai Baba Page

My Overall Experience

During my stay in Shirdi, I quickly adapted to Shirdi's customs and lifestyle of Shirdi.

Additionally, I participated in numerous ceremonies, visited various sacred places, received vibhuti (sacred ash believed to cure many illnesses), meditated, and received many beautiful visions and compelling insights.

On the day of my departure, I felt as if I were leaving a longtime friend. I was both sad and grateful for the spiritual gifts I received.

The rest of the trip, I traveled around India, enjoying its warmth, colors, and beauty. I visited the Ajanta Ellora Caves, which was a mind-blowing experience.

The Transformation

The trip to Shirdi transformed me into a different person. It deepened my awareness of my human soul and provided me with a greater understanding of life and death. I felt as though I had been reborn.

I transitioned from being broken to feeling whole again, from emptiness to fulfillment, and from disconnection to a profound connection with my soul. For the first time in many months, I found peace within myself.

I went to Shirdi in need of healing and returned feeling complete. Sai Baba's spirit alleviated my pain and replaced it with the comforting thought that my mother was now closer to me than ever before. This realization brought me a tremendous sense of peace.

My spiritual journey to Shirdi was not only enchanting but also highly insightful. I connected with my inner self and confronted my fears and demons.

In addition to the dispersal of my emotional pain, the emptiness deep inside me was replenished.

Even though I continued to miss my mother, I felt tremendous comfort knowing that her spirit was by my side.

Indeed, the journey was a spiritual awakening in which I was reborn.

"Everyone dies, but no one is dead".......Tibetan saying

"Dead we are when in the material body, and alive when we cast it off" (from Divaldo Franco's book Obsession).

The Return Back Home

Upon returning from my India awakening of the soul journey, the memories of Shirdi and Sai Baba remained deeply vivid. Although I bought several pictures of Sai Baba, I felt a strong urge to paint a picture of him.

Go to  Sai Baba and view my painting of him

Although I thought my spiritual healing was complete, Sai Baba was showing me that it was just beginning. There was more work ahead. This new spiritual insight gave me a deeper understanding of my spiritual reality. When I started painting, I felt Sai Baba’s energy surrounding me. He was helping me remove the emotional baggage buried deep inside and release it into the universe. The more I painted, the more I let go.

By the end, I experienced a total emotional detox. I felt a sense of self-realization and a renewal of my true self. It was the final step I needed to achieve the major transformation.

Additionally, I created a painting that appeared alive with Sai Baba's energy. I have no doubts that his energy guided me throughout the entire process.

Although the painting bears a resemblance to the well-known picture of Sai Baba, his facial expression is slightly different. It seems as if he's communicating through his eyes. Every time I see the painting, I feel like he is watching over me.

Although my spiritual awakening and rebirth were truly miraculous, the journey continues. It's a never-ending journey to discover and understand the deeper meaning of one's own life and mission.

I continue to grow and learn more about my true nature, the Creator, spirit, and my spiritual mission. Sai Baba, thank you for welcoming me into your humble earthly home and assisting me with my healing process.

In critical times, we must turn to God and His messengers for help with life's challenges.

Indeed, without God, we are nothing.

This is not the end of my spiritual growth and awakening process; it is just the beginning.

It is said that when you visit Shirdi, it is because Sai Baba is calling. 

If so, I am so grateful that he called me.

Thank you so much, Sai Baba, for the spiritual enlightenment and for guiding me through the spiritual path.  

GO TO 

• Sai Baba
• Spiritual Guru

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