As Swami Vishwananda and some monks were in Maui at the Hotel one quiet night, a huge storm decided to invade the island. We watched the torrential rain pour down from our windows. Our apartment was on the ground floor so we went outside to investigate. We could only see the light of the Hotel’s garden lamps and the streetlights, for the vision of everything else was blurred by the torrents of water bucketing down. We were amazed at the vision of this spectacle of Nature. The rain was warm and so there was also a playful element in the air. The thunder roared and lightning streaks lit up the sky. We went with Swami Vishwananda for a second time outside and we noticed that the rainwater had started to accumulate in the street in front of our door. As the storm grew in fury, it soon became alarming for us and hence Swami Vishwananda went outside a third time. The water level because of this heavy rain was now so high that soon our apartment would start to be flooded. Swami Vishwananda suddenly looked up at the sky and in fury shouted at the elements, “Stop now! Stop it!”
At this very moment, the storm decreased dramatically in strength! The rain reduced, bit by bit so that within seconds, it had completely stopped! Not a single drop! We all thankfully went back into our apartments and awoke the next morning to a bright sunny day. We laughed as we saw in the morning newspaper that some places of the island had suffered from a freak storm the previous night.
At this very moment, the storm decreased dramatically in strength! The rain reduced, bit by bit so that within seconds, it had completely stopped! Not a single drop! We all thankfully went back into our apartments and awoke the next morning to a bright sunny day. We laughed as we saw in the morning newspaper that some places of the island had suffered from a freak storm the previous night.
I had painted a small water colour painting of an angel with a little text for Swami and asked a devotee if I could leave it for him so that Swami would find it when he arrived. I was told that I could do so, and that I might have the chance to meet Swamiji. I was overjoyed and excited.
ReplyDeleteWhen I arrived and saw everyone eagerly waiting to be able to speak with him, I asked myself if it was really necessary for me to see him. I already had my pendant blessed by him, what more did I want? Although I longed to see him, I decided to pack my things and be on my way, against the feeling in my heart, following the will of my mind.
Driving home, I felt somewhat absent from my body. My heart suffered from the pain of separation. I had forgotten to ground myself. It was the guard rail on the motorway which pulled me out of my dreams. In a rough but very effective way, it brought me back to the present. My car touched the guard rail, I held onto the steering wheel, my head hit the side window, and it felt as if an invisible hand moved my car back onto the road again. I pulled over at the next possible exit and tried to collect my thoughts. My God, how lucky that the other drivers had reacted so well, I could have caused a really bad accident. Only the left side of my car still remained to reminded me of the incident.
The next time I saw Swami, I thanked him for the protection which I had received. He said, "For sure you are protected, but it does not exclude you from your own responsibilities."
I. R. B. - Germany