Achintya Awasthi
2005 Prasanthi Nilayam

“I am always with you, in you, above you, around you!” As a student I had heard Swami stressing on these words in innumerable discourses. I had never questioned or doubted this fact, but at the same time I had not personally witnessed or had any such experience. I had only heard of devotees sharing their experiences.

I was a student in the secondary school. The summer vacations arrived and I took Swami’s blessings before leaving for home. He told me to serve my parents and be a good boy. I promised to do so and left for home. When I returned after the vacations, I was surprised to see that Swami seemed upset with me! He did not speak to me. I began to wonder what I had done that had upset Him. A week later, as He was speaking to some teachers and senior students in the Darshan hall, He sent word for me. I walked up to Him and He asked me what I did during the vacations. I told Him what I did – served parents, studied a bit, played a bit, watched some TV and so on. Out of the blue, Swami said, “You tell your mother that you are watching cricket on television, but you watch…” and He trailed off. A smile came on His face. “Always be good, do good and see good.” In an instant it hit me. I remembered that during one of the days at home, I was watching a cricket match on TV. When the ads came on, I was surfing through the channels when I arrived at a Fashion channel. I got drawn into it. After a few minutes, my mother called out from the kitchen, “Achintya, what are you doing? “I suddenly realized my mistake and quickly changed the channel back to cricket and answered, “Mother I am watching cricket on TV.” There was nobody else at home then – or so I thought. Here was Swami replaying the exact conversation and revealing something that only I knew!

Another instance was during a Trayee session. One of the lecturers was narrating an incident when he was a student in the college. Before going to Delhi for his vacations Swami called him and said, “Be a good boy. Do not mix with old friends. If you mix with old friends your mind will also get spoilt.” I remembered Swami had told me this when I was leaving to Delhi for my vacations a few years back. A thought immediately crossed my mind, “Swami, do You remember You had told me this? If yes, You must look at me right now and acknowledge this. As soon as this thought had passed my mind, Swami turned His head and looked straight into my eyes for a couple of seconds and then turned His attention back to the speaker! I realized even a thought that passes my mind is known to Swami for a moment and then realized every thought that passes my mind is known to Swami.

I know He is always with me, in me, guiding and guarding me every moment. Thank you Swami!

Brother Achintya Awasthi is currently based out of Hong Kong, working as General Manager in an MNC. As a student he was an active participant in Dramatics groups performing in front of Swami on various occasions and part of Vedam group.