I joined Swami’s college in Brindavan in 1974 for my Pre University course and went on to do my B.Com from the same campus. 

In May 1975, I was among the fortunate students who went to Bombay to stage the play Bhaja Govindam for the first time outside of Brindavan, in Shanmukhananda Auditorium. Later, Swami told me to stay back with my parents in Bombay for the summer holidays. I broke down. I wanted to stay in Brindavan and experience the blissful times in His Divine Presence. After a lot of pleading, our Benevolent Bhagawan permitted me and a couple of other boys to come back to Brindavan after a week in Bombay with our parents.

Once we reached Brindavan, He welcomed us with infinite Love and Grace. What followed over the next few weeks were Golden Days. There were only a handful of students since most of them had gone home for summer vacations. We would be in the old bungalow for almost the entire day, except when He seemingly retired for a siesta.

During those days, Swami would talk informally about His Avatar as Lord Krishna. One day, he told us why Arjuna was chosen to receive the Divine Declarations in Bhagavad Gita. He said, Arjuna was focused on the task in hand. During the Draupadi Swayamvar, when he was shooting the arrow, he saw nothing but the target – the eye of the fish. Because of this, Arjuna could shoot it with perfection. Swami said our focus should also be like that. Whatever we may be doing, studying or working, our focus should be sharp only on the task in hand.

This, He would often remind me during the future years in Brindavan and in Bombay. When we went for Darshan, He would come back and ask, ‘Did you see so and so had come’. When I said, ‘Yes, Swami’, He would correct me and say, ‘Were you focusing on Swami or were you looking at everyone and everything else except Swami?’ 

Swami explained that when we look at other people or other things while having His Darshan, our mind would race at lightning speed about the person whom we would see along with Swami, in the crowd, thereby losing focus on Swami. This was a major life lesson for me.

Later on in life, during my further studies and professional work, this lesson helped to focus on my task at hand and hence be successful.

I learnt another important lesson during Swami’s visit to Bombay in 1984. I was blessed with the rare privilege of driving Swami’s vehicle when He went for Darshan from Sathyadeep to Shantideep and back.

Once, a devotee had sent his new car, with a prayer that it be blessed by Swami. The car was brought by the driver. Swami decided to bless the car and instructed me to drive it. I humbly confessed that this was a new imported car and I had never driven it in my life till then. The words Swami uttered in response, remain with me forever. Swami said, “Do you think you have been driving the car all this time, or for that matter doing your office work or Seva? It is Swami’s Grace and He is steering your life!” This was a big revelation and a direct commandment. With His infinite Grace, I drove the car with Him in the back seat to Darshan and back.

I was blessed with the golden opportunity of being the central coordinator and also clearing consignments for the first museum in Parthi, the Sanatana Samskriti Museum. I had never been to customs till then and yet, all consignments were cleared by Him, with me as the instrument.

I am basically an accounts person. Yet, I have successfully gotten roles in my professional life starting from General Manager Sales, Marketing & Finance for a large Real Estate company to CEO for a few other companies later on. Several times, in my life as His student in His University and a working professional in the world, Bhagawan revealed His Invisible hand blessing, guiding and guarding me at all times. It was He who was the doer, I was only the instrument. That faith and belief have stood me in good stead throughout my life.

Ratan Kanal B.Com, Brindavan, 1974 – 1979. He then did his CA under Bhagawan’s instructions in Bombay. Currently Strategic and Management Consultant.