Long ago – more than 10 years ago, I remember how I prayed for a Guru. I was steeped into books of yoga and meditation. By reading and some practices of what was given I had some success but I lacked a powerful accelerator on the path, one that would guide me and show me  for sure that this is the way I have walked and succeeded  and so you can also do it too now.

Divinity finally heard my prayers and pleas and sent me the Param Guru I have been seeking all my life. I finally met and took shaktipat of Kundalini Maha Yoga from Dhyanyogi Omdasji of India. I got to know about him and finally met him through the medium of my teacher - Ms.Neela Iyer. We met online and she told me about her Guru and his teachings. She was never fanatical when she was talking to me about Guru Dhyanyogi Omdasji but I felt her respect, devotion and a great gratitude for the way he transformed her life so positively, and the lives of many others who accepted him as their guru. I was eager to know him in person and I was hoping this would happen in the near future. I have read so much about realized saints that I wished to see such one in real. Of course, if one is to appreciate this kind of men objectively one must bear in mind that usually no two realized ones are alike as each one has its peculiar characteristics – the way he teaches, some individual character and disposition. In other words, this is the role he/she takes when coming to the realm of maya in order to help other souls to realize their real nature. However all realized ones have one thing in common – their selfless divine love  and that’s above all is what makes them so different from ordinary people.

I am not going to proceed with stories now but am going  to describe Dhyanyogi Omdasji in the way I saw and understood him.  I wish to present objective views and also a just portrait of Guruji as we all call him. I’ll include with my personal views and  my observation will encompass the other people who came to Guruji and their reactions.

First thing, which I noticed about Dhyanyogi Omdasji was that he was not showy and pompous. His grandeur was due to the his spiritual status and the dynamo of Shakti he has within him.  He is very natural and behaves spontaneously. He didn’t try to impress us and his attitude was that he didn’t have anything to prove about who he was. When we sought to know answers to some doubts or worries he replied to us as he wanted the truth to be known. He never runs away from the truth, as his life is based on this principle. He never showed any tricks to attract us. He is a Param Siddha and such performing miracles are easy for him. His method of working was different. It was obvious he knew very well what was going on inside us and was guiding us subtly to realize and resolve our issues. Each time he spoke, he spoke the thoughts in our minds and guided us to the answers. I can’t think of a greater or more precious miracle than this!

As I said, one of the thing which impressed me most was his spontaneity – I saw Dhyanyogi Omdasji as both innocent, trustful, playful like a child and at the same time – as a wise sage.  He resembles very much in behavior and appearance  the  Rishis of yore. In other words, he combines in himself both lightness and heaviness – as Guru, meaning ‘Dispeller of darkness’, and also ‘One who is heavy’. Heavy in terms of one who can be trusted in his teaching. We all know that words without experience lack substance, while words based on personal experience and realization are heavy with wisdom.

Guruji is very approachable and this really was very fine. In fact, I have the feeling he is more human than most of us, despite the grand title devotees assign to him “Guru” “Param Guru” “Yogi Samrat” etc. He accepts all people who came to him with due respect as human being and recognizes and honors the Divine in them. This is was what makes him naturally great. People from all spheres of life come to him - the poor, rich, young or old, women or men, educated or illiterate. I saw that he paid respect to all and saw beyond their appearance. As a great devotee of Ma Tara Dhyanyogi Omdasji sees the Mother in all women. He honors all women as Shakti or the Feminine Divine Principle and never looks at them with ordinary eyes of lust.

Guruji welcomed us (me and my brothers-disciples) very warmly and encouraged us to put any questions and let us know now the Ashram was our home and we could seek him at any time for help in our stay there and spiritual questions.

This is the right moment to mention once again how Dhyanyogi Omdasji blends the two forces of nature – feminine and masculine, Siva and Shakti within him effortlessly. In his outer appearance and essence he emits dignity and majesty which made us respect him spontaneously. It is a Force in him  that you realize sooner or later to be greater than you. Siva is often depicted in this way , as in deep contemplation and creating an atmosphere of aloofness around himself. But at the same time you can see him soon as your dearest friend, or like a mother. His love, care and concern comes across in the way he takes care of people and his disciples. He personally ensures that all are fine and well.

This is exactly how Yogananda described the holy woman – Sri Anandamayi Ma: The closest of dear friends, she made one feel, yet an aura of remoteness was ever around her-the paradoxical isolation of Omnipresence.  These words describe Dhyanyogi Omdasji to a “T”

This strange combination of love and detachment can be understood as a sign of one who has united the Kundalini Shakti abiding in Muladhara chakra at the base of the spine and Shiva – on the top of the head – Sahasrara chakra.

This fact found a natural expression in my friend’s words when he met Dhyanyogi Omdasji and spoke about his impression about him: ‘For first time I meet a person who commands love and respect at the same time’ And my friend is a sophisticated man and has seen many types of people.

Guruji is not a man who tries to impress by speaking high words only as many priests do.  His words have force and meaning with his own realization. He speaks kindly and with humor. His language and knowledge is always appropriate for the people he is talking to.

Dhyanyogi Omdasji’s words are very loving and peaceful. But more than his words, his very presence - his aura is refreshing and blissful. You don’t have to exert yourself to meditate.  The only thing you need to do is to open yourself to his vibrations.

Here, I will issue a note of caution – Guruji’s darshan has a cleansing and healing effect. One must understand that this is actually a common thing in darshans of self-realized persons. More so, if it is Shaktipat master like Dhyanyogi Omdasji who also awakens the Kundalini Shakti. Guruji’s presence and vibrations lifts different kind of craps and pain in the individual who approaches him due to its healing features. One may find various old forgotten or repressed memories or qualities emerging out of the subconscious. When this happens one must look within and must seek the cause first in himself! Individuals with uncontrolled ego may become dangerous and attack innocent people  as they lack for the ability to cope with their selfish tendencies. So it is very important to prepare oneself and be disciplined and approach a saint with right aims, goals and awareness.

For those who were open enough, I was witness of miraculous changes. People did not lose their mind, nor were they encouraged to do so. Those who opened their hearts transformed and it was apparent not only to them but to all.

Guruji has never claimed to be God. Nor does he say that his path is the only way to God. The Shaktipat and teaching meditation and giving mantras, the service he renders through the schools he runs or the Ayurvedic hospital or research work he does or free food he offers – all is done as seva (service) in the name of his beloved Guru – Dhyanyogi Madhusudandasji. In this way he is always in the spirit of discipleship.

Guruji never asked us or others for money. However as a sign of our gratitude and as a wish to help the ashram we voluntarily donated some sums we could afford. I was glad to know that this could help  the hundreds of poor people who are given free food daily at the ashram in Mumbai. And truly I felt from within what Guruji gave us is priceless!

Dhyanyogi Omdasji made us understand the Shaktipat and mantra initiation was just a very good initial impulse/boost for our practice. He instructed us not to waste our time in idle talks or activities but to work with discipline in order to get use of this impulse and make it grow. He did not give us any promise of enlightenment. The Sadguru doesn’t actually give you enlightenment. He can only foster and accomplish your own efforts in sadhana, help you bear the fruits, the culmination of your practice – something which is called Guru-kripa (grace). As the great Ramakrishna said: The breeze of His grace is blowing night and day over thy head. Unfurl the sails of thy boat (mind) if thou wantest to make rapid progress through the ocean of life.

In this train of thought, I did not see Guruji converting people to his way – all he needed were genuine disciples and he showed this unmistakably

I saw Guruji as a man of honor too – he is a man of his word as he always kept his promises.

He demonstrated to us also the lack of anger in him. I didn’t find him angry even though sometimes his children were mischievous and when their ego was not tickled by him, they struck him in different ways. Yet, he was full of forgiveness. More so, I’ve observed in all that, his attitude to people did not change. I found that he abided in peace.

As final words, since I may be accused of idealizing him all time, I’d say what he himself told us ‘My English is bad’.

 So Guruji, please improve your English!