'Good, very good'

I was very lucky in that that in 1981, Guru turned 50 years old, and for that occasion he said all his disciples who want can come to the celebration of August for his 50th birthday, no matter how long you are on the path - at the time, I was only four months.

The only problem with my going to New York for Guru’s birthday was that it was at the end of August, and I had my school vacation over the beginning of August. I told my parents I would be going for one week—from 1st to 8th of August—but I booked from 1st to 28th.

I was so happy going to see my Master. I felt that being his disciple was like being a disciple of the highest Supreme. I thought that Guru must be very tall, above the Earth, not walking with his feet on Earth. In my imagination, I thought he must be very tall.

I was so happy and nervous that I couldn't eat in the airplane; the first thing I wanted to eat was prasad from Guru. So I didn't eat in the airplane. When we arrived in New York, Guru was there only in the evening. There was no prasad.  

Then Guru said that all those who arrived on that day could pass by him. We were four girls, and Guru meditated on each of us. I just remember that Guru looked not into my eyes, but at my heart where I had my hands folded. He nodded with his head, and said, "Good, very good."

The compassion-eye  
Of a spiritual Master  
Is an ever-light-flooded stairway  
To Heaven’s summit-heights.

Sri Chinmoy 1

• 1. Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants, part 230, Agni Press, 1996