Gopita:
A dream came true for me this June when Gurudev visited Northern California!   It had been ten long years since Gurudev’s last visit.  The excitement and joy that was generated as the yatra progressed created precious bonds of love between our community of devotees, strengthening our connection to each other and Shree Gurudev.   

Madhu:
I’m pretty sure none of us knew what was coming…that is to say, the meaning of life as yogic gypsies for ten days.  Even the carefully crafted Yatra Crew Handbook and Emergency Manual prepared by Gopita could not prepare us for the pure joy and love that would pour from those moments in the early days of June.  It’s a wondrous thing to live from the heart, to dwell in that place as you live each moment of time.  The gift of those few days working as the ‘yatra crew’ will be with us all our remaining days. A precious gift… continuously unfolding and changing us all each day of the journey. Visiting and sharing with so many people....families, communities and old, old friends the love of our Guru and his teaching: seeing god in each other.

Gopita:
During the first two days of the yatra, a visit to the south Bay Area was scheduled.  Dolly and Pranav Desai of Fremont helped organize the south bay visits to several devotees’ homes and the yatra’s first public program at the Fremont Hindu Temple.  To our surprise, visits to homes were added at the last minute to the already packed yatra schedule.  Gurudev’s blessings were infinite as he traveled from home to home, visiting each family and accepting their overflowing offerings of love and gratitude. 

Madhu:
I can’t find the words to describe the happiness of those moments we all spent in the homes of devotees as they excitedly welcomed Gurudev.  Each home a new temple filled with the uniqueness of the saints who dwelled within.  The love and devotion was truly humbling.  The warmth so generously showered on all of us by each family and devotee. The feeling of family that was always present with each greeting and each new cup of chai.  Chai, of course, was the elixir that kept the train moving on time from station to station.  It didn’t matter that the crew remained only partially in their bodies…Rule One:  just refer to the Manual for the next location and off you go!

One of the yatra stations was in Sea Ranch, where I make my home.  My wife, Amita, did a head-count one night in our home of seventeen sleep-in’s…three in the Tipi. So many people in the kitchen, so many people everywhere…. I can quite honestly say that I have never been happier in my life than during those hours and days we all spent together and with our beloved Gurudev.  When you experience such moments of contentment you are just forever changed.

Gopita:
During our public program at Sea Ranch, one woman approached me with a huge smile and tears streaming down her face.  She hugged me and expressed how grateful she was to have had the opportunity to meet Gurudev.  She said she had been waiting for the day to meet a Guru who exuded the love and energy that she felt from Gurudev.   

On June 6^th, after the Guru Gita at Madhu’s home, several of us, including Gurudev, paddled kayaks down the peaceful Gualala River.  The conditions were picture perfect.  The weather was sunny and warm, but not too hot, and the river was clear and glassy, with enough current to guide us down the river with little effort on our part. 

Madhu:
To begin our adventure, the owner of the kayaks gave us instructions on how to operate the boats.  He said that we should remember not to grab onto a tree branch if our kayak headed toward the river’s edge.  If we did, we would thrash about, allowing the kayak to slip away from us causing us to fall in the river!  He cautioned that instead, we should let go of the branch and let the current gently move us down the river away from the edge. 

Gopita:
Gurudev’s talk at the public program at Sea Ranch mirrored a similar thought.  He reminded us that life has its own process.  We must learn to surrender to Consciousness by flowing with life while allowing our mind to remain still, focused on the Divine Consciousness within.  We will then experience true peace and contentment. 

The yatra crew traveled to Jim Nichols’ home in Petaluma on June 7th.  Following the Guru Gita and a delicious breakfast, we were treated to an interview of Gurudev conducted by Tina Amorok, a devotee who works at The Institute of Noetic Sciences and is researching the nature of spiritual transformation.  Tina and her colleagues have interviewed 50 teachers from diverse spiritual traditions, and Gurudev graciously consented to the interview for inclusion in the research.  To the question about the benefits of spiritual practices, Gurudev said, “…the very first thing a person will experience is contentment and peace.  Everything else is a by-product in the mind - the knowledge, the experiences, the understanding, the visions, the light, the sounds - what we really need is to be content.  If we are content within our self then that is what goes with us everywhere.”    

Following an afternoon of fast-paced volleyball in Jim’s backyard, the yatra crew headed to the Petaluma Woman’s Club for set-up of the third public program.  Several people that we hadn’t seen since Baba’s Third World Tour joined us for the satsang.  It was a joy to see people reconnect to Gurudev after all of these years. 

On Friday June 9^th, after chanting the Guru Gita at Ram Zager’s home in Richmond, we traveled to Emeryville to visit Bhagavate Nash at the hotel where she has been staying.  Bhagavate had made arrangements with the hotel management to have a private, catered, pool party for Gurudev.  When Gurudev arrived, he was greeted by devotees who were sitting near the pool chanting Om Namah Shivaya.  A comfortable recliner chair had been set-up especially for Gurudev near the pool under a large umbrella.  Madhu, Paul, and Rick went swimming as the rest of us enjoyed the sun, multi-course lunch, and exceptional company!

That evening we had the fourth public program at the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael.  The program started with an enthusiastic chant of Jyota Se Jyota, accompanied by Gurudev on the drums.  By the time Gurudev was to give his talk he started by saying that after the warm welcome and chanting of Jyota and Om Namah Shivaya, there was nothing left to say.  It had all been said! 

Our last public program was held in Berkeley at the Sacred Space Yoga Sanctuary.  The program was a special five-hour satsang, which included the Guru Gita, then three-hours of ecstatic chanting of Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, accompanied by Gurudev on the tabla and drum.  Toward the end of the satsang, Eddie Oliver, who met Baba in 1970 and was the manager during Baba's Third World Tour, gave a talk.  Eddie stated that even though all religions have their stories and legends as told by the devotees of that tradition, at the heart of the legend is the legacy that can be experienced by one who practices the teachings of that legacy.  Eddie said that when we sit in satsang as we did with Baba to hear a talk, chant, and meditate we are continuing the legacy that Baba gave to us by directly connecting to Baba's teachings.  Eddie thanked Gurudev for continuing to carry on Baba's legacy in this way.  He reminded us that at the heart of Baba's legacy is the stream of consciousness that takes us back home to the divinity and contentment within ourselves. 

Our love and appreciation for Gurudev at that moment was, and still is, beyond words.  Many of us had tears in our eyes as we beheld his beautiful form before us – a dream come true.  The gift we received of Gurudev’s visit to Northern California has been etched in our hearts forever.  I am forever grateful to Gurudev for his auspicious blessings on us all. 

Madhu:
From the first moment of the very first day of those ten days, in every home, at every evening program, on every late evening, during each early morning, while floating on the river, playing volleyball, listening to Gauri and Richa sing, or even driving 5 miles past the turn-off to Ram’s house during a senior moment….I have experienced great joy and happiness.

Madhu and Gopita:
On behalf of everyone that participated in this beautiful yatra, it is with great love and respect that we thank our beloved Gurudev for the precious grace and love that he showered on us all.

Jai Gurudev!