On 17th December 2005 I had been Christmas shopping for several hours and I was standing in a queue waiting to pay when I suddenly realised that my handbag was not on my shoulder where it should have been. I had put it down in the public toilets and forgotten to pick it up again! I hurried back to find it, saying "Swamiji, please look after it; and let it still be there". It had only been 5 or 10 minutes since I had left it but when I got back it had gone.

I stood outside for a few minutes a little lost to know what to do, but really wanting to not lose my peace about it. There was quite a lot of money in my purse, along with my chequebook and credit cards, my mobile phone and my only set of car keys. My bag also contained my driving licence and passport. None of these things are irreplaceable but it could be difficult trying to sort it out, especially over the Christmas holiday period. I went into the shopping centre's security office to see if anyone had handed the bag in, but to no avail. I tried making a reverse charge call to Colin, as all my money had been in my bag, but there was no answer so I found a bench and sat down. I felt stupid for being careless and guilty for losing the money but those thoughts immediately arose in my throat chakra and, after a fit of coughing, I decided that I could not entertain the thoughts and stay balanced at the same time! I had to forgive myself and trust that Swamiji's protection would neutralise even my carelessness. Anyway, the situation was now completely out of my hands.

It was then I remembered my prayer early in the morning. I had been thinking about surrender and how, on a few occasions, I felt that I had truly been able to do so. It is at these times that answers come very swiftly and the Universe seems to 'move mountains' to meet the need. The common factor each time is that I have felt totally helpless, reaching the point where I am unable to do anything except give it up to Swamiji. I cannot say that it is total faith that I feel at these times; more like totally letting go of all pretence at being in control of anything and saying in my heart "you'll have to do this, because I'm not able". I had prayed that morning that if that is the way it works, I want to learn to live that way. And as I remembered this prayer I felt strongly that I could trust - I had kinda asked for this anyway hadn't I !

As I sat there I was very aware of the fact that at that moment many thousands of people were sitting in front of Swamiji at the Mahashibir in Rajkot receiving his energy, and in my mind's eye I saw myself there, bowing in surrender at his feet. I began to feel strong vibrations and I then saw my bag. Inside my purse is a little Subtle body picture, and I saw that high vibrations were emanating from it. I prayed that the bag and it's contents would be protected and find it's way back to me. If I am truly honest my first thought was "Swamiji, let the person feel guilty enough to want to give it back" but as soon as I thought it I knew that I could never wish that on anyone and only wanted good to come of this, so I surrendered any need to have the bag back knowing it was protected and prayed "let the energy do its work".

After about 45 minutes I tried calling Colin again, successfully this time, and he said he would come and get me and in the meantime I should report it to the police, so I went back to the security office. As I was talking to the receptionist in came a security guard with a handbag. A gentleman had just found it placed under his car. It was my bag !

All the contents were still there untouched, except for the cash. The notes had been carefully removed, leaving the till receipts and shopping list that were mixed in with it still there! It seemed that nothing else in the bag had even been looked at, everything was in its place. Everyone was surprised that it had turned up at all, let alone with the contents totally undisturbed.

But what about the money, you may ask? Well, perhaps there was a purpose in losing it; one that I may never come to know about. I recall Guruma's wise words to the sadhak who paid for a guesthouse to take his family on holiday last December but was prevented from getting there, only to find that it was in the path of the tsunami. But why didn't Swamiji stop the trip before the guesthouse had been booked? Why had he spent the money if Swamiji had protected him and his family anyway? Guruma's answer was that by doing so Swamiji prevented another family from booking that room and so saved their lives too.

So what can seem loss to us, can be the flow of Grace to someone else. Maybe it is just money and it met that person's need somehow, or maybe by being in contact with Swamiji's vibrations, their soul was touched and a new journey started for them that day, who knows. But whether I come to know the fullness of this story or not I am slowly learning that the Guru's protection does not come in half measures. Whatever the Guru does is for the benefit of the disciple.

Liz Jardine, Wales, UK

I have only been meditating for 4 months so I am certainly very new to meditating and really didn't know what to expect. I started to meditate because I wanted to be on a path of spiritual growth and development, as well as reduce stress and bring a sense of calmness to my life. Through these last few months, I can say that I am significantly less defensive and don't need to be the one who "always has the right answer" anymore or to "win" the conversation. Competitiveness is giving way to more of a sense of co-operation and I can now let go of negative things more quickly. There is a peace that I find meditating that I have not been able to find doing other "growth" practices. I have a much clearer mind and more of a peaceful connectedness to other people as well as now truly experiencing how beautiful nature is. I have waited many years to get a little understanding of the purpose and motives of our Creator - but better to experience this later in life than never at all.

Other experiences that have become a part of regular meditating have to do with deceased family members and friends who are now communicating to me. At first I thought my imagination had become overactive but the latest event may confirm that this is not so. I was vacationing in Mexico recently and whilst meditating, my Aunt Edna came through, as she had on a couple of previous occasions. When a spirit comes through, I see a picture of their face as well as hear their voice. She told me that she was with her daughter Lesley, who had passed some 3 months before her and also with my dad, Ron and that they were very happy. She also told me that she was with my Aunt Olive. I was astonished to hear this as I had no knowledge that my aunt had passed on. My aunt Olive's image then came through and in her voice, she told me she had recently passed but that her knees were now not bothering her at all. (She had had a couple of operations on her knees in her life here). I was so surprised and dumbfounded that I didn't ask her any questions. On returning to Canada, I called my mother in the U.K. who told me that she had been trying to get hold of me for a couple of days. She had received a letter from my aunt's daughter who informed her than Aunt Olive had passed away. Although my mother was surprised when I told her that I knew, she thinks it is wonderful to meditate and to be connected with loved ones who have passed over.

Just recently, I went to the dentist and told him that I didn't need any freezing whilst he filled a tooth as I was going to meditate. I put my earphones in my ears, turned on my personal CD player and became lost in meditation. Thirty minutes later, the dentist had finished and I didn't feel a thing. He was surprised and thought many of his patients should take up this practice. I think meditation is a wonderful practice too and I hope to continue to have many more experiences.

Sylvia Tsuji, Toronto, Canada.

The retreat at Pen Rhiew with Babaswami, early this month, was for me an encounter of my lifetime. It was the culmination of the blessings of Sri Ranchhoddasji Maharaj and other great souls that have paved our wayn to this experience. Though hard to put in words, reluctantly, I venture to express this, hoping to purify my mind.

While Lata, my wife, described a wonderful elevating, cold tingling sensation in the head that gave her a sense of peace, my experience was somewhat less vibrant, but for me, very fulfilling. Opening up fully to allow my past to melt into this phemnomenon we call Babaswami, I felt empty yet fearless. It was more than simply foregoing my immediate and distant past. There was no longer any desire to re-claim or ruminate even the positive aspects of any such experiences. Some of this feeling ,continues to this day, thanks to my daily meditaions and Babaswami's vibrant presence. Another great happening for me, at Pen Rhiew, was the experience during the last day of our meditation with Babaswami. As we sat with our eyes closed I sensed him move closely to bless me and likewise every person present there. His physical form is a pure reflection of an effulgent energy of awareness that longs to bless all beings. Opening a new vision of life all around, now I find even little activities of daily living becoming very special.

Shirish & Lata Nathwani, Canada