15 Oct 2022
[By Shri. Kishore Ram]
Jai Guru Datta, I’m Kishore Ram.
I’ve been learning Spiritual Knowledge from Shri Datta Swami since 2008. By Swami's grace, I have experienced a lot of miracles in my life. Among all these miracles, I would like to share my experience of one particular miracle that stands out the most.
This miracle took place in May 2016. Back then, I was working for a bank in Pune, Maharashtra state. At that time, I used to live in a flat with two of my colleagues. As their families were based out of Mumbai, they used to go to Mumbai every weekend. As a result, I was alone almost every weekend. I used to love non-vegetarian food. However, we all know that Swami strictly advises everyone against eating non-veg because it comes under jeevahimsa, which is a terrible sin (ahimsaa paramo dharmah). Even in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Shri Krishna clearly explained that violence is a sin. Although I knew this and tried quitting non-veg food, I failed.
I consider myself to be a foodie. And among all dishes, I used to love non-veg food the most. Whenever my roommates were in the flat during the weekdays, we used to cook. But as soon as they went to their homes in Mumbai during weekend, I used to buy food from outside. I mostly preferred to buy non-veg food. This meant that almost every weekend, I used to eat meat or non-veg food.
One Friday in May 2016, I was alone at home. As always, I purchased non-veg food and ate it for dinner. This time, however, my stomach became upset. The next day, I couldn’t even have breakfast. That Saturday, I purchased few tablets to relieve myself from my stomach pain, and I prepared some curd rice and ate it. After eating the curd rice, I was going to consume my tablets. But before I could get them, I started experiencing a severe stomach-pain. The pain was unbearable. It felt as if a volcano had erupted in my stomach! I was sweating profusely and was literally rolling on the floor holding my belly! I couldn't even take the tablets lying within my reach due to the unbearable pain!
First, I tried to handle the pain on my own. I remembered learning from Swami that our suffering is always due to our own Karma Phalam. But within five minutes, I couldn't endure the pain. I couldn't even stand up to go to a hospital. That’s when I started praying to Swami intensely. I looked at the ceiling and prayed very loudly, seeking Swami's help in getting rid of that intolerable pain. I shouted thrice in Telugu, "Kaapadu Swami..." (Swami! Please save me). And exactly, within 3 Seconds, my extreme pain just disappeared. I was totally surprised.
Swami didn't just reduce my pain. My stomach had felt like a volcano eruption initially. But after those 3 seconds of Swami’s divine intervention, it felt as if there was an iceberg in my stomach. It was very cool and soothing. I didn't even feel like going to the hospital anymore. I completely recovered and was able to eat normally. That very next day, I called Swami and thanked Him from the bottom of my heart. Soon after, I spoke to Anil Antonyji. One of Swami’s close devotees, Anilji was the one who initially introduced me to Swami’s knowledge.
While speaking to Anilji, I brought up the topic of my recent miraculous experience. Anilji told me that Swamiji was trying to teach an important lesson by providing such a miraculous experience. He said that jivamhimsa is mahapaapam (highest sin) and that I should give up consuming non-veg food. He advised, "If not immediately, gradually reduce the quantity and frequency of your consumption and over a period of time, you can completely give it up by the grace of Swamiji". Anilji’s words hit me hard. I felt that he was right. I strongly felt - “The real purpose of learning knowledge from Swamiji, is to implement it practically in my life. What is the use if I simply read it without practising it?”
I told Anilji that I would definitely give up non-vegetarian food from that day itself and also, I promised Swami that I will try my best to give up non-Veg food from that day onwards. It's been more than six years now. And from that day onwards, by the grace of our Swamiji, I stopped eating non-vegetarian food. I consider this change in me—this reformation—as the bigger miracle. And It was ONLY and ONLY POSSIBLE BY THE grace of Swamiji and nothing else. Forget about meat, I haven’t even eaten an egg since that day. Even today, I strongly feel and believe that it was only because of Swami that I was able to change.
That day was a turning point in my life, and I will be forever indebted to Swami for His blessings and the immense love that He constantly showers on all of us.
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