By Agnes (Aikya) Hetherington
In early 2025, I had the privilege of attending Gurudevi’s India retreat.
One highlight was a talk by Balkrishna, a Brahmin priest serving in Bhagavan Nityananda’s temple. Balkrishna told us repeatedly, with solemn emphasis: “You are so blessed to have a living Guru. Spend time with her, do what she tells you.”
I have heard Gurudevi put it a little differently, but I believe her meaning is similar: “Dead Gurus don’t kick ass!” Every week in her Satsangs, Gurudevi gives us little kicks in the butt.
While there is usually laughter as well, her message could not be more serious. We have the possibility of becoming enlightened in this lifetime, but we must do our part. It is always lovely to hear this, yet sometimes so difficult to do.
Living in the UK, I don’t have many chances to attend satsangs in person. Swami Sunday online has become my lifeline. Gurudevi’s teachings bypass my mind and go directly to my heart.
Yet Balkrishna’s words have continued to echo through my mind. One Swami Sunday, as I chanted with the group online, I was thinking “I should be there in person.” At that moment, Gurudevi’s photo fell off the wall onto my puja table!
It was too clear a message to ignore. A few months later, I travelled to visit my living Guru and get my butt kicked.
What I got was not so much a kick. It was more like a verbal, encouraging pat on the back. This was accompanied by a powerful injection of Vitamin G: G for Guru, G for Grace.
This vital infusion of Grace has propelled me into action that was long overdue. I have been teaching Svaroopa® Yoga online for three years. But I have not had the courage to start in-person classes here. Upon returning home from the Ashram, I went into action.
Scouring the area for a suitable venue, I tried ten places before finding a beautiful, welcoming studio. I quickly put out promotional material advertising a free “taster” class.
In early December, I taught my first in-person class in over twelve years. And there is considerable interest in weekly classes that will begin in January 2026.
I have learned that I am never doing this alone. I can tap into the flow of Grace whenever I need support. For me, listening to Gurudevi teaching live is the most effective way to stay in that flow.
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