A Foundation of Seva

I'm Gurinder, an electrical engineer from Albany, United States. My upbringing in a Sikh background instilled in me a deep-rooted belief in seva, selfless service. From a young age, I found immense pleasure in serving others. Whether it was cleaning floors and preparing prasad at the Gurudwara, assisting at Mandirs, or even lending a hand at churches, service was an intrinsic part of my life. I was, as I like to put it, "multi-discipline" in my acts of service. Seeing the thankfulness on people's faces when I helped them brought me immense satisfaction. Even while managing a job and family, I always found a way to balance these responsibilities with my commitment to seva. 

The Unforeseen Challenge: The Dawn of Unhappiness

For a long time, I considered myself a very happy person. I had a wonderful wife, beautiful children, a comfortable home, and a fulfilling job—everything one could desire. I genuinely couldn't fathom why people experienced unhappiness. Then, suddenly, my world was turned upside down. I lost my wife to cancer. She was the absolute pillar, the rock of our family, and her absence left me utterly lost. Raising a 12-year-old daughter as a single parent in America was incredibly challenging. My entire life changed overnight, and for the first time, I truly understood what unhappiness felt like.

This profound loss propelled me on a quest for answers. Despite being Sikh, I had studied in Catholic schools and read the Bible. I spent evenings with Hindu families, participating in their prayers, and my playground was often the Hanuman temple. I explored everything, yet the answers I sought remained elusive.

The Engineer's Quest for Energy: Discovering the Divine Connection

As an electrical engineer, I naturally think in terms of energy and connections. My search for answers led me to the philosopher Wayne Dyer, who spoke of a "source" from which we receive power. This resonated deeply with my understanding of fiber optics – a clean connection allows for full energy transfer, while dirt obstructs it. I began to see this concept mirrored in spiritual narratives. The story of Moses returning from the mountain with a shining face after encountering a power so immense he couldn't look directly at it, solidified my nascent idea of a divine energy.

This led me to explore other religions. The Zoroastrians, my mentors in my first job, impressed me with their adherence to fire as a sacred element, and their prohibition of smoking due to it. I noticed the emphasis on "fire" and "energy" in various faiths: "Alleh Nour" in Islam, "Surya Vanshi" in Hinduism, and the sun gods in ancient Egypt. It all pointed towards a universal energy. I kept thinking, "It's all there, but where is my answer?"

The Turning Point: A Glimmer of Light

One day, I found myself in a meeting, the only non-Brahma Kumari (BK) present. There was a picture of Shiv Baba—the supreme being, or supreme soul, referred to as God—represented as a point of light. I found myself inexplicably drawn to it, continuously gazing at that point of light. While others spoke, I could only focus on this image, and it affected me profoundly. "Perhaps this is my answer," I thought.

Being an engineer, I approach things logically. The realization that hit me was profound: we, as souls (atma), control our bodies, and the atma receives power from a higher source. This was the missing piece of my energy puzzle.

The Transformation: Losing Anger, Gaining Love

When I delved into the teachings of the Brahma Kumaris, particularly the concept of karma, I recognized the anger that had consumed me after my wife's passing. This anger had created a rift between my daughter and me. I couldn't communicate with her, and she couldn't with me. Understanding karmic accounts, I began to practice empathy, trying to see things from her perspective, and asking her to do the same.

My friends, who knew me asked, "What happened to you? What did you learn from Brahma kumaris?" My answer was simple and profound: "I didn't gain anything. I lost a lot. The biggest loss I had with Brahma kumaris is I lost my anger. I lost my ego, my frustrations." I became a genuinely happy person again.

Realization through Rajyoga 

My life, particularly after discovering Rajyoga, has been a continuous "test paper" to validate my findings. As an engineer, I seek to improve and validate. My changed life and newfound happiness are the ultimate validation of spirituality.

The core realization for me is this: the Divine is the source, and I am the receiver. The "fiber optic cable" between us must be kept clean. The cleaner it is, the more energy I receive, the more I shine, and the more good things happen

Bro Gurinder Garcha, Brahma Kumaris Albany NewYork