All of us are divinely guided in our life. Sometimes we experience it as a intuition, sometimes as an experience. Some of us hear guidance, yet others receive guidance in dreams. A lot of times we meet people who show us the way forward to a peaceful life. I began to experience guidance long before I realized what it was. Lately the guidance has been stronger. Every time, I choose guidance to make decisions, I experience peace. Initially guidance is useful to make simple choices in our life. Choices when we are confused or even choices on how to live better. We can pause before we make decisions to see what we are guided to choose or we can pray to be shown the way.
Guidance is the starting point for surrender. As you walk on the spiritual path and choose guidance to make your decisions, it eventually leads to surrender. Slowly, little by little, you release the sense of control, and allow the ‘I’ to hand over the baton to God, the inner Divine, inner wisdom which knows everything. You let God conduct your life. You allow yourself to witness everything and take ownership of nothing. But this cannot happen overnight. It happens bit by bit. It requires practice, commitment, dedication. We are talking about giving up the “I”, the sense of me, and merging and melting with God. The ego puts up its best fights for this. It jumps in and protests like it is drowning. This is the ego’s death, but it is also the journey into eternal life. This is giving up the tiny for the magnificent. It is trading the painful existence of the ego, for the peaceful existence of God.
So, walk this path with caution. This is not for you, if you still want to fight. But if you feel ready to move beyond the mind, if you have seen even glimpses of the struggle and are tired of it, this is the path to choose. This is the path I am exploring now because it feels like living in guidance is like living with God.
Beginner tips to seek Guidance
- In any situation that involves a choice, action or decision, first pause. Still the mind. Then ask yourself – what do I really want? What are the choices I have to choose between?
- Then, form a clear question in your head. The shorter it is, the better.
- Now, think of any outer symbol who you trust and connect with. Or feel the center of your ‘Self’. Now address the question to this space or being. Ask the question with a willingness to recieve the answer.
- You will receive the answer as a thought in the head or a feeling you have. You may hear someone say something during the day or week that may feel like a response to this. Someone may reach out to you and bring clarity as you speak. You may read something that just clicks. The answer can come in any way or form.
- Start with small things first. What do I eat now? What movie should I watch now? Should I go for a walk or rest? Ask simpler questions initially.
- The way to know when the answer comes from a higher space or the lower, habitual mind is to check the level of peace you feel with the response. Usually ego responses will still leave us feelign restless while higher Truth always brings acceptance and peace.
My Guides
Some of the divine beings (alive and ascended) who hbeen ave instrumental in my journey thus far are:
Sai Baba of Shirdi
Despite a strong connection with ‘Baba’ since my childhood, I spent years treating him like someone whose job it was to appease my demands. But it is only in recent years, that I have begun to understand what God and Guru mean. I have begun to understand how Baba has shaped my life. He continues to time and again remind me that he loves, protects, and guides me since lifetimes and forever. He is the perfect master, perfect mother, perfect guide and once you are his child, you are cared forever.
Jesus
For years I have resisted his Grace, believing my allegiance lay with Baba, as though I was betraying Baba by listening to him. And yet I have been led again and again by Baba to Jesus, and his words in A Course in Miracles (ACIM). And now I find myself wondering why did I resist his grace for so long! I find a deep connection in the words of ACIM. Jesus is my brother on the path and I am grateful for his presence.
Mahaavatar Babaji
I still don’t fully know or understand my connection with Babaji. But he is there. He is the third part of the Holy Trinity of ascended masters who guide my life. There are moments his guidance comes through strongly. There are moments I feel his presence strongly. But he is mostly the silent one, who seems to be overseeing my journey and how it shapes up.
GD
I always wished that I could have been alive when Sai Baba was. To live and learn from a master, how incredible would that be. That wish came true when Baba sent GD my way. My teacher, my earth-guide… it is GD’s grace that shines bright in my life. He brings with him the energy of God, the silence of Truth, the peace of Awareness in my life every single moment.
Since my teenage years, there have been many wise teachers nudging me onwards in the journey. Annaji ( Panvel Sai Baba Temple) and Swami Sukhabhodananda (Prasanna Trust, Bengaluru) in particular have taught me immensely during my younger days. Babajaan, Meher Baba, and Neem Karoli Baba are other masters who energy showers me with Love whenever I connect with them. My experience of truth is thus, the sum collection of everyone. But everyone only reminds me – we are all ONE.
Atha : Returning to the Now 
Nice artical.great work.
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