He said, "That I know. But where have you come from after all these years?" Later he added, "Good, my precious. But let's make sure you never get lost again. Stay here, stay where you belong." At that point Rajiv Kaswani told Guruji that I had actually come from Bangladesh to partake in the advanced course. Guruji looked at me and said, "Of course, he will have to learn everything. He will become a teacher." He was in a bit of a hurry, so he gave me his blessings and went to his way to his next commitment, the Bharat Muni arrangements. He told me that I should go to Rishikesh for the advanced course and I should meet up with him.

I was a little stunned. This was my first encounter with him but he had acted as if he already knew me. Why did he say that I had gotten lost? Why did he say I should not get lost again? Was he addressing me, or had he confused me with someone else? I fell into a dilemma as to what I should do. At the same time, I felt his strong presence; there was an indescribable power in his gaze.

Earlier when I had gone to the "Art of Living" course (a six-day breathing course, followed by yoga, meditation and asanas, it benefits one's health as well as help keep physically and mentally calm and focused), the teacher told me that I would become the first instructor in Bangladesh.

Once again I was confused, just as I had been when I first met Guruji. I had gone to take the course, why was he saying I would be a teacher one day? I wondered to myself where this road would take me. Do I really know the way? Is this really for me? Innumerable questions like that were crowding in my mind, making me intensely doubtful. Nevertheless, I went to Rishikesh with all these doubts and took the course.

The course was a great experience. Rishikesh is an idyllic setting, and is the perfect setting for saints, for anyone who wants to meditate, or for elders. I enjoyed myself very much there. One day, Guruji called me into his kutir and I went to meet him there. That was a turbulent period of my life and was generally feeling very low. I wanted to share my thoughts with him. But once I went there, I saw that the room was full of people, but I wanted to speak to him on my own without so many people overhearing. As if he sensed that, Guruji asked everyone to leave so he could speak to me in private. When I started talking about my own story, at one point he continued, telling me my own story. At times I was speechless, he was telling my story. And then at times he would stop and ask me to continue. He told me that I should not feel helpless, bad times were a part of life. Day follows night and so on. He told me, "I am always with you." He did not really give me any solutions, nor any medicine or any blessed potions. I simply returned home with his blessings and I was transformed.

Why do we call him a Guru? Who is a Guru? Guru means master, one who teaches you, shows you the way. For people like us, it is a blessing to be under a living master because whenever we have problems we can consult with the Guru and receive guidelines on any matter. Since birth, an individual has many masters. Parents, helpers, teachers all come into our lives as masters. Whether or not we use the word Guru to address them, they are gurus to us.

We should always feel gratitude towards the masters, not in a material sense, but we should carry them in our hearts. This will help with our material and spiritual growth. The Guru can be of any age and of any social position. One must totally surrender to the Guru to find the way. One should never compare one's Guru to others. A Guru should not be seen as superior or inferior to anyone else. A disciple should never criticize or find fault in a Guru, the disciple must only learn from the Guru. A true Guru will always be there for his disciple, even when he loses his way. When a disciple does something wrong, the Guru shows him the right way, but he does not punish. Once I went to a place that I should not have, through intense self-doubt. I was having a serious battle of conscience. But once I went there, I saw another disciple there and he reminded me that I should not be there. I immediately realized my mistake and turned back. The lesson here is the Guruji will always take care of you.

Now, whenever I am about to do something, good or bad, I have to consider the fact that Guruji is watching. He will know what I am doing so I have to be careful. Through this process of understanding one's own mistakes and then rebuilding oneself, one can achieve the desired path. For this reason, every person needs a Guru in his or her life.

Everybody stumbles, everybody suffers from confusion and doubt. We all need guidance. Though I am always thinking that he is doing so much for me, how much have I been able to give in return? So on his 51st birthday, I am happy that I have been blessed with his presence. I hope I find the strength to understand right and wrong, and I hope I am able to contribute to my society and country in the right way. I know that wherever I am in this world, my master, my Guru is always with me. I love you, Guruji.

Rafi Hossain is Editor, Star Insight. Those interested in finding out more about "Art of Living" in Bangladesh should call 0171-5279897.