SERVING THE UNITY
A good way to get to know someone is by letting your intuition keep track of your impressions after the first, short encounter between the two of you, allowing that very note to remain a lasting pledge of the encounter. A similar thing happened with Devi Mohan the first time we met. We were supposed to meet, get to know each other well and have an extensive talk. She and I set aside time and space for that, but as it usually happens, we make plans, but we also leave room for surprises. It just so happened that the long meeting was cut short; we were able to squeeze in several lives in that half an hour session. I guess that happens with people like Devi, who are open-minded, accepting and joyful. It’s always easy and always leaves a trace and room for something extra. That’s why I wanted you to meet Devi Mohan in this issue. This woman is bravely building a new world alongside her husband Mohanji, and this is an opportunity to take a sneak peek into that world together.
Devi Mohan’s life could easily serve as a plot for a movie. In her case, the curve of life really had its hands full: from the turbulent and warlike early 90s, through senior positions in major corporations, all the way to ashrams, yoga, spiritual diplomacy and awareness-raising. Devi, is there anything you would like to single out as the main lessons you learnt on this journey?
Thank you on that amazing question that already incorporates the essence of my answer: more than the experiences themselves, it is important to realize the deeper meaning of those experiences, as well as the perspective from which we observe the world around us. A ‘lesson’ is a powerful word. It implies that we have learned (or had the opportunity to learn) something from a given experience, and that we can consciously apply this new enlightening knowledge in our daily life.
I had several key, at times very painful life experience, which made me grow into the realization of a higher meaning of my existence. I am deeply grateful for these lessons. I am currently writing an autobiography, in which all these experiences and insights will be laid out in detail. I would like to briefly refer to two such experiences.
While living as a refugee in Serbia (I was 14 when we exiled from Western Slavonia in the 90s) I learned how important it was to accept a given situation, no matter how difficult it may be, and to maintain positivity, faith and focus on the present moment experience. Only then are we given an opportunity – here and now – to do our best, regardless of all uncertainties, insecurities, sense of injustice, the need to point finger at someone for all the troubles we are going through, etc. In this way, we tend to take responsibility for our lives and get out of the energy of victimhood. We may not be able to change external circumstances, but we can change our attitude. I wondered what I could do in that situation. My intention was to finish school and to use higher education as the doorway into financial stability for myself and my family. This sincere and deep intention had such a strong energy that it attracted two scholarships into my life, for studies in Rome and the US. I applied for those scholarships in a regular way, just like other student – via Internet. Just before the end of my postgraduate studies in the US at the Kroc Institute for Peace Studies, within the famous University of Notre Dame, a huge change happened in my life. This was connected with an experience that I had a couple of years earlier, while studying in Rome, when I experienced conscious astral travel. My astral body found itself in a vast desert
