By Kamal Agarwal On Day Zero, Saurabh approached me with two special requests from individuals not registered for the course.
The first came from a young foreigner, around 20 years old, who had been inspired by his old-student roommate during a recent trip. His friend had been meditating regularly (possibly), and this young man, moved by the practice, was eager to experience it for himself.
The second request was from a family visiting the center. The father, overwhelmed and inspired by the atmosphere, earnestly asked if his daughter could join the course starting that day.
After considering both requests, we decided to allow the young man to join the course, but we had to politely decline the family’s request. My decision was based on a gut feeling. While the father seemed genuine in his plea, I sensed that his motivation wasn’t rooted in a deeper understanding or inspiration from the practice itself. It felt as if the family was searching for something to help them navigate a difficult phase in their lives. In such cases, people often come with high expectations for quick fixes, and there’s a risk they might leave early if the course doesn’t provide the immediate solutions they’re seeking.
The young man, on the other hand, was inspired by witnessing a real, lasting change in someone. He wasn’t running away from anything but simply wanted to learn and explore the practice for the sake of personal growth. There’s a distinct difference between escaping and seeking, and this distinction guided my decision.
On the 11th day, after the course, the young man approached me during breakfast. He was curious as to why we had allowed him to join but had declined the family’s request.
I explained sincerely, though briefly: “There are many factors involved in such decisions, but in short, you’re young and have a long journey ahead. If this course benefits you and transforms your life, you’ll grow into a balanced individual. People like that are assets to society. So, on behalf of the center, I made this decision knowing that with the limited resources we have, we’re doing something good.”
His face lit up with happiness, and he expressed heartfelt gratitude, leaving with a deep appreciation for the center.