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By — Shyamal Sinha
 Why I Left My Life in California foran Ashram in India 30 Years Ago Dearest Parmarth family, Thirty years ago, I made a decision — or, actually, the Divine Universe made a decision through me — that changed the course of my life.I moved into Parmarth Niketan Ashram on the sacred banks of Mother Ganga.People thought I was crazy, of course! Who leaves behind a PhD program and a full, wonderful life in California to move into an ashram in the Himalayan foothills of India? People thought perhaps I had been brainwashed, kidnapped or joined a cult!But I knew.Long before I had ever heard the word dharma, something within me knew that this was my path. This was my home.And now, exactly 30 years later, I look back with a heart overflowing with gratitude.The healing, transformation, peace and joy I have been given are beyond anything I ever could have imagined. But even more than that, this path gave me a purpose, a meaning, a dharma — the opportunity to offer myself as an instrument in the hands of the Divine and to serve.So often in our lives, there is a voice within us that knows.We feel a call, a pull, an intuition. And then the intellectual voice comes in with all of the reasons we couldn’t possibly follow it: What will people think? What about the plans I’ve made? What about the life I thought I was supposed to live?Thirty years ago, I had no idea where that inner voice would lead me.I could never have imagined the life that was waiting for me, the lessons I would learn, the ways I would be called to serve, or the blessing of trying each day to give as Mother Ganga gives — with no hesitation, no discrimination and no expectation.In this very special anniversary video, I share the story of that moment 30 years ago, the voice that told me I needed to stay, and what I have learned about listening when the Divine calls us somewhere our minds may not understand.  WATCH THE 30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY VIDEOAs I celebrate this milestone, I am also deeply grateful that we now have a beautiful new website where I can share more of these teachings, inspiration and stories from this journey with you.If there is a voice within you today — an intuition, a calling, a quiet knowing that you cannot quite explain — don’t dismiss it simply because your mind cannot yet see where it will lead.You never know where that inner Divine voice of intuition is meant to take you.You never know what your dharma may be. With love and peace from the holy banks of Mother Ganga, In Sacred Service,  Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati |
