True Tales

The bracelet was made of American Indian turquoise and other semi-precious stones, set on a silver band. Har Pal Singh and Har Pal Kaur bought it at the after-Solstice Bazaar in Espanola in 1988 as a gift for my wedding. I still have it, even though I don’t wear it that often, as it is missing a stone… it looks toothless!

That bracelet holds memories of my wedding at Ladies Camp sixteen years ago, and of a friendship that ended abruptly with someone that is no more. I flash back to my life 26 years ago, at Guru Ram Das Ashram in Via degli Spagnoli in Rome, near the Pantheon. GuruMeher Singh was the Director and the only Sikh in Italy. After spending eight years in the USA pretending to study at the College, but mostly doing kundalini yoga with Yogi Bhajan, he was sent by il Maestro with a mission: go to Rome and open an ashram so that people can experience kundalini yoga and do sadhana.

Being from North Italy Guru Meher Singh was a little stiff and a little shy, but soon we formed a very funny group of individuals…very strange for the typical Italian standard. After taking some classes at the Ashram I was completely sold into the idea of living there, doing sadhana every day, karma yoga and learning to be a vegetarian.

The second floor of the ashram, a 17th Century three-story building, was rented by the brother of GuruMeher Singh and his wife. Both of them were doctors. Paolo was a Gemini and wanted very much to try the mysterious and powerful sadhana, but had to compromise with his wife. The plan was soon established: Paolo would put at night, around his big toes, a string that would go down reaching his brother’s bed. When GuruMeher Singh would arise in the amrit vela he tugged the string and woke his brother without disturbing his wife. Our life in the ashram was filled with many of these escapades and made our life fun.

The last time I wanted to see Paolo/Har Pal Singh, it was too late. He was very sick, so I left a message and a photo of myself and my baby, whom he had never met, with his secretary. He wrote me back that he was so happy for me, that I looked very happy holding my beautiful baby, GuruFateh Singh. He also mentioned that he remembered the old times with nostalgia and affection.

After that I dreamt of him, many times, until about one year ago. In my dream he looked very wise, very centered. And he said: “I could not cure my illness…my illness cured me." I know he is in peace and he resolved the actions he did in this life. I met him as HarPal Singh.