Icon Show: Interviews

Maalti Photo by Gisele

Biography Maalti was working in Ottawa for the government as a medical researcher in the field of immunology when she met Swami Shyam. She thought all this spiritual stuff was impractical because she was a scientist! She recalled that the first time she saw Swami Shyam, it was love at first sight! Maalti made a complete change in her life and has never looked back. Now she teaches the children math, reading, spelling, and writing, and looks after the library, as well as teaching the scriptures. She is a lively and clear being who is full of delight. Written by Gisele Beaupre

Interview

Gisele: How did you meet Swami Shyam?

Maalti: It was an unusual way. One Sunday evening, Feb. 2, It was very snowy. My husband and I had missed the bus to go home. The next one was in an hour, so we decided to go to our friend's house for a cup of coffee, who was nearby. His name was Devindra, who had always been trying to get us to meet Swami Shyam.

It was an apartment in a big house on the third floor. The landing was filled with boots. I wondered why he was having a party when we all had to go to work the next day. When we got to the kitchen there was coats, hats, and dishes everywhere. Then I heard this rippling roar of laughter. so I walked into the living room. At the far end was a little bed and there was Swamiji laughing away. I remember looking at him and I realized that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was just that immediate. I had no second thoughts. This was what I had been waiting for. He had it and I wanted it!

He talked to me for an hour, there were about ten people in the room. I didn't understand anything or I didn't remember anything. Last year Devindra gave me a copy of the tape that he had made of that first interaction. His voice was faster and higher pitched than it is now. But he is just as funny and he talks about exactly the same things he does now.

Gisele: I hear that the first trips to Kullu were quite rustic.

Maalti: Yes, I came just after they had been living in tents. We had a large meditation tent. We would have satsang for four or five hours a day with Swamiji. We used to make baked potatoes in the fireplace, we'd meditate, study, make tea, and play chess. It was very intense, as there was only twenty people. If you weren't there everyone would know why. You couldn't hide anything. Now if you don't come for a week only your close friends notice. In those days there were no books, no movies, no taxis, no television, no butter, no electricity or phones. We would meditate for ten hours a day. There were hardly any speeches, just singing, and readings, and Swamiji would sing to us and talk to us, play chess, and we'd maybe go down by the river.

Transcribed by Gisele Beaupre

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