Mohanji’s life story is incredibly human.  Unlike many other spiritual giants of his stature, Mohanji eschewed the life of a hermit living deep in the remote Himalayas, far away from the instabilities of the human condition. Instead, he chose to live as a regular householder to show that an everyday person can live a free and liberated existence, despite the varied challenges of living as one in a fast-paced society.

Mohanji’s mother remarked that Mohanji was born smiling on February 23rd, 1965. Possibly he smiled due to the innate knowledge of his chosen purpose and a stoic acceptance of the trials and tribulations that awaited him. He strolled along from childhood to adolescence and then onto early youth, following the social norms of the majority. However, the mundane teaching in a school that focused on memorising rather than learning did not inspire him. He did not fail any class but refused to spend much time or energy to excel.

In Mohanji’s own words: ‘In a nutshell, my life, like everyone else’s, had distinct stages – an impressionable, explorative childhood, the regular confused state of youth trying to understand the individual purpose on earth, and the auto-positioned adulthood that made me realise that nothing was in my control and hence nothing mattered anymore. The only essence from these stages was that everything was temporary. I had it, felt it, left it. My biggest challenge was positioning myself in a society conditioned and structured by concepts – expected to conform to and imprisoned by “approved and permissible” boundaries of expressions, a state I considered equal to death.‘ 

He obtained a postgraduate degree in literature and then transitioned into a career in the shipping industry as a dynamic leader with twenty-four years of senior management experience in the Middle East. Mohanji got married to Saritha in 1992, and their daughter Ammu resulted from their union, born in November 1995.

Then Mohanji’s journey of transformation began. The cruel wheel of destiny crushed an essential aspect of his life. While away on business, his four-year-old daughter died in a tragic road accident on 23rd August 2000. The loss of his only child left a massive void in his life. Ammu’s demise precipitated a series of encounters with compelling destiny – a separation from his wife, Saritha; his belongings getting stolen, losing his earnings, investments going sour, and eventually, losing his job. He was stranded with no family, no money, no property, and no job. In addition, he lost his health and suffered from a very painful skin condition for which no remedy was available.

His isolation, agony, pain and suffering eventually led him into a deep inner exploration and a search for the very meaning and purpose of life. After completing Ammu’s final rituals, he immediately left for the Himalayas, which eventually became his second home. A deep urge to serve society also took shape. Mohanji started ACT (Ammucare Charitable Trust) in 2003 as a platform for selfless service beyond all man-made barriers to support the helpless and needy. He longed to find the peace of silence and get away from the world of noises created through relationships, business, society, and so on. However, when he returned from the Himalayas, he found himself back in the world of noises and realised that the silence found in tranquil solitude is temporary. Thus ended his constant search for silence in the Himalayas and started his quest for silence amid the noise. 

For many years, Mohanji’s process of stabilisation involved a disciplined but straightforward daily practice of meditation and self-inquiry from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m., which he describes as follows: ‘I used to withdraw myself into the shell (a room) that I had created like a cave in my house, with just a lamp and nothing else in that space. The flame of that lamp used to be my path, destination for concentration. I used to burn every aspect of myself as oil in that lamp, just like performing fire ceremonies. Thus, I used to sit in a dissolved state of total insignificance. Days and months, I concentrated on burning every aspect of myself. Offering all my stored materials such as feelings, emotions, pains, sorrows, concepts, likes, dislikes, insecurities, ownerships, loves, and prejudices, including personal boundaries into the fire. As the fire swallowed more and more, I started experiencing a concept-free, empty space within which I lost all compulsions to think, talk or act. Freedom and silence started blossoming. Thus eventually, Mohanji was born – beyond and without boundaries.‘ It took Mohanji ten years to stabilise and establish himself in that world of silence and eventually become one with it.

Turning Point
A turning point happened when a friend, deeply connected to Sathya Sai Baba, went to Kodaikanal to have Baba’s darshan. Mohanji describes this event: 

I was in Dubai at that time. I happened to speak to him just before he left. He told me that he would have Baba’s darshan and that he would like me to pray to Baba to grant him a private interview. It was very rare and difficult to get Baba’s private interview. And it was entirely Baba’s choice. I felt intrigued. I was much junior to him when it came to connection with Baba. I had known of Baba only since the early 2000s. He had been with Baba many more years. How could I pray to Baba for him? Moreover, he had served as a seva dal member (volunteer) at Baba’s ashram in Puttaparthi, so Baba knew him well. Baba did not even “know” me. Such thoughts crossed my mind when he asked me to pray to Baba.

He also told me that he was carrying many letters to be handed over to Baba and promised that he would also bring a letter for me, even though I had never asked him to. He knew me so well and all I had been going through since the death of my daughter. Indeed, he wrote all about my state and status at that time in the letter and took it in a sealed envelope to hand to Baba, should he be called for an interview. I was pretty sure that my prayers carried no weight. Yet since he asked me to pray, I prayed, ‘Baba, if it is your will, please grant an interview to my friend.‘ I did that and forgot about the whole incident. Almost three days later, I got a call from this extremely excited friend. He was shouting, “Big Miracle. Big Miracle!!!” I asked him to calm down and narrate. He could not contain his joy.

He said, “Baba called me for the interview. I was alone in the room. I had all those letters with me. Baba picked up only one letter from these. It was the one about you. He kept your letter on his lap and started patting it somewhat jokingly.

He said, “You are writing to me about Mohan? I know him inside out. I don’t need any letter about him. I tested him so hard in this life, so much that if it were anybody else, he would have committed suicide. I removed everything dear to him, including his daughter, property, money, and job. I gave him an illness. Now I will not abandon him. I will walk with him every step. I will take care of him.“

Hearing this, tears flowed from my eyes. First of all, I was so thankful to my friend for writing this letter for me and taking it to Baba even though I had never asked him. Secondly, to Baba for extending his kindness like a long-awaited rain in the sun-beaten desert. After Ammu’s death, I lost almost everything that I had collected from earth one by one. The last one was the job. Then I contracted this terrible allergy, which made my body miserable. I didn’t even have sufficient money for a decent existence. Baba’s soothing words eased my pain. Even though I was going through severe agony, I never complained to Baba or anyone for that matter. This was a turning point in my life, one of many.

Within a week or two after this incident, I was woken up from deep sleep in the middle of the night. It was Sai Baba. I felt His presence right next to me. It was unmistakable. He woke me up and asked me to chant a particular mantra. I promptly sat up on my bed and started chanting. He said, “Not now. From tomorrow onwards after taking a bath!” Thus, he started talking to me. Then the talking became frequent. One day, I asked him, “You are calling many people to your abode and giving them many things. Why have you kept me so far away?” This question came because I wanted to visit Baba during Baba’s next visit to Kodaikanal. He told me not to come and concentrate on my work. It was right. If I had left then, I would have lost my job.

When I asked the above question, Baba promptly answered, “Do you believe that all those people who are with me here are closer to me than you? I am with you all the time, while they are with me all the time. Which is better – me holding your hand or you holding my hand? If you hold my hand, you may leave it at any time. When I hold your hand, I never leave it.”

I was humbled. Soon after that, Baba Himself prescribed a medicine for my terrible skin allergy. It was not available in Dubai, which Baba Himself said through a channel, and I got its UAE equivalent. It helped my healing. Along with all these experiences of the high order, my life continued to be a roller coaster ride. Slowly, he stabilised many things. Meeting my wife Biba [later named Devi Mohan] amongst three hundred people was also orchestrated by Baba.

One night, I had a dream. I saw myself walking to a place where Baba was lying in a bed. While searching for Him, He suddenly came to me in a self-operated wheelchair. I prostrated at His feet. He asked, “What do you want?” I answered, “Just you, Baba.” He said, “I could give you everything right away. But you will not be able to handle the people who will come to you. I shall impart things slowly to you”. I said, “Your wish, Baba.” Soon afterward, the Power of Purity meditation was given to me. Later the 360-degree meditation came. By that time, I had some other communions – with Babaji and with Shirdi Sai Baba. I have narrated these in my blog posts “Babaji Beyond Definitions” Parts 1, 2, and 3, and “Sai and I.”

By the time I received the meditations, I had stopped looking at who was speaking to me at any point in time. It could be any Master. All are one. There was no difference between Shirdi Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Baba, and Babaji. All are one. When I received the meditation one early morning in 2007, I was curious about it. I had no clue what was being downloaded. When I knew it was a meditation, I asked Shirdi Sai Baba, “What shall I do with it? Meditate”? The answer came, “No. You should teach.” The introvert in me objected. “No, Baba, I am an introvert. I cannot go to people and present this meditation. I cannot do this.” The reply came, “That is not your job. People will come to you. When they come to you, understand that we send them. Impart knowledge to them without expectations.” Shirdi Sai Baba kept His promise.’

The Shiva Experience 

In his blog, Mohanji has written about his experiences with a variety of Masters in the physical and on the subtle planes of higher consciousness. But one occasion stands out as very significant; when the limited entity called Mohan merged with Shiva, Parabrahma. The event happened on February 24th, 2007, and is well documented with photos and witnessed by several people. The description of the event and an explanation of its significance from Mohanji’s personal blog follows.

Mohanji explains that when a Master reaches a state where he has burnt all karma, sacred ash (vibhuti) sprouting out of sahasrara chakra (energy center chakra located on the crown of the head symbolised as a thousand-petalled lotus) is a sign of ultimate cleansing. When the last remnants of karmas are getting exhausted, then they are burnt and expelled with high intensity through the sahasrara chakra like a volcano, with high intensity. He describes this as typical of the Dattatreya Tradition, although an extraordinary event much beyond our comprehension. The first such event seen and recorded in modern times reveals the true stature of Mohanji being One with the Source. 

It was the day after his birthday when he would usually feed needy children. But that day, he was not feeling well. He visited an ashram and started feeling nauseous. So, the residing Swami took him outside for a walk: ‘He took me out, and we walked to another house in the ashram complex, about 500 yards away. All I could remember was reaching that place, entering the hall, and sitting down on a chair near a table.

Sacred ash started coming out through the top of my head and then slowly falling down my body. My body was transparent, and a huge bright light was glowing from within. My eyelids became golden. The light penetrated my clothes and was radiating to the outside world. I expanded beyond description. Everything was within me. Mohan did not exist. That experience tilted my consciousness. My awareness level changed. As of then, I started shifting to different awareness levels effortlessly. The limited awareness of Mohan merged with the entire cosmos and became one with both the limited and unlimited existence. In that expanded state, one can only express Love, our very nature. I became every being, and every being became me.

When a seeker becomes the sought, his limited entity dissolves into that of unlimited nature. He becomes all-pervading, completely lucid and transparent, vibrant, shining, subtly dynamic, and exists in complete awareness. The momentary sourcing of data from the higher realms becomes effortless and continuous. In that state of complete bliss and love, the transformed entity will choose to lead many more souls to His stature – that of the Supreme. This is a pure act formed out of love and compassion. By doing this, he is guiding himself because everything is part of himself. It is as if some part of the body gets dirty; we wash and clean it. Just the same, when some souls search in darkness, liberated souls, with full understanding and awareness that those souls in darkness are essentially a part of themselves, lead them to light. By doing this, they are becoming more complete…‘

Devi Mohan appeared in Mohanji’s life in 2007 and was instrumental in bringing him into the limelight. She encouraged him to share his inner wealth so the world could benefit from his knowledge. Mohanji believes that Guru Mandala chose her to pull him out of his introversion and help him deliver the knowledge and wisdom found abundantly in his silence. Life is not without a sense of irony. Once he had established himself in silence, he was asked by Guru Mandala (the Masters of the Tradition) to go back into the world of noises to teach people how to attain inner silence and peace of mind. That was the start of Mohanji as we know him today. 

Three months after the Shiva experience, Mohanji was given his first meditation, ‘Power of Purity,’ by the Masters guiding him. Later at different times, he received the ‘360-degree’ and other meditations from the depths of silence. With the meditations came Shaktipat – a transfer of the energies from higher realms of consciousness to the recipient. The first meditations started in Dubai in early 2007, combined with spiritual discourses. They were offered free of cost to all unconditionally. More meditations and techniques followed, which were eventually translated into many languages. These are freely available on the website and are also practiced individually and in groups across the globe.

Devi and Mohanji married in April 2010, and their daughter, Mila, was born in April 2011. Their marriage was a spiritual union of two people brought together for a higher purpose. Eventually, Mohanji quit his job in 2012 to dedicate his life towards the sole purpose of adding value to society with the firm conviction that one must improve the world through one’s presence in it.