The Touch of the Master’s Hand

Ingeborg Gutwenger describes the revolution the Master wrought in her by coming into her life

It was a great blessing for me to be able to take part in the Birthday Celebrations of the Great Master Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj. For ten years it has been my fervent wish to visit my Master in India, His physical home, and He in His kindness agreed to give it to us. The reason for this wish of mine was a very peculiar experience that changed my life:

I was born in Vienna, Austria’s capital. After I married, we moved to Innsbruck, a beautiful small town in the Alps, where we live with our three children.

In 1962 I fell ill with acute glomerole nephritis, i.e., kidney decomposition, which was declared incurable by the doctors. They told me that I had to face death within six weeks or so. My husband and myself felt very helpless and despairing. Seeing no other way out, we knelt down in prayer and cried from the bottom of our heart to Jesus, as we were taught as Catholics.

Our prayer was answered in a very wonderful manner, though in an entirely different way than we expected. The same night I had the following dream: A man from the East with a white turban on His head, radiating heavenly Light and Glory, stood before me.

Humbly He said,

I will help you.

I felt that I was healed instantaneously. Next morning, full of happiness, I told my husband this experience. He was dazzled and said that I should not pray to a man with a turban, but only to Jesus. We were at that time very strict in our Catholic confession.

Our life changed more and more through His Great Love and Grace. I was healed indeed. The doctors were puzzled and since they did not want to admit that I was healed, they tried to find some symptom of a disease. They could not find anything, and I did not need them any more.

From then on we led an inward life, reading scriptures like the Bible, Yogananda, Aurobindo, etc. As if attracted by our longing, many missionaries of different sects visited us, but none of them could convince us. Then, sometime in July 1963, that is, approximately one year after my healing, I saw in our town a poster reading ‘Self-Realisation – God-Realisation.’ I never notice posters, but that one caught my interest. Although it did not show any picture but text only, it enticed me in a way I cannot describe. I was keen to attend this lecture. I got my husband interested in it, too, although it was not easy. The lecture took place in our town hall. The clergy of our big religious communities, as well as of many sects, attended it. All were much impressed; but foremost it was myself who was deeply moved and surprised because I recognised in the lecturer, Master Kirpal Singh Ji, my Saviour, the One Who appeared in my dream. His wonderful face, full of Mercy, radiated the beauty of God. I felt warm in my heart, saved and happy. My husband, too, felt God’s Power working through the Master.

Both of us asked for initiation, and got it – which means the opening of the Inner Eye and the experience of God’s Light and Heavenly Melody within.

Now, ten years later, I am fortunate to be with Him in His Ashram. It was only after my arrival here that I became aware of another aspect of our initiation in Innsbruck. Here I learned and saw how big a number of people usually get initiated in each town the Master visits on His tours, or in the sittings here in the Ashram. Sometimes this number runs into hundreds of people. It makes me almost giddy when I realise that the Master had to come specially to little Innsbruck, the only town He visited then in Austria, to initiate both of us, my husband and myself – and only both of us, for no one else asked for it. Heartfelt prayers are said to be efficacious; my little heart’s deep prayers to Christ or God were listened to, and the Great Master living on earth Who dispenses and carries out His Will, picked up two people who lived in darkness and brought them to the Light. He came into one of the smallest countries of Europe, even into one of its smallest towns, to initiate us. He, the Founder of Manav Kendra! – I cannot express my feelings in words, I can only thank, thank, thank, and congratulate India that on her soil lives such a True and Holy Master. Likewise, I wish for every single man living on this dark earth to come in touch with Master Kirpal Singh Ji’s Light that is given gratis to all who seek It earnestly.

Knock, and it shall be opened.