Namaste, beautiful souls.
My name is Riya Prabhudesai, and I am humbled and grateful to share with you the story of my spiritual journey – a journey that began in silence, grew with discipline, deepened with faith, and continues to unfold with grace.
I started meditating when I was just 16 years old. While most people at that age are still discovering the outer world, something deep within me began calling me inward. It wasn’t dramatic it was gentle, quiet, but persistent. A longing to understand myself, to connect with something deeper than everyday life, led me toward the spiritual path. What began as simple breathing exercises turned into a sacred transformation of the heart, mind, and soul.
Today, with 8 years of continuous spiritual practice, I can say with confidence : I am not the same person I was then. I have grown, evolved, broken down, rebuilt, cried, laughed, and above all surrendered. And yet, I know this is just the beginning.
The Role of My Spiritual Guru: Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
If there is one person who has shaped, uplifted, and blessed my path in countless ways, it is my beloved spiritual guru, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
From the moment I was introduced to his teachings, I felt a sense of familiarity as if I had met a part of my soul in him. His wisdom is not just intellectual it is transformative. His presence is not just inspiring it is healing. And his smile, his grace, his silence they all became my guiding light during times of inner chaos.
Under Gurudev’s divine guidance, I completed several life-changing courses offered by the Art of Living foundation:
🌬 Sudarshan Kriya
This powerful rhythmic breathing technique is a cornerstone of my spiritual routine. With every kriya session, I felt layers of stress, tension, and emotional blockages melt away. It opened my body to energy, my mind to clarity, and my heart to peace.
🧘♀️ Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
A beautiful, mantra-based meditation technique that allowed me to effortlessly access deep silence. In this silence, I met parts of myself I never knew existed. It became a sacred space of rest for my soul free from thoughts, free from effort, and free from ego.
These practices, under the protection and blessings of my guru, not only healed me they transformed me from the inside out.
🌙 Advance Meditation Course (Silence Program)
Among all my spiritual journeys, the Advanced Meditation Course was the most profound. Four days of deep silence. No conversations. No phones. No external noise. Only breath, awareness, and presence.
In those four days:
- The mind slows down.
- The heart opens.
- The soul begins to speak.
Silence did not feel lonely. It felt sacred.
I observed my thoughts patiently, without fighting them. I watched my emotions rise and dissolve like waves. I learned that peace is not something to search for outside. It is already within, waiting to be felt.
This course gently removes the invisible layers that we carry:
fear, attachment, restlessness, ego, and old memories stored in the body.
By the fourth day, the silence was not an effort. It became natural. It felt like my true state.
I came out of that experience with:
- A calmer nervous system
- A softer heart
- A clearer mind
- And a deeper spiritual strength
It was like returning home to myself.
The Beauty of Chakra Meditation and Energy Work
As I matured in my practice, I was drawn to chakra-based meditation and the ancient wisdom of energy healing. Each chakra root to crown carries a unique vibration and governs a different part of our being: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Through focused awareness, breathwork, visualizations, and affirmations, I began healing my chakras one by one. I learned to:
- Ground myself through the Root chakra, feeling safe and supported.
- Awaken creativity through the Sacral chakra, embracing joy and flow.
- Empower my will through the Solar Plexus, stepping into confidence.
- Open my heart through the Heart chakra, learning unconditional love.
- Express my truth through the Throat chakra, with clarity and honesty.
- Trust my intuition through the Third Eye chakra, seeing beyond logic.
- Surrender to the divine through the Crown chakra, experiencing bliss and unity.
These practices weren’t just energetic they were deeply emotional and psychological. I cried, I healed, I forgave, I released, and I grew. Each chakra unlocked a new chapter of growth.
The Silent Strength of Mahadev
Alongside my guru, the silent presence of Mahadev (Lord Shiva) has always been a divine force in my life. To me, Mahadev represents both destruction and rebirth. He is the stillness in chaos, the calm in the storm, the observer behind every thought.
Whenever I’ve felt confused or overwhelmed, I turn to Mahadev in meditation. His meditative stillness reminds me that I am not my fears, my doubts, or my failures. I am the eternal witness beyond it all. He teaches me that true power lies not in controlling life but in surrendering to it with trust and grace.
Mahadev has been with me in every breath, every silence, and every moment of transformation. I offer all my progress, all my healing, and all my devotion to him.
Living Spiritually in a Modern World
Many people believe spirituality means renouncing the world, but for me, it’s the opposite. Spirituality is not about escaping life it’s about embracing it with depth and awareness.
My daily meditation practice allows me to move through life with greater peace, clarity, and compassion. Whether I am working, spending time with family, or simply walking in nature, I try to stay connected to my inner being to that still presence that watches everything unfold.
This path has taught me patience during challenges, surrender during uncertainty, and gratitude during blessings. I now see every person, every experience even pain as a teacher guiding me inward.
Lessons from the Journey So Far
Here are a few sacred truths I’ve discovered in these 8 years:
- The real temple is within. You don’t need to go anywhere to find God. Sit in silence, and you will feel the divine presence in your own breath.
- Your guru is your compass. A true guru doesn’t just give knowledge they give you light. They awaken the dormant divine within you.
- Healing is non-linear. You will grow, fall back, rise again, and cry in the middle. But every part of it is necessary.
- Silence is medicine. In a world that constantly talks, silence is where truth reveals itself.
What’s Next on the Path
As I move forward, I know there are still infinite layers of the self to uncover. Meditation is not a destination it’s a lifetime journey. The more I dive in, the more I realize how vast the inner world truly is.
I feel a strong inner calling to serve, to share, and to help others begin their own journeys. Whether it’s through meditation guidance, writing, or simply being present, I wish to be a small light in someone’s path just as others have been in mine.
Soon, I will share more experiences from this sacred path.
I have many stories of divine synchronicities, inner awakenings, deep healing, and transformative moments each one a jewel gifted by the universe.
Thank you for walking with me through this story. If it touched your heart in any way, I invite you to sit with your breath today. Who knows? Maybe your journey begins now.
With infinite love and devotion,
Riya R. Prabhudesai