When Swamishri was in New York in October 1977, he had told me to go to the mandir every day. "A little laziness one day can let laziness sneak in for good. So do not become slack," he had said.

Reflecting upon that today, I realise how essential it was that I obeyed even such a simple agna of Swamishri's. Every evening, straight from work, I'd come to the mandir. Staying for arti and katha meant it was already quite late when I got home. Weekends were spent at the mandir too - from Friday evening to late after Sunday sabha. And of course, holidays as well.

I was saved from any negative influences from outside. Obeying Swamishri's agna protected me in every way. That's a personal experience.