Siddabari - 'sidha' 'vaadi' - is indeed the forest of countless siddhas (saints). It found its spiritual culmination when Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda placed His holy feet on it. Today devotees world over visit Sidhabari as the Samadhi Sthal of Pujya Gurudev and find His eternal presence continuing to bless the place. A few had the wondrous blessing of visiting and staying at Sidhabari with Pujya Gurudev. Swami Swaroopananda was one of the few, blessed ones who spent several weeks there, at the feet of the Master, before and after he became a brahmachari. It left an indelible mark on him and changed his entire vision of life.

Here he Shares with us the exalted spiritual heights that one can reach in the presence of one's Preceptor. For those who had a similar blessing, his words are sure to be intensely nostalgic and for the thousands who have not had the blessing of the physical presence of the Master, here is an opportunity to do so!

In expressing his magical moments with Pujya Gurudev, Swamiji wishes the readers many such moments in their inner journey, at every point of which Pujya Gurudev is with each one of us.