By Rimly Bezbaruah

Think positive, and positive things will happen to you. I have often been told by friends and well wishers whenever I have been down in the dumps, when even to think of something good seemed so impossible.

We all know that the universe is all energy so when we give out positive energy we have positive things happening in our lives, think negative we get negativity, and think serious and all serious situations come into our lives. You hurt someone that hurt comes back to you tenfold. I took this logic at face value till very recently. I would force myself to think happy thoughts in my darkest of days which was a herculean task, hoping that some ray of sunshine would come into my life. I don't know if that worked but I still attempted for happiness.

Then I came across this book by Rhonda Byrne called 'The Power'. It is a sequel to 'The Secret' which has been made into a movie. She more or less says the same thing; that the universe is governed by the Law of Attraction, so if you give love you get back love. But what got my attention was the chapter she talks about money. She says if you give money with love you get back money double fold, whether it is to pay your bills or paying for some services done give it with love in your heart. If you feel good about money you can attract more money. If you don't feel good about money you repel it, is exactly what Rhonda says in her book. It doesn't matter what financial state you are in, the better you feel about money the more money you magnetize to yourself.

It was something new and difficult to digest. My money was dwindling and I was beginning to worry. Bills had to be paid besides the daily expenses of food, school tuition, and transport. I had to think about my son's future, his college. I was beginning to panic. Is it possible that if have good thoughts about money, I will be rewarded with money When I sign a cheque for my sky rocketing phone bills should I feel love and hand over the cheque to the phone company without any bitterness and angst?

What happened that day was just by chance. I had been meaning to visit the Shirdi Sai Baba temple for a long time but somehow due to circumstances and time constraints the trip kept getting postponed. That morning my cousin brother informed me that he was going to take me to the temple. I was thrilled. I got ready early morning looking forward to seeing this place that I had heard so much about.

As we took to the hilly terrain I realized I just had about two ten rupees notes in my purse. I didn't voice my predicament thinking that my cousin will surely have money on him and I can borrow from him once I reach the temple. We entered the venerated chamber where Shirdi Sai Baba's statue was placed and a puja was underway. After praying we came out of the main temple. We saw devotees lighting diyas and incense sticks outside. I too wanted to light a diya each for all my loved ones so I asked my cousin if he could lend me some money and to my dismay and his we realized he had just a couple of coins on him.

I emptied my purse of all the money I had and bought four diyas and a box of incense sticks. As my cousin and I lit them I told god, 'This is all I have God and I give it to you gladly for I know you will replenish me again'. I felt a kind of peace and I just knew that I no longer had to worry about money. I gave away all that I had to Him.

On our journey back my cousin stopped at his bank to draw some money. I decided to sit in the car. I kept thinking of what Rhonda Byrne said about money and sending love to the world. When you see strangers on the streets look into their eyes and send love. I thought Why not consciously feel good about money and let me see if it works Just then I happened to see a beggar. He was attired in saffron clothing and had a small trident in his hand. He squatted on the pavement on my side of the car. I couldn't help wondering about this old shriveled man.

Who was he, did he have a family, a home, is he really a man of god with his grey beard and attire or was he just another beggar. Was he always a beggar or some misfortune led him to become one As these thought ran in my mind I saw that he pulled out a bundle of crushed ten rupee note from a pouch stitched in the inner lining of his lungi. He placed the notes in a bathing mug and slowly started counting them, straightening each note. I prayed in my mind that he has enough money to buy him food always, I sent out love. He finished counting them and then he took out a neatly rolled hundred rupee notes from the same pouch. I felt a sense of relief. Thank god today he has enough to survive in this harsh world, at least for a few days. There was a sense of peace and well being in me. By sending well wishes to this stranger I felt love in me.

Soon my cousin and I were on our way home. I told him what I saw and what I prayed for that beggar. We were still musing about it when I get a call from my mom. The first thing she says, You went to see Shridi Sai Baba and look Baba has sent you money. The money you had saved at the post office has finally come. For a minute I couldn't speak. I wasn't expecting this money so soon but the fact that it had come I could breathe easy for awhile regarding my financial state. I was so relieved.

Was that a coincidence? I don't know. Was it because I had prayed with all my heart for that beggar? Or was it because I emptied my purse in the temple with love believing that money will come to me? I have no answer. But what I learnt that day was that faith and belief works miracles and love will give you only love and all the things you want in life.

"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." Mother Teresa