Photo by David Jesus Vignolli

We were on a train to Rabat. Franz looked out of the window at the barren and poetic landscape of the desert surrounding us. I took out my old tape recorder, the ones that used K7 tape, and asked him to tell me the story of Sahaja Yoga in Morocco.

Franz: Once we told Shri Mataji about our first encounter with the seekers of Morocco.

One day the Moroccan embassy invited our company to Marrakech for an art fair. We did not tell them that we were Sahaja Yogis as it was a business meeting.

On the first evening, we had dinner with Mohamed and Mustafa. We were talking about handicrafts for some time. Then out of the blue Mohamed asked us a surprising question “Can I tell you a story about Buddha?”

Mohamed went on and told us, full of enthusiasm, the whole story about how Siddhartha became Buddha. And then he asked: “Do you think we can experience such a personality in our lifetime?” We did not expect that question from a Muslim.

I answered: “I believe yes.” He said: “Yes? Really? You know I am asking myself all the time: imagine there is somebody like Buddha walking on the streets. How would people know that this is Buddha? How can one find out if somebody is a real saint like Buddha?”

Hubert said: “We know a technique. With the help of this technique, you can feel vibrations which can tell you if you are in front of a Prophet.”

“You have to show me this technique!” he exclaimed.

It was already 2 a.m., so we made an appointment for the following day. They came to our hotel room. We asked them to sit down while preparing Shri Mataji´s altar, candle, incense, all this. We did not explain anything. We just did the workshop. It took 20 minutes. First, Mohamed was really sweating. We worked on his Nabhi, then Agnya. Agnya was completely blocked, we moved from left to right, and suddenly, there was peace, silence. The Agnya opened. The silence filled the room, and it was so deep that even we were amazed.

For a few minutes, Mohamed was enjoying the Nirvichara. Then he looked at Shri Mataji´s picture and said: “it’s amazing. I have really good communication with this Lady, and I feel completely silent. What is this silence? I have never felt this silence before, but I know that this is the truth”. Later I asked him: “How do you know that this is the truth? What was your idea about that?”

He answered: “My father is a Sufi, and he told me once: if you find something that brings you in total silence, then in this moment you meet God.”

Shri Mataji was very happy to hear the story. She said: “I would like to meet them.”

Then we started the first programs. We invited people to our hotel. One of the first programs was in Marrakech. But we could not do follow-ups. Slowly they found out that S.Y. is a religion. When they read about Shri Mataji, it was clear to them that it was something higher. They got scared and did not come again.

In 1996 Shri Mataji asked me again about Mohamed and the Moroccans, and I told Her: “Mother, they are afraid because of the society, and they stop meditating.” Shri Mataji replied: “As long as they have fear, I cannot help them.”

Since then we have come 5 or 6 times every year. Again and again, we started to do new programs, find new places, distribute flyers and invite people. We had ten people, sometimes 15 or 30. They followed meditation for some time, and then they disappeared.

Interview with Franz Mekyna on a train to Rabat in 2006

Transcription and editing: Leela Jesus Vignolli