I set off for London where a group of us were going to catch a train to Paris. There was a sense of beauty in the air -- there always is when we have a chance to see Master. There was also an inexplicable joy, playfulness and a lack of worries.

My intention of going to Paris was to serve. When I went to Los Angeles I just enjoyed the retreat, but this time I wanted to help others by being a security guard or doing anything else that was required. I wanted to put my own interests and comforts last.

In Paris, on the day of the jewelry exhibition, Master arrived at Her display booth in the afternoon. There were several hundred people there also. She looked splendid! She explained about the designs and their meaning -- it was so joyful. I was standing there and suddenly I felt a wave of intense gratitude rushing through my body. I had to hold myself up. My face quivered and tears of inexpressible gratitude streamed from my eyes. The experience made me feel very humble.

The following day was quite long. There was a group meditation and an all day initiation. Later in the afternoon while everyone was meditating, Master came in and spoke to us. I was sitting at the back and I asked Master a question. During the most blissful moments of my meditation I had been sending love and kind thoughts to Her in an effort to help ease Her suffering. I asked if this was a good way to do it. Master was very happy. She thanked me for my kind thoughts and threw me a rose. It was so beautiful. She explained that whenever we send a loving thought to anyone, that person receives it. I felt as if those thoughts had materialized into the beautiful rose as I looked at it. I noticed how pure my gaze was. I looked at Master in the same way, it was like when a baby looks at its mother in a pure, innocent way. It felt so good. Before we returned home I invited Master to the UK.

Oxford is a very good place, there are many seasoned practitioners and we have regular group meditations. It wasn't long before we got news that Master would come to London, where we had organized group meditations. When Master came to see us, She looked healthy and happy. Some new initiates had never seen Master in person before, so they were very happy and asked Her some very entertaining questions.

We all felt very blissful due to Master's visit and during the time we spent with Her we all learned some very important and valuable lessons. I have personally learned that the best way to progress quickly in spirit, is to selflessly help others until it becomes part of one's nature. Also when we make a mistake due to the ego or temptation, we need to pick yourselves up again and carry on, like when you are singing a song and you sing just one word incorrectly, you just need to continue and finish the song, instead of getting stuck there -- worrying and blaming oneself. We need to be the Master of ourselves -- strong and noble. We are only weak when you choose to be. Sickness or struggles actually help us to rediscover our immense strength. Most limitations are self imposed.

The last lesson was a very special blessing from Master that made me realize that I am totally free; that life is a series of choices for me to decide.