The Eckankar Journal: Personal Experiences in the Light and Sound of God
The following story is from the 2008 Eckankar Journal, an annual collection of real-life accounts of spiritual experiences, written by members of Eckankar. Recent issues of the Eckankar Journal can be requested online via this Web site at Eckankar Books.
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Wrapped in the Arms of Love
A Woman Escapes Death through the Protection of the Inner Master
By DJ
It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and I was so happy. I was on my way to an Eckankar seminar, and my heart was full of love. As I drove, I sang HU, the ancient and sacred name of God, and imagined myself peacefully in the presence of my inner guide, the Mahanta.
As traffic rounded a curve, I noticed a large semitruck in the lane next to me.
Suddenly the driver lost control of the vehicle. The truck began to tip onto its side, right on top of my little car.
This can't be happening! I thought. It's not real!
The truck landed on my car, crushing it. A loud crunching noise filled the air as the windshield shattered.
In that instant, the back of my car seat abruptly gave way, and I fell flat on my back.
Soon everything was silent. Unable to move, I lay sandwiched between the seat and roof of my car.
Then I heard an awful grinding noise.
Barely supported by the car's smashed roof, the weight of the truck was slowly sinking down on top of me.
I was about to be crushed to death.
Terrified, I tried to stay calm as the weight pressed down on my chest. It became very hard to breathe.
As frightened as I was, I trusted that God's loving presence still protected me. Miraculously, my body felt whole, and I thanked the Mahanta, the Inner Master, for being alive.
Keeping my attention on the HU, a love song to God, I began to call for help.
Again and again I called out, but no one seemed to hear me.
I quickly realized it wasn't just that my voice was faint; no one knew I was there.
Then I smelled gasoline.
For a moment, I wondered what was in store for me—burning to death or being crushed by the weight of the truck. I didn't want either. The Mahanta would help me find a way out.
I continued to sing HU. Somehow, there was a way to get myself free. I asked the Inner Master, "What more can I do?" The answer came immediately.
"Honk the horn!" the Mahanta said.
I hadn't realized I could even reach the horn. Unbelievably I could, and I began to honk and honk. Still, there was no response.
I stopped. "Now what, Mahanta?" I asked.
An answer came again.
"Play a song with the horn," he said.
I smiled. I knew just the song and began to honk "shave and a haircut, two bits." The song has an unmistakable rhythm and would surely get someone's attention.
The response was immediate. A voice shouted, "There's somebody in there!"
I was so grateful and relieved.
All at once there was a lot of movement around the car as people yelled to each other, "Get that stuff off of there! There's a car under here!"
Finally, after being buried under the truck for thirty minutes, I felt someone reach into the car and take my hand with such love and compassion. The man whispered, "Hold on, we'll get you out. Just hold on."
I was saved.
The doctors were amazed to find that my injuries were relatively minor. I escaped with only some cuts and a few compression fractures.
Many people die in accidents like mine. Those who live are often paralyzed or have severe disabilities for the rest of their lives. Later, I learned that if the back of the seat had not suddenly given way, I would have been killed instantly. In my heart I know it was pulled down by unseen hands.
It was the love of the Mahanta and the protection of the HU that saved me. I once again learned that in times of greatest need, the Inner Master is always with me. He will never let me down. I am so grateful to him for all his many gifts of love.
Excerpted from the 2008 Eckankar Journal, copyright © 2007 ECKANKAR. All rights reserved. Illustration by Cynthia Samul.
