Engaging with Hindus: Sheela's story

This is an extract from the recently published Engaging with Hindus.

I was born in India but when I was eighteen, I went to Kenya to be married. In 1966 the whole family left Kenya and came to Britain. We found it very difficult coming to a strange country and adjusting to the different lifestyle.

I was a practising Hindu but was finding that Hinduism did not satisfy me. I started searching for an answer to my difficulties. One day I shouted out to God: “Please come and help me”.

Shortly afterwards, a friend suggested I try the Radha Soamis (a popular spiritual path led by Gurinder Singh Dhillon). My whole family went to their headquarters at Beas in the Indian Punjab. I took an oath not to eat meat or eggs. The Master gave me a mantra on which to meditate. I repeated it daily for two and a half hours but still didn’t have peace and security. Then I began to think: “I became a Radha Soami to receive peace. If I haven’t got it, I have been cheated.” I asked God: “I do all the correct things. Why haven’t I got peace?”

I went to visit my son, who told me he had become a Christian and invited me to church. I said, “No”. But he left a Bible on the table in the sitting room. I started to read it and at once it interested me. After two weeks I wanted to go to church. I found it very different from what I had imagined. The people were so caring and friendly.

When I returned home, I started to read the Bible regularly. Very, very slowly I began to understand. I had no sudden dramatic experience. Two years later I was baptised. I was afraid to tell my in-laws what I had done. But my behaviour changed and they saw I was different. Eventually I told them why. At first they totally ignored me. Then they got very angry. But finally when they saw I was happy, they accepted what I had done.

I now have peace and security. I pray and get so many answers. I don’t ask for money and things like that. I pray that God will use me.