July 7, Utpal: An Inner Lesson
5 years ago today, on July 7 2010, both Atmavir and Baladev received their spiritual names. For spiritual seekers receiving a name is perhaps their most precious possession. A way of defining themselves in the outer world with a tangible reminder of an inner identity trying always to come to the fore.
“It was on a day when I was also having some problems like this. I had to stop the race and they took me to see Dr. Kumar and than I came back.”
When he arrived one of the race directors handed him an envelop and told him, “you have received a spiritual name.” He stopped for a while to meditate and says, “I was so happy. That I got my name here at the race. For us runners it is a privilege to get it here. Atmavir means hero’s soul. It is he who has a mighty soul and will attain the absolute.”
He says that he chants his name often when he runs. “It helps me a lot.”
