Learning to follow my intuition

When a person becomes conscious of seeking the higher light, divine serendipity makes magic. In 2001, Saranyu Pearson, a homeopathic veterinarian, had just changed jobs, moving to a veterinary clinic across a café owned by students of Sri Chinmoy. She took their free meditation classes—and off she went on her unique spiritual journey of self-discoveries. 

Q: How do you incorporate meditation into daily living?

I was lucky to be very excited about this change in my life, and found little difficulty trying meditation early every morning. I was on a high from these morning meditations, which helped sustain my enthusiasm, as they fitted in with my early morning routine at the time. I certainly understand this is not always the case. It has been more difficult over time to maintain this enthusiasm and routine. However, it comes down to disciplining myself (in positive ways to reap the benefits of meditation) and prioritising meditation with the awareness and confidence that my day will be a whole lot easier and happier if I continue with my morning meditation. 

Many people think the benefits of meditation have to be immediate; sometimes they are. I’ve learned to understand, too, that these benefits can follow on many days or weeks after meditation has been an essential motivation for continued practice. I am now in the privileged position of meditating more often during my workday — which brings considerable advantage to my skills as a veterinarian. It helps to keep me calm, focused, and open. In addition, it has helped me in communicating with my patients to provide them with relevant treatments so they can benefit in healing and maintaining animal wellness.

Q: How do you follow insights from your meditation? 

Meditation or its resulting outcome, inform every important decision and action in a natural way for me. The trick is to allow the mind to trust the process. It’s a two-way conversation with yourself, where the inner advice, direction, or inspiration has its own inner checks and balances, so you know with little doubt what you’re doing is right. (You sure feel it when it’s not, and can make amends.) I often find myself doing things I haven’t planned. These things always turn out good, especially doing for others when they’re needing or hurting most, and I wasn’t outwardly aware of their needs. 

The most practical ways I follow insights in my work as a homeopathic veterinarian is to allow and follow my intuition and insights in completely necessary and natural ways. I know this ability definitely comes from my connection to my spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, from meditating under his guidance. Over time, I’ve found myself spontaneously saying “yes” to invitations and opportunities that “just” happen to come along.

Q: How has your meditation with Sri Chinmoy has deepened over time? 

I have sought more opportunity to immerse my being in spiritual pursuits through our Sri Chinmoy Centre activities to access these blessings, as they unfold. For instance, the global Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run and the multiday races organised by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team are unique opportunities to immerse in the highest consciousness, for as long as possible. These are ongoing transformative events increasing my capacities, from deepening my spiritual experiences over time.

I also feel I have changed at many levels of self, with benefits from my meditation practice filtering through my body and my life—providing access to deeper experiences strengthening my entire being, in reaching out to family and community. Over time, I realize my meditation and spiritual practice inform my whole existence in the very best ways, and in ways that I cannot ever imagine not having.

Q: What meaningful changes has meditation made in your outer life?

Meditation sharpens what most people refer to as conscience. This means you don’t need to think as hard using your mind about important decisions, but simply make time to meditate on and ask the question inwardly, then apply the answer outwardly. Of course, it’s not always an immediate answer. This practice has taught me patience.

Meditation expands your awareness, and provides the vision to make changes in your life and for your community. Inspiration from my meditation has resulted in my starting community projects to prepare people for climate change emergencies we’re facing. We grow our own food in back and front yards, and share produce with our neighbours. I teach older women who are not physically active, how to move their bodies better and to run, cycle or walk—instead of driving to the store. I’ve become more confident in advocating for changes in governance to better serve the environment and all living things with whom we share Mother Earth. These are all satisfying experiences brought about through my daily spiritual practice developing over time.

Q: Do you feel your meditation-life has opened up new avenues of awareness or transcendence?

I’ve had myriad experiences from over seventeen years of meditating with Sri Chinmoy. Running through these sweet stories is the constant theme of inner joy or satisfaction. In realising these encounters have not been of my own making, but blessings bestowed by a Higher Power.

My experiences run the gamut. Such as the capacity to run a six-day race and feeling happy, with only a practice run of completing my first 24-hour race only the month before. Offering gratitude prayers answered for loved ones in need, from the mundane passing of examinations to life-changing choices of school or vocation. 

It has not been easy being a single parent with two, now young adult, children. However, the strength I obtain in all facets of life through my spiritual practices continues to keep our family on track. I see clearly now, my son’s acceptance into an excellent school that perfectly met his needs, was really an act of Grace since we had missed the cutoff date and bypassed the waiting list. My daughter is encouraged to follow her heart in becoming an artist, from trusting the heart’s inner messages. My decision to study further and enhance my veterinary skills was also an inner message that has proven to be life-changing in the best of ways.

I also notice deep spiritual experiences often revolve around death experiences for many people. This is a direct experience of the soul since with death the rest of the body is no longer interfering with the Soul’s Light. Like my Dad appearing after his death to berate me, in jest, for not telling him about my life with Sri Chinmoy, and to thank me for it. My Mum coming to share many special moments of my spiritual life over many weeks, after she died unexpectedly. All of these are deeply personal and soulful experiences that can only be appreciated with an awareness of how natural our soul-connections are between the inner and the outer life - that meditation unfolds profoundly to seekers, simply and sweetly.

My meditation has given me access to communication with souls of people and animals - and the equanimity to accept such experiences as perfectly natural. For example, feeling an inexplicable joy in the unexpected death of my beloved cat that can only be my soul’s joy, since I was left outwardly bereft. 

Q: What would you give as an example of your outer self-enhancement enriched by meditation? 

I’ve never really thought of myself as possessing outer self-enhancement but I do believe, at my best, look younger than I am! I certainly attract many compliments for my physical sporting abilities. I’ve a very grateful client base genuinely appreciating my advice in caring for their animals and family members. I know not all vets can tell what animals are saying to them. 

Perhaps the most significant enhancement is my ability to celebrate simple joys, to appreciate what I have, and to be grateful. Acquiring inner peace through meditation is the alpha and omega of our existence. Without a deep abiding inner peace, there can be nothing else. Whilst far from achieving this goal completely, I do have enough filtering through from my daily meditation practice to give me hope that what I am getting is what I need for now.