I grew up in a christian faith in a very intensely religious family. I knew I was different from as far back as I can remember, I saw the world differently (like in more detail and color) than everyone else. I connected with nature in a physical way. I later learned that I could see subtle energies just as someone sees colors. But always being able to see them, I had no way of knowing that what I saw, others could not. Over time, I learned I could see energy emanating from everything and how it related to everything around it. I experienced that I could change how that energy moved by changing little things in the environment. These talents made me excel in design work. It was all just common sense to me but was highly valuable to others. But I could never explain accuracy what I saw and what I was doing. I lacked the vocabulary and the fact that most would think I was off my rocker. So, I was different. Living in a world that had too many limitations and rules.
I was operating an aquatic (pond-plants and goldfish) nursery in Salt Lake City. My business partner was incredibly cool but couldn’t grasp the idea of the difference between a hobby and a business. I wanted profit, he wanted to play. I had a friend from way back approach me with a business plan to open a nursery in Tooele, Utah. He already had an operational nursery in Heber City, Utah, but by combining the two, we could operate on a larger basis and combine orders and create a larger profit margin. He even had the capitol for me to start up. I left SLC and moved out to Tooele and open a nursery.
I had a friend that was coming out of the closet and going through a divorce. He was behind on his house payments and I needed a place to live. I suggested that I rent the lower half of the house so he could catch up on his back mortgage. It was through him that I met a new friend. My roommate and my new friend dated for several months. He would come down and talk to me when he came out for “visits” and we would have some amazing conversations. I had never met anyone who could grasp the concepts that so easily came to me. Eventually my roommate broke up with him but we became great friends; nothing ever sexual, just a brotherly bond.
One weekend I was with in SLC and was driving around in his car. There was this hummm in the background. I asked what it was. He turned off the radio. I turned it back on and up. I again asked what it was, he turned it off and just said it was a chant. “Asshole, leave it on!” as I turned it back on. It vibrated through me like electricity; I could see the interweaving pattern of voices forming a mandala in the air around me. After having to wrestle the information out of him, he explained the HU and that he followed a radical spiritual path called ECKANKAR. He said it wasn’t for everyone and that he was cautious with whom he shared it. Of course, that just made it more fascinating. He invited me to come into a worship service. It left off there for several months.
Then I had a dream. Well, more than a dream, it was so real.
I was on a very steep mountainside. There was a narrow path like what deer or animals would leave or look like. the sides of the trail were so steep that you could lean up against the mountain. And it was a drop-off forever on the opposite side. I’m kind of freaked out by heights so I quickly became panicked. I could lean against the mountain and make my way along the small path, but I never went anywhere. It seemed just to loop around on itself as I kept trying to make my way forward. By now I was beyond panicked and reaching terror state. I needed off this mountain—NOW! I screamed out for someone, “HELP!!!”
Then a hand gently touched my shoulder. Startled I rapidly turned around while trying not to slide off the edge. A bald man in robes stood calmly before me. Okay . . . weird that there was man standing there, but even more weird was his calm demeanor. Then I looked in his eyes and instantly became calm.
Such presence. Such understanding. Such Love! He softly asked what I needed? Duh, looking around, “off this mountain side!” He simply said, “Follow me.” He turned around and started walking back down the path I had just come along. But there was no sign of fear of falling and his bare feet were completely surefooted. As we rounded the corner, a beautiful city lay beneath us tucked into the rock crevices of the mountain. I looked in wonder at the idea of how anyone could have built such a city in the mountains, let alone, “How in the hell did I miss this coming around the mountain???”
We made our way into the city and up to a beautiful white marble octagon-shaped domed building. Incredible flower gardens surrounded the building and hummingbirds danced from flower to flower. Being a horticulturist, I was in astonishment that even the various flowers were growing in this place where they surly couldn’t. We walked up the stone steps into and through one of the eight huge open arches and into a vast building.
Towards the center was a lower level that could be accessed from several sides. A group of people sat on cushions on the floor as another man spoke with them. There was an incredibly bright orb floating in the center that filled the room with radiant light. My guide, calling my attention from the interior of the room, turned my attention back through the opening we had just entered. Expecting to see the gardens, it now looked out over countless stars and galaxies—the cosmos lay before me. Pointing to a row of gold inlaid symbols running around the entire interior of the building directly above the arches and beneath the dome, he spoke again by simply saying, “Look.” As I would look at a symbol, it would detach from the wall and float out and into me. BAM! I was filled with knowledge, immense knowledge. After what seemed like an eternity, I looked back at him. He smiled and said, “Now you remember.”
I woke up. Or did I. Maybe I went to sleep and I haven’t woken up yet. It was that real.
How do you live with something like that? It swirled around in my consciousness 24/7. I was even afraid to go back to sleep. What did it mean? Who do you talk to about something so fantastic? Only one person came to mind: my friend. But he is a hard one to pin down. I tried calling him and eventually caught him. Didn’t have the opportunity to tell him the dream but I did get out that I needed (very badly) to really have his entire attention and tell him about an experience I had. He said come into worship services this coming Sunday and we will talk afterwards. Okay.
I didn’t even know what to wear? I had an address and dressed up somewhat nice and headed into SLC. He is always late. So, I sat in my truck and waited for him to show up. As I did, all kinds of people, seemly nothing in common arrived and went inside. At least I wasn’t underdressed. Then he arrived in a mass of bags, scarfs and lateness. He hurried me inside and instantly informed me that he had a meeting and I was to attend a group of people that he shoved me onto and left. They warmly greeted me and I said my name was Christopher. Now most of the time, everyone automatically calls me Chris, but I prefer Christopher. Not one of them ever referred to me a Chris.
They took their time acquainting me to what they were doing and who they were. We sang HU together for a short time. I just watched the energy swirl in the room trying not to laugh at how badly they were out of tune with each other. But it was amazing. One lady explained, in a very Boston accent, that they were studding a new ECK book called, “Those Wonderful ECK Masters.” Another passed out a handout. As I open the handout, the man in my dreams predominated the page. I began to rapidly read the handout. My heart was racing and my mind was swirling. Then I noticed the silence. The entire group was staring at me. Unknowingly, I was crying. The leader of the group asked, “Christopher! What’s wrong?” I said they wouldn’t believe me if I told them but I had a dream with this man. Oh!, they believed me! As I related the story to them, one of the group members got up and went into a little library room. He came back out with pictures of the place I had been. I stared at the picture speechless. I had met Yaubl Sacabi in the spiritual city of Agam Des in the Hindu Kush Mountains in Tibet and was invited into the Gare-Hira Temple of Golden Wisdom.
Holy Shit!!!!!
It couldn’t be something I just made up. I had related too much information and it was too accurate. I started attending ECK meetings from then on. It took me awhile to join but that is another story.
