Changing the Undercurrent

Dear Readers,

My name is Wolfgang Shatriya. I am of German descent and I have been living under the guidance of Swami for the last 20 years. I know this is a big stretch, but God literally transformed a monk into a fashion model and made me travel the globe to work in this glamorous industry for almost 20 years now. In my humble view, Swami deliberately chose this path for me so that I could grow spiritually. This business either makes or breaks one’s character. I had chosen to grow spiritual muscles in an environment where the values of a spiritual life are not much “in fashion.”

At the beginning of my modeling career, when I came to realize what happens behind the scenes of this business with its whirlpool of temptations, I doubted that I was indeed on the right track with my life. So one particular evening before a major fashion show, while some of my colleagues were getting ready, I sat in a corner and prayed to Swami for guidance: Swami, I have a hard time believing that you really want me to work in this “crazy industry!” But Thy will be done! Give me a strong sign that I am on the right track.

His sign came within five minutes! The stylist threw me out of my prayer session, asking me to try my first outfit for this particular runway show. I was given an “orange silk suit!” I was the only model wearing this color and honestly I had never seen such a color on any suit, only on “Swami’s suit.” This was the sign and the encouragement I needed. My mission for Him was indeed to be a model; a “role model” to be precise, for the Lord gave me plenty of challenges to master and tasks to perform in order to make my new assignment meaningful.

One such challenge I am going to narrate to you now. It happened on the island of Mallorca in Spain. It was the summer of 1995. A photographer from Great Britain hired me for catalogue work. So here we were, myself and the crew, working on the beach amidst all the tourists and two German heavyweight family fathers. These gentlemen jumped into the water to cool off. The problem, however, was that one of them had not mastered the art of swimming and got caught by an undercurrent and was dragged further and further away into the sea. His friend tried to help and got caught up himself in this very dangerous current. Their cries for help reached not only their panicking wives and children but every soul on that beach.

I was still in front of the photographer’s camera when these desperate voices hit me hard in my heart! I was reminded of an experience I had 10 years earlier in the south of France when I was about to drown in the Atlantic Ocean and was saved by a lifeguard. I also remembered that since then I trained to be a lifeguard myself! So now was my time to “pay back” and take up my responsibility to save someone else’s life.

I told the crew that I needed to help these men out there. The crew of course was scared that our job might not be completed. I took off my shirt and ran toward the water. To my utter surprise, the photographer decided to accompany me! So we swam out together, splitting the difficult task awaiting us. We both disregarded the rule for lifesavers, however. We should have approached the drowning men from behind, but we didn’t, and so these men gripped our necks and pulled us under water!

Now all four of us were in great danger and the undercurrent showed no mercy. When I was able to free myself from the iron grip of my German “client,” I started to feel very uneasy and helpless, watching how he was starting to swallow water and sink, almost unconscious. I hardly had any strength left in my bones. All I could do in this moment was to pray: “Swami help!”

From the depths of my heart and soul these words flew in no time over the ocean to the Avatar, who decided to intervene on the spot: the undercurrent made a180 degrees turn! We all were lifted up by some Divine hand working underwater, providing what felt like a “floating carpet” and it felt like we were carried toward the beach. All of a sudden it was so easy for me as well as the photographer to support the German tourists and swim them into safety.

Doctors were present to do first aid for these fathers, while the children and wives as well as the tourists celebrated the “lifesavers!” I am afraid that I was the only person on that beach who truly knew who deserved to be celebrated as the hero! Our Swami is indeed the Master Controller, changing the undercurrents when He deems it necessary!

Om Sai Ram!!

~ Wolfgang Shatriya
New York, USA