Introduction

Let yourself be silently drawn
by the stronger pull of what
you really love.
--Rumi

In 1978 David and I met for the first time on a meditation retreat. There was a hint of soul recognition in the eyes when we were introduced by friends, but nothing could have prepared us for the changes ahead.  Six months later, in the spring of 1979, the river of life brought us together again.  Our worlds exploded.  We fell deeply in love.  It was a profound catalyst and would change almost every aspect of our lives.

Along with the ecstasy of coming together was the heartbreak of saying goodbye to loved ones, as we were both married at the time.  Also, though we had only met recently, both of us had been students of the same spiritual teacher for many years.  Somehow the intensity of our coming together synchronized with a need to say farewell to this teaching.  Its emphasis on meditation as the sole means to enlightenment no longer spoke to the heart of our relationship and the tandem journey on which we now found ourselves.  We grieved the loss of spiritual family and the affection we felt for our teacher, but there was no turning back.

At times our new love was disorienting, like being in a boat on the high seas. But a master plan was beginning to reveal itself. This new love was helping to mend a split—albeit an invisible one—at the very core of our hearts.