10/6/14

Shri Pattabhiram at Arya Samaj Mississauga

Shri Pattabhiram at Arya Samaj Mississauga! Presentation on Antar Dharshan (Science of knowing oneself) and Family Harmony. 

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3.

Part 3 of 3.

9/23/14

Navratri Anushtana

Navratri

Meditate on "Newness" (Nava) in the "Dark Nights" (Ratri)


Navaratri is a festivity of nine (Nava) nights when the Divine vibrations of Great Mother – Lalitha is in the highest sensitivity filled with compassion to grace every soul to embark upon the spiritual journey during these nine days.

Most of the time the whole life looks bleak filled with despair, confusion, conflict and occasionally rare moments of joy. Such a mechanised, dull and burdensome life lacks purpose. We have to break this cycle of monotonous  un-rhythmic days and nights and create space within for the transformation to happen.

Divine Mother Lalitha the brightest charming light, the treasure of knowledge, the essence of absolute freedom, the grace of prosperity, harmony and enthusiasm is the centre which is “New”, “Fresh” and “Ever expanding filled with joy”. This eternal sacred centre should be our hope, refuge and guide in the dark nights of our journey.

Let us invoke the benevolent grace of Newness - Lalitha filled with grace, rhythm and wisdom. Let us connect with that centre - Lalitha firmly by doing Navaratri Anushtana. (Sep 24th - Oct 3rd)

May you and your family be blessed by Divine Mother.

With yogic fragrance

Pattabhi & Jyothi


Practice Sequence:

1. Assume a comfortable posture. Keep the body still till the end of the practice. 

2. Relax the body completely.

3. Focus on Sushumna for 3 minutes. 

4. Come to Guru Chakra. Feel the presence of Bhole Baba (Swami Rama). Meditate there with the special mantra (8 times) 

“OM HREEM GURUDEVAAYA NAMAHA” 

Seek the blessings of Bhole Baba. 


5. Come to Anahada Chakra (Heart). Feel the presence of Divine Mother in her blissful, graceful and benevolent form. 

6. Meditating on The Mother, Chant a minimum of 108 times everyday.:

"Om Aim Hreem Shreem Lalitha Maha Tripurasundaryai Namaha " 

(ओम एम ह्रीं श्रीम ललिता महात्रिपुरसुन्दर्यै नमः ) 

7. Chant with intent feeling that Divine Mother is present and remember the meaning and the message above.

8. After completing japa, come out of meditation by chanting the prayer:

OM SARVE BHAVANTHU SUKHINAHA 

SARVE SANTHU NIRAAMAYAAHA 

SARVE BHADRAANI PASHYANTHU 

MAA KASHCHIT DUKHA BHAAG BHAVETH 

LOKAA SAMASTHAA SUKHINO BHAVANTHU 

LOKAA SAMASTHAA SUKHINO BHAVANTHU 

SAMASTHA SAN MANGALAANI BHAVANTHU 

OM TAT SAT

9/5/14

SUNSAT with Guruji

Dear All:

SUNSAT 12 was conducted by Guruji himself on August 17, 2014 at Prof.Iyerji's residence. Guruji emphasized mainly on Saakshi Bhaava i.e., whatever is happening to you and through you is not YOU. Meaning, the processes are happening but you are not the process. What we have to do is to just detach ourselves from the process and look at the process.

Satsang with Guruji Pattabhiram 

Satsang with Guruji Pattabhiram

Full audio of Guruji's discourse can be downloaded from here:

SUNSAT 13 went on as usual. We wanted to play Gurudev's audio and follow the instructions. But since the audio was not available on time for the SATSANG we continued with the old format.

SUNSAT 14: We could get the audio of Gurudev and we played it and followed the instructions. Gurudev suggested us to do Sumeru Dhyana till November, 2014. Accordingly we prepared an audio file of Gurudev's Sumeru Dhyana programme. It is about 50 minutes and the remaining 10 minutes we chanted Hanuman Chalisa and dispersed. We will stick to this format till November, as suggested by Gurudev.

The group felt happy as we were all guided by the voice of Gurudev for 50 minutes. 

N. Narayanan, Delhi
Vande Guru Paramparam

Vande Guruparamparam

8/26/14

Guruji - US & Canada Tour details

Dear All,

Guruji has reached US safely and he would be travelling to following places in Canada & US for public programmes. You may please share these details with your family & friends in these locations to attend the program & get benefited. For any query regarding program details, venue, times etc., respective location coordinators provided below can be contacted.

Guruji Pattabhiram
Guruji’s Itinerary 2014:

Aug 18 – 27 (JACKSONVILLE)
Padma Sikaria - Ph: 904 471 3040

Sep 3 - 12 (MINNEAPOLIS)
Shivani & Vidyotham - Ph: 763-221-9281
Sushmi - Ph: 612 710 2453

Sep 13 – Oct 3 (Toronto)
Vijay Muthukrishnan / Bhanu - Ph: 905 591 2382
Leena / Sanjiwan Bhole - Ph: 416 221 6626

Oct 4 – Oct 5 (Kincardine)
Kalpana Pandita Rao - Ph: 519 396 9874

Oct 6 – 16 (CALGARY)
Murugavel Kannan - Ph: 587 586 1500

Oct 6 – 16 (COLOMBUS, GEORGIA)
Dr. Ramesh Rao - Ph 706 478 0570

Oct 20 – Nov 5 (NEW JERSEY)
Suresh Paliwal - Ph: 732 274 9068
Vinod & Neelam Chaudhry- Ph. 732-906-9795
Subhadra Mattai - Ph: 732 887 7188

Jai Gurudev, Vande Guruparamparam...

8/19/14

SUNAT with Jyothi Ma - SUNSAT series 11


As Jyothi Maa was in Delhi the 11th SUNSAT was led by Amma.

Sadhakas assembled at the house of Shri Vasanth Pandey and the Satsanga was slightly advanced to 7 am as yesterday was Raksha Bandan.

The group was given guided meditation by Amma using Tattawa Shuddhi technique, which was enjoyed by all.

After the meditation Amma briefly touched upon the significance and need for Satsanga.  She said:

“Left to ourselves, we will not be disciplined to do the practices given by the Spiritual Masters. Therefore, we need to come together as a group, at least once in a week, to do the practices taught. It is the Grace that delivers us. No doubt. But that should not be construed to convey that no human effort is needed in the evolution of a human being.

Satsang with Jyothi Ma


The fruits of whatever action we have done in the past (here past includes countless previous births also) has to be enjoyed by us. It is here that the faith of a disciple in the Guru will be tested and it is quite possible that the disciple move away from the Guru. Because, when the disciple undergoes his / her karmas and feel helpless, and feels that no help is forthcoming from the Guru, who is looked upon as nothing but God, the natural tendency is to move away. But remember for a fact that it is the Guru’s Grace which is unseen that acts as the protecting hand in the most trying circumstances of a disciple’s life.

This may sound very simple and insignificant when put in words and the mind will say that I will never move away from my Guru and I am totally devoted to him; but a disciple should understand that these trying moments will shake the faith to the core. It is only Satsanga that will come to the rescue of a disciple during such a phase.

The hallmark of any Spiritual Master, if you observe carefully, is love and compassion. These are the traits of Sattva Guna. Till such time a Sadhaka attains this trait of Sattva Guna, i.e., love and compassion, the sadhaka has not perfected his / her sadhana and he / she needs to be in the company of spiritual aspirants – Satsangis.

For the above two reasons Satsanga is a must for every spiritual aspirant. The word ‘Sat’ in Satsanga refers to the Sattva Guna of Spiritual Masters that I referred to above.

In the Siddha Tradition (Himalayan Tradition is also a Siddha Tradition) the Guru does nothing and the disciple also does not do anything. Both Guru and disciple simply sit together and do nothing. But the fundamental criteria for a person to be accepted as disciple is unconditional surrender to the Guru. Then, in that doing nothing, everything happens through the Guru.

Satsung with Jyothi Ma


Satsanga is one such occasion where the Guru and the disciple sit together, doing nothing, but allowing everything to happen for the spiritual upliftment of the disciple.

Therefore, it is my earnest request that please do not ignore the Satsanga. You somehow or the other find time, one hour, for this activity and it is my promise that you are going to experience progress in your spiritual sadhana.”

With this affirmation the Satsanga concluded with a happy note.

N. Narayanan, Delhi
Vande Guru Paramparam

Vande Guruparamparam


8/11/14

Tattwa Shuddhi - Day 3


Tattwa Shuddhi – Day 3
10 August, 2014, Sunday

It rained heavily during the afternoon because of which the evening was cloudy but it was humid and sultry.

Jyothi Madam started today’s session by explaining very briefly about the 36 tattwas of which we are made up of. She was telling that there is no need to go deep in to all the 36 tattwas and it is enough if we have a broad idea of what they are. (Please see chart below for reference)

36 Tattwas - Tattwa Shuddhi
As she was explaining about the Tattwas I was wondering the perfect hierarchy that functions within us and how, if there is disturbance at any level, whether the lower level of the hierarchy or the higher, the entire system gets disturbed. It is a wonderful management principle and if we learn to become a good manager of our inner being, I am sure we will be excellent managers in the outside world !

I was wonderstruck when I realized the spread of Tattwa Shuddhi starting from the grossest tattwa till the Ishwara tattwa in us. Just imagine then how important it is for us to do Tattwa Shuddhi if we are really serious to know who we are beyond the body–mind–intellect combine.

Every day when we do tattwa shuddhi all the 36 tattwas gets cleansed. We will not be touching individually each and every one of the 36 tattwas while practicing. We will be using only 5 yantras and the corresponding 5 bheejakshara mantras. But with this 5 we will be cleansing all the 36 tattwas.

Madam was explaining even when we touch the Ishwara Tattwa, that state is not 100% pure state. But with human effort we can reach only up to that state and beyond that it is purely Grace that has to work for the Mega Merger to happen. Mega Merger of the Jivaatma with Paramaatma. This Mega Merger will be possible when Shiva and Shakti commune with each other and this communion happens purely by Shiva’s Iccha Shakti.

With this background Madam took us all through the practice session. During today’s practice Madam was taking us through the yantra – mantra practice taught on the first day but today she taught us to merge one tattwa into the other. For example, we start with the Prthvi Tattwa and ascend to Aakasha Tattwa and after that we again come back to Prthvi Tattwa and move up to Aapa Tattwa and in Aapa Tattwa we merge the Prthvi Tattwa. From Aapa Tattwa we move up and come to Agni Tattwa and staying in Agni Tattwa we merge Aapa Tattwa (remember Aapa Tattwa is now Prthvi + Aapa). Then we move to Vaayu Tattwa and in Vaayu Tattwa we merge the Agni Tattwa (Agni Tattwa is Agni + Aapa + Prthvi) and finally we merge all the Tattwas into Aakasha Tattwa. This way we dissolve all the Tattwas into Aakasha Tattwa.


Madam was telling that Guru is part of Aakasha Tattwa. Staying in Aakasha Tattwa we have to let ourselves loose. From here it is an unpiloted journey and from here on Guru takes charge of us.

Jyothi Ma on Tattwa Shuddhi

Jyothi Madam summed up Tattwa Shuddhi and remarked that 3 days is practically impossible to impart Tattwa Shuddhi but she somehow completed the syllabus. But during practice we could experience ‘no mind’ state when we merged all the Tattwas into Aakasha Tattwa and suspended ourselves there in Aakasha Tattwa. It was a wonderful experience to be in a state where you can listen to the instructions, and your mind follows it, yet you realize that you are not putting any effort in listening or following the instructions. You are simply observing that these things are happening in you, including the observation that you are observing !! This may sound confusing when expressed in words but Tattwa Shuddhi definitely bestows this state to the practitioner.

Happy Sadhana,
N. Narayanan
SST Delhi Chapter 

8/10/14

Tattwa Shuddhi - Day 2

Tattwa Shuddhi Day 2 Aug 9

Today Jyothi Madam started the lecture by helping the participants to understand how rich our Indian culture is and how sad it is that we are losing touch with them rapidly.

She said,

We all think that religion, rituals, spirituality, etc., they are all different from each other. But in reality they all lead to one source, i.e., Tantra.

Our Masters were so advanced, they realized that the ways of the mind are innumerable and therefore devised many methods and ensured that the mind is not allowed to escape from the reality which is that we are nothing but the Primordial Energy. Primordial Energy is nothing but Spanda (In Kashmiri Saivism) or Vibrations.

Tattwa Shuddhi - Jyothi Ma

As we have seen yesterday, Tattwa Shuddhi employs Mandala (Idol worship), Yantra (abstract images using lines like square, triangle, circle, etc.) and Mantra (potential sound vibrations) to clean ourselves. This cleaning is essential if meditation has to happen us. Meditation can happen only when we can train our body and mind to be still and observe itself. This sitting still is a struggle for us because we are not able to come out of body consciousness and the mind is scattered and is on the move, like mercury. Very difficult to consolidate and hold it in a place.

Masters say, begin from where you are. Many interpretations can be assigned to this statement, all of them rightly so. But the most relevant interpretation got revealed to me (it is the understanding of the writer of this report and hence subjective) today when Jyothi Madam explained the effect of Tattwa Shuddhi. Tattwa Shuddhi starts with the energy vibrations that we have at present and helps us to gradually cross over different energy levels and finally experience the vibrations within us that matches the vibrations of the Primordial Energy – merging with GOD. It is here that the seer and the seen becomes one. Our energy vibrations becomes one and identical with the cosmic vibrations. It is not so now because there is an imbalance due to impurities. Through Tattwa Shuddhi when we start cleansing, our energy vibrations attains equilibrium and starts unfolding its true and pure potential. Suddenly and instantly the realization occurs that we are in no way different from that Cosmic Consciousness !

Tattwa Shuddhi involves visualisation and imagination, yantra and mantra. When we apply these on different parts of our body what happens in reality is that unconsciously and without much effort our mind crosses the barrier of body, meaning that we are no more conscious of our physical body but at the same time we are aware of what we do using our body. This, in other words, means that our consciousness shifts from the gross physical body and touches another dimension that we have i.e., energy vibrations.

Yes, this actually happened when we practiced the application of yantra and mantra, with visualisation and imagination on our body, we no more experienced the physical body but the subtler level of vibrations. When we chanted the mantra associated with each yantra, different combinations of energy had different effects on the energy patterns in our body.

The mind was so focussed during the practice, without consciously forcing it to stay with what we are doing, it simply was doing its job like the fragrance simply gets carried away by the air.

Jyothi Madam said, it is my promise that if you do this practice regularly, soon you will learn how to overcome your body consciousness within seconds, whenever you sit for meditation.

This is what Madam was referring to yesterday when she said sharpening the perception. The mind was spot on, on what it was assigned to do without anything distracting or disturbing it. This state is referred to as ‘Atha’ by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra. Atha means staying in the present without the interference of past or future. When we learn to prolong this Atha and make it an effortless happening in us, we are in meditation.

This Atha is a sure result when we start practicing Tattwa Shuddhi.

Madam had a word of caution for us which is that this practice has to be done with Bhavana, complete emotion (not sure whether this is the appropriate English equivalent for Bhavana). Intelligence has no role to play. If intelligence shows up during this practice, then this method will not work, however hard one may try.

Madam shared the beauty and purpose behind the culture of temples and the innumerable Gods that we have and how they are related to this Tattwa Shuddhi. Since we are focussing in this programme on a particular technique of doing Tattwa Shuddhi, I am not providing the gist of it here apprehending it may take away the focus of the reader from what is being shared through mandala, yantra and mantra technique.


Until tomorrow, Happy Sadhana.

N. Narayanan
SST, Delhi Chapter


8/9/14

Tattwa Shuddhi - Day 1

Tattwa Shuddhi

Jyothi Madam very eloquently and fluently introduced Tattwa Shuddhi to the participants. The concern and the sincerity that was on display throughout the lecture worth mention and merit.

Tattwa Shuddhi helps a Sadhaka to experience meditation in a natural way. But for this natural way to set in oneself, one has to work on oneself, by using the techniques that Tattwa Shuddhi gives.

Tattwa Shuddhi indirectly makes the mind to give up its resistance and stubbornness in engaging in spiritual practices. It achieves this not by directly attacking the mind but indirectly influencing it.

The essential nature of mind is to enjoy and it finds the world outside us as the fertile ground for seeking its pleasures and joys. Mind achieves this by deploying the Pancha Tanmaatraas (5 subtler energies of 5 gross sense organs in the body such as ‘smell’ is to ‘nose’).

It is precisely here Tattwa Shuddhi works. Tattwa Shuddhi also works upon these Pancha Tanmaatras because they are trustworthy agents of mind and, therefore, mind will not doubt them when they are deployed, though in this case, to tame it J

Meditation does not happen in us because the harmonious balance of emotion and intelligence within us is disturbed when we sit quietly, keeping our body still. If one practices Tattwa Shuddhi regularly, such a person is bound to experience meditation naturally and habitually !!

Jyothi Madam was explaining to the audience that Tattwa Shuddhi, in other words, is nothing but sharpening our perception, to such an extent, that the seer and the seen merges and become one, the doer and the act of doing merges and become one. Uninterrupted, undisturbed, Advaita Bhava.

Jyothi Ma on Tattwa Shuddhi
Tattwa Shuddhi employs Yantra, Mantra and Mandala as its technique to achieve the results. The beauty of practicing Tattwa Shuddhi is that it bestows the practitioner with direct experience. In spiritual sadhana direct experience alone counts as valid knowledge because it is the only trustworthy and dependable wisdom that one can rely on for it is directly experienced by one without any distortions.

Jyothi Madam gave the participants the taste of what Tattwa Shuddhi can do by making the participants to practice Yantra and Mantra technique. Many could experience the real power of Tattwa Shuddhi after applying the Yantra and Mantra technique on themselves. For this technique has to be employed and experienced, I am not elaborating what it is. If I do, then it will become a mere piece of information which is already available on the net.

Tattwa Shuddhi, undoubtedly, a not to be missed Tantra Sadhana by a spiritual aspirant for it is the short cut, rather shortest cut, to meditation.

We have two more days to go and Madam opined that 3 days is inadequate to dwell upon this Tantra technique but she will try her best to complete whatever is possible within the short span of 3 days.

Until tomorrow, Happy Sadhana.

N. Narayanan
SST, Delhi Chapter


8/5/14

SUNSAT Series - 7

Sadhana Sangama  - SUNSAT


1st SUNSAT at New Jersey, July 27th 2014:

6 sadhakas were present.  Satsanga started on time and did finish on time.  There was some lingering discussion for another 15 minutes on preparation for proper sitting, allowing mind and body to quieten down so that meditation becomes more enjoyable.  

We began with OM chanting followed by Guru mantras.  We were guided into meditation by  Guruji’s voice from the CD “Expansion of Consciousness Meditation. - track  01”.   This track was recorded at SS ashram so there were all the usual early morning sounds - birds chirping, roosters crowing, etc.   Sadhakas noted that it made them feel as if they were actually at the Ashram being guided into meditation by Guruji. We were guided to a deep state of silence which ended with OM chanting.

As guided by Jyothiji and Guruji, Subhadra shared some of her  spiritual experiences of her recent pilgrimage to India.  She prefaced it by stating that the one speaking was only reporting what the “Self” experienced, that “Self” which is one with all.  

Until next Sunday, Namaste.

In service,
Subhadra

SUNSAT update from New Delhi:

The group met at 7.30. Now the crowd is getting stabilized at 6 and above. Now that the pattern is set and there is a small group, it is time that Satsang should be given the thrust.

Nothing was discussed to strengthen the Satsang in this week's Satsung. Jyothi Maa's programme is due in Delhi over 8th to 10th August. I plan to discuss about how to strengthen the Satsanga after Amma's programme in Delhi.

But  I personally feel that the fundamental principle that should be guiding the Satsanga is that it should help you to stay with yourself (I mean, inside). In other words, connectivity with one's own self should be the purpose of doing Satsang. This would mean that we do Satsang not only on Sunday mornings but every day, whenever possible. Connectivity is a process and SUNSAT should be become an occasion to experience this connectivity in a group and realize that connectivity with one's own self and connectivity with a group are not two different experiences.

This idea may sound idealistic but it is not so because it is not my thinking. This is what all realized Masters keep on repeating :)

Till next Sunday, Happy Sadhana

N. Narayanan

Vande Guru Paramparam

7/25/14

SUNSAT Series - 6

Sadhana Sangama - SUNSAT


Weekly SUNSAT Update from New Jersey (USA):

When:         Sunday at 7 - 8a.m.
Where:        660 New Durham Road, Metuchen NJ  08840.  
                    
Weekly SSI Sunday Satsanga Structure (As approved by Guruji & Jyothiji Pattabhiram)

1.    Chant Guru Mantras  (3 mins)

2.     Meditation Guided by Guruji’s audio recording (20 - 30 mins)

3.    Guruji or Swami Rama’s Video lecture session (20 - 30 mins)

4.    Announcements 

5.    Chant shanti mantras and sit in silence for 2 mins
        Leave in silence.

May blessings of the Guru lineage be with all.  

In Service,
Subhadra

SUNSAT Update from Delhi Chapter:

Last week, Delhi Chapter SUNSAT started exactly at 7.30 am and ended at 8.30 am sharp !!

The group did their regular sadhana that was agreed upon. After the Satsanga, during discussion, a unanimous view emerged that we should strengthen the satsanga in the sense that whatever we learn should benefit the system. Like for instance, we were doing nadi shodana pranayama. We can follow this for 3 more weeks after which we can introduce meru pranayama or vibhaga pranayama or some other pranayama and practice that, instead of nadi shodana, for 9 consecutive weeks. This way we can actually put in to practice whatever we have learnt already from Guruji. This way we can maintain some of our physical ailments, the Group felt.

One suggestion also came up that we can do Chakra Prana Mantra Meditation taught by Gurudev by playing the CD / DVD. It is a 40 minute programme. This suggestion was also welcomed by the Group in which case we can make it a one hour programme and reduce Gayatri, Mrtyunjaya chantings to minimum say 3 times or something like that.


The group dispersed after having tea.

Take care until next SUNSAT.

N. Narayanan, Delhi
Vande Guru Paramparam

Vande Guru Paramparam

7/6/14

Jyothi Ma's Program update

Pranams,

Hope you are all well. We have concluded Jyothiji's workshop on Durga Saptashati, which has been presented with deep reverence and filled with opportunity to enhance one's sadhana.  Jyothiji's ability to share the meaning and significance of the text with her experiential knowledge was enthusiastically received by all who attended. 

Jyothi Ma’s schedule on workshop on Dharanas & Vigyana Bhairava at various places have been mailed to all. All are welcome to attend and gain knowledge in the deep practice of dharanas. Please also share this schedule with your friends & relatives who can attend these programs.

Thank you.  Looking forward to seeing you soon.

In service
Subhadra

7/3/14

You are with the process, but you are not the process- Guru Purnima Message & practice

Guru Purnima - 12th July 2014
Dear Sadhaka’s,

I would like to recollect one of the experience I had with Baba during my stay in AIIMS hospital:

On the day of operation for my leg fracture, I was taken to the operation theatre. Hunching my back, I was made to sit for final Anesthesia administration. When the anesthesiologist started checking, I experienced Baba sitting next to me in the same hunched back style. He looked at me and said;

“Bete, this operation will go on without any problem. But after this operation, you have to go through series of complex traumatic experiences which is going to be very painful.  I am going to be with you all through. You may have to stay for about 45 days in this Hospital to go through this experience”.

He further suggested that it’s an inevitable karmic event that I need to go through.

He advised me that as a Sadhaka I am not supposed to simply leave it to the Karma and merely go through the pain and misery but to look at it as an Advanced Sadhana. He then explained me the process of that Advanced Sadhana that I need to follow during this entire 45 days.

The Sadhana he taught me was an advanced technique of how to detach and transcend from this whole painful process and how to learn the art of witnessing all events. 

Finally Baba said,

“Bete, while going through this process remember, you are with the process, but you are not the process. Transcend… Don’t react, resist, or get attached to the process. Allow the process to unfold completely without any resistance from your side and experience every sensation that you go through without naming it. This is the Sadhana for you for the next 45 days”.

Having said this Baba disappeared.

Though my leg fracture operation went on smoothly, as destined, in the same night, there was a heart failure along with some problem in my intestine. Thereafter, I had to go through series of medical treatments which was not only traumatic but also time consuming.

My path to recovery was indeed very painful but one thing that I remembered all through was, Baba’s instruction that “Bete, while going through this process remember, you are with the process, but you are not the process; transcend...

Friends, Sometimes due to our previous Karma’s and other samskaras, it is quite inevitable to avoid crisis in one’s own life. But the Question here is are we prepared to accept the crisis wholeheartedly and allow Guru Grace to work over period of time without bringing our irritation and impatience to intervene?

When I expect and long for Guru Grace to bring me richness, happiness, prosperity and peace in me and in my surroundings, do I have the patience to also accept the crisis to go through without any resistance?

Guru is there to protect our inner integrity and through the passage of hard test, chisel out our personality into a spiritually integrated bright soul and help us connect again and again with the infinite source of knowledge.

However when guru wants to work through me, I should have the space so that he can work and I need to allow it to happen. It might take time to establish such connectivity and one needs enormous patience and surrender towards the Guru. Can we develop that connectivity between us?

Swami Rama used to say that, “In the effort to understand life and approach death meaningfully, vairagya [non-attachment] and abhyasa [practices] are the responsibility of the seeker. When these two are truly undertaken, another help follows. That help comes in the form of guru and grace, each linked to the other, each so beautiful and comforting, each so powerful".

So on this day of Guru Poornima, let’s remember “to transcend” & pray to the Guru to give us that Vairagya & Abhyasa to accept the life as it is and continue the Sadhana to establish the link with the Guru. Once we do that we will automatically get connected with our Guru Parampara, the epitome of spiritual integrity, infinite bliss and ocean of knowledge.

For this, I personally request you to devote sometime for yourself and do the following practice, not only on the day of Guru Poornima but on a daily basis:

PRACTICE:

1. Sit in a comfortable posture – in padmasana or ardha padmasana or sukhasana or vajrasana or in any other comfortable position – by keeping your back, neck and head along the same straight line. You need not tension your face and back to sit straight. Your sitting posture has to be a relaxed one.

2. Gently scan through your body and relax from head to toe.

3. Step 1: Focus your attention on stilling the body. Stop all conscious movements in your body like scratching, moving the fingers, contracting the body muscle, etc.

4. Step 2: Listen to the sounds that is coming from outside and inside you. Make it a point not to get disturbed by the sounds that you hear. Do this activity with full involvement and awareness – to accustom yourself with your environment.

5. Step 3: Shift your awareness and bring it on to Shushumna Kendra – Shushumna Kendra is located at the root of the nose (not the tip) the place where the middle wall of the nose and upper part of the lip meets. Staying in shushumna Kendra, feel that while inhaling you are inhaling the pure, divine cosmic consciousness and while exhaling feel that all your spent and impure energies are coming out of you. This pranayama definitely works if you do it with feeling. It cleans your system. Do this for 5 minutes.

6. Step 4: Focus your attention on the Ajna Chakra (eyebrow centre). Ajna chakra is located in-between your two eyebrows. Staying in Ajna chakra, observe your thoughts. You should consciously practice to separate yourself from your thoughts – you are not your thoughts. Do this for at least 5 minutes.

7. Step 5: Come to Guru Chakra which is just above the Ajna Chakra. Focus on Guru Chakra for 2 minutes and gently relax. Invoke Guru in energy form, or in paduka (two feet) form, or in physical guru form (face of your Guru), or in the form of light, etc. The short point is keep an image in the Guru chakra in which your concentration can stay for a longer time without getting disturbed.

Focusing on that image chant

“Hiranya Garbhaa Aarabdhaam, 
Seshou Vyaasaadhi Madhyamaam
Swami Shree Rama Paadaanthaam, 
Vande Guru Paramparaam, 
Vande Guru Paramparaam, 
Vande Guru Paramparaam”.

After the above prayer, make a sincere Sankalpa from the bottom of your heart that, “in this sadhana, let all the member of my family get Vairagya & Abhyasa to transcend & accept the life as it is and continue the Sadhana sincerely to experience the Guru energy

Then start chanting (minimum one mala - 108 times)

Om Shreem Gurudevaaya Namaha

by focusing on Guru in Guru Chakra. Don’t chant the mantra too fast, don’t drag also. Maintain a steady rhythm. You find your comfort level. The important thing is do this japa with the understanding (explained in the first page) and with feeling. Let your awareness and attention follow the mantra each time you chant.

8. After completing chanting of mantra, sit silently for one or two minutes without doing anything and experience the presence of Guru in the form of light, etc. Feel as if they are offering everything to that light which is there in the form of Guru and praying from deep within that I seek nothing but your Grace, your Presence and your Blessings.

9. Feel your individual consciousness is merging with GURU Consciousness and that is pervading everywhere. In that feeling you offer the following prayer to the Universal Consciousness:

Om Sarve Bhavanthu Sukhinaha, Sarve Santhu Niraamayaha
Sarve Badraani Pashyantu, Maa Kaschit Dhukka Baagh Baveth
Loka Samasthaa Sukhinou Bhavanthu, Loka Samasthaa Sukhinou Bhavanthu
Samastha Sanmangalaani Bhavanthu, Om Tat Sat

Akhanda Mandalaakaaram
Vyaaptham Yena Charaacharam
Tat Padham Darshitham Yenaa
Tasmai Shree Gurave Namaha

May Gurudev bless you all.
Vande Guru Paramparam
Pattabhiram & Jyothi 

Please note: Guru Poornima function would be held in Bangalore on 12th July,2014 at Sadhana Dhama Ashram at 6 PM. Residents in & around Bangalore are requested to attend the function. Also Guruji has requested all the other location chapters to organize this programme in the form of a Satsang

6/25/14

SUNSAT series

Sadhana Sangama - SUNSAT
Hello Friends,

In last two updates, we talked about connectivity with the Guru energy & connectivity with Conflicting Energy Centres. So after connectivity, with the Parampara and with Sadhakas, our journey continues. The third connectivity that has to happen, because of the above two connectivities, is the connectivity with oneself. This is the crucial phase and process which every one of us has to willingly undergo with enthusiasm. How strong our language (i.e., HARMONY) is going to be depends a lot on how accommodative we are going to be with our own selves. This certainly does not mean that we can be casual with ourselves.

By the word ‘accommodating’, I mean we should not feel shy about admitting a short-coming in us and at the same time we should not be afraid to work on ourselves to overcome such shortcoming / s.

Therefore, Friends, the primary purpose for which Gurudev has reinforced SUNSAT is to connect with our own selves. Even though the Parampara and the society appears to be external to and different from ourselves, we will realize that they are nothing but our own extensions when connectivity with one’s own self happens.


It is with such a noble intention and magnificent plan Spiritual Masters work and network. Just imagine the benefit that we will get if we fall in line with the thinking of Masters ! Now let me move on with our last SUNSAT update at New Delhi. 

This time, the SUNSAT was not the usual one. One of our Sadhana Parivara Member from New Jersey, Ms.Subhadra Mattai was in Delhi and we organized a three day Satsang starting on Sunday.

On Sunday, around 18 people attended and on Monday and Tuesday, being working days, it got stabilized at 10. She taught lots of kriyas / asanas and Suryanamaskar covering all parts in the body from head to toe and combined the activity with awareness of breathing to get the desired effect on the body. The curriculum was designed so as to enable us to sit comfortably in meditation.

Her teaching also covered the aspect of Harmony that Gurudev wanted us to practice. She combined the physical movements involved in kriyas, asanas and Suryanamaskar with prana to bring harmony. In other words, she was explaining the group that never, ever stop the prana from flowing and to achieve this be aware of your breathing when you are speaking, listening, moving your limbs --- just be aware and conscious of your breathing whenever you are active and during meditation. This way we can strike harmony and can have direct experience of harmony.

All of us enjoyed the three day Satsanga and felt the connectivity of togetherness, of belonging to one undivided family of Sadhakas.

Take care until next SUNSAT.

N. Narayanan, Delhi
Vande Guru Paramparam

Vande Guru Paramparam

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