Fun and lessons I did not sign up for....

'Sanyam' began. Some days passed and I had this urge for change in the city I was staying. Bawa and Dinesh Da have always told me, 'true leadership lies in creating more leaders'. So Yours Truly thinks in terms of Volunteer Training Program (VTP) in the city. I had few friends in mind who will benefit leaps and bounds from the beautiful sessions. I meet Shalin Desai, Director of VTP outside the Dining Hall, Boone Ashram. He was chatting with someone and I was busy rehearsing the 'convincing conversation' we are about to have.

I had interacted with Shalin Bhaiya when he was the National Teachers Cordinator(NTC). The quality of his that struck me was his impeccable memory. He recollected my e-mail to him and details, when he met me in the half-constructed  Canadian Ashram too. Leaving that aside, the next time we meet is in Chicago downtown, where I had decided to start teaching again. I thought I will begin by observing the new-format of the course that was being taught by Shalin Bhaiya and Kshama Di. Treading on the realms of infinity in a very light, witty manner, he shared the knowledge with so much ease. I enjoyed the 3-day session, and thought he should teach VTP here in Naperville. I go a lot by hunch. My friend Sharika knows that's how I am about people. 

                                                Photo Courtesy: Prabu Vijayan

Before Sanyam, organized a course for Kshama Di. We taught the course together and I realized what loss it was for me, that being given this seat of highest knowledge, I was letting it rot within. I knew how I was when I was teaching and what became of me. I was feeling 'lack' in many ways. This is the part of awareness that I am not a big fan of :)

So coming back to VTP, spoke to Bhaiya in Boone about coming to Naperville for VTP. He told me to contact him for dates.He must have thought I would not call him. But I called! He was booked and the only dates which opened up was April last two weekends. I had three months and around 7-8 people I would approach. So here is Shalin Bhaiya who made place in his busy schedule, so I wanted to make the best out of it. With the enthusiasm of a child began talking to all the above said people and somehow none of them seemed interested in this adventure. I had handful registrations and to add to the fire, personally/physically suffered a large setback in personal life. I had this high opinion about how strong I was from within. This tragedy literally removed the ground from beneath. I was completely lost and confused. I called up Bhaiya to cancel the VTP and we spoke about the setback and everything else not even remotely connected to the same, but I could not bring myself to tell him to cancel the Course. Though I did not have faith in myself, i did not want to fail :) But after the conversation I began working on this. This kept my mind and body busy. If on his own Bhaiya would have asked me to take a break, I would not have been so gratefully writing this post. I would still be brooding in the 'lack' which was never there! Somehow on D-day  the VTP happened. Other than 3 people, rest of them were not in my assumed-list, but this was even better. 

My BIL Rakesh, describes me as a sarcastic queen. There are times when he has messaged me for sarcastic replies to be sent to his friends. Shalin Bhaiya is the CEO of sarcasm. Somehow that works for me. I must say that worked with me. He never gives you a break to be lazy. I have got angry, felt happy, sad, upset and what not! but at the end for all the mistakes I made and things I overlooked (list is endless) he never even for a second made me feel guilty but made me realize where I went wrong, a quality I need to learn ASAP. Best form of service is to uplift someone's mind-Sri Sri. Have seen him follow this. I learnt to be independent. It strengthened the knowledge points which I knew theoretically. With all this polishing, I know there is some shine. Above all this I became awesome at preparing crispy dosas with Idli batter :P

Little did I know when I stepped into this country that I will be driving, on my own taking charge and organizing courses, giving talks and talking to Hotels, booking Halls, interacting with random people of various designations and most importantly little did I know Ratheesh will always have bhaiya's support even if Ratheesh is wrong. In 3 months I learnt the Masters of Business Administration and Management without even enrolling for one :) We as a team are organizing the biggest course in Illinois and it is because of him and his energy. Full time working- career wise, father of two beautiful children and traveling and teaching the Art of Living courses, he has not left a room for me to complain of no-time :P

I learnt a lot. I never had so much fun in life. We became a well-knit family. Vini whom I felt was missing from 2009ish days came back, in a better way. Every bit of this gratefulness belongs to my Guru. I have always noticed that He always sends right people at the right time and place. A friend recently asked me how I managed the 'setback' - I replied "With a smile from within' :)

Love

V

(I am glad my blog post came out before your book "My fair-share of experiences working with Vini!")

Scribbling thoughts, Aha !!!

There are times when we are lazy. Yes! It seems like a secret-affair which everyone of us have, and there is nothing secretive about it. The funniest part about laziness is the way we wrap it in glossy reasons, by saying, 'Oh! I am hungry!', 'Am just so tired.' 'Have no time', 'Have been working around quite a lot.' and the one which tops it all has to be, 'I don't feel like it'. Of late, since I have loads of hours at hand, and other reasons do not oblige, I stick on to, "I don't feel like it!'

Guruji brought in the awareness to the fact that feelings keep changing. It changes every second. We are born every second to a new drape of feelings and thus following feelings is like trying to hold on to one's own shadows and getting frustrated about it. Commitment is a big word as well as a very brave one. If feelings and commitment go on same line, then we won't discuss it here. But in case it is the other way, then we are talking about life.  Following my commitment and not feelings clicks!

                                                                 Commitment Vs Feelings

Recently I was lazy to do Sadhna. The reason given was 'I am missing home'. I could actually feel the 'Pity Me' feeling coming up, which is quite dangerous as it is equal to giving your control to somebody else, better known as 'My mind' :) So here is what I did. I observed it. It is not easy, but I love challenges. I read a knowledge sheet and its amazing, till today how I get the right one. It was about being grateful and waiting in love and not frustration. Am a good connector of dots. I just sat after reading and shifted myself to Vajrasan (a way of being seated, while doing the breathing technique known as Sudarshan Kriya). I noticed that the 4th source of energy can actually shift you in seconds to make one focus on the 3rd source of energy and all the other sources are taken care.

Just few thoughts!!

Walking the Path

It is said, when the disciple is ready the Master arrives. Never realised this the first time I happened to meet Sri Sri, on 14 February 2005 at Bangalore Ashram. I was all excited about the trip to Bangalore, travelling alone i.e. without family and after coming back from Dubai, I had never visited the city, where my parents started their life together :). Meeting Guruji would happen along with all the above mentioned so-called-important things. He arrives and suddenly the environment changes, there is this lightness outside as well as deep inside. A Sudarshan-Kriya feel. He meets all of us. That look in His eyes was so divine, that I still get mesmerised in the thought of this meeting itself.

Everytime meeting the Master is a destiny designed to choose our free-will. That excitement we feel while waiting outside Kashyap, mentally listing out the things which i would have to mention, when the other part of the mind is busy making me understand, “Vini! I am so sure you will feel all this as a total hollow process.” I continue. Then the walk to the Kutir. Excitement builds up even more, like a nail-biting match minus the fear of losing. What is there to loose anyways.. I wait... I wait... Many hoax calls of His arrival later, I have this gut feeling, YES! He is going to be here now. And the door opens along with me opening my eyes... Pun is very much intended. He steps in. Mind goes blank... a Satvik Blank. All the reasons, problems, queries, news, blessings, miracles seem like dust in front of the wind :) He walks and He is standing next to the person sitting beside me and giving me glances. Glances have such therapeutic effect, in either in quieting my mind, if it has not already or many more. *secrets :)

Time comes for the face-to-face communication. Many a times it has been a silent and ever-fulfilling one. Silence communicates better, learned it here, with Him in front of me... How can i forget! Gratitude and love fills up the heart, tears of joy and not-understanding-still-happy trickles down the cheeks and touches the dust which He has walked on... What more do I need?

More to come....

A must read :)

http://www.vikramhazra.com/2010/06/case-of-dyslexic-farmer.html

Love is in air

Mangalore and Manipal is buzzing with activities. Love is in the air! Yes! Both the places are watching Narad Bhakti Sutras- A commentary by His Truely on Aphorisms of Love. The magical part of His talks are, it will come packaged for us the way it has to, matching the day’s happenings. I must have watched and heard the talks before, but still it all looks like the first time :). Like the other day, after the whole bunch was done with the upgrade, we sat on to watch the CD. We had gone to Pabaas, to celebrate the Upgrade :) So we were cool. (P.S: Pabaas is an ice-cream parlour).


The talk begins and His examples are all on ice-creams. The volunteers were discussing one day about the laughter of a YES!+ girl. Fun and frolic. That day Sri Sri mentioned about laughter, transcending joy and spreading love through laughter :).

This is Him. Magical and a Mystery, just like our life. Up for the week is Vegilicious- Cooking Competition at Manipal and Movie Marathon in Mangalore.



Love

Me

August 11, 2009

When I got the news that I got the overall Gold Medal this year, I was in heaven literally. Yes! At Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore. Was undergoing the Teachers Training Course (TTC) and the day was 11 August 2009. I remember this day vividly. Was walking from Gate no 3, opposite to the Kitchen, and taking the cart-route, as had to buy some items from Divine Shop. Forough (Iranian Classmate) calls me up to tell me this. Was happy and very well in awareness. Usually what happens is I jump, I howl, I shout, I cry and roll. I would not even be able to tell the other person what is the matter without choking. But here I just heard her and thanked her for the news. She again repeated the same. I called up amma to inform her, she was just so happy, and I was happy for her.

That day was D Day. The day I would always treasure. The day I never thought I would be witnessing. That wait or tapas is non-describable. I was going to be an Art of Living teacher. Many things in life I wanted to be, wishes, desires. This was never a one or D One. It just happened. Being there and sharing the Highest knowledge with others.

Many loved ones around me were so upset that I was going to be an Art of Living teacher. Parents were confused whether to support me or to listen to others. This worry matters is generally about happiness of the child. They just want their child to be happy, but the less-informed loved ones flavour this love of our parents.This freaks my parents. Saints and good people who teach knowledge is needed, but not in my Home, neighbour’s house :) attitude.This freaks me.
So here Art of Living was implemented by me, full too.

I look back. Parents wanted me to do well in studies and I wanted to be a part of Highest Knowledge. Don’t you think even without any clue or panic to me, Guruji handled everything so beautifully.

Now I take up courses. Parents are still freaked and full of love. I continue... celebration continues...

“Everyone has their right to ignorance and narrow-mindedness, just like how I have my right to intelligence.”

Love

Me

Management Intro Talks

A week before was in Chennai. It is so hot there. I and my wishes! When Bawa told Chennai is hot, I wanted to experience it. Never knew it would get fulfilled so fast you see. Had actually been there for an interview which I beautifully termed it as “Management Introductory Talk (MIT)”. Why?!?! The very nice part about my life is, I am qualified for the job for which I studied, but there is no experience you see. Speak of Catch-22 situation. All companies want experienced people hence not ready to take in fresher. It is nice, as I don’t want to so quickly become old and worn out. Actually I will never be!

Now why a MIT?!!

Interviewer: Excellent Curriculum Vitae (CV), awesome personality skills, so much of dynamism etc etc... But oh know, experience wise a bit low. Anyways tell us about yourself.

Yours truly: Blah... Blah... I am also a faculty of YES!+. (and wait for them to question me)

Interviewer: What is YES!+?

Yours truly: YES!+ is nothing but one of the most finest and challenging courses for the youths world over... It is known as Youth Empowerment and Skills Workshop.. (Rest some of you know my intro talks, I enlighten them on the same).

Interviewer: Hmmm continue...

Yours truly: YES!+, Sri Sri, My experiences, how youths have benefited, how we should be responsible and give back to society etc are the main topics.

Interviewer: Woah! I will take your resume back to our place. Don’t you think you are more fit as YES!+ faculty? We would love to have you in the company, but your experience level makes us think twice. All the best for a bright future.

Yours truly: Smile... Smile... Smile. Thank you.

Yours truly all happy and peaceful. I made the ever serious interview board members Smile for around 20 minutes and also think. Cool Me... Cooler my Boss :)

Love
Me 

Shivratri: Wake up & Shake up!

Shivaratri is the day of Lord Shiva. Shiva is the lord of meditation and therefore the lord of awakening. Shiva Tatva means to be awakened. Shivaratri is thus an occasion to awaken one’s self from all sorts of slumber.

Shivaratri is not a night to be slept over. One should try and be up through the night. It signifies being aware of everything you have and being grateful about it. Be grateful for the happiness which leads to growth, and also for sadness which gives a depth to life. This is the right way of observing Shivaratri. For the pious, the following method of Shiva worship is advisable – sit down in lotus posture, do some Pranayam to stabilize your breath, then indulge in Dhyana, followed by chanting of “Om Namah Shivay”. It is the greatest mantra and the devout should drown himself in its Kirtan. Shivaratri worship leads to fulfillment of a devotee’s wishes. There are certain days and time frames in a year that enhance one’s mental and spiritual faculties. In such times, whatever one wishes, materializes. Shivaratri is one such day.

All this is very scientific. Going to temples on this day is OK but you should remember that Shiva is everywhere. The meaning of Kailasa (legendary abode of Shiva in Himalayas) is celebration. So where there is happiness and celebration, Shiva is present. Whether in Sanyasa or Sansara, you can’t escape Shiva. Feeling his presence all the time is the essence of Shivaratri. That is the real Sanyasa. No worship is complete without offering something to the deity. Shiva is a very simple lord, he is innocent – bholanath. One just needs to offer bel-patra to him. But in this simplicity is a deep message. Bel-patra offerings signify the surrender of all three aspects of one’s nature – Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. You have to surrender the positives and negatives of your life to Shiva and become carefree! The greatest offering is your self. To offer one’s self is the key to happiness in life. Afterall, why do you get sad? It is mainly because you are not able to achieve something in life. At such times you should surrender everything to the all knowing God. The greatest power is in surrender to the divine. It’s like a drop owning the ocean. If a drop remains separate, it will perish. But when it becomes the ocean, it is eternal!

(The above is an excerpt from an exclusive conversation that Guruji had with Zee News.)

Long time, No see.

Have been lagging behind and not kept my promise of updating the blog rather regularly. A mast batch of YES!+ graduated in Manipal and Mangalore. I met Bawa and Dinesh Da recently in Goa. Cool na. Roller coaster ride for sure. This time Tanushri, a dynamic teacher from Pune, Bangalore and Singapore came down. :) No no, there were no three teachers. She is from all these places.

Had a talk today in an esteemed college of Mangalore. I started a new trend in talks. Giving out health menu card.  Around 90% of the student crowd have back-related problems, head-heaviness, and acidity, stomach related problems, cold and cough attacks. Even I used to have this terrible back-pains and acidity. Thank you AOL and Sudarshan Kriya, it just remains a memory now. Yeah! Future of India you see. At 9:00 AM in morning they are yawning and burnt out. Stressed out at such a young age, as though the entire universe is on their shoulders. Confused! Stressed! Have become the watch words of their life. Teachers are there to take care of the knowledge banks, busy completing portions, setting up papers and correcting them. Phew... at the end they puke out the answers and become hollow and empty in non-spiritual terms for a second.

By the by, Pain is inevitable! But suffering is optional!

Heal the world. Have taken a step. It is your turn.

Love

Me

Love Moves The World... I am experiencing...

Guruji arriving...

We had already planned, booked tickets, did last minute shopping, exchange of ideas, in fact we went to the extent of deciding our schedules in Bangalore. Yes, it was a family vacation to be spent in the best place on earth, “Art of Living”, Bangalore Ashram. All set and done. All these planning’s were to meet Guruji basically . The day we supposed to leave I get the news from Him that he is coming down to Mangalore or rather Dakshin Kannada district, on the same days. Topsy-turvy goes our planning. This was not the first time the Master decides to change the plan and make it better. In fact things which even I overlook, He takes attention to it. I Realised.

My father had always wanted to go Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur. But we both daughters were procrastinating it skilfully sometimes, and sometimes unconsciously. Now we both decide and tell achan, since we have one extra day with us before He lands in Mangalore, why not leave to Guruvayur. Yes!!!! Was my father’s expression.  So parents taken care of J

The day we reach, I call up two people in order to go to airport to receive Him. The first person allows me to go with him, but told am not supposed to come back with him. Why?!!!!!?!?!?!? This is because Guruji is going to travel in his car J wow... Then comes a YES!+ student Parag to my rescue. We decide to leave together ... we leave and reach airport where we supposed to reach in half-hour, we reach in 15 min. That’s how Guru works.

Airport is deserted, except for excited AOL family members. Decorating His car, many people with roses in their hands, some who had lovingly prepared some food item for Him to have. Even I become excited seeing all this happen. There were about 50 people waiting there. 2:45 pm, plane lands... we can see one by one passengers getting down. I get the first glimpse of Him getting down. I go blank. He walks and comes to the terminal. People rush to Him, He gives this smile and all are floored. I have seen that innocent and genuine smile wipe out the fears & tears just like that. Presence matters. Then He gives me one look and plays around. I get totally confused then. But still I stick around, walk behind Him till the car. Then He sits and gives me another look and I go blank. We never spoke a single word, but we both were listening. I prayed, it happened, the way He thought it was better for me.

Along with Parag, his friend Neerav, a busy businessman had come. He has not done any AOL course, but knew Parag. That’s how he happened to come along. In the car he was totally confused as to why was he going to meet a guru. Will it make me happy? All confused questions and expressions clog his mind. As soon as Guruji comes, Guruji hugs Neerav, and he is blank. Guruji asks him, “Are you happy?” That’s it. He got his Master.

Parag was complaining about Guruji always ignoring him, and he wanted Guruji to give him attention. As soon as Guruji sat in His vehicle, Parag goes to take His blessings. Guruji looks at him and asks him his name......

He has brought this whiff of change and untouched energy in me to become better. Love moves the world... They are just two witnesses to the mass...

Making a difference....

This is a letter from Antoine, a YES!+ Teacher from Montreal. This is why I say Being an Art of Living Teacher/Volunteer gives me 100% job satisfaction....Read on...Antoine sends a letter of the experience...

Thank you for your amazing guidance on the phone yesterday. Everything you told me about creating a family, doing Puja, being their spiritual guide…it felt nice but I had no idea how to make it happen! It turns out I didn’t have to do anything, it just all happened effortlessly and spontaneously on its own.

Yesterday night when I returned home after Day 1 of the course, I sat with my 2 hosts Emma age 24 and Jessica age 22. Jessica is addicted to pot and Emma is an alcoholic. I told them I wanted them to become completely drug and alcohol free. Not just for the 6 days of the course but for life. I spoke to them about how drugs and alcohol was destroying their community and said: “It’s better to put liquor in the garbage than to put garbage in your body. Are you ready to throw it away?”

The analogy was too good; Jessica got up, opened the fridge, and gave me her last beer can. She said: “Here you go, I don’t want this anymore.”
I asked her to bring me whatever pot she was smoking as well. She went to her room, brought a plate that had a pipe, rolling paper, and little lump of weed on it.

I turned over to Emma, the 24 year old with the 8 year old daughter. I said: “Your cousin did a brave thing. Is there a bad habit you want to surrender as well?”
She went to the kitchen under the sink and brought me 4 bottles of hard liquor. She was hugging the bottles with such attachment. She couldn’t let go of them. Then she finally gave me 3 of the 4 bottles. The last one, a bottle of Kahlua, was her favourite. She said she wanted to keep that one for her birthday party. I looked at her and said: “In that case, keep them all, it’s no use.” Before I could hand her back her 3 bottles, she had kissed her Kahlua goodbye and surrendered it to me.

I turned back to Emma and felt she was still hiding something. “You must have a bigger stash of weed somewhere?”
“No this is it.” she replied.
I lovingly told her “You can’t hide secrets from me. I’m here to take care of you!”
She went back to her room and brought back a large Ziploc bag filled with weed. She looked a little embarrassed as she was revealing her addiction.

She held on to it saying: “This is worth 250$. I can’t throw it away, I already paid for it. I’ll finish smoking this stash and then I promise I won’t buy any more after that”.
I told her “I don’t care about a measly 250$, I’ll give you 250$ if that’s want you’re concerned with. What I care about is your health and your future.”

Jessica and Emma started consulting each other in Inuktitut, their native language. They had come to a consensus: “We promise we won’t smoke it but we can’t give it to you. We rather get our money back by selling it on the streets.”

“What good is that? If you improve your health by destroying the health of others?”
They had to agree, and she handed her bag of weed over to me. I put everything on the kitchen table and said I wouldn’t flush it because it had to come from them. They were both staring at their addictions with such attachment as though they were about to surrender their new born babies. Their breathing was heavy, they were trembling at the thought of having to give it up for good. Emma was holding back some tears. “It’s ok to cry, we are family here” I told her.

She got up, took the liquor and flushed it down the kitchen sink. Her attachment to the poison was so strong, she was sniffing above the sink to imbibe herself with the smell of Baileyes, Rhum and Kahlua one last time as it was going down the drain.

Jessica felt inspired by her cousin’s heroic move. She took her weed, we walked over to the toilet, and she emptied her stash and flushed it. The moment was so intense for them, they were trembling as I hugged them both.

I was proud of them. I told Emma it was the best thing she could have done for her and her daughter. She felt some truth in that, walked over to her room and brought a whole other crate of liquor she had ordered in by ship this summer. “This is all I have left” she said as she surrendered it. “There’s 500$ worth of alcohol in here.” she said. I was really proud of her.

“But what will I do on my birthday if I’m the only sober one?” she asked. I said “This year on your birthday you will not waste yourself. Your birthday should be an occasion to grow in wisdom. You will invite Art of Living people for your birthday and you will have a nice time.” I asked her cousin if she would support her and organize an Art of Living get together for her on her birthday. She agreed as Emma started pouring her alcohol down the drain more confidently this time, three bottles at a time. She felt so relieved.

Jessica noticed her cousin’s relief and walked back to her room to bring another bag, this time filled with magic mushrooms. This was her last stash. She flushed the mushrooms down the toilet saying: “Anyway this stuff is stupid, the only reason it makes you hallucinate is because it makes your brain bleed”. She was sure of herself this time.

Jessica said: “I feel so much lighter now. This house will be drug, cigarette and alcohol free from now on.“

I told them: “I am proud of both of you. Had you sold this stuff on the streets, what kind of role model would you have been? Today you took a stand and became a leader in your community. You are now role models and can inspire others to do the same.” Emma was so touched. It felt as though she had been called a loser by many people in the past. Today someone was calling her a leader.

I warned them that the days ahead would be really hard because the temptation would come back to haunt them and they had to be strong and inspire each other to stay clean. I reassured them I would be there for them.

They really wanted to come out of it for good, but it was apparent that they were not confident they would have the strength to do it. You could tell they were going through a lot of emotions and were both quietly praying for help and strength not knowing where to find it.

So I took out a picture of Guruji, lit a candle, put an asan on the couch, sat on it, and invited them to come closer and sit with me. I told them: “Now, we will sing the most ancient prayer in the world. It brings strength, blessings, and protection to those who hear it.” Just by seeing Guruji’s picture and hearing those few words they immediately felt confident that everything would be fine. I sang the Guru Puja as they sat at my feet holding hands with their eyes closed.
They had tears of gratitude. The moment was so serene; the whole atmosphere in the house had changed. Peace had dawned. They sat in silence for a long time afterwards as we meditated together.

I gave them each a blessing and sent them off to bed telling them to sleep with a blanket of grace.
When I arrived 2 days ago, the vibrations in the house were so intense; I was awake for most of the first night. But last night, everything had shifted; there was finally an atmosphere of calm and peace in the house.
Guruji had done his magic once again, changing people’s lives forever!

Today there are 2 more people who walk on the planet with Guruji in their hearts.
Jai Guru Dev.

ps You can directly write to Antoine, his email id is antoine.tinawi@artofliving.ca

Shamelessly cut copied n pasted from Bawa's blog....with his permission :)

Guru Poornima -7 July -The day of the Devotee

Do you remember the time when you were low and out, when you looked for that someone who could hear you out, or perhaps solve your every problem. Then one day came, a man clad in a white robe, with long black hair, and eyes that took our eons of tiredness away. He is the fragrance that has filled our lives. He is the one who made us meet ourselves. He is the one who has shown us the path to everlasting happiness. He is the one who had carried us in His arms in times of distress, he is the one who has made us believe that ‘Everything will be Fine” and it Is, He is the one who has walked tirelessly with us for miles, caught us when we faltered and never made us give up. All we can say is that ‘He is the ONE’.

This is wisdom... So overwhelming is this knowledge. It captures the right chords in one’s heart and life. Can’t explain it better. This is how the Editorial of this month’s Rishimukh (Monthly for knowledge seekers) began. Here is what Sri Sri :) Guruji has to say about Guru Poornima- The day of the Devotee.

This month we celebrate Guru Poornima, the day when Krishnadwaipayana Vyasa- author of Mahabharata- was born. Guru Poornima is held on the full moon day of the Ashadh month. On this day the devotes around the world celebrate their devotion for their spiritual Master, and rejoice in their relationship with Knowledge. Of course everyday is a good day to celebrate our devotion- this day just happens to be extraordinarily special. Our life begins with our mother; we come into the world through our mother. But our second birth is through the Guru (teacher), who delivers us the knowledge.

Guruji On May Tera... On 13 May...

On his birthday at Bimmerale Hall, Oppenau near Bad Antogast, where people from almost every country were present, Guruji asked for a birthday gift from all of us. He said that all of you have to give me a birthday gift.

You all have to promise that each of you will realize how beautiful each one of you are. Only when you understand how beautiful you are, truth can dawn and with truth divinity dawns. That is satyam shivam sundaram, only we go the other way round, beauty first, then truth and then divinity. He said that we should ask others whether they feel they are beautiful. If they say they feel ugly then tell them that whatever they do will also be ugly. If you feel beautiful everything you do will be beautiful, you will spread beauty.

He said when he first came to europe what struck him the most were the beautiful flowers in all colours on the landscape. He said that everybody does not see and appreciate them but that is not the flowers’ problem. Similarly if people do not see your beauty it is their foolishness, that is not your problem ;)

He said the sign of intelligent people is that they spend their time in celebration, fun, music and introspection. Foolish people spend time in complaints and addictions. He looked around at the celebration around him ( a four storied cake, water pistol, flowers, music and dance from almost every coutry) and said, “so we all are intelligent”.

Jai Gurudev!

Cut,copied and pasted from:)
www.bawandinesh.name

GIFT TO THE GIFTED

When in verge of tears
The flow is uncontrolled
Mind begins to chatter and panic,
Life stands still….No smile no frolic….

I keep wondering….
I keep lingering,
Passing eyes for the presence of You..
Searching each breath for the One i.e You.

Losing the grip in my life…
Feeling that this trip will end my life..
But then I see a sparkle and shining rays.
The aura is covered, of mine, with HIS GRACE.

Untying the folded eyes,
Clogged Mind, burdened Heart;
He accepts me silently
And I rest in the lap of the Divine.
Doubt was always there.

No question of surrender arise…
Holding on to the problem, became a game..
Which I began enjoying with Pain.
He showed me the Path
Offered to take me along..

Doubt and lazy mind of mine
Could not see the offer, so Divine.
Regret ! Realising the mistake,
I cry and cry
But he stays ! Graces my head
And I realize he was always there.






He catches my hand
And treads my path…
In the state of awe and love
I follow him, in his own path.
Thirst ! Never is quenched
For love, still there now.

Even now, its not me…
It’s the Divine, penning my thoughts..
And today is the Day,
I realise the energy flowing…
He is not there anywhere..

But within I know He is There…
To My, My Own… My Very Own
Guruji

Jai Guru Dev

Vini
Penned my me on 9th April...