Jai Gurudev

Thank you to each one of you for such a great response.

I am going on a vacation for few months. Will not be able to write until then.

Feel free to comment on your experience reading Sri Sri Mahatmyam too.

Wishing you blissful months ahead.

Sri Sri Namami,
Upasana

Sri Sri Mahatmyam- Series Part 8

The two magical words gifted to us

My childhood was spent watching lot of programs in DD1(which was the only channel in India then). Recollect watching Rangoli, chitrahaar, Malgudi days, mungerilal ke haseen sapne, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Chandrakanta, Vikram Betal,Byomkesh Bakshi,Ramayan, Mahabharat, Shakthimaan, Aladdin...to name a few :)

Every program had its own twist and turn. Some of the TV programs were motivation to finish the daily homework on time. In the program Aladdin, The guy named, Aladdin had a magic lamp. When lamp is touched, a 'Gin' would come out and ask if you want any wishes to be granted. I found the 'Gin' so fascinating. Wouldn't it be amazing to have such a lamp in the real life. Well, every Art of Living person is gifted with one by Sri Sri. And it is just by uttering two magical words, 'Jai Gurudev' . By uttering these two words, your small mind becomes quiet and thinks like the bigger mind(The bigger consciousness). And little complaints and silly chattering in the mind disappears instantly.

One of the senior teacher of the Art of Living Foundation, Neha Didi had said when you are confused or in trouble just say, 'Jai Gurudev'. And see how the magic works. There was a time when one of the volunteer had to give me tickets of a musical show of Vikram Bhaiyya. That day it was raining heavily and he was apprehensive to travel on a bike. He uttered, 'Jai Gurudev!' and lo...the pouring rain stopped. We talk about saints who have great sidhdhis(powers), here normal person like you and me are gifted with powers to shake the world. It was as though the entire world in under your control. He was amazed at the timing. The faith with which you utter off course do matter.


May you bask in devotion this week, Jai Gurudev!

श्री श्री नमामी(Sri Sri Namami)
Upasana

Sri Sri Mahatmyam- Series Part 7

Uniqueness

Sri Sri is very special in many ways. He has never forced us with strict rules and regulations. This was in the initial days of mine in the Art of Living ashram. Most of them were clad in white. I loved blue color and said to myself,"Sky is blue,Krishna is blue, I love blue..sorry! I cannot like white." Gurudev immediately said,'Ha..Blue is also a great color. " As though to say, You can be your unique self. Nobody is forcing you to accept everything that is around you.

If we follow others then world is missing out the wonderful unique self of you ,for why you have been created by the Divine. Dive deep into your unique self by doing 'Sahaj meditation'. Sahaj meditation takes you very deep into your own self. Here, we get mantra from our Guru(Or teachers assigned by the Guru) to do the meditation. There are several mantras out in the world, the mantra given by the Master is truly special. It just makes meditation effortless. It is time honored meditation ;-) as well.

“It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection.” -Bhagavadgeetha

Mantra of today:

Vedaham etam purusam mahantam
Adityavarnam tamasah parastat

TRANSLATION
This Great Being, effulgent as the sun, beyond the boundaries. Before our realization, this Great Being quenched our heart’s thirst. After our realization, we feed the Soul’s hunger of this Great Being.

Alright...Stay tuned next Thursday for another story of our Master.

श्री श्री नमामी(Sri Sri Namami)
Upasana

Sri Sri Mahatmyam- Series Part 6

Dispeller of darkness(Ajnan Nashaka, Pragna Pradaayaka)


This happened long time ago, probably 12 years ago. I was about to commit a sin. Although had not committed it, the very thought of it had created a guilt in me. It was so high that did not know what to do. I decided to meet Gurudev before taking any extreme steps. Entered Vishalakshi Mantap of Bangalore ashram. Gurudev was sitting there and was explaining Bhagavadgeetha to his devotees. He was explaining about Arjuna and Krishna. He said Arjuna is very dear to Krishna. And added, "Even if you had committed the sin, you are and you will be my dearest devotee." He looked straight into my eyes, fixed on me for complete one minute. I was stupefied. No tears, no anger, no guilt.....it was as though Gurudev had given me a spiritual bath. The old me never existed anymore. He saved my life and asked nothing in return. He had dispelled the ignorance and guilt in me by bestowing the knowledge so subtly and effortlessly.

People ask me, Does Gurudev know you by name? Have you talked to him?

He knows what you do, he knows what you are going through. He knows what you have not shared with any single human on planet earth. Relationship between a devotee and a Master is beyond words, it is the connection which only two of you will know. The Guru, who is the father, mother, family and Divine Light of devotees, bestows realization of the limitations of worldly existence.

Here is the chapter 12,verse 20 of Bhagavadgeetha for you:

ye tu dharmāmṛtam idaḿ
yathoktaḿ paryupāsate
śraddadhānā mat-paramā
bhaktās te ’tīva me priyāḥ

WORD FOR WORD
ye -- those who; tu -- but; dharma -- of religion; amrtam -- nectar; idam -- this; yatha -- as; uktam -- said; paryupasate -- completely engage; sraddadhanah -- with faith; mat-paramah -- taking Me, the Supreme Lord, as everything; bhaktah -- devotees; te -- they; ativa -- very, very; me -- to Me; priyah -- dear.

TRANSLATION
Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.

Alright...Stay tuned next Thursday for another story of our Poojya Gurudev.

श्री श्री नमामी(Sri Sri Namami)
Upasana

Poem written by Gurudev

Here is the poem written by Gurudev to his devotees, touched by the words.

Will continue with Sri Sri Mahatmyam next week.

Sri Sri Namami,
Upasana

Sri Sri Mahatmyam- Series Part 5

Guru is beyond Time and Space

This happened during 2002 when Gurudev had come to visit in Mangalore. Gurudev was talking to somebody and suddenly a volunteer entered and said, 'Gurudev! Let us go..We are getting late, there is no time.' Gurudev replied, 'I am the time'. His fixed expression was so meaningful.

It is true. He is the past,present and the future.Effects of planets and karma get washed away in his presence. Many of the devotees who were going through tough time in life have experienced miracles after meeting him or doing a course. There are cancer patients who got cured after doing Happiness program, diabetes patients reduced their insulin dosage. When our mind is quietened, the change that we experience in unfathomable.

Here are few lines written by famous poet Tulsidas in Hindi:

एक घड़ी आधी घड़ी ,आधी की पुनि आध ,

तुलसी संगत साधु की ,काटे कोटि अपराध।


It means, A few minutes meeting with a True Saint can release one from 100 million negative re-actions(Karma).

Alright...Stay tuned next Thursday for a beautiful story of our Gurudev.

श्री श्री नमामी(Sri Sri Namami)
Upasana

Sri Sri Mahatmyam- Series Part 4

Talents come alive

This post is dedicated to Ujval who asked,With devotion can talents come alive? Yes! Dormant forces, faculties and talents do come alive.

When you come in touch with the Master, lot more happens beyond your realm of understanding. Initially, it never occurred to me. Now when I look back on few incidents it is amazing to see how subtly he transforms his devotees; it is beyond imagination.

In 1999, One of the Carnatic music teacher had humiliated my singing and I had vowed to myself firmly that would never sing again. However, one day in ashram Gurudev beckoned me to sing and handed the mike to me. The peace in him shimmered and withered the vows in me to sing – Jai Jai Radha Raman Hari Bol…Jai Jai Radha Raman Hari Bol…

Later, I happened to be among 50 people to sing for silver jubilee event with senior teacher of Art of Living, Vikram Hazra in front of 3 million people. The mind transcended its limitation and talent came alive. Why is Gurudev doing such stupendous events like Silver Jubilee-2006, World Cultural Festival (WCF)-2016? Was it for fame or money? No! It is for devotees like you and me to grow.


In Yogasutra, Patanjali says:

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents come alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

For our growth and expansion, Gurudev will keep having many more such events. Seva(volunteer service) is not for HIM, it is actually for our own growth. To rise above our limitations and to discover our self to be a greater person by far than we ever conceived.

Alright...See you next Thursday for another story of our Satguru.

श्री श्री नमामी(Sri Sri Namami)
Upasana