News & Notes - May 2006

     Registration for Gurupoornima Retreat:  Gurupoornima will be observed on July 11. The 6-day annual Retreat – a period of exclusive saadhana in Gurusannidhi – will be held from 12th to 17th July.

Considering the large number of requests from seekers around the world for participation in the Retreat, a system of registration and confirmation has been introduced. Properly filled registration form (available from the Ashram on request by post or e-mail) must reach the Ashram before May 30. Telephonic registration will not be considered. Registration will be confirmed by 10th June ’06. Selected participants are expected to arrive by July 10 forenoon and take leave by July 18.

Participants should bring a copy of Vishnu-sahasranaama,Bhagavadgeeta and Kathopanishad. Poojya Swamiji would like all the participants to be in white or light coloured, simple, saattvik dress during the Retreat. It is expected that all the participants earnestly wish to become austere and exclusive seekers during these seven days.

     The Long Awaited Visit: 

[A Report on the recent visit of Poojya Swamiji, Maa and Nutan Swamiji by Rima Sehgal]

On 17th March 2006, our beloved Gurudev arrived in Delhi after an interval of more than 15 months. This was possibly the first time in 32 years that Delhi devotees had to wait for more than a year to see Poojya Swamiji. Many eagerly congregated at the airport to receive Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Maa whilst a group of more than 40 devotees patiently awaited their arrival at CIRD.

By the time we received the message that Poojya Swamiji’s car had entered Vasundhara, devotees had been standing at the main gate of CIRD for more than half an hour. The message spontaneously inspired the choral singing of the deep melodious welcome: “Svagatam Guro, Saranapradaa Guro”. When the car turned into the main gate of CIRD, eyes brimmed over at the sight of Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Maa alighting from the car.

The bird population of CIRD, which has been increasing in number and diversity, also seemed to welcome Poojya Swamiji and serenade Him throughout His stay. An enthusiastic Cuckoo sang tirelessly, accompanied at various times by kingfishers, mynas, babblers, woodpeckers, crows, ravens, sparrows and many others whose names we did not know. During one of the classes, referring to a scene from Kalidasa’s immortal play ‘Shakuntala’, Nutan Swamiji explained how birds and animals become fearless and approachable in the places inhabited by Saints, and how even the Kings were humble and attentive enough not to disturb the divine peaceful atmosphere of the Ashrams.

On 19th March the programme at CIRD commenced with the sublime Guruarchana. Sri Ashwani Kumar and his wife Smt Kusum who performed the Guruarchana were staying for a few days at CIRD, leaving their children in the care of relatives. Ashwani, accompanied by other devotees was decorating the Satsang Hall when Maa informed him that Swamiji had selected Kusum and him to perform the Guru-archana. A deep glow seemed to light up from somewhere within him. He continued till the decorations were completed late at night. Next morning, at 5 a.m. along with Kusum he drove almost 3 hours to collect his 2 teenage sons from home, so that they could also be present for the sacred occasion. The function took place in the octagonal Satsang Hall overflowing with almost 200 devotees. All the visitors were offered Bhakti-bhojana as usual.

Daily morning classes based on Vivekachoodamani, “Discovering your Inner Resources for Interactional Enrichment”, were the main focus of the programme from 21st to 28th March. As the familiar sonorous recitation of “Yam saivaah Samupaasate ….” resounded in the Satsang hall, it was difficult to assimilate that more than one year had passed since it was last heard in CIRD. A year in which devotees around the world watched breathlessly as Poojya Swamiji’s health rode on a roller coaster which swerved, swirled and went to all unexpected places. 

A fervent prayer of gratitude spontaneously arose in the mind to our beloved Gurudev, who blesses us with his physical presence year after year, tirelessly exposing to us the priceless Ultimate Knowledge, guiding us through the quagmire of our minds into the realm of peace, joy and transcendence. Repeatedly emphasising during the classes, that we cannot get anything from the world that cannot be drawn from within ourselves, Poojya Swamiji infuses in us the transcendental attitude that elevates the mind beyond all constrictions.

At the end of each class, aglow with this powerful infusion, volunteers would hurry to the Annakshetra. Poojya Swamiji always wishes that breakfast be served immediately to all visiting devotees attending the early morning class, so that they may go directly to their offices. The great importance given by our Gurudev to hosting and serving food to visiting devotees, has over the years enabled our minds to glimpse the dimension that magically appears when we lovingly choose to sacrifice our own participation in the Satsangs to facilitate others’. 

In the daily morning 9:30 classes between 22nd and 28th March, “Intensifying Saadhana in Daily Life”, based on Mundakopanishad, Nutan Swamiji and Maa emphasised that the fundamental purpose of Upanishadic study is to realise the underlying unity of ourselves with the Universe. Constant awareness of this unity elevates our minds from selfishness to selflessness. With many examples from daily life, they made us understand that the key to joy and peace lies in the saadhana of mind-expansion, which allows us to find joy in everybody’s welfare. 

Satsangs: Daily evening Satsang commenced in the sublime atmosphere created by Maa leading the evening prayer. Everyone had sorely missed the unique experience of Maa chanting the prayer since her last visit in November 2004. During the evening Satsang, which was conducted primarily in Hindi, Poojya Swamiji focused on Chapter 5 of the Bhagavadgeeta emphasising the importance of self-effort in spiritual life. On weekends and sometimes during weekdays also, morning Satsang at 10:45 provided unique opportunities for devotees to present their queries and receive direct guidance from Poojya Swamiji.

Cultural Heritage Class: Children from nearby slums who have been attending the Sunday class on Cultural Heritage held at CIRD since 2004, spent time in informal Satsang with Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Maa, delighting everyone present by chanting slokas and singing bhajans. CIRD volunteers had put many of these neglected children in the local Government school two years ago. The volunteers would visit the school once a month to review their progress with the teachers and also spend a lot of time encouraging and motivating their parents. With Poojya Swamiji’s blessings, five children who were performing well in the school as well as the Sunday class at CIRD, have been admitted to a local private English medium school of good academic standard. Quite a few devotees have come forward to sponsor their studies.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had requested Poojya Swamiji to address their officers and staff on 24th March at the Sri Sathya Sai Auditorium (Lodhi Road, Delhi). In a beautifully organized programme that commenced with Maa lighting the lamp, Poojya Swamiji spoke on “Harnessing Your Inner Resources for Professional Excellence”, providing a clear path for professionals to empower themselves from within so that they may function with greater excellence in their professional lives. Prasaada and bhakti-bhojana were offered to all the participants and visitors in CIRD everyday. For the seekers who became “Ashram inmates” during Poojya Swamiji’s visit, the rare opportunity of living in Gurusannidhi and receiving guidance in diverse areas of Ashram work provided an invaluable direct experience of how the mind naturally expands and gets sublimated in the association of the Guru.

After both the classes concluded on 28th March, devotees staying at CIRD found to their great joy many occasions for discussions, informal Satsangs and individual meetings with Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Maa. The precious two weeks of living in Gurusannidhi raced past and to our dismay, much too soon, we discovered that it was time for their return to Narayanashrama Tapovanam. Some wistful words about extending the stay were voiced but it was not to be. Before one had time to realize the silent sadness dawning in the mind, the car carrying Swamiji, Maa and Nutan Swamiji moved out of the main gate of CIRD signalling the conclusion of yet another visit.

The familiar vacant feeling hovered in the atmosphere as all the devotees silently got busy with rounding up and packing at CIRD. This time, due to repeated emphasis by Poojya Swamiji, Maa and Nutan Swamiji, there were an unprecedented 23 devotees present for rounding up! Packing and departures continued throughout the day. By nightfall, the familiar number of 3 – 4 devotees remained who continued for the next 3 days. For those remaining at CIRD and those seeing to pending matters in the home and office, the months, weeks and days will be spent eagerly waiting for the next visit when Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Maa are with us at CIRD again.

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