Beginning on Wednesday, October 24, Storm Sandy severely affected portions of the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, and Eastern Canada.
In response to inquiries from Siddha Yoga devotees around the world regarding the impact of Storm Sandy on Shree Muktananda Ashram, this update and photo gallery is being posted.
Storm Sandy significantly impacted the area where Shree Muktananda Ashram is located—Sullivan County, in New York State, USA.
Shree Muktananda Ashram lost power on the evening of Monday, October 29 and functioned on generators, with minimal power, until the night of Friday, November 2, when the power was restored.
Although everyone in Shree Muktananda Ashram had to wear extra layers of clothing and carry flashlights, everyone followed the Ashram Daily Schedule and offered seva.
Sevites in Shree Muktananda Ashram are sending blessings to all those affected by the storm—by chanting, meditating, and offering prayers.
We would love to hear about how you experience your prayers and blessings reaching those impacted by Storm Sandy, and the practical and tangible ways you are supporting others.
Thank you for this wonderful example of Yoga in action!
I was a visiting sevite at Shree Muktananda Ashram offering garden seva during last September. So seeing the first pictures taken after the storm had a strong impact on me. I had been so closely connected to the trees and land in our dear Ashram.
I could recognize the fallen trees, and felt deep sorrow for the damages and also great concern for the ashramites I had just been sharing my life with.
But the picture gallery updates soon connected me, heart-wise, with the profound contentment, trust, and vitality of the sevites and workers in the Ashram. I felt myself, once more, among the sevites pushing wheelbarrows, sweeping leaves, collecting branches, praying and chanting. There was also such a strong support from the sangham worldwide, a rainbow of sharings, prayers, and blessings.
What a great lesson for our daily lives! We go through many different seasons, and weather changes in life and no matter what season or inner weather condition we might be going through, we are always inspired and encouraged by the Siddha Yoga teachings and practices. Yoga in action at full swing. Warmly cloaked with the Guru’s Grace, we know it’s only temporary and storms will change as seasons do; and thank God for the hidden blessings in seasons and climate changes, as hard as they might be, for the growth that comes from them: they always bring change and reconstruction within and without.
With love and enthusiasm,
a devotee from Buenos Aires, Argentina
I’ve set the Siddha Yoga path website as one of my home pages. Now at some point in the day I ‘visit’ the ashram to see how the clean-up work is coming on and to send my love and blessings. The process is getting so powerful that just thinking of Shree Muktananda Ashram opens my heart.
At first I felt sad when I saw the beautiful trees that had been uprooted. I always find it hard to let go of things that have been a part of my life and that have given me so much. However, watching the magnificent trees being cut up, I had the realisation that it’s all energy and that I can let go of these things that I value – it doesn't have to be hard – I can release the energy and let them move on.
Sitting in my study in rural New South Wales, I have darshan every day. I visit the galleries and then, when the photograph of Gurumayi appears, my heart bursts open with love and joy.
Thank you, Gurumayi.
And love and blessings to Shree Muktananda Ashram, the devotees, and the flora and fauna that live there.
a devotee from Lismore Heights, Australia
I just saw the photos, and I can perceive, feel, and hear
the peace and the joy of people, of loving people, offering seva at Shree Muktananda Ashram.
a devotee from Estado de Mexico, Mexico
Thank you for the updates on the cleanup of Shree Muktananda Ashram after Storm Sandy. It is really good to hear and see how the sevites and grounds are doing after the storm. It was good to see the smiling faces of everyone responding to the aftereffects.
My wife and I have been traveling and we had only one brief contact with someone in Shree Muktananda Ashram, in which we learned that the power had been lost. It was good to come back to the web and be connected to the Ashram again.
Thank you for keeping us all updated through the website.
Warm regards,
a devotee from Gurgaon, India
The other day I saw Gurumayi offering prayers and blessings, seated on a bench by the sun in the corridors with open hands and palms. I was curious of the gesture and saw that photo many times.
The next day I sent my blessings to myself, people who work for me,
my relatives, my apartment block, the neighborhood, the city, country,
people affected by the storm, people across all the continents and the planet.
By the time I finished sending the blessings with raised hands and open palms, I could feel energy entering my body through my hands and I was completely energized. I began to breathe a long and deep breath that often happens during my meditations—and I became very happy and cheerful.
Later, during the day, when I contemplated why I was breathing during my routine work like that and why I was so cheerful, I realized the power of sending blessings.
And today I read Gurumayi’s talk and the emphasis on sending blessings.
Thank you Gurumayi, for teaching directly and indirectly.
Thank you so much for being with us in every moment.
Love and blessing to all,
a devotee from Delhi, India