Excerpts from Gurumayi's Talks

Namaskar and Happy Diwali!

 

When I was reading Excerpts from Gurumayi’s Talks, I felt I wanted to offer prayers for everyone in Shree Muktananda Ashram and for all those affected by Storm Sandy.

 

Yesterday,  November 11, 2012, in the evening as I sat for meditation I offered a prayer, for which I first focused on my breath. As I was offering my prayer, I was so concentrated that after few moments I felt as if I was sitting in one of the halls there in Shree Muktananda Ashram, and offering my prayer. The prayer was so tangible and powerful that I could feel it. I remember I felt as if my eyes were half opened, but soon after that I went in deep state of meditation where there were, no thoughts, no questions, no reaction, no feeling—there was complete silence, peace, and easefulness, where I was very comfortable.

 

When I came out of meditation I was feeling very fresh and full of Shakti and I had a beautiful smile when I saw Gurumayi’s photo on my puja.

How incredible that we are able to read and receive these words which show so clearly that, even in the aftermath of a huge storm, Gurumayi sees and shares only the highest perspective with us.

I revisited Gurumayi's Talks in Three Satsang again today and notice that with each reading the teachings seem to gather potency and gain a life of their own with breath and substance inside me.  Tears arise as I express this and feel how grateful I am to Gurumayi for including us in these satsangs. My husband and I often comment to each other, "It feels as if we are THERE with all the sevites at the Ashram!"  

Yesterday, I read the excerpts from Gurumayi’s talks. They were very inspiring. When we first heard about the storm, my mind had a heightened awareness about the situation: I was quite concerned and my thoughts were directed towards what was happening there. But as the days passed, I notice that this quality of attention was slowly beginning to fade as my mind reverted back to being absorbed in my world and my life here.

 

Reading Gurumayi’s words last night reminded me to continue to send clearly formed prayers and blessings as the days pass, both because the recovery period is still ahead and because we should support each other always, in good times and in bad times. Let love flow out to the world every day, always.

 

Gurumayi, thank you for guiding me to see this, and empowering me to send prayers from here with the understanding that yes, they do reach every part of the world and they have the power to uplift. Your teachings continue to transform me and the world.

I had the Shri Rudram CD softly playing in the background as I read Gurumayi’s beautiful words from her three satsang talks. My heart filled with gratitude. Gurumayi’s kind, encouraging words about sending blessings to one and all made me instantly close my eyes and, with folded hands close to my heart, send love and warm energy to all those in the cold without electricity. I could feel healing vibrations reaching the tired bodies of the sevites and employees working so hard in and around Shree Muktananda Ashram. I salute you ALL!

 

On reflecting about this prayer from my heart, I felt I had actually experienced Bade Baba’s words, “The heart is the hub of all sacred places. Go there and roam.” As I roamed in my heart, the love-filled blessings simply poured out. Gurumayi, your grace is allowing the teachings to arise on their own accord. Thank you. Pranams!

 

Ever since we got the first update on the website about Storm Sandy, I’ve made it a commitment every night to sit and chant for 30 minutes with the intention to offer prayers and healing energies to everyone for a safe and easeful transition from the aftermath of the storm. I felt inspired to practice and chant the mantra Om Namah Shivaya along with “The Power of the Mantra” CD, the teaching that was fresh in my mind from the Global Siddha Yoga Shaktipat Intensive. As I chant, I actually feel transported to Baba Muktananda’s samadhi shrine in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, and into the vibrations of the Shaktipat Intensive. It feels so powerful to chant the mantra from that space and to offer it to all in the world daily on an on-going basis.

Thank you so much, beloved Gurumayi, for blessing us with the power of mantra, and for continuously inspiring us and guiding us to offer our hearts, our prayers, and our blessings to the world. Thank you!!

I find Gurumayi’s teaching on how to create and send prayers and blessings very, very powerful! She again reminds me of the power of intention, the power of words, the power of connecting with the heart, and also the power of envisioning that which is desired or to be created.

 

One of the foundational teachings of Baba and Gurumayi is that God dwells within each one of us, and I believe when we connect with that all is possible.

Today, when I visited the Siddha Yoga website and started to read Excerpts from Gurumayi's Talks, I felt I should offer prayers for Shree Muktananda Ashram and everyone there. Right then, I closed my eyes and offered prayers. Soon, I found that I wanted to form sentences and explicitly offer my prayers for the Ashram, the sevites, the buildings, and everything: and I did so.

Then I continued to read the next page, and discovered that Gurumayi actually spoke about forming sentences for prayers. I was very delighted to read that and reminded myself that the teachings are alive in my own heart and I should continue to listen to myself whether what is evolving from within is at a high intensity or is very deep and of low intensity.

Thank you, Gurumayi, for reminding me of the presence of divinity within at that moment and always.
 

Tears came to my eyes when I heard that Gurumayi had encouraged the ashramites to sing while facing the challenge of Hurricane Sandy. When I was a child, whenever I was hurt I would make up a song and sing it until the pain went away. I know from personal experience how powerful and natural Gurumayi’s teaching is. Singing can lift you to a place where difficulties don’t exist and where there is no suffering. Thank you, Gurumayi, for reminding us.
 

Love, gratitude and blessings,
a devotee from Vancouver, Canada

One morning, after the storm, I wanted to recite Sri Guru Gita in the Temple so I could be grounded during the difficult time of not having power and heat.  I realized that the Temple was closed since there was no heat, so I decided to sit down in a chair in the back of Sri Nilaya hall and to start reciting Sri Guru Gita.  I could see my mind settling into the sound of the sacred Sanskrit text.  Then a thought came up:  Don’t I want to send my prayers and blessings to the rest of the world?  There are so many others who are having a difficult time at this moment.  So I did.  I visualized the sacred sound reverberating, and the light of the Shakti permeating throughout the world. 

 

Later that morning, at the satsang, Gurumayi spoke about sending prayers and blessings, and she taught us how to do it.  While I was listening to her, I had a big smile within. She spoke about how important it is to take time when you are sending prayers and blessings, not just to say the words. 

 

Thank you, Gurumayi, for your teachings within and without.  That was a moment
in which I recognized how your teachings have been imbibed in my whole body.
 

I watched the photos of the sevites offering seva at Shree Muktananda Ashram after the storm and, right afterwards, read Gurumayi's words. I felt inspired to connect to my heart and take a moment to formulate a prayer and send blessings.
 

I sent my blessings to all those affected by storm Sandy, not only in the Ashram but throughout the USA, Canada, Cuba, and Haiti. Then a prayer came very naturally to my heart, wishing that all those affected by the storm could experience the same joy, love, trust, tranquility, and enthusiasm manifested by sevites in Shree Muktananda Ashram.
 

It is wonderful that sevites are experiencing their virtues while overcoming the damages of this natural event and I hope that everyone affected, everywhere, will also be able to experience this heightened state.

Thank you, Gurumayi, so very much for bringing us all back to your teachings via the website.

I am so grateful for being reminded to go back to my experience of taking time to offer blessings to others. This has been a practice I have cultivated since I began practicing Siddha Yoga and first learned the power of blessings. In difficult times as well as in times of joy, taking time to connect with my heart and visualize light and love and strength enveloping and refreshing others has been one of the sweetest ways I have found to remain connected with my loved ones and with humanity as a whole.
 

During difficult times this practice has allowed me to feel strong in myself and my ability to support others. During times of joy, this practice has allowed me to share the bliss of the Heart with others.
 

Thank you, Gurumayi, for teaching us to support one another through prayers and blessings and in this way to be a positive presence on this earth.

With all my love and gratitude,
a devotee from Brazil

When I read the excerpts from Gurumayi's talks about sending prayers and blessings — actually sitting down to form the words to pray — I felt so moved.  I have noticed in myself and others how easy it is to say, "My prayers are with you." But to actually sit down and form the words, I wonder how often that really happens. So, as soon as I read Gurumayi's words, I ran upstairs to my meditation space, sat down, and began to send prayers and blessings to those affected by Storm Sandy, to Shree Muktananda Ashram, and to those experiencing the effects of the recent winter storm on the East Coast.
 

By actually forming the words of the prayers and blessings, I had a tangible experience of those I was praying for actually receiving these blessings.
 

Thank you Gurumayi for continually teaching us.

With love,
a devotee from Pennsylvania, USA

Gurumayi’s words about the senior staff member and the young visiting sevite inspired me. I realized that seemingly small gestures of kindness can be so powerful, because grace can flow through such actions. It opened up my mind to all the ways that I can put the Siddha Yoga teachings into practice.

Thank you, Gurumayi.