As these photos fill me with joy, purity, and beauty, it occurs to me that what I am seeing is the Truth that always lives inside of me, and in all. So wonderful!
Thank you.
Missouri, USA
I want to thank all the sevites whose offerings through the Nature Gallery make this sharing of Gurumayi's love visible.
It is reflected in the pictures. The beauty of wildlife, the translucent silence, peace and serenity, the perfect harmony, the light, and the colors are remarkable reflections of the Self.
Thank you so much for making my heart leap with joy each time I visit the website!
Biot, France
My favorite memories of Indian Republic Day, January 26, involved spending time with my family. All businesses are closed, so my parents would both stay home. We would spend the evening of January 25 together laughing and enjoying a large Indian meal. Sometimes we would make a bonfire to ward off the cold.
In the morning we would wake up early to drink chai in bed and watch the parade. Every year there is a huge parade with a float representing each region of India. Watching all the floats reminded me of how large India is and how many diverse cultures are united in our one nation.
There is a tradition on Indian Republic Day of the government giving an award for bravery to children who performed acts of courage during the year. Hearing about people so young who behave so selflessly inspires me to be more altruistic in my own life.
New Delhi, India
I had no idea that yesterday was Vasant Panchami, the day that celebrates the goddess Saraswati. She is my favorite goddess, because I feel as if she is a reflection of my higher self. And it seems that she was with me yesterday.
There was a beautiful snowfall here. As I looked out my window at the sky full of quiet snowflakes, I felt that I just had to run outside into the freshly fallen snow. I put my earbuds on and played my favorite song. I looked up to the sky, and then I closed my eyes and began to dance. While I was dancing, I did not feel as though I was alone. On occasion, I could feel warmth surrounding me, as if someone was hugging me and leading me in the dance.
After the song ended, I stood still, not daring to move. Opening my eyes, I looked around me at the glorious snow on the ground and in the sky. I had never known such peace.
a fifteen-year-old Siddha Yogi from Massachusetts, USA
Today, January 24, is Vasant Panchami, a holiday honoring Shri Saraswati, the goddess of learning, music, and the arts. In India, it falls very near the beginning of the new school semester. I remember as a child in New Delhi reciting hymns and mantras in school to worship the Devi and to offer thanks for her gifts of knowledge and inspiration.
Vasant Panchami also marks the beginning of springtime in India. Because agriculture plays a large part in the local economy in Northern India, we would also honor the farmers on this holiday. I have happy memories of wearing bright yellow clothing and performing plays and songs and dances to thank the farmers for the work they did to produce food for us. We would wish them good luck, hoping that the winter would cease being harsh and that the sun would produce a good harvest for the year ahead.
Shree Muktananda Ashram
Yesterday, Friday, January 23, 2015 was Ganesh Jayanti, Lord Ganesh's birthday. Lord Ganesh has a special place in my heart and in the hearts of my family.
In 1976 my parents were given the spiritual names Shiva and Parvati by Baba Muktananda. Lord Ganesh is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Lord Ganesh has always been revered by our family as a spiritual son and protector to my parents and a brother to my sister and me.
From the moment I woke up yesterday, I was celebrating and honoring Lord Ganesh by remembering him as the destroyer of obstacles. I visualized offering him
laddus, his favorite sweets.
Later in the morning, I was offering
seva in Shree Muktananda Ashram when I saw Gurumayi walking toward the Bhagavan Nityananda Temple in Anugraha. As Gurumayi was walking through the hallway, she paused and looked up at the clear blue sky. Gurumayi immediately noticed and pointed out to me a cloud in the shape of an elephant right over the Temple! The cloud depicted Lord Ganesh's face with his trunk raised upward.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for showing me Lord Ganesh’s joyous form in nature on Ganesh Jayanti!
Shree Muktananda Ashram
Watching the Nature Gallery, I effortlessly glide into meditation and am filled with gratitude for the understanding that we are one with nature. Wherever we are, nature is there guiding us, revealing the mystery and splendor of her ways—through the vastness of the sky, a rock on the ground, steps through the forest, patterns of ice on the window, a flower on the
puja, my face in the mirror; indoors, outdoors, day or night.
Thank you, dear Gurumayi, for always leading us to the wondrous experience of being a human being on this most amazing place, planet Earth.
California, USA
My salutations to the photography sevites. The Nature Galleries bring great joy to my heart. As a lover of Shri Muktananda Ashram and a lover of birds, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
New York, USA
As I face a new challenge in my life, I take heart from the images of the brave birds in this January Nature Gallery. And the pictures remind me how important it is to feed and to take care of them.
New York, USA
There's a swan cloud in the sky—so soothing and peaceful.
Sydney, Australia
This morning when I was looking at the photographs in the January Nature Gallery, I noticed something I hadn't noticed before. For some reason, I was compelled to stop at the photo of the multicolored wire, adorned with raindrops. The light hitting the raindrops and the different colors of the wire were enthralling to me. After several minutes of admiring the photo, I went to the next photo and saw a tree branch, decorated with the same raindrops. It almost looked as though the wire had transformed into the branch! I smiled with the thought, "It's all God." The branch, the raindrops, the man-made wire, the man who made the wire—everything is God. I am God.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for awakening me to this truth and for showing me all the different ways I can experience my own divinity.
a Siddha Yoga from New York, USA
This morning, I opened the January Nature Gallery with a sense of joyful anticipation. Each photo seemed new and fresh, yet I responded instantly to one specific image—a brick wall with the shadow of a leafless tree cast upon it. As I beheld this photo, I found myself sighing with a sense of relief and deep relaxation. I asked myself why I was having this response. The answer came quickly: Nature, a form of God, of the Guru, is always with me. Even while looking at a brick wall, I am being embraced by nature.
With so little effort on my part, this photo brought me instantly and deeply into the comfort and peace of my own inner Self. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Alaska, USA
Thanks for these photos that evoked so much love in me. Each one seemed to speak a word: dharma, glory,
shakti, auspiciousness, grace. I experienced a profound stirring of emotions. The beauty of nature seemed to be the language of my heart.
Virginia, USA