Stay Steadfast in Sadhana

Namaste.

Swagatam Hindustan! You are participating in this “Be in the Temple” satsang in the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall. This satsang is a live video stream from the Bhagavan Nityananda Temple in Shree Muktananda Ashram and is being held just for you in Hindustan. You all have reserved front-row seats.

On the Siddha Yoga path, July is dedicated to worshiping and paying homage to the Guru. It is the time of Gurupurnima, and we celebrate Gurupurnima every day throughout the month. Today you—Siddha Yogis and new seekers from all across Hindustan—have gathered in the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall to celebrate Gurupurnima.

I wish you all Shubh Gurupurnima!

As you took your seats in the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall, you were able to see and study Gurumayi’s Message Artwork for 2020. Gurumayi’s Message is

Ātmā kī Prashānti
Peacefulness of the Self

You next saw beautiful images of nature from Shree Muktananda Ashram, where it is midsummer. As you can appreciate, we’ve been having monsoon-like rain, which brings about an abundance of flowers. You also saw the Gurupurnima moon shining over the Ashram. And you had darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda’s radiant form, surrounded by coreopsis and yellow lily flowers from the Ashram’s sacred grounds.

Today I want to offer my salutations to Shri Guru by speaking about the glory of Siddha Yoga sadhana that the Guru teaches. One of the classic texts of Kashmir Shaivism, the Shiva Sutra, is comprised of seventy-seven sutras. And one of these sutras teaches: Gurur-upāyaha, “The Guru is the means.”

When the Guru bestows shaktipat initiation, the supreme act of Guru’s grace, and awakens Kundalini Shakti, the seeker may have a glimpse of the Truth, the light of the divine Self within. Then, the scripture says, through sadhana as shown by the Guru, one can come to live and become established in that Truth.

The sutra Gurur-upāyaha, “The Guru is the means,” can also be understood in another way: “The means the Guru gives is the Guru.” That is to say, the means of sadhana that the Guru gives—the teachings and practices—are chaitanya, alive and imbued with the Guru’s shakti. They contain the Guru’s light. I find when I engage in any of the Siddha Yoga practices, when I put any of the Guru’s teachings into practice, I feel the shakti and light of the Guru vibrating inside me. I’m sure many of you experience this too.

Wherever you are, wherever you go, when you repeat the mantra, recite Shri Guru Gita, sit for meditation, or offer puja to the Guru, the Guru’s shakti shines forth inside and connects you with the Self. You then feel such peace and delight. Siddha Yoga sadhana is amazing, and it does require one thing: You have to do it… regularly.

This is how sadhana works. If we make effort every day, even a small effort, we open space within for grace to flow. Gurumayi made this very clear to me early on in my sadhana. I was feeling the immensity of grace of the awakened Kundalini Shakti. One day I was able to share with Gurumayi my heart’s aspiration to become one with the Kundalini Shakti, the Divine Mother, and to serve and be a vehicle for her light. As I was speaking, Gurumayi listened very quietly and seemed to look inside to see the depth of my yearning and commitment. Once I had finished sharing, Gurumayi said: “Well, if that is what you want, you are going to have to do it.”

I repeat these words from Gurumayi to myself at the beginning of every day. And I ask myself: “How will I practice today? What teaching will I implement?” When I set my intention and put forth effort, the Guru’s grace is there one-hundred percent to support me every step and empower my efforts to bear fruit. This is something you can experience too. Do sadhana. Sadhana karo. As you stay steadfast in performing sadhana, your connection with the Self becomes stronger and stronger. The mind is purified, and the divine light shines ever brighter.

In these times of uncertainty, we can be certain that through sadhana, through the practices and teachings shown by the Guru, we can call forth the inner light and wisdom of the Self and be a light unto ourselves, a light to others, and a light to our world. And so I say to you, at this time of Gurupurnima, “do sadhana”—sadhana karo.

I encourage you all to visit the Siddha Yoga path website regularly. There are talks by Gurumayi, chants, wonderful articles on aspects of Siddha Yoga sadhana, inspiring photos of nature, and so much more. The Siddha Yoga path website is an incredible support for all Siddha Yogis and new seekers in their Siddha Yoga sadhana.

Salutations to Shri Guru, who through her grace and teachings banishes darkness and reveals the light of the eternal Self.

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