Bhagavan
Samagra Aishvarya & Dharma

by Heather Williams

Siddha Yoga Gathering of Darshan and Manan
Saturday, November 14, 2020

Bhagavan

Shubh Deepavali.

And to all of you in India who are on the cusp of celebrating a new year: Nutan Varshabhinandan. Saal Mubarak. Happy Indian New Year.

I am so delighted to be the host and speaker for this Siddha Yoga gathering of Darshan and Manan: The Siddha Yoga Practices of Seeing and Contemplating.

My name is Heather Williams, and I am the mother of the little drummer Rohit, whom you may have seen playing the tablas and speaking his mind in many of the recent live video streams. I am fortunate that in 1981 my parents were married by Baba Muktananda and that, through Baba’s blessings, they gave me the gift of the Siddha Yoga path. It has been so amazing for me to have met so many of you from around the world and to have practiced the Siddha Yoga teachings together. It is all thanks to Gurumayi’s grace.

I am sure that almost every one of you has made it a point to visit the Siddha Yoga path website and partake of the banquet of teachings in honor of the Deepavali festivities, which have been taking place all this week, and Bali Pratipada, which takes place tomorrow and is celebrated as the new year in several parts of India. For all mothers who are rearing young children, the Siddha Yoga path website is definitely a “Guru-send.”

Speaking of the Guru: the Guru imparts light. And we worship the Guru by waving a flame that symbolizes the light the Guru has kindled within us.

One of the classic stories of Deepavali is of Lord Rama returning to his kingdom after fourteen years in exile. I am amazed at how Lord Rama chose the moonless night for his return. The Lord was himself the embodiment of light. And as he made his way back to his kingdom, those who loved him lined his path with earthen lamps, so that he could see.

The Guru gives light. Lord Rama gives light. And their devotees worship them with light.

Light gives life.

Light bequeaths light.

Light illumines light.

Light worships light.

Light shows us the way.

Light brings forth happiness.

Light brings us to our destination.

Light merges into light.

On Tuesday night of this week, I read Gurumayi’s Shubh Deepavali poem to Rohit, who will be three years old in December. He listened sweetly and intently.

When we came to the end of the poem, we saw that Gurumayi had given all the readers an abundance of Deepavali sweets on a gorgeous silver platter. Rohit’s eyes lit up—he wanted to eat each one! So, I reached toward the computer screen, picked up each sweet on the platter, and put it in Rohit’s mouth. He savored each one, literally munching on it. Then he himself started to take the sweets from the tray! He was sitting on my lap, and I could feel him melting from the sweetness of Gurumayi’s love. He said the coconut dessert was his favorite.

I tell this story to you just in case you found that by the time you got to the end of the poem, the platter was a little empty. Please do forgive my toddler son.

Gurumayi has taught us that every holiday, every celebration on the Siddha Yoga path is a very good reason to worship God, to study and practice the Siddha Yoga teachings, and to offer our gratitude to the Guru.

In today’s gathering of Darshan and Manan, the topic is the Sanskrit term “Bhagavan.” This exquisite word appears in many of the Siddha Yoga namasankirtanas, so you are already very familiar with it. In fact, we address Bade Baba as Bhagavan Nityananda.

In preparation for giving this talk, I was in discussion with Ami Bansal. Ami is an SYDA Foundation staff member and scholar of the Sanskrit language. She and her family live in Mumbai, and she has the loveliest five-year-old daughter, Nitya-Shriya, who happens to have been one of Rohit’s best friends ever since she and Ami visited Shree Muktananda Ashram last year to offer seva.

Together, Ami and I have prepared today’s explanation of Bhagavan. The word “Bhagavan” is derived from the word bhaga. A verse from the ancient Indian scripture, the Vishnu Purana, defines what bhaga means and why the word “Bhagavan” is so dear to seeker’s hearts. I will give you the English translation of this verse.

Complete mastery, righteousness, glory, abundance, wisdom, and detachment—together these six virtues are known to constitute the word bhaga.1

From this verse we learn the divine attributes of Bhagavan. The first two attributes of Bhagavan named in the Vishnu Purana are samagra aishvarya, “complete mastery,” and dharma, or “righteousness.”

I will now explain the meaning of these two divine attributes.

Samagra Aishvarya—Complete Lordship

The word samagra means “complete” or “whole.” Aishvarya in this verse means “sovereignty,” “lordship,” “benevolent power.” Aishvarya also signifies abundance and wealth—both inner, spiritual wealth and outer abundance. Samagra aishvarya therefore means “complete mastery.” For us on the Siddha Yoga path, samagra aishvarya is realized by receiving the Guru’s grace, which awakens Kundalini Shakti within us.

As you participate in the gathering of Darshan and Manan in the presence of Bhagavan Nityananda, in honor of shubh Deepavali, let your heart expand. Let it embrace the aishvarya—the power of mastery, the material and spiritual abundance—that is showered upon you by Bade Baba’s divine and benevolent glance.

Dharma

Now I will explain the second divine attribute of Bhagavan, which is dharma. Dharma is another amazing Sanskrit word that is incredibly rich in meaning. One of these meanings is “that which holds everything together.” Dharma is therefore the principle that supports universal harmony.

Dharma represents truth, righteousness, and the virtues that one observes to be a good human being. Dharma requires that there be justice and equality among all on this planet.

Another significant meaning of dharma is one’s own unique duty in life. The scriptures of India teach that when a person follows the dharma or duty that is natural for them, they can come to know and rest in their own Self. A great being such as Bhagavan Nityananda has fulfilled the highest dharma for a human being, which is to become one with the supreme Self, with God.

In this gathering of Darshan and Manan in the presence of Bhagavan Nityananda, in honor of Deepavali, rest your gaze upon Bade Baba’s effulgent and enlivened form, which scintillates with the essence of dharma.

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I love darshan.

Darshan, in the Hindi languages, comes from the Sanskrit darshana. One of the primary meanings of darshana is “to see or to be seen.”

I feel so fortunate that Gurumayi has taught me how true darshan takes place in one’s own heart. For this reason, I first practice darshan in a structured manner—for example, by going to my puja room, going to the Temple whenever possible, consciously visualizing the Guru’s form on the screen of my mind, and ensuring that I am connected with the Guru’s energy in my heart. Because of this discipline, I am then able to have darshan of my Shri Guru throughout my day.

Manan is a Hindi word derived from the Sanskrit manana. It means “reflection” or “contemplation.” Gurumayi has said that manan is important because it’s not just thinking, thinking, thinking about things we don’t like, things we don’t care about, things that bother us, things that we want to get rid of, etcetera.

Manan is, in fact, a beautiful spiritual practice that supports us to keep persevering toward our goal, whatever thickets we may come across in our mind. Our goal is to find the holy grail. On the Siddha Yoga path, it is Atma ki Prashanti, Gurumayi’s Message for this year. Peacefulness of the Self.

In all traditions and cultures, there are stories about finding the holy grail or some equivalent of it. These stories are always about finding one’s own immortal self. For eons, the heroes of these tales search—their journey is long and arduous, and if they’re lucky, they come upon the holy grail.

Yet on the Siddha Yoga path, when we receive the Guru’s grace, we strike gold right away. One teaching from the Guru, one word of wisdom from the Guru, is like a laser beam; when we contemplate that word or teaching, it’s enough to propel us to the goal of sadhana. Then we just keep traversing the path for the joy of it, for the fun of it, for the love of it—to keep discovering new ways to recognize what it is that we’ve got.

Because we have it, we meditate.

Because we have it, we chant.

Because we have it, we practice darshan.

Because we have it, we do manan.

As Siddha Yogis, we come from a place of wholeness, instead of lack. We give and receive from that inner space of abundance, from the expansiveness of our own plenitude. We give because we experience joy in giving. We receive because we experience joy in receiving.

In today’s gathering of Darshan and Manan, I invite you to once again take in Bhagavan Nityananda’s darshan and contemplate samagra aishvarya and dharma. Samagra aishvarya is complete mastery. Dharma is truth, righteousness, virtue, and duty.

As you practice darshan and manan in this gathering, be established in the greatness of your own bounty.

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Participants practiced darshan and manan, seeing and contemplating. Afterward everyone sang the Mahalakshmi Stotram in honor of Deepavali and participated in naivedya, the ritual offering of food to Bade Baba.

As this second Siddha Yoga gathering of Darshan and Manan came to a close, Heather gave concluding remarks.

I want to acknowledge you for designating time in your schedule to perform these two practices—darshan and manan. You are affirming for yourself that you are doing the right thing for your sadhana, and you are supporting your mind to be at peace—Atma ki Prashanti.

Today I explained two exquisite attributes of Bhagavan, the Lord within. Those attributes are samagra aishvarya and dharma. Sovereignty over one’s mind and one’s actions, commitment to carrying out one’s duty in life, and the resolve all the while to fulfill one’s dharma of knowing the Self. Continue to practice darshan and manan in the days ahead, and hold these attributes in your awareness. As you know, divinity abides within you.

My Indian friends have shared with me that the Deepavali festivities are all about loving life and celebrating life together. The flames of the lamps we light are symbols of the luminous love that is ignited in our hearts.

Shubh Deepavali.

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1 Vishnu Purāna, 6.5.74; English rendering © 2020 SYDA Foundation.

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    The opening images of the gloriously busy sky, set in between the pillars and beneath the fringed beading, had me captivated. I’ve come to be prepared and calm for when we finally enter the Temple. The beauty outside is no different from the beauty I see within the Temple.
     
    So as we explored the word Bhagavan and its attributes by gazing on Bade Baba’s exquisite form, I found that each virtue was easily accessible even if only from my ordinary state. As Gurumayi entered and offered roses and rose petals to Bade Baba with her "little helper," I found myself engrossed in their every move. It all felt so natural when they then burst into chanting Hare Rama, Hare Krishna—as if Bade Baba had requested it. Such light spread through me and such fondness for my path, which makes me whole and content!

    Hampton Hill, United Kingdom

    Prior to this “Darshan and Manan Gathering,” I asked myself what I wanted to contemplate during the Gathering. I heard this answer inside: "Dharma—What is my dharma? What is my dharma now, given this point in my life and in the world?"
     
    During the satsang, I was delighted when Heather informed us that one of the elements we would contemplate would be dharma. Later in the satsang, tears of gratitude came as Heather spoke the answer to my contemplation with the phrase: "the resolve all the while to fulfill one’s dharma of knowing the Self."

    Massachusetts, United States

    For me, every aspect of the “Darshan and Manan Gathering” yesterday reflected the abundance that Deepavali signifies—the abundance of beauty, reverence, sweetness, chanting God’s name, lightheartedess, joy, and above all, blessings from Shri Guru. When Gurumayi started to chant Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, it truly felt like “a laser beam,” in Heather’s words, reaching from her heart to mine. And when Gurumayi said "Be strong," I felt like she was saying it right to me, blessing me with strength!
     
    Today, on Indian New Year, as I offered dakshina on the Siddha Yoga path website, I felt that place of plenitude in my heart that Heather spoke of. I felt that feeling of wholeness, of connectedness with everyone as I was making the offering of dakshina
     
    My son came in just as I was filling out the dakshina form online, and we both joined our hands in gratitude to Gurumayi for her blessings that dharma may prevail.

    New York, United States

    When Gurumayi was dancing around Bhagavan Nityananda in the Temple, and chanting in honor of Deepavali, I felt she was dancing around the Bhagavan Nityananda who is installed in my own heart. I felt she was showing me how to honor my Self and welcome the light.

    Connecticut, United States

    I am so grateful for this beautiful “Darshan and Manan Gathering,” which I was able to participate in by reading the teachings about the two divine attributes of Bhagavan: samagra aishvarya and dharma. Everything was expressed so beautifully, and I felt like I could hear Gurumayi speaking through Heather.
     
    I feel so fortunate to be a part of this wonderfully uplifting and supportive journey.

    Frankston, Australia

    I love the way Heather invoked the image of the holy grail as an attainment that is to be found within. While I have read many stories of heroes’ journeys to attain this prize, hearing it articulated as a quest that is ignited within gave me a new image for what I have been practicing for the last thirty years on the Siddha Yoga path, and how the Guru’s grace gives me a feeling of renewal each and every day.

    Virginia, United States

    This “Darshan and Manan Gathering” brought me so much peace and a joyful stillness I would not have thought possible only a few days ago. I had prayed to understand my reaction to a recent event that had affected me negatively and still required my response.
     
    After I contemplated my reaction, I understood that the “Peacefulness of the Self” is always within me. And since I would be feeling better when I had made my response, why not just fast-forward and start to feel better now? Then, Heather told us that Gurumayi teaches that “manan is important because it’s not just thinking, thinking, thinking about things we don’t like…” Instead, Heather continued, manan “supports us to keep persevering toward our goal,” regardless of any obstacles our mind may present.  
     
    After the satsang, I felt tangibly peaceful, as if I were a placid lake with not a ripple on the surface. I had a nap and woke up in joy, wondering at my new experience!

    Wisconsin, United States

    What a beautiful satsang and what a beautiful talk! Heather’s explanation of the philosophy of “Darshan and Manan” landed for me both on an intellectual level and on a heart level. My self-effort toward my sadhana feels energized and I feel freshly supported by my enhanced understanding of these divine practices. 

    London, United Kingdom

    What an extraordinary, pristine, and delightful satsang! For me, Heather’s talk embodied Lakshmi’s attributes of beauty, abundance, and love so perfectly, both with regard to the content as well as the way it was presented.

    At the end, when Gurumayi was singing and dancing in front of Bade Baba and the sun shone on her clothes displaying different tones of orange, the sun was setting here and turned the sky into the same colors.

    Berlin, Germany

    Today, I was organizing a beach cleanup on the occasion of the International Day of Coastal Beach Cleanups, celebrated in Uruguay during our spring season. Because I knew that would keep me from being able to watch the live video stream, I asked a dear friend to take me in her heart to the Temple.
     
    When I came home from the beach cleanup, I asked my husband to share with me his impressions, which he did. And now, how blessed I am to have found that Heather’s talk has already been posted on the Siddha Yoga path website! I am so very grateful to be able to participate in this way, to receive Gurumayi’s teachings and blessings. I would like to thank the SYDA Foundation for making it possible to read Heather’s beautiful talk so soon after she gave it.

    Rocha, Uruguay

    I have just participated in the Darshan and Manan Gathering on Deepavali. What ecstasy it was! 
     
    I remember learning long ago from Shri Gurumayi that we chant for the love of it. We meditate for the love of it. After many years of sadhana I have experienced this to be true. So when the host said, "Then we just keep traversing the path for the joy of it, for the fun of it, for the love of it," I said to myself, “Yes! I am on the right track!”

    North Carolina, United States

    When the host spoke of how the Guru’s grace “is like a laser beam,” my heart began to glow. As I heard, "Because we have it, we practice darshan. Because we have it, we do manan," the glow raced throughout my body. What abundance!

    Ohio, United States

    I am currently involved in a significant new undertaking and I am finding myself having many thoughts about what I don’t like and what I want to get rid of in relation to this new circumstance. Although these thoughts make me feel unhappy, I have found it hard to step away from their continual presence.
     
    When Heather explained that Gurumayi teaches that manan is “not just thinking, thinking, thinking about things we don’t like,” I felt relief, as though Gurumayi knows what I have been going through. And I felt reassured to be reminded that manam, the practice of contemplation, will support me in persevering—despite challenging thought patterns—in order to fulfill my worldly responsibilities and my highest goal: Atma ki Prashanti.

    California, United States