One Special Mandate
by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda

There are beautiful moments that take place in my life in which I am reminded of the ever-present connection I have with Gurumayi.

On the morning before Makara Sankranti, on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, I had been meditating on Gurumayi’s form. I felt her presence, as if she were with me in person. I then looked out toward the Melbourne sky. It was as if an artist had drawn my experience on the sky above. It was glorious!

The next day, Wednesday, January 14, 2015, Gurumayi’s poem “One Special Mandate” was posted on the Siddha Yoga path website. I was struck by the synchronicity of my experience the morning before and Gurumayi’s teachings in this poem. Even the colors of the sky were the same colors in the background of “One Special Mandate.” The sky I had looked up to had angels’ wings creating the colors of love. It was clear to me that I had made space for the experience of love, and there love was “visible” and tangible, both in the sky in Melbourne and in Gurumayi’s exquisite poem. The angels’ wings were truly present.

Thank you, Gurumayi, for showing us how to experience your darshan. Thank you for connecting us to your love.
 

Melbourne, Australia

The other day, I had to face a challenging shift on a project. When I awoke this morning, I was aware of my mind feeling cluttered, as it searched for solutions. Praying to Gurumayi, I asked for grace. In that moment the words of Gurumayi's poem "One Special Mandate" came to me: "Always make space for the presence of LOVE, and make it visible." I immediately felt a space opening inside my heart, with thoughts falling away.

I've been practicing memorizing the poem, so I began to recite it out loud. When I got to the last words, "…and make it visible," I again asked Gurumayi for the grace to understand what that next visible, loving action needed to be. The answer I heard inside myself was "Recite Shri Guru Gita." Of course!

Thank you so much, Shri Gurumayi, for giving us these miraculous and blessed teachings which naturally guide us step by step. We are so blessed!

New York, USA

Yesterday was a glorious day, beginning with inspiration from Gurumayi’s poem. At breakfast I stirred berries into my yogurt and saw a tiny red heart emerge from the bottom of the bowl. On my drive to offer seva for the Siddha Yoga Prison Project, I saw a billboard with a large elephant on it, reminding me to remember Gurumayi’s words, "Always make space for the presence of LOVE." And I saw the traffic clear ahead of me.

The incarcerated students were so full of appreciation. It felt as if many hearts were opened. And on the drive home, the sky performed wonders: beautiful golden rays shining through dark grey clouds, three clouds like bhasma stripes, and miniature rainbow formations on the edge of a nearby cluster. Finally, a beautiful pink mist rose from the cloud and lit the space above. I was full of appreciation and felt so much love.

Thank you, Gurumayi. It was a great start to a great day!

North Carolina, USA

After receiving a note from my grandsons, ages five and seven, full of drawings and hugs and kisses, I leaned my head back in my chair and closed my eyes. Immediately, I felt Gurumayi's presence and had the experience of love made visible through the innocence and delight of the note.

I might have missed this moment if I had not read and contemplated Gurumayi's poem. It has taught me to look for, acknowledge, and value all the divine expressions of love manifesting constantly in creation.

Thank you so much, Gurumayi, for this refreshed perception!

Toronto, Canada

My family has been dealing with a very challenging issue for the last 18 months, and last week was particularly stressful.

Then yesterday, we came together as a family, communicating openly and honestly, with respect. We trusted each other, and each person gave their best. While the situation is not yet resolved, at the end of the day my heart felt light as a feather, bright as the sun. Contemplating this sensation, I realized that we had made “space for the presence of love.”

Thank you, Gurumayi.

Horsham, Australia

I was so excited to see this poem posted today, because tomorrow I am delivering two talks to junior high and high school audiences, coaches, and parents. I received such a burst of support from reading the poem!
 
Thank you again, Gurumayi, for A Sweet Surprise and for this divine blessing to all of us. I am ready to go!

California, USA

I had the insight that one way for me to continue to experience love and make it visible is by chanting.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi ji, for this prasad and blessing. Thank you for making me aware of this divine, timeless bond of our hearts.

Bangalore, India

I've read this poem several times over the past few days, wanting to allow its teaching and power to permeate my being. The first thing that struck me was the word mandate. I see this beautiful poem as a command to live our whole lives with impeccable love, to experience love every breathing moment, just like the angel in heaven and the angel on earth, and create signs of love in all our words and deeds.
 
Gurumayi’s words are a wake-up call for me. It's time for me to fully inhabit love and remove anything that gets in the way. It is time to live in the fullness of God, which is love.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for anointing us with this blessed mandate. I feel you have summoned us all to be your angels!

New York, USA

Recently, I was ill and unable to attend to the seva I offer. I read Gurumayi's poem while I was resting, and it inspired me to turn within and make space for the presence of love inside me.
 
Afterwards, I began to notice that I was able to perceive and receive the well-wishing and healing blessings of others. And that love was speeding my recovery.
 
Now I am being led to make this love visible in natural ways, by expressing it to others—to family, friends, and fellow sevites.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi.

New York, USA

The day after I read this poem by Gurumayi, I had a physical experience of it—energetically feeling the words enter me. At the time, I was busy in my day at work, and not feeling all that great about myself or others. In that moment, I relaxed into the feeling of the poem and felt a space open up, and calm, loving energy entering me. I became more present, and started to see myself and the people around me with patience, love, and understanding.
 
I have done spiritual practices for decades, but this experience gave me more peace and calm than I might have gotten from centuries in a Himalayan cave.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for this real-life experience of knowledge.

Iowa, USA

I was walking through a gritty part of the city where some homeless people were getting ready to sleep on the street and in the doorways, and I felt my heart go out to them. At that moment I looked down, and on the grimy sidewalk there was a perfectly shaped heart! I saw it as a sign of God's love, showing up everywhere—city and country alike—whenever my heart is open.
 
Then I came home to read Gurumayi's poem, and I was just smiling and smiling.

California, USA

Earlier this week, I was in Germany, making a science documentary. I noticed that the people in the lab where we were filming were so devoted to their work, keen to do their best. And they worked together in harmony, enjoying each other’s company. 
 
When I went back to my hotel room, I reflected on the way the day had gone, and I sat to meditate. Suddenly, I felt the descent of universal love upon me, like nectar. I thought, "This is Gurumayi's love. And it is me. Only by feeling unity with this love do I feel complete."
 
So later, when I read Gurumayi's poem, I immediately reconnected with this experience. I made the commitment to "make space" for this love each day, and to "make it visible."

Paris, France

As I read the e-mail that told me that my daughter, living in another state, was having a particularly rough day with chronic illness, I wondered how I could help. After reading and contemplating Gurumayi's lovely poem, the answer came. Although I could not fix the situation my loved one was in, I could send her my love in the form of a vibrantly colorful and warm gift to wear.
 
When I proposed the gift to my daughter so that she could pick the color, she e-mailed, "Oh, Mom, you know just how to cheer me!" It was clear the love had uplifted her. And me.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi.

Missouri, USA

Gurumayi's poem, “One Special Mandate,” conveys to me her teachings and the experience of being in her presence, her divine love. Her words were exactly what I needed. We lost a friend unexpectedly this week. Gurumayi's words reconnected me with the essence of life—God's love, which transcends life and death and gives meaning to all we do.

I'm so grateful to Gurumayi for always shining the light that shows us the path.

Thank you, Gurumayi, from the bottom of my heart.

California, USA

I sometimes tend to hide my love. Gurumayi’s poem is a beautiful way to hear and affirm that I can offer my love with words, actions, and expressions. I have often found that when I speak from my heart, later on that person will say how much it meant to them. Sometimes I need to stop and acknowledge what I am feeling and to express it. Sometimes we are God's messenger for another person.

Thank you, Gurumayi.

Kentucky, USA

To me, making space for the presence of love includes breathing. When I follow the rhythm of the breath, the mind immediately calms down, everything comes to rest, time expands, and a profound silence comes over me, allowing me to contact my heart and the love that is always pulsating. With every breath I take, I feel that God is giving me new life and I can savor his immense love and the sublime beauty of such a miracle.

Then I can make love visible by giving love to myself and to other people, being gentle and sweet in my words and actions.

Thank you, Gurumayi.

Milan, Italy

I just logged onto the Siddha Yoga path website and saw Gurumayi's beautiful poem. My jaw dropped! I participated in A Sweet Surprise on New Year's Day, 2015. While we were chanting in the satsang, evening was falling here in Dublin, and from the window I could see heart-shaped clouds rushing by on the winter winds. The street lights of the city reflected off the clouds making them orange and pink, just like the background of Gurumayi's poem.
 
My heart is full of joy right now. This mandate of love is for all of us, and we can strengthen our love for our true selves, for our Guru, and for the world by practicing Gurumayi’s Message.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for so many, many blessings!

Dublin, Ireland

I am grateful to Gurumayi for reminding us that God is everywhere, giving signs to express his love for his creatures. Last month, I found a heart-shaped rock and brought it back home with me. Now, the rock is sitting outside my house in front of a plant with heart-shaped leaves—and everyone can see it.
 
May I share my love as much as possible!

Blandas, France

When I finished reading Gurumayi's poem this morning, I looked out the window and felt a lovely warmth in my heart. Then I noticed a perfect heart formed by the branches of a tall oak tree. Immediately the words from verse 167 of Shri Guru Gita that my wife and I recited in honor of Makara Sankranti came to mind, satyam satyam varanane, "O beautiful one, this is the truth. This is the truth."

Virginia, USA

When I read Gurumayi’s poem, “One Special Mandate,” I asked myself, “How do I begin? Where should I start?” After contemplation the answer came, “Begin with your thoughts. Hold loving thoughts. If you have difficulty with this, repeat AUM.”

Thank you, Gurumayi, for being our guiding light.

Pennsylvania, USA

After several years of very difficult physical challenges, I find many blessings in my life. I am now surrounded by extraordinary support, amazing friends and family, and living in a most loving environment, with time to devote myself to the practices and avail myself of the Siddha Yoga path website.

This morning, I took my service dog outside for a walk. As I repeated prayers of gratitude, I looked down on the ground to find a tiny, completely perfect, heart-shaped leaf. What prasad! I slipped the leaf into my pocket so as not to lose it. I felt such divine love, knowing that God's love was in my pocket in the form of that precious leaf, and also within my own heart and my own life, in the form of Gurumayi's love.

I feel that it is up to me now to let the love I receive from Gurumayi shine through to the world.

Florida, USA

Such a grand and lovely mandate has been given to us by Gurumayi in such a short and beautiful way.

My schedule is hectic, and the work I do is of a very complex nature. After reading Gurumayi’s poem over and over, I realized there is no need to be complicated all the time. Things can be made easy and simple, and still the goal can be achieved. 

I think I have gained a new understanding of my work, my sadhana, and my life through this poem.

Thank you very much, Gurumayi ji.

Latur, India

Yesterday evening, I had some time before a meeting, so I decided to take a japa walk. Before I went, I asked Gurumayi inwardly if there was anything more I needed to do to prepare for the meeting. During my walk, I came across a patch of snow in the shape of a heart. A little later, I found a rock in the shape of a heart. Seeing these signs, I understood that the answer was to share the love of my heart fully. I looked up at the beautiful sky as the sun was setting and thanked Gurumayi for this inspiration.
 
This morning as I read Gurumayi's poem, I saw that this mandate of love has no boundaries of time or space. Thank you, Gurumayi, for awakening me to this divine love and guiding me to share it in every moment of my life.

Missouri, USA

I drove to work early this morning with Gurumayi’s poem in my thoughts. As I drove, the sun rose, illuminating and painting the sky with the brilliant colors of dawn. The words and the mandate filled my heart with Gurumayi’s grace and love. I felt her presence.
 
I will take this with me into my work, with the intention to be fully present and open, as a vessel and a vehicle for Gurumayi’s infinite love.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for continuously opening our hearts and our lives to the inner beauty and the outer beauty as we walk this amazing path.

Connecticut, USA

During our summer holiday at the coast, we saw beautiful cloud formations every day in the form of angels, animals, fish, hearts, and AUM. My heart danced with joy. I even found myself dancing uninhibitedly in the rain on the beach. The cloud formations were signs that gave me conviction and strength when I most needed it.
 
In reading Gurumayi’s poem, I understood that love is always present, within and without. Thank you, Gurumayi, from the core of my heart. 

Johannesburg, South Africa

The mandate is simple yet profound. I started imagining not only those instances when bringing love into the moment is easily done, but also those times when to do so would require a great shift in my typical response. In such instances, I would have to let go of fear, of distrust in myself or others. Gurumayi’s poem reminds me that this is my life’s purpose—not only to experience love, but to make it apparent in my actions.
 
I feel that Gurumayi is teaching me to see as she does, to recognize the Guru’s teachings in nature and in the many situations of life. And I am reminded that, along with the loving mandate, Gurumayi offers the grace for me to go forward with this intention, this awareness, this action, one step at a time.

Thank you, Gurumayi, for your unceasing grace and guidance.

Washington, USA

What an inspiring and auspicious mandate! As I sat still after reading the poem, I asked myself how I would create space for love and make it visible. What emerged was: Share warmth and goodness with all.

Gurumayi, with great gratitude and respect, I accept this auspicious mandate from you and resolve to share the warmth and goodness of my heart with myself and all.

Thane, India

Reading Gurumayi’s poem, I understood that, whatever I am doing, if I want to experience the love that is liberating and unconditional, I need to enter that space which is filled with silence and self-respect. Only then can joy spread freely through my whole being. Only from this space will I be able to connect to others with unconditional love.

Thank you, Shri Gurumayi, for your sweet gift and for guiding me towards the space of love.

Gurudev Siddha Peeth

I am thankful to Gurumayi ji for teaching me that I can create moments in my day when I pause and remember love, when I take the time to pay attention to the divine signs of goodness and love that surround me.

I am grateful to her for showing me that in moments when I am alone, and also in my interactions with others, whenever my mind is busy or I am feeling various emotions, I can make space for the presence of love.

I see that love is like flowing water. It flows through all of us, and it flows around us. And, if we create a space for it, it has no option but to flow into that space. Making space for the presence of love leads to the experience of love.

I commit to making space in the time of my day, and in my thoughts and feelings so that love can be present.

Thank you, Gurumayi, for this poem.

Pune, India

When I read this poem and saw the images of the hearts in the background I felt so touched, and at the same time I felt my Guru's love in my heart, in my whole being. After this, my eyes closed by themselves, and I was able to go inside easily. What a beautiful experience I received!

Thank you, Gurumayi.

Gurudev Siddha Peeth

I visited the website many times today. I perceive that the website allows me to have many experiences of Gurumayi's love and compassion. Just when I was hoping to find some guidance on how to welcome the people who ask me about the Siddha Yoga path, I found the poem. Or I could say that the poem found me.

Namaskar, Gurumayi! Thank you for being with us all. Thank you so much for your absolute love.

¡Muchas gracias con todo mi corazón!

Mexico City, Mexico

Thank you so much for sharing this poem by Gurumayi. Yesterday morning, the day of Makara Sankranti, I was just having darshan of the Sun and praying for blessings. I thanked the Sun’s rays for removing the darkness of the night and rising every morning to illuminate the whole universe with brightness, filling us with new energy, enthusiasm, love, and freshness.

I came back to my office table and opened the website to see what message Gurumayi had for me today. I was amazed to read her poem. It reminded me of what I need to do wherever I am.

Thank you, Gurumayi ji. Thanks for all your guidance, which is constantly enlightening us.

Kolkata, India

I am so grateful for this beautiful mandate. It has already helped me to make my relationship with one of my relatives more loving.

Thank you so much, Gurumayi.

Surat, India

I am reminded by Gurumayi’s poem to let my thoughts, words, and actions come from the space within, where God dwells. Living from this awareness, with an open heart, I can make the presence of love visible through my thoughts, words, and conscious actions.

Today is my birthday. I am grateful to Gurumayi for this grace-filled gift to all of us. Happy Makara Sankranti!

New York, USA

I am stunned by the beauty that forms Gurumayi’s words, the beauty that sustains her heart.

Gurumayi, I am forever grateful for the love you bring forth in this universe. 

Texas, USA

How can I make more space for love? How can I make it more visible?
Important questions to contemplate.

Thank you very much, Gurumayi.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

It was lovely reading Shri Guru’s words today when I opened the website. I could relate my experience with this mandate. For the past five days, I have been observing hearts in nature and feeling so much love. When I was contemplating why I am suddenly being aware of the hearts, I realized that the hearts are always there. The difference is that because I have been turning within, this is what my inner being is now seeing everywhere.

Dhanyavad, Gurumayi ji, for this mandate!

Gurudev Siddha Peeth

Such a beautiful poem! I also feel that I have received a special mandate from Gurumayi.

Thank you, Gurumayi.

Indore, India

This beautiful poem inspires me to make my love more visible to my children.

Thank you, Gurumayi, for lighting my path with your effulgence and showing me how to be a better father, a better yogi, a better human being.

New York, USA