I am understanding more these days about the first part of Gurumayi’s Message for 2023: “The perfectness of the heart, the fulfillment of life.” By focusing on practicing the virtues, I am finding that my entire attitude toward whatever happens to me is being transformed. I am starting to experience “the fulfillment of life” no matter what is going on.
Auroville, India
As I begin each session of my meditation practice, I inwardly repeat Gurumayi’s Message for 2023 three times. As I do so, I usually experience the repetition of the first line as an immediate doorway to silent expansiveness. Then, each subsequent line deepens that experience. Also, as I repeat each line, I am reminded of the immeasurable gift that Gurumayi has offered me with her Message.
Washington, United States
I’ve come to realize that I may have a habit of brooding on negative experiences rather than recalling the happier ones. As I was in the metro, riding to a family reunion, I saw my reflection in some glass and my face was not a happy one. I looked inside and recognized that I was not unhappy—I’d just been brooding on negative thoughts. So I decided to think of all the nice things that had happened in the last month.
Suddenly, I realized that I had received a lot of presents from life: some dear friends visiting, the loving presence of my children, success in some endeavor, nice cool weather, an invitation to spend some time in a beautiful place, and now the perspective of this joyous family reunion. As I remembered all these blessings, a soft smile started to light up my face and my reflection in the glass became much more pleasant. In very little time, my mood had changed completely and I was experiencing “the friendship of the mind.”
Marlanval, France
While walking my dog recently, I began to reflect on what it means to be in God’s sweet company. I asked myself what kinds of thoughts I would be having and what qualities would be flowing through my being if my mind was absorbed in God. Then, I mentally began listing some of the qualities of the Divine, as I understand them to be. I attempted to absorb my mind in each one as I named it. I started with qualities like compassion, kindness, expansiveness, gentleness, and forgiveness. Soon, my choices became more playful. I started contemplating and savoring words like ebullience, luminosity, resonance, and astuteness. This happy exercise went on for a while. I became immersed in a devotional, light-filled state, as each quality seemed to release its essence when my mind touched on it.
With the support of Gurumayi's Message, I am realizing how important it is to deliberately choose what kinds of thoughts I will have. I am experiencing that this practice cultivates the friendship of the mind.
Castlemaine, Australia
As I reflected on Gurumayi’s Message, I realized that when I begin to explore my heart, this leads me to an experience of my inner Self. I am able to feel the joy and love pulsating within me.
I believe that this experience of love welling up in my heart connects me to the loving heart of Shri Guru. In this way, my heart becomes one with the heart of Shri Guru, which in turn brings a sense of fulfillment to my life.
Jaipur, India
For the past three years, I have been following an intention I made to find different methods to practice and study Gurumayi’s Message on a daily basis. For example, I made each Message resonate with me by reading passages by different authors that relate to the Message. I also looked for various ways to put aspects of the Message into practice. As a result of engaging with Gurumayi’s Message in this way, my days have been filled with greater awareness. This practice has also kept me more attentive and centered.
Guadalajara, Mexico
Gurumayi’s Message for 2023 is so beautiful! I enjoy playfully allowing words of her Message to stand out and then relate to each other, as they bring forth inner connection—and silken exultation. Sometimes just one word takes center stage. As I witness these words, my mind becomes as quiet and soft as a sleeping child and I know that all is well and as it should be.
Washington, United States
As I sat down for meditation, I tried to focus on the source of my breath. But very quickly I realized that instead of the source of my breath, I was following my mind, which had become busy scanning the events of the day. At that moment, my mind appeared like a bent branch that had tilted away from the tree.
I drew upon Gurumayi’s Message and repeated the phrase “The friendship of the mind.” I repeated it just once, and to my utmost surprise, the bent branch retreated and aligned itself with the tree.
My focus returned to my breath. No other thoughts occurred. I felt whole and complete and continued my meditation.
Bangalore, India
Today, after my early morning meditation, I took my dog out for a walk. It was still dark outside. In the silence of the morning, Gurumayi’s Message for 2023 started repeating itself within me. It felt as if it was coming from a space beyond me and beyond all physical dimensions. And in that moment, I had the vision that all activities in this world are as infinitesimally small as the specks of dust we see in a ray of sunlight. A wave of calmness descended on me.
Bangalore, India
After receiving Gurumayi’s Message for 2023, I spent some time creating motions to express each of the four lines. Physicalizing Gurumayi’s Message has been a powerful way to allow this priceless gift from Gurumayi to enter me more fully.
Michigan, United States