text:
"Holding on to Mother's Sari"
Daglio Camp Children's Choir
A link to a beautiful song from the children at the 2013 Daglio Camp near Cabella in Italy.
Please Click Here for the song: or go to : http://youtu.be/RKDxDNApiD0
Queensland News
Yuva Camp
It was a joyful week at Wamuran between Christmas and new year when we were blessed with a visit from our National Yuva Shakti. It was a fun filled time of adventure and relaxation as the Yuvas spread their vibrations around the Sunshine Coast, visiting the beaches, lakes and the Hinterlands. Their joy and enthusiasm was contagious.
It was such a pleasure to notice the teamwork and comradery between the Yuvas and the Uncles and Aunties. The meditations were sincere and effortless.
Thankyou Mother for these special people in our lives.
Brisbane Bhajan Group
The bhajan group gave a performance at the Woodford café during the time of Woodford recently. The café is one which is highly frequented during this time. The atmosphere was laid back as Woodford generally is.
Some feedback from the bhajan group was that it felt like being in Puja. The audience felt it was very joyful. They are planning to return again and see where this leads.
With love from Mother's Queensland children
The following article appeared in the mainstream SMH recently warning of the dangers of all the false gurus whom are all mentioned by name with references to documentaries and books which expose their falsehood.
Eastern religion has its share of abuse too
The Sydney Morning Herald
December 28, 2013
Midway through 1968, a disillusioned and angry John Lennon could be found inside the Beatles' London offices channelling his frustration by scratching the lyrics to a new song into a piece of wood.
Lennon had recently returned from an ashram in India, where he and the other members of the Fab Four received instruction in transcendental meditation from a giggling Hindu guru named Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Lennon had stormed from the ashram in disgust, convinced the Maharishi had morphed from guru to groper in his behaviour towards a number of young Western women, including actor Mia Farrow. The Beatle's wood-carved words became the basis for the song Sexy Sadie, the title being Lennon's litigation-proof pseudonym for the allegedly randy rishi of Rishikesh, whose covert lechery had, in his estimation, ''made a fool of everyone''.
In the decades following the Mop Tops-met-Maharishi imbroglio, accusations of Sexy Sadie-like behaviour by prominent figures from Eastern religions have grown in number and seriousness.
As with Western religious institutions, perceived spiritual power has led men in positions of authority to avail themselves of opportunities for pursuing more earthly impulses - as we have learnt through the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse. Yet here and internationally, the result has been that many devotees seeking higher consciousness have instead found themselves more exploited than enlightened.
One of the most successful Sexy Sadies to apparently conjure a Seiko watch from thin air was Sathya Sai Baba. Proponents of SSB claim that after he was stung by a scorpion, he transformed into the god Shiva, and the god Shakti. Oh, and Jesus Christ too.
Worshipped by millions who believed he could miraculously conjure not only holy ash but also a range of stylish fashion accessories with a wave of his hand, Baba was soon top of the guru pops in India. Unfortunately, in similar fashion to the English entertainer Jimmy Savile, who was said to have ''groomed a nation'', Baba was accused of having used his charitable works and celebrity in India to win his country's trust and gain access to children he then sexually abused.
Two documentaries, the BBC's The Secret Swami and Danish TV's Seduced by Sai Baba, feature harrowing tales from individuals who say that as adolescent boys, they discovered Baba was as horny as he claimed to be holy. According to these stories, guru-struck Western parents would allow Baba to hold private sessions with their sons, during which, unbeknown to them, their children were forced to perform sex acts with the man they called God.
The insidious penetration of the natural protective instincts of parents is a particularly disturbing aspect of the way in which some Sexy Sadies operate. To the promiscuity promoting godman Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, children were an inconvenience. At his ranch in Oregon, he instructed his orange-clad devotees to disown the direct care of their sons and daughters, making them easy prey for predatory paedophiles. The book My Life in Orange by Tim Guest gives a heart-rending account of the pain he felt growing up as the child of a mother who was a Rajneesh disciple.
In one particularly poignant passage, he describes being lost and unable to find his mother, who was drugged up somewhere among thousands of carousing adults at a Rajneesh celebration. At this festival, he says ''many of the kids lost their virginity, boys and girls, 10 years old, eight years old, in sweaty tents with adults and other children''.
Of course, if you wanted to start an adult movie franchise called ''Gurus Gone Wild'', you might want to turn to some of the leading lights of Tibetan Buddhism for material. Perhaps the most notorious Sexy Sadie from this tradition was Chogyam Trungpa, who claimed to teach through what he called ''crazy wisdom''. This was basically Trungpa's get-of-jail-free card for any sort of outrageous behaviour he chose to indulge in.
If you ever find yourself being chastised for holding alcohol- and cocaine-fuelled orgies with people who have come to you for moral guidance, you too could try explaining that you are just a wild and crazy wise guy. Trungpa eventually drank himself to death, but not before appointing his successor, a Westerner who adopted the name Ozel Tendzin.
The bisexual Tendzin enjoyed seducing straight men by telling them it would be spiritually advantageous to have sex with him. At least one man who resisted the guru's overtures claims he was raped. Tendzin contracted HIV, but continued having unprotected sex with students, one of whom was infected with the virus and died. Easy to see the crazy, hard to spot the wisdom.
A Tibetan spiritual teacher prominent today, Sogyal Rinpoche, has recently had an involuntary starring role in a Canadian documentary series, Sex Scandals in Religion. He is a short, chubby, middle-aged man, and it's not immediately obvious why Rinpoche punches so far above his weight in terms of the attractive young women he beds in such impressive numbers.
As this documentary reveals, Rinpoche's secret seduction technique is to promise his targets 50 shades of spiritual advancement in exchange for, as one of his regret-filled former lovers characterises it, ''a quick lay'' accompanied by a beating. This particular woman was sexually abused as a child and sought healing from her ordeal in Rinpoche's teachings, only to end up feeling abused again and deeply damaged by the rapacious man himself.
Sadly, stories of sleazy swamis could fill more pages than a bookcase of Kama Sutras. Increasingly, victims are seeking legal redress against perpetrators. But when searching for a teacher of Eastern religion, it is still a case of believer beware.
In essential form, most Eastern spirituality seeks to foster the highest levels of ethical behaviour in human beings. Both Hinduism and Buddhism tell us those who harm others through sexual abuse will be on the receiving end of karmic consequences.
This does not exclude gurus who claim to be gods or enlightened beings, accumulating wealth, power and millions of followers willing to play along and sometimes pay a high price for their submission. As Lennon put it, "Sexy Sadie - you'll get yours yet, however big you think you are."
Queen's speech mentions Meditation – a time to reflect!
This years Christmas Day address by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II watched by millions throughout the UK and the Worldwide Commonwealth dwelt on the theme of 'a time for reflection'.
Taking time out to reflect, ponder, take stock, consider and weigh things up, is something that sounds good on paper but often we are out-paced by everyday 'life events' and fail to be able to set time aside to do so. Then there is the New Year's Resolution list too, which we might compile and refer to then put down and forget.
As Queen Elizabeth expressed it in her 2013 Christmas Day speech: 'As for all people of faith, reflection, meditation & prayer help us to renew ourselves in God's love as we strive daily to become better people.'
It may not seem surprising, but it is remarkable that the Queen referred to the term 'meditation'.
Just twenty years ago such a simple thing might have been highly unlikely, yet it indicates how society is evolving it's capacity to embrace concepts, ideas and practices which have been traditionally less well represented in our "Western" cultures.
John Fisher : a break after 9 years of service
Dear Yogis Jai Shri Mataji!
Our brother John Fisher from the ACT is taking a well earned break after serving a second term, a total of 9 years with a break in the middle, as an ACT leader or councillor.
John has served his local collective and contributed constructively to many national initiatives, and been privileged to assist Shri Mataji and Her family and members of the collective with advice and help in dealing with the Australian Government. His experience and work with Indonesia has also been exciting, and rewarding - with the WA collective now helping the Indonesian collective so successfully. John notes that retirement from Sahaja work is not really an option; we have something to contribute all of our lives, as did Sri Mataji for all Her's.
John has offered a few words of reflection about leadership: "Taking a leadership role in Sahaja Yoga is a privilege and a call to serve but, ironically, a key to that leadership seems to be a recognition that a collective is led by every one of its yogis. We are each leaders in our collectives' practical, emotional, moral, introspective and spiritual lives. We are all leaders (ie our own guru) if we truly live Sri Mataji's messages."
On your behalf I thank John for his extended service and wish him well for a quieter period in the immediate future.
With best regards Vishnu
Reprinted from the popular news blog "THE CONVERSATION " Click here
2 January 2014,
Meditation, mindfulness and mind-emptiness
Ramesh Manocha
Senior Lecturer, CADE Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School-Northern at University of Sydney
Mindfulness essentially involves the passive observation of internal and external stimuli without mental reaction.
Ever been unable to sleep because you can't switch off that stream of thoughts that seems to flow incessantly, mercilessly through your
head? When your mental noise distracts you from the task at hand, makes you forget why you walked into a room, or keeps you awake at night, you're a victim of what is known in the East as "the monkey mind". It is this thought stream that, according to Eastern tradition, is the source of much of our modern day stress and mental dysfunction.
So, what can you do about it?
In the West, meditation has become a woolly term under which many different methods have found a home. Mindfulness is the latest, and certainly the most popular, addition.
Scientifically speaking, all approaches to meditation – be they relaxation, mindfulness, visualisation, mantras or otherwise – are associated with measurable but non-specific beneficial effects. So too are all stress management-style interventions even if they are not labelled as "meditation".
So, does meditation have a specific effect or is it just another way to relax and de-stress?
These are the questions that the scientific community continues to struggle with. Importantly, we can only answer this question if we have a clear understanding of what meditation is (or isn't).
The Buddhist connection is one reason Mindfulness is so popular. Our research shows that by defining meditation as "mental silence", which is an evolution of the mindfulness concept, we can effectively answer the key scientific questions about meditation.
Mindfulness essentially involves the passive observation of internal and external stimuli without mental reaction. It is most explicitly, but not exclusively, laid out in Buddhist meditation texts.
Mindfulness has become immensely popular for several reasons: its connection with Buddhism, which is very much in fashion; its secular style; and its suitability as an adjunct to many other mental health counselling strategies such as cognitive behavioural therapy.
There is no doubting that mindfulness has a useful role to play in preserving health and promoting wellness. But despite its hundreds of clinical trials, there is no consistent evidence of an effect specific to mindfulness itself.
In fact, the vast majority of evidence concerning mindfulness relates to clinical trials that do not control for placebo effects. This is something relatively few researchers seem to want to talk about, either because it's too difficult or too politically incorrect.
Mental silence
Perhaps surprisingly, the oldest known definition of meditation predates both Buddhism and mindfulness by thousands of years. In the ancient Indian Mahabharata, the narrator states that a meditator is "… like a log, he does not think". In other words, the earliest definitions describe the key defining feature of meditation as an experience of "mental silence".
Many other explicit examples of this definition can be found in Eastern literature from virtually every historical period. Lao Tzu, for example, urged us to "Empty the mind of all thoughts" in the Tao Te Ching.
Yet Western definitions of meditation have consistently failed to acknowledge its significance. Perhaps this is because of the predominance of the Cartesian dictum "cogito ergo sum" (I think therefore I am) that has come to characterise not only Western philosophy but the psyche as well.
This might explain why for most people in the West, including the academics and researchers on whom we rely to generate our scientific knowledge, mental silence represents both an alien concept and an illogical experience. Yet the results of more than a dozen years of scientific research here in Australia tells us that mental silence-orientated approaches to meditation are in fact both achievable and associated with specific benefits above and beyond those seen in non-mental silence approaches.
Take, for instance, my 2011 Meditation for Work Stress Study, involving 178 full-time Australian workers; it's one of the most thoroughly designed randomised controlled trials of meditation in the scientific literature.
Participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: either mental silence meditation, a relaxation-orientated intervention (non-mental silence) or a no-treatment control group. Their stress, depressive feelings and anxiety levels were measured using scientifically validated measures before and after the eight week program.
While people in both intervention groups improved, those in the mental silence group manifested significantly greater improvements than the relaxation group and the no treatment group.
A randomised controlled trial of meditation for asthma sufferers mirrored these findings by comparing mental silence-orientated meditation to a stress management programme promoted by the state department of health. Not only were the psychological improvements significantly greater in the meditation group but there was also a reduction in the irritability of the airways.
Although further work needs to be done to identify the mechanisms, this change is likely the result of the modulation of chronic inflammation pathways, presumably through altered signalling from the brain.
Other larger surveys as well as smaller trials also demonstrate promising outcomes – all pointing toward the idea that mental silence is the key defining feature of meditation, responsible for effects specific to meditation.
Brain studies report some interesting findings. First, the experience is associated with a characteristic pattern of brain electrical activity – increased alpha-theta activity at the front and top of the brain along the midline. This is associated with reduced anxiety and improved attentional focus.
There was also a strong correlation between these objectively measured electrical changes and the subjective experience of the quality of the meditation experience.
Second, meditators exhibit reduced stress responses in the brain compared with nonmeditators. This implies that the benefits are occurring at a neurophysiological level rather than being just a suppression of emotion or of its peripheral features.
Meditators, therefore, seem to be fundamentally modifying the way they generate negative emotions in response to the environment.
Reduced negative emotional reactions to stimuli should logically lead to reduced stress and an improved sense of well-being. But until studies where the brain changes are simultaneously measured alongside clinical changes, we can't definitively state that these brain changes are the cause of the specific effects uncovered in our clinical studies.
So how does this all fit together?
The mental silence paradigm is both complementary to and a progression of the mindfulness concept. While mindfulness involves the passive observation of stimuli with the aim of reducing mental reactions, mental silence involves progressing this experience to, and attaining, a state of no-mental-content-at-all, while remaining in full control of one's faculties.
The original intention of mindfulness is as a method to facilitate the attainment of mental silence rather than being an ends in itself.
This shift in our understanding resolves many of the paradoxes that were hitherto insoluble – while at the same time offering consumers and clinicians a practically useful way to understand and benefit from meditation.
You can try the evidence-based techniques that we have evaluated for yourself by going to www.beyondthemind.com.
Ramesh Manocha is the author of 'Silence Your Mind', published by Hachette.
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Victorian News
After a beautiful Christmas Puja celebrated in our Melbourne ashram, we all became children, enjoying gifts, sweets and surprises. And when, several days later we reached Hiawatha, Shri Mataji welcomed us with a shower of pure joy. Just within hours after getting there, toddlers, children, parents, Yuvas were dancing and playing all like one and nothing could stop us.
During the days together, the beauty of the scenery, the smell of the earth, the shining light reflected on the water of the river, the plums and the jars of fresh jam, the smell of the mowed grass, the clouds and the sky were just forms of all pervading vibrations.
We stepped in the New Year with a simple Puja and with the joy of being together on this blessed land of Our Mother.
Feeling Her work in our hearts, it was not a surprise to see that, back in Melbourne, our first CBD program of the year brought together 14 seekers, young and eager, respectful and silent who received their Realization.
We really look forward to an amazing 2014.
May Her bliss be always in our minds and in our hearts.
With love,
The Victorian Yogis
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Western Australia News
Spreading Sahaja Yoga - Bassendean Twilight Market Fair
The Bassendean Twilight Market fair was held on December 21, from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. It is a local market with stalls for food, clothes and artworks, and from past experience, we knew such markets also attracts seekers. Several yogis generously came early to help set up the tent, furniture and signboards, and ensured the Sahaja Yoga stall was ready for new seekers.
Almost immediately we had our first seeker, who was the stallholder next to us. He enjoyed the experience, and said he would be back. Very soon, other seekers began coming in. This was a testimony to quality of the seekers at the fair, as our tent was decorated with far less attention-getting decorations, and yet the seekers came.
About 10 yogis kindly volunteered their time on a warm Saturday evening, and gave realisation to between 20 to 30 seekers. We received a steady stream of seekers, right up until the very last minute the fair, and we even delayed dismantling the stall until the final seeker obtained realisation and left with smiles.
Two other such fairs are scheduled at Bassendean in February and March, and we will definitely be there to guide new seekers to Shri Mataji.
New Year's Eve at Gidgegannup Ashram
The Perth Collective saw in 2014 with a party at Gidgegannup Ashram. Over 45 Yogis of all ages came up the hill to enjoy together. It was a really lovely and pleasant night which began with a delicious dinner of barbequed lamb and chicken and lots of salads.
Peals of laughter and general tomfoolery followed. We all then spontaneously settled down together to sing the praises of our Divine Mother. We performed a small Puja and listened to a New Year's Eve talk by Shri Mataji. As the play dictated we brought in the New Year with aarti to the Goddess.
It was one of those really enjoyable evenings which makes you feel so lucky to be a Sahaja Yogi.
Jai Shri Mataji!
With love
The WA collective
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A thank you to the Wamuran Yuva/Family Christmas Camp Team
Dear Yogis,
I had a wonderful time at Wamuran with the Yuvas and thank you for granting me this privilege.
The boys and girls took responsibility in executing their duties, whether it was food preparation, cleaning up, Puja preparation or conducting the Puja or meditation sessions.
The cooperation and team work within the groups worked well in displaying collectivity and is favourable for the future of Sahaja Yoga.
The respectful consensus amongst the Yuvas and the Uncles and Aunties, in the decision making on the outings was remarkable.
I enjoyed the love and warmth of the Yuvas and all the Uncles and Aunties and was certainly the best place for me to be during the
Christmas holidays.
Thanks to Yuvas, Uncles and Aunties for making my stay at Wamuran so enjoyable.
Thank you Shri Mataji for the Blessings and Wamuran.
Jai Shri Mataji
A Yuvas comments about the Christmas Camp
Based on my own personal experience I can say that the Yuva Camp was amazing. This is my first camp so I can't really compare it to previous years but I think others think that this was a very good one comparatively. In fact everyone enjoyed themselves so much that we extended the stay for few more days.
The structure of activities were simple. Morning meditation at 6 (except the day after Chrismas which was 7), breakfast and then beach! After coming back there was dinner, afternoon meditation and free for all until bed time.
The vibrations of the Wamuran property are amazing and I can feel an improvement in my mediation since I came back. That was the main aim of the camp for me. It was also amazing to see the great love that uncles aunties have for us. If it wasn't for their unconditional love and patience this camp could never work out the way it did.
I'm sure everyone, even the adults got something out of this camp for their spiritual growth.
I hope next year it'll be as good or even better than this year!
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Balmoral Children's Christmas Camp
Everyone very enthusiastically arrived for the camp again this year, with people coming down on the 1st January to help set up. In total we had 132 people over the 5 days (62 adults and 70 children) the ages of the children ranged from 3 months to 15 years old (25 in the under 6 year olds. 30 in the 7-12 years and 15 in the 13's and over).
We also had families from interstate Russia and India, so it was nice to have an international flavour to the camps. It was lovely to see so many uncles and aunties mix and mingle with the children, making bonds and passing on their passion, knowledge and love to the children and each other.
Again we split them onto 3 age groups and they had lots of fun, flying kites, doing clay work, swimming in the dam, craft activities including making props (see photo of planets that the older group painted as a backdrop for the play) and making costumes for the play, meditation and clearing and Chinese painting, to name but a few activities. Lots of parents contributed to ideas for the activities and we even had a new song at the camp.
They all seemed to enjoy the play which was about why God created the universe and how humans are the mirror of God so God can see his own beauty. We heard talks from Shri Mataji talking about this topic and included it into the play.
So we had children swirling around being planets in the play, children being animals that represented the incarnations of Shri Vishnu as he helped the evolution of the divine play and then the weapons of the Adi Shakti as She took her birth to save mankind and give them their realisation. All to live music and a voice over telling the story. This was interspersed with conversations between the Goddess and Sadashiva about the creation and nature of God.
The meditations were wonderful and very deep with much joy and opens Sahasraras.
The Children's Camp Team
Navaratri Puja Poetry Competition Poems has moved to ARCHIVES (Sahaja Poetry) Click Here
Japo Jalpah Shilpam Sakalamapi Mudravirachana
Gathi Pradakshinya-kramana-mashana dyahuti vidhih
Pranam sanveshah sukhama-khilamatmarpana-drusha
Saparyaparyas-tava bhavatu yanme vilasitam
Through the sight of Self surrender let my prattle become recitation of Your name;
the movement of my limbs, gestures of Your worships; my walk, perambulation around You;
my food, sacrificial offering to You; my lying down, prostration to You;
whatever I do for my pleasure,
let it become transformed into an act of worship to You.
You must pray to God and ask what you want.
Ask for "Complete satisfaction in my heart, Joy in my heart, Bliss in my heart;
so that the whole world becomes blissful".
"Give me Love, Love, that I could love the whole world
and that the whole world becomes one in Love".
"Give salvation to the entire humanity, which is suffering".
"Take me to Your Feet".
"Cleanse me with Thy Love".
Now see if there's God or not. You can feel it. Within yourself he hears you.
He is the Glory of all the Glory. He loves you, He protects you, He guides you.
He has created you to be really His Love. But accept it.
Any time any thought is coming to you – pray; and you will be moving in the way
of that Ocean which is Unconscious mind, which starts with thoughtless awareness.
If you cannot become thoughtless, you pray to Him:
"Forgive me for what I've done, and forgive those who have done harm to me".
The Sacred Tree of Life
"And all the men gathered around Jesus, and their faces shone with the desire to hear the words which would come from his lips. And he lifted his face to the rising sun, and the radiance of its rays filled his eyes as he spoke: …"
"And the Communions are fourteen in number,
As the Angels of the Heavenly Father
Number seven,
And the Angels of the Earthly Mother
Number seven.
And just as the roots of the tree
Sink into the earth and are nourished,
And the branches of the tree
Raise their arms to heaven,
So is man like the trunk of the tree,
With his roots deep
In the breast of his Earthly Mother,
And his soul ascending
To the bright stars of his Heavenly Father.
And the roots of the tree
Are the Angels of the Earthly Mother,
And the branches of the tree
Are the angels of the Heavenly Father.
And this is the sacred Tree of Life
Which stands in the Sea of Eternity."
From 'Communions' in the Gospel of the Essenes, translated from the original Hebrew and Aramaic texts by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely.
Some of the activities include:
- Playing a talk by Shri Mataji relevant to the program
- Encourage everyone to participate with offerings
- Playing music or songs to help clear the chakras and achieve a state of meditation
- Learning Indian dancing
- Learning how to make Flower Garlands and explaining the importance of garland making
- Garlands made are then offered to Shri Mataji as a simple Puja
- Learning how to put on a saree properly - the Indian Ladies assist with these lessons
- Explaining what Puja means (there is always a Puja at the programs)
- Explaining protocols for Havans
- Some programs concentrate just on clearing - ie guided footsoaking, shoe beating, head rubs, candle treatment or ice packs
- Ladies from different countries take turns to run the program
- Discussing areas that need more programs or arranging help with their programs
- Asking the women to bring ladies from the local programs to the clearing day so we may grow together
- Once ladies have been coming for a time they feel more confident to run their own programs
- The ladies enjoy having lunch together and usually rest after the program and just enjoy the vibrations
- Some ladies work together to do needle work, and make things for Shri Mataji
- Ladies from Bathurst, Newcastle, the Central Coast, and Wollongong often attend
Tassie News
The programmes for 2013 have drawn to a close.
Christmas is gliding by in a lovely feeling.
In February we are holding a 4 week programme in St Helens on the East Coast and hopefully many will attend.
The usual North Coast and Hobart programmes resume in March /April with the delightful inclusion of David and Sarah Matthews who have moved to Hobart from Coffs Harbour and their musical professsion is falling into place, as everything else has.
For the 2014 year - Let us all ask for many seekers to attend programmes world wide to learn of this unique transformation - never before available en-masse but now available from a very special Mother.
Let us all never forget what it is and how we can positively contribute and follow what Shri Mataji has asked for with humility and love.
This opportunity is a "one of".
Jai Shri Mataji - Tassie Yogis.
Be content with what
you have, rejoice in
the way things are.
When you realize there
is nothing lacking, the
world belongs to you
Lao Tzu
The Highest Praise of the Lord of the Ganas.
(translation by Chris Marlow)
Om. Salutations to You, O Lord of the Ganas.
You are the manifestation of the Divine Principle,
You alone are the Creator and the Doer.
Dead Sea Scrolls
These words are taken from some of the manuscripts of the Essene Brotherhood which were buried about 2,000 years ago in caves on the shores of the Dead Sea. These manuscripts contain the original words of Jesus Christ, written down at the time, by people who heard them first hand – people like John, the Disciple. The words are inspired, and inspiring. The power, the majesty and the immediacy of the words are compelling. The subject matter is mystical but not purely fanciful, as Jesus goes on to describe in detail the seven Angels of the Earthly Mother and the seven Angels of the Heavenly Father and how we should commune with them in the morning and the evening and the beneficial effects this will have.
About ten percent of the texts of the Essenes are identical with texts in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, about twenty percent are similar and about seventy percent are completely different.
The Essene Brotherhood lived during the last two or three centuries BC and the first century of the Christian era at the Dead Sea in Palestine. They lived a communal way of life, away from cities and towns. They lived in tune with nature and were able to grow many types of fruits and vegetables in areas with comparatively little water, due to their intimate knowledge of crops, soils and climate.
All people were equal in the Brotherhood and they had no servants or slaves. They had their own economic system, based wholly on the Law (i.e. God's Law). They studied astronomy and were known to be great healers using plants and herbs. They lived to 120 years or more and had enormous strength and endurance. They led a simple life, working in the fields, and spending their free time in prayer, study and communion with the heavenly forces, devoting their whole lives to living in accordance with the Law.
Membership of the Brotherhood was difficult to attain and entailed one year's probation, three years' initiatory work, followed by seven more years before being admitted to the full inner teaching.
The Essenes were also prophets; Elijah, John the Baptist and John the Beloved were members of the Essene Brotherhood. Jesus Christ himself also lived with the Essene Brotherhood for some time.
As they were being persecuted after the death of Christ, they buried all their manuscripts in caves near the Dead Sea. Some of these manuscripts were not found until the late 1940s and early 1950s and are known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Had the Essenes not been persecuted and killed, I think Christianity would have evolved in a very different way.
Kay Alford
See more at: http://www.sahajayoga.com.au/news Click Here
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'Light of Love' website popular around the world
The Sahaja Yoga Public News site known as 'Light of Love' features specially selected quotes from Mother and other inspirational messages, information about upcoming seminars/workshops, along with information about Sahaja Yoga, lists of meeting venues etc.
The site contains literally hundreds of items on a wide variety of subjects in the 'News Categories' archives which contain many articles not seen elsewhere.
Thanks to our sister Gloria Webb and her supporters for their work in looking after this special contribution to spreading Mother's message internationally.
You might care to join other subscribers. Click Here
Bondi Program a great success
Over the last three months the Sydney Collective have been involved in a major new initiative to take Sahaja Yoga out into our community. Yogis are attending up to two and even three community fairs each weekend during the traditional Spring Fair season. It has been an exciting time seeing the new activity to spread the message of Sahaja Yoga within our community.
Last Sunday Dec 8th, the Sydney collective hosted one of its major recent Public Programs at the Bondi Pavillion, Bondi Beach.
Leading into the weekend the program was advertised using a combination of 'old' and 'new' methods. The more traditional approach with one major Newspaper advertisement, and distribution of color posters and leaflets distributed to people's homes. The new approach included Social media, Email, Internet noticeboards, Facebook promotion, and personal recommendations.
A quick poll commenced at the start of the program showed that for this occasion the "new approach" attracted many more seekers to the program than the more traditional approaches. Something to consider for the future.
As a venue it was hard to fault, literally bordering on the sands of Bondi with Ocean vistas and Sea breezes filling the Hall. The balcony overlooking the beach proved a popular vantage point and meeting place through- out, and after the program.
The Program was successful in attracting many new seekers, and relatively new people who have recently started attending programs and workshops run throughout Sydney. It really helped to bring a successful very positive conclusion to our year.
After a short introduction the public program was mainly hosted by MOJ integrating the musical performances with instructions on Sahaja Yoga. In the middle of the program Shri Mataji's Hilton Hotel Public Program was played, followed by Shri Mataji then leading the Self Realisation.
Following the show of hands raised in affirmation of the experience it seemed everyone who attended had received their realisation and had experienced the Meditation of the Spirit.
Then followed more Divine music filling the hall and all the hearts. There was much dancing bringing even more joy. The program concluded with the Sahaja norm of tea, cakes, and food, all enjoyed in the elevated mood following a spiritual occasion of great significance.
To end the evening we enjoyed some of the local fare of wood fired Pizza, all enjoyed by a seaside cafe in the company of saints.
Many thanks to everyone for your great support of this and all the other recent events where we are spreading Mother's Message and Gift.
With love and best wishes, The Bondi Program Team
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Ladies Clearing Days
The Ladies Clearing Day are held around every month at H H Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Burwood Centre.
Some of the activities include:
- Playing a talk by Shri Mataji relevant to the program
- Encourage everyone to participate with offerings
- Playing music or songs to help clear the chakras and achieve a state of meditation
- Learning Indian dancing
- Learning how to make Flower Garlands and explaining the importance of garland making
- Garlands made are then offered to Shri Mataji as a simple Puja
- Learning how to put on a saree properly - the Indian Ladies assist with these lessons
- Explaining what Puja means (there is always a Puja at the programs)
- Explaining protocols for Havans
- Some programs concentrate just on clearing - ie guided footsoaking, shoe beating, head rubs, candle treatment or ice packs
- Ladies from different countries take turns to run the program
- Discussing areas that need more programs or arranging help with their programs
- Asking the women to bring ladies from the local programs to the clearing day so we may grow together
- Once ladies have been coming for a time they feel more confident to run their own programs
- The ladies enjoy having lunch together and usually rest after the program and just enjoy the vibrations
- Some ladies work together to do needle work, and make things for Shri Mataji
- Ladies from Bathurst, Newcastle, the Central Coast, and Wollongong often attend
Balmoral Spring Tidy Up 2013
Jai Shri Mataji
The last weekend of September 2013 a group of 5 Yogis (including a volunteer from Canberra) carried out a Spring Garden maintenance clean up and tree planting at Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Balmoral Centre.
Our activities included hand-weeding, lawn-mowing, top-dressing with mulch, planting 4 new culinary Fig Trees surrounding Shri Mataji's kitchen block, and 20 Sydney Waratah seedlings which were generously donated by the local councils' Land for Wildlife programme.
A Holy Myrtle Tree was also planted in the Australian Native Garden in dedication to the memories so sweet of our Great Divine Mother. The following Monday to Friday the plants were nourished by the blessing of rains.
We were blessed with good old country hospitality & company and it was a great opportunity for bonding friendship.
On behalf of the Sydney & ACT collectives, I'd like to give many thanks to a score of Sahaja Yogis for their hard-working efforts and I'm sure they will be rewarded with the fruits of our Divine Mothers' Blessings in the seasons to come.
A very big thank you to those who helped me with the garden maintenance and planting, on this occassion, Chris Lee, Jason, Pradeep and Vara.
We are all anticipating an ongoing improvement in the Gardens and Wilderness on Shri Mataji's Property and our own Sahaja Yoga spiritual ascents by thoroughly enjoying this special work.
Jai Shri Mataji and to All Her beautiful Natural Wonders at Balmoral.
Your sincerely,
Jacob Nadas
A very big thank you to Jacob and the team and all those who have worked hard over many years to create what is becoming a very beautiful natural surrounding for us all to enjoy one another and Shri Mataji. Vishnu
Holiday News from South Australia
Dear Yogi Family,
We celebrated Christmas with a lovely Sunday morning puja on the 21st. Following a morning of joy and worship with carol singing as well we joined together for a picnic lunch on the school grounds before we departed afloat the vibrations back to our other families and friends to celebrate with them also.
The children enjoyed their chocolate treats from the collective and we all felt the peace and harmony of Christmas at our Mother's feet together. We were fortunate to have visitors from Malaysia and Sydney to share this with.
For New Year we plan to have an 8pm puja followed by our regular New Year Family Fun Night. Our purpose is to provide a happy and playful alternative to what is generally on offer to many families, so the children can experience a sense of fun in a positive atmosphere.
We hope to use one room for meditation, the gym for sport games, the oval for fun in the dark (and sparklers), the staff room for yummy refreshments and various empty classrooms for variety of films.
During the Holiday season we close our local programs but in January we have planned a short 2 week course we are calling a 'Summer Mediation Course' for new people. It is planned for 2 consecutive Saturday afternoons.
We would like to wish all our family throughout Australia and any others reading this from further away a joyous and peaceful New Year.
With love from the South Australian Yogis
Tassie News
The programmes for 2013 have drawn to a close.
Christmas is gliding by in a lovely feeling.
In February we are holding a 4 week programme in St Helens on the East Coast and hopefully many will attend.
The usual North Coast and Hobart programmes resume in March /April with the delightful inclusion of David and Sarah Matthews who have moved to Hobart from Coffs Harbour and their musical professsion is falling into place, as everything else has.
For the 2014 year - Let us all ask for many seekers to attend programmes world wide to learn of this unique transformation - never before available en-masse but now available from a very special Mother.
Let us all never forget what it is and how we can positively contribute and follow what Shri Mataji has asked for with humility and love.
This opportunity is a "one of".
Jai Shri Mataji - Tassie Yogis.
Be content with what
you have, rejoice in
the way things are.
When you realize there
is nothing lacking, the
world belongs to you
Lao Tzu
The Highest Praise of the Lord of the Ganas.
(translation by Chris Marlow)
Om. Salutations to You, O Lord of the Ganas.
You are the manifestation of the Divine Principle,
You alone are the Creator and the Doer.
You alone are the Supporter and the Sustainer.
You alone are the Remover and Destroyer.
You are everything, both these forms and the Formless
You manifest the Spirit eternally.
I speak Divine Law. I speak the Truth.
Protect Thou me.
Be propitious to the speaker and the listener.
Watch over the offerer and the performer (of this prayer)
Show favour to the learned scholar and the pupil.
Protect from behind. Protect from the front.
Protect from the left side. Protect from the right side.
Protect from above. Protect from below.
From all directions guard and protect me constantly.
You are the Spoken Word and Pure Consciousness.
Joy is Your Essence.
Formless Spirit is Your Nature.
You are Existence, Consciousness and Joy unequalled.
You are the Supreme Spirit manifested.
You are All Knowledge and Understanding.
This whole world is born from You.
This whole world is sustained by You.
This whole world will dissolve in You.
This whole world is returning into You.
You are Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether (5 elements)
You are the four parts of speech.
You are beyond the three attributes
You are beyond the three bodies.
You are beyond the three times.
You are eternally stationed at the Mooladhara.
You are the Essence of the three Shaktis.
On You, Yogis meditate constantly.
You are Lord Brahma. You are Shri Vishnu.
You are Lord Shiva. You are Shri Indra.
You are the God of Fire, You are Lord of the Wind.
You are the sun and You are the Moon.
The Supreme Spirit, Earth, Sky, Heaven and Omkara.
Saying Ganas first letter (G) at the beginning,
The first letter of the alphabet (A) next.
And the nasal sound (M) after that.
The crescent resounding, completed with the Om.
This is the true form of Your mantra.
'G' is the first form.
'A' is the middle form.
And 'M' is the last form
Bindu (dot) is the form on top
With the sounds united according to Sandhi.
In this manner is the knowledge of Shri Ganesha.
The seer is sage Ganaka.
The metre is a mixed Gayatri.
The presiding Deity is Shri Ganapati.
'On Gam', Obeisance to the Lord of the Ganas.
One-tusked and four-handed,
Wielder of thr noose and elephant goad,
Holding a broken tusk and all blessings in the hands,
Having a mouse as an emblem.
Red-coloured, with a big belly,
With ears like winnowing fans, clothed in red.
And fragrant red sandalwood paste anointing the body.
Auspiciously worshipped with red flowers.
Divinely Compassionate to devotees,
The Imperishable Origin of the world,
And becoming manifest at the beginning of creation.
Being with the Adi Shakti and the Supreme Spirit.
Whoever meditates in this way constantly,
That Yogi becomes the most excellent of Yogis.
We bow to the Lord of Assemblies and Chief of Ganas,
Prostrations to the Leader of Lord Shiva's attendants,
Let there be obeisance to the Big-bellied, One-tusked
Destroyer of Obstacles, the Son of Lord Shiva.
To the embodiment of the highest state of blessedness and
Salutations again and again.
Who has incarnated as the Holy Primordial Energy,
The Divine Mother, The Immaculate Goddess,
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, Salutations again and again.
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Dedication to Sir CP
Born July 8, 1920
Marriage with SHRI MATAJI NIRMALA DEVI in 1947
Professional Career
1972 "Padma Bhushan" awarded by the President of India
1978 "Admiral Padilla" awards, Colombia
1978 "Gran Amigo Del Mark" award, Colombia
1978-89 Honorary Member, The Honorable Company of Master Mariners, United Kingdom
1979 Honorary Fellow, Plymouth Polytechnic, United Kingdom
1980-89 European International Committee of Honour
1981 Honorary Member, Institute of Marine Technologists, India
1981 Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, United Kingdom
1982 "Commander du Mèrite Maritime" by the Government of France
1982 Commander of the Order of Saint Olav, by the King of Norway
1983 "Grande Ufficiale dell" Ordine al Merito, by the Government of Italy
1983 Order of Prince Henry, The Navigator (Commander) by the Government of Portugal
1983 Nautical Medal, First Class, by the Government of Greece
1984 Gold Mercury International Award, Ad Personam
1984 "Orden Cruz Peruana al Merito Naval" grade "Gran Cruz Distintivo Blanco", by the Government of Peru
1985 Honorary Fellow, The Nautical Institute, United Kingdom
1985 Honorary Member, International Federation of Shipmaster's Associations
1985 "Orden del Manuel Amador Guerrero" grade "Gran Cruz", by the President of Panama
1986 "Orden do Merito Naval" grade "Grande-Official" by the Government of Brazil
1986 Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit, by the President of Poland
1988 Honorary Member, The Warsash Association, United Kingdom
1988 Honorary Member, International Maritime Pilot's Association
1988 Malmö City Silver Medal of Honour, Sweden
1989 Knight Great Band, Liberian Humande Order of African Redemption, by the President of Liberia
1989 Seatrade Award for Achievement (Seatrade Organization), United Kingdom
1989 BIMCO Appreciation Award (Baltic and International Maritime Council)
1989 Commander Cross of the Order of Merit, by the President of Germany
1989 Commander's Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star, by the King of Sweden
1990 Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St George, by the Queen of the United Kingdom
1990 Order of Merit, first Grade, by the President of Egypt
1992 International Maritime Prize, IMO, United Nations
1994 Encomienda du Numero de la Orden de Isabel La Catolica, by the King of Spain
2000 Lifetime Achievement Award, Lloyd's Ship Manager Manning and Training, United Kingdom
2003 Malmö City Gold Medal of Honour and Honorary Citizenship of Malmö, Sweden
2005 Sixth Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration,
Academics and Management, by the President of India
2006 Lifetime Achievement award presented by International Biographocal Centre, Cambridge, UK.
2007 The Seatrade Lifetime Achievement Award
2009 Padma Vibhushan, awarded by the President of India
Who will hear when a great tree in the forest falls?
Who will bear witness to a noble life well lived?
Those who know him, admire him and love him;
Surely, they.
Know him by his legacy: a Life of Service.
True to his beliefs he inspired all those who worked in his organization
to work collectively and he respected the least amongst them.
He was the visionary and a natural leader.
Author, statesman, leader; beloved and loving husband, father and friend.
Vale Sir C P.
We salute your memory; your great dignity, integrity and humanity.
Michael Fogarty
24 July 2013
Jai Shri Mataji!
I have taken some notes from a Press Briefing released by the Intenational Maritime Organisation which gives a good insight into Sir CP's professional life.
IMO Secretary-General Emeritus Dr. C.P. Srivastava, KCMG, Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritme Organization, has died in Italy, aged 93.
C.P. Srivastava was born on 8 July 1920 and was educated in Lucknow, India (obtaining BA, MA and LLB degrees). He started his career as a civil servant in the Indian Administrative Service in India, serving as the district administrator in Meerut
and Lucknow, and then went on to the post of Joint Secretary to the Indian Prime Minister's office of the late Lal Bahadur Shastri from 1964 to 1966.
Early in his career, he found his forte in the field of seafarers training and welfare.
During 1947 to 1948, he was the prime mover in the establishment of a network of new maritime training institutions, which have since produced world class maritime personnel, greatly facilitating the growth of Indian shipping in the years following Independence.
After a stint at the Directorate General of Shipping, he was appointed as the Founder Chief Executive of the Shipping Corporation of India, a Government of India enterprise, which he built up to the largest shipping company of India and one of the biggest and
most successful shipping companies of the world, with a diversified fleet of cargo liners, tankers, bulk carriers and passenger ships.
For his exceptionally outstanding work as Chairman & Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation of India, he received the Padma Bhusan (one of the highest civilian awards in the Republic of India) in 1972 in recognition of his contributions to
establishing one of the most successful public sector undertakings in India.
Dr. C.P. Srivastava become the first chief executive of the Shipping Corporation of India and In 1974 he was elected to serve as the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and was re-elected unanimously for three successive fouryear terms, serving until his retirement in 1989.
As Secretary-General of IMO, Dr. C.P. Srivastava recognized the crucial importance of the human element in ensuring safety and efficiency in international shipping and played a pioneering role in the establishment of the International Maritime Academy in
Italy, and the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta.
He was the founding father and also the first Chancellor of World Maritime University which was founded in 1983 to address a pressing need for trained maritime professionals in the developing world.
He was the inspired prime mover in the development of the concept of World Maritime University and IMLI, and in the immense job of planning, negotiating, fundraising, organizing and implementation that was required to take a vision and turn it into
a reality.
In 1987 he was named an honorary graduate by the University of Wales.
Just before his retirement from his post as IMO Secretary-General in 1989, the IMO Assembly, meeting for its 16th session, unanimously adopted a resolution (A.679(16)), noting his retirement with regret and recording his services to IMO Member States.
The resolution noted that, throughout his tenure, which comprised four successive terms and lasted 16 years, Dr. Srivastava rendered exceptionally meritorious services to the Organization with total commitment to its ideals and objectives.
As a result of his leadership, integrity, dedicated endeavour and initiative, it said, the membership of the Organization stood greatly enhanced and its universality well established; many conventions and protocols had received wide acceptance and were now in force, promoting the objectives for the Organization of safer shipping and cleaner oceans and the IMO spirit of goodwill and cooperation has been sustained and enhanced.
It was during Dr. Srivastava's tenure that a comprehensive, pragmatic and co-ordinated programme of technical co-operation was conceived and developed and effective steps were taken to promote its continuing implementation.
The resolution went on to recognise the visionary and pioneering role of Dr. Srivastava, and his ceaseless efforts in the establishment of IMO's educational institutions, including the World Maritime University and the International Maritime Law Institute.
In 1990, in recognition of his service and contribution to world shipping, Dr. C. P. Srivastava was conferred, by Queen Elizabeth II of the United kingdom, the title of Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG).
In 1991, he received the International Maritime prize from IMO for his contribution to the Organization's work and objectives.
In 2005 he was awarded the 2004 Lal bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration and Management Sciences by the then President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
In 2009, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, by the President of India.
Dr. C.P. Srivastava was married to Nirmala Srivastava, the founder of Sahaja Yoga, a unique method of meditation, based on an experience called self-realization.
Dr.C. P. Srivastava has stated that his life has been greatly influenced by his wife and he has been motivated by her vision of one Almighty God and one human family. This vision motivated him in all aspects of his life.
He is survived by two daughters, Kalpana and Sadhana.
I would also like to say a few words about respected Sir from a Sahaja perspective.
Many of us will have had special experiences with Sir CP, some living in his home assisting with Mother's care, others enjoying his company and inspiring speeches with us in this room, and many other memorable events.
I first met Sir in Mumbai on the first India Tour when he and Mother attended a function where Sir was shown the appropriate respect and offered kind words, with Shri Mataji sitting quietly at his side. There were a number of yogis ready to offer garlands to Shri Mataji and She arranged for me to be the first to approach Her. As I moved forward Mother indicated with Her eyes to garland Sir before Herself, which I did. All the time Mother continued to sit quietly with Her hair up allowing Sir to be acknowledged.
Sir then left the program and suddenly Mother undid Her hair and manifested the Goddess.
At that time it appeared Mother had not fully revealed Herself to him and that manifestation occurred gradually with Sir eventually announcing to us all that She is indeed the Adi Shakti.
I'm sure all of have witnessed his great love for Her in Her various manifestations and the absolute dedication to supporting and caring for Her as She appeared to gradually withdraw from us in Her physical form.
I was fortunate to spend some time with Sir last year and he spent many hours talking about how he had discovered all of Her 'help' with his career with an example where he took on a role with the Maritime Organisation and was expecting a continuation of the very volatile situation his predecessor had experience with the unions and wharf workers, and yet everything he requested was provided by them and they went out of their way to assist him.
It wasn't until some years later that discovered Mother had been going to the wharves and Union offices and getting to know them all and in some cases inviting them home for meals while Sir was at work, and ofcourse they could not help but love Her and in turn Her husband.
Sir spoke about Her understanding and support when he first commenced his career and therefore only receiving a small wage, and that Mother never complained or asked for jewelry, expensive saris or anything all the other ladies had, and She always had the home beautiful with lots of food and even managed to bring friends and strangers to the house, feeding them as well.
Sir attributed every blessing he ever received to Mother and saw Her play in everything that occurs.
He said all we need is for the leaders of all the countries to decide to stop all their bickering and peace would break out. A very good thing for us all to desire.
It would be remiss not to mention Sir's exceptional generosity. You may not be aware that whenever the family visited Australia Sir would insist on being given all the accounts for everything and then pay the amount in full. He absolutely insisted upon this despite our protests.
When Mother 'found' the Wamuran property and suggested to purchase it, there were no funds available and Sir CP actually personally paid for it.
He and Mother have in recent times donated a number of their properties to Sahaja Yoga, including Prathisthan, The Cabella castle and property, and other properties around the world, and donated substantial amounts to the Cabella School and other projects Shri Mataji had initiated.
His example to us as a career person, father, and husband, and supporter of Shri Mataji's work to bring Her gift and message to the world is something for us all to emulate and his life will be remembered as part of Mother's incarnation.
In speaking with Sir he confided that he was surprised Mother had left Her physical form before him and that he was terribly lonely. He said he expected Her to deliver him soon after She left and he was getting concerned that She had become very busy and had forgotten him.
Clearly Mother wanted him to remain with us until now, but his prayer to be reunited with Her has now been fulfilled.
Jai Shri Mataji!
In 2009 and 2010 I had the good fortune to be in Mothers physical presence working as Sir CP's nurse and attendant. I am a child of Sahaja Yoga. The first generation.
The entirety of my early years I would hear stories of Mother from my parents, uncles and Aunties. Theirs was a personal relationship. I was amazed at each of their stories, how the Goddess herself addressed them, asked after them, organised the small and not so small details of their lives.
Mother knew their likes and dislikes, she married them, suggested what work they should do. My own Father was ordered to Australia for the work of Sahaj. Mother had a plan for them all. So when i got the opportunity to be near Mothers physical form i too secretly longed for her personal attention. But the Goddess of my parents had become silent. Few words were spoken. Shri Mataji's form was meditative, silent and extremely subtle. And so I too had to learn to be silent, too become subtler.
Each morning as i helped deliver Mothers breakfast i offered a silent prayer. I prayed to Ganesha: "make me like you lord Ganesha so that i am in tune. So that Mothers word and her will are manifest in me". And many times when i offered a prayer in my heart, Mother would raise her feet in blessings. In fact mostly there was silence but Mothers feet moved alot. Most often i looked at Mothers feet, and they communicated. They were often the most dynamic part of Mothers otherwise mostly still body.
Each morning we prepared Sir CP for the day. After bathing we would help him to his chair in his room, give him his medications and perform some breathing exercises. Then we sat together in silence mostly and waited. What i learnt from Sir CP was attention. How to have your attention on the Gurus feet.
Each morning we waited in silence for Mother to be seated in her chair in the lounge for breakfast. So we would sit with Sir CP in silence which would be interrupted by his question "Is she there?" I would the check the lounge. "No Sir, Mother has not been seated yet". Only when Mother was seated would Sir CP get up to go and sit beside Her to have his breakfast.
He had a routine each morning. On the way to Shri Mataji there was a statue of Shri Ganesha, Sir would stop and touch its feet. Then he would would gently approach Shri Mataji. He was unsteady on his legs and we were always worried that he might fall. Always on alert to help him if he faltered, but he refused to let us help him, he was determined to touch Mothers feet. Then he would praise Mother in Hindi, and finally sit down for breakfast which he would only eat once Shri Mataji had started.
I remember there was a photograph of Shri Mataji that was Sir CP's favorite. He had numerous copies framed. They sat at the head of his bed and by his bedside. And wherever we traveled he always asked if we had packed this photograph. It was a picture not of Shri Mataji his wife but of Mother at a Puja with her palms facing forwards giving blessings.
It was black and white with the cross and swastika painted on her palms. I remember one of those meditative mornings waiting for Mother in silence with Sir CP. He was gazing at this photograph. After some time he broke the silence "See She is giving her blessings". Sir CP's dedication to Shri Mataji was deep.
She was his Guru but also his wife, and that is something that we will never fully comprehend. From Sir CP i learnt from his intense dedication and attention on Shri Mataji, and i respect him like my own father and am so grateful for what I learnt from him.
Jai Shri Mataji
Jai Shri Mataji!
Dear Sahaja Yogies
A befitting tribute was paid to the memory of Sir Chandrika Prasad Srivastava, Padma Vibhushan, IAS, fondly called "Papaji" by all Sahaja Yogies, on 4 August 2013, at the Conventional Hall of Ashoka Hotel located in the heart of the beautiful Diplomatic Enclave of New Delhi. The Prayer Meeting was arranged by the Sahaja family and was attended by nearly 1200 Sahaja Yogies and guests from India and abroad. Shri Robert Hunter, Director of the Sahaja Yoga World foundation, at Cabella, compered the programme which lasted for about 2 hours.
The programme began with the recitation of the Mahamantra followed by Shri Ganesh Atharvsheersha, and a beautiful rendition of Adi Shankracharya's "Tad Nishkala" (Atmashtakam).
The highlights of the impressively designed programme included a video presentation of the photographs of Sir CP, showing some significant glimpses of the past with our Divine Mother, with various VIPs, and with the family.
This was followed by reminiscences of Sir CP Srivastava by senior members of the of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency based in London, in which Sir CP served for four successive four-year terms as Secretary-General from 1974 to 1989, and the World Maritime University founded in 1983 by the IMO under his Chairmanship.
All the speakers were highly appreciative of the pre-eminent achievements during his tenure as the first Secretary-General of the IMO as well as making possible the education of some 4,000 maritime leaders globally through the World Maritime University.
The video presentation also included personal accounts by some of the global Sahaja Yoga leaders, based on their close interaction with Sir CP during his lifetime, and of the outstanding contributions made by Sir CP for Sahaja Yoga.
The poignancy of the entire ceremony was finally expressed in the soulful rendition of Sufi Bhajans by Ragini Raino and the melodius santoor recital by Shri Ajay Sopori.
In the end the noble personality, the penetrating intellect, and exceptional character qualities that endeared Sir CP to one and all stood out loud and clear to all participants of the Prayer Meeting on 04 Aug 2013.
Love and Respects
Lt Gen (Retd) V K Kapoo
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Some of Mother's beautiful creations to enjoy
Celbration of Diwali - Significance of Diwali
Dear Yogis
Some advice regarding Diwali.
Celebration of Diwali
Today we are going to celebrate the Diwali, which means the rows of lights or, you can say, group of lights. This Diwali has been a festival of very ancient times in India. I already told in My previous lectures what these five days are. After killing Narakasura (the demon), Diwali was celebrated when it was the darkest night of the year. So now, it is very symbolic of these modern times because the worst time, as far as morality is concerned has been in these modern times. We call it the Ghor Kali Yuga, the worst modern times.
That means a complete darkness and, as you see around, you'll find out that there is complete darkness as far as morality is concerned, but that's why there are all kinds of crises. Because of that, also, there are many who are seeking the light, the truth. (05.11.1994, Turkey)
Significance of Diwali
Dhanteras – respect of wife – Gruhalakshmi
Firstly, in Diwali, the first day they buy something for the family, it could be some cooking utensil, could be an ornament for the wife, or something like that; because that is the day of the housewife and that day is to be celebrated as the housewives', I should say, homage to her. As a result, you know in India, even now, housewives are very much respected.
Actually they are respected all over, you will be amazed, that even in the protocol of the government receptions, anywhere, the wife is very important and where she is sitting, what her position is, it's very important. Even today, in the most modern and advanced countries also, they have a special respect for the housewife. The housewife may not be educated, she may be a very simple woman, and she may not be very modern. (25.10.1998, Italy)
So it is very important, that on this day, we call it Dhanteras, the thirteenth day, you have to buy something for your wife, and you have to give her something as a present. At least you should buy a little pot or something that can be used in the kitchen to show your respect to her. In the families where the mother is not respected, children become extremely troublesome and the whole of their family also suffers, whenever they are married, whatever happens to them.
Men have to realize that it is their mistake that they have never respected their wives as they should have. In the presence of the children, if they shout, in the presence of the children if they don't show any respect, the children can never respect the mother. It is a criminal thing to do to women who are in the household, doing all the work for you, looking after you, your family, not demanding anything. Only if you want to understand how they can be troublesome is to see them in the politics.
When they go into politics they put all the men upside down. One woman can put all of them in their proper senses; because their field is their house, their family. If they are not respected in the family, they get out of the family and behave in such a manner that you can't imagine. Though she has to bear a lot, she has to suffer a lot: but in the family she must be respected, that's a very very important message of Gruha Lakshmi (wife). (25.10.1998, Italy)
Killing of Demons – with the power of Shakti
Then the second day is the one where this horrible rakshasha called as Narakasura was killed. Always all killing is done with the power of the shakti. This Narakasura was the fellow who had tortured so many people and had done lots of cunning stuff, he was a very treacherous, cunning man and it was impossible to kill him; but then somehow or another with the advent of a special power, this Naraksura was killed. That was another day, the fourth day, when Naraksura was killed. They say that when he was killed, the door of hell was closed. So people should take their baths early in the morning. But I am of the opinion, that day the door is open, better not take baths, better be in your beds till this fellow is put fully into Naraka - you should not bother about him. Naraka means hell, and from the hell they extracted him and killed him. (25.10.1998, Italy)
The Destruction of Injustice
The last one is the best, where they have the meeting of Shri Rama and his brother Bharat. Shri Rama went to jail, obeying his father; for 14 years he was not in jail, but he went in the forest. It was a kind of a jail only because he was living in the palaces and then he was sent to the forest by his father: with his daughter-in-law, means his own wife, and also the brother - they went together into great sufferings - and you know the whole story of Ramayana.
The child that lived in the palaces had to go in the forest and live in terrible conditions, when he was to be the king - it was too much. But Sita (Shri Rama's wife) went with him and she supported him and ultimately it so happened that Ravana (the demon) came and took away Sita. Shri Rama fought Ravana, killed him, and brought back his wife. But when they came back to their own capital, in Ayodyha, there was a big jubilation and Bharat, his brother, he was very much attached to his brother (Shri Rama) and he ruled that country with the paduka, they say, (a kind of sandalwood slippers they use) of his brother: he put them on the throne, and ruled.
So that is how the Bharat milan, the meeting of Bharat with Shri Rama is celebrated and that was the time he was crowned also as the king. So it was a long time back, 1000's of years back, this thing has happened. That jubilation is very significant, that the right king gets his own thrown and he rules and all injustice and all kinds of atrocities he has gone through has to be completely finished from his life and that's why Diwali is important. (25.10.1998, Italy)
Worship of the Goddess Lakshmi
So the last day they worship the Goddess Lakshmi. Because it is her blessings that brought forth all these beautiful meetings and that's why they worship her - Lakshmi. There are nine types of Lakshmis within us, which I think I have told you some time back. Now in that Lakshmi Puja (prayer), you worship the Lakshmi herself, it doesn't mean money, not at all. To worship money is wrong. But what it means is that Lakshmi is the money which is with us, or whatever, the prosperity should be very carefully spent because she is very mobile and the money can slip out. On the contrary you should not be at all miserly; with miserly people, Lakshmi is not happy.
If you want to spend, you must spend it in the right way otherwise the money is spent in the wrong way. Now when the Lakshmi was created, you must know, out of the churning of the sea, she came out. She had four hands, one hand was to give, she's generous, and she gives. Like this she gives and with one hand she blesses, these are her two hands, one is to give and to bless the person. Very important it is that when you give to somebody something, you forget about it. You bless that person - not only you give money, but also you bless that person.
The other two hands have got two lotuses of pink colour. Pink is the colour of love and a person who has money should have a house which is full of love. Any guest who comes in the house should be respected; he should be treated just like God. (25.10.1998, Italy)
Purity of Relationships
Now, the second day of Diwali, last day, is where a brother and sisters celebrate together for relationship, which is so pure and protective. That is to show that, after putting the lights, morality must be the first priority for the society. I need not tell you today immoral side of modern times. It's horrible. Immorality is the greatest darkness of modern times where people do not know how they relate to each other for which, as I told you before, Christ has suggested that you take out the eyes of a man who looks at a woman twice because He found, at that time, people were horrid. Who can follow Christ in these modern times? Both the eyes, both the hands will be cut off. On the whole, if you see, I haven't seen any Christian like that, so far. (05.11.1994, Turkey)
Morality – in Modern Times
Now the description of modern times is there to show you in what times we are living. And I realized it's not an easy thing to talk to them about anything that is good without giving them realization. Unless and until you give them realization, nothing can penetrate into their minds on just mental level. And also giving only lectures and sermons, the whole thing will be at a mental level only. And also the religions, which are so-called, are really very harmful for the spiritual growth of human beings. I felt that enlightenment is the only way one can save this world. In this darkness of ignorance, the darkest night of the whole history of this world, we needed light and lights, many lights. (05.11.1994, Turkey)
'Diwali comes from the word deepavali in Sanskrit, the word 'deepa' means 'the light', and 'avali' means the 'line', the 'rows'. Now, there are many things that have happened during these four days and that's how it is celebrated with such a great enthusiasm. The first thing is the day of the Lakshmi's birth.. the real day when Lakshmi was born out of the sea.'
'Today is a day of very great happening, I should say. Celebrating the Diwali is a very, very joyous thing. But this joy is not for ourselves; this joy is for the whole world. We have to work for the whole world. We work for ourselves, for our jobs, for our money, whatever it is, but what are you doing for others? That you should see for yourself, and that's very important. Only such people are useful in Sahaja Yoga because they have concern, they have care, and they are doing something for others.
It's a great enjoyment with that, when the lights are burning, it's to give you happiness; they are burning their bodies to give you happiness. They are the ones who should teach us that we have to do something ourselves to enjoy our own higher awareness. ...Now as it is, what is the aim after all, what is the aim of our lives? We have to change the whole world into a peaceful theme. Changing yourself, of course, is great thing, no doubt; but changing others also will stop all the problems of the world. If all the people of this world become good people.. then can you imagine what will happen?' (HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi)
New York Letter -- 1976
"My dear Sahaja Yogis, my dear children,
Let this Diwali enlighten you with light of love. You yourself are the lamps which burn high and don't get pressed by the cover. They become much more powerful than the cover. It is their own asset. When they are hit upon, they are disturbed and extinguished, Why are our lamps disturbed? You should think over it. Is there no transparent sheath around them? Have you forgotten your Mother's love and therefore you are so disturbed? As the glass protects the lamp, in the same way my love will protect you.
But the glass should be kept clean, How can I explain? Have I to say like Shri Krishna "Leave all religions and surrender to me" or as Shri Jesus "I am the way, I am the door." ?! I want to tell that I am that destination. But will you people accept it ? Will this fact go to your hearts? Although what I say is distorted, the truth will always stand. You cannot change what It is. Only you will remain ignorant and backward. I am unhappy because of that. Diwali is the day of real aspirations. Invoke the whole universe.
Many lamps have to be lit, and looked after. Add the oil of love, Kundalini is the wick and awaken the Kundalini of others with light of the spirit within you. This flame of Kundalini will be kindled and one within you will become the torch. Torch is not extinguished. Then there will be spotless sheath of my love. It will neither have any limits nor any end. I will be watching you. My love for you is showering as many many blessings. Yours always loving Mother NIRMALA"
(Translation of a Hindi letter received from Shri Mataji -- the founder of Sahaja yoga meditation -- on October 21st, 1976) <http://www.free-meditation.ca/ar>
Enjoy Sahaj Interesting Connections
Specific to sahaja yoga is the integration that it brings between various faiths, mythologies and religions; the thread that is binding them all in such a beautiful and natural way becomes visible and can be even experienced by those that speak and understand the language of the vibratory awareness.
What is Diwali?
'First of all you have to know there are four days that are celebrated in Diwali.'
'Diwali comes from the word Deepavali in Sanskrit, the word 'deepa' means 'the light', and 'ali' means the 'line', the 'rows'. Now, there are many things that have happened during these four days and that's how it is celebrated with such a great enthusiasm. The first thing is the day of the Lakshmi's birth.. the real day when Lakshmi was born out of the sea.'
'Today is a day of very great happening, I should say. Celebrating the Diwali is a very, very joyous thing.
But this joy is not for ourselves; this joy is for the whole world. We have to work for the whole world. We work for ourselves, for our jobs, for our money, whatever it is, but what are you doing for others? That you should see for yourself, and that's very important. Only such people are useful in Sahaja Yoga because they have concern, they have care, and they are doing something for others. It's a great enjoyment with that, when the lights are burning, it's to give you happiness; they are burning their bodies to give you happiness.
They are the ones who should teach us that we have to do something ourselves to enjoy our own higher awareness. …Now as it is, what is the aim after all, what is the aim of our lives? We have to change the whole world into a peaceful theme. Changing yourself, of course, is great thing, no doubt; but changing others also will stop all the problems of the world. If all the people of this world become good people.. then can you imagine what will happen?'
Diwali's Sahaj Significance
'Today we are going to celebrate the Diwali, which means the rows of lights or, you can say, group of lights. This Diwali has been a festival of very ancient times in India.. Diwali was celebrated when it was the darkest night of the year. So now, it is very symbolic of these modern times because the worst time, as far as morality is concerned has been in these modern times. We call it the Ghor Kali Yuga, the worst modern times. That means a complete darkness and, as you see around, you'll find out that there is complete darkness as far as morality is concerned, but that's why there are all kinds of crises. Because of that, also, there are many who are seeking the light, the truth… '
Who is Lakshmi? How she becomes Maha (the Great) Lakshmi?
'Now, this Lakshmi is the goddess (principle/subtle energy), who stands on the lotus. She represents all the well-being, the wealth, the glory of wealth, the decoration of wealth; whichever is auspicious. Whatever is not auspicious is not wealth. According to Sahaja yoga, or according to any scripture, it is not wealth at all. So She's a lady who stands on a lotus, showing that a person, who has got wealth, has to be a person who does not assert his pressures on people, who doesn't push people around, who doesn't pressurize. And then, She's a lady, She's a Mother.
So wealth, is the first opening to our seeking. But when you start seeking the wealth, you realize that the superficial wealth that you are seeking is not sufficient, is not going to give you complete joy. So you start seeking the deeper wealth. As I said that on the Mother Earth you've exploited all that is possible. Still there, deep down in the sea, lot of wealth still.So then the seeking moves toward the deeper seeking. So the same Lakshmi becomes Mahalakshmi (The Great Lakshmi).
When you start expanding yourself to higher and deeper valuables then this Lakshmi doesn't lure you much; She's just there for your glory, but not for your satisfaction. The wealth is there for distribution. You enjoy the.. generosity.. generous fondness; it's a fondness, you see, that you should be generous. That is a very great happiness and joy that you feel. That is the greatest, when you are generous, when you give away. That's a fondness, that's a kind of a human expression of one's own being, that you want to be generous. And this generosity only can come when Mahalakshmi principle is born in you. 'that's why She is called as Miriam or Mariam. Word 'Mari' or 'Marie' also comes from the word 'sea'. So, She's born out of the sea, is created out of the sea.
And the wealth of the sea, so far, thank God, human beings have not yet exploited, but they may one day start doing that also. And a lot of wealth is still there, so when people start getting worried about exhausting the Mother Earth, we must know that sea is much more than the earth is. So nothing is exhausted, still there is such a lot reserve for you, and one should not worry as to the supply of wealth that can come from the sea.'
'Mahalakshmi is one of the main powers of Adi Shakti (the primordial universal power).
Now these powers have powers at a material level also, at a subtler level also. Lakshmi was born or came out of the sea, the great sea, which was churned.. years back. And she came out of the sea because she is the daughter of the sea. That's why she's called as Neeraja. Neera means 'water' and ja means 'born out of.'
So what is that? What is this Lakshmi? See symbolically, what is it expressing? It is expressing the Awareness. Lakshmi expresses awareness, and she came out of the sea, you know that; the awareness first started growing in the sea. The life started existing in the sea, to begin with, and then it grew out. Without the life there is no awareness. First the life, because everything is jarda, everything is dead, and when it becomes life it means it has awareness. So the Awareness started growing in the Sea.This is the symbolic expression. In the gross level you can understand this way.. So for me it is symbolic to see how the life came into being in the sea and that it became aware..'
The Symbol of Mahalakshmi is Mother Mary
'You can say then, He (Jesus) was given birth by the Holy Ghost who was the Mother of Christ on this earth, who was nobody else but was the incarnation of Mahalakshmi.'
'Now She (Lakshmi) was born in the sea. She was called as Neeraja or Neera that means "water"… the name of Mary is also the same. Miriam or Mary, I don't know how you say in English, but Maria comes from .. the word Mari. Mari itself comes from the word Meri. So this Mahalakshmi, Mary is named, and she is, because she was born in the sea and that's how her name was Mary. Mariana they call her, some people call her Mariana. All these words are indicating that she was born in the sea. So She is Mahalakshmi. Now Mary is Mahalakshmi and Ganesha is the child. Now see how symbolically it works, that only in Diwali the Lakshmi and the Ganesha are worshipped, only these two personalities. Can you understand that? The symbol of Mahalakshmi for me is Mary, for you it is Mahalakshmi is the symbol. '
The Real Christmas is on Diwali and The Symbol of Ganesha is Jesus Christ
'And the symbol of Ganesha outside is Christ. He is symbolizing Ganesha. So, both of them are worshipped only on Diwali. Actually this is the Christmas. This is the real Christmas that was before also, and this was the time baby Christ was born, not the 25th of December.. it's a misunderstanding, doesn't matter, keep it up. Doesn't matter, whenever He's born, because there used to be a very big festival, and after the festival He was born.. And then this child was born and that was the time Christmas was celebrated. It was just tallying with that, but somehow it shifted, I don't know how, how it shifted. And there might be somewhere you'll find out that real Christmas was shifted. …Now the awareness that was seeking up to Lakshmi, means you achieve money, achieve position for achieving Grace, once you have achieved the Grace of this, you want to achieve God. And this new awakening within you that you have to achieve God now, is the power of Mahalakshmi. By the power of Mahalakshmi only, you achieve your saintliness, your Realization. That's why She came on this earth as the Mother of Jesus Christ. That was Mahalakshmi, not Lakshmi but Mahalakshmi (the Great Lakshmi). May God bless you.' (all above are excerpts from few talks of Shri Mataji from 1980, 1985, 1994, 2001)
Significance of Light and Diwali in Nabhi Chakra, Society and Sahaja Yoga
"And today (on Diwali) now the light, light is there. Light is a very important thing. From the very beginning, you see, when man discovered the fire, the fire was used in the Gruha Lakshmi state (the subtle energy provided by the Left nabhi chakra) where the fire cooked the food, and you see the warmth of the Mother was shown though the heart she used in the house to warm up her children, to give them food and all that. Then it became, say, a very collective thing, it is expressed as light, you see. If you have to celebrate say your Republic Day or your Independence Day we put the lights on, or we have fireworks. You see to express ourselves that way is in the Raja Lakshmi (the subtle and divine power that governs the right aspect of the Nabhi chakra)." (Diwali, 1981, UK)
"Now the celebration of Diwali should be that we carry the light all over the world and enlighten people, as many as we can. None of our private things, nor none of our own problems are important. So that is what it is, that we have to realize that we have got a certain position.. So once you understand, your own esteem goes up and you see for yourself what you have to do. So then everybody should today decide and take an oath, that we'll do everything to spread Sahaja Yoga with humility.
So now we'll have the Puja, and in this Puja you all should promise to yourself that you will create a Deepawali (row of lights) in every household, in every country, in the whole world.""In Sahaja Yoga you develop another dimension which is Collective Consciousness. That is the modern Sahaja Yoga. In the olden days they didn't have this, so they just all got lost. Now you have collective consciousness and in that collective consciousness you start feeling others, feeling for others, compassion for others and you start working out for others." (Diwali, Lisbon, 1996)
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