Friday, June 5, 2009

Who is your favorite Greek Tragedian? Or the Saga of the Duex ex Machina



Vedic lore has less heroes than herioc Godesses. It does not have logical situations where rational negotiations have given resolution. And this is not just written dramatics, as in Greece, but in almost every challenge that faced human existence.



The divine drama that almost always gets played out is:



Act 1: Trouble brews when powerful entities gain blessings and start their reign of terror on earth.



Act 2: The reign of terror takes the pain to the extreme and the troubles of earthly life become quite unbearable. When humanity is unable to resolve the situation, they begin praying for divine intervention, which acts in a sure shot way. An incarnation which brings about a long term solution to the miseries of the populace



Act 3: The battle for earth begins between the forces of good and evil. The forces of good more often than not lead by a female incarnation of the divine, which prevails, establishing peace, justice and happiness for generations to come.



This three act play of the divine always depends, and is orchestrated by the Goddess divine, the duex de machina.



While the Greek-Romantics rejected the use of divine intervention as a plot device in their story telling, it was very much a fact of life. The Greek tragedian Euripidis was criticized for overuse of duex ex machina for giving resulutions to the story and so was the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But real battles for the earth were always resolved by none other than this phenomenon.



Euripidis, you just became my favorite Greek tragedian*.



* as if I know many others....

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Star Trek: Destruction by Alcohol

Alcohol and its effects on humans are well explored in the episode "The Naked Time", and how. A drunk Irishman from the Enterprise crew turns off the ships engine as its orbiting a collapsing planet and thats when the fun begins. The episode contains gems such as, a shirtless Sulu wandering the hallways with a sword, Scotty saying "I cannot change the laws of physics", traveling backwards in time and other geeky astrophysics fun. And best of all? Discovering the formula to travel back in time, how exciting.

Star Trek: The Original Series / The Naked Time

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Star Trek: Posession

Star Trek: The Original Series was excellent for taking on fringe questions like race, greek gods and in the case of Episode "Operation Annhilate", posessions. The episode explores the parasitic mechanism, effect on hosts (physical & psychological-behavorial), complexity of curing and means of working around it. Must watch!

Star Trek: The Original Series / Operation Annihilate

I will let you watch the episode and conclude how close the writers come to the "cure" for posessions in this story. Its fun to watch how Spock shows his failing resistence to the parasite posession with twitches. Credits to writer

Monday, May 11, 2009

Self Realization better than "Happiness Surgery"?

Attending a talk on gaming in education, I heard the keynote speaker mention the well known link between the vagus nerve and emotions. Game-designers want to add features and events which will result in vagal stimulation - i.e., send "happy waves to the brain".

Here is a small animation to help you place the nerve within us:




Searching for more information, there seemed to be two main applications in the medical field (a) An FDA approved Treatment for depression when "all else has failed" and (b) Treatment for overeating. The common theme here is satisfaction and contentment, rather than happiness and sadness, IMHO.

For the depression application, long story short, this is an FDA approved treatment option, applied usually when most treatments have not worked (Mayo Clinic). The 'aha-moment' for me came when I saw the info-graphic showing how this is achieved - through a pace-maker. The location of the pace-maker in the graphic made it even simpler to understand:





Vagus nerve stimulation at Mayo Clinic

In Sahaja Yoga, the method to achieve balance, harmony and joy is based on awakening the spirit, "self-realization". Sahaja means born within. Born with us is the heart with the spirit within. In it's awakened state the spirit would keep us in joy, which is the characteristic. However there is a disconnect, caused by imbalance which stops the pulsations of the heart from acting on our central nervous system and transferring the joy of living. This blanket of darkness, called ego, when exceeds it's boundries, envelopes the heart and literally becomes the kill-joy.

Sahaja Yoga explicitly connects oneself with one's spirit, bringing the qualities and contributions of the human spirit onto the central nervous system. Before implaning a battery driven vagus-stimulating pacemaker, I would highly recommend trying the option of self-realization - awakening the spirit to reconnect and send those "happy pulses" from the heart to the vagus nerve and eventually the brain.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and I do not play one on this blog!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

ABC Tropical Queensland Interviews Vinola Bandi on Sahaja Yoga

The "Mornings with Kim Kleidon" show on ABC Tropical interviews Australian-Malaysian Sahaja practitioner, Vinola about her experience with Sahaja Yoga. Vinola explains the basics of Sahaja Yoga meditation, i.e. energy centers. Listen to the whole interview here:

Integrating with the Kundalini

Mar 31, 2009

alternate listening link (in case the original web-page is not available)





(alternate audio, if the one above does not work)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Welcome, My Dear Evolutis




(Listen to this blogpost as a podcast)



I saw a TED video of Enriquez, who is on track, the idea of "Homo Evolutis", however it stems from technological development and depends on bio-engineering.

The key phrase "a being that takes control of it's own evolution" is the next step for us. Agreed, however if it depends on expensive cyborg retrofits, it's restricted to a small number of people who can afford it. So the argument fails, since it is not universal.

Awakening of the opening of human chakras (energy centers) is the measure of evolution in eastern thought. With the awakening of the kundalini one is no longer dependent on forces of nature for evolution - rather one's own desire drives it through opening of new layers of their chakras. This change is universal, as witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people all over the world practicing Sahaja Yoga in every country. Cultures, countries and continents have been bridged
and provided with a universal experience of accelerated self-improvement. Personality and human development can take ages, and the evolution of many births has happened in one swift action. through Sahaja.

Welcome to the new world, fellow Evolutes.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Ascent, Interrupted



A flower, made an attempt
To grow in rough tenements,
To fulfill, pure desire
To love & live the Kundalini fire

The flower broke from being a bud
Petals opening the green shield
To expose itself to wonderous nature
To source joy and sometimes heal

It's destiny was to blossom
Fully and firmly until the Autumn
But that was not to be
As a bull entered the garden, and the flower's destiny

Blinded by ignorance, and baser purpose
The Bull raged in, forcing itself upon us
Trampling new buds, weeds and flowers together
Bringing mayhem, while serving own purpose

The hooves advance, to the rose bed,
Trampling dreams with fury unsaid,
ignorant, huffing and all self-serving
The bull raged on with actions unnerving

Such is the destiny, of many who blossomed,
Killed and miamed by ignorant possums
Given a chance to breathe on earth
Given the chance to come to second birth

Ravaging bulls and critters around,
Seek to impose, enforce and surround,
Their antiquated ideas, is the security they found
When their own life was run aground

Unevolved, disconnected bearing meaningless crosses,
They find no meaning in the living process,
Jealous, Angry, Greedy and Loathe-some,
Trampling blossoms, glorifying their awesome

Mother of the world, 
take one more look,
You gave them love,
Now they're making a book
Your message of love,
Revived even the dead,
But some new life bearers, 
Are shooting others dead.


Friday, March 6, 2009

Learn: The Nature of the Spirit

The Truth is Young

It's so difficult to see

The cruel ways of World.

The Truth is always Young, but we

Are getting bitter and old.


We are growing older every day

More serious and sad,

Our paper boat sailed away

And all the joy is dead.


Come on, lets run across the Time

Like waves that cross the sea.

Else all the mysteries Divine

We'll never ever see.


The Truth will win! It's always right!

It'll wait, and then one day

With all the Powers at its side

It'll crush the evil ways!


And all the dreams that shined so far

Will come to Earth that day

And every kid will get a Star,

A merry Star to play!


-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

It’s time to join in Sahaja

Oh, did you hear that Song of Joy

That bells of Nature ring?

The time is knocking at your doors

So come and meet the Spring!

Its time to bathe in stream of Truth

To wash all ills away

It’s time to join Sahaja Yog

And find your true way!

Just open your windows and doors

To gentle rays of sun

And open your heart to Love of God

And see what should be done.

Enjoy the blessings of Divine

To fill your every day

Once you will join Sahaja Yoga

And find your true way!

The River of God's Will (translation from Russian)


-----------------------------

The River of God's Will,

The Giver of all boons,

To which fantastic times

This Holy River goes?

From heart of silver bells

The sacred sounds flows

And enters into sky

A Prayer like a Moon.


This World is so huge -

We could not see by sight

We could not grasp with thought,

With scale we failed to measure.

And only we could sense

Our own inner treasure

To live and to believe

In a very simple way.


Oh, River of God's Will,

Please don't hide yourself,

In the showers of sunrays,

In the heavens blue and pure.

Your children humbly pray

Please take us along for sure

We wish to be small drops

In Your Eternal Self.


-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

The Temple Of Jerusalem

Why Fight For Shrines ?

It was in times of Solomon

The king of golden land

Who held the truth inside his heart

And love in ruling hand.

Caressed by sun and washed by rain

On map of ancient world

Like diamond shined Jerusalem

In caring hands of God.

And Solomon sang Praise to God

Who blessed his Fatherland

Whose gentle Love is such a force

That nothing can withstand

And then he said: -This whole wide world

Just by Your Grace is run,

I want to build a Temple for You,

As beautiful as the sun!"

-"Yes, you can build it", answered God -

"But one should know well,

That in the stones I dwell not,

But in the hearts I dwell

And if you walk the rightful ways

And rule with Truth and Love , -

You are my Temple, Solomon,

And is it not enough?"

... But many days had fallen through

Like sand through open hands

And many beautiful temples were build

In our homelands

But what was build for sake of love

That now hate destroys

And people fight for temples and lands

Like children fight for toys!

What was in times of Solomon

Has long time come to end

And now Age of Truth is here

And one should understand

Why fight for shrines of older days

The world of Past is dead!

It’s time to build the Temple of God

Within our hearts instead!


-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

The quicksands

You look above you high -

Your sight is lost in sky,

You see beneath your feet

All green and lovely land

But further you should see

Where land is meeting sea:

They shine with blinding light -

The dangerous quicksands

Choose your way, stay away

Once you step into that

Mass of sand closes in

Over top of your head

Choose your way, go around

Forewarn can be seen

There are steps coming in

And no steps going out!

No way out!

Sometimes the way of wrong

Seems powerful and strong

And shield of Inner Truth

Feels heavy in your hands

But stick to rightful way,

And never step astray

Because the way of wrong

Leads straight into quicksands

Choose your way, stay away

Once you step into that

Mass of sand closes in

Over top of your head

Choose your way, go around

Forewarn can be seen

There are steps coming in

And no steps going out!

No way out!

-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Kundalini song

Behold the thread of Life

That guides the boat of soul

Through shallow stream of Time

To Ocean of Joy

The Truth that always wins

The Love that never binds

And gently gives us choice

To grow and enjoy

Our bodies, our minds

Are only shell of Maya

All dreams of mortal world

Will fade away like dust

But what we hold inside

Is our pure desire

The only real wish

To follow and trust -

Oh, Kundalini Ma,

We want to be the flow

Of Your Eternal Bliss,

The living breath of Thine,

From seed to mighty tree

Inside of us You grow

And take the spring of self

To the Ocean of Divine!

The ancient face of Time

Is changing its expression

As shadows and light

Create the day and night,

But sacred and untouched

You dwell in each creation

You are the Love of God

Revealed from inside.

We have a rare chance

In dawn of Golden Era

To feel Your rising shine

That shows us the way

So now to save the world

We all must come together

And at Your Lotus Feet

Inside of our hearts we pray -

Oh, Kundalini Ma,

We want to be the flow

Of Your Eternal Bliss,

The living breath of Thine,

From seed to mighty tree

Inside of us You grow

And take the spring of self

To the Ocean of Divine!


-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

To a seeker

In morning light when stars are pale

You long to leave the nest

And then your journey sets the sail

For your eternal quest

Across the seas and mountain heights

So many roads go

But only one that reaches the Truth

Resides inside of you.

In rainy days you see the drops

But cannot see the way;

In piles of books you read the words

But meaning slips away

Across the seas and mountain heights

So many roads go

But only one that reaches the Truth

Resides inside of you.

In sea of Love the Time is still

And waves of spirit shine

And in the depth of heart you feel

The presence of Divine

Across the seas and mountain heights

So many roads go

But only one that reaches the Truth

Resides inside of you.


-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

The Call of Love

Feel the call of Love within your soul

Walk across the world in each direction

Try to bring the peace to every home

And to turn into friends the fighting nations

Once you melt your heart in Joy of Spirit

Then in any land you’ll always find:

People are so caring, nice and friendly,

And the earth is generous and kind!

Chorus:

Believe your heart, believe your soul -

The Truth is one, the World is whole!

God’s Grace is beyond the creed and race,

God’s Love wants the whole World embrace:

On your palms feel the cool breeze:

It is thine, this gift of Divine!

Repeat:

Believe your heart, believe your soul -

The Truth is one, the World is whole!

My friend, all the wars will come to end

My friend, Truth and Love will always stand:

On your palms feel the cool breeze:

It is thine, this gift of Divine!

When the whole world will come together,

When the whole earth will get united,

Sea and Sky will memorize forever

Laugher and Joy of brothers reunited.

In the light of self-realization

From within the righteousness we’ll know

And completely new civilization

On the shores of Mother Earth will grow.

Chorus:

Believe your heart, believe your soul -

The Truth is one, the World is whole!

God’s Grace is beyond the creed and race,

God’s Love wants the whole World embrace:

On your palms feel the cool breeze:

It is thine, this gift of Divine!

Repeat:

Believe your heart, believe your soul -

The Truth is one, the World is whole!

My friend, all the wars will come to end

My friend, Truth and Love will always stand:

On your palms feel the cool breeze:

It is thine, this gift of Divine!


-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

The Inner Guide

From job to job and from place to place

Something keeps you moving in life,

The life for you is an endless race

And for better always you strive.

A beast has a forest, a fish has a sea,

And a bird has the bottomless sky

But what makes you wander? what prompts you to seek

Hidden quest you cannot satisfy?

Within you it always was

Bright like the sun

And gentle like the rain

From depth of heart

It sweetly calls:

Chase for the truth

That you can attain!

But how to find it? where to start?

The directions are tricky to guess:

The ancient writings have fallen apart

And the paths have been lost in the grass...

And leaving at peace all confusion of Past

You are blazing your own trail anew

For there is a guide you rely on and trust

Very loving and loyal to you:

Within you it always was

Bright like the sun

And gentle like the rain

From depth of heart

It sweetly calls:

Chase for the truth

That you can attain!

-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

The Wish of Truth

The wish of Truth inside us burns

And mind is tortured by

Ten thousands why

Unsure what to do and what to try

For spiritual thirst.

The thunderstorms of thoughts books are pouring from above

But we don’t care for words, we ask for Love:

Within our inner shrine there is a thirst for Pure Love...

If in the City of Joy you have lost your way

Busy life is making you to live your days away

And your mind just seems to you like a maze of highways

That lead nowhere,

Don’t leave the Hope, call for Mother, take Her hand

Your every beat of heart She understands

And never ends the presence of Her Love.

-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

The Flowers

There are places troubled and poor in the whole wide world

People cry for our help but nobody would like to go

And only suddenly fair like a message of God

Among those poor grounds beautiful flowers grow:

Flowers don’t know the bad and good

Comforts and prestige they don’t know

They grow in every country, in every neighborhood

On stones and on sands the Flowers grow.

People like to create and compare brands

And according to taste they make divisions

And so they turned the earth into separate lands

And so they turned the truth into separate religions

But Flowers don’t know the bad and good,

Comforts and prestige they don’t know,

They grow in every country, in every neighborhood

On stones and on sands the Flowers grow.

And if we go all out and listen to our hearts

We’ll see that each person around is our sister or brother

We will feel that the earth is the whole and we’re only a part

And so we will not judge, but we will love each other

For Flowers don’t know the bad and good,

Comforts and prestige they don’t know,

They grow in every country, in every neighborhood

And lets wish that in our hearts these Flowers grow.


-- Alla Levitan




Poem (c) 2009 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Home is Where the Heart Is.... at Peace

A yogi guest mentioned how, over the past few weeks, he feels that the meditation area in our apartment is an oasis. A place for the vibrationally weary to put down their baggage of thoughts and drink from the fountain of vibrations. Little did he realize that he was a part of the reason why the oasis developed in the first place. His frequent visits keep us on track with meditation and self-purification activities. However, being there all the time, I was unable to appreciate his observation at the time.

After returning from a couple nights out of town, I came back and sat for meditation, expecting an uphill and long period of balancing before hitting a good meditative state. Contrary to expectations I experienced his experience: The instant oasis, which swept up the spirit and washed away the fatigue in a second.

Meditation is one of the most abstract and innate experiences, which is farthest from any mechanical activity. More like an art, it depends on how well you are placed towards yourself in the moment. Meditation melds us with the elements we come from, hence a well defined meditation space is not just a marker in our homes, but provides the required connection with the elements through it's pure energy and tokens of elements. The meditation area, with it's alter and the image of the preceptor provide this divine mix that puts the heart at peace instantly. Truely, home is where the heart is... at peace.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Wisdom, Choice: Fantastic Commentary on State of Humanity

Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice


And finally, on wisdom... rather the loss of it






Louis CK on Conans show, explaining why you suck when you're spoiled:
(this might dissapear soon)

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

How Much Should One Meditate?

"Eight minutes are sufficient. It’s the attitude that is going to help your growth, not you are sitting for eight hours on one leg or something like that. There are some sadhus who just stand up and put one leg like this and they say, “We are sitting on one leg”. That’s not going to help. It’s a living process, and the living process has to be worked out in a living way. Allow it to work out. Allow it to grow."

--1986-0906,Ganesha Puja, California-USA

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Hamsa Chakra: Introduction

As we head out for a capstone seminar in Toronto, for newly established students of Sahaja Yoga, I was asked to compile a handout on Hamsa Chakra. Using Nirmala Search, here is a part of what came together:

Location: Hamsa chakra is part of vishuddhi chakra and is placed at a point between the eyes.

The Expression of Ida and Pingala is given through the Hamsa ChakraWe have never yet paid much attention to this center of Hamsa, which is, I think, very important for the Western world, rather than for the Indian or the Eastern. The reason is, at the Hamsa chakra, part of the Ida and Pingala come out and manifest - means the expression of Ida and Pingala is given through the Hamsa chakra. So this Hamsa chakra is the one that, as if has not gone up to the Agnya, but is holding on certain threads or certain parts of the Ida and Pingala. And they start flowing through your nose, expressing through your eyes, from your mouth and from your forehead. So you know that Vishuddhi chakra has got sixteen petals, which look after the eyes, nose, throat, tongue, teeth. But the expression part of it comes through the Hamsa chakra, of all these. So it’s a very, very important thing in a Western mind, to understand Hamsa chakra. There’s a beautiful couplet about this in Sanskrit, “Hansa kshveta ha, baka ha kshveta ha . ko bhedo hansa bakayo ho. Neera ksheera vivek e tu. Hansa ha hansaksh, baka ha baka ha.” Meaning ‘The crane and the swan, both are white. And what makes a difference between the two? If you mix the water and the milk together the hamsa (swan) will just suck in the milk. So it can discriminate between the water and the milk while the bakha, means the crane, cannot’. It’s a very significant thing for Sahaja Yogis to understand.

Read More: Sahaja Path Newsletter, CA

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Advent in Czech, "Incognito" Prague Launch

The launching of the Czech translation of the Advent

Two auspicious events in sahaj world took place in Prague, Czech Republic, last year. The first was the publishing of the Czech translation of Gregoire de Kalbermatten’s book The Advent in the total amount of 2000 copies. The launching of the book was held in Luxor, the biggest bookshop in Central Europe, on 6th June. Since the very morning a big poster of Shri Mataji’s photo known as the „Healer“ placed next to the main entrance was vibrating the busy pedestrian precinct in Wenceslas square. The first delivery of the books (100 pieces) was sold out during incredibly short time before the actual beginning of the presentation and the amazed publisher’s distributors had to bring a new supply…




The event started by Gregoire de Kalbermatten’ speach translated into Czech which had a great impact on all the participants and was rewarded by a long applause. The translator of the book, Marta Heinlová, read short extract of the part about the author’s first meeting Shri Mataji accompanied by the sounds of the sitar. The „baptising“ of the book by the Borbera river water brought to this special occasion from Cabella was performed by Gregoire’s wife Cathrine and the translator of the book and the cheerful, relaxed atmosphere was tinged by Indian bajans interpreted by the Czech bajan group „Vítr do dlanÄ›“ (Wind in your hands) which attracted many passer-by readers and made them to stop and listen to something that had never happened in this bookshop before. After having answered many questions, the author started to sing the newly launched book for many people happily waiting in the long queue. About 140 copies of The Advent were sold there that memorable afternoon, the Luxor record! And some 600 books has been sold so far to both the yogis and non-sahaj readers.

May this book be found by a lot of seekers of the Truth and enlighten their heart so that they join us on our journey to “our-Selves”! Jai Shri Mataji !!!




Incognito – and yet publicly!



Incognito means secretly, discreetly, hidden. Such is the title of the new booklet of Gregoire de Kalbermatten’s aphorisms, quotations and poems in Czech and English versions published 6th December in Prague. The collection shows the versatile personality of the author in the role of a philosopher and poet presenting more than hundred aphorisms, the selection of the quotations from his so far last novel The Legend of Dagad Trikon and 13 poems. They reflect some thoughts and perceptions consigned in his diary during his many travels. Beautiful pictures taken by the photographer from the whole world increase the vibrations emitting out of these fragments of wisdom and please the eyes and hearts of all perceptive readers. The main topic around which his lines as he expressed it “merely dance” is the necessity to achieve our self-knowledge.


To decode our inner Being which incognito travels with us through our worldly existence and achieve a complete transformation of our awareness is considered by the author the most important task for the human race and an essential condition of our surviving on this planet. The collection isn’t a translation of an already existing book but a completely new publication collected, arranged and edited in the Czech Republic by the translator with its absolute premiere in Prague. A lot of people came to participate in that blissful event when the book was presented to the public and the author had to satisfy a long queue and sign some 187 books. During the author’s reading Gregoire commented on single aphorisms and poems to clarify their meaning in a very interesting way. The three „godmothers“ of different nationalities and the very way of baptising the newborn baby-book by vibrated water sprinkled on it with the twigs of mistletoe, a magical plant of old Celtic Druids who once used to inhabit European territory, gave the ceremony a cosmopolitan character. We believe that the sign „Love that can be lost isn’t the love I seek“ placed on a photo of the Ganga river that was “flowing” on the screen above the stage together with Gregoire’s wise words will remain deep in the hearts of all who came to join in.
The book will be available in Cabella.
More info at: martah@sky.cz






























Monday, February 2, 2009

Mentoring Comes Full Circle

Seven long years since the awakening of Kundalini energy, and now it was finally time for a fruitful mentoring relationship to come full circle.

As college age kids, we had very weak foot holding in the realm of spirituality, easily outweighed by the skepticism of a seeking rational mind. But we were fortunate to find a mentor, not too elderly, but wise enough for us to springboard to real spirituality. He is an un-assuming personality, with his own struggles through life - but manages to maintain a cool head and a sensitive heart. We were drawn to him like younger brothers. He dispensed advice, he calmed our doubts, he answered pointed questions and offered the occasional unsolicited suggestion. He came up with simple ways to enjoy the divinity of meditation and when the night wore on, simply slept off in any given position.


Well, seven years past that wonderful mentor ship and we find ourselves at the other end of the world. He is still the wandering mystic, under the guise of an engineer and I am still the wide eyed co-journer looking up to the old soul behind his quiet persona. I was more than eager to invite him home, provide comfort and conversation. But it took months for him to convince himself to get a ride and make the 2 hour trip.

Finally, the day was here. We did the usual coaxing to lead a meditation here, a clearing session there and it was like old times. Living in the occident, we forget the depth of the orient. Young yogis in their 20s would easily surpass the depths of their counterparts when it comes to guiding the attention through the journey of charkas and into the bliss of meditation. That was it, the moment of togetherness in Sahasrara. After the meditation, he made remarks about the vibrational state of America - tremendous vibrations, easy to get into deep meditation - yet difficult to sustain that state. True dat.

Then we say our good-byes and hope that the paths intersect in the future, once more.

Photo: "The Path" (cc) by Steffe

Monday, January 26, 2009

Sir CP Honored


Emails announcing the news that Sir CP Shriwastava, Shri Mataji's husband, has been honored with the second highest civilian honor in India, the Padma Vibhushan. This blog took a minute to introspect to put the news into perspective.

Sir CP has been a silent and benevolent aide to the work of Sahaja Yoga. Firstly through the sacrifice of personal time in the 70s which would only increase. But personal time is not the only thing that Sir Chandrika Prasad put into the nascent years of Sahaja. Sir CP gave money generously for the rehabilitation of damaged seekers, often reminiscing the day he came home to find a homeless British gentleman dressed in Indian clothes from his own wardrobe, sipping tea.


In the early 90s, while talking to yogis in Australia, Shri Mataji presented Sir CP as an example of blemishless service to the nation and lessons in monetory honesty that can be learnt from him.

I recall an experience that a fellow yuva had with him in 2001 at their home in Pune. There was a sudden infestation of snakes in the house at the time and someone had just spotted one climbing the leg of a sofa. On the sofa they sat, aware, dignified and composed. Both of them witnessing another snake being captured, inches from them with the temperament of watching a silly drama unfold.

Sir CP is the distinguished author of the book "Corruption" which I have not read, and will refrain from commenting. But I do know, being an Indian myself, that it takes a lot of courage, poise and strength to survive as an honest civil servant in the corrupted Indian beauraucracy. Not only he demonstrates survival in a hostile environment through idealism, but inspires young Indians like me to have hope in honesty and idealism.

Sir CP shares his birthday with Shri Mataji, but never steps up to the occasion. Downplaying it's significance to let the true force shine through. Often silently but surely he affirms the benevolence and good luck, which has come his way since his auspicious marriage.

There are excellent biographical write-ups & articles of interest on Sahaja Websites that one can refer to for further reading:

Shri Mataji's Husband - Sir C. P. Srivastava

Sahaj A-Z: Padma Vibhusan

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Sahaja Destination: Ganapatiphule

Ganapatipuhle, the land where the legend says, two of our lowermost chakras open up & clear out. Almost a year ago while traveling through Maharashtra looking for vibrationally charged places, I discovered GP once again! Now Sahaja Yoga has a few humble but permanent structures to accomodate yogis who might be wishing to stay there. To our surprise, we found that 200+ yogis were staying there between pujas. It was a pleasant surprise. Today, someone posted a few clips from GP and these illustrate the two most important things about the village: the new Sahaja Yoga land development and the Ganesha swayambhu:





Saturday, January 10, 2009

Some are born great, the rest of us try to get there



Becoming our own master is a recurring theme within Sahaja Yoga. However, like a small bird unable to spread it's wings until pushed out of the nest, I have always felt that guruship should be left to the guru. However the Guru now implores the inner guru to not only awaken within the limited context of giving realization, but also tending to the world.

In the last five years, the emphasis was given on giving realizations. It was the need of the time, to open up our Vishuddhi to announce the new age and be able to raise Kundalinis of anyone and everyone. In streets, in noisy fairs, in trains or planes. This important skill was developing in the collective unconcious. Like the ability of a new-born bird to tweet and let it's presence known. To spread the wings in the safety of the Mother's nest and just feel the wind as a breeze beneath it's wings, but not actually flying. That time is now past and we are at the edge of the foretold times when the earth would be home to walking trees that bear the fruit of life. 

Gyaneshwara was the instrument through which the Sahaja path was transferred into general society. had described these times, the blossom times, as when realized souls, saints, Sahaja Yogis will roam the earth as fruit bearing trees. Unshaken by the hurricane like change on account of their roots, eager to bear and share fruits of wisdom, through the blessings of the Almighty.

The divine end of the prophesy kept itself. The advent of the primordial energy to enlighten the brains of those who ardently sought Truth, Knowledge and Joy. Thus hundreds of thousands of Buddhas were created who must now face the future, which rapidly seeps into the present. Rise to the destiny of being masters of the spirit, herald a new age of true love into the society.

Unlike incarnations who are born great, these kalpavrikshas (fruit granting trees), the Sahaja Yogis have achieved greatness through the mercy of the primordial power who incarnates as the World Mother; and the next level of consciousness quite literally thrust upon them. This reminds me of Shakespeare's line from twelfth night:
 Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. 



Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Cool Subtle System Kindergarten Image

Found this cool image on a German SY blog:


... apparently its the cover of a Audio CD full of Sahaja Children songs