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Jayanti Tour arrives in the Northeast – Shanti Mandir Ashram in Walden

Dana Garlands Gurudev upon arrival at Shanti Mandir in Walden

August 30

We arrived at the ashram in Walden late afternoon. The ashram was decorated to celebrate yet another home coming which also marked the mid point of the tour. Everyone stood eagerly at the entrance chanting ‘Om Guru Om Guru Om Gurudev’ - awaiting Gurudev’s arrival. He was led from there to the Ganesh temple amidst chanting of the Vedic Shanti Path by the local priest Kailashnath as he carried the kalash. Acharya Naveenji followed with the padukas which represent the ‘Footsteps of Bliss’ which we have been tracing so far in this tour. At the Ganapati temple, the Atharvasheesh was recited in honor of the lord who is the remover of all obstacles. Ritaji from Delhi performed the arati to welcome Gurudev. The procession from here then reached the Sri Nivas where, after performing arati to the lineage of gurus, the padukas were placed in front of Baba’s picture. Gurudev said that the tour so far had been welcomed with great love and had inspired the ‘old timers’ to once again come together in satsang. We then enjoyed the exciting snacks and tea that awaited us at the kitchen beside the stream. The daily routine of the ashram continued with arati in the evening followed by a Hatha Yoga session.

Procession to Ganesh Temple with Baba’s Padukas

September 1

The weekend began with the Devi Stotra in the morning. The Living Meditation Intensive that followed was the fifth intensive in the tour so far. We practiced some novel breathing techniques and had a laughter session where everyone laughed aloud shedding all inhibition. Gurudev explained that we all carry baggage on our heads of who we think we are.

“That is why we have inhibitions. Over lifetimes we have formed an impression of our identity but the Guru tells us that what we think we are - we are not. One must remain committed to one’s path. Vedanta says that one can ferry across the worldly ocean only if one sails in one boat; an attempt to sail in two boats simultaneously will only drown us. Everything that happens is a wave in the ocean of consciousness. We often want to pause in a wave but instead we must keep moving with it since it is only an expression of the ocean and not different from it. Holding on to an emotion leads to an impression or samskara. The sages teach us to let go. It is a sign of the touch of God in your life if things you liked and possessed earlier fall away.”

September 2

It being a Sunday, a formal welcome program was held which began with Devayani’s address. She sang the bhajan ‘Nadiya na piye kabhi apna jal, vriksha na khaye kabhi apne phal’ which was a befitting tribute to the selfless saint who gave us all the gift of Shaktipat. A traditional welcome with the offering of a garland and arati followed. Vinay, a teenager who had accompanied Gurudev on the tour to Argentina, Mexico and California shared his experiences of what the tour and Gurudev’s company had done for him. Eight little children sang a bhajan and showered flower petals. This was followed by ‘Saccidaananda

Guru’ and other bhajans. “Sadhana is not a spectator’s sport; it is a sport of participation,” said Gurudev. We often behave like Nasrudin who refused to step into the swimming pool until he had mastered the art of swimming.

After lunch, we once again gathered in the white tent to enjoy the Haripath.

Shanti Mandir in Walden -Gurudev at Sunday Satsang

September 5

A public satsang was held in New Paltz which is just a few minutes drive from the ashram. Acharya Naveenji chanted Vedic mantras to begin the satsang. Gurudev in his talk later explained that mantras, chanting, and the study of scriptures are all vehicles to take us within. “Then we reach that state where there is complete contentment. Kachu lena na dena, magan rehna. With the guru’s grace the Lord manifests Himself. Brahmananda santan ki saubat, milat hai pragat murari. Once upon a time two saints decided to behave like normal people. One said to the other that they would keep a piece of gold between themselves and each one would claim it as his own. Thus they would initiate a fight and be like normal people. So the first one said, “This is mine”. The second one replied, “No, It’s mine.” Then the first one retorted, “No, it’s mine’ to which the second one responded, “If it’s yours, keep it.” That’s how sadhana changes our outlook. “

September 9

The weekends were spent at the ashram when people from nearby cities come to enjoy satsang in Gurudev’s presence. At the Sunday morning satsang Gurudev spoke of the tricks the mind plays. Quoting Hafiz, the poet saint, he said that the mind is the idiot’s warehouse which is continuously being stocked with futile thoughts. It was an informal session when Gurudev invited everyone to come and bask in the light of knowledge during the Jayanti Mela that was going to be held the following month in honor of Baba’s 25^th Mahasamadhi. When asked about his experience of this tour, he said that it was wonderful to see the influence of Baba’s grace on so many different people all over the world, irrespective of each one’s understanding of it. He said that it is also a time to look back on the shifts that have occurred in his life and thank Baba for what he is today.

We all felt gratitude for the Guru’s grace, for its presence in our lives, as we concluded the satsang with ‘Dhanya dhanya ho pradakshina sadguru aya chi’.

September 11

After the Guru Gita in the morning at the Pandya’s, we drove to Delaware where we were hosted by Ashit and Rupal Dave. The evening satsang which had been organized in the Trabant Center in the University of Delaware was packed to capacity by students, faculty and others. Extra chairs were needed as more and more came to hear Gurudev’s lecture entitled, ‘Mind – friend or enemy.’ Vivek Desai who is a student of the university and belongs to a family of Baba’s devotees had put forth great effort to organize the event which was sponsored by the department of Philosophy. The scholarly crowd was very receptive and open and attentively listened to Gurudev’s talk. Gurudev said that the yogis of ancient times could communicate across long distances with their eyes closed just as we do today with the internet.

“Despite technological advancement which is meant to make life simpler, life today is more busy and stressful than before. The mind is a powerful device and we must learn to befriend it rather than make it a foe that tortures us. ‘Maneva manushyanaam kaaranam bandhamokshayoh’. The true nature of the Self is Ananda or bliss. Vedanta talks about the pleasure the dog derives as he chews on a bone. The bone injures his gums and the dog is actually enjoying his own blood and not the bone. We too think that external objects give us joy but truly the source of bliss is within. The Bhagwad Gita explains how the senses are attracted towards objects, which creates desire for them. The desire in turn makes us work to achieve them. Once having obtained them, there comes a sense of possession and anger at the thought of loss. Anger leads to bewilderment which in turn makes us lose our wisdom. We must therefore realize that anger is bad not only for others but for us too. It is a form of energy which has to be released. The best way to release it is to start cleaning your house! Soon the energy release will give you a sparkling house with no side effects.”

Gurudev illustrated his point with a story. There was a boy who always got angry. His father told him to hammer a nail into the wooden fence in his backyard each time he lost his temper. Soon the fence was filled with nails. The boy lamented and decided to make an effort to improve. His father told him to remove a nail from the fence each time he succeeded in controlling his anger. After some time, all the nails had come out. The father appreciated his son for his efforts but made him take a close look at the holes left behind in the fence after the nails had been removed. He explained that although the nails were out, they had left scars similar to those we leave on people’s hearts when we get angry. “The only way we can improve ourselves is through constant contemplation. Take time each day, 20-30 minutes to be by yourself. This investment in your self will pay rich dividends. Through the day, learn to let go of all that is not necessary. The only thing that is worth contemplating is ‘Who am I?’”

Nasrudin once went to India and saw a man selling bright red chilies. They looked attractive and so he bought them not knowing their nature. As he bit into one of them, his mouth burned and eyes started to water but he continued chewing them, one after another. A person passing by, astonished by this strange behavior, explained to him that these were hot chilies and only a couple were required in a large pot of soup; they were not meant to be eaten raw by themselves. Nasrudin replied, “I spent 10 rupees for them. Now I am not eating the chilies but am eating my money that I have spent.” “This is often our predicament that though aware of the trap of the mind, we continue to let ourselves be caught. Yoga teaches us discrimination (viveka).”

September 12

We traveled to Pennsylvania where we were hosted by Umesh and Lalit Hattikudur. The evening program was held at the Bhartiya temple. Speaking about the importance of our outlook, Gurudev said that the world is as you perceive it. Ya drishti sa shristi. Once a man came to a new town and asked a saint about how the people of that town were. The sage asked him how he viewed the residents of the town where he previously lived. The man replied, ‘Very horrible and wicked.’ The sage replied, “The people in this town too are horrible.” Another man came along and asked the same question. The sage asked him too how he liked the people in his previous town. The man replied, “Wonderful.” The sage responded, “People here too are wonderful.” So the world is a reflection of our perception. Someone who is happy, content and peaceful will be the same irrespective of his surroundings.

That is what we hear in Baba’s video at all the programs: Dil ek aina hai. The mind is a mirror that reflects on others what is going on within. Many start on the quest to find out who they are but stray in between. The saints remind us that the time is limited…..Jag re nar jag pyare. Gurudev shared the story of Nasrudin who rode the horse hanging upside down from the beast’s neck. When people asked him where he was going, he replied, “Don’t ask me; ask the horse.” We often share the same predicament as we say, “Don’t ask me, I am going where the society is heading.” We must remember what we are going to take with us when we die.

“True darshan is to see the Self in all, not just in the physical body of the saint.”

September 13

The evening program was held at the Gandhi Center in New Jersey where Gurudev had laid the foundation stone nearly a decade ago. Gurudev said that we must practice non-violence not only to others but also ourselves. He said, “The teachings remain the same but we need to adapt them to our lives as we progress in life. Living life in ecstasy is what this tour is celebrating.”

Gurudev recalled that once when he prescribed japa to a person, that man asked him whether he had to do it himself or could he have it performed by a priest. Humorously Gurudev replied, ‘If you want the fruit, you need to do it; you can let the priest do it if you want him to get the fruit of the japa.’

September 15

As on all Saturdays, after an early dinner we spent the evening in satsang which included a kirtan. Gurudev joined the other three drummers; Naveen, Dinesh and Ajit, to charge the already high spirits.

September 16

The Sunday program in the white tent near the stream was exceptional with music which was not just soothing for the ear but for the heart. Kaivalya Kumar from the Kirana Gharana delivered vocal Hindustani classical music. He was accompanied by Ravindraji on the harmonium and Pandit Jaiwanji on the tablas. These musicians traveled nearly 5 hours from Philadelphia to treat us to their sublime classical music on their 2 month travel to the US from Karnataka. Gurudev spoke of Nada Yoga. He said that classical music is a form of communication with the divine and heals us. He said that during the early days of his sadhana, Baba suffered migraine headaches. A yogi told him to tune the tanpura to a particular note and place it near his ear and listen to that note. This cured Baba’s headaches. “Like the tanpura, when we tune ourselves with the eternal, we remain connected to that divinity at all times. This is what satsang, music and pooja is all about.”

Devotees from California, Australia, Mexico, Argentina and India who had all come to the ashram savored the one and a half hour long rendition which was followed by an emotionally charged experience talk by Girija. She expressed gratitude to Baba as she recollected the profound impact of his grace not only on her life but her relationship with her family. She said, “In Baba, God took on a human form.”

Shanti Mandir in Walden -Gurudev at Sunday Satsang

September 18

Gurudev was in Boston after a decade for the program that was held at the Episcopal school of Divinity in the University. “What satsang does to us is change our perception of ourselves and the world”, he said. Once, a man went to a sage to seek knowledge. The sage told him, “Thou art that.” The man thought that this was too simple and so he went seeking to another guru. The guru told him to work for 12 years in the ashram at the end of which time the man went back to him for the eternal truth. The Guru said, “Thou art that.” The man said, “But this was the same teaching that the other sage gave.” The Guru replied, “The eternal truth does not change but you have changed by doing sadhana in the ashram. Now you shall be able to experience the meaning of this teaching.”

Gurudev said, “Instead of thinking that others should change, we should bring about a shift in ourselves so that we are always situated in that space of bliss. There was a man who always found faults with others. One day as he sat under a banyan tree and looked at the pumpkin creeper in front of him, he complained about the inappropriateness of God’s creation. He wondered why God had put small fruits on that large tree and such large pumpkins on the frail creeper. Just then, a fruit from the banyan tree fell and bruised his nose. He realized then what could have happened if the large pumpkins grew on that tree.”

September 22

We gathered at Rakesh and Poorvi’s house for an evening satsang. It was a complete package with Paduka Pujan, kirtan, bhajans and Tukaram’s abhanga which we usually sing as the finale to the Haripath. The entire house reverberated as people chanted in the stairways and the floors above and below the living room which was packed to capacity. We returned late that night to the ashram feeling very fulfilled.

September 23

As Gurudev said, “It seems like the festivities have already begun.” We had the musicians perform last Sunday and this Sunday’s satsang was graced by the presence of 2 saints. Swami Satyanandaji who manages the Geeta Mandir at Queens and Sri Mahant Ravindrapuriji who is the secretary of the Mahanirvani Akhara of which Gurudev is a Mahamandaleshwar, were welcomed to the ashram in the traditional manner with the Vedic mantras. The former, speaking with a sense of great humor, said that often our worship is performed as a mere task that has to be completed without feeling. If we can connect our mind to God in such a manner that it doesn’t go elsewhere, then even 2 minutes of prayer are enough. There are three things in this world that are difficult to find; humanity, desire for salvation and the company of the saints. It is only the company of great beings that can show us the path to humanity and salvation.” Mahant Ravindrapuriji, who was described as ‘outspoken’ by Gurudev, spoke of the Guru-disciple relationship. Paying homage to Baba, he said, "Only when we imbibe our Guru’s teachings fully, can we be true disciples of our Guru."

Gurudev summed up the session by saying, “Our daily practice must be done at the same time daily. Just like nobody has to tell us at noon that its time for lunch, our daily practice should become a part and parcel of our daily routine. Only when the string is thus unbroken does it bear fruit.” Inviting everyone for the Sant Samagam that was coming up the following month, he quoted the qualities of the saints from the Vivekachudamani. “The saints are peaceful, magnanimous and like the spring season. They live for the upliftment of humanity. They have crossed the ocean of worldliness and are now living to help others to go across it.

The human mind is often caught in futile thoughts and forgets that which is worth remembering. There was once a man who came to satsang and hurled abuses at everyone and then ran away. Some devotees recognized him and complained when he came back a year later. The man asked whether they remembered what he had said. They remembered each and every word but when asked what the words of the chant were that day, nobody remembered. This is often the state of our mind that remembers all the unnecessary gossip but forgets that which it should contemplate.”

September 25

The All Souls Church hall was packed to capacity on this Tuesday evening in Manhattan to be in the ‘Footsteps of Bliss’. The majority of the audience raised their hands when the MC, Charles, asked how many had met Baba.

In the street nearby, leaders of many UN nations had gathered to talk about peace. Here we were, celebrating the birth centenary of Baba who traveled the world with his message of peace and love! Addressing the very seasoned and attentive audience, Gurudev stressed the need to know our true Self. “We often identify with the various labels that society gives us, forgetting our true identity like the little boy who was lost in the grocery store. When a person passing by asked for his name, he replied ‘Johnny’. The man asked for his full name so that he could help trace his mother. The boy replied, ‘Johnny Don’t’ because his mother always called out to him ‘Johnny Don’t’ whenever he messed around which was nearly all the time. Many times we are not even aware of how subtly our habits modify our behavior. Once, a tax collector fell in a ditch. Many stood around in vain trying to get him out but he would not extend his arm towards them. As Nasrudin passed by, he asked the onlookers what the matter was. Then he said to the tax collector as he stretched out his hand towards him, “Take my hand”. The tax collector at once grabbed his hand and was pulled out. The astonished on-lookers asked Nasrudin to explain how he managed to get the tax collector’s hand when they all had been unsuccessful. The wise Nasrudin replied, “He is the tax collector and is only used to taking and not giving. All this while, you asked him to give you his hand whereas I told him to take mine.” The greatest quality a seeker should have is viveka or discrimination. We must never switch off our discrimination because the actions that we perform create our destiny.

September 30

Sunday Satsang included bhajans and question and answers with Gurudev. Answering a question on the sutra ‘Gururupayah’ which means that the guru is the root of all actions, he said that we must remove the separation between God, Guru and the Self. “When we truly understand that the guru is the root of all actions, then we maintain equanimity at all times in all situations. We then have noble thoughts not only for others but for ourselves too. Society today has become individualistic and that is the cause of its fragmentation. We need to change the prescription of our lens of perception. All we have to do is learn to let go of the ‘I’ and life is wonderful. Climate, the food we eat, and the company we keep, all affect how we feel.”

October 6

It was Gurudev’s birthday and the day was packed with chanting and seva, the two key ingredients of sadhana prescribed by all scriptures. In the morning we had kirtan and bhajans and Vedic chanting by Lavarji. Everyone participated enthusiastically in the seva in the afternoon to help set up the new huts for the gift shop and the cook. The day concluded with the devotional Haripath. It was the perfect birthday party where each moment was utilized constructively, once again reminding us of the value of time and the purpose of human life.

Shanti Mandir in Walden - Chanting on Gurudev’s Birthday

October 7

On this Sunday morning, Nareshbhai from India shared his experiences with Baba. He narrated an inspiring story that Baba had shared. A pauper who had a dangerous infectious disease stayed on the outskirts of the village and begged for alms. When he died, the villagers decided to dig up the place where he sat because they were scared that the infection would spread. On digging a couple of feet, they found a pot of gold and jewels. Even though the pauper sat on this treasure all his life, he considered himself to be poor. We are like the beggar in that we too are unaware of the treasure of divine bliss that exists within us; instead we seek for it outside of ourselves.

Gurudev said that so much had been said but imbibing is more important. He said that some devotees from Australia called him and said that the satsangs that happened there more than 3 months ago still reverberate today. Similarly, they still experience the impact of Baba’s grace in their lives 25 years after his passing. Quoting Jnaneshwar’s Pasaydan, he said, “The saints are like the moon without the blemish and the sun without the scorching heat; they always wish for the upliftment of the entire world.” As an example, he used the tent that was to be set up, urging everyone to think big. “We often think of who’s going to do it all? We must realize that it’s the grace that does it all and let go of the pettiness of our mind. When we think in that way, there’s never a lack.”

SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI