Namaste!

Acceptance and Change by Ian Lawton

Acceptance and Change

I’m a simple man with a mind like a steel sieve. Thoughts and ideas enter and leave my mind faster than the speed of light. So I look for memorable ways of connecting ideas. I found one while I was driving recently. The rest of the family were all asleep in the car and my mind turned to change management. Just at that moment, I glanced down and saw my AAA card. It reminded me of the AAA approach to change– Awareness, Acceptance and Action.

Awareness is step 1 in becoming a conscious change agent and it’s more than half the battle. It begins to answer the “Why?” question. Acceptance is the second step and in many ways acceptance rides on awareness’s wave. Pioneering Psychoanalyst Carl Jung said, “We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate. It oppresses.” These are challenging words. Acceptance sounds like the opposite of change. Its not. The opposite of change is resistance, the unwillingness to dance in reality as it is evolving. Resistance is itself the opposite of acceptance. So you can see that change and acceptance are two sides of the one coin. There are two ways to create change; one is active and the other is receptive, but neither is passive.  Its like working with Change Tracker on a Word document. You can choose each time if you want to leave a suggested correction as is or change it. Both are choices and both are actions. You have your own inner Change Tracker (aka inner wisdom)  to make the same discernment.

Here is my take on what Jung meant by this statement about acceptance.

At the point of becoming aware that something is not right, either within or outside of you, there is a strong human tendency to do the octopus dance. What I mean by that is that arms shoot in every direction looking for people to blame. It’s the easiest thing to do, but doesn’t lead to healthy change. “It’s the Republicans fault. It’s the Democrats fault. It’s Bush’s fault. It’s Obama’s fault. It’s my parents’ fault. It’s God’s fault. It’s Wall Street’s fault. It’s my genes’ fault. Etc”

Rumi wrote, “People of the world don’t look at themselves, and so they blame one another.” As long as we are looking around for someone to blame, we aren’t taking responsibility for our own lives. This can be dangerous.

A Buddhist story describes a man who has been shot with an arrow. In pain, and risking death, he refuses to have the arrow removed until he knows who shot the arrow, what material the arrow head is made from, what direction the arrow was shot and how deeply it is lodged. He refuses to have the arrow removed until he has all his answers. The tragedy is that he will die before he has what he is looking for. This seems to get to the heart of Jung’s statement about acceptance. You have to accept what is, without blame and judgment, before you can heal yourself or any system.

Please note- acceptance does NOT mean being passive or submissive. It’s the choice to approach a situation pro actively and peacefully rather than judgmentally, and without fear and loathing. The American cartoonist James Thurber said, “Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness.” Anger is often a form of denial, masking the sense of disappointment that life hasn’t played out the way we hoped. Fear is a form of projection, imagining the worst of every change. Awareness is the antidote to both fear and anger. Awareness breeds acceptance of life exactly as it is, and acceptance breeds real life compassion and change.

This applies to many personal and social situations. Acceptance comes before change. If your marriage has ended or you have lost your job, you can spend your energy cursing the ground your ex walks on, or you can accept the situation as it is, and get on with creating an exciting and healthy future for yourself. In this case, acceptance is the beginning of self compassion. You don’t have to condone or endure other peoples’ abuse. Just accept that everyone is on their own journey, dealing with their own karma, and choose to move on with as little toxic resentment as possible.

Carl Rogers was another prominent psychologist who took the ideas of Jung to a new level of personal responsibility. He believed that his clients had within them all the answers to their own problems. The role of the therapist was to create space for the client to find their truth. The essence of personal problems for Rogers was the inability of people to accept themselves. Therefore they were unable to accept the world around them and unable to effect meaningful change. As he said, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”

Acceptance is the second step in a healthy change process. You and this moment, with all of its crazy and confusing challenges, are a perfect match, engaged in a passionate love affair. You are the right person in the right place at the right time. Give thanks for who and where you are. It is PERFECT for NOW and becoming even perfecter every moment. You see, you can even make up words to describe the exhilarating process of becoming.

From a place of radical acceptance, you can respond, and participate in exciting change. With radical acceptance, you can effect radical change. Garrison Keillor has a nice way of saying this, “I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it.” Once you face life as it is honestly, you can set about denying current reality the power to hold you captive.

Awareness and acceptance form the bridge to personal responsibility. Personal responsibility is the basis for action and sustainable change. This leads to the third A, the next in the series, and the culmination of all the personal reflection- ACTION. The bottom line is that it’s all about potential, both personal and global potential.

Author John Miller wrote,

There’s not a chance we’ll reach our full potential until we stop blaming each other and start practicing personal accountability.

Silent Revolution

This is a call for a Silent Revolution.

The world is in turmoil today. There are protests and demonstrations in countless places all over the world. People are protesting against economic failure, corrupt governments and many injustices. Most of these protests are by the ordinary citizens, and are either crushed by force or rendered ineffective by blocking their publication in the mainstream media.

The common man can only vote once in many years to elect the politicians in countries with democracy. The power is transferred from the common man to the politicians. After that the citizen has no say in the way the country is governed. Democracy has failed to ensure quality of life to people.

When people feel helpless, they resort to protests and demonstrations because there seems to be nothing else that they can do. Though protests are sometimes necessary, there is another way that is more effective. There IS something that the common man anywhere in the world can do right from his or her home. And that is the Way of the Light.

A Silent Revolution by Light is possible. All it takes is for people to channel Light to the world in large numbers. The world may not change overnight, but there will be gradual and definite changes. Fill the world with Light. The Light is the Source of everything and has the Power and Intelligence to transform our world. Though the Light is everywhere, we need to consciously channel and spread it to our world. By channelling Light in large numbers, we will be choosing Light collectively.

Imagine an Ocean of Light above you. Imagine that a beam of Light comes down and enters you. Then, imagine that the Light comes out and spreads to the whole world for at least seven minutes daily. If possible, channel Light in groups. To access technique video please visit - http://www.lightchannels.com/channelling.html Please spread this message freely to empower the citizens of our world and help strengthen the Silent Revolution by Light.

From http://www.facebook.com/lightchannels - Revolution by Light as taught by Guruji Krishnananda

When I spoke to me!

It was a traffic-riddled tiring drive from Bangalore city to back home in Taponagara. The never-ending B’lore City Metro and fly-over constructions are like obstacle courses for the thrill seeking commuter; a big pot-hole here and pile of rubble there holding-up traffic instigating honking contests. Driving on most Indian streets forces one to live in the moment! While I made two reluctant pit-stops to buy groceries, the sun had already handed over the night shift to the moon. As I switched off stress, as in my car, used all my fingers to carry a million grocery bags, pushed the car-door shut and trudged towards my house gate in the dim of the streetlight, I was petrified by what I saw.....a slithering snake, right at the entrance!

Taponagara is a blooming community of meditators in a village called Chikkagubbi on the outskirts of Bangalore. The Meditations Halls and houses in the area are surrounded by farmland; a few metres from my house there’s an orchard followed by a dried lake. Scorpions, snakes, bugs unusual for a city-bred like me, and even exotic birds, are my immediate neighbours. I have even sighted cobras nearby. 

The orchard nearby

The day was refusing peace to me as the snake parked itself right at the gate. I waited for it to move, it waited to try my patience. Knowing that my husband was home, I buzzed his cell phone; with every ring my irritation levels were soaring. “Gosh,” I thought to myself “even I can hear his phone ring from outside the house.... grrr....and he’s not bothered to take the call.....grrrrrr.....” Finally I gave up; rather, I put my annoyance on hold to release on him later. In sharp contrast to my condition the brown-speckled snake was totally peaceful and meditatively still.

I thought of quick-action – what if I swiftly open the latch, kick the gate and jump over the snake. Swimming against the tide of stressful emotions, a wise thought popped up into my consciousness screaming – ‘Don’t even think about it!’ ....I was back to pushing buttons on my cell phone trying to reach my knight-in-shining-armour; he in turn was pushing mine by not taking HIS LOUDLY RINGING cell phone. I resorted to hollering to no avail.  

As I tried to call again I saw the snake move and even before I knew it.....I had high-jumped onto the street, with my million grocery bags, et al. After landing I realized that it was my cell phone sling which had swung and in dim light I mistook it to be the snake!

Having received its share of amusement, the snake moved away. Even as I entered the house, fidgeting with my house keys; it occurred to me that out of fear I had jumped before I had realized it.....body’s reflex? Yes, but there is more. Human body has its own intelligence separate from that of the Mind, the Intellect and our soul. Besides the autonomic processes which make our body tick, the physical human body, which is made of consciousness, can have a will of its own. This will, as well as those of the Mind and the Intellect’s, are subordinated by the soul’s Will.  

I once mentally spoke to my body, to be specific, the vital organs saying – “Please be in good working condition so that I can persist with my life’s mission unhindered...” no sooner had I uttered this, came a rather high toned response – ‘You take care of us first’....wha....t! Taken aback that my own body would speak to me in such a tone, I swallowed my pride knowing how I have always taken my body’s youthful health for granted. Well, who doesn’t? Mustering humility I purred, ‘...ok......’

Strange, I speak to me!....and this is not mind-chatter. Keeping semantics aside, once we understand the symphony of complex processes and the innate awareness of animate beings as well as inanimate objects it does not appear crazy. All the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. Animate beings have souls, they grow, multiply, express and die; while inanimate objects have limited consciousness.

Also, notice that when I spoke to my vital organs (plural), I got a reply by “us” the separate organs. If I had spoken to my body as a single form of Intelligence, the response would have been - ‘You take care of me first’.

Once after Meditations, after I tucked myself in bed, I had a big smile on my face. I was surprised to notice that my emotions did not correspond to the smile. I had no thought or emotion going on inside me to trigger, and sustain for 3 min, a huge smile; so huge that I could feel the pressure of my cheeks on my lower eyelids. For once, my body was happy!

In fact, my Spiritual Guide – Guruji Krishnananda – has taught us that before Meditations if we request our body, mind and intellect to co-operate and go into silence, they oblige and we can enjoy long and deep Meditations.

Anyways, as I walked into my house I found my husband, dripping wet as he had just emerged from a shower, telling me that he had hollered from the shower saying that he needs just 5 min to open the door. With increased awareness of how we hurt our body with strong emotions, I left my annoyances outside my house and got busy eagerly telling my husband what had just happened.

FREEWILL and KARMA

Light Age Masters

FREEWILL and KARMA

The July 2012 Volunteers’ Meet was like an intense round of Q&As and no time was lost even while the microphone changed hands. Most had come prepared with questions after due contemplation on Guruji’s Sunday lectures. For Guruji, Volunteers are his representatives; his interactions with them have a different tone.

Mr. Karthik N. wanted to understand about Karmas and their impact, his question was, “We understand that Karmas teach us lessons. If a layman, in some corner of the world, who is not even aware of the concept of Karmas commits mistakes and acquires Karmas, do Karmas then have some compassion over him compared to other people who knowingly commit mistakes?”

“It is difficult to generalize and simplify,” Guruji said and reminded us the words of his Guru – Maharshi Amara. “Also, as Amara had said, somewhere deep in our being we will be aware of our wrong actions. However, Karmas act dispassionately and yet the Intelligence operating in them is considerate. Justice cannot be partial. We have to pay-up, after all what are Karmas but the Spiritual effects of our actions. If someone apologizes for what they have done then the Karmas will be removed.”

Reminiscing his life Guruji said, “I have spent much of my life in observing and studying human behaviour. I am a graduate in Science but I have read a lot of literature. I have studied very closely the various dimensions of human emotions. People do not apologize even when they realize that they have committed a mistake, deliberately or otherwise.

“Karmas are strict, like God and the Rishis. A Rishi is the kindest being, he will bless with boons but he can also give curses. The Rishis are Perfect Beings, they are Masters. There is a very important lesson here for all of us; you see, being good is not enough. Try being only good and the world will exploit you. Amara was very kind; he would disapprove in a very gentle and polite way, but I have seen him getting tough with a few.

“Similarly in our families, with our children and friends we have to put our foot down in a non-offensive way if the situation so demands. So coming back to your point, Karmas are very compassionate as well as very strict.”

Karthik’s voice had shades of disappointment as he asked his next question, “At the Astral level, people have more knowledge than what they have here at the physical level. So, our friends and relatives should be more aware about the purpose behind our practice of Meditation and Light Channeling. Yet they impose restrictions. Is it that they have not understood at the Astral level or they do not want to translate it to the physical level?”

“Some truths are hard to digest but we have to; we take up Spiritual pursuit as seekers of Truth. Fact is that they do know the benefits of Spiritual practices but still they get in the way. It is not out of ignorance.”

When the Light Channelling Volunteers Team visited schools on the birthday anniversary of Maharshi Amara, February 1st, Guruji had mentioned that Master V and two Ra Loka Rishis would be present in every session. Karthik wanted to know if this still continues because many have felt the Grace of the Rishis during sessions.

Guruji confirmed the presence of the Astral representatives of the Rishis and said, “The Light Channelling activity is Vishwamitra Maharshi’s project. Every Light Channelling session is monitored, guided and blessed by Vishwamitra Maharshi.”

Thanking Guruji, Karthik passed on the mic to Sunil.

*******

Freewill – the more we scrutinize it the deeper the feeling that it is a double-edged sword. Humanity has enacted epics to fight for freedom; wars and revolutions have marked the history of mankind. Maintaining Karma-less freedom is another battle all together. Sunil’s question was in this regard, “Guruji, because of Freewill we make choices and when we make wrong choices we attract Karmas. Now, Freewill is a gift from God to human beings, it has not been given to plants and animals. So can we say that because we abuse Freewill we attract Karmas and if Freewill is withdrawn then there will not be any Karmas?”

“You can say that, however, why associate Karmas with bad ones only and why focus on the abuse of Freewill. There are many good things we chose and these result in good Karmas too,” Guruji smilingly questioned Sunil’s scepticism. “Let us never underestimate ourselves; we all have our flaws and weaknesses.”

In earlier discussions, Guruji had mentioned that Freewill, despite the dangers of mistakes, makes the human story adventurous. It adds newer dimensions to life.
“Continuing on this point Guruji, animals and trees are not bound by the Laws of Karma,” Keerthi asked, “but they are bound by other laws, isn’t it?”

“Of course, every living being is bound by some or the other law. A tiger will kill for survival, that is its nature and it is allowed, but there are cases wherein they are known to not hurt a defenceless calf. Observe even the street dogs around your house; notice the laws they follow.”

Ms. Hemalata, a Meditation teacher at the Indiranagar Centre continued the topic, “Namaste Guruji, on karmas, there was a question in the Basic Course Class - since Meditation was introduced by Rishis, was Karma also introduced by them?”

“No, the Laws of Karma were introduced by God Himself,” Guruji deepened his voice and continued, “it is very important to know that before we took birth on this level of existence, we as souls, were completely briefed about the pros and cons of Freewill and Karma. At the level of the soul we always know the consequences of our actions. We came here with full awareness.”

These words from Desmond Tutu add to the clarity whether applied to individuals or nations – ‘Freedom and liberty lose out by default, because good people are not vigilant.’ If we are careful enough not to overstep the Laws of freewill then we will not accrue any Karmas. This point about being vigilant came up in an answer Guruji gave to Jayant, but more importantly there was an extremely important lesson we received.

*******

Mr. Jayant Deshpande, “Guruji on freewill, it allows us to go beyond ourselves and go out of our way to do things. Without Freewill, we will not be able to do so….”

“Absolutely, there are large-hearted people who donate one of their kidneys to save someone’s life. These acts of kindness are also due to our Freewill which we can use to help humanity. In the spur of the moment we might go out of our way and help others. I won’t hesitate to say that if it is possible for you, help others recklessly! Love for fellow human beings should manifest in our actions. With positive actions you can be reckless but if you are in doubt whether your action is right, pause for a moment. Listen to your intuition, and then decide.

“Helping others recklessly sounds like a reckless statement, doesn’t it,” Guruji remarked, “but human life is extremely complex; there is so much to life that there cannot be just one straitjacketed law for every situation. Wisdom gives us discernment and forbearance into applicability of different laws appropriately. Similarly, we cannot brand people as only good or bad. Suddenly a good person may do a bad deed or vice versa.”

This point on not branding people is crucial in our efforts to stay positive and non-judgmental in the face of challenging people situations.

*******

Ms. Usha Satishchandra, a dedicated Light Channels Volunteer, asked from the very depth of her being. Her voice resonated with deep life experience and peace. “Can’t we rise above all these - freewill, karmas and all that - is there any way?”

“Yes there is,” promptly Guruji guided, “if you carry lot of Love and Light, you will rise above all these. When you love someone you will naturally ignore their shortcomings. It is not easy to forgive, who are we to forgive anyway, only God forgives; let us ignore others’ follies. When we allow ego to operate, we don’t allow the love to operate.”

Pausing for just a moment, Guruji spoke words which, I feel, is a quote – “Everyone is capable of everything of the highest order.”

Usha, “How to balance that, Guruji?”

“You see in the right moment you will have enough wisdom to know what to do; a check-list of do’s and don’ts cannot be given. Sometimes you have to give in, may be a bit of your ego, but you can maintain an exalted state. For this, conscious thinking, choosing and execution are important. We should not behave like ordinary people.”

*******

For Sunil the point of Karmas was still lingering on his mind, so he asked, “Guruji, if a person has heavy karmas and is suffering a lot, and he decides to leave his body then will his karmas be carried to his next life? Is there a possibility that that intensity can be spread out over lifetimes, so that the suffering goes down?”

Guruji gave a very clear answer, “It all depends on his intent to grow spiritually. If the person is serious about positivisation and transformation then the Karmas can be reduced, spread over, postponed, cancelled and even taken over.”

Moving his hand across Guruji emphasized, “Anything is possible, but it depends on the person’s intent, and of course, effort.”

*******

From this point onwards the tone of the session changed. Sunil brought up an often asked question about carrying Light all day long. “Early morning when I experience and channel Light, I feel I am in a different world. The moment my workday starts and I meet clients, the serenity vanishes. How do I maintain the vibrations of Light throughout the day Guruji?”

“It is very simple, be aware that Light is inside you irrespective of what happens around you, then you will not be touched. Also, practice the Shambala Principles of spreading Ananda and Love. Usually the moment we interact with the people of the world our vibrations come down, but you can avoid it by consciously carrying Light all the time. Pray to the Light to operate through you even when you are engrossed in the day’s activities.”

“I was contemplating about our responses to situations and people,” Keerthi said in a very deep voice with undertones of some struggle, “it occurred to me that responding begins with going beyond confrontation. Instead of a typical knee-jerk reaction, I pause before responding to what others say to me; if they are right then I accept and correct myself, and if not then I should pause before responding. Is this approach correct, Guruji?”

“You can rise above anything with Love,” Guruji said categorically. Often he answers a question specifically for a person knowing their limitations and strengths.

“If you are too soft the world will exploit you. There are times you have to put your foot down and state clearly that you will not take being spoken to in an impolite manner. We have taught that we should be calm but you have to be tough and upfront at times. There isn’t just one Spiritual law you can apply in every situation, there are other laws as well.”

In the same context there was another important point raised regarding people management. When we see prejudices in people with absolutely no flexibility in their thinking how should we deal with them.

Guruji explained in a no-nonsense clear-cut way – “Tolerate such people!” We laughed. “When you cannot change situations and people refuse to grow, what can you do but accept this reality.” He said in a matter-of-factly way and continued, “Maintain your calm, do not lose your peace over matters you have no control over, accept people with all their imperfections. Be diplomatic and smile, if you cannot disengage from the conversation.”

Pausing for a sip of water, he taught us a very important lesson – “Acceptance is not compromising.”

Giving us just a moment to absorb the wisdom behind this statement, he said, “There are people around me who have not grown as much as they should have, but I accept them as they are, I have no complaints. It is the responsibility of the individual to grow and he has every right not to grow. As a Guru, I have done my job and for me, that suffices. Amara’s words come to my mind, while speaking about a very stubborn person he said that this earth will last for another two billion years giving that person ample time to transform. This might sound humorous but notice that even Amara accepted the situation.

“There are times when I convey to those around me that they are wrong, sometimes I am tough, but I put forth a lot of love behind my words. These relationships are intact. Even if they choose to not grow, there is no dilution in my love. More importantly, I have no complaints and no problems with anyone.

Again pausing for just a fraction of a moment for us to open-up more, he added, “There are issues we should not accept, like corruption, terrorism; however, these are general issues. We should not endlessly put up with injustices whether at the personal or world level. If you can bring about a change, do so and if you cannot, do not go on fretting about it. As I have been saying, there isn’t just one law or approach which fits every situation.”

Life is not simple; wisdom of living cannot be over-simplified in a list of do’s and don’ts. The look on some of the faces must have amused Guruji, because with a mischievous smile he said, “We have to accept people and the world as it is, yet we have to assess how much to accept and when to reject completely.”

Wisdom should be exercised while speaking truth. We cannot blindly and bluntly speak the truth; like for example, we cannot tell a person that he is a total failure. It will worsen his life and make recovery difficult. But if it helps, then we should bring about this awareness in him. Resistance to a situation or person we cannot change will not benefit anyone. We have to address the problem at hand, acceptance will help, resistance will hinder.

Guruji had once said, “We should see everything from a higher perspective. This world, you and I have many imperfections. Do not judge, accept. Do not harbour strong dislikes towards anyone, if I had a strong dislike or hatred towards anyone then the Rishis will not allow me to sit here.”

To lighten the moment Guruji joked, “The Rishis are still working through me, which means I am not that bad after all.”

And he added, “So, accept your neighbour…” Our laughter almost drowned his words – “….accept your spouse, in-laws!”

*******

Mr. Jayant Deshpande shared his observation about the times we are living in; his position as a Director, Trustee and Senior Guide leads him to interactions with many people at very close quarters. This coupled with intense training and personal guidance from Guruji gives him a unique perspective into many matters. “Guruji, in these times of turbulence, I have observed that there is also a lot of Grace. While there are many facing challenges simultaneously there are many who have smooth lives; I see people settling in life comfortably, their life-tracks are getting set beautifully, like some are establishing their careers, others with their education.”

“Yes, that is a very good observation. There are severe floods and remorseless mass killings, also there are many good things happening like mass people’s movements and revolutions. Both good and bad, are intensifying. I observe that intelligent people create problems while average ones manage life better. Sometime back I met a person who is very innocent, almost bordering on naïve stupidity. There are all shades of people with every kind of problem resulting from lack of intelligence or too much of it; that is why I have been saying just to lead a sensible, mature, balanced life one needs Spiritual maturity. In these times everything surfaces, good as well as bad.

“Since people bring their problems to me and pour their hearts out, I see that rare acts of goodness are becoming more frequent. Because there is essential goodness in everyone there also is an expansion in their emotions and thinking. Here we give opportunities, knowledge, wisdom, a lot of help for meditators to grow. It is for people to choose positive or negative. Turbulence will bring out what is chosen.”

*******

In this session some other questions were also asked, like, Mr. Ramachandra had a question on Mantras or chants, “We repeat a Mantra one hundred and eight times; I wanted to understand why exactly this particular number; and also what is the relevance in the times when we are going beyond Mantras and experiencing Light directly?”

“When you are experiencing Light or God directly no mantra is required. Now the ancient Rishis found out that one hundred and eight is a mystical number, just like the number nine. That is why any and every Mantra should be repeated one hundred and eight times.”

On the same lines Guruji had once mentioned that the number seven is special; it can be understood as a base unit. Ideally, we should send Light to a person for a minimum of seven minutes.

Some guidance was sought on contacting the Rishis as well, “When we are trying to contact the Rishis or higher beings, I have felt that if I am aware of them all the time, it helps in the contact. Is this correct Guruji?”

“Yes, because you are aware of their existence, you are naturally aware of them. There will be a kind of contact, however mild at some level and when you really want to talk seriously it gets strengthened. Even during Astral travel, you have to go on thinking about the place you want to visit, it helps; the intent itself generates a kind of energy.”

Another Volunteer re-visited Guruji’s teaching that pain is an important part of life. “Guruji, I came across a quote from Kahlil Gibran – ‘Pain is the destruction of the shell that encloses our understanding’. It is so intense.”

“Khalil Gibran was more a mystic and much more. He wrote poetry, he would paint, above all he was Rishi Worker…” This revelation from Guruji left us agape. There are many Spiritual Masters or Rishis who incarnate in different countries and cultures in every period of time. They may not start a Spiritual centre and teach Meditations but they bring about higher awareness and elevate the quality of human life in one way or another. Some become scientists, mathematicians, artists, poets, leaders, etc.

“There are not many evolved mystics like Kahlil Gibran in today’s times. The only name which comes to my mind is Eckhart Tolle. He is a genuine Spiritual Master and there is no one to compare with him. There are many spiritual teachers and guides who intellectualize and are very good orators,” Guruji said and summarized, “such guides are brilliant intellectuals and philosophers but they are not spiritual.”

Ms. Usha Satishchandra transported us into a different state of mind when she asked, “I was wondering Guruji, there are some moments in our lives which we could not live fully. Is it okay if we can go back in our thoughts and live those moments or is the moment just over?”

Her question may appear obvious, but read again and understand its depth. It is not about escaping into reveries. Guruji’s answer might clarify, “Yes, you can go back and live those moments. Go back in time, go back in mind, there are several ways. You can do that, although in a different realm, but you can. I do that often. Nostalgia is precious and you cannot compare it with any other experience.”

Many years ago, Guruji had told me that we can experience things better in retrospect. My young mind, still filled with management jargon and corporate know-how, could not comprehend it; fortunately, now I do.

Probably this explains Anais Nin’s quote – ‘We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.’

*******

Every soul seeks healing for their body and mind. While Meditation is the most holistic approach to healing, Guruji has periodically introduced us to various healing energies and techniques. During a Sunday Class Lecture, Guruji had mentioned that all Divine Energies heal. This led to our attempts to further understand the process of healing.

Since disease is essentially going out of tune with the natural balance with in our body, we asked if healing energies tune us leading back to normal health.

Guruji taught us – “During Meditation when we enter Stillness, we become aligned with God and His Energy fine tunes all that is out of balance in us.”

To explain us how every Divine Energy can heal, Guruji explained – “Every Divine Energy is a composite of many other energies. When you pray and invoke the Energy of Brahma, it will be the primary energy however it will also contain the Energy of Ishwara.”

When we send healing energies to a person, a lot depends on the patient’s willingness to accept the energies. Ms. Vaishali Joshi was sending healing energies to someone and she found that the energies were not flowing; she found a block.

Guruji explained to us that some refuse to accept Spiritual energies. Healing energies not only reduce the suffering but at the level of the soul, the energies speak to person to positivise. If the person refuses to transform, the energies return.

Along with the patient, those around him also suffer. Guruji said that it is due to their Karmas. Earlier he had explained that if a person chooses to positivise, then even his Karmas help in the process.

Vaishali shared an incredible healing experience. One of her friends had psoriasis. Medication from conventional healing methods did not help; as the disease worsened they tried alternative methods which healed to a very small extent. Months passed, finally Vaishali sent healing energies for a week; the disease vanished completely.

*******

The session ended with an inspiring discussion on hope. Sunil appreciated Guruji’s example of the triumph of indomitable human spirit – there was a magazine report a few days after the Indonesian tsunami. The devastation wrecked many coastal villages and towns. A photograph showed an old lady drawing Rangoli (a welcome decorative sketch at the entrances of Indian households), when half of her hut had collapsed, most of the roof was missing and the surrounding houses had been crumbled. “Imagine the courage of this woman to continue with hope. Think about her state of mind; the shock of the tsunami, loss of life around her, dismal poverty, helplessness, nothing had trampled her hope for a good future. That is courage.”

Guruji walked down the memory lanes, “I had some photographs, I do not know where I have kept them now, I could not afford simple furniture in those trying days when I lived in a hut. So I piled bricks, placed a small flat stone on it and used it as a table. I had flower beds around my hut, a beautiful bamboo fence; it was all so very enchanting. I had problems but I did not suffer. I hardly had any financial resources but I used to plan for the construction of the Cosmic Tower. At some deep level I knew that it would happen someday. What gives us strength to continue with life, to dream and hope towards happier times? It is the bright flame of the human spirit which cannot be extinguished.”

He also gave us examples of Mandela and Gandhi who displayed exemplary hope during intense long-drawn trials. Guruji highlighted the point that they did not carry any bitterness after the trials they underwent. He also appreciated Aung San Suu Kyi’s determination.

*******

The July 2012 Volunteers’ Meet was more vibrant than any before; and we were charged with Guruji’s life-force and resolute undefeatable spirit. We were left with more wisdom, courage and hope.

—Seema

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