GURUPURNIMA MAHOTSAV – 2014

SINDAVADAR ASHRAM, MORBI, GUJARAT 11-13 JULY

Jai Baba Swami

This time we decided to fly down to Rajkot rather than drive down. We reached the Ashram early morning at 8.30pm. The registration for the event was in the region of 9100-200, and if you take a 10% dropout average from past experience we still had 8300-400 sadhaks for the event. Lots of sadhaks had already reached the Ashram and had selected their bedding slots in the available residential zones.

Due to a heavy downpour a couple of days earlier some of the arrangements made had got washed out, hence under emergency mode alternative arrangements had to be made. So the eating area was converted into living quarters so that the sadhaks could be accommodated. Also the exhibition had been cancelled and this area had been converted into Sahitya, donation counter, etc. Due to this situation the beds could not be numbered and hence it was a first come first served kind of a situation. We (Anant Khamankar, Ramnath Kamath, Deepak Tandon, Dr. Ishnath Singh and his colleague Mr. Rai) got dry mattresses (some of the very few left) and went into the gent’s canteen area which was now converted to residential. I placed my bed close to the entrance so that we could enjoy some breeze in the heavily hot and humid environment which was in line with mattresses already laid further down – this was again close to the edge of the tent. A volunteer came and told us to move from there as that was the ‘aisle’ for walking, we remonstrated a bit, saying that we were placing the mattresses in the same line as were placed a bit ahead, but he showed us a place in the centre of the tent and told us to go there. We went quietly and placed our mattresses there. This was situated exactly below the peak of the tent – where there was no chance of water accumulating if it rained (divine intervention – more about it later). We went and got pillows etc for everybody and lay down to rest a bit. It was extremely hot and humid inside the tent. So we got up and went outside where even though it was sunny, the cool breeze made the conditions far more tolerable than inside the tent.

We got our lunch packets at 12 noon and sat and had lunch in the residential space. This was an impromptu change as the eating area had been converted into residential. The positive effect of this was that the food distribution was very fast and one did not have to wait for long in the line to get food. We finished our lunch, relaxed a bit, chatting and joking and then got ready for the start of the event which was scheduled for 3pm.  We changed and got into the main ‘sabha mandap’ at 2.40pm and took our seats. The stage was beautiful – like we were sitting in front of a ‘Guru Darbar’ (Guru’s court) – in which all of Pujya Swamiji’s Guru’s had been painted by Prabhakarji and Pujya Swamiji was presiding in the centre. The image was so beautiful and divine – it appeared that we were actually in the Guru’s Darbar!! The energy emanating from the stage just had to be experienced to be believed!

At 2.55pm Pujya Guruma entered the hall to the welcome of conches blowing announcing Her arrival. The masters of ceremony (MC) this year were from the youth brigade – Mrs. Geeta Pagare and Mr. Hrishikesh Joshi. Both of them were very confident and had prepared very well for taking charge of the premier event of the Samarpan family. Hearty congratulations and lots of blessings to them to carry forward the great beginnings – may Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Guruma give them divine blessings to continue the great work with humility and confidence. Just before the arrival of Pujya Swamiji my crown chakra started rotating with concentric waves of cool energy cooling it – as soon as He arrived at around 3.05pm, Rambhai chanted the Deep Prajolan Mantra (Lighting of the lamp). After the lighting of the lamp, Pujya Swamiji took His seat and Rambhai made us chant the Guru Ahavan mantra – Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo, Maheshwara, Gurur Saakshat Para Brahma, Tasmay Shri Guruveh Namaha, Tasmay Shri Guruveh Namaha, Tasmay Shri Guruveh Namaha.

Immediately after that, Rambhai invited various religious heads for Lighting of the Event Lamp ceremony – Parampujya Guruji Mamaji Gurudutt of Girnar Ashram, His Holiness Father Anilji, the head of Gayatri Shaktipeeth – Shri Ashwinbhai Rawat – they were welcomed by YPBSST Trustee Shri Vibhav Parikh and taken onto the stage for lighting the lamp.  After lighting of the lamp Vibhavji felicitated all the religious leaders by presenting them with a shawl. The MC thanked all the religious heads – both who made it and those who could not make it but sent their good wishes for the event instead. There was a round of applause after the felicitations and along with the applause one could feel the Guru Energies showering the blessings as the whole canopy got energized. Pujya Guruma was welcomed with loud claps after which the President of the event, Shri Govaniji gave the welcome address. After the welcome address new Samarpan literature and CD’s were launched at the hands of Pujya Guruma as follows: 1) two types of pens, 2)Param Pujya Swamiji’s photo encased in a golden frame; 3) A CD of March 1 Doctors shibir titled ‘Pragatishil Rashtra’ (Progressive country); 4) Sanskruti Samjhe and Apnaye in Gujarati and Bengali languages; 5) HKSY 1 – in the Kannada language and 6) A beautiful pencil sketch of Pujya Swamiji.

At 3.36pm Param Pujya Swamiji started his discourse: My Salutations to all pious souls. We are all gathered here today on the occasion of Guru Purnima. Guru Purnima is one such festival in which we get collectivity to go within. When we go to do work alone – this is difficult, but when we do that work in collectivity we do not even realise when the task has been completed. At the physical level we face a lot of obstacles, by tackling all those obstacles we have reached this place. The next level is the mental state – thoughts – we can go beyond that stage too through collectivity. Once we go beyond the thought stage I have complete confidence that you will cross the spiritual stage – this is how one’s spiritual development takes place in a serial manner. We need to introspect whether we are connecting or not to the collectivity, to the medium through whom we all are connected. Do we meditate regularly or not? This is a study, a sadhana (spiritual practice) – an ordinary person thinks he is a physical body and a sadhak thinks he is a soul. But what is the percentage of belief amongst us, how much have we succeeded – you need to introspect on that. Are we regular in attending the centre, do we meditate in collectivity? In the Surat doctor’s shibir – a question was asked – what is the benefit of awakening the soul? 1) You will become what you have not managed to become, for example, a person becomes a doctor sometimes out of choice but sometimes out of family pressure, in such a case the hidden artistic talent of a doctor will come to the fore after awakening and he will become an artist. 2) Your receiving capacity will increase. In a very subtle manner you will start absorbing all the good points of people you are in touch with. 3) Your soul will start questioning you if you start giving advice to others which you yourself do not follow. 4) It will give you strength to stand on your own feet. Am I standing on my feet? This means that if you are self-reliant then your weight will not come on the collectivity, and if it does not come on the collectivity then it will not come on the medium.

Hundreds of video shibirs take place every month and there is no count. When there is a problem that is when self-realisation is remembered and the medium is remembered. Some people, whom I do not even know – five of whom had gone to Iraq, of whom three have come back safely and two are still stuck out there. Many times I warn such sadhaks but they ignore my warnings – The Guru speaks at his level and the disciple listens at his level – this has happened innumerable number of times. There was an industrialist who had loans which were equal to his assets. I told him to sell of his assets and liquidate his loan, but he ignored this advice. After seven years he faced severe problems. When a disciple takes his own decision means - he has to endure the fruits of his actions and has to face his own karma. You have to become self-reliant and stand on your own feet – your weight should not be on the collectivity and thereby on the medium. Many times you approach me for divine experience. I give it – I do not look at whether it is right or wrong – I say ‘yes’ to whatever you want. Give me your wish in writing and then I will reply after some time – and that will be the right decision based on the Guru Energies.

Introspect and see for yourself whether we are progressing on the path we are walking on. Next, come without any expectations. If you come with expectations – those expectations will take you out of meditation. Come without any expectations, this is God’s path, I came without expectations, I did it because I liked it and did not expect it to become so big. Some days back I took a shibir only for 2 Jain Munis, of which a ‘Gachadipati’ (a very senior level in the Jain spiritual hierarchy) asked me – how did you meditate by leaving the body – the Jain Munis had the curiosity and they wanted to know whether they could get an out of the body experience. But they could not reach those heights – we leave everything but we do not leave the ego of being a male or the guilt of being a female; and because of this the experiment did not succeed. But a lot of discussions took place on various topics. I am giving 8 days time to those who are capable and want to progress; I am now doing this because the Gurukarya I had been given is now complete. I am now spending time with those people who seek liberation as I too get joy from this. I have handed over the responsibility to the next generation. We need to encourage and support them. I have learnt to work with them, I have learnt the latest in technology – e-mails, whatsapp, wi-fi, e-banking.

E-books are being launched in various languages and will be available very soon. You need to see how much you have surrendered. I was sending photos of the new wi-fi tower which would ensure continuous connectivity in this remote ashram whereas after the rain storm two days ago sadhaks were sending photos of collapsed canopies all over the place – so how surrendered are you?! Why do you look at the negative and highlight it and I the positive. Two events which occurred at the same time and place with two different results! Are you really connected? Why do you see the negative? If you are surrendered totally you will not see the negative, if you do that means you have not totally surrendered, that means your chitta is still outside – so till you do not go within you will not be totally surrendered (samarpit). Once you start meditating you will see your own faults. By meditating we go within and by looking at others’ faults we go outside. Introspect! We need to prepare the future generations for carrying forward this meditation methodology. Now we have video conferencing which was not available earlier – make use of this technology for positive purposes. If you want to spread news then use technology to spread both good and bad news. Introspect! What has occurred is in front of you. When I used to climb a peak in the Himalayas, my attention used to be only on the peak and not on the obstacles. My feet used to hurt, there was no path, thick jungles, big stones…nothing used to deter me as I was totally focused on the peak.

From tomorrow forget everything – and from tomorrow first aim for the peak of liberation. From tomorrow learn to stay in the present. Stop all this waywardness in your behaviour. My state is like that of the river Ganges. You can bathe in clean waters or in dirty waters – it is up to you. Look for good sadhaks and give some time to yourself. Whenever you are connected and are closer to yourself, then that much more guidance your soul will give you. Practice this for a year – and then go as a soul. If you believe yourself to be a soul, then you are a soul, if you believe yourself to be a body then you will be a body. Whenever you go for to any Samarpan programme, ashram, centre – go as a soul. I am a pure soul, I am a holy soul (mai ek pavitra atma hoon, mai ek shoodha atma hoon) – the more successful you are in believing this, the closer you will go to your soul, the greater will be your interaction with your soul, your soul will guide you, it will become your Guru – this does not happen in a day.

Tomorrow is the day when it can happen at any moment during the day. The more you believe, the greater will be your feeling. I have not got any satisfaction in the last 14 Guru Purnimas - nothing happens till you are in a good state – if this happens then I will be happy. You believe and accept yourself to be a soul. My life too changed too changed through just one divine experience. Gurudev turned the search which I was doing externally inwards  - that u-turn is a must, and what progress happened thereafter was internal and as I progressed, different mediums came into my life and a great spiritual journey commenced and progressed. I wish that such a divine experience comes to you, because this divine experience is that sacrament which is given by God; and this is permanent and for that to happen, Paramatma’s sacrament (values) need to be there on the soul. You will have to forget for a day who you are, your post, everything - country, colour, caste, gender – these are all physical. As your physical feeling reduces, your inner soul-level feeling will develop.

In future new sahitya (literature) will come, you need these books - you ask questions whose answers I have already given in these books, in discourses. You can give this literature as gifts to friends, relatives. You can write/translate these books in your language (mother tongue). You can give these books to libraries, hospitals, schools etc. Now we have come up with a new plan – the ‘Dashbandhari Yojana’ – many new people have joined and are joining. This plan is to donate one tenth of you annual income to the Trust (any of the 2, or both) on a monthly basis, so that the management of the Trust can get an idea of the cash flow to plan their activities for development of the ashrams – this money will be utilised only for the construction and developmental work at the ashrams. With a fixed cash flow the planning is easier.

I have experienced that ‘sankalpdharis’ (life-time volunteers) are leaving the ashram and are also going into guilt. Hence now we are coming with a new plan – one person can give seva (voluntary service) to the Ashram. It could be a fresh graduate or a freshly retired person. Any person who is unsuccessful in life and finds out that whatever they try success does not come to them – they then think about what else they should do to find success- such people should give one year to the Ashram. This is because a force has been created to push you down, and the more you try to climb up the harder you will fall. Such people should come to the Ashram and balance themselves – when such a person starts getting success in the Ashram, then he can also be successful in society. You can do whatever you want to – you can come and work for even one week – but come without any expectations. Give an application to the Ashram Office and whenever your services are required you will be called.

One day when I went to the Guru Shakti Dham, this divine idol was complaining that people come and make commitments for the fulfillment of certain desires, and if these desires are fulfilled then you should fulfill your commitment, else ‘vachan dosh’ (sin of not fulfilling a promise) accrues to you.

Next year will be the ‘Year of Jain Munis - 2015’ – we will be holding special shibirs for them. A sadhika from Japan came and spoke to me about Zen Buddhism – and then I spoke on that topic for two hours. Ambareeshji will take care of organising these shibirs for the Jain Munis. This year is a divine gift to the ladies. There are no ladies in the Himalayas, this is because the sages meditating in the Himalayas thought that ladies were an obstacle / distraction for their spiritual progress; because of this they have created an aura within which no female can enter. They have realised their mistake and have sent me to give the ladies the divine experience.

Our receiving is less and we need to go within and who can do so – only a person who has got the divine experience – purify your chitta so that the direction of your progress changes and you go within. Tomorrow is the day which will have the collectivity of all divine energies, all the Gurus. Change in your life comes when you obtain that divine experience, and after receiving that divine experience your search will stop. It could so happen that you see your Gurus, your Paramatma, your God while meditating – if that happens do not stop there, it is only a step up the ladder, you have to go beyond that – whatever you see is a medium. If you see a form them you are seeing what you want to (through your subconscious) – God is energy, formless, universal consciousness. The form you have kept within will come to the fore – if you see the form then you have to go beyond – to the formless (svaroop). Save yourself from the bodies attractions. What is within Him that attracts millions of people, go to that.

When we were in Bangalore, we went to Ooty from there. On the way there were lots of big temples where money is taken to enter the temple – if you pay Rs. 10 then one line, Rs. 20 another, Rs. 50 VIP and so on – so we did not visit any temple. While returning our driver said that we should visit a very old temple which was on the way. We stopped at that temple and had decided to go like ordinary people by standing in the regular line. The children stayed back in the car and Guruma and I went and stood in the line. As soon as we stood in the line a person came running and told us to come and take direct ‘darshan’. As he insisted we went with him, and he took us right up to the deity where we prayed and then he told us we should light the lamp and do the puja too. We refused and said that we had family members waiting in the car and we were on our way to Bangalore. On the way back, the person introduced himself as a Trustee. Why I am telling you this is that every soul recognises the divine energy at a subtle level, hence the invitation from the trustee.

Tomorrow we will try to go beyond physical attractions. What are the vibrations of the soul – this is what you feel in the proximity of a medium. But you will have to become a soul to view ‘that’ soul. I wish that in the next Guru Purnima your soul becomes one with that soul. Your soul’s existence merges with that soul – your souls existence merges with that soul – once that happens you will realise that you are connected to millions of souls. You are going to celebrate Guru Purnima with a Soul which is connected with Rishis-Munis in the Himalayas and to millions of souls at the same time – and you can connect only if you are a soul. Practice being a soul from now till tomorrow – be quiet, remain in silence, else your chitta will go to others’ and others on you – by talking nothing will happen. The more you try to go within, the greater the chances of it happening – I can explain it to you, but you only have to do it. You are getting it easily I have not; for 50 years I have only meditated. I have done this for 50 years, you do it just for 24 hours. Tomorrow morning come in that state – you may have come here by road, rail, air, but after reaching here it does not matter – similarly or religion does not matter, it is only a ladder, use it to reach the destination, and once you reach your religion gets left behind. I have not asked you to leave your religion, nor become a man or a woman – become a soul – you are relating everything to the body, I connect to the soul. The language is that of humanity. The person who is on the ladder will take the ladder and a person who has reached home will call it home. The Sun is one only – if the Sun rises in Canada and a person staying in Canada says the Sun belongs only to Canada, then he does not have a complete view – as the Sun shines uniformly on all. Paramatma does not belong to any religion – He is above that – He is universal consciousness and is present in every atom and particle on earth, He is also within you, try and feel that Universal Consciousness – you will succeed in doing so when you accept yourself as a soul. Everything is dependent on accepting. Practice believing that you are a soul. Come as a pure and holy soul (shuddha, pavitra atma) and participate in Guru Purnima. I am imagining a Guru Purnima and that kind of Guru Purnima should take place tomorrow. My Salutations.

The discourse ended at 5pm. After the discourse Rambhai conducted the Shanti Paath, after which Param Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Guruma left to the sound of conches. After that there was a break for dinner from 6 to 7.30 pm. We reconvened at 8pm in the sabha mandap.

Post dinner we were sitting on the ground on the approach to the Guru Shakti Dham when we saw two Om’s and a Trishul in the sky. There was also a Kundalini hsaped cloud which was clearly visible – this cloud came again within five minutes. While sitting in the open there was great energy and a nice cool breeze blowing – the fragrance of rose and sandalwood was wafting through intermittently and in the background the music played on a flute was wafting through the air – making the ambience enchanting and completely divine and peaceful -  it was the perfect ambience for calming the mind on the eve of Guru Purnima.

At 8.15 pm the programme started. At 8.25 pm Pujya Guruma’s entry to the sound of conches announcing her arrival. After the Guru Avahan mantra, Life Time Trustee and Param Pujya Swamiji’s younger son Ambareeshji gave a presentation of what had been achieved since the last Guru Purnima and what the plans were for the next year. He was happy to inform us that all the proposed targets were achieved which he showed us beautifully by means of photographs about what the state was prior to effecting the changes he had mentioned last year. About the future plans he mentioned that a Samarpan Museum would be created which would have a compilation of the history of Samarpan movement including things Swamiji used during His days in the Himalayas and also experiences. The Bhojanshala would be launched during Diwali and the same would have staying provision for sadhaks visiting the Ashram. There would be Acharya Sneh Sammellans in respective States. There would be a Yuva Sammellan for the youth for Yuva Shakti – inspired by the Mumbai Marathon in which we participated in January this year. He will be organising Jain Muni shibirs with thank to Swamiji. The last was Swamiji’s 60^th birthday celebrations – which he promised would be grand. He invited new ideas on his facebook page – and promised to make the celebration unforgettable.

After Ambareeshji’s speech, the cultural program commenced at 9pm. It started with a group dance by Bhavnagar sadhaks; followed by a dance by sadhaks from Bhuj – ‘Yagya Swaroop aya’; then a garba presentation by sadhaks from Porbunder; then a dance presentation ‘Jejuricha Gandeva’ by Borivali sadhaks; a garba by Rajkot sadhaks; the sadhaks from Surat gave a wonderful presentation on selfless service – ‘Seva seva jan seva’; a sadhika from Toronto gave a beautiful kathak dance performance – ‘satyam, shivam, sundaram’; this was followed by a multi-centre performance given by sadhaks from Masjidbunder, Matunga, Parel, Koparkhairne. The last dance performance for the night came from sadhaks from Gandhidham – ‘man ked war khul gaye’. After this light and wonderful presentation the days events ended with Shanti path and then we all retired to our respective residential quarters by 10pm.

It was very hot and humid and by around 10.30 pm I fell asleep, waking up at 2 am to go for a bath. As only one section had water, I quickly finished my morning ablutions and stood in line for a bath. After my morning rituals I went back to the tent at around 2.40 am and saw that Khamankarji had woken up, told him to go and in the meantime Ramnath and Deepak had also woken up and gone for a bath. I did some light yoga exercises and then lay back and went into shavasan. By the time all our fellow sadhaks returned it was around 4am. We all lay back and rested/meditated/contemplated on the big day ahead of us. At 5.45am we dressed and went to the main hall for the morning group meditation. The morning meditation was to start at 6.15am. Rambhai conducted the meditation and in this vast collectivity it was easy to slip into a meditative state. There was constant fragrance of rose and the crown chakra was rotating and cooling continuously. In next to no time it was time to say the prayer for universal peace. A chant started playing prior to the arrival Param Pujya Swamiji – there was great energy and one could feel the waves as the entire 8500 odd sadhaks chanted collectively – it literally gave cold goose pimples, with hair on the arms standing in the electrified atmosphere. Param Pujya Swamiji arrived at 7.05am and after Param Pujya Swamiji lit the lamp, took his seat, and Rambhai made us chant the ‘Guru Ahavan mantra’ – he requested Param Pujya Swamiji thrice in succession to shower nectar on all those present.

Welcome to all pious souls, we have gathered together today on the occasion of Guru Puja -  Guru Puja is such an occasion, is such an opportunity about which it is necessary that you should know everything about Guru Puja completely. Firstly you should know the Guru – Guru can be a teacher, a Guru, a Satguru, a medium. Guru is that medium through whom your inner journey begins, as we do not have the light of knowledge. We understand the importance of Guru because he is closer, Paramatma is far – you can accept Guru as an ideal and try to become like him. For obtaining self-realisation Guru has an important role to play. To explain the meaning of self realisation in easy to understand terms – the physical body is a lamp, your karmas the clarified butter(ghee) and the wick is the soul. Till the lamp is not lit there will be no light, the ghee is of no use and nor is the lamp. If you go into the proximity of a lamp which is already lit then you light your lamp and then the values are absorbed by this lamp and then it lights itself up and keeps burning and then it lights other lamps all over until its ghee (clarified butter) and light is exhausted and his life becomes successful. Similarly the body-like lamp can be lit and for the soul-like wick to be lit you used to do severe penance for the past several births. In the Himalayas you will find saints doing meditation for more than 20 years for obtaining self-realisation. You will not see that because you are getting it easily – nothing is easy – you too are those people who have done penance for years in your earlier birth and hence you are here. You did not know anything but had a pure wish for self-realisation. In the Dnyaneshwari, Sant Dnyaneshwar has written about awakening and not about the divine experience. He asked his Guru and his Guru told him that it was not the right time and he was not authorised to write about it. That time will come 800 years hence. Nothing is easy. Your lamp has been lit – check for yourself, introspect, this is your time. Nothing is definite. You meet someone during your search and he meets someone because of his curiosity and he tells you that you are on the wrong path. He tells you to go within – you find Paramatma inside and that you will experience him within. This is not happening because of the collectivity of thoughts – if you go to the jungle you will get to know the difference. In a polluted environment it is difficult, give yourself time, you get affected by external factors and then your chitta goes outside. I am not telling you to go to the caves, you have done that, this life too you have to endure, endure it by saving your identity – I have obtained self-realisation, I am not ordinary, I have to preserve that identity, you should have the feeling that your lamp is lit amongst unlit lamps. How many sadhaks give themselves half an hour in a day – go to the terrace, go to a garden, lock yourself in a room. Make a path for yourself and find solitude.

Now they are talking about a car without a driver – I will get such a car for myself first. My drivers keep talking, so I keep talking so that they shut up and listen to me and do so that they do their mind is away from thoughts. You have received everything I have – you do not know it – awaken and you will know! You should have the ideals of the Guru. If you teach with anger you will pass on the poison. There was an old accountant working in an office and every time a junior came to him he would shout at him and throw the file. Everyone was scared of him and they too used to react in the same way with their colleagues. One day I asked the accountant why he shouted at them, he said that that is how he had learnt, so he was doing what had been done to him. I have not passed on the trouble that I had undergone to obtain this knowledge to you, someone has to drink the poison and not pass it on. Do not pass on the difficulties that you have endured to others. The Nabhi (navel) chakra and the heart chakra has to be developed and become vast to do this. You should have the desire to give – a pure wish to give everything to everybody – whatever you have, distribute, the more you distribute the more you will get. There are lots of people who are very close to me but you do not see them anywhere near me – but they have done a lot. An IT couple had prepared a powerpoint presentation on Samarpan and they taught ten other young sadhaks to prepare such presentations. Let people who are less than 45 years of age come forward, let the youth come forward now and teach them – let them make mistakes. You do not give any posts to the youth and due to increasing life-span of people today, the youth also grow old as you grow old and yet do not let go of your post. There is an electrician in the ashram, who does not teach others how to do his job, then he feels the pressure – teach the youth – liberation is there in distribution of knowledge. They have the energy – encourage the youth. I had gone to Kolkata. There was a very big studio owned by a very well known film producer on whose lawns a lot of grass had grown. The son was not interested in that line and hence the studio was not in use. Accept that we are not capable of going to the next generation, train the youth, let them make mistakes – whatever progress takes place, mistakes happen and only one person suffers and that is the medium. I have on everything to the children. With positive use of technology, I received photos of Guru Purnima conducted in Australia on whatsapp on my mobile, as they are head of us in time.

Distribute the work, stop saying – “I will do I will do I will do dodododo, start you do you do you do dododododo – give everyone a chance. Both the rivers Narmada and Tapi meet the sea, neither says that if she comes I will not come! Their objective is to meet the sea. If Kutch does something then Saurashtra objects, and vice-versa – that means you have not understood the Guru nor understood the Guru’s sphere. Give work to all – bring the youth to the forefront, guide them, the more you guide them better will be the results.

In this birth because of your years of penance (in earlier birth) and desire for awakening, hence you have been awakened, feel the divine experience – ‘I’ is of no use – ‘I’ has to die! Everyone comes to Swamiji and Swamiji accepts all – you should also accept all, and if you can’t, that means ‘I’ exists. First understand ‘Guru’ – Guru is a vast ocean in which rivers come and merge. Distribute your knowledge – a Jain Muni was saying that all the souls are devils and the physical body is good. Does the dead body do anything? The soul is bad that means the soul does everything – that is what the Jain Munis thought! I said that is wrong. An inner voice keeps warning you that whatever the body is doing - this is wrong – and all the bad work happens through the body. The soul warns you; a successful person is one who takes correct decisions and the soul of such a person is awakened. Practice becoming a soul, study in Ashrams, read books, listen to discourses – this gives you the direction to take correct decisions. You need to understand this. Karma is of two types: 1) Without destroying this karma your soul cannot be awakened – a Guru first destroys those karmas and then awakening takes place; 2) You have to face your karmas – after being awakened you will feel good and then you can endure and face your bad karmas in fast forward motion and you will face them smilingly – you will have a beautiful old age just waiting for liberation.

For the karmas faced in collectivity – you will not feel the impact. For example when you put black ink in a glass of water then entire water in the glass becomes black, but the same ink when you put it in the sea it just disappears, similarly when you face your karmas in collectivity you do not feel its impact. You have to endure your karmas, you do not experience its impact in collectivity. Sadhaks experience a lot of trouble – but when you are in a meditative state you face these problems and come out smiling.

Now a new subject, I have not spoken about this before. The Satguru is different and the Medium is different. A Satguru is one who through his own efforts has established his own exalted state. A Medium is created by others, he is empty, and through the medium of the Mediums many Rishi-Munis send their messages to society. Their desire to create a medium who is empty  - like an empty pipe in which you can pour from one side so that it exits from the other – they filled all their subtle energies, like you say in computer language, programming was effected on the medium. This medium has nothing of his own – he has surrendered everything to his Gurus – his body is also surrendered to others. This is the middle phase- 800 years have gone by, this era is that of the medium and for the next 800 years this body is also surrendered. For the next 800 years this body will do the work. Look for a place which will be easy to reach by all for the Samadhi Sthal (Shrine). That will become the most important place – the entire Samarpan family will benefit once it is created. I had met a saint have the plan ready. I had met a saint who had given the complete knowledge of living Samadhi, he has given me the knowledge. I am receiving this information – think in this direction – that place will be connected to all the Guru Shakti Dhams. We have to take it to the next generation. I had made ashrams to prepare a medium, but by staying in society one cannot do so, I have faced so many difficulties of which you do not know anything. If you go to the Himalayas you too can do it, but by staying in society it is difficult. I keep waiting for the 45 days when I go into Anushthan – next anushthan will be from January 3 to February 27. There is no change in you because there is no meditation. This discourse is not at all necessary, you will get all the information you require if you are connected to me.

There are different kinds of problems. Prarthana Dham is there for problem resolution. People who are authorised – they get mad when they take prayers from some sadhaks. A daughter in law send prayer for her mother in law to die and the mother in law sends a prayer for her daughter in law to come to harm – both are present here in this Guru Purnima! I tell the volunteers to offer a prayer for whatever is right for each person only that should happen. Why should the people at the prarthana dham take responsibility and guilt for something bad? This means that these people do not meditate. You are getting such thoughts even though your lamp is lit, but till this mother in law and daughter in law duo do not come out of their surroundings they will not realise; they need to meditate, go close to their soul. Another thing, do not do business with sadhaks. If you want to give then do give anything with the expectation of it being returned. Do you give anything with my permission? You give me trouble. You are filled with so many thoughts from outside – meditate, meditate, meditate. You will get to know who you are, you know the entire world but do not know your self. Change your self, in trying to change others you will hurt yourself. The message for this Guru Purnima is that you develop a state in which you are happy – go close to your soul – stay one week at the Cowshed and cleanse yourself. It is necessary to develop inner feeling. This is a spiritual practice which you have to do regularly, either in a garden, park, in a room in solitude and chant, “I am a pure soul, I am a holy soul” (Mai ek pavitra atma hoon, mai ek shuddh atma hoon). The more you feel this the more it will take you to your soul. The closer you go, the more you will come to know about all your efforts of your penance in your past births. You will feel the efforts you have made and then your chitta will be with you in your own bliss. You are not a body, you are a soul. Have this feeling and keep this feeling, if you want to maintain a good state then remember good experiences, then you absorb good energy – Guru Purnima is the offerings of prayer of the soul to Paramatma. Extinguish all feelings of the body and accept that you are a soul. Like when a shirt has stains, we throw away the shirt, similarly reject the stained body and accept that you are a pure soul and experience yourself as a pure soul - that is my pure wish. Salutations.

The discourse got over at 8.30pm and we went back to our respective residential tents. While having breakfast we observed that ladies were coming and sitting in the tents with their family members and one lady was actually folding her husbands’ pyjamas and keeping it in his bag!

After breakfast we reconvened in the main tent at 9.50am for the Guru Purnima function. The sadhaks taking ‘diksha’ were made to sit in the centre with the other sadhaks on the sides. Param Pujya Swamiji entered at 10am to the sound of conches and thereafter Rambhai made us say the Guru Ahavan mantra. There was pin drop silence as Rambhai explained the purpose of taking Guru Diksha – he explained that it is a subtle spiritual process.

At 10.05am the function started with the volunteers distributing the Guru Diksha packages to the disciples waiting for consecration. After all the packages were distributed the sadhaks were asked to check if all the five items mentioned were there in the packets. After it was ensured that all the sadhaks had the required items the consecration ceremony started with the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra. The sadhaks were then informed that their ‘gotra’ from this day onwards was ‘Vashishta’ as they were now onwards Param Pujya Swamiji’s children. After the rituals Param Pujya Swamiji gave them the Guru Mantra which we all recited after Gurudev. The sadhaks were told to visit a centre at least once a week, perform selfless Gurukarya, propagate Samarpan Meditation and subscribe to Madhuchaitanya.

At 10.48am the Guru Pujan commenced after Param Pujya Swamiji announced that this year’s Guru Pujan will be performed by Mrs. And Mr. Aniket Joshi and Mrs. And Mr. Sridhar Mani from Bangalore. After the Guru Pujan started Param Pujya Swamiji went into a trance in a very high state. The Guru Pujan took place with the chanting of mantras in the requisite serial order and got over by 11.40am. Param Pujya Swamiji – still in a trance – was then crowned with first a silver crown and then a golden bejeweled crown. Both the couples placed a shawl each around His shoulders – one white and one saffron. After that the Arati was performed – it was so beautiful with immense energy as the pure feeling of the sadhaks in that pure environment generated beautiful energy in a lovely ambience. One did not feel the humidity and the heat due to the energised environment. At 12 noon the offerings (Oti) were made to Pujya Guruma by Mrs. Joshi and Mrs. Mani respectively. After that Pujya Guruma leaves to loud shouts of ‘Jai’s’ to Guruma. Param Pujya Swamiji was adorned with a saffron bejeweled ‘pagdi’ in which he looked really regal. Post this the ‘Paduka naman’ programme started with first the kitchen and other volunteers being asked to prostrate and then join their duties. As the paduka namam programme started the bhajan programme started with the first bhajan being sung by Mrs. Sumangala Khamankar in her mellifluous voice. Thereafter a couple of other sadhikas along with Hrishikesh Joshi and Krishna Khamankar sang the bhajans till the end of the programme which concluded around 2.15pm. As I went for naman and stood in line, I noticed that Ramnath was in front of me and as he bowed down Param Pujya Swamiji looked directly at him and thereafter I prostrated and paid my obeisance to the Lord. We then went and joined the few people left in the main hall and listened to the bhajans. After Shanti path and after Param Pujya Swamiji left, we went to take out lunch packets. The entire naman program there was consciousness flowing and the fragrance of rose was coming off and on.

At 4 pm on reconvening, Trustee Vibhavji Parikh spoke about the need for donations, inspiring sadhaks to donate for various causes and development projects which the Trust plans to take up. He mentioned that the monthly expenses at the Saurashtra Ashram were about Rs. 1.50 lakhs, and similarly each Ashram would be having a similar fixed expense per month. He requested sadhaks to make a small commitment for donating every month so that these routine expenses can be taken care of. At 4.10pm Smt. Vaishaliben Oza gave information on the Samarpan Vivaha procedures and formalities. At 4.15pm Dr. Hemangini Bhatt spoke in detail and with great feeling about the cause of Maduchaitanya and the benefits of subscribing to the magazine. She also inspired sadhaks to contribute their articles and experiences for being published in the magazine. At 4.30 pm this ended and Pujya Guruma’s talk was to start thereafter. We were asked to maintain our state to the sound of chant playing in the background. At 4.45 Pujya Guruma entered to the sound of conches and took her seat on the high pedestal next to Param Pujya Swamiji’s seat on the Guru Darbar stage.

She started her discourse: My salutations to all pious souls. I will start with a story - an inspiring incident. Swami Vivekananda (SV) told his Guru Shri Ramkrishna Paramhansa (RP) that he had studied the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, the Puranas, the Vedas, etc – I hold a lot of discussions and give discourses, I have knowledge of the Vedas – so why do I need a Guru in my life? Swami Vivekananda used to do whatever work was available in the ashram. One day RP told him that I have something which I am giving you which you need to go and handover to a certain person in a certain village. Swami Vivekananda said fine. RP told SV that he will give the thing to be handed over the next day and RP told him that you have to travel by boat. Next morning SV woke up and went and sat in the boat. The boat was about to start on its journey when he realised that he did not know the name of the village nor of the person. He got off the boat and went to RP to find out the name of the village and the name of the person. He asked RP, how do I reach the village when I do not even know its name? RP replied – this is the answer to your question. You have all the knowledge, then why do you need the address? But you do not know the path. RP told him even if you know the name of the village and person how will you reach when you do not know the path? So a Guru is needed to show you the right path. In difficult times the Guru becomes your support. We have performed Guru Pujan etc., then what is the meaning of the story. Have you accepted your soul as your Guru, have you done its puja – it is very difficult to accept someone very close as your Guru. Have you accepted your soul as your Guru and done its puja? Have you told your intellect that you should listen to the soul and accept its advise? If not, there is still time to do it as Guru Purnima will be there for the rest of the day.  Strengthen your soul – and when we proceed thereafter, then we will walk on the path of truth. The body is the lamp, karmas the oil and the flame is your soul. Inspire everybody for doing Gurukarya – train them, make them get good experience.

I am sorry, I could not note down further as I got too involved in what Pujya Guruma was saying. She was advising as our Universal Mother and she was doing so from a deep state of meditation, there was so much of energy and her lovely voice was so mesmerizing that my hands stopped writing and my ears listen and eyes closed. Sorry for that. _/\_

At 5.30pm Pujya Guruma’s discourse ended and she left after Shanti Path, and as soon as she left, the heavens opened up and it started raining so heavily with gusts of wind, once could barely see twenty feet in front, all one could see was sheets of water falling down. As we moved out looking for our footwear, all of us got ours but we could see lots of people’s slippers flowing down man made canals for the water to flow. We then went into our tent running quickly to minimise the rains impact. We went into our tent and onto our beddings – guess what? The place we had selected was totally dry as it was in the centre and water was flowing down and gathering at the edges. Volunteers came with bamboo poles to puncture the tent ceiling so that the water which had accumulated could fall down. If we had insisted on the place near the tents opening our belongings would have been drenched – so the Guru Energies’ protection continued. Dr. Singh mentioned that it will rain for two hours and stop – he in fact guaranteed it! As a matter of fact the rains did stop after two hours at around 7.30pm. In the interim, at 6pm there was an announcement saying that Pujya Swamiji had requested all with their own vehicles and from nearby areas to leave immediately. There was a rush for people collecting their luggage and moving out. The organisers did yeoman service as buses, cars, autos, trucks, tempos, took people and moved out of the ashram. We got to know that Pujya Swamiji was waiting at the gate along with Mr. Deepak Sharma and Mr. PN Patel and a couple of other security personnel to personally bless those leaving and give them divine protection! Almost 4000 people moved out, as a result there was some relief to those who stayed back as there was less pressure on the bedding.

In the meanwhile the dinner packets were being distributed, as we were bedding just next to the kitchen, we all took our packets and had our dinner. I got a smell of a cigarette being smoked, I told Dr. Singh that mostly the person just sitting ahead of him with back to us must be smoking. Dr. Singh requested him to put out his cigarette, which he did quietly. After the rains had stopped I told Ramnathji, Khmanakarji, etc that I will go and check on the ladies who had come with us. As I went to the Sahitya counter Kishore Kavadiaji told me that my name along with Deepak Tandons name was being announced and we were being asked to come near the stage. I went to the sabha mandap and saw that all the TV screens were being removed and packed, the wet mattresses had been removed and piled up in the centre and ladies and gents were all together occupying the dry mattresses. I made an announcement also on the mike asking for Deepali Gokhale, Sharmila Tandon to come to the stage. But I knew that as the sound system had been disconnected to the outside tents due to fear of short circuit, the voice would travel only as far as this tent. After waiting for about 15 minutes, I went out looking for them going as far as the registration counter and turning back. On the way back some of the lights in the passageway were switched on and as I came near the now empty fruit stall, Sharmilaji came and asked where is Deepak? I told her he is waiting for you near the kitchen entrance from where the ladies took their food packets. Then I asked about the welfare of the others, and she took me to the rest of the ladies who had come with us. They were all soaked and standing with their belongings totally drenched. I told them to wait there as I would go with Sharmila and take her to Deepak and then we would return. So we walked down through the muck to our tent met Deepak and then the three of us returned to make arrangements for all five ladies. Both the ladies tents were soaked and mattresses completely wet and useless. We took their bags and went to the main sabha mandap which was the only place where there could be shelter from rain as all the other tents were filled to capacity. Luckily there were chairs which were unoccupied, we asked the ladies to sit there while Deepak and I went hunting for dry mattresses. We went to the exhibition tent, where luckily we found three mattresses rolled and placed on chairs – these were completely dry – it was like the Guru Energies had kept them for us! We grabbed them and returned and placed them for the ladies. They said they would manage, as we laid the mattresses and elderly lady and her daughter started laying claim to the mattresses – I told them that these mattresses were for these ladies and if they wanted we would get two more for them, just have some patience. Then Deepak and I went looking for two more mattresses – we met Trupti Kankani, who said there were lots of dry mattresses – luckily we got two more – and we thanked Trupti and left. We handed over the two mattresses to those two ladies and then left. As Deepak and I walked out we saw a massive Om in the sky just above Pujya Swamiji’s kutir! It was a sign that the Guru Energies were blessing and protecting all those present!

There are certain points on how people behave in adverse circumstances – both positive and negative which I would like to put down as a guide to all of us:

Positive :

• People helping others selflessly when they do not know them other than as fellow sadhaks
• Kishore Kavadiaji moving around with a plastic bag the next morning picking plates and cups thrown by careless sadhaks and requesting them that I touch your feet please do not litter J

Negative:

•         Water taps being left open because water was not there – so every time water tankers came and the water was pumped into overhead tanks the water used to flow out from the open water taps
•         People smoking / eating betel leaves and spitting openly on land which I believe to be blessed
•         A person urinating early in the morning just outside our tent, and when asked by Dr. Singh to walk the 100 metres to the bathing area, going just beyond the drinking water fountain and letting go, shameful!
•          Even male sadhaks washing their under garments even when told not to due to lack of water as a result depriving others of precious water
•          A sadhak arguing with a volunteer asking why they could not provide water if they are organising such events – the volunteer politely telling him this is not your home that you can order people around.
•          After the rains people arguing with each other and fighting – I called you, you did not pick phone, where were you – I was looking for you, etc – displaying a fear psychosis which should not have been there as Pujya Swamiji was there and Guru Energies were all present. Showed lack of samarpan, which both Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Guruma have time and again mentioned.

That night as the temperature had come down and there was no pressure of waking early we all retired for the night around 10.30pm and woke up at 5pm. I went thrice to take a bath – at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm and every time returned as the water had run out. Though, at 5am I got to complete my morning rituals except for my shave and shower. I gave up on that, and Deepak and I went to check on the ladies, they all had slept well and they got a mattress each as the two other ladies went elsewhere!

As we took a round looking for Kajalji’s lost slippers (2 pairs) we saw that there was muck and slippers and shoes had travelled long distances and many had been abandoned. One tent had completely collapsed and the ladies tent was totally uninhabitable. The ladies told us that when the rains came yesterday and as they were near their beddings someone came and shouted at them saying that ‘run, the tent will collapse in five minutes’ – (whether this person was authorised or not, we do not know) as a result they left their bags and ran; after sanity returned they went and got their bags which by then were completely soaked!

Pujya Swamiji was watching the goings on from the tent near the kutir for about an hour and am sure was giving protection and blessings to all those leaving.

At around 8.30am we had breakfast and as all the programme had been cancelled Khamankar and I went to arrange for autos to take us to Rajkot. We had in the meanwhile collected the Prasad on surrendering our registration badges. Pujya Swamiji’s photo from a painting was so divine that as soon as I took it out I was washed with cool energy waves – it was an awesome feeling.

 We got hold of one person, who called another auto and by 9.30pm we had sent Sweety (Revathi’s daughter), Vrinda Nayak, Sharmila Tandon in one auto which was hired by Vakola sadhaks – they went sitting with their legs out at the rear of the auto. 

Haren Sharma in the background, Sweety and Sharmila Tandon                                

Sweety, Sharmila Tandon and Vrinda Nayak                    

Prashant Mehta, Krupa Kavadiaji, Deepali Gokhale, Kajal Singh and Deepak Tandon went in another auto. That left Ramnath, Anant and family and self behind. At around 10.30am – it was now very hot, humid and sticky – Dr. Singh told me that a Vasai sadhak was being dropped to Rajkot by his friend in an Innova and Dr. Singh and Mr. Rai are going, so Sumangalaji and Krishnaji could accompany them. At around 11am the Innova left for Rajkot and that left only Khamankarji, Ramnath and myself completely free as we had fulfilled our responsibility of seeing our companions safely of.

The auto which was to return for us did not come even though almost three hours had passed. In the meantime Khamankarji and I visited the Guru Shakti Dham and enjoyed the subtle energies flowing inside. Then later we sat waiting in the tent made for the havan as it was much cooler there than out in the open. I went to enquire of the buses and Rishit Vyasji told me that the buses for Rajkot had lined up and there was standing place for us if we wished to go in the first bus. Just then Khamankarji came and said that they had got an auto outside the gate, I thanked Rishitji for his efforts and told him that we had got an auto to Rajkot. We took our belongings and got into the auto at around 12.30 pm along with Rishikesh Joshi – the four of us had a very comfortable journey to Rajkot. We got into Hotel Cross Road in which 6 rooms had been booked. We had a bath, then went for lunch and came back and relaxed before catching our flight to Mumbai. After dinner as I woke from a catnap, Deepak Tandon knocked on our room and asked me to come to his room. When I went to his room an elderly advocate - a friend of Prashant Mehta's - was sitting there. He apparently cured people's physical pains by pressing the concerned nerves. I had a chronic lower back pain for the last 8 odd years and I had been praying to Swamiji to get rid of it when it is time for it to go (I used to get the feeling that this pain which suddenly appeared one fine day was from my past birth). This gentleman asked me to sit down and then applied a tooth brush to some nerves in my back with great pressure - after about four sittings, eureka no pain. He did that to my knees too. Swamiji is great - Jai Baba Swami.

At the airport we were well in time for check-in and met a lot of other sadhaks. Some photos in the waiting lounge after check-in.

Sharmila Tandon (busy on phone), Kajal Singhji, Prashant Mehtaji

Vrinda Nayak, Deepali Gokhale, Sweety Venkateshvaran, Sharmilaji, Kajalji

Vrindaji, Sharmilaji, Kajalji, Krupa Kavadiaji, Prashant Mehtaji

Deepaliji, Yours Truly, Ramnath Kamathji, Pandyaji and his wife

    Vrinda, Deepali, Sweet, Sharmila, Kajal, Krupaji

    Mr & Mrs Pandya, Ramnath, me in introspection, Deepali

    Deepak Tandon and his wife Sharmila

    Khamankarji, Sumangalaji and Krishnaji and me behind them in the aircraft

The best part of this was informed by Ramaniji after we came to Mumbai. As he had gone to Ahmedabad, he read in the Times of India, Ahmedabad edition that if the Rajkot region had not got these unforeseen rains then the farmers would have been economically wiped out. So whatever happens - happens for the best! Also many people had the feeling that they lost something or the other – all I can say is that with this small incident Pujya Swamiji has cancelled the karmas of a large number of people at one go – maybe some accident related to water which was to happen to them has been cut off by the rains during Guru Purnima As the saying goes the Guru Energies work in mysterious ways! The fragrance of rose and sandalwood accompanies us all the way to Mumbai!

Last but not the least, many congratulations and blessings to all those involved directly or indirectly in organising this unforgettable Guru Purnima, and special thanks to Rishit Vyas for always being around to help with a smile on his face. Thanks a million at the Lotus Feet of Swamiji for this unforgettable Guru Purnima. 

PS
Please forgive me as I may have missed out some points from Pujya Swamiji's discourse or may have got it wrong. I have tried my level best to write it down with on the fly translation.

Jai Baba Swami