Navratri 2014 with Gurudev – October 2nd, 2014

Just back from the Bangalore Ashram and wanted to share my experiences during Navratri over the past ten days…

Here's a picture attached of our mini-reunion when I bumped into my TTC Buddy on the way to the AOL Spinal Care course!  Note that Nitin Ji didn't even ask if he could have some of my Coconut hair oil ;-)

I was about to leave campus, Sri Sri University, on September 23rd 2014, and was frustrated by the lack of structure and detail in our MA program course syllabus.  I composed an email to our senior AOL faculty regarding an ambiguous syllabus for our yoga program's first semester; and then headed to the airport in our infamous Kalu Bhaya's rickshaw service.  Surprisingly, I was charged a reasonable 350 RS for the trip from campus to Bhubaneswar airport. 

I was tired after days of barely sleeping next door to a loud campus Vishala Cafe and many nights of telling our young students to be quiet at 2:30am or 3:30am in the morning.  I can only empathize with their immaturity as I, twenty years ago, at their age, would sometimes wake up drunk / hung-over somewhere on campus in the US at that hour.  So glad we at least have an alcohol-free and vegetarian sattvic campus.

So on to the airport I went, feeling spoiled by the fact that I was flying to Bangalore while many of our students were making a 24+ hour journey to the Bangalore Ashram via trains and buses.  I told myself I would make the journey next time with our students - Sangachhadhwam - meaning let's move together.

So on I went...I arrived at the Bangalore Ashram right around 7pm, just in time for Satsang.  Instead of checking in, I ran upstairs, dropped off my backpack in my dear friend, Arie's office, and headed to Satsang to see my beloved Gurudev.  I arrived just in time to see my beloved.  I could feel the sattva rising, the happiness within, and the feeling of rejoicing with my master...a feeling that must be felt by a baby when held by a mother.  Getting a smile from Gurudev is for me what breast-milk is to a baby.  I felt completely nourished and so fulfilled by just being in the same space.

After Satsang, I checked in and got settled into my room.  I remember feeling uncomfortable just a year ago when I was at the ashram Aparna residence hall for Sri Sri Yoga Teacher Training Course.  Now, though, I was fine and happy to be home again.  I was surprised by my shift from my "American" standard of living to the freedom associated with no longer needing an umbrella in the rain, a cap in the sun, or hot water / even a shower head in my room.  Though all of this is available at the ashram, I no longer desired / wanted / needed any of these things.  I am reminded of a beautiful story in the book, Living with the Himalayan Masters...I'll share more when I get another copy of the book. 

The next day we started our Navratri Silence course for teachers with Swamiji Bhramatej in Maitri Hall.  We were packed in like sardines and I barely had space for Ardha Matsyendrasana.  I was aching from my postural scoliosis and could not really meditate that day.  I decided to opt for the Vishalakshi Mantap (often referred to as the VM building) silence course for English speakers. The next day was amazing as I had a chair and two cushions.  I wasn't sure if I meditated / slept the second day, but I was happy nonetheless.  

I spent the first few days in silence wondering about moving from "what about me and I, me, or my" to selfless service and the infinite consciousness.  As I write, I still find the prevalent "I" but realize that this self(ish) ego can be quieter as more and more sadhana, satsang, and selfless service / seva is realized.  How can we shift to we / us vs. me / my?  I think the key is belongingness and realising that "I" belong to you & "you" are my Art of Living family, my biological family, my Sri Sri University family, and my human family.   When I think about my spiritual master, I think about how he feels belongingness with the whole world and about how all he wants to do is selflessly serve people and uplift humanity.

By day five of the silence course, I didn't want to come out of silence and was craving another 5 days of silence.  I wonder how 3 weeks of silence with hollow and empty meditations would be...one of these days we’ll hopefully offer a three week silence course program! 

We started day six with amazing Poojas and Homas.  I decided that no matter the cost, I would take all Sankalpas.  I was elated to be in every Sankalpa and also registered for the Spine Care course.  I still found sitting in Sukhasana for hours painful, but found myself going into deep meditations / samadhi.  These Poojas & Homas are so powerful, that even a beginner meditator can drop into a deep state of meditation in the field of sattva / consciousness created by the Vedic Sanskrit chantings.  I feel like these chantings encompass all religions.  I wonder if this amazing experience is how a Christian might feel in church prayers on Christmas Day / a Buddhist at a monastery sitting close to their master, a Muslim in a mosque on the last day of Ramadan, or even an Atheist maybe in nature at the top of Mount Everest.  My sister, an attorney, philosopher and atheist, has taken the Art of Living Happiness program and loved it.  I think she finds some of her greater moments of happiness on Lake Austin either boating / swimming in the lake.  It's amazing to see how quiet my little niece and nephew get when they are boating on Lake Austin...I love them dearly.

By the last day, day ten, I was tired from only sleeping five hours / night and having a sore back from sitting for hours each day.  We had a group breakout session for the internationals that Oct 2nd evening and I was half wanting to skip...I was exhausted from the go-go-go schedule of large group activities all day.  Earlier that day, I hit the onsite Internet cafe and emailed my nephew in Bangalore.  I craved seeing my nephew and cousin-brother and felt relieved at leaving the ashram for a few hours.  I wondered if I was restless / simply wanted to spend some time within my comfort zone as an introvert with just one or two other people vs. ten thousand...so I finalized plans and headed off to Jayanagar, a nearby suburb of Bangalore. 

Then it happened...we had a group breakout session for internationals at 5:30pm and I had a chance to lock eyes with Gurudev and get a smile from him.  That one look made me feel like I had slept for days and had the energy of a thousand elephants...well, maybe one really strong and happy elephant.  I was elated at having the chance to personally hand over a written letter to him from one of my dear classmates.  After our group session with Gurudev, I started walking outside and was grabbed by two of our Sri Sri University students.  They said, wait here, Gurudev's coming.  They said to tell Gurudev we are from Sri Sri University and I agreed hoping to get Gurudev's attention AGAIN!  I couldn't believe it...he saw me and I said “Gurudev, here's the Sri Sri University group” and he said, so lovingly, "ohhh."  I love it when he says "ohhh" with so much love.  He then asked me, "are you happy?" And I said "yes, very happy Gurudev."  I was so happy that I grabbed my fellow classmates and we hugged like we had just beat Pakistan in the world cup finals.  We then proceeded to walk with Gurudev for a little while before he literally took off like a rocket for the massive Satsang awaiting his arrival at 6:30pm or so.  I had never seen Gurudev move so quickly and was awed at how diverse we see our beloved...as still as Kapha can be and as dynamic as Milkha (reference to an amazing Hindi movie).

So off I went to return to the worldly life of seeing my family as I headed away from our heavenly ashram.

Longing to see my beloved again soon...may we aspire to be the unconditional love he lives by.  May we lift the Tamas & Rajas and leave each other in pure Sattva as he leaves us back to our worldly ways to share this joy with others.

In deep gratitude…may I meet you and give unconditional love.  As Gurudev says, may we give and give and give and give love...may love blossom and manifest from within our higher self or the big mind.  May we be his instrument for the music of healing and unconditional divine love.

 
Love & Jai Guru Dev,

An Aspiring Yogi