Ashram Memories

Last YES!+ advanced course in the ashram was a Sattvic blast!


600 young people from all over India and a sprinkling from abroad arrived at the ashram for the YES!+ advance course. The sad part was that we had to refuse a little over 200 ‘cos the ashram was stretched to capacity (acco wise) and they were not quick enough to act on the registration (habits, patterns, old and new impressions made them believe everything can be done by trying in the last minute of the eleventh hour). Alas!

The excitement in the air was at its peak since four fifths of them were coming to the ashram for the first time. It reminded me of my first advance course back in ‘95 and how we could feel the energy from a few kilometers away while riding in the bus on route to the ashram.

By the way, those who came a day earlier (always a good idea) were treated to a session of Mathemagic with Bawa.


The YES!+ stay was in Khodays – a hostel style acco just across the ashram border, very much like the IIT hostel I stayed in with 280 rooms with 4 wings (2 for girls and 2 for boys).


Some of the early birds who arrived first chose the rooms closer to the stairs to avoid walking all the way down the corridor and others chose to leave that convenience to those coming later. The later who thought about others were rewarded with the best view of the entire ashram from their rooms.


Coincidentally that night Guruji spoke about Tyagabuddhi (an attitude of sacrifice), how you open yourself to receiving the highest with tyaga. I felt the creation is truly a play of paradoxes – when you let go something dear, the best gets to you.

I visited and saw the rooms they were staying in in the afternoon and taught a few disgruntled participants to flush the toilet. Guruji also visited in the night and he too went into the rooms and even in the toilets to see everything was in order. I felt good about myself for having the foresight to check everything and not to mention that the girls and the boys in their night clothes were thrilled to bits seeing him when they least expected… and prayed most…

The day of talking was incredibly boisterous and yet it brought an amazing sense of serenity in its passing. You have heard about the evening in Roma and an evening in Paris, but the evening in the ashram is something to live for and sing about. Ashram is an enchanting land, sizzling with magic at every step. Steeped in tradition, rooted in ancient wisdom and dazzling with new born freshness. The evening in the ashram ambience is when nature shamelessly romances and flirts with the spirit of every thing and every being – trees, clouds, birds, animals, humans and even stones. The cool weather and the heady and lingering breeze caressing the leaves in the trees and delightfully ruffling the garments on the body and anything that falls in its way. The ashram breeze copiously suffused with sattva never fails to tickle my prana to an intoxicating high!


As silence descended over the ashram, the love became more and more dense, intense and palpable. The meditations were blissful, the processes; thought silencing and joy provoking.

Teeny weeny tiny bit of discontent that people had for staying in Khoday’s and doing the advance course in kitchen top and not in Vishalakshi, was soon doused by an overwhelming sense of contentment. We usually go to a shrine or a place of worship and meditate there to soak in the pure and powerful vibrations of sattva there. Imagine living in it the whole day, makes every cell of the being pulsating and sparkling with Sssshivaaa energy…


The divine is singing to you through the birds. (Guruji had once started a meditation with that line). So true!!! When all the birds are celebrating their evening home coming, the participants too were feeling more and more by the day that they have reached home. And truly there is no place on the planet like home.

On day three, Guruji came to the session and walked in between rows of jubilant participants and mass hysteria (more of miss hersteria).


And yet everyone was disciplined and hence Guruji had the freedom to do what he wanted and needed. More than pushing one selves onto him, the youngsters followed the principle of pulling him to them by their devotion and intensity of longing. After the darshan (blessings), we all sat silently with eyes closed and immersed ourselves with the shower of blessings.

The knowledge that Guruji showered in Satsang was delicious, delectable and delightful about which I will blog here and there.


The last day after the last process, as everyone opened their eyes, there was Guruji sitting in the teacher’s seat. People rubbed their eyes, they jumped out of their seats cos for the life of them, they could not believe that Guruji was actually there. It took a full half hour of spontaneous sharing by almost everyone how they were praying deeply that Guruji should come right away. And Guruji had to make an absolutely unscheduled visit to be with them. It is said “Bhakt bhagavan ko sirf bhav se bandh sakte hai”. You can pull god only with devotion.

And He in turn pulls you totally by his love. Give the best of your excuses, but you will get pulled to the ashram on 9th September for the 10-14 September (Bawa’s Birthday Special) YES!+ Advance Course.

And here's Guruji saying bye before leaving on a day trip to Mysore this morning after Rudra Pooja...


Jai Gurudev
love
Dinesh