Dinesh and Bawa

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Monday, September 1, 2008

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  

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58 comments:

nands said...

Simply delicious !

Vivek Barun said...

Superb Dinesh Bhaiya,
I just love the way you write.

hrishikesh said...

hurray!!
ping mamu! ping mamu! ping mamu!
ping ping ping mamu!:)

hrishikesh said...

this advance course transformed my life. really unbelieveable it was. one of the most powerful experience was trip to vm frm khodays on the bus top. there i no need to tell how the coures was:)

venu said...

Dinesh, i really enjoyed the style of ur narration . it was a meditative trip , the feel of energy.

Tyagabuddhi is some thing iam reflecting on.

Tyaga is giving up some thing with the understanding of the higher.

can u share some thing more about tyaga

thank u ,
venu

vishal said...

"Bhakt bhagwan ko sirf bhav se bandh sakte hai". WOW

Dilkhush said...

JAI GURU DEV :)
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE PRECIOUS MOMENTS !!!

GURU ANG SANG,

Anonymous said...

ooo you made my day..
my PC has stopped working at home..i am accessing net from office ont he sly,,defeated all security..haha..Swati M

Anonymous said...

Jai gurudev Bhaiya ,
thank you so much for writing...I was eagerly waiting for this one
It brought back all those beautiful memories that I had during the advance course.... thanks a lot bhaiya
love you loads

RBK..!! said...

wow Dinu-da...you really have described the experience that i had alongside many others in a Fantastic manner...specially the view of the ashram from our room was really amazing!!!

Bhanuja Sharma said...

Im glad to have been refreshed of all those heavenly days spent at the ashram... and I wonder how amazing it is to even feel that Guru g's presence thru these lines by u!

Thanks for putting up this post, Dinesh bhaiya :)..and also a bigger one for being an amazing teacher :)

Lots of love,
Jai Gurudeva
Bhanuja

Bhavesh said...

memories refreshed of the course.
I had wonderful time in the ashram.
Looking forward for December advance course.

Cheers

hrishikesh said...

the rudra puja after the advance course was amazing.
the rudra puja was=the advance course.
satsangs were(dont have words actually)

sukeerti said...

ahhhh! Bhaiya u reminded me of the beautiful time we had during this adv. crs.. Anyways amazingly written. Keep writing more & more. I'll b waiting.And by d way one of the disgruntled participant you taught to flush the toilet was me.

lots of luv
sukeerti

Labelled This And That said...

Thank you so much Dinesh bhaiya !! Aaj subah se I was thinking about the YES + Adv @ Ashram and all the masti we had...I woke up with this one thought in my head...something that you had told us at the course... 'Karam phal ki siddhi satva se hoti hai and satva se hoti hai aur satva badta hai sashna, seva aur satsang se'... lately work has not been going to well and I just realised that I hadnt done much seva for the whole of last month !!! Its amazing how clues like these pop up early morning...wow, I digressed too much...thank you so much for the post ! I feel rejuvnated after reading it and seeing all our pics ! Jai Gurudev !

komal said...

JGD Dinesh Bhaiyya,
i was thinking of your last post and was going to ask for more and all of a sudden your post pops up on the blog...
yes i cant wait to come home....
the yes+advanced course was the most amazing thing that happened in my life....wish i could be there for the one in september... see u soon ill be back in november...JGD...

Unknown said...

wow it brought back my memories of my first advanced course in the ashram and how when we opened silence we saw Gurudev himself in front of us and that froze everything that time. The romance between Nature and Ashram was beautifully written. loved every word... we want more posts from you for our reading delight and your perfect insight into things.... love, JGD

komal said...

JGD .. dinesh da ..
i also love the pictures.. especially the ones of Guruji..

vp said...

hmm you are not reading my blog....

http://thehumanmind.blogspot.com

very bad very bad

Anonymous said...

HI Dinesh:).....just yesterday i was wondering when i was going to get to read nething written by you...and today..get to read your beautiful write up...just like you didnt know i could paint so well...i dint know you could write sooo well ;)...Kidding!!! Whenever i read anything by you or bau i feel very very close to guruji...like im there too...i LOVED Guruji s bye bye photo and of course yours with the elephant bums!!!!!!..:)

Monica said...

oh wow :) this is THE post :)
terrific pictures too.
Yes!++ is simply the best thing...
and that with Guruji in the Ashram
...Home :)
Love you BnD :)
Love You Guruji. Such a Cute pic He's given us. hhaahaha :D
Jai Gurudeva :)

Trinaa said...

waaaaaaaaaaaahh...i missed it :(

Monica said...

Guruji's photo is really very very Nice... Wow, so Beautiful.
Just Perfect...
Love You Guruji :D

Monica said...

Ashram ... :D every particle bursting with His Grace and Love.
Wow :D

Harsha Vardhan M.V said...

ah!another post from dinesh bhaiyaa..
needless to say it is amazing ...
plz post more often bhaiyya
love reading them
jgd

Anonymous said...

Dear Dinesh bhaiyya,
this is sooo beautiful! i woke up this morning missing the Ashram, and your post has brought me closer to home. hugs 2 you and bawa all the way from suriname-south america...when are you coming here?
jgd
madhvi

Anonymous said...

Dear Bawa.
Your narrative about life in the ashram made me feel like I was actually in the ashram with guruji.I've not been to the ashram since 2005 and you brought alive the fond memories and bliss that is the ashram. Had tears in my eyes toward the end!wish I could be there soonn.

Jai Gurudev..
Love.

Ajay said...

Hey hey
It's Dinesh bhaiya again..wow

Your post reminded of my first advance course (June 17-22, 08)...Ashram, Khodays, Kitchen Top and Guruji...how amazing experience that was.
And ya, please ask Baba to leave some birthday celebration for Hyderabad as well (when you both visit Hyderabad for Utsav from Sep 24 to Sep 27)...:)

Jai Gurudev
'J'

Anonymous said...

Oooh...I missed it...JGD

Gayatri said...

DADA...U ALMOST MADE ME CRY WITH D SPEECHLESS MEMORIES OF MA FIRST ADVANCE COURSE.....U KNOW EVEN D THOUGHT BRINGS SO LOT OF BLISSFULNESS IN MEE DAT I CANT EVEN EXPRESS!!!!!!AND D THING WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO 4GET IS THE SIGHT AND MEETING OF GURUJI EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....KEEP POSTING PING MAMU...!!!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic job dineshdada...
u should write more often...
love u ...ankita

Unknown said...

:) :):):)[can't express what I'm feeling after reading this] :) :) :)

Anonymous said...

jai guru dev bhaiyaa......
very attractive pics, really feeling like flying to aashram. wish to be in the ashram for advance course as soon as poossible.

Anonymous said...

Bau, you seem to have lost weight again. Hope you're taking care of your health...you take fabulous care of all of us though !

Abhilasha said...

wow Dinesh Bhaiya..Thanks for the TREAT...FINALLY!!!

Just like this we'll rock the Hyderabad Utsav from 24th to 27th Sep...what say :)

Jai Gurudev
Abhilasha

Johann said...

wonderfully written...
i love it dinesh bhaiya!

planning to go to the yes+ adv. course asap. :)

Japleen said...

Reading you for the first time. i liked it.
Jai Gurudeva:)

Pooja said...

hes the bigggggggggggg bosssssssssssssss!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

simply superb...it was like reliving the awesome course! yay! i will do bau special advance course!

Unknown said...

simply .amazing. Bed time story . Nice to read before going to bed

Deep said...

Dinesh bhaiya!!!!
Jai Guru Dev!!!!!!!

This is why I always wait for your post. Every morning I wake and see have Dinesh bhaiya posted today???
Great.
Particularly, description of Ashram ambience was amazing and of unique style.

Advanced course revived again!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

wow...that has to be your longest one by far!!loved it...miss Ashram..need an advance course:-(...EXAMS...WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!

Anonymous said...

dinesh bhaiya i loved ur post.this was my first advance course n u reminded me of the beautiful days i had spent in the ashram.n im also there in the photo tht u hv put in.this bought a broader smile on my face.plz keep postin more.
jai gurudev
tons n tons of love,
radheeka singh.

atmarati avirodhena said...

wowww dinesh bhaiya :):)

and wowww some more :):):):)

Anonymous said...

Ping mamu? dada? Oh how funny nicknames you've got ;)
Your writing style outshines the best and it simply took me out for a trip in ashram just by sitting here in Mauritius! And ya nature out there leaves us with no choice but to fall in love..
Wowww Guruji's looking soooo cute :) and so are you :)

richa said...

wow... thanks a lot bhaiya for posting this... it just refreshed the memories of the beautiful days spent in this advanced course..

feeling very calm and happy after reading this...

richa said...

i am reading it again and again, every line is so beautifully written, and u rightly explained the ashram's magical atmosphere..
amazing..

and o, i am delighted to see myself in our group pic..

mystupendoussalvation said...

Jai Gurudev Bhaiya,
I want to ask you abt the advance course Yes +. Bhaiya I want to do it. I havent enrol for it yet. Can you please suggest me wat 2 do? what is the course fee? N I am from panipat, will that be possible for me to come n be the part of this course. My email id is richagoel17@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

tears running down my face...

The sweetest memories of all time :)

I feel close! :)

Jai Gurudev!

Anonymous said...

thanx dineshda
really such an awesome post,flash back of 5days being in ashram n advance course in presence of guruji.
really dat was the time what is GURU in life?
just bliss,grattitude
thanx once again
n really loved ur life story dineshda
Love you bau n dineshda
jgd!

Girish said...

superb dineshbhai,,,,its was amazing at KHODAYS jst as we reached guruji was thr to check all the arrangements ....it was unimaginable......

Unknown said...

now i admire you for your delicious writing as well :D


I luv the way it is presented Bhaiya... :D

Looking forward to meet you soon in Hyderabad :)

saravana.

Anonymous said...

yipeee.....!!!!!!
i am one of the lucky ones to attend the adv course..and its my first one...
am all the more exited now @!!!!!!

Regards
Deep
Jai Guru Dev !!!!:))))))))))))))

Anonymous said...

Dear Dinesh Bhaiyya,

Afterall the with has been worth it. And loads of thanks for penning down your thoughts on our behest.(just trying to appropriate the credit:-)).

The blog has given some solace to the heart that's aching from separation of my beloved Ashram.

Please do keep Writing more and more..
Also thanks for inspiring me to get on with my Blog...

You are just plain marvelous.

jaigurudev!
Raghav
Gurupurnima yes++ batch

Anonymous said...

Jgd..
Simply Ammmmaazzzzzzing :))))

Abhi said...

Love Bawa's pic teaching math..
It captures the thrill he experiences while teaching.

This is a picture of a man who is really living.

gauri said...

all my memories have become fresh again...its feeling as if i did the course yesterday only...
u have describes it all so beautifully ..:)

Anonymous said...

wow!
what a narration ! it is so picturesque!..thanks for sharing!!!

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