This was the first time i attended Guru Purnima celebration n my first AOL event in states as well.. earlier to this i did all my courses in Bangalore Ashram and hadnt met any AOL members @ states.. so when i booked for advance course .. i was wondering how it would be ..not knowing anyone in the event other than Gurudev himself :-) .. but thot its more than enough to know Gurudev and HE will take care of the rest ..
the day i was leaving to chicago i received a call from one of the organizers .. asking me to be a group leader for the advance course as it had arnd 1000 participants.
once i reached the venue met that teacher (Gaurav) who happened to be incharge of our advance course and meditation hall(where satsangs happened everyday).. so right away i started seva with few others in arranging big hall and we really had fun time doing so .. people came in asking me for some seva and we all enjoyed sharing n distributing seva .. i was so busy that few organizers asked me to take one hour break before satsang .. even before i could think of taking a break..the teacher incharge of Guruji's stage .. came up to me ..gave me silk cloth, aasan and everything which needs to go on stage n asked me to arrange everything all alone .. i was more than surprised ..cudnt thank Gurudev enough for giving me this wonderful opportunity .. after arranging everything i was right next to the stage .. incase Guruji needs anything..
that night Gurudev came in late for satsang directly from airport ..it was around 9 pm .. was so happy to meet HIM after one year n one month.. juz a glance n smile from HIM was enough for the tears to roll down.. .. everyone's face brightened .. HE sang b'fully and before leaving asked us to sleep with these words.. " Baby i am there to take care of you" He asked us to juz be with the voice and not to put a face to it ..
we were a big crowd in our part II course .. and each group had 50 - 55 members and we had amazing teachers who made our exp so special.. this was the first time i was attending any course with Tanu Maa .. we all are very familiar with Rishiji ..but not as much with Tanu Maa .. during this course found out that she's as amazing as Rishiji himself .. her experiences made everyone feel @ home and after each meditation when Gurudev says Asangoham punah punaha.. tht was the sweetest voice i cud eva wake up with after going deep in each meditation ..n become more n more hollow n empty ..
Everyday @ noon we had Bhagwad Gita sessions with Gurudev (was waiting for this opportunity for over a year to listen Gita from Krsna himself ) the way HE explains .. makes it so simple and so many stories to accompany made us want more n more .. and it was followed by guided meditation by Gurudev .. this was outta world experience ..coz i cud feel HIS presence thro' out every meditation and also was covered with Sandalwood fragrance (juz another reason for tears to roll down) .. it was so easy to go deep within and also saw something like a movie ..was able to hear voices as well .. cudnt feel any more blessed .. i remember Gurudev saying that Guru Poornima is the time for any seeker to feel that gratitude.. look back n see the spiritual growth happened in one year .. i could feel this gratitude grow more n more every moment as each experience was betta than the previous one..
evening satsangs were totally divine .. Gurudev sang a bhajan Hari Narayan Hare .. this was the first time i eva heard that bhajan ..and it was so melodious to hear it from HIM .. maybe this sounds crazy ..but Love towards Divine multiplied every moment .. felt like saying ..his smile is so cute .. his words are so sweet .. his sessions are outta world ..guided meditation totally blissful :-).. not once did i feel the craving to rush behind him or wait for him ..or go to his kutir (pent house) and meet HIm .. coz i cud feel his presence every moment ..
but HE amazed me with so many surprises .. i met HIM in elevator .. juz while walking down the corridor .. and best of all was the day i wanted to gift Bhanu didi a saree .. came to know that she was with Guruji when i went to her room .. was hesitating to go to Gurudev's kutir as it wud be crowded .. so while i was telling my friend that i hesitate to go to his kutir ... the elevator opened and Gurudev was standing right there .. with so many behind HIM .. was way too surprised .. He was juz 2 " away from me.. standing there smiling .. was totally excited seeing HIM .. hugged HIM :-)
He also met us one - one state wise .. and had a chance to speak with him for long ..gave HIM all the letters from the members of the community..
every evening many devotees would go for a walk with Gurudev in the park front of the hotel ..
finally it was Guru Poornima Day and we were all still in silence.. we had space meditation before coming outta silence.. in this meditation when Gurudev asks us to travel miles in each direction .. i saw a marble Idol of Lord Krsna .. so afterwards asked my friend if theres a Krsna temple in that direction ..cudnt belv myself whn she confirmed d same being in chicago .. so after coming outta silence .. we had a chance to meet Gurudev one-one and had taken Angavastra to gift HIM on Guru Poornima day ..cudnt feel more blessed to gift Angavastra and Guru Dakshina to Gurudev on this blissful day
evening around 5 pm we had Guru Puja .. this was the first time i saw Gurudev doing Guru Puja .. and after that all of us sang Guru Paduka Stotram .. felt so divine to be inmdist of a crowd of 3000 on Guru Purnima Day..
next day again had Gurudev's darshan twice and before leaving i visited HIM and took prasad for my children .. till date tht smile is fixed n feels like my heart n soul is with HIM .. totally hollow n empty ...still in tht blissful state ..
would suggest that once in our lifetime all of us should be with our Guru on Guru Poornima Day, miracles happen way beyond our imagination !!!
Shloka and Translation
"Asangoham, asangoham, asangoham punah punah:
Satchidananda roopoham, ahamevahamvyayah:
Nitya shudda vimuktoham, nirvikarohm avyayah:
Bhoomandandaswaroopoham, ahamevahamavyayah:
Nityoyam niravadyoyam nirakarohamachyatha:
Paramananda swaroopoham, ahamevahamvyayah:
Anatar jyoti bahir jyoti, pratyak jyoti paratparah:
Jyoti jyoti ahamswayam jyoti, atma jyoti shivosmyham"
"Unattached, unattached, unattached, am I (to the body, mind, intellect,
I alone and changeless exist in the form of consciousness and bliss.
I am ever pure and free, without change of form and nature.
I am ever full- I alone exist changeless.
I am eternal and without boundaries, immutable and unshakable,
I alone exist I changeless in the form of consciousness and bliss.
Effulgence am I both inside and outside,
The light which is apparent as well as transcendent.
Light of all lights, self effulgent, the light of the atman,
Filled with auspiciousness am I"
Jai Gurudeva :-)
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