August 1, 2021
Dear reader,
We have arrived in the blessed month of August. Where I live in Melbourne, Australia, this means we are inching closer to the spring season. The month of August is hugely special to me. You may wonder why…
It’s because August is the month of Bhagavan Nityananda’s Punyatithi, which is a very auspicious occasion for all Siddha Yogis, and one that has come to be particularly meaningful for me. I have always experienced a special connection to Bhagavan Nityananda—or Bade Baba, as he is affectionately known. When I think about Bade Baba, my mind often goes back to a story from my childhood. My parents have recounted this story to me so many times that it might as well be their story!
The year was 2000. I was five years old and taking part in a small gathering with Gurumayi in the courtyard in Gurudev Siddha Peeth. At one point I had the opportunity to give Gurumayi a hug. Being the shy, reserved five-year-old child that I was back then, my immediate reaction was to inwardly shrivel up into a ball and play small. This absolutely showed in the way that I hugged Gurumayi—I looked down at the ground with my shoulders hunched and reciprocated her hug with tightly clenched fists.
Gurumayi sensed my uneasiness. She gently unclenched my hands and spoke to me about “Bade Baba hands.” She asked me to look at my hands, spread them wide open, and hold them up (emulating this photo of Bade Baba). Gurumayi told me that when I spread my Bade Baba hands and give someone a hug, whomever I’m hugging will receive Bade Baba’s darshan.
To this day, I hold the awareness that any time I hug someone, no matter who the person is, this very embrace could be enough to make their day, or maybe even change their life for the better. And during my daily life, whenever I sense that I am creeping back into my shell, I look at my hands and am instantly reminded of my deep connection to Bade Baba, and my shyness is dispelled.
This story is very special to me, and it is not one that I share often. August 8 marks the 60th anniversary of Bhagavan Nityananda’s Punyatithi, so I figured that if there was any time to share this story with you, it would be now!
At this time of year especially, Bade Baba’s presence feels as tangible as ever. When I attend a Celebration Satsang in honor of his Punyatithi, or even when I hear the soothing sounds of Nityanandam Brahmanandam in the Yaman Kalyan raga, feelings of comfort, peacefulness, and happiness well up within me.
Speaking of Celebration Satsangs… wasn’t the Siddha Yoga Celebration Satsang in Honor of Gurupurnima just so amazing? I was elated to read in the shares on the Siddha Yoga path website that many of you seized the golden opportunity to participate—and not just once, but multiple times. It reminded me of how my parents would create satsang again and again whenever they told the story of my Bade Baba hands.
Now I would like to share with you about another satsang that will soon be taking place. This is the Siddha Yoga Celebration Satsang in Honor of Bhagavan Nityananda’s Punyatithi: The August Presence of Bhagavan Nityananda.
When I learned that this is the title Gurumayi has given to the satsang—The August Presence of Bhagavan Nityananda—it tickled me pink. Those who know me are aware that I am a punster—I am always telling jokes that play on the multiple meanings of a word or phrase! I loved to see the word “August” in this title, since it has two meanings: it’s the name of the month and an adjective that can be used to describe Bade Baba. Of course, “august” as Gurumayi has used it here, is the latter. It means “eminent,” “venerable,” “hallowed,” and “noble.” It is a word applied to that which is glorious, grand, and uniquely splendid. This is precisely the experience of Bhagavan Nityananda most people have. They experience his stately, majestic presence, and the grandeur of his being. When people think of Bade Baba, what comes to mind—and what they feel in their heart—is the vastness of his presence.
From what I know so far, the elements of the Celebration Satsang will include the following:
The elements will be featured together on the Siddha Yoga path website beginning Saturday evening, August 7 (USA eastern daylight time), and they will be available until the end of August. You may participate in each of the elements on their own or in all of them sequentially. And remember: you can take part in the satsang whenever you like, and as many times as you please.
Earlier, I shared what Gurumayi had told me when I was younger: that when I spread my Bade Baba hands and use them when giving someone a hug, that person would receive Bade Baba’s darshan.
Little did I know that twenty-one years later I would get to experience the truth of Gurumayi’s words in a most immediate way—by sending you this invitation to the Celebration Satsang in honor of my beloved Bhagavan Nityananda, whose simple gesture of open hands has uplifted me, transformed my life, and made me a more loving person.
Be open to every aspect of this exquisite Celebration Satsang. I am already visualizing you there, savoring—and embracing—each moment.
Sincerely yours,
Rama Davies
Siddha Yoga Musician
My husband and I reside in an independent living community. Although previously he was always outgoing and friendly, he can no longer speak due to dementia. His new practice is to wave at our fellow residents. Everyone comments on how much they enjoy his ever-present wave and smile!
I realized it is an openhanded and openhearted gesture that befits his lifelong attitude. In fact, when we used to visit Shree Muktananda Ashram and he would see Gurumayi, he would often wave in the same way. The residents of our community, in turn, have started waving back in the same manner.
As I reflected on Rama's story about what Gurumayi taught him, and on the shares written in response, I am even more delighted in the effect my husband is creating in our community!
California, United States
Reading the lovely story that Rama tells in this invitation, I was reminded of a time I had Gurumayi’s darshan in Shree Muktananda Ashram. Gurumayi took my hands in hers and started massaging them. “You have big hands…” she said, “…big, strong hands.” And as she continued massaging them, she added, "You need strong hands to look after the cows.”
Because I had offered seva in the past in the cowshed in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, Gurumayi would often introduce me to people saying, “He looked after Baba's cows.” Looking at my hands now, I see that they are big like Bade Baba's hands and I like very much to give people hugs—big, open-handed, open-hearted hugs. Now that I’ve read Rama’s story, I can think of Bade Baba whenever I hug someone, and bring his joy and bliss into the embrace.
Peppermint Grove Beach, Australia
I am grateful for this story about the significance of Bade Baba's hands. I have read about Bade Baba's hands in the words of Baba ji and Gurumayi ji, who have emphasized that when he gave, he gave fully, holding nothing back. I have also often noticed Bade Baba's long, open hands in the photos and videos I have seen of him.
In 2020, when I studied Gurumayi’s Message with the Workbook for the Message, for one of the physicalizing exercises I would imagine Bade Baba’s hands. I named this experience “open-hand meditation.” When I would go for walks, I would often remind myself of “open-hand meditation” and I would walk with my hands open. Whenever I felt uncomfortable, I observed that my hands would make a tight fist; but as soon as I thought of Bade Baba ji, right away my fist would release.
After reading Rama’s story, I now feel that what has been happening is that I have been experiencing Bade Baba’s darshan in each of those moments.
New Jersey, United States
How blessed was Rama to have that childhood experience in which he received Gurumayi’s teaching about the open-handed darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda!
I too enjoy the power of puns and the word August in the title perfectly describes Bade Baba's magnanimous nature. When I read the full title Gurumayi had chosen for the Celebration Satsang in Honor of Bhagavan Nityananda’s Punyatithi, another pun revealed itself: the play between Presence and Presents! Indeed, Bade Baba continually "presents us with presents"—including those genuine treasures Rama reminds us are the qualities that people experienced in being with Bade Baba, such as his grandeur and majesty.
Colorado, United States
I, too, once saw Gurumayi gently, lovingly, carefully opening the hand of a young child. This stayed with me, deep in my imagination and heart.
In these challenging times, when I occasionally close myself off from others, reading this letter reminds me that to be able to receive grace and experience Bade Baba’s “August Presence,” I can open my hands and heart. In this way, not only can I open myself to grace, but I can also give to others.
Hindelang, Germany
What a generous and warm welcome to this golden August month! I am grateful to Rama for sharing the story of his five-year-old self. I felt his experience deeply and discovered how unconsciously I've been clenching my hands and thus my heart, trying to get a grip on things as these last months have held so much change. I opened myself to Gurumayi's advice and felt a glimmer of movement, a small opening, a whisper of grace. I realized that gripping more tightly only makes everything harder, and I vowed to be more open on every possible level. I am grateful to golden August, generous Bade Baba, and beloved Gurumayi for letting me see where I was and for leading me forward, for opening my fingers patiently and inviting me back to the Truth.
Washington, United States
I am grateful to Rama for sharing his experience of receiving Gurumayi's beautiful teaching featuring Bade Baba's hands. I can picture the scene of a shy five-year-old child receiving this compassionate teaching from Gurumayi--a teaching so perfect for him, a teaching that could serve him in that moment and for the rest of his life!
It moved me deeply because I, too, have taken great solace from Bade Baba's hands. During a challenging time in my life, I decided to practice returning my mind again and again to the image of Bade Baba's hands inviting me to let go, to stay open to life, open to learning, open to love.
I'm really looking forward to the August
satsang!
Castlemaine, Australia
Today I received the invitation to "The August Presence of Bhagavan Nityananda." I truly felt the Bade Baba hug that Rama so graciously offered through his share. The timing was perfect. I am facing a health challenge and was wondering how to care for myself practically during this time. I feel uplifted and supported knowing that Bade Baba will help me through this difficult time.
Michigan, United States
I am grateful to Gurumayi for giving this rich teaching to a small boy, who is now a man passing this gift on to all of us.
I think of how much more I will be giving to my grandchildren and loved ones when I hug them consciously with open Bade Baba hands.
I am grateful to Bade Baba for his open heart and open hands ever holding us.
Thornbury, Australia
I am looking forward to "The August Presence Of Bhagavan Nityananda"
satsang. I am grateful to Rama for sharing his story, which I can relate to. I am now keeping Bhagavan Nityananda's hands front and center in my heart. To know that I can offer Bade Baba's
darshan to others through a hug—while remembering him and his presence in my hands—is awesome.
New York, United States
“The August Presence of Bhagavan Nityananda”—what a perfect title for the Celebration Satsang in Honor of Bade Baba's Punyatithi!
Yesterday, on August 1, I was reciting
Shri Guru Gita in Hridayadeep Hall in Gurudev Siddha Peeth. Suddenly, I felt like reciting the verses with my full voice, with my full being, so that Bade Baba could hear me in Ganeshpuri! I could visualize the whole Tansa Valley and wanted to offer
Shri Guru Gita to this sacred land. I visualized Vajreshwari Temple, and could feel the
shakti of the Siddhas all around me! I was feeling so blessed!
During the day, I was pulled to have Bade Baba's
darshan again and again. When I read this invitation, I understood how it was connected to my experience. So indeed the celebration of August has begun!
a Gurukula student in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, India
I am grateful that Rama shared his beautiful story of his encounter with Gurumayi. This is a story we can share with so many of our children and indeed young adults who have become shy about resuming personal contacts after the isolation required by the pandemic.
Mougins, France
What a truly beautiful and inspiring letter! I am grateful to Rama for opening his hands and heart to share with all of us the life-transforming
darshan experience he had as a child with Gurumayi.
I look forward to participating in this August
satsang, and to making sure my hands are open wide when I give hugs. I have a feeling that Rama will be in for a lot of hugs after people read his invitation!
California, United States