Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Dear reader,
Shubh Gurupurnima!
I cannot begin to describe to you the state of my heart ever since the month of July came on the horizon. I already felt as though my heart was being bathed over and over again in the Guru’s grace each day of June, the month of Birthday Bliss. And then before I knew it, July had arrived, bringing with it the joyous celebration of Gurupurnima, this most auspicious occasion to remember and offer worship to my Guru.
Every year I feel that the celebration of Gurupurnima couldn’t possibly be grander than the last. However, it always is. That’s the beauty of the Guru’s light, isn’t it? That’s the profundity of the Guru’s grace. That’s the generosity of the Guru’s blessings. That’s the nature of the Guru’s wisdom and the nectarean essence of the Guru’s love.
You may have already decided how you want to celebrate Gurupurnima this year. I’m sure your intention and plans are shining with your devotion, your commitment, and the fruits of your sadhana.
Now, would you like to know what Gurumayi has in store for you on the Siddha Yoga path website? I think you would. So let me share with you.
In honor of Gurupurnima, I invite you to participate in the Siddha Yoga Celebration Satsang The Power of Gratitude.
This satsang will take place on the Siddha Yoga path website, and it will become available as the Gurupurnima celebration dawns in the Eastern hemisphere. The satsang will consist of the following sequence of elements:
- Recitation of Shri Guru Paduka Panchakam
- These five verses, which are traditionally recited at the start of Shri Guru Gita, extol the Guru’s shakti as it is embodied in the Guru’s padukas, or sandals.
- Chanting with Gurumayi
- This is a video that was recorded in the Shakti Mandap in Shree Muktananda Ashram during the celebration of Gurupurnima in 2001. The namasankirtana, which was composed by Gurumayi, is the classic chant for Gurupurnima—Om Gurudev.
- Dharana and Meditation
- This dharana, the centering technique for meditation, was created especially for this year’s Gurupurnima celebration.
In addition to the satsang elements, you will be able to watch and listen to a talk by a Siddha Yoga meditation teacher about the Guru’s grace, and to sing the Mahalakshmi Stotram as part of your practice of dakshina in honor of Gurupurnima.
One amazing thing about having this satsang available on the Siddha Yoga path website is that you may participate at whatever time works for you. You may even participate multiple times, if you wish. I am particularly excited to invite you to participate in this satsang with Gurumayi—The Power of Gratitude—because I have had the opportunity to offer seva working on many of the satsang elements, and have been experiencing so much gratitude. Once all the elements were complete, I realized that the satsang is like a true bhandara—a feast—that nourishes the heart, mind, and soul.
In every decade, every century, every millennium, the world goes through so much upheaval. Gurumayi has taught us that this is the way of samsara, the ocean of worldliness. However, by practicing the Siddha Yoga teachings, we learn how to navigate the many and varied events of our lives—both those that we can predict and those that we cannot. It’s like a surfer out on the choppy waters. They have, through consistent practice, acquired the knowledge of how to ride waves of so many different heights and speeds. But even they will, from time to time, encounter a wave that catches them off guard—a wave that is bigger than the ones before it, that curls faster than they could have expected. The surfer’s skill is in their ability to adjust to that unforeseen circumstance, to recover and maintain their balance, and to keep gliding on the gleaming water.
Similarly, we become adept at managing the roiling waters of samsara as we make the effort to live by the Siddha Yoga teachings, perform the Siddha Yoga practices, and continue to connect with the power of gratitude. Each moment of the Siddha Yoga Celebration Satsang in Honor of Gurupurnima will be a blessed moment. Therefore, as you participate in the satsang, be in the moment.
Sincerely,
Gauri Maurer
Siddha Yoga Meditation Teacher
I am elated to know we can celebrate the Guru's benevolent light together by participating in the special Gurupurnima Satsang. Our collective intention to offer our gratitude to the Guru fills me with good feeling and connects me to the light of my Self.
Apollo Bay, Australia
I loved the invitation’s portrayal of how surfers need to learn how to navigate choppy waves. I know that my commitment to the Siddha Yoga path has taught me how to better “surf” through the waves of my life.
I recently was thinking about how the Siddha Yoga teachings and practices have taught me to discover—and live from—the calm place that exists within me. I’m grateful that I’ve learned how to better deal with both the challenges and the opportunities that come my way, without letting my emotions throw me off balance.
I've also come to understand that even when I feel lost, the space of peace and guidance—the Self—is still inside me. It will never leave me. I have learned that if I just keep pursuing my
sadhana, I will connect with it again, in time.
The Siddha Yoga path is truly a life-changing voyage!
North Carolina, United States
I received this letter as a bolt of
shakti. I felt included, loved, and reassured by Gurumayi’s presence. I could feel the Guru’s blessings settling into the innermost recesses of my heart. What gifts Gurupurnima bestows!
Massachusetts, United States
I am so excited to be able to join in the Celebration Satsang in Honor of Gurupurnima very soon. I am especially thrilled about taking part in the chanting of Om Gurudev. I had the great good fortune of being present during the recording of this chant in the Shakti Mandap. I was 18 years old and sat near the front, close to Shri Gurumayi. I remember the bliss I experienced during this chant and the wonderful atmosphere of being with Shri Gurumayi, along with many other Siddha Yogis.
I am looking forward to chanting Om Gurudev and immersing myself in all the aspects of the Gurupurnima Celebration Satsang.
Guelph, Canada
I am so thankful for this beautiful invitation to the special Gurupurnima Satsang! I resonated deeply with Gauri’s creative reminder of how the Siddha Yoga teachings and practices, infused with the Guru’s grace, provide support for all the fluctuations inherent in life.
While I cannot remove the challenging circumstances I sometimes encounter—whether in my work or my daily life with family and friends—I am deeply grateful for the support of the Siddha Yoga practices and teachings in learning how to better manage these circumstances.
New York, United States