The love in the air was more than tangible. It was expansive. It was scintillating. It was permeated with a profound feeling of gratitude.
The families smiled brightly, excitedly, as Swami Ishwarananda introduced the sacred practice of darshan.
Over the years, artists young and old have prepared offerings to Gurumayi in the form of performances. When they have expressed their wish to Gurumayi to make such an offering during darshan, Gurumayi has referred them to the musical offerings coordinator. Therefore, today as the participants prepared for darshan, Swami ji invited anyone who wished to make a musical offering to speak with a sevite in the Music Department.
Swami ji then began to give a detailed explanation of the logistics of how to come forward for darshan.
Gurumayi saw that the children were already picking up their gift bags to offer, and said, “I see they’re ready for darshan. Swami ji, you don’t need to continue to give instructions; they will know what to do.”
Swami ji, unfazed, nodded and said “Yes.”
One by one, the families began coming forward to make their offerings to Gurumayi and receive her love and blessings.
Although we have been so fortunate to receive Gurumayi’s darshan time and again and also to offer seva for darshans for many years, the experience of receiving darshan personally and observing others receiving darshan is always indescribable.
It was moving to see participants of all ages expressing their gratitude and devotion to Gurumayi. Many of the children had come prepared with offerings—drawings they had made, letters they had written, and songs they had rehearsed.
The parents were eager to share vignettes reflecting the children’s deep wishes to meet Gurumayi and their love for the Siddha Yoga path.
Gurumayi gave her full attention to each family, to each participant.
As one family from Sydney came forward, Gurumayi warmly greeted them with “Australia!” Gurumayi embraced the children and said again and again, “It’s so good to see you.”
As their mother took her seat near Gurumayi’s chair with a loving smile, their father animatedly shared with Gurumayi how their five-year-old daughter had really wanted to see Gurumayi during their visit to Shree Muktananda Ashram. When she’d shared this wish with him, he saw her yearning and suggested she write this down in her “wish book.” Just hours later, they received the invitation to participate in this very satsang with Gurumayi, Recognizing Divinity!