I was able to spend some time today looking at the wonderful pictures of the Chanting Tour. There is so much love, so much shakti in these radiant faces. Thank you to all the sevites for writing shares and taking pictures. In each picture, I can feel love, concentration, and the power of chanting. It was so heartwarming to see people I haven’t seen for such a long time. Although Australia is so many miles away from France physically, for me, looking at these pictures was like sharing the Chanting Tour with my close family.
Thank you so much for your seva and for being such loving people.
Paris, France
I haven't been able to access the Siddha Yoga path website for some days because we have been moving house. When I was able to log on this morning, I looked at the abundant information and images from the Chanting Tour and was filled with joy. The images of nature are breathtakingly beautiful. The adults in the pictures are all smiling with such spontaneous and unself-conscious joy, and the children's faces are radiant, open, and pure.
Thank you so much, Gurumayi, for initiating this wondrous Chanting Tour, which brings us together from all over the world as a community of love. I am so grateful to all the Siddha Yoga sevites who have made it possible to connect in this way.
Barnt Green, United Kingdom
When I look at these pictures, I experience the existence of God in every face: in the children, young adults, and older Siddha Yogis. I feel the existence of God in the birds, flowers, sea; in the water, waves, rocks, cars, suitcases—in everything. These auspicious sights turn my focus within, and I experience complete stillness. I hear an inner voice say, "This is God; respect it."
And, when I remember Baba's teaching: Parasparo Devo Bhava—"See God in each other"—tears come to my eyes.
Thank you, Shri Gurumayi, for your love and grace. I feel renewed and uplifted.
Yavatmal, India
As I delight in the precious photos of the children, a prayer bubbles up from my heart: "Lord, may I please chant with the exuberance, innocence, and purity of a child!"
New York, USA
The photos of Siddha Yogis chanting by the ocean, offering blessings, and receiving blessings from nature transported me—I was right there with them. There is no distance or time separating us. This continues as I experience the beauty of Australia and all of the beaming faces of Siddha Yogis participating in this amazing tour—and the faces of the babies laughing and watching in wonderment.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for using the tools of the 21st century to divinely connect all of us to the Chanting Tour! Thank you for making it possible for us all to experience Satyam Shivam Sundaram through chanting. No matter where we are, we are chanting together!
California, USA
Looking at the photos of the participants in the Siddha Yoga Chanting Tour brought tears to my eyes and amazement to my heart! Chanting the name of the Lord surely makes one beautiful!
Thank you for sharing the precious pictures and shares of the Siddha Yoga Chanting Tour with all of us around the world. Once again we are uplifted by Gurumayi's grace.
California, USA
Thank you for the beautiful pictures from the Chanting Tour! The sharings and pictures uplift me every day. When I see the children and young adults participating as a unified ensemble, I feel grateful to each of them. They are the foundation that will continue the Siddha Yoga path into the future. My heart is filled with joy!
Thank you, beloved Gurumayi. You make this life divine. And thank you to the Siddha Yogis in Australia and all around the world who are helping to make this Chanting Tour possible.
Georgia, USA
I have been offering home seva for the chanting tour and speaking by telephone with my seva partner in Australia. There is so much joy and love in these conversations, and sometimes, even in my sleep, I feel as if I'm in Australia.
Recently, in the middle of the night, I started to hear sounds, one musical note and then another. The sounds woke me up and I lay in bed trying to figure out what I was hearing and where it was coming from.
As more and more notes became available, I realized it was the mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, in a raga that I had heard only once at Shree Muktananda Ashram, and had never been able to recall or repeat.
"Where is this coming from?" I thought. And immediately I heard the word 'Australia!' "They are chanting this in Australia! They are preparing for the tour! Their sweet voices have followed some underground stream to my heart." The mantra continued all night long, like a lullaby and it continued the next day, and is now on the tip of my tongue all the time. The next time I spoke with my seva partner I shared my experience.
"We have been chanting a version of the mantra I've never heard before," she said. "What did you hear?" When she heard the sounds she began to laugh. "That's it!" she said. "That's what we've been chanting!"
We both got goose bumps and laughed and laughed the way you do when in a moment the world is more perfect and beautiful than you have ever let yourself imagine.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for providing a connection that is more profound than email or telephone. Thank you for showing us, every day, the rhythm of the one Heart, the one Consciousness, that embraces us all.
I love the mantra! I love you!
Massachusetts, USA
Every day, at least once a day, I visit the Siddha Yoga path website. It is so inspiring and calming to know that every single time I enter the website, I will and do experience great joy and insight. How amazing is that! How remarkable! What a gift of grace! I enjoy the surprises. The website uses technology in the most exalted way. It is connecting, it is transformative.
My heart opened wide this morning when I opened to the latest pictures of the Siddha Yoga Chanting Tour: Australia 2014. It is truly
Satyam Shivam Sundaram!
Thank you, Gurumayi, for your vision for the Siddha Yoga path website that brings all of our hearts so close together and unites us. Your love is weaving a web of healing grace around the world.
New York, USA
I love seeing these photos of the Chanting Tour in Australia! Seeing the images helps me connect to the excitement, playfulness, exuberance, and joy the sevites and participants are so clearly experiencing.
It's also wonderful to get a peek inside the Siddha Yoga Ashrams and meditation centers, and to experience the sacredness of each place and the love and devotion of the seekers in each place. I especially love seeing the images of all the young people who are participating.
I will check the Siddha Yoga path website every day to see the newest photos of the Chanting Tour. Thank you for including all of us around the world in this way—and so many others!
California, USA
This morning (March 22, Australian time), I will offer seva as a vocal musician for the opening program of the Siddha Yoga Chanting Tour: Australia 2014.
I awoke unusually early this morning—at 2:30 a.m.—and rather than remain resting, decided to visit the Siddha Yoga path website to begin this auspicious day. I read Swami Indirananda's beautiful account of the recitation of Sri Guru Gita in honor of the tour and viewed the many photos from that morning, including Ishan's departure for Australia. Ishan has now arrived, my friends, and we are so grateful!
Yesterday evening, after our final rehearsal and sound check, all the musicians were invited upstairs to the Ashram family room. Inside we were greeted by the most wonderful prasad from Gurumayi: bracelets bearing the form of a treble clef. We each chose one and then quietly placed them on each other's wrists. Before departing for the night, we stood arm in arm in a circle and chanted three harmonious AUMs in gratitude to Gurumayi: one for the tour and our wonder-filled teacher Carlos, one for Gurumayi's grace, and one for the opportunity to offer seva for the tour. One voice, one love, one heart, one God. We are all so truly blessed.
Thank you, Gurumayi.
Melbourne, Australia
My heart opened while I contemplated the images of the Australian sevites offering their best to the Siddha Yoga Chanting Tour. I felt gratitude, happiness, commitment, respect, love, and a clear understanding that we are all one, serving our Guru and this blessed path. Wherever we are, the sacred energy of seva unifies our souls and uplifts humanity.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for your immense love, and the blessings we receive through seva.
Málaga, Spain
I was there in Melbourne, when Carlos began rehearsals with a group of musicians and vocalists with varying degrees of expertise and shaped us into one voice for chanting the Name. He taught us very simply and clearly how to chant together. He would listen to us and say, "That was good....but it wasn't beautiful!" It’s amazing, the difference between good and beautiful. We began to really hear that difference. By the end of the first music practice session, we were beginning to sound beautiful.
Through the two music practice sessions with Carlos, I really felt and understood the sacredness of the Siddha Yoga chants. I’d had undeniable experiences of the Self through the power of chanting.
Sydney, Australia
I have just returned from the Siddha Yoga Ashram here in Sydney, where tomorrow we will participate in the first
satsang of the Chanting Tour via regional audio broadcast from Melbourne.
I am so deeply moved by the shares I read on the website. It is incredibly moving and humbling to know that so many of you all over the world are offering your blessings, praying for Gurumayi's intention to be fulfilled, chanting, having
satsang, and reveling in Gurumayi's teachings, grace, and guidance.
Thank you, each and every one of you.
Sydney, Australia