Namaste.
“Be in the Temple” satsang. You are participating in the “Be in the Temple” satsang in the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall. You are in the presence of Bhagavan Nityananda. You are seated in the Bhagavan Nityananda Temple. You are experiencing the fragrant breeze streaming into your heart.
Speaking of streaming, you are receiving this live video stream from Shree Muktananda Ashram. Therefore, the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall is suffused with Gurumayi’s grace and Gurumayi’s love for each one of you. This live video stream is being produced by the SYDA Foundation. This acronym—SYDA—stands for Siddha Yoga Dham Associates.
In the northern hemisphere, June 20 was the summer solstice, and with that, people in this part of the world officially entered the summer season. For me, summer corresponds to light.
Light, light, light.
Another element that stands out for me when I think of summer is—sound.
Sound, sound, sound.
The great light of the sun and the moon. The great sounds of the birds and the insects, of the leaves blowing in the wind.
Speaking of light: on the Siddha Yoga path, we receive light from the Guru, and we worship the Guru with light. I have learned that on the Siddha Yoga path, one of everyone’s favorite practices is arati. We savor the sweet opportunity to offer the illumined cotton wicks of the arati lamp, wicks that are drenched in ghee, to Gurumayi’s Guru’s Guru, Bhagavan Nityananda. The radiant form of Bhagavan Nityananda.
Light begets light. Light worships light. Light bestows light. Light follows light.
Many of you have been following the Siddha Yoga path for decades. And you have experienced light. Light within. Light.
The Guru’s light… Light.
The light of the constellations… Light.
The light of the Guru’s grace… Light.
The light of God… Light.
The divine light… Light.
The illumination of knowledge… Light.
The light of the supreme Self… Light.
When you experience lightheartedness, you are experiencing the light of your own Heart. Light. Light within, light outside. Light, light, light.
We were waving the beautiful lit wicks of the lamp during the arati to the radiant being of Bhagavan Nityananda, who is the bliss of eternal light.
I want to share with you something incredible Gurumayi has mentioned. When Gurumayi offers arati at her puja, she has noticed that she is able to create an infinity sign when she waves the arati tray or lamp. Gurumayi waves the tray or lamp from side to side in a semicircle, and then lifts it up in a circular motion, creating the shape of the full moon. Gurumayi has observed that when the lamp returns to the bottom of the circle and she moves it from left to right to left, the movement traces the symbol of infinity in the air. Infinity. Eternity. Eternal light. The eternal light is the sustaining power of the Universe.
Light drives away darkness. Light creates lightheartedness. Light removes all burdens. Light is present in everyone and in everything.
The powerful sounds of the mantras, sung in the Sanskrit and Marathi languages as part of worship to Bhagavan Nityananda, ripple through the atmosphere.
These sounds are purifying.
The thunderous sound of the beating drum… Sound.
The mellifluous sound of the chiming bells… Sound.
The music of the sacred mantras… Sound.
The divine sounds of worship… Sound.
The sounds in nature, the sounds of laughter.
Sound, sound, sound.
The syllables of the mantras are filled with light. Light emerges from light. Light merges into light.
And these syllables produce sound when uttered aloud.
Light and sound.
Think of lightning and thunder. Think of the light of happiness. Think of the sound of joy. Think of the light of friendship. Think of the sound of support. In fact, on the evening of Gurumayi’s birthday, there was incredible lightning and thunder in the sky above Shree Muktananda Ashram.
And Gurumayi’s birthday continues in nature for sure—because today as well, there has been gentle, steady rain throughout the day, the light sound of rain.
Light and sound—they go hand in hand.
As long as light is lit, there is hope.
As long as there is hope, there is purpose.
As long as there is purpose, there is a way.
As long as there is a way, the destination is within reach.
During the arati, light—in the form of flames—was offered to light.
During the arati, the sound of the mantras was offered to the divine being who embodies the primordial sound, AUM.
Light and sound. Sound and light.
I understand that many Siddha Yogis have been putting Gurumayi’s Message into practice this year by repeating the Message as a mantra, or by doing the Workbook on the Message. Gurumayi’s Message for all of us this year is: Ātmā kī Prashānti, Peacefulness of the Self.
When I become aware of Gurumayi’s Message, when I practice Gurumayi’s Message and experience its fruits, I cannot not think of the different shades and nuances of the word prashānti. Therefore, I want to express my wish for you all.
I wish you peace.
I wish you serenity.
I wish you composure.
I wish you equanimity.
I wish you quietude.
I wish you tranquility.
I wish you calmness.
I wish you inner harmony.
I wish you comfort.
I wish you poise.
I wish you repose.
I wish you peace of body.
I wish you peace of mind.
I wish you peace, peace, inner peace. Man ki shanti.
In the “Be in the Temple” satsang, in the presence of Bhagavan Nityananda, in the month of Birthday Bliss, I hold in my awareness and make this wish: may we all have the presence of mind to live the life that we wish, to create the life we want to live, and fulfill the vision of God for this planet.
Recently, I heard that one of Gurumayi’s favorite flowers is the daisy.
Gurumayi has shared some of the stories that are told about daisies and their appearance on this earth. The name daisy comes from the Old English term day’s eye. In Medieval Latin the flower is called “solis oculus,” which means “Sun’s eye.” The flower was given these names because, like the lids of our eyes, its petals close at night and open again in the morning. In many cultures, daisies are said to symbolize such qualities as innocence, purity, motherhood, and new beginnings.
According to Celtic legend, God sprinkled daisies over the earth in times of tragedy, and particularly when an infant passed away. God did this to bring comfort and hope to the bereaved parents.
Today, at Gurumayi’s request, Bhagavan Nityananda is adorned with the daisies that Gurumayi has been admiring for weeks and weeks in the gardens of Shree Muktananda Ashram. While there are so many daisies in the Temple right now, the rest of the Ashram is also aglow with thousands of daisies.
And there is one other beautiful flower that has been offered to Bhagavan Nityananda that I wish to acknowledge—the sweet and fragrant honeysuckles that are abounding in the gardens of Shree Muktananda Ashram.
Always remember the radiant form of Bhagavan Nityananda, the bliss of eternal light. May the divine light of our Gurus’ grace, of our Gurus’ wisdom, of our Gurus’ teachings, and of our Gurus’ love forever shine in our own awakened hearts.
Gurumayi wants you to know that the Siddha Yoga path is lit. You are lit. Gurumayi says to live your life with this awareness.
Light and sound. Sound and light. Thank you, Gurumayi, for your magnificent teachings. Thank you, Bhagavan Nityananda, for your eternal light.