Today, as I read Eesha’s beautiful installment on Gurumayi’s words about Shiva, I feel so connected.

These days I have been looking at some of my limitations that I wasn’t able to face before, by bringing to them the power of these words: “I am Shiva, I am pure Consciousness.” The experience, through meditating on being Shiva, gives me the strength to look at these limitations, knowing that they are not who I really am. With this awareness, I can see the people I live with or meet as my own Self, as Shiva, and duality disappears.

I feel so much love and gratitude for this experience. I feel at peace, and joy springs up like a river within me, joy without any external reason.

Le Bosc, France

While keeping in mind Gurumayi’s words, “I am Shiva, Shiva is the best,“ I understood that I embody Shiva when I give my best. That doesn’t mean exhausting myself to achieve an external goal. It means doing what is within my reach with my heart. Whether the outer result is small or great, the inner result always remains the perfect experience of the Self. When Eesha quoted the Om Purnamadah mantras, I feel that she emphasized this point wonderfully.

Eesha writes that, by seeing the best in ourselves, “it is that much more possible to glimpse the indwelling Lord pervading our outer world as well.” Recently, a cold wave surged over my region. One morning, to my great surprise, I discovered on the landscape already embellished by spring, a thin layer of immaculate white snow. I felt I could see in this snow the radiant smile of Lord Shiva, who took me to the top of Mount Kailas.

Rodez, France

What has stayed with me since the Mahashivaratri satsang is the atmosphere of sacredness, of sacred worship. As I participated in the satsang, everything seemed to be bathed in blue light. I believe that this was not just the lighting in the Temple! And Gurumayi’s words, “Shiva is the best,” illustrate for me exactly my feeling.

I’ve been working to keep that feeling of sacred worship that Gurumayi’s grace gave me in the satsang. I’m praying that it never leaves me. I’m working to incorporate it in my daily life. It tastes so good; it tastes “the best”!

I’m particularly grateful that Eesha wrote this installment, because I hadn’t recalled these words from Gurumayi at all. Now I can put them into perspective and better understand, assimilate, and implement the teachings from the satsang in my daily life and sadhana. One result is that the first part of Gurumayi’s words, “I am Shiva,” has also taken on a new meaning for me.

Garges-lès-Gonesse, France

I am grateful for these essays on Gurumayi’s words. I was not able to watch the live stream of the satsang in honor of Mahashivaratri, but through these installments, I feel I have been able to receive its blessings and teachings. So, I am extremely thankful for the “Meditation on Gurumayi’s Words,” which make the teachings from this satsang so accessible to me and to everyone in the Siddha Yoga sangham. 

I want to share my experience today during meditation. As I sat to meditate, with the mantra playing in the background, I silently repeated, “I am Shiva” with each in-breath and “Shiva is the best” with each out- breath. It was absolutely incredible—within a few breaths, I was flooded with immense gratitude. “I am Shiva, Shiva is the best.” It was as if these words pierced to and touched the very center of my Self, my heart, and my being. 

Michigan, United States

To magnify auspiciousness in my day-to-day life, I have allowed myself to take my place in my family as the youngest daughter, letting go of the impulse to take on others’ responsibilities. This may sound like a simple shift in perspective, but it has had an enormous impact on my sense of freedom and self-respect. “I am Shiva, Shiva is the best.” I will continue to work on respecting myself more, loving myself, valuing myself, and finding joy in giving others the space to do the same. 

Konolfingen, Switzerland

As I was savoring the delightful flow of Eesha’s words, the Nirvana Shatkam came to my mind. Every week, I like to sing this beautiful hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Thanks to my practice of singing this sacred text, the awareness that I am Consciousness and bliss remains vibrant in my being. Shiva is my true identity, the “best” of my life. Shivo’ham! 

Rodez, France

Contemplating Gurumayi’s words “I am Shiva, Shiva is the best” has led me to reflect that if “I am Shiva” and “Shiva is the best,” then I must be “the best.” This has inspired me to look past my perceived shortcomings and reflect on what is “the best” about me.

What comes up is my sincere studentship. Ever since beginning on the Siddha Yoga path in 1988, I have dedicated myself deeply to sadhana. This dedication has taken many forms—chanting, meditating, offering seva, contemplating, applying Gurumayi’s teachings to every aspect of my life, and keeping the company of Siddha Yogis.

Now, in midlife, I am glimpsing the beneficial effects of my long-term dedication. I am more aware of all the goodness and greatness that I embody and bring to the world around me. Although I have moments of self-doubt, I increasingly see the positive in myself and the strong expression of my virtues. I perceive in myself an indomitable spirit. In these ways, I do experience that “I am Shiva, Shiva is the best.” 

California, United States

Since participating in the satsang in honor of Mahashivaratri, I have been contemplating my oneness with Lord Shiva. This contemplation has empowered me to be more aware of and better able to express my authenticity, especially in my work environment. Those around me have noticed this change and like it.

St. Laurent, Canada