One thing I love about our path is that it is not separate from our daily life. Through Gurumayi ji’s teachings, I have come to understand the importance of preparation.
I remember an incident many years ago when my husband and I had invited guests for dinner. As I was preparing the meal, I found myself reflecting on the preparation we do before satsang. While cutting vegetables, I became aware that my posture had slouched. Gently, I straightened my back, and this adjustment immediately connected me to my breath.
In that moment, I experienced how even a simple daily activity could become a spiritual practice. I understood that preparation is not only for a specific event—it is a way of bringing awareness and respect into every action.
New Jersey, United States
The word that sprang to mind as I read Eesha’s words was sacred. We are preparing for a sacred event in a sacred place—the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall.
One aspect of preparation I learned from Gurumayi decades ago in Gurudev Siddha Peeth is to be on time—and on time means early. When I’m early, I can savor the experience of arriving, of entering the Temple, and I welcome the sacredness into my being.
There’s such a specialness in welcoming Gurumayi into my home; I want to be ready to receive every morsel of joy. By the same token, I ensure that I have time afterward to digest, journal, contemplate, and revel in what I have just received and experienced.
Each satsang is a divine gem, and a beautiful setting around it enhances its luster and import.
California, United States
I’m the type of person who wants to use every last minute to get things done, which can cause me to show up right on time and sometimes a few minutes late.
Reading Eesha’s words, I realized that on the day of the satsang, I sat down in front of my computer one minute before it started. I was flustered and my mind was distracted. It took me a few minutes to ease into the satsang and absorb the words.
When Eesha asked how I will prepare for each satsang, these words came to me: “Arrive early; quiet my mind and my breathing; consider what I want to focus my attention on.”
This is a practice I could take into any situation that requires my attention. Rather than arriving at work at the exact start time, how differently would I feel if I arrived a few minutes early and, on my way to work, spent some time contemplating where I wanted to focus my energies that day?
Kansas, United States
