Happiness

Happiness is listening to Gurumayi´s love taking the form of words, and then the form of silence.

Happiness is seeing how the Guru's grace is in every moment of my life— reflected in the smile of a friend and the shining of the sun.

Happiness is recognizing myself as happy and with a light sensation within.

Mexico City, Mexico

When the teaching on "Happiness" first appeared, I was so taken with it, it felt as if I could taste it.

Then, all sorts of things went "wrong": the humidifier broke, the vacuum cleaner stopped working, the amplifier shorted out, and finally, the car's engine overheated and now is kaputt. After taking care of the immediate troubles, I sat down to meditate.

Toward the end of meditation, I suddenly and absolutely knew that how I felt had nothing to do with any exterior circumstances, but depended entirely on my state of mind. At that recognition, I was filled with total happiness—bubbles of happiness kept arising, and my smile went from ear to ear. Gratefulness swept through me: gratefulness to Gurumayi and the Siddha lineage, gratefulness to my mother and father, and gratefulness for the ability to learn and grow and have such wonderful experiences.

Thank you, Gurumayi, with all my heart.

Pennsylvania, USA

I have been trying to drink more water lately, and last night, as I was drinking a glassful before heading to bed, my eyes fell on a photo of Bade Baba. As I drank the water, I made eye contact with Bade Baba, and an immense love flooded my body. I thought to myself, "This is the essence of happiness." From now on, each time I drink a glass of water, I am going to practice drinking happiness as well.

Shree Muktananda Ashram

I'm touched by this wonderful image and this wonderful permission to decoct the rasa of happiness. I love how the bubbles flowing from the cup of happiness are like scintillating Blue Pearls, and that some of them seem to group together to form the symbol for OM. 

Thank you, Gurumayi.

California, USA

It made me happy when I read the teaching.

When I saw the cup, I felt like happiness was brewing inside it.

I also felt like happiness was everywhere and not just contained in a small cup.

an eight-year-old Siddha Yogi from New York, USA

My entire crowded subway ride home was bathed in bliss and excitement. I admired the huge snowflakes cascading around me as I walked home through a blizzard. There were even unexpected sales on all the items I happened to need at the store. I had just enjoyed a relaxing shower and was settling in after a long but productive day.

Suddenly I was awash in extreme contentment. As tears came to my eyes, my first thought was to go to the Siddha Yoga path website—and what do I see but this teaching!

I just now took the hugest gulp of happiness from its cup.

Thank you, Gurumayi. And to the global sangham, cheers! Drink up!

New York, USA

This Sunday, I went to the Siddha Yoga meditation center in Paris to recite Shri Guru Gita and offer some seva afterward. A Sweet Surprise satsang was being repeated there that afternoon. I had not registered because I had already received Gurumayi’s Message on January 1 and was planning to participate in the satsang a second time later on through the website. And I was also tired after a busy week.

But once there at the center, I felt drawn toward the satsang. I didn't want to resist. I wanted to stay. So I did. Participating in the satsang a second time refreshed me completely. I heard things I didn't hear the first time.

Back home, when I went to the Siddha Yoga path website at the end of the day and found Gurumayi's words, I felt that all her words were connected to my experience of this Sunday.

"Give yourself a moment".... I felt very happy to have been able to stay for the satsang, to be infused with Gurumayi’s words, and to chant to my heart's content!

Paris, France

When I saw these words about happiness, I started repeating them aloud. As I repeated the words, it seemed as if I was creating happiness inside me and a happy environment around me at home. Gurumayi is saying to extract the rasa of happiness, and I was able to experience this fully in the space of my heart. I am amazed at the instant effect Gurumayi’s words had on me.

Thank you so much, Gurumayi.

Nagpur, India

The teaching from Gurumayi on the Siddha Yoga path website today dovetails exactly with my meditation this morning—sweet rasa from the bliss of meditation, and drinking it until I was saturated with ananda shakti (blissful energy).

My mind was very calm as I sat to meditate after performing the morning arati. From the outset of meditation, my mind was still of its own accord, with no prompting from any technique. There was nothing to be done, no mantra to repeat, no encouraging words or remembrance of sutras necessary to propel my awareness into the thought-free state. Home, sweet home. The rasa of happiness. Sit there and drink. And that’s what I did.

New Jersey, USA

The moment I give myself to drink the rasa of happiness is after the recitation of Shri Guru Gita each morning. That is the happiest and most sublime time for me during the whole day. Afterwards, I stay still in front of my puja, and I drink the most exquisite elixir and feel completely at peace.

In fact, two years ago, I drew a chalice similar to the one in the picture to represent the ecstasy running through my body and the alchemy that takes place every time I recite Shri Guru Gita.

Thank you, Gurumayi.

Milano, Italy

As I read Gurumayi's words this morning, I allowed myself to be present in the moment. Happiness seemed to naturally arise from my simply being present.

Thank you, Gurumayi, for the guidance to savor the happiness that awaits me.

North Carolina, USA

As someone who worked for years distilling herbal solutions and essential oils, I can truly relate to this teaching from Gurumayi.

Here is what I have learned about the distillation process:

You have to have total subtle focus to find the right flowers. Once you find them—happiness! Then, you have to prepare them properly for distillation. Once you do this—happiness! When you start the distillation process, you have to become totally focused and silent. In doing this, you become part of the distillation process—more happiness! Since you are organically part of the distillation process, you have to remain fully awake so that you know when the process is finished and you have the best extract of the subtlest essence—more happiness! And when you smell this essence throughout all the phases of the process—more bliss! Finally, when you inhale the ultimate extract—instant bliss, better than any drug, liquor, tea, or herbal concoction in existence!

Thank you, Gurumayi, for this wonderful gift of blessings and contemplation.

California, USA

It was raining here in Delhi. I was listening to Gurumayi’s CD Beloved. Gurumayi was singing about showers of nectar raining down inside us.

Soon after, I saw Gurumayi’s beautiful teaching about the rasa of happiness on the website. I was delighted to see how it coincided with the image in the bhajan Jhari Lāgai.

I brought Gurumayi’s teaching into my practices.

Thank you, Gurumayiji, for your wonderful teachings.

Delhi, India

All day long, I kept coming back to this beautiful glass filled with "happiness" and taking time to pause and savor the rasa of joy. This has helped me to extract the juice of happiness from all the different states I experience throughout the day.
 
Then I noticed that the word Happiness is written in many different colors, which reflect colors existing outside the image. This made me realize that the joyful colors of happiness exist all the time, in all moments, as the innate nature of reality. I only had to make a consistent effort to look at them with the eye of the heart. No matter where I am, just by doing this practice, I can get in touch with that joy and drink this elixir of happiness again and again.
 
I feel this is Gurumayi's guidance for me. She is revealing the way to live my daily life—happily.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for this amazing insight and for your guidance through this magnificent image.

Pune, India

By taking a moment to extract the rasa of happiness, I found contentment and steadiness waiting for me.

Thank you, Gurumayi, for your loving guidance.

Sydney, Australia

When I participated in A Sweet Surprise satsang, the word happiness was planted in my heart. I thought, “Yes, I want that. I want the happiness of the Self!“
 
I've been remembering this word while offering seva, while doing spiritual practices, while talking to people, and while walking through the sacred gardens here in Gurudev Siddha Peeth—and my heart is singing the glory of God all the time!
 
It was a beautiful surprise to see the teaching from Gurumayi on the Siddha Yoga path website. I love its colors and the magic happy sparkles.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi.

Gurudev Siddha Peeth

After I read the teaching on happiness, I copied Gurumayi's words into my journal and also drew the "cup of happiness." I then imitated the different fonts used on the cup to write the word happiness in my own drawing. As I drew the letters, a great sense of happiness arose in my heart.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, and thank you to the wonderful sevites of the website department.

Illinois, USA

This morning after reading Gurumayi’s words on the homepage of the Siddha Yoga path website, I followed her instruction in this way: I gave myself a moment to go to the Archives, where I first clicked on “Mahashivaratri March 9, 2013,” and then on “Chant Om Namah Shivaya." And I chanted and chanted—to my heart's content.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for your guidance in my heart and through the blessings of this awesome website.

Alger, Algeria

I had been feeling sad recently and today, while driving, I remembered Gurumayi's teaching on happiness. I asked myself how to apply these words, even though I felt sad. Quick as a flash, I understood that I don't have to be feeling happy to decoct the rasa of happiness! Happiness comes in many different flavors and rasas!  
 
As I began to look with new eyes, I felt a shift in my awareness, almost as if the waves of my understanding were parting—and the most beautiful deep happiness arose, supporting and infusing everything. Then I remembered, “Drink it to your heart's content.” As I applied these words, I felt the deep energy that is always constant. It felt liberating. I saw how it is absolutely possible to enjoy the ride, including every feeling, supported and surrounded by happiness. 
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for your grace, and for helping me to see beyond my changing circumstances to the happiness which never changes. Thank you from the bottom of my (happy) heart!

Yulara, Australia

After reading the first words, "Give yourself a moment...," I paused and relaxed. Yes, I wanted to take time for whatever Gurumayi is inviting me to do. After reading the full teaching, I wrote it down in my journal and also looked up the translation of the words. Doing this was so much fun!

So, how do I decoct this rasa of happiness? The answer came promptly from within my being: Chant!! My husband and I chanted Om Namo Bhagavate Muktanandaya. We accompanied the chant with harmonium and guitar. As I was delighting in the harmony of voices and instruments, I became fully present in the moment. After chanting and sitting in silence, I felt rejuvenated.

Thank you, Gurumayi, for your love.

Katzenbach, Germany

In gratitude to Gurumayi for opening my eyes to the simple joys in life, I decoct this draught of rasa:

A brisk winter day

Snowflakes drifting on the way to the ground

Sunlight glistening on pine needles

A red cardinal at a bird feeder

Blue-gray clouds edged in gold

Simple beauty is always there to behold.

New York, USA

I always love how Gurumayi uses language to inspire new insight and understanding. In this particular teaching, the word decoct—yes, I looked it up!—opened up new understanding for me.

Sometimes it does take time and effort to extract the happiness within, to transcend the mind's struggles in order to experience the source of joy. It reminds me of the alchemists of old, working their formulae again and again (lots of decocting!) to reclaim the gold they were convinced lay within more mundane substances.

But unlike those alchemists seeking something that wasn't really there, the golden essence of happiness does lie within me. One way I am distilling that essence is by remembering Gurumayi's Message for 2014, even when it takes some effort. When I do, I am drawn within, to a calm, centered space that is at once clearly defined and completely limitless. Happiness indeed!

Thank you, beloved Gurumayi, for this year's Message, and for sharing it (and so much more) through the Siddha Yoga path website!

New Mexico, USA

Tonight, after coming home from satsang, I thought of visiting the website. I was so happy to see the teaching—it was an amazing surprise!

The word decoct caught my attention, so I looked it up in the dictionary. The question that then arose in my mind was, "How can I decoct this rasa?" The answer that sprang forth was "Meditation and mantra japa are what I’ll need."

This teaching has given me a new spirit to bring to my daily practices. I am really excited about extracting the rasa of happiness through these practices!  

Gurumayi, thank you, for your constant guidance, love, care, and compassion.

Vadodara, India

Last night, I dreamt of Gurumayi and this morning I awoke feeling bathed in shakti, and so protected in her love. Then I opened the beautiful website and found her blessing for us to drink the rasa of happiness to our heart's content.
 
I plan on giving myself lots of those moments! Remembering her sweet wish for us will remind me to do so.
 
The celebratory background and cup of bubbly joy in the image are great reminders too that the new year is still upon us–and that the delight and celebration of happiness are always available for the decocting.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for keeping us ever new.

California, USA

Even the very first part of this invitation from Gurumayi is a blessing: "Give yourself a moment." All too often I allow externalities—or my inner list of "should’s"—to push me along through my day, without allowing myself to pause for that one crucial moment to connect to something higher, sweeter, more eternal within me. How splendid to hear my Guru say, "Give yourself a moment"!
 
And then my Guru tells me that the moment is for the purpose of "decocting" the rasa of happiness! What a marvelous command! What a delicious assignment–not just to taste that rasa but to concentrate it, to intensify it! I plan to practice this recipe for happiness until I become truly proficient at it—so that I can drink that rasa "to my heart's content" at any moment.
 
Thank you, Gurumayi, for the rich blessings that are already tumbling out of this teaching.

Illinois, USA

Sunday mornings are a special quiet time for me; I am often led by my Guru to words that reveal particular themes to contemplate and practice in my life.
 
Before I turned on the computer this morning, I was reading Kundalini, the Secret of Life, by Baba Muktananda. In the opening pages, Baba writes about happiness and how we find it in the inner Self even though humans tend to search for it outside themselves. Then I opened the Siddha Yoga website and read Gurumayi's message about "Happiness"! I savor these delightful coincidences as sweet rasa to be savored as I bask in the wonder of Guru's grace. 
 
With love and infinite gratitude to Gurumayi.

Connecticut, USA

Pune, India

California,USA

Shree Muktananda Ashram

New York, USA

Melbourne, Australia