The prompting I am receiving at this very moment is to give my gratitude to all the precious Siddha Yogis who have shared their experiences. I’ve been reading these experiences in a deep way this morning, and time seems to be patiently by my side as I imbibe the wisdom of so many. I do not have a local Satsang Circle, so these intimate shares of experiences of Gurumayi’s teachings have been a boon to me. I thank the Lord for this form of wisdom and community, held by time.
California, United States
When I woke up this morning, it was still dark outside. I looked at the sky, as I do every morning before meditation, and watched the moon and the stars. Suddenly, I felt inspired to change my morning routine a little. I decided to start the day by visiting the Siddha Yoga path website homepage. When I did, I discovered teaching 5.
As I read and contemplated this teaching, I felt as if time itself, like a prompter, had inspired me to make my time worthwhile by improving my morning routine. I felt good and confident about this use of my time and have now decided to start each day by visiting the Siddha Yoga path website homepage.
Plougonvelin, France
I looked up the word promptings and found that it refers to acts that persuade, encourage, or remind. As I reflected on this meaning, I thought about those moments in my life when, seemingly out of the blue, I had had an inspiration to reach out to a friend or family member to just see how they were and discovered that they too were thinking about me. I also recalled times when I had inner encouragement to take good care of my physical body and how good I felt for doing so.
I remembered from Sweet Surprise that Gurumayi spoke about time as Consciousness and about the god of time. From my contemplations I now understand that these promptings or inner impulses that arise from within come from Consciousness, from God. They give me another lens to understand and experience Gurumayi’s teachings on time. I am deeply grateful for these teachings and for the gift of being able to share our contemplations in this way.
Vienna, Austria
I remember distinctly the moment I woke, on a bright, hot day in July many years ago in Taos, New Mexico, and the first thought in my mind was “Get wood delivered.” Although it was the height of midsummer so I’d need no fire to warm my home for many months to come, I still felt—from the tilt of the sun and the predictable rhythm of the seasons—the requisite prompting to ensure we would be warm when the snow arrived.
In my sadhana, I experience this ongoing play with such promptings. So often there’s just the slightest nudge or intuitive tap on my heart—“Call your sister,” “Write that email,” “Ask about that important project”—and I’ve learned that responding to the prompts keeps me aligned with the shakti.
My practice is to listen, to pause, to pivot as necessary—and to drop my preconceived notions about what should be happening now. Now has become an invitation. The more sensitive I become to these grace-filled invitations from time, the more I dance with joy.
Rhode Island, United States
A few weeks ago in the market square, a beautiful golden pineapple with fresh leaves seemed to smile at me, prompting me to buy it. I followed the prompting and tasted this beautiful fruit.
Similarly, the Guru invites me to relish my own golden heart and has given me the means to enjoy it at any time. This teaching “The promptings of time” reminds me that I can, and do, savor my divinity by regularly meditating and studying the wonderful teachings of my spiritual path.
Rodez, France
Lately, I have been reflecting deeply on the nature of death, seeking to deepen my spiritual understanding and prepare myself for my death’s eventual arrival.
As part of this introspection, I’ve adopted a daily practice: setting out on my morning walk, I imagine that today is my last day. Carrying this thought throughout the day heightens my awareness of the miracle of life all around me, keeping me awake to the light and joy everywhere. I experience the world anew, savoring the possibility that this might be the last time I pass this flower or walk alongside my dog.
Though this practice may sound somber, it has deepened my appreciation for the time I have, filling me with gratitude and lightness as I recognize life’s impermanence. Gurumayi’s teaching “The promptings of time” reminds me my life is finite—a truth that fuels my desire to keep learning about my life beyond the limitations of the body. I nourish this understanding by keeping the Siddha Yoga teachings at the front of my mind.
South Melbourne, Australia