Newsletter
18th July 2003 Letter No. 4/03
(Updated: 26th July)
Priya Bandhu,
Saprema Sri Gurusmaranam !
On the pious occasion of Sri Guru Poornima on 13 July 2003, a convention on Environmental Awareness was organised at Siddha Loka. The function was graced by the presence of His Excellency the Governor of Karnataka State, Shri T.N. Chaturvedi.
For the last few years, Siddha Yoga Dham has been conducting various programmes for environmental conservation and awareness on the occasion of Sri Guru Poornima. This year it was planned to conduct a conference on a massive scale to highlight environmental awareness among the rural populace, particularly the school children in the surrounding villages.
It was a momentous occasion for Siddha Loka and Siddha Yoga Dham. More than 600 students, farmers and members of the general public from nearby villages as well as Bangalore city assembled at Siddha Loka from 10 am onwards. The students were from five schools of nearby villages, and were accompanied by their teachers. Various officials of village, taluk and state bodies also arrived for the function, as also members from the print and electronic media. The programme commenced with the inauguration of the 'Sacred Forest Creation Project' by the Honourable Minister for Sericulture and Textiles, Shri H.M. Revanna. This project aims at developing 500 acres of wastelands around Siddha Loka and creating a 'Sacred Forest' through a well-planned and ecologically sound afforestation scheme. This project has been initiated in association with the Rural Forestry scheme of the Government of Karnataka, involving the creation of Village Forest Committees in all villages around Siddhaloka. The occasion was an apt one for inauguration of this ambitious project, which is planned to take shape over the next five years.
Thereafter, the distinguished guests were invited by Param Poojya Swami Chetanananda Saraswati to take their seats on the dais and were introduced to the mammoth gathering. The first to address the gathering was the Honourable Minister for Sericulture and Textiles, Shri H.M. Revanna. He lauded the efforts for environmental conservation and development initiated by Siddha Yoga Dham over the past decade at Siddha Loka, which had brought substantial benefits to the surrounding rural population. In light of the severe shortage of water experienced in the surrounding areas, he emphasized that it was only by approaches like afforestation and watershed management being championed by Siddha Loka, that the miseries of the people in the area could be alleviated.
Thereafter, the gathering was addressed by the Honourable Minister of State for Water Resources, Shri K.B. Koliwad. He stated that surface water constituted only about 1.2% of the total water resources on the planet, of which most was unavailable either in the form of sea water or polar icepack. Even out of this 1.2%, a large proportion was being allowed to drain off into the rivers and the seas. The best way of minimizing this wastage is by increasing afforestation and employing watershed management techniques, which would not only minimize surface run-off but also recharge the all-important ground water reserves. He exhorted the gathering to carefully ensure this recharging, or else there would be more cases of borewells drying up and ground water also being unavailable.
Param Poojya Shri Gurudev punctuated the speeches with his comments, in which he appreciated the support extended by the political leaders, local government officials and village bodies to the efforts of Siddha Loka to safeguard and vitalise the environment. A lively group song was presented by four young men of a nearby village, highlighting the importance of conserving trees and water.
Shri Anjana Murthy, the Chairman of the Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes spoke of the importance of the contribution of every member of the village community in the conservation of the environment. This is essential since the environment and its health affects us all, in ways that cannot be ignored.
Thereafter, the dignitaries distributed about 100 saplings of various trees to the members of the Village Forest Committees of the surrounding villages of the district. The teachers of the participating schools were presented with booklets and posters on the flora and fauna of Karnataka for their respective schools, provided by the State Forest department.
Finally, His Excellency the Governor of Karnataka State, Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, addressed the gathering. He described in glowing terms the spiritual attainment of Param Poojya Swami Chetanananda Saraswati and the Siddha tradition and said that it was his privilege to be present at Siddha Loka on the most auspicious occasion of Sri Guru Poornima, which is the day for worship of the Guru. Moving from the spiritual to the social aspect, he commended the efforts of Siddha Yoga Dham at Siddha Loka in creating awareness about the environment among the adjoining areas in the heart of rural Karnataka. He acknowledged the importance and scale of these efforts, such as development of wastelands, which were exemplified by the presence of the honourable ministers from the state government and various important officials. His Excellency assured that the support of the state government for such philanthrophic and developmental activities would be enhanced. His Excellency addressed the school children and exhorted them to imbibe these values of caring for people around them as well as their environment. "You are the future", he said, "It is your efforts which will determine what kind of a world you grow up to live in".
Param Poojya Swamiji then thanked His Excellency the Governor for having found time to come and grace the occasion at such a distance from the city and that too in spite of other commitments. He also thanked the other dignitaries and all the participants of the conference for having made it a grand success by their presence and participation. The dignitaries were the honoured and given tokens of appreciation by Air Vice Marshal V Chaturvedi and the eminent environmentalist, Shri A.N. Yellappa Reddy. Brigadier V.Y. Bhave (Retd.) and Commander Arun Rao, Indian Navy (Retd.) were also present for the function.
Finally, after the conclusion of the function around 2 pm, the distinguished guests were served lunch. All the assembled children, farmers and others were also served lunch. There was a continuous flow of devotees for many hours thereafter, seeking the blessings of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev, who had a few words to say to each and every person individually.
The annual Bal Bhojan (Feast for children) programme in connection with the 42nd Punyatithi of Bhagwan Nityananda was held at Siddha Loka on 25th July (Friday). The programme commenced with Avadhoot Stotra and Nityananda Naam Sankeertan. Ararti was offered at exactly 10:40 am, the time Baba Nityananda took Samadhi on this day (12th day of Ashadha in Samvat 2017, as per the Indian calendar) 42 years back at Ganeshpuri.150 primary school children attended the Bal Bhojan. A Dental check-up camp was also organised by Rajarajeshwari Medical College, Bangalore. Param Poojya Swami Chetanananda Saraswati distributed dakshina, stationery, toothbrushes and toothpaste to all the participating students.
The next Siddha Meditation Intensive is being organised on 15th August 2003 (Friday) on the occasion of Divya Deeksha Din. The last date for registration is 8th August 2003.
Rest is Sri Gurukripa
In the service of Sri Gurudev
Surekha
Newsletter
1st June 2003 Letter No. 3/03
Priya Bandhu,
Saprema Sri Gurusmaranam !
After the programme of Shaktipat Deeksha conducted on 1st March, many seekers came to Siddhaloka for the darshan of the Siddha Guru. Some had queries regarding their sadhana (spiritual efforts) and others asked questions on worldly issues. Some of the answers given by Param Poojya Swamiji are as follows:
" If we believe firmly in the fact that God exists, then one experiences the truth that He is nowhere outside."
"What is the use of going and worshipping in places where God does not reside ?"
"Birth results in actions and actions again results in births. There is only one means of escaping from this unending cycle of rebirth and actions: the experience of the 'truth'."
"Direct contact with the Siddha Guru and direct experience is the specialty of Siddha Yoga."
For those interested in meditation, a serious issue is that of keeping the mind steady. In this regard, Param Poojya Shri Gurudev said that, "To steady the mind, one has to know the mind. Man exists because of the mind. The mind should be treated as a friend. Just as an efficient employer extracts work from his employees, similarly one should lovingly get one's work done by the mind. It is impossible to go against the mind and try to discipline it by fighting against it."
Many are often surprised by the ease and straightforwardness with which Param Poojya Swamiji meets one and all. A mythological play had been organised in the nearby village of Sevanagar on occasion of a festival and Swamiji had been invited. The village leaders welcomed Him at the entrance to the village with Poorna Kumbha and Pada Pooja. In his brief address to the gathering of thousands, Param Poojya Swamiji unveiled a scheme of the Siddha Yoga Dham worth Rs. 5,00,00,000 for the welfare of the women and children of villages around Siddhaloka.
A summer camp was organised at Siddhaloka from 15th to 18th May on the occasion of Paramahansa Muktananda Jayanti. Only families were permitted to participate in this camp. 15 families took part in this special camp. The participants ranged from a one-year-old child to an 80-year-old lady. Swadhyaya (chanting) and Satsang (discourses) were held thrice a day on all three days. The strength of children was the maximum and they would start off daily with their various games in three or four groups, playing with toys, indoor games, badminton, cricket and so on. For the adults there were Satsangs, with a special session for ladies, in which they were guided about their duties and conduct as home-makers by Param Poojya Shri Gurudev. For children there was a fixed time to learn a new bhajan (devotional song) every day with Param Poojya Swamiji. Everyone, particularly children, enjoyed the freedom thoroughly and also learnt to fulfill their duties responsibly.
Shri Guru Poornima is an important occasion for every disciple to have darshan (literally, 'vision'; used here as 'meeting') of their Sadguru. If this important task, which should be done again and again every day, is not done even once in a year, then the effects are adverse. All readers who are interested in their spiritual liberation are invited to make use of this occasion to meet the Siddha Guru.
A massive 'Environment Awareness Convention' is being organised at Siddhaloka on 13th July 2003 (Sunday) at 10 AM on this occasion. The Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka state, Shri S.M. Krishna, the Hon'ble Minister for Silk and Textiles, Shri H.M. Revanna, the Hon'ble Minister for Forests, Shri K.H. Ranganath, the Hon'ble Minister of State for Rural Water Resources, Shri K.B. Kolivad, the Hon'ble Minister for Urban Development, Shri D.K. Shivakumar, the Commissioner of Public Information department, Shri V.P. Baligar, the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Shri Anjana Murthy and other environmental experts have been invited for the convention. High school students, teachers, farmers and members of the general public will also participate in large numbers.
Under the guidance of Param Poojya Swami Chetanananda Saraswati, all devotees will experience the deep relationship of man's life with nature.
All are invited with love and respect.
Rest is Sri Gurukripa
In the service of Sri Gurudev
Surekha
Newsletter
4th May 2003 Letter No. 2/03
Priya Bandhu,
Saprema Sri Gurusmaranam !
The Siddha Meditation Intensive was conducted on 1st March 2003 at Siddhaloka, which was also the auspicious occasion of Shri Maha Shiva Ratri. Param Poojya Swami Chetanananda Saraswati bestowed Shaktipat Deeksha on the fifteen participants. This time the participants included government officials, officers of the armed forces, businessmen, retired persons, housewives, social workers and others from different professions. The participants arrived at Siddhaloka by 9 am and were served breakfast. The first session of the Meditation Intensive was of prayers and instructions by Param Poojya Swamiji, from 9:30 to 10:10 am. Param Poojya Swamiji explained that no special effort was required on the part of the individual while receiving Deeksha. By allowing the Kundalini to do its work, all actions of the individual would be successful.
After a short break for tea, the participants re-assembled for the second session, in which Param Poojya Swamiji imparted Shaktipat Deeksha to each participant by HIS divine touch (Sparsha). This was done amidst chanting of mantras, and the participants fell into deep meditation and manifested various divine experiences.
The third session, from 11:40 am to 12:30 pm, was for questions and answers. A number of participants described their wondrous experiences as a result of the Shaktipat, like tightening of the spine, visions of lights, and so on. Others expressed their immeasurable gratitude to the Siddha Guru. Various queries posed by the participants were answered by Param Poojya Swamiji to their satisfaction. Param Poojya Swamiji stressed upon remembrance of the Guru and advised everyone to especially remember the moment of the Deeksha that they had received tooday. Thereafter there was Arati and the participants were served lunch. They were then taken around Siddhaloka before dispersing by 2 pm.
Some of the Questions and Answers from the Siddha Meditation Intensive are included here:
Question: What changes can I expect in my life after Shaktipat Deeksha?
Answer: The power that you have attained today will help you purify your nerves of all their past accumulated actions. It will help you in every walk of life. You should remember this moment of Deeksha constantly. You will experience for yourself how this power will be with you in all your activities. The Siddha Guru is not one to leave you after Deeksha. I will maintain contact with you and will always be with you. Lead a liberated life. I am sure in my knowledge that you are liberated already: you will realize this too, more and more.
Question: What are the practices to be followed in Siddha Yoga after Shaktipat Deeksha ?
Answer: There are no special practices to be followed. Since it is the Guru's grace that is the main power involved, remembrance of the Guru is sufficient. Remember the Guru daily, with every breath. If you forget ME, there is a chance that I may also forget you ! Go for an outing once a week. If possible, take your family for a tour every month. Your spirituality will progress on its own. Don't get bogged down in attending many courses and discourses. I have given you the glucose of Siddha Yoga today: you should feel energetic. All your disappointments will be removed.
Question: How does one worship the Guru ?
Answer: Do not consider the Guru as a person. The Guru is the grace-bestowing power of God. God or the Supreme Being has five functions: creation, sustenance, destruction, control and bestowal of grace. God takes the form of the Guru for the fifth function. Think of the Guru as this power. He is always with you. Remember Him sincerely, honestly.
Question: Is the Kundalini in the body or the mind or beyond ?
Answer: Kundalini is the power that has created this entire world of its own free will, and runs it as such. Thus, it is beyond the mind. The Kundalini flows through the 72,000 nerves of our body after Deeksha. Our accumulated karmas of the past 84 lakh births have been destroyed after this Deeksha. There are three main nerves in the body: the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. The Sushumna is the most subtle and flows through the middle of the eyebrows. Through it, the Kundalini power is flowing, which will purify your body, senses and mind continously.
Question: What is meditation ? How and where should one meditate? What are its benefits ?
Answer: The scriptures say: 'Dhyanam Nirvishayam Manah': Meditation is the thought-free state of the mind, when the mind is at peace. God is not a figment of imagination but a truth that can be experienced. There is no need to imagine anything during meditation. Keep this moment of Deeksha in your mind always, in every breath. Meditation goes on naturally within you, constantly. You just have to be aware of it. Any place is fit for meditation. Any time is suitable, too. Early morning is best (between 3 am and 6 am), or morning (6 to 9 am), or afternoon, or evening (6 to 9 pm). On your bed, inside a mosquito net, you can meditate after others have gone to sleep- or in the morning, before others get up ! The benefits of meditation are unlimited. It helps throughout one's life. God resides as meditation within us and fulfils our desires, keeps us happy and makes us liberated.
Newsletter
1st February 2003 Letter No. 1/03
Priya Bandhu,
Saprema Sri Gurusmaranam !
The traditional celebrations and activities of Siddha Yoga Dham continued with some additions, in the Holy presence of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev.
AYUDH POOJA was celebrated at Siddhaloka on 14 October 2002. All weapons, instruments, machines and equipment etc. were worshipped in the traditional manner. Special Prasad was distributed. Legend (the Mahabharata) has it that on this day, the incognito period of the Pandavas came to an end and Arjuna picked up his weapon- the bow, Gandiva- from the Shami tree. In due course of time, this day became the day to worship all weapons, instruments, machines, vehicles, etc. and the tradition continues.
SRI MUKTANANDA PUNYATITHI was celebrated on 21 October 2002. On this occasion, Vishnu Sahasra Naam was chanted from 10 PM onwards, and Arathi was offered in respect of Paramahansa Muktananda. In an open area, under the bright full moon, milk was boiled in a large vessel. Close to midnight, when the moon was overhead, its reflection was seen in the boiling milk by everyone present. Special prasad was prepared using the same milk by adding sugar and puffed rice. It is said that such a preparation exposed to the full moon on this day, acquires some curative significance. Chandra-darshan (Sighting the moon) on this occasion of Sharad Poornima cleans up the mind.
SIDDHA YOGA SATSANG was arranged on 27 October 2002 at Vidhyaranyapura in Bangalore. Bhajans (devotional songs), discourse by Param Poojya Swamiji, and a brief session of meditation were part of the programme. The devotees who attended were greatly benefited.
SRI DHANA LAKSHMI POOJA was performed at Siddhaloka on the evening of 4 November 2002. Clay lamps were lit in a decorative arrangement and crackers were burst. Deepavali was arranged for three evenings.
After the above functions, the preparations for SIDDHA MEDITATION INTENSIVES were taken in hand. Siddha brothers who were entrusted with specific duties for the Intensive were guided by Param Poojya Swamiji in the weekly meetings on Sundays. This time the hiring of items like tents and cooking arrangements was avoided. To obtain greater space, two panels were added to the shed. Intake for each Shaktipat Deeksha was also fixed at 15 persons for each Intensive.
For the Siddha Meditation Intensive on 22 Dec 2002, the Siddha brothers reached Siddhaloka on 21st Dec, to complete the preparations in time. On the morning of the 22nd, the participants arrived in a chartered vehicle. After breakfast, all were comfortably seated for the first session, in which Param Poojya Swamiji gave instructions and some doubts were also clarified. In the second session, amidst chanting of the Kundalini Stava, Param Poojya Swamiji came to each and every participant individually and bestowed Shaktipat Deeksha by HIS Divine Touch on the forehead. People had different experiences, as were revealed in the third session of Questions and answers.
The next Siddha Meditation Intensive was arranged on 15 January 2003. All arrangements went off smoothly, as this was a repetition of the previous one. As usual, Param Poojya Swamiji introduced the word ‘Intensive’ and ‘Siddha Meditation’. HE gave some instructions about achieving the object of coming here. In the next session, all were sitting comfortably with their eyes closed. Having devotion and great reverence, each person received Shaktipat Deeksha by HIS Divine Touch.
In both the Intensives, the participants had good experiences at the time of Shaktipat Deeksha. Experiences like darshan (vision) of Neel-Bindu(Blue Pearl), Shiva-Shakti, experience of omnipresence, and immense peace, were narrated. Some lost control of their bodies and fell down on the floor in deep meditation. All these were rare spiritual experiences. Participants were from Bangalore, Chitradurga, Bagalkot, Mysore, Mandya and Mangalore districts. People from outside the state could not be accommodated this time.
It is evident from these two successful Intensives that people are now better aware of Siddha Yoga and Siddha Yoga Dham. It is necessary to caution, however, that Siddha Yoga Dham has no branches or centres anywhere else and there are no representatives either. Whenever required, people should contact Siddhaloka directly.
On the subject of improving the environmental conditions around Siddhaloka, a meeting under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister for Sericulture and Textiles, Sri H.M. Revana, was held at Vidhan Soudha. Environmentalist and scholar Sri Yellappa Reddy and other concerned officers were present. It was resolved to develop a SACRED FOREST around Siddhaloka and take up the development work to rejuvenate and regenerate the degraded land by adopting measures to contain soil erosion, undertake water harvesting, and raising new plantations. This would also be educative for the people in this area and for visitors to Siddhaloka, as they would be able to see and learn environmental protection techniques.
Siddha Yoga Dham is arranging the next Siddha Meditation Intensive on 1st March, 2003.
The registration of participants is open and desirous persons should get their names registered immediately by sending application on the prescribed form along with a Demand Draft for Rs. 1200/- by registered post to Siddha Yoga Dham at Siddha Loka.
The first fifteen applicants will
be chosen. For more details, please contact
Siddhaloka by post or on phone.
Rest is Sri Gurukripa
In the service of Sri Gurudev
Surekha