Guru Purnima~ 2012

Bhagavan in Guru Purnima-2012, Kolkata

Devotees chanting Mahamantra at Mayer bari, Birati, Kolkata

A report on Bhagavan’s visits to Shillong- a beautiful city with beautiful people at the North eastern state of Meghalaya, India.

-Sanjib Bhattacharjee & Smt Champa Nag, Shillong, India

Bhagavan- the founder and core of the International Vedanta Society paid a 3 day visit to Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, a small but beautiful North Eastern state of India.

The arrival 1st of July 2008.
· Respected dignitaries of Shillong welcomed Sri Bhagavan with traditional “Gamosa” and garlands when Bhagavan arrived here at 12.30 pm. He was accompanied by Swami Sankarananda, Vice President IVS, Mrs. Maushumi Deb, Vice President, women’s wing, from Arunachal Pradesh and Miss Shikha Sarkar from Assam. Some of the members present were Sri Sanjib Bhattacharjee, Smt Shibani Talukdar, Sri Siddhartha Nag,Smt Champa Nag, Sri Api Das, Smt Nami Das, Smt Sonali Das, Sri Chandan Dev, Smti Devi Dev etc.
· On His arrival speech, Bhagavan highlighted the importance and significance of appearance of Sri Bhagavan in this earth to a moderate gathering which included devotees other dignitaries of Shillong. While elaborating on the concept of Diksha, Bhagavan said that the traditional “Mantra Diksha” given to the disciples is not enough, but the touch of a highly spirited super power can guide the holy heart to the ultimate realization.

The stay 2nd of July 2008
· Bhagavan said, “Vedanta should not be practiced separately; it should be made a part of our life. Every step and teachings of Vedanta helps us to lead a tension and stress free life”.
· While elaborating on the Mahamantra He said, in earlier days, the Hare Krishna Mahamantra was chanted mostly by people without realizing its inner meaning and power. But now, as the power of the Mahamantra is being discovered, it is now chanted by people of all classes, especially the literate ones, not only in India but also around the world.

· After a long time the devotees had the opportunity to listen to the Advaita Vedanta from the Master. Bhagavan was in the mood of delivering the essence of the highest form of spiritual knowledge to his loved ones. He said-“Common people are aware of three stages- awake ness, dream and deep slumber. But the ultimate internal fragrance of realization comes from the fourth step of spiritual awakening i.e. the “Paramarthik Jagaran” or the transcendental state”. He said that we or rather our mind is constantly trying to get something or the other. Naturally some of our wants are fulfilled while others are not. We feel happy when everything we want is achieved but we start to blame others for our failures and miseries when our wants and desires are not being fulfilled. The main message was that we are only responsible for our sorrows and miseries. “Nobody but me to Blame”. The sooner we can understand this the quicker we will learn to remain contended and happy.

3rd of July 2008
· Bhagavan said that the realization of eternity in every soul can only be explored when the quest for the same is felt inside.
· Sri Bhagavan said, innumerable numbers of people around the world has experienced the essence of realization with His divine touch, but compared to that it is very unfortunate that appropriate recognition is not given by the people, the reason for this being the selfishness of the aspirants who happily experienced the pleasure and joys of Realization but never had tried to express and spread this message to the world.

The departure 4th of July 2008
Every good thing comes to an end. After spending three really wonderful days with Bhagavan, the day of separation finally arrived for the people of Shillong. Devotees with tearful eyes bid farewell to His Holiness Sri Sri Bhagavan who left Shillong for Guwahati on the 4th of July at 9AM accompanied by Swami Sankarananda, Mrs Mousumi Deb and Miss Sikha Sarkar. Members present during Bhagavan’s departure were Smt Tapashi Bhattacharjee, Sri Malay Talukdar, Sri Pradip Rakshit, Sri Pinak Pani Hore, Smt Sudipta Hore, Sri S.R Choudhury, Sri Suparna Choudhury, Smt Chandra Nag, Smti Meenakshi Choudhury and others.

Suzie Palmer, (Australia), on the story of Bhagavan.

Hello Swamiji!!
Great to hear from you!! Thank you for sharing that wise story of your Master's. You have inspired the following poem!! Please post in Vedanta group and anywhere you wish!!
All my Love always, Suzie xoxox :-D

* * *
When we look closer

Beware of the dogs at the gate
Faces ferocious
Eyes of slate
Don’t even try to test your fate
Best to stay clear
Of the dogs at the gate

Rearrange your life
Abate the gate
Do everything in your power
Don’t give those dogs bait

Stay away, hesitate
Those dogs know how to keep you away
But then again
Who are they?
Are they truly, what they convey

Take a step closer, peek inside
Are those dogs even alive?
Stone structures etched with skilful hands
These dogs they come from moulded sand!

Oh my, oh my, these dogs are good
Cleverly made, it’s now understood
Things are not always as they seem
When we look closer, the truth can be seen

Narayana's Experience with the mahamantra

Dear Friends,
Today we received a letter from Narayana (Xavier Vidal Bueno), a devotee of Bhagavan from Spain. In 2007 he stayed here at Varanasi for some months. Though a naughty and fun loving boy, he has seriously dedicated himself for strict spiritual practice. After reading his letter its real joy to know that the spiritual flower in him is blossoming well. Please read on.....

Hello everybody,

I would like to share the experience I had last night, it was wonderful for me.
Some days ago I decided to do japa (chanting sacred mantra in the mind) at night before going to bed, and last night I was doing so. Normally I enter into a state of half sleep when I am about to finish and then I wake up again and finish the japa; this is because after work I'm very tired and I do the japa liyng on the bed. But yesterday was different, In some point of the japa ( wich I was doing with the full mahamantra ) I started to feel great pleasure and my energy increasing and some parts of my body moving like when you are nervous and tremble. As I felt that I wasn't tired and my concentration was increasing. I decided to folow with the japa for longer than normally; pleasure was increasing as it seemed that I was sinking deeper and deeper in the mahamantra as well as energy and prayers to God would come to my mind every time realizing the Truth of his presence. I could feel the flowing of energy through my limbs and my mind getting clearer as I got deeper and deeper concentration. I started the Japa at 11:30 pm and I finished at last at 3:00 am without any interrumption. This is the first time that I can do such a long japa and when I finished I felt everything was alive.

Thanks God!

Jai Bhagavan!

Hare Krishna!

Narayana

Friday 13th June 2008
Barcelona,Spain

Enlightenment.

Jennifer Helminski,Central Jersey,

NJ, America.

I once was lost
Stumbling along
and falling, weary,
I could not find my way.
Like a single star
in a black sky,
you shined your light
on me from a place
beyond the endless dark.
You reached out to me
from heaven
and I took your hand.
I was weak
and broken
but you gathered me up
and held me,
whispering softly in my ear,
soothing my aching heart,
healing my wounds.
My wings were broken,
so you gave me
one of your own
and taught me to fly
by holding me.
Now I can't get enough
of heaven.
We walk together
in the sunlight
and hold each other
in the night.
When you reach out to me
from the dark now,
it is only between dreams.
Our eyes say,
"You are forever safe here."
Our love says,
"I will fly with you always."

Carolina's (Uruguay) experience with Bhagavan

My dear swamiji,

Is it posilble to explain what i'm living this days next to Bhagavan?

Now, even Bhagavan told me " Carolina tell me what you're feeling" I was in a deep meditation, swimming in heaven not in the body far away from this unreal world, and I don't answer. He wait some minutes and in a moment I was thinking "I have to answer he is asking me", but I decide not, in this case I have to leave heaven and come back to earth to speak, to think.

He tell everybody "supreme silence, no need for words, no need for words"

Then I know I'm right and he said my name and I fall down.

Every time when he is with us I feel I fall down, something like a strong power comes to me and take me out of the body and I start to travel in the universe, I have many visions, and feelings and I understand things, a voice told me things but I don't stay with this visions I know this is also the mind. And I try to go beyond that, my deep mind says "Bhagavan... Bhagavan ... Bhagavan, I love you, I love you, take me with you." I see He put his hand in my head and I fall down. I feel this power, energy comes like in every cell that start to vibrate . The other day I feel at the final hour a waterfall of love descending in me and I swim in a lake of love, and this love penetrate me and start to come from me, first in my hands , I feel like pure light , strong light coming out from my hands and then from all my self. In this moment I realize I can do whatever, I can change whatever, I can heal whatever pain or sad whatever soul and heart that suffer, with the love that Bhagavan put in me.

Today it was a joy day, Bhagavan was very happy and we sing and dance, he laugh so much and I see him like my father, my son, my all , His happiness is all that I want. It was a very deep day, He tell me that He has pain because he can't give us place to stay and food and everything, you know, and my heart is broken and I cry so much.

I cry and I laugh so much with Him.

I can feel what is He more and more each time.

Thank you Swamiji, that's why I can love everybody more and more also. This is a huge thing; this is a treasure that I know Bhagavan.

Today I tell Him that you write us every day and that you tell me to send Him all your love. He give His best smile, you know this smile that penetrate the heart. Like proud and grateful for you.

Thank you thank you thank you

All my love for you dear brother, God bless you!

I fly from here to Delhi on sunday at 7:45 pm. so you can go to the roof top, look the sky and tell me "goodbye sister see you in everywhere"

I will come as soon as we think, for sure.

Pray for me and my family , and my business why not, if every thing go good with this I can come back soon and we can do more things for this world. If not goes well also I will come back and we will do many things and just one, recieve all the love from Bhagavan and then give it like we receive it.
Carolina.
(de Caro)

To Bhagavan With Love- Paula, Barcelona

My beloved Bhagaban.

Starting in these dates the convention my heart and mind are more and more with You. No words to explain my feelings of love to you. My heart only can express itself by tears ...
My Father, my Guide, my God... Thank you for rescue me from where I was and let me walk to Your direction.
Thank you for taking my hand everysecond in my life.

The baby will be born soon...
Let us have a glimpse of how you love to your Childs...

I love you Bhagaban. It is hard to be so far away from you but you are here, with us , giving light to everything ... and this is also
beautiful...

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

Letter from Shivendra, a devotee of Bhagavan

Revered Swamiji,
Hare Krishna,
I am so fortunate to have got a diamond opportunity to have met my master last week on Mar 02, 2008.I had been so eager to get His blessings for a long time.All the time it seems He used to play hide-and-seek with me.Of course, He is Lord Krishna, so He can play hide-and-seek with anybody but yes,He has infinite love too.Whenever I tried to meet Him earlier, it could never be possible.Actually, I am not in that position to take it as hide-and-seek game being played with me.All the time I was sad cursing my luck.Whenever He visited Amingaon,I used to be out of my institute and when I went Kolkata last month regarding my visa for US, He was in Puri.I was very uneasy to meet Him that day but I had no other option to leave Kolkata without having met Him.Really, it was very painful.Finally, my visa processing got suspended the same day.I became very sad again but I was happy the same time as I murmured to myself "Probably my master wants this happen so that I can get another chance to come Kolkata and to meet Him".Finally happened the same and I went again to Kolkata to collect my visa and thus stars shone and I reached Birati to have His blessings.

...As per the instructions of Swami Nirgunananda Ji, Swami Prajnanananda Ji and Swami Premananda Ji, I left Tollygunge at around 1600 Hrs.. and started for Birati.Finally I reached Birati at 1730 Hrs.Swami Prajnanananda Ji had spoken to Swami Sankarananda Ji before I started for Birati.I asked the location of Mayer Bari from a local person and proceeded to meet Him with lots of questions rising in my mind just like water waves in a sea.I kept questioning myself "Whether I will be able to meet Him today.Will He talk to me? How much time will I get to speak Him?If there would be a crowd of devotees then how will I get His blessings?etc.etc."I was floating in my questions and started walking languidly.I was just following two persons on the road.After a few minutes, I saw both of them entering the Mayer Bari compound. I thought them to be devotees of Bhagavan Ji and thought them to going for prayer because it was the nearly the prayer time.Although the shine board of Mayer Bari was there but still to make it confirmed I asked them "Uncle, is it the Mayer Bari?" One of those two replied "Yes".I entered the compound and kept walked enthusiastically leaving both of them behind.After a few steps I got confused about the place as I was supposed to go to the IVS office.Being confused I stopped there and when looked back, O my God, He was Bhagavn Ji and Sri Tapas Ji, to whom I asked "Uncle, isit the Mayer Bari".Actually He was returning from an evening walk.Bhagavan Ji took me to the office where I met Sankarananda Swamiji.

Bhagavan Ji asked me to have a seat He too sat in a chair.Conversation started:

"What's your name?"
"Shivendra Pandey."
"Okay, I have heard about u a lot u.Where are u originally from?"
"Bhagavan Ji,I am from Amethi..How is your physical health now?"
"It's better as compared to previous days...So, is it your first visit to Kolkata?"
"No, it's second.I had come on Feb 01 before this visit."
"Okay, so u have some work or what?"
"Yes, for visa"
"Where are u going? And for what a duration?"
"To Florida university for 2 and a half months"
"Have we met earlier?"
"Yeah, once in Amingaon"
"Oh yes, in Amingaon we have met."
"Bhagavan Ji, I was very eager to meet u but all the time it could not happen as I was out of IIT Guwahati whenever You visited Amingaon"
"But, this time it happened..right?"
"Yeah, I am so happy to have met u today"
"How is Maharaj Ji?..At present only Ramananda Swami and Maharaj Ji are there..Swarup has left for Varanasi"
"Yes, he will be back on Tuesday"
"To whom u use to talk these days? Swarup or Maharaj Ji"
"Everybody but generally I use to talk to Ramananda Swamiji and Swarup swamiji"
"Okay,..Ramananda Swamiji."
"Yes."
"Where are u staying here"
"Sealdah City lodge"
"Everything is okay? Any problem there?"
"No Bhagavanji, everything is okay"
"So u are coming from there?"
"No, I reached sealdah at 8:00 and then I went to Tollygunge from there I came here"
"Swamijis are fine there?..Did u face any problem?"
"Yeah they are fine.I faced no problem."
"How did u come?"
"By bus."
"Okay, while returning u can go by train...How did u know the location of this place?"
"Asked at Ganguram's shop.Swamiji had told me."
"Okay.So u were told about Ganguram's shop by swamiji"
"Yes."

By this time He had taken His tea.I also had tea to take.I first offered it to Bhagavan Ji.He touched the biscuits in my plate and said"Okay.I have touched it." and He asked me to take tea and He left the office.After a short time He came back to me.By that time I also had finished it.He asked:
"Tea over?"
"Yes, I have to wash it"
"No, leave it there..come with me.Let's go to prayer hall"
I followed Him to prayer hall.
He started "This is actually my home that I have converted to ashrama.Here Vedant is discussed all the time.People use to come throughout the day or phonecalls.Thus Vedanta is discussed always..So, what made u to come here?"
"Actually I use to talk to Maharaj Ji, Probuddhananda Swamiji, Prajnanananda Swamiji, Premananda Swamiji and mostly I keep in touch with Probuddhananda Swamiji through internet.This way I feel very great with them and fortunately I am here to get Your blessings "

"How do u feel"
"Happiness,peace, very good in studies and confidence in self"
"Okay, confidence in this (Pointing to self)"
"Yes"
"Very good."

After that I came back to office with Sankarananda Swamiji and talked to him.After a very long time I was fortunate to speak to Swamiji.First time I had met him in May 2006 only for a few hours. It was second meeting with him...After that we again went to prayer hall as it was prayer time.
Bhagavan Ji asked "Do u understand Bengali? No!"
"I do but a very little bit"
"Okay,A very little bit !"

Now it was prayer time.After prayer, Bhagavan Ji discusses vedanta.Finally after Mahamantra, He asked to Sri Tapas Ji "U will be leaving for Sealdah?"He replied"Yes"
Bhagavan Ji asked me "Get prasad and go with him.He is also going to Sealdah"
"Okay Bhagavan Ji"
"Tomorrow, do give me a call after u get your visa. ok?"
"Okay Bhagav ji"
"Okay then!"

And unwillingly I left Birati.It was extremely painful toleave Him but I had to leave..I felt the infinite love in Him for everybody.I have no specific word to express His love and generousity.He is everything.He is beyond everything.Nothing can map Him.How do I express my feeling within the boundaries of words.He is infinite.His love is infinite but I have only finite words.I feel more and more, deeper and deeper but I am getting myself unable to express..Love You so much My Master!!!!!!!!

(Shivendra Pandey ,Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India, devotee of Bhagavan)

Chrysanthi (Risa), devotee of Bhagavan from Greece writes her feelings on Bhagavan

Chrysanthi (Risa), Varanasi 03/03/2008

I had been anxiously waiting for Bhagavans arrival. I had been preparing my self as much as I could, but I wasn't very sure of what to expect, and even though many had told me that Bhagavan in a few words is God, like every unrealized human, doubts filled my mind.

The day of His arrival came. We were all waiting at the small street at the ashrams entrance when I suddenly felt the strong vibration of His presence. I was holding to some flowers that I would kindly shower on Him as a show of love and respect. I saw him coming towards me: an illuminated, childish face that hid all the wisdom of the universe behind those eyes and smile. He asked me whether I was ok; never in my life has somebody asked me this question in a more sincere way than Bhagavan. I was left speechless; completely unable to answer the only thing I could do was smile, happy to have felt unconditional love from someone I was seeing for the first time in my life.

The days following Bhagavans stay, I tried to spend more and more time at the ashram trying to figure out what was that vibration, so familiar, like a memory long forgotten. It is only now that I can realize what Bhagavan is.

Bhagavan for me is Love, unconditional Love, Love that doesn't see faults, mistakes, doubts etc. He only sees God inside you, He believes in you whether you believe in yourself or not, and that gives you strength to carry on. He is Knowledge, supreme Knowledge that sparkles in His eyes like the rays of the sun. Once I looked in them, and now I find myself swimming in that ocean of Knowledge all the time. He is everything, he is my inspiration, he is God. He is my father.

Now, even though Bhagavan is not here, his presence in me is occupying more and more space, until I finally be able, as I told him, to sacrifice my whole being for Him, for God.

Caution, Bhagavan is God.

FLYING WITH BHAGAVAN

Varanasi,India
19th November 2006

The time was the regular mahamantra. the devotees were dancing around Bhagavan- The Core and founder of this great organisation called the International Vedanta Society.As the mahamantra begin to unfold itself a curent of joy passed amongst the people around and they were simply absorbed in the mahamantra. Everybody were so full of joy and ecstasy that they were jumping or rather flying around their master!