Satsang Letter - Gurupurnima
For us chelas of a living master, Gurupurnima celebrations are a big event. They mark a special occasion to honor our Satguru Sri Neem Karoli Baba, the Guru of our Ma, and our Guru Mata herself, offering us an opportunity to express our gratitude and love for them.
Ma speaks of Baba always with deep love and gratitude. She often recalls and recounts how Baba placed even Ma’s love for Him – like a seed – in her heart. At first she experienced this seed in her heart almost as something painful, like a grain of sand in the eye. But over the years this little seed has grown into a love for Baba that became as big as a tree, under which many people can now find refuge. Ma says:
It is out of love for my Guruji that I offer guidance to all those who find their way to me, showing them the path that I myself have been privileged to walk—a path that is extremely direct and can be experienced individually by each person—the path of Bhakti Yoga.
Ma has also planted the seed of love in our hearts. Her love lets our hearts expand to become softer and to also be filled with unconditional love one day.
This weekend, Ma told us about a visitor who asked her about Baba’s first words to her. And this was Ma’s answer:
Ma spoke about how she had to overcome a moment of hesitation as she was embarrassed that Baba would see the entire contents of her bag. Ma then took an inner decision to let go of the bag and everything that went with it in her mind. By letting go, Ma was ready to show Baba everything and suddenly realized that there was no longer any need for her to hide.
Over the years as Ma’s chela I have experienced myself that my Ma sees everything, knows everything, and the more I become aware of this the more open I am in my encounters with my GuruMa, as I always feel her love for me.
Since this celebration is so special to us, we are dedicating this issue of the SatsangLetter to Gurupurnima.
Karishma – Editorial Team
On the last day of the Gurupurnima celebrations, Ma told us about her first encounter with her Guru, Sri Neem Karoli Baba, in India in 1973, and encouraged us not to hide behind any facades but to show ourselves as we are. Then Ma began to lead the kirtan as we sang to Baba and the whole kirtan hall vibrated.
It felt as if we had all been transported back to that time in India, sitting around Baba’s takhat and singing to Him with all our devotion. In Ma’s voice, we felt her infinite love and intense surrender to Baba. A love that never fades, as Ma always says. For us chelas this is a constant inspiration on our spiritual path.
What a blessing to be able to sit at the feet of my Master, Sri Durgamayi Ma, in this life!
Akshayan
Right at the beginning, we were welcomed by the sound of kirtan coming from the large kirtan hall. My heart jumped with joy and I looked forward to greeting all the murtis and then joining the singing. After the first kirtan, Hanuman (the pujari) announced that anyone who wishes may come to greet Ma in the MaKutir one by one. It was a sacred, quiet, and blissful moment when I made pranam to Ma. Before, during, and after the greeting, the singing continued joyfully and powerfully in the kirtan hall. At lunchtime, delicious Indian prasad was offered in the bhandara room. Later, we sang kirtan again, Ma came to be with us and we celebrated the sacred Aarti. Suddenly, all my tiredness was gone. We sang and each of us was allowed to offer the light in front of Ma in her honor. I will never forget this joyful and powerful aarti and felt deep gratitude.
Gitapriya
Before the celebrations began on Saturday, we sang kirtan. Every now and then I opened my eyes and saw a steady stream of people bowing and offering gifts in front of the brightly lit and festively decorated pujas. What a special place this ashram is where people can express their devotion and worship in such a beautiful way.
The pujari welcomed everyone to this celebration, in which chelas of a Guru express their joy and humility for having been granted the fortune to meet their Guru. The word humility echoed within me and as we sang the hymn to the Guru in Ma’s presence, the many years I have spent as Ma’s chela passed before my inner eye and the constant care and guidance Ma continues to give me.
At the end of the singing, I bowed deeply and humbly before my GuruMa. Everything that previously felt tight and twisted inside me, my dissatisfaction with myself and the dejectedness gave way to a great sense of gratitude.
When Ma began to lead the kirtan on Sunday and her voice could be heard clearly, I was deeply moved. No other voice in the world, no piece of music, has ever touched me as much as my Guru’s voice at this moment. It felt as if Ma enveloped me with love, called me, and in some inexplicable way, this divine singing ignited an overwhelming joy within me. I felt richly blessed by Ma throughout these days in her presence. Jai Gurudev!
Nirmaladevi
As we were all waiting for Ma in the Baba Mandir, I remembered that I hadn’t seen Ma for many weeks. And then the moment arrived. Ma entered the room. It is very difficult to put this moment into words. Ma’s presence—so simple, so clear, so immersed in herself and yet connected with everything. I immediately felt this unique connection and it felt completely new again. Ma’s love flooded the room and in that moment I too was fulfilled.
Chandrika
On Gurupurnima, we sang the Bengali Aarti to Ma and I especially love these words very much because ever since I have been Ma’s chela I have experienced that my GuruMa brings everything to light. Everything that is in me, be it fears or negative thoughts, is allowed to come to light.
Under Ma’s loving eye, these can dissolve. I experienced this especially during this joyous celebration. Once we were all sitting in the kirtan hall and despite our many differences it felt as if we were singing to Ma from one heart, one soul. The next day, Ma sang with us and her voice rose so powerfully in the room that we were simply all carried away together.
Bhavani
From July 25th to July 29th, Durgamayi Ma will be giving a retreat for her chela. These days are an opportunity for us to experience the presence of our GuruMa intensely and up close. In different ways, Ma shows us the various facets of our human nature, and our luminous divine nature also reveals itself. In Ma’s presence, we listen to music or watch a film, and we can talk to Ma about what we are experiencing and what moves us. These are intense days that have a lasting effect, allowing us to grow spiritually, and often they remain unforgettable.
On the second weekend in August, Sri Neem Karoli Baba Mandir opens for a BhaktiWeekend, during which Durgamayi Ma will not be personally present in the ashram. We will be meditating and singing kirtan together, celebrating aarti and sitting in silence in Baba’s kutir.
Bhakti Weekends are open to everyone—anyone who would like to come can simply register here on the ashram website.