Breathe Free ... :-)

The winters are here but still not quite here. Enjoying the slight chill in the air, and this busy and happy phase of my life. The past few days have been a lot of travel - innumerable auto, bus and train rides, and I loved it! My window seat moments that I spent while traveling, with beautiful music plugged into my ears, were sheer bliss. These were my moments of just being. When He makes you a little busy you know how to hunt out the moments to connect! ;-)

As I make an attempt at capturing some of these moments, I can't help wondering how life has changed in the past few months! The world is a lot more beautiful, people are just so loving, and there is that general sense of well being and happiness around.

It is difficult to imagine how just even a few months back I was reeling from the effects of a chaotic life.

As the soft wind gently blows my hair and I admire the city beautifully lit up with neon lights, I can't help feeling immensely grateful for the freedom and the deep sense of joy that has filled the heart now. The best part is that I know this is for keeps! I know, somehow at some level, I have crossed over and I will not be bothered again. My every step, every breath can only be that of a deep sense of gratitude.

Hmmm! Each time I pen down my thoughts, I do my best to express what is there in my heart yet it leaves me with a feeling that my words have not done full justice to what I feel. Reminds me of what Guruji says, “The entire life is a futile exercise to express the inexpressible.” Every word we say, every word we write, every song we sing can only be an attempt at expressing, for the treasures of the heart are so much and so deep that words cannot reach it.

Giving up, I just smile my smile, a smile that comes from that beautiful, untouched place somewhere so deep within :-)

The past few days ...

The past few days have been very interesting! We (Sumona, Madhumita di, Nivedita, Debipriya di, Piu & me) spent the best part of our time staring at walls, lamp posts & trees at Hedua, searching for empty places to put up posters and banners of Guruji's impending visit to Howrah. "Oi toh .. oi toh khali jaigaa.. okhane ekta mere de" (There.. there an empty space.. put up one there!) We would shout in delight and relief whenever we could spot some wall space free of graffiti and posters. In a place like Kolkata, finding some space to put up a poster is quite an acheivement! ;-)

Little miracles dotted the days as we went about informing the people in the area about Sri Sri's arrival. Grace was totally at work, we just had to sit back and watch in amazement.

Special mention must be made of a boy who came forward to help us put up the banners today. He turned out to be such a hero! He approached us with confident strides and took charge immediately. He very smartly took us to places which turned out to be just the right places for the banners.

The next few minutes were complete magic as he quickly tied all the ends of the banner to a tree and a lamp post, and within a short while we had the banner at exactly the place where we wanted it to be. Not only that he took us to all the places where we can put up the posters as well and very soon the area was filled with Guruji's beaming face from everywhere and boy, we were just so charmed! We just couldn't stop smiling at how everything was just happening!

Now.. something interesting! At one point of time Madhumita di suddenly nudged me and said with eyes wide open, "he is saying his name is Ravi!!." I gaped at her and then we both burst out laughing! Ufff! toooo much of a coincidence!! Ravi is doing His own work! Ahaa! Not bad, and He is making it known as well.. Not bad! Not bad at all!! Hehe :) :) No wonder everything was just happening, and so perfectly!

These two days passed away in a breeze as we informed people in the area about Sri Sri's impending visit, distributed pamphlets and covered every empty space with his posters :D People came forward to help us and Grace had fully enveloped the day. Lots of comic moments ensured that we kept laughing and smiling ;-D

Also were times when we were touched at how eagerly and respectfully the people welcomed the news of His arrival and made enquiries. As Sumona excitedly said to us, "People are waiting for Him!"

True, it is only when we hit the streets and talk to the common people that we realise how desperately people are looking for peace, joy.. spirituality!

The day winded up with tea, snacks, adda, guru stories at Subhadra di's house. As with anybody who has done Seva knows, food is always so wonderfully taken care of. :-)

As we were returning Piu casually remarked, “We have been out since morning and still we don’t feel any tiredness. If this had not been any Seva work we would have been so tired by now.” I agreed wholeheartedly. Guru Seva is always so refreshing, rejuvenating and most importantly so effortless! It is a wonder how everything just HAPPENS!

Hmmmmm… Now, everything done, we await His arrival! The entire city is so wonderfully decked up with His smiling face beckoning one and all so lovingly! Can’t wait to welcome Him!

Wishing everyone an amazing time on 8th January – All are cordially invited to attend an evening of Music, Meditation & Satsang in the Divine presence of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at Dumurjola Stadium Ground, HOWRAH! :-) :-)

.. A beautiful.. beautiful.. so very beautiful feeling in all hearts!

Sooo many pairs of shoes outside the *Bal Chetna Shibir venue! I got a little nervous! How will we manage so many kids?

Inside the venue - such bright, eager, innocent faces! My initial apprehension withered off and was finally completely put to rest when I saw Chandrani monitoring the kids. I knew instantly, with her around, I will not have to worry about disciplining the kids! And it proved to be so true! All through the course I was passing on the mike to her saying “aage shaanto kor.” (calm them down first!) :-P

And she was such a pro!

“muh par ungli aur aankhen baand!” – These magic words did all the magic!

She was very ably aided by Snigdha and Prachi – two very dynamic and charming ladies. I guess this was the first time they were assisting a Bal Chetna shibir and they survived, though initially I think they looked petrified!

Jokes apart, the course started off with a bang! Of course with a pack of "wild horses" (as Guruji says) what else do you expect? Their faces shone with excitement as they enthusiastically pledged to come on all five days of the course.

As Guruji's knowledge started to unfold before them, they listened with rapt attention. It was so nice to see them learning so many things about the body and mind, meditation, good habits, responsibility and many other valuable life skills. Repeated revisions ensured that they got it right.

A funny observation here - A lot of kids raised their hands high up whenever any question was asked but when they were asked to answer, it became clear that they had raised the hand more out of enthusiasm than out of knowing the answer! ;-) Madhupriya’s hilarious replies to the kids when she was bombarded with raised hands and shouts of “ma’am” “ma’am”, was another funny high point of the course!

Meditation with them was a revelation!

It was difficult to imagine these bouncing kids being able to sit still even for a few seconds but what a surprise! They did the bhastrika (which they learnt at one go!) with the utmost sincerity, followed it up with Om chanting and then “la la” meditation. Wow!

While they just could not stop laughing and giggling the first day they did the “la la” meditation, the sincerity on the remaining four days was just amazing! Each day I would reluctantly conclude the meditation, wishing so much to elongate it a little more, and just sit blissfully in that space of amazing stillness and quiet joy.

Guru stories were a hit as usual! Wonder-struck they fell silent on hearing how grace is always taking care of us every moment. Stories of faith are always so much food for the soul. Madhupriya’s soothing voice and strong conviction while talking about the Master further enhanced the charm.

What splashed more colors of joy in the course was… … any guesses?! Yessss! It had to be the Satsang!! It was our lively bhajans that took the joy barometer to the highest point! It was impossible to not get affected by Sandeep's bhakti-stirring and goose-bump giving voice and Sunny's delightful pricking of the guitar strings! The duo’s playfulness, love, bhakti, smiles spread quickly and everybody went just high high high (both vocally and spiritually) ;-) Aaah well! After the sessions with the somewhat strict didis, the friendly and smiling bhaiyaas were so so so welcome!!

Yes. The connection was made! The kids were blessed with the security of Divine Love. They now know that they have someone with them ALWAYS. Just this knowing is enough, rest everything just happens! What say? :-)

My (and I am sure it is yours too!) learning from the course – Seva when done in a group becomes a yagna! I know (and I am sure you know it too!) that we will all be working together again to bring more and more people in this beautiful path of love, joy and knowledge.

Wishing all of us a Gurumai 2012! May all of us be in Him ALWAYS… rest everything just happens! What say?

Sangachaadwam!

Lets move together!

:-)

*Bal Chetna Shibir - An Art of Living stress elimination program for the underpriveledged children (7-16 years).

What a gift!

I had slept for only two hours last night.. Had to wake up today morning and go to conduct a follow-up. I was wondering how I would go about it. Before going to bed I told Guruji, "Wake me up at 5 am". Exactly at 5 am I am awake.. I freshen up, do my Kriya and am off to Metropolitan at Bypass for the follow-up.

Follow-up happens and as the session is about to end, two guys drop in - Sunny and Sandeep. From them I get to know that they are here to create a satsang band that will go to different villages and perform! What an exciting initiative! More friends came in - Sohini, Madhupriya, Ankur, Chirayu.. And then we jammed! Whoa! I had always wanted to be a part of a musical band and here I was singing with them! It was such an exhilarating experience to be singing our enlivening bhajans!

And of course as is always with any group where AoL members are huddled, we shared wonderful knowledge and insights post singing. It is overwhelming when we remind ourselves of how lucky we are to be in such sat-sang!

Our only job while we are here is to keep ourselves happy - give ourselves the best thoughts, feelings and a strong faith in our own selves.

The trick is that if we feel we are worthy of the best, we would pretty much be handed THE BEST!

We are truly meant to have an amazing life! :-)