SURRENDERING TO GURU IS PATH TO FREEDOM

Guru or a teacher is essential for every individual. There is an element of ignorance in every individual and whilst we all perform many activities in our lives, many of the things we do could be considered wrong and could cause us to lose the  opportunity of living a good life. A Guru can be our teacher, can remove this ignorance and can also bring in the light, that is wisdom.
Many people ask if it is necessary to have a Guru in order to attain the goals of spirituality. Some people think that surrendering to a Guru is a form of bondage. Currently we are like a King who one night dreamt he was a beggar and then became depressed. The Guru is the one who wakes us up from the sleep of ignorance that is the very cause of that sorrow. Even if we have forgotten a poem we have learnt as a toddler, it all comes back upon hearing someone recite the first few lines. Similarly, our current state is one of forgetfulness - a spiritual forgetfulness and the guru's teaching hold the power to awaken us.
There is a tree in every seed. But for that tree to emerge the seed must first go under the soil and break open. Similarly, even though we are that infinite Truth, unless the shell of the ego breaks open we will not experience that reality. The Guru is the one who nurtures this process.
If a sapling is to grow into a tree, it needs the most conducive environment. It needs to be watered at the right time, fertilised at the right time. It needs to be protected from various pests. The Guru does the same thing for his disciples,  on a spiritual level, nurturing them and protecting them from the various obstacles and pitfalls.
Just as a filter purifies water,  the Guru purifies the disciple's mind, removing the ego. The Guru tries to completely remove the ego from the disciple.
Surrendering to a guru's instructions is a path to Supreme freedom and everlasting happiness. The guru's only goal is to completely free his disciple from sorrow. When the Guru scolds him, the disciple may feel a little sad, but the Guru scolds with only one aim - to uproot and destroy all the disciple's negative tendencies and awaken him to his True Self.

Our SADGURU ARCHNA DIDIJI  is not a mere individual. She is the PARAMA TATTVAM - the Supreme Principle. She is the embodiment of Truth, Renunciation, Love and Dharma. In the presence of a Sadguru, the disciple is able to imbibe all the Guru represents and liberate himself. This is the greatness of the Guru's presence.

The Importance of Accepting a Spiritual Master*

*The Importance of Accepting a Spiritual Master*

On the path of perfection in spiritual life, it’s essential to receive guidance from a Guru, a spiritual master or guide, because we can’t directly or immediately approach God on our own.

We each have a direct relationship with God because we are his children, but realizing and acting in that direct relationship is possible after we’ve become pure, which is a process. A spiritual master selflessly trains and guides us in reviving our relationship with God, and is always willing to help in difficult times.

Guru or Spiritual Masters are well versed in the Vedic scriptures and follow their principles, identify themselves as a humble servant of God and never claim to be God. They act with full control of their senses, and never fall under their control, are impeccable in their moral character, are fully dedicated to serving God at all times with body, mind and words. Follow a guru who belongs to a genuine line of Gurus, a line that extends all the way back to Supreme power, the original spiritual master of everyone.

When we strictly follow the guidance of such a Spiritual Master, our success in spiritual life is guaranteed.

HAPPINESS OF SADGURU

HAPPINESS OF SADGURU

In order to get success in the field of meditative therapy, the first and the most important requirement for the disciple is the happiness of Sadguru.  A Sadguru is happy only from that disciple who from the core of his heart is holy, always helps the needy, loves the humanity, has thirst to achieve the highest gains, fully dedicated, carries on the orders of the Guru, and gives top priority to service & words of Guru.  A disciple is obliged to do the best if he or she can help the cause of the guru.

A Sadguru helps the devotee to maintain God consciousness all the time by his or her own spiritual power. Guru imparts true knowledge and complete understanding of Sat and Asat.  Sadguru can be harsh like holy God but very polite like a mother. He removes all doubts and anomalies from the mind of the disciples, educate them fully and make them capable of sitting in the lap of God. The disciple should also always remain conscious of his duty in the eyes of his Guru so that he remains fully blessed at all times. 

Full devotion and surrender in the feet of Guru is the only property of disciple.  He should not try to strongly explain his point of view right from his mind, spoken words, harsh arguments and unnecessary deeds.  One must learn how to tune with his Guru.  It is said that there is no greater guru than one’s own mind.  A pure mind becomes a spiritual guide, the inner divine guru leads to a Sadguru and self-realization. Guru comes to a person when one is ready. There cannot be anything more than the happiness of the Sadguru.  The Sadguru takes care of his disciple, at all time, at every second and at every step provided he has his full blessings.
Whenever the Sadhak mind is distracted and attracted towards money, Sadguru holds his hand and shows the way to reach God.

The businessman feels great happiness on attaining higher returns in his business. He then becomes rich and landlord of many a pieces of immovable property.  But he goes down deep in sadness and becomes poor when such earnings and properties are lost by way of natural calamities or otherwise.  Similarly, the Sadhak who desires to attain higher ups in the field of meditation has to keep his Guru always happy in every respect, attain his landlord. His earning in spiritual field is the happiness of Sadguru.  That is what he takes with him and it helps him for births and rebirths.  All great masters, gurus come to rekindle the fire of the forgotten truth.  One cannot see one’s face in a pot of water that is disturbed by the wind; similarly, one is unable to realize God when the mind and senses remain perturbed by the winds of material desires.  Always perform the duty efficiently and without attachment to the results. This is because by doing so without attachment one attains the Supreme power.

Man generally accords highest priority to riches, fame or sensual pleasures.  The last of the three is followed by sanity and repentance; the other two are never satisfied.  Craving for wealth is unquenchable and miserable.  The end is always frustrating and negative.  On the other hand, love for the divine and eternity, fills the mind with Bliss.  So whenever you go to the door of the MEDITATION SADGURU ARCHNA DIDI, bid her ‘Namaskar or say Hari Om Didi’, request her for her guidance.  Instead of worldly things, attain her happiness, her love and her blessings, the blessings of your Sadguru.  That is the only way to reach the goal.

MEDITATION AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

MEDITATION AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

The way you live your life determines your lifestyle. There is something that can definitely help you improve your healthy lifestyle, it's  Meditation. So let's have a look at some of the aspects of a healthy lifestyle and how meditation can help you in these areas -

1. HEALTHY FOOD : Food is a very important source of energy, so eating the right amount and the right type of food at the right time can go a long way in determining your health. With regular practice of meditation, the body naturally starts demanding healthy food.

2. SLEEP: Meditation enhances the quality of your sleep. One of the major reasons for improper sleep is stress. Stress hormones reduce when you meditate regularly. As a result there is a calming effect on the mind and the sleep is deeper and more useful.

3. KEEP ACTIVE : Some days we are naturally very active and some days we tend to get lazy. Many who meditate regularly share that meditation naturally keeps them more active and happy during the day. Even when they feel tired, low or bogged down, just a few minutes of meditation charges them up again.

4. UNWIND YOURSELF : One of the best ways of unwinding yourself is meditation. Just sitting with your eyes closed for 20minutes can make your mind calm and peaceful. Meditation makes you more efficient in your work. So you are able to do things faster than usual leaving enough time for leisure.

5. JOY AT WORK : Meditation improves focus, focus improves efficiency, efficiency improves output and productivity, improved output increases job satisfaction.

6.GOOD SOCIAL HEALTH : Our social health is also an important component of our health. Socializing and being friendly is our nature. But we can always enhance this quality. Meditation makes us sensitive towards others, it develops a quality of acceptance in us, it improves communication and expression. With all these qualities we are better able to bond with others and start sharing healthy relationships.

7.LESS ILLNESS : At one level regular meditation improves immunity so the chances of getting sick reduces. At another level, even if you get sick, meditation fastens the process of healing.

Our beloved SADGURU ARCHNA DIDIJI, the founder of CELEBRATING LIFE FOUNDATION  gave the power of joy and oneness to experience the path of Meditation. Through Meditation, we can naturally connect to our spiritual depth. Relaxation and Meditation rids the body of accumulated stress while streghtening the entire mind- body system to work more efficiently. Taking up regular forms of Relaxation and Meditation can promote not only improved health but also greater clarity, energy, mental awareness, confidence, creativity and fulfillment in life.

Meditation Guru, "ARCHNA DIDI" Meditation session "SHIVOHAM"coverage by ...

DARKNESS TO DIVAYA LIGHT

DARKNESS TO DIVAYA LIGHT

In India, lighting of lamp has a special place in the performance of Pooja, rituals and customs.  This lighting of lamp by the devotee before entering into meditation, Aarti of God, beginning of any auspicious occasion by the chief guest, taking oath with fire as witness,  initiating Yajnas, leaving  burning lamps in Ganges or at holy places or in  other  rivers or in many other ceremonies, has always been a  regular custom.  Have you ever thought as to what is the background behind it?  In fact, burning of lamp is a sign of light. Light has a great importance in our life. 
Scientifically, the meaning of light is that, at that particular place, the whole atmosphere is charged with positivity.  That light may be of sun, moon, electricity, fire or by man-made.  If you go deep into this, its meaning lays in that side of life whose earmarked portion is bright enough and has been the path of development.  The path on the earth that takes us to the down trodden is the path of darkness.   Light and darkness are two opposite words, opposite of life.  When the life of a person is filled with love, happiness, Sadgunas, peace, Sadhana, might, service, helpfulness etc. then it is a state of light. 

Opposite to this, when the life of a person is filled with Durgunas, uneducation, laziness, anger, unhappiness, no peace, sickness, losses etc., then it is kingdom of darkness.  Please remember, we have been gifted this body to proceed from darkness to light, losses to hopes, laziness to smartness, uneducation to education and also to enter into meditation.  The aim of our life lies in this, “every ritual has to be bright and full of lights”.  In all customs, rituals and rules, lighting of lamp indicates that in our life we should proceed from the state of darkness to light and from there to God.  Through our holy books (Granths), we get educated that when presence of God is felt and witnessed, it looks to be lights of crores of suns. God is recognized as full of lights and brightness. 

In our prayers, it is mentioned and said, ‘Hey God please bring us from darkness to light’.  This is the main goal of our life and it gives us energy, power, goals, dreams, courage and ray of new light.   The only need is that we try to understand this indication and the message of God.  We should find time for cleaning of our mind.  Give rest to unwanted thoughts and bring out unnecessary elements so that we could have a glimpse and darshana of that Almighty God. 

After so many births, re-births, Sadhana, devotion, service  and  Guru Kirpa, one gets spiritual enlightenment.  The devotee should understand its value, remain constant in meditation timings and put his full energy on this path.  We may be going through a tough time right now but MEDITATION GURU ARCHNA DIDI blesses us in a way that hard time is turned into good time    Life is a Circle of that but  Didi’s plan is the best.  Sometimes the process is painful and hard, but we should not forget that when DIDI is in ‘Moan’ (silent) for two months in a year, she is also doing something for us in her Sadhana. 

Resting the mind can be accomplished by meditation.  It allows the intuition to flow.  Meditation and Art work together at the best giving complement to each other and true things emerge.  Spiritual development is a process of learning and teaches how to remain in the present from moment to moment.  It is the road that leads us to our true self and divine source.  Any action we perform extremely has an internal effect.  To excel in any field we must grow spiritually through deep meditation.  We all should find a true Master to whom we can rely upon and surrender with devotion.  HER HIGHNESS ARCHNA DIDI is the one to whom a true seeker can see with full devotion.  We must thank DIDI for the Divaya Light in every step of our life.

BENEFITS OF MEDITATION FOR KIDS

An increasing number of children have been showing elevated signs of stress, restlessness and anxiety starting at a very early age. We know Meditation is a great tool to find peace and balance, that's why we enjoy our practice. Now how do we get our kids to love meditation, too?

Here are some meditation techniques and tips that can work for the kids-

1. BECOME THE CHANGE - Kids are prone to copying the behavior of their parents. So starting them on a meditation journey can be as simple as leading by example. When your kids observe you in meditation, it sets a tone that children can learn from and enjoy starting their day in silence.

2.PRACTICE SILENCE - Schedule a day or even a couple of hours to dedicate to silence. You can turn it into a game, "Who can be the quietest ?" And when you do break the silence, create a fun game or song with words like love,kindness and good intent.

3. LEARN TO LET GO- Teaching meditation to children is about learning. They do not always respond in the way we want them to. We can guide them on how to sit,  close their eyes and so on. Give them something to look at on the floor if they are seated or on the ceiling if they are lying down.

4. PRANAYAMA (breathing exercises) - Breath is connected to prana (life-force energy) and oxygenates every cell in our body . Here are a few breathing techniques that are favorites among the kids-

a)  ujjayi(victorious breath) : Explore practicing the "deep ocean sound " at the back of the throat, while taking deep belly breaths. It truly calms and settles their energy.

b) Nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breath) : This is said to balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain -leading to better cognitive development.

c) Kapalbhati (shining breath) : They have fun watching their bellies as they push the air out of their mouth while drawing their abdomen in at the same time.

5. YOGA - There's nothing like doing yoga as a family. Sun Salutations are a fun and generally easy form of yoga to practice together. It helps to keep the energy channels of the body open and flowing properly, preventing a host of diseases.

6. VISUALIZATION - This is a great bedtime routine. Yoga Nidra is an ancient practice that brings your awareness to different areas of the body while lying in stillness. It's super relaxing and helps prime for great dreams.

7. SING AND CHANT TOGETHER USING MANTRAS- Kids love to sing.  Chanting improves focus and concentration and has powerful effects on brain development. Here are few mantras that can be sing alongwith the kids :
- The Gayatri mantra has 24syllables, each of which is connected to a different part of the brain. It has been used to enhance intelligence and intuition.
- OM is the sound of the universe and divine intelligence. Allow your little ones to play with the tone and volume of their om's and go at their own pace.
-Chakra Toning - Hang up a chart or painting of the chakras. Point to the chakra and have them imagine the colour in that area of their body. Have them chant the mantra associated with that chakra.

8. GET CREATIVE - Here are a few other creative ways to incorporate meditation into your kids lives -

* Prepare a meditation space : Explore in nature and have your child pick a stone, fill a cup with water, burn a candle and use something like a feather to represent the air element. Put the elements in the center of the room. Sit in a circle around the elements and begin your meditation.

* Have them Gaze at a burning candle for a period of time, this can be a meditation practice in focus and discipline.

* Play  a Game where you place a book on their head and see how slowly and mindfully they can walk to the other side of the room.

Our Sadguru ARCHNA DIDIJI  always teaches us that the main goal is not to force your children to meditate, but to get them intrigued and accustomed to it. Make it a fun and positive experience throughout their childhood, so they are more likely to keep it up as a practice as they grow.