Satsang with Swami Pragyapada

The vast grounds of New English School in Pune was witness to a beautiful satsang in the presence of Swami Pragyapad (formerly Prashant Rajore). It was my first satsang in many months and I was in sheer bliss. I don't know who was singing but dudes - you totally rock !!! I mean it. I was in meditation in 2 seconds flat. They started with this beautiful bhajan : Hey Shivanandana

Hey Shivanandana Lambodara Hey Vishwavinayaka Namonamaha
Namonamaha Namonamaha Vishwavinayaka Namonamaha || 2

Siddhivinayaka Mangala Daata || 2
Parvati Nandana Gajanana || 2

Namonamaha Namonamaha Vishwavinayaka Namonamaha || 2

................


This other bhajan "Ek Tara Bole..." went straight deep in somewhere.

Swamiji then started in his trademark funny style. He told us a joke and asked those who had already heard it to laugh again (phirse has lena) :-) LOL....

His first "joke" was about a person who slips on a banan peel. The next day he sights another banana peel and thinks " Man I gotta fall again today". :-) He then went on to explain how we get stuck in similar patterns everyday. A thought or memory of someone (the peel) we dislike or have a problem with is enough for us to "slip" (i.e. get angry , mad, furious). This had me totally in splits as I have had this problem with a relative for years. Even though I was thousands of miles away, just the memory of this person would have me fuming.

He then suggested the remedy - the next time you encounter the peel - say to yourself silently - Dear peel, I am not gonna slip today :) Man was I impressed or what.

A few jokes later a Q&A started and he dwelt forth on issues such as terrorism and dharma and why it was so important for us to VOTE - FOR CHANGE in the coming elections. I had to leave then but came away totally blissed out and grateful for the 2 hours of pure happiness that the Divine had given me in the midst of turmoil.

PLEASE VOTE !

Jai Guru Dev,

ROCK ON Amol !

Jai Guru Dev,

Guru Poornima 2008 Satsang Pune

Pune had a rocking Guru Poornima satsang a day earlier on July 17th at Ganesh Kala Krida Rangamanch with Amol Shende and group.


The evening started with Guru Pooja after which Amol and his troupe started satsang.

I've heard Amol before (his album Trikaal is well known in Art Of Living circles), but this was the first time hearing him live. Boy was he amazing or what ? Last night he had the audience clapping, dancing, meditating all at once.




He sang totally rocking satsang numbers - Narayana Hari Om, Ishwar Guru (from his latest album - Vasudevaya), Shiva Om Shiva Namah Shivaya ...several others I cant readily recall since I was mostly meditating through it all . My favorite was "Gurudeva Guru Om....Namah Shivaya". It was amazing how he took a bhajan usually sung slowly and rendered it with such gusto that the audience was on its feet ......!!!!

What was amazing for me was that the silence and celebration were happening simultaneously. Satsang for me has always been deeper than any meditation be it leading , singing along or just closing my eyes .

"Singing helps to bring serenity. Singing is simply merging into the sound, floating on its waves with a sense of contentment and meditativeness"

Sri Sri Ravishankar

I for sure was floating in an ocean of contentment yesterday. The pain of not being with Gurudev in Santa Clara for Guru Poornima was gone. He is with me always, yesterday I was with him too ....


Jai Guru Dev,


UPDATE : Courtesy Flame (comments below) we have a video of Amol singing Ishwar Guru at the Mumbai Guru Poornima Satsang .

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3409737877814152953

Vithala Vithala Vithala ...

If you haven't yet heard this bhajan rocking Art Of Living, India , you really must. I just got back from a rocking satsang at Aundh, Pune and someone there sung this so beautifully . The spirit was uplifted, the mind was so meditative, all was ONE !

Tha Bhajan is in Marathi and I could only catch 2 lines . (If anyone has the complete lyrics, please add them as comments to this post)

Kannatha Kannatha Vithalla
(God is in every atom)
Khshannatha Khshannatha Vithhala
(God is in every moment)

Both space and time surrendered to HIM ! SO B E A U T I F U L !


Here IT IS, so beautifully rendered by Amol Shende, Pune's own Art of Living ROCK STAR ! Listen carefully for Guruji's voice ! It was sung at the Mahasatsang held recently in Pune, India when Guruji also joined in with his mellifluous voice.




Jai Guru Dev,

Satsang Finally !

We had a beautiful satsang in Seattle at S&K's tonite - the first I could attend in many months. What amazing energy there was in that little room .

Sri Sri says "Satsang is the nest in which you can find repose. If you are a taker of happiness, you receive misery, if you are a giver of happiness, you receive joy and love"

There was so much joy in the room full of Art Of Living teachers and volunteers . Everyone was giving so much happiness and joy to others . I am truly blessed to have been able to attend this satsang .

Jai Guru Dev,