Dear Sister / Brother:
ON TOUR WITH MASTER – PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Report by brother Sriram Subramanyam - Nagoya, Japan
5th to 8th July 2006 - Bangalore
Master arrived at Bangalore from Chennai by air at 3.30 PM after a delay of nearly five hours in Chennai. He went straight to the Banashankari Ashram and was happily received by a large group of eager children. He conducted a satsangh with at least 500 abhyasis present. As this was Master's 50th visit to Bangalore, the local abhyasis presented a special souvenir to Master to mark this special occasion. Master sat in the hall and personally handed out these special souvenirs in exchange for contributions. Around 550 abhyasis who had contributed took a photograph individually with Master to carry memories of this occasion with them.
Master visited the CREST venue on 7th July 2006 in preparation for the inauguration, scheduled for 9th August. He delivered a talk in the evening in which one of the key messages was:
"Humility is not bending your head artificially. Humility is walking with the head held high with the inner confidence that you have a Master and serve with love and devotion in the heart."
8th July 2006 to 13th July 2006 – Ahmedabad
On 8th July Master left Bangalore for Ahmedabad by air via Mumbai, along with a group of around 30 abhyasis. Br. Ajay Bhatter and a few more abhyasis joined the group at the Mumbai Airport. The flight arrived in Ahmedabad at 8:30 pm and there were at least 300 abhyasis who came to receive Master at the airport.
Master was visiting Ahmedabad to participate in the Guru Poornima celebrations (July 11) at Preksha Vishwa Bharati in Koba. Around 3000 abhyasis gathered at the venue to be with Master on this special annual event that marks the love and respect that a disciple/student has for his teacher.
Master arrived at the venue on the morning of 10th July and was welcomed by a small group of children. This was followed by a satsangh given by Master at 9.00 AM. In the evening Master returned to the venue after the satsangh, much to the joy & surprise of the at least 1000 abhyasis present there. He enjoyed some snacks from the canteen and spent at least an hour with everyone, filling us all with joy and happiness.
Guru Poornima: 11th July 2006
Master arrived at the Ahmedabad ashram site around 9.00 AM and inaugurated the newly built meditation hall. The meditation hall can accommodate about 2500 abhyasis and covers an area of 13000 Sq feet in 4 acres of land. The kitchen, dining hall and two dormitories are still under construction.
Master gave a talk on this auspicious day.
Some of the points that He mentioned:
- "The easiest way to the Master's heart is to participate in all His activities with love, putting your own heart into the work."
- "Meditation halls are divinised places. We should nurture the atmosphere, protect it and pass it on to the next generation."
- "Only criminals need intelligence. Simple people and spiritual hearts do not need intelligence."
13th to 15th July 2006 – Baroda
On the 13th a convoy of around 20 cars left Ahmedabad after lunch - destination Baroda. On the outskirts of Baroda one of the Mission's Retreat Centers is coming up. The site is spread over an area of about 80 acres and includes residential plots for abhyasis.
At Baroda, Master stayed in an abhyasi's home. On the 15th He departed for Delhi by flight at 9:20 AM accompanied by around 30 abhyasis. At the Baroda airport, a question was asked about the difference between submission and surrender. He replied that submission is a result of surrender.
After a comfortable flight of 90 minutes the group arrived in Delhi after an eventful 10 days. Here too a large gathering of abhyasis received Master at the airport. Master headed to an abhyasi brother's home for rest after his travels to Bangalore, Ahmedabad & Baroda.
MASTER'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS IN AFRICA AND INDIAN OCEAN
July 24th, 2006
Report by brother Michel Mouyelo-Katoula, Tunisia
Botswana: Master's Birth Anniversary – July 23-24, 2006
There will be a 2 day celebration with group meditations on Sunday 23rd (at 9:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M.) and Monday 24th (at 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.). Brothers and sisters will remain together between the meditations for Sahaj Marg literature reading, talks, devotional song for Master's birthday, self-meditation, individual sittings as well as introductory sittings. Contact: Brother Jimit Parekh at julie_jimit@yahoo.com
Congo-Brazzaville : Master's Birth Anniversary – July 22-25, 2006
Brazzaville : the celebrations will last, all in all, 4 days, with group meditations on Saturday 22nd (10:00 A.M.), Monday 24th (5:00 P.M.), Tuesday 25th (5:00 P.M.). On Wednesday, a special retreat will take place by the Djoué River. A Master's speech will be read after each meditation.
Contacts: Brother Serge Fouemina at foueminas@yahoo.fr and brother Faustin Salabandzy at fsalabandzy@yahoo.fr
Pointe-Noire : two group meditations will be conducted on Monday 24th (11:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.). The time for the first mediation is set with reference to Master's birth time (11:35 A.M.). The program of the day also includes reading Master's teachings. Contact: Brother Fidèle Ngouala - ngouala_fidele@yahoo.fr
Cameroon (Douala) : Master's Birth Anniversary – July 23-24, 2006
In Cameroon, they have adopted as a motto: " I am getting ready for His coming. " They will meet on Sunday for a first satsangh at 10:00 A.M. followed by readings, talks and individual sittings, and a second satsangh at 4:00 P.M. On the D-Day, the 24th, satsanghs are scheduled to take place at 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M., whereas there will be only one satsangh on Tuesday 25th at 10:00 a.m. followed by a discussion on the preparations for Master's visit to Africa. Contacts: Sister Mariette Bissene Moulongo - mbissene@iccnet2000.com , Brother Jean Armand Nkoma - jankoma@yahoo.fr and Sister Colette Kengne - kengne68@yahoo.fr
Côte d'Ivoire (Abidjan) : Master's Birth Anniversary – July 23-25, 2006
Abhyasis will celebrate Master's brithday from July 23-25. The first day program includes three satsanghs (9:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M.) at brother Edouard Mockey's as well as a two talks and a questions and answers session. The talk themes are respectively "Sahaj Marg: Philosophy and Practice and "The journey of the heart in the light of Sahaj Marg". The 24 and 25 satsanghs will be conducted at the Treichville center in Abidjan at 6 P.M. Contact: Brother Edouard Cangah MOCKEY - anoumabo@yahoo.fr
Mauritius: Master's Birth Anniversary – July 23-24, 2006
The catchword of the 2 day celebration is that it is an opportunity for accelerated spiritual growth, to receive divine grace and go deeper into our inner self. The program includes an initial group meditation on Sunday 23rd at 6:15 P.M. and two on the 24th (at 9:45 A.M. and 6:15 P.M.), with reading of Sahaj Marg literature, video show and discussions in between. Contact: Brother Gowtum Motah - srcm.gowtum@intnet.mu
Reunion (Island): Master's Birth Anniversary – July 23-25, 2006
At the Reunion Center, group meditations are scheduled to take place from July 23-25 at fixed hours (10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M.) at Leïla Vally's (152 chemin Andinaïk, ligne des bambous, Ravine des Cabris, Saint Pierre). Arrangements are made for the lodging of abhyasis coming from up North. Every one has been invited to suggest a theme for reading and exchanges. Contact: Sister Leila Vally Adam - leila.vally-adam@wanadoo.fr
