Monthly Archives: September 2021

The Qualities of My Satguru

By Lynn (Gurupremananda) Cattafi

All ancient yogic texts speak of the importance of a good Guru. In our modern times, experts in many different fields are called gurus. Yet the ancient yogic texts speak of a spiritual Guru. While there are many spiritual Gurus out there, a truly qualified, living spiritual master is a rare and precious find. Allow me to share with you the qualities of my Guru.

She is a Satguru, the most masterful and rare kind of spiritual Guru. She is a blessing beyond compare. Ancient teachings from the Advaya Taraka Upanishad explain:

^{aacaarya-lak.saṇam aacaaryo veda-sa.mpanno vi.s.nu-bhakto vimatsarah}

^{yogaj~no yog-ani.s.tha”sca sadaa yog-aatmaka.h “suci.h. (14)}

^{guru-bhakti-samaayukta.h puru.sj~no vi”se.sata.h}

^{eva.m lak.sa.na-sa.mpanno guru-rityabhidhiiyate. (15)}

A qualified Guru is knowledgeable in the Vedas, a devotee of God, free from jealousy, an expert in yoga, does yoga practices, is always in a pure yogic state. He is devoted to his own Guru and is a knower of the Self. Only one with these qualifications may properly serve as Guru.

These ancient verses from the Advaya Taraka Upanishad are around 2,000 years old. Yet they describe our own Gurudevi perfectly. In the same way, they describe her own Guru and his own Guru. These Upanishadic descriptions hold true for the spiritual masters in an unbroken lineage of thousands of years.

These verses describe a “qualified Guru” as one who is knowledgeable in the Vedas, the ancient texts. Gurudevi always amazes me with her depth of ancient knowledge. She has a deep experiential understanding of yoga’s ancient mystical teachings. She lives them. She brilliantly brings yoga’s teachings to life for us in a modern way. Thus, we can live them as well.

The verses also describe a qualified Guru as one who is “a devotee of God.” When I met Gurudevi, I had an experience of my own Divinity and the Divinity of all. It took me years to understand that my experience was propelled by Gurudevi’s own inner state. She is truly a devotee of God. Yet just being a devotee of God does not make one a Guru. It was Gurudevi’s pure yogic state, being established in the knowing of her own Self. Her own Divine Essence propelled me into the experience of my own Divine Essence.

A qualified Guru must also be devoted to their own Guru. Gurudevi models her devotion to her Guru, so beautifully. She shows me every day how to live in the world in gratitude and in service. She lives to serve her Guru, honoring and serving him with every breath. Why? Because he gave her the ultimate gift, the knowing of her own Self. Every day, she gives us the same gift.

But the notable and sublime qualities of Gurudevi transcend the words of these ancient verses. Yes, she is everything these verses describe. True, she propelled me into the experience of my own Self. However, I was not ready to live in that pure yogic state all the time. I needed, and still need, her guidance. To attain and maintain the pure yogic state of Self-realization, her continuing example is essential. Being in relationship with her — a living Guru — is crucial. She provides a constant, living example of yoga’s highest attainment.

She leaves no stone unturned in rooting out the things that block me from my Self. With just a word, Gurudevi can dispel my feelings of jealousy, anger, sadness, anxiety, and smallness. She burns up my feelings of “not good enough” with a simple loving glance. In her presence, my mind gets peaceful and quiet. I remember who I am. In her presence, I remember my own Self. Thank you Gurudevi, again and again.

You’ve Got Skills

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By Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati

You know how to drive, to manage household and personal needs, even to manage other people and their needs. Your education and professional skills make you able to adapt to changing times, like now. But your self-care skills might need some improvement. The current pandemic conditions may prompt another round of pandemic panic. It’s time to take inventory. How do you handle this?

Masking – you know how. I first saw people wearing masks over their nose and mouth in my travels in Asia over 30 years ago. I thought it was brilliant! I didn’t adopt it at home because of peer pressure, but now the pressure is going the other way. You are completely capable of breathing, talking and smiling under that mask. You may even have your preferred mask style along with a lanyard, bracket or nose strip. Plus you’ve even got designer options.

Social Distancing – you know how. As fall brings us indoors again, you’ll need to use this skill again. It’s like riding a bike; once you know how, you can do it again. It’s an easy thing to do. In most conversations, we’re seated or standing about 6 feet apart anyway.

Self-Care — you know how. You know you feel better when you do yoga every day. Your quality of life improves if you’re hydrated, if you have regular mealtimes and if you get up before the sun. Meditation is even more important and fits into all the others. Meditating before the sunrise is the most blissful. Yoga helps prepare you for a better meditation. And when you’ve meditated today, you’re more likely to feed yourself properly and drink enough water. Not to mention being kinder, even more intelligent. How bad will you let yourself get before you do something about it? The time is now. Do more yoga.

My Discovery of Self

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By Julia (Chintamani) Wallis
Interviewed by Lissa (Yogyananda) Fountain

The discovery of my Self began 15 years ago as a Svaroopa^® yoga student. My journey has been evolving ever since. Six months after starting yoga classes, I was propelled into YTT (Yoga Teacher Training). The changes happening were powerful, on all levels of my being. I knew I wanted more. At that time, Gurudevi had not yet taken her vows, and urged us to “get a Guru.” So I attended satsangs at a local meditation center, three times a week. There I discovered the power of chanting and meditation. Layers of “stuff” that wasn’t me started peeling off. I was getting the experience of that something “more” I longed for.

Then life took a new turn. I got married, moved away and started having children. While focusing on my family, I turned away from yoga. This made me very miserable inside. Yet Grace intervened. A friend drove me to a Svaroopa^® Vidya Meditation satsang in Portland OR. While attending, I realized how much I was missing my Self. I came home inspired to make a space in my home for the Svaroopa^® Sciences practices. I dove in. Even just the poses shifted my state. I started more YTT and teaching classes. But I still wasn’t meditating daily. My family’s needs felt more important. Then I attended a Shaktipat retreat and everything changed.

Going deeper, while sitting upright in meditation, had always been challenging. Yet in the second Shaktipat initiation, I became still and steady in my seat. I completely dropped in. My thoughts became the scenery inside my mind. I kept looking for my Self within. Then I heard Gurudevi’s voice, inside: “Who is looking?” Suddenly I realized: That’s me! How could I have not known this before? It’s a feeling of familiarity. I am being and feeling my Self, while being “That”.

I continued practicing and deepening into Self. Yet I began to question, “Where I am going from here?” A swami suggested that I consider applying for Vratin vows. Yet I wasn’t sure. I did vichara sessions (guided self-inquiry). I wanted to rid my system of the limitations that were holding me back. In sessions, I experienced profound “aha” moments. I felt the fire in my spine burning my karmic seeds. During the pandemic, I even joined the online Vichara Club and completed four rounds of ten sessions each. They created a deep and irreversible shift for me.

Taking the Vows Prep course, I kept deepening into Self and took the Vratin vow in July 2021. The Shaktipat retreat that followed confirmed that my goal in life is service. Being vowed, I feel supported in my goal. It’s so clear. And if I get entangled in worldly activities, I read a Vowed Member Facebook post. I come back to the knowing of my Self.

Each Shaktipat experience deepens this knowing of my Self and purpose. I see that Guru/Self/God and the mantra received from Gurudevi are the exact same thing. My worldly life is not a distraction from my yoga. Yes, meditation takes me to my Self. Yet whatever I do in life — yoga, farming, family — takes me to my Self as well! I offer it all to Gurudevi Nirmalananda.

Selfless service is the direct route to Guru/God and Self. Swami Muktananda, the Guru of Gurudevi, said, “Seva is a sublime form of meditation, study and yoga. Understand its mystery!” I am ever indebted to my Gurudevi for showing me this path to Self-discovery.