While bliss is guaranteed, it’s not always immediate. You may need some clearings first, before you can find the bliss. It’s like looking for the sunrise when you have the drapes closed. There needs to be some inner opening first. Baba said, “When the bliss of the Self arises from within…” This means that bliss is an attainment. In the beginning it may feel like peace, or contentment, or simply like…
— Gurudevi Nirmalananda
From Gurudevi’s full discourse “Opening The Inner Door“
By Rosemary (Rudrani) Nogue, Yogaratna
Swami Sunday and Wednesday Satsang are magnificent Guru gifts. I am thankful that both satsangs are easily accessible online. I live far from the Ashram (like many of you). From the first 2020 online Swami Sunday to today, I’ve cherished these lifelines to Guru’s Grace.
Recently, I travelled to Downingtown and participated in person in two Swami Sundays and two Wednesday Satsangs at Lokananda. There were similarities between online and in person. Gurudevi’s inspiring talks always resonate and offer what I need to hear (again). I always feel that each talk is the best talk ever! Gurudevi helps me slide into easy, deep meditations whether I’m online or in person.
Still, there were wonderful upgrades to being with my Guru in person. Arriving early at the meditation hall gave me the opportunity to prepare myself to receive more. I settled into the undeniable energy and repeated mantra.
Upon Gurudevi’s arrival, I bowed with my hands together in front of my heart (Anjali Mudra). I felt seen. Group chanting immersed me in a delicious surround-sound. During darshan I rested my head on Gurudevi’s feet. Upon sitting up, Guru and Self were One.
Gurudevi answered a personal question and blessed my sacred object. Prasad was sweet. During the gathering in Lokananda’s café area, I shared, listened, and learned from others’ experiences of Swami Sunday. Another of Gurudevi’s brilliant offerings!
Being with Gurudevi gave me an openhearted experience of being “here” within. My Grace receiving capacity expanded while my reverence for Gurudevi and Self deepened.
I look forward to returning soon. Gurudevi always offers more when I am ready.
By Jules (Brahmini) Watson
Lunge helps me release my lumbar spine reliably and deeply.
The midpoint variation protects my hip joints from overstretching, thus taking care of my deceptive flexibility. I’ve been practicing this Lunge variation a lot recently.
I like to use double blocks under each hand, which I find remarkably effective. The double blocks create space for my hips to move more freely as I push back and forward. I use the back and forward movements to level my hips. This brings awareness of where my hips are not quite even in a full Lunge.
I feel strong and stable with weight leaning into both hands and my back knee. This prepares perfectly for the effortless next step — finding the midpoint — neither in nor out of the pose. Settling in at the midpoint is where the magic really happens.
Weight leans into my back knee. I feel the release up the front of my back thigh. My hips level out more, and my tailbone releases. Release through my hips and lumbar spine is the culmination.
There’s no stretching or forcing, just a deep inner unraveling. A feeling of blissful acceptance follows. It’s not about getting it right. It’s about letting go of expectations and surrendering into the pose. This allows the deep inner opening to work on all levels.
When I stand after the pose, I feel incredibly light. With a spring to my step, I walk in an easeful way.
What about the people you live with, or connect with most often? They are always changing. Mostly going up and down with the internal weather of their mind and emotions. Do you have any control over them? So, the only place you can land, if you want peace and happiness…
— Gurudevi Nirmalananda
By Gurudevi Nirmalananda
Enjoy these joyful songs of praise, dedicated to the one who needs no praise. They honor the Gurus of my lineage, Baba Muktananda and Bhagavan Nityananda.
We usually do a candle flame ceremony when chanting them. Yet you can chant them or listen to them anytime, with or without waving the light.
Jyota se Jyota — Light my Inner Flame
Gurudeva Hamara Pyara — Our Beloved Guru
I made these recordings several years ago, specifically for us to use in Ashram programs. People hearing them and chanting along have been asking if they could get them somewhere. And now you can!
The title comes from Shree Guru Gita, intro verse 2:
Nana-vidhani chanda.msi
srii-guru-paramatma devata.
Verses with diff’rent melodies
honor the One who needs no praise.
Satguru, the Supreme Self is
the Divine One being honored.
Hear me chanting this verse in Sanskrit and the commentary on it in my Guru Gita Podcast.
And fill your heart with joy by buying these splendid songs of praise! They will fill your day with light when you play them.
By Gurudevi Nirmalananda
Over a thousand years ago, the great Tibetan yogi Milarepa got teachings from his Guru, Marpa the Translator.
As a young man, Marpa had left his home in the Himalayas to study in India with the yogis. He memorized Sanskrit texts and copied them down.
Marpa then took those texts back to his homeland and translated them into the local language. He wasn’t making up new teachings. He brought the teachings from India up into the Himalayas and shared them with those who had an interest.
Similarly, I am a translator. Yet I am not translating from Sanskrit because I do not know the language. I study English translations of the texts, plus I know a lot of the technical terminology. As a teacher, I am giving you a cultural translation. It is needed because many of the texts were written for monks living in a monastery. Yet most Westerners interweave these spiritual principles into their worldly lifestyle.
As a cultural translator, I show you how to apply those yogic principles in your busy life. I empower you to live a yogic lifestyle at home, a place you probably share with other people and where there is a lot going on.
Do the yogic principles still work, even in this new setting? Yes, definitely! The same teachings are applied, not only in a different language, but in our modern times and in a different cultural context. So, in that way, I serve as a translator.
Excerpt from Yoga: Embodied Spirituality, pages 25‒26
By Gurudevi Nirmalananda
When you get lost in the world, you have not only lost your way, you have lost your own Self.
If you go for a hike and get lost in the woods, after a while you know you are lost. You try to retrace your steps or find a pathway out. But you never get so lost that you think you are a tree. You still know you are a person and that you have a home to return to.
Getting lost in worldly stuff is like thinking you are a tree. You don’t remember that you have a home, a place inside where you are already whole, full, complete and perfect. When you are lost, you think you are imperfect and that you MUST have a certain worldly thing or a certain person to fulfill you.
Allow me to assure you that you are not a tree. You are not a worldly person. If you were, you wouldn’t be reading this. You want something more than what the world can provide. Bottom line, you are seeking your own Self. You must look inward.
When you look inward, the first thing you discover is your mind. It replays your worldly experiences and reactions. Now, instead of getting lost in the world, you can get lost in your mind. You think, “I am my mind!” But the statement itself proves…
This is the energy that fires off volcanoes.
This is the energy that keeps our sun burning. The energy that lights the stars or even makes them explode or collapse in on themselves.
Kundalini Shakti is cosmic energy hidden in you. The name Kundalini describes how….
— Gurudevi Nirmalananda
Turiya is the fourth state. It is beyond your mind and senses, and free from the density and darkness you know from deep sleep. Turiya is vast, comforting…
— Gurudevi Nirmalananda
By Amanda (Purna) Schmidt
Guru Sandals jewelry is now available! The Guru’s sandals are traditionally venerated as a potent source of Grace. These pieces were designed after Gurudevi’s own sandals. Choose from a pendant or earrings.
The earrings feature one sandal for each ear, while the pendant is a pair of sandals together. The jewelry is in stock in silver, or can be custom ordered in gold.
Adorn yourself with this powerful symbol of Grace, and feel Gurudevi’s guidance wherever you are.
practice & grace: giving you your Self
revealing the mystery
SVA Blog 