By Nansi Jo (Anasuya) Colley, interviewed by Lori (Priya) Kenney

Meditation Teacher Training (MTT) took me to the heart of Kashmir Shaivism’s tried and true teachings.  Knowing that our lineage has carried these teachings through thousands of years means a lot to me.  Through time, the technology and methodology have been perfected, with the Masters adding their blessings.  And Gurudevi makes these esoteric teachings so easy to understand. 

Each time I take a MTT course, I return home living my life from a deeper place.  I experience more glimpses of the ultimate state, the deepest level of my existence.  I meditate more.  I make different choices.  For instance, knowing I can’t use my mind to disentangle my mind, I choose to repeat mantra.  I choose mantra while driving, while doing dishes.  I don’t get caught up so easily in the rollercoaster of ups and downs.  I’m more even keeled.  

For much of my life, I’ve served as a scientist and professor.  Thus, I greatly appreciate the scientific approach to yoga and meditation in which Svaroopa^® yoga excels.  What drew me to Svaroopa^® yoga is the science of maximizing my human capacity, knowing my Self.  The clarity and integrity of the teachings has propelled me through 30 years of yoga practices and teaching.  I took Gurudevi’s first MTT in 2003.  I have been blessed to be able to attend trainings regularly since.

Being able to serve my students as a meditation teacher is deeply meaningful to me.  Each time I take a MTT course, I return to my students with even more clarity and inspiration.  I understand the teachings at a deeper level and can convey that in my discourses.  The students go deep and have profound experiences in a short period of time.  They consistently report that the mantra supports them in their daily lives.  

This course gives me an opportunity to spend an intensive period of time with Gurudevi.  It’s a deep immersion in Grace.  On top of that, while deep in Consciousness, I am intellectually involved.  It’s an incredible tantric opportunity.  My mind has to be alert and engaged.  In the course, first I listen to Gurudevi’s discourse on the sutras.  Then I write my own discourse and give it to my classmates.  They give me feedback, with compliments and coaching.  Listening to their discourses, I offer the same.  

I’ve developed a capacity to write, present talks and listen to others while in a deep state.  It truly feels like skill in action.  Not only do I have Gurudevi’s support for teaching meditation, I have the support of my classmates.  I am deeply grateful to the teachers who have gone through MTT with me.  Their coaching and compliments give me confidence.  I feel deeply supported in a tangible and powerful way when I’m teaching.  It’s the flow of Grace.  

I have immense gratitude that Gurudevi makes these powerful teachings accessible.  She has developed a tremendous curriculum that teaches us how to teach others to meditate.  Gurudevi offers a deep well to drink from.

Gurudevi is a meditation master, authorized within an ancient yogic lineage.  She specializes in making the mysteries understandable and accessible.  

Mystical and magical are not the same.  In her free program, you learn the difference between magic, mysticism and what meditative mastery really is.

After Gurudevi’s discourse and our meditation, thoughts and things suddenly fell into place.  She helped me to put puzzle pieces together into a beautiful picture. — Alina U.

By Amanda (Purna) Schmidt

Spiritual Hunger & Fulfillment, Gurudevi’s latest CD, illumines the yogic path through song, sharing her journey from longing to attainment.

Seven tracks guide us modern-day yogis through this age-old experience. The melodies echo themes of yearning, surrender and devotion that culminate in pure Grace.

Are you ready to explore your own inner greatness? These chants will open the door and draw you inside. Follow Gurudevi’s footsteps on the path, and discover your own Self. Price: $9.99

Buy Online: Spiritual Hunger & Fulfillment

CD Tracks:

1. OM Svaroopa Svasvabhava
2. Atma Shatakam – Shivo’ham Shivo’ham
3. Atma Shatakam Translation
4. Bhagavan Namah
5. Guru Mantras
6. Purno‘ham
7. OM Namo Bhagavate

By Elena Perri

Interviewed by Margie (Maitreyi) Wilsman

After my first Shaktipat Retreat with Gurudevi, awareness openings followed, in my body, mind and being.  They continue to this day. 

Gurudevi awakened my Kundalini.  I experienced an upward flow of energy from the base of my spine through my body.  It rendered a joyful bliss I had never experienced before.  As we chanted the mantra, the bliss gradually expanded into a silky, warm sensation.  It moved into the base of my skull and filled my head.  It was what I can only call an ineffable experience.  I felt all-encompassing universal love envelope me.  It was a quiet knowing of being safely held.  It was as though the arms of the most loving, nurturing mother held me.  

Returning home, I continued meditating.  I gradually shifted in unexpected ways.  After the Shaktipat, I found myself effortlessly disengaging from political and social dramas.  Similarly, the judgments I had always struggled to overcome transformed as well.  I spontaneously began to see people more compassionately rather than critically.  Rather than harsh judgments, I felt compassion for their state of being.  

Quietly, I acknowledged my own struggles with less than favorable behaviors.  I found it easier to forgive rather than to begrudge.  I think of these shifts as the Divine Grace that Shaktipat ushered into my awareness.  I am forever grateful and humbled. 

Spiritual evolution has always been the compass for my journey.  My life’s yearnings have been to achieve these transformations and to experience such Grace.  Getting over myself has taken a lot of time.  Finally, I can open my heart with humility.  I have found my way to Gurudevi’s vast offering of blessings and wisdom.

But the time it took and missteps along the way mean nothing to me now.  All that matters is the mystical and seismic transformation of my being through the awakening of Kundalini.  Kundalini fills my heart and thus fills my being.  Shaktipat is the mystical key that unlocked the gateway into the knowing of True Self. Thank you, Gurudevi.

By Rosemary (Rudrani) Nogue, Yogaratna

Decades ago, my mind told me I wouldn’t be good enough to take Yoga Teacher Training.  The trainer looked me square in the eye and said, “If not now — when?”  The words had an effect.  I took that initial training in another style.  It was my steppingstone toward the fortunate discovery of Svaroopa^® Yoga Teacher Training.  

After I became a Certified Svaroopa^® Yoga Teacher, I realized I could serve students even more profoundly through Gurudevi’s Meditation Teacher Training (MTT).  I took MTT twice.  The first was the original survey syllabus course.  The training gave me the knowledge and experience to grow into a daily meditator and a meditation teacher.

The second, following Gurudevi’s sannyas initiation, was for certification as a Svaroopa^® Vidya Meditation teacher.  I could have upgraded to it through a phone course plus an in-person program over a long weekend.  Yet I opted to take Gurudevi’s expanded 10-day MTT in-person course.  Why?  It was a huge opportunity to re-experience 10 days of being in the flow of Guru’s Grace.  I wanted to imbibe the teachings, practices and challenges again from the new place I was at. 

Both times, taking MTT was wonderfully overwhelming and hard.  I wasn’t a meditator for my first MTT.  Every day, we chanted and meditated, and Gurudevi taught new sutras related to meditation.  Then we were assigned daily homework to explain a sutra using our own words.

I often wrote talks late into the night.  I needed to sleep as well as to complete my talk.  This gave me an opportunity to learn to settle deeper within using mantra.  Then writing came more easily — and bed could follow.  I was in the flow of palpable Grace, although I didn’t know what to call it then. 

The next day, I would get clear, supportive feedback on my short talk.  I learned what I had done well and ways to improve.  This training gave me practice at putting words to “That” which is hard to express.

Both MTT courses gave me a three-class structure to build a “Learn to Meditate” course.  I could totally support my “soon to be” students with teachings and practicalities.  I was set up to give them everything they needed to become daily lifelong meditators.  I was prepared to teach them how to uncover their own Inherent Divinity.

In my second MTT, Gurudevi’s gift of the enlivened mantra gave me the understanding and experience of its power.  I was beautifully prepared to share the revelatory mantra of our lineage with students.

There is nothing I would rather teach than meditation.  What a privilege and honor to guide others to understand and experience the true goal and purpose of meditation.  There isn’t a greater life changing experience I could offer than teaching someone to meditate. 

Every time I teach my “Learn to Meditate” course, I am deepened.  How can I offer these profound teachings and not experience greater understanding, more Self-knowing and joy?  Grace supports me and my students.  I am more than grateful.

Don’t miss the upcoming MTT.  If not now — when?

By Gurudevi Nirmalananda

It was so easy for me to meditate when I lived with my Baba.  He led the meditations every day.  I didn’t want to miss it!  And my experience was so much deeper than when I was meditating on my own.

This is why I created the Meditation Club, to support your daily meditations.  The single most important yogic practice is meditation.  It’s so important that all the other practices exist specifically to improve your meditation.  

* The poses make you able to sit. 

* Breathing practices quiet your mind, as does chanting, which combines breathing with mantras.  

* Sutra study helps you understand your meditation experience, even to navigate effectively in the inner expanse.

I was so fortunate to have years of living and studying with my Guru.  The best was sitting in silence with him.  It opened up my inner access to dimensions I could never have imagined.

Daily meditation was one of the reasons I opened Svaroopa^® Vidya Ashram.  I have been meditating with the Ashram residents daily for over ten years.  I began planning it as an online Meditation Club in 2019.   Zoom and the pandemic empowered me to create that access for you.

It’s delightful and amazing to see this Divine energy flowing through the internet – amazing and not surprising at all.  For it is the gift my Guru gave me that makes it all work, the gift of the ancient sages of India.  

The single most important thing I do every day is meditate with you.  Every day. 

Come chant and meditate with Gurudevi Nirmalananda in her free Wednesday evening program, live in Downingtown.  To zoom in, enroll in our online Yoga Wednesday (Bookends or Full Day).

This satsang features a long chant and meditation, both led by Gurudevi.  Live music accompanies the chant in the traditional yoga style.  You’ll find it easy to follow the printed words and everyone else singing along.  After the chant, Gurudevi guides the meditation, making it easy for newcomers, while simultaneously making it deep and profound for everyone.

The chant and meditation during Gurudevi’s mid-week satsang is powerfully deep.  I settle in much more deeply than I can with chanting and meditating on my own.  I attend every week! – Lynn C.