Sri Swami Vishwananda on the BBC

Last night on BBC Two at 9pm (UK Time) aired a documentary on this year's Maha Kumbh Mela profiling the journeys of a few British pilgrims including our very own Roshan. The documentary also features Bhakti Marga and shows many beautiful scenes from the bath and interviews with Guruji Himself. It is a beautiful production by the BBC and we thank them for giving us all memories of what was a trip of a lifetime for Swamiji and us all!

Here is the documentary in its entirety:

Swami Vishwananda visits Schweibenalb

Last weekend Swami Vishwananda went on a private trip to Switzerland and during the trip he was able to accept an invitation from Sadhu Maharaj to meet him on Schweibenalb, a beautiful and picturesque location. 

The two greeted each other with open arms and connected immediately. As Vaishnava brothers, they had lively exchanges on the topic of Bhakti and Love for quite some time!

Sadhu Maharaj showed some pictures from his Ashram in Vrindavan and invited him heartfully to visit him there. Of course, Swamiji returned the gesture and invited Sadhuji to come visit us in Shree Peetha Nilaya any time he wishes to!

Some devotees asked questions and there was a small Satsang and exchange of ideas and experiences from all present.

Swamiji was given a tour to the multi-religion Temple of Schweibenalb where Sadhu Maharaj had some questions about the Jewish religion and the Torah which Swami Vishwananda was more than happy to answer.

There are many beautiful memories associated with Schweibenalb - Shivaratri in 2000 (in the beautiful Dhuni), Swamiji's birthday party and many other occasions had taken place there many years ago when Swamiji was first travelling to Europe. It was in fact the first centre which he visited in Europe. 

Unfortunately, it did not fit to our schedules for Sadhu Maharaj to visit us here in Springen but both were sure that next year that won't be the case!

Gurupurnima 2013: Offering our heart to the Guru (part 2)

Excerpt of Gurupurnima Speech, part 2 (complete talk will be made available soon on CD Baby, iTunes and Amazon):

Sri Swami Vishwananda:
“If you have not attained the goal of life, don't think that the Guru is not with you. You know, sometimes we can do many things, “oh my goodness, I am doing everything, but yet, nothing works the way I want.” Know that, nothing works the way “I” want. The “I” is there, very big, the pride is there. That's the ignorance which the Guru removes and installs humility. What brought you on your path is not coincidence. It's long-term planning. Even before you were born, the plan was there. The plan was there, that today you are sitting here. Whether you would have want it or not, you are at the right place [big applause by the guests]. Like that, it's also for all the spiritual masters, spiritual teachers and their disciples, they are where they have to be. Because there is no coincidence of who you meet.

How do you feel when you meet someone? You know it. People every day come and say to me: “Swamiji, I have the feeling I know you. We have met somewhere.” There is this bhajan we always sing: (singing) meaning: “My heart has the feeling that we have met somewhere.” But of course, the mind doesn't remember. The disk is a bit scratched at that point. This is where the heart reveals itself, where the Guru looks wherever the disciple is. The Guru would go there and get the disciple. That's the work of a good shepherd, to prearrange everything. So when one finds one’s way, one should surrender to the feeling of one's heart and offer that heart to the Lotus feet of the Master. Like that, whatever you do, the Grace and blessing of the master will always be with you.”

Gurupurnima 2013: Offering our heart to the Guru (part 1)

Every Gurupurnima celebration is special, and yet, this year's was even more special. All those of you who managed to come (estimated over 700 guests) could feel an extraordinary joy and Guruji was more radiating than ever.

Find a selection of pictures on Facebook, by clicking on the following link here.

Guruji also gave a particularly inspiring talk about the most important thing that we can offer Him: It is the offering of our heart.

Find an excerpt of the talk he gave below (part 1):

"All the Swamis have talked already. Now, what can be offered?...

The offering of one's heart, that is the most important. And this is – like I said in the morning- the choice. When people come and ask me: Are you my Guru? What do I answer? If you feel it. If you feel it that I am your Guru, I shall be. And when that happens it's for life.

Whether you stay or you leave. Your heart can't lie to you. This is one thing which is very important. When one surrenders, it doesn't mean that you should not live your life the way you live. Very often people are scared of this word "surrender". No, surrender means, that you remember the Master, you remember the Guru everyday. You have this gratitude, that it is through the blessing and the Grace of the master, that whatever you do and achieve in life, wherever you are stepping, the master is together with you. You are not alone. And you will never be alone.

Whether you feel the master or not, this is the duty. In the morning I said, the Guru is even more than a mother and a father. Because the mothers have a certain limit, in the way they see their children. They are bound by emotion. The fathers do their duty in bringing up the child. What else can they do? Not much. They can bring up their children in a very rightful way, in a very nice way. But yet, the child has its own destiny.

How many mothers come to me and tell me, oh my son, my childern don't listen to me, my children don't love me. Well, that is the difference. Even if the mother is the first, the Guru one should have full resepct to the mother, one shluld have full resp to the faterh, Bec. They hage done their duty. But when one has found one’s Satguru, it is for life. What one can do at that moment is trust that one is not alone. But the Satguru, the Greatest of all the Sadhu Sant is with you. And this is what we are honoring today, not only here, in the whole Hindu tradition. The Guru Parampara is very important. Not only in the Hindu tradition, in the Christian tradition also, it is very important to have a spiritual father. Why? We say always to trust oneself, no? But there is not fully the trust there. You can’t really count on your mind. Your mind can disguise itself so nicely and trap you. That’s the power of Maya. The mind will always flatter you. The mind will never tell you, you are wrong. 

No one – when they do something – will say “I’ve done something wrong, no, because one is convinced one has done something right. But when do you something right, the reason is also right, you don’t feel this guilt feeling. Even if you have a guilt feeling, you try to brush it by the side, but this is the role of the Satguru, this is the role of the spiritual teacher, to remove this ignorance from the mind, so that you can journey towards God Consciousness, or enlightenment. That you can reach him, this is the sole aim - that you attain the goal of life.

Prayer to prepare yourself for Gurupurnuma

This morning we had the idea that it would be nice for us and for you all to recite every day a special prayer in which Sri Adi Shankarakaria is telling about the importance of the Guru ant attaching our mind to his Lotusfeet:

Guru Ashtakam

SHAREERAM SUROOPAM THATHA VAA KALATRAM

YASASCHARU CHITRAM DHANAM MERU TULYAM

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM

Body is handsome, wife is attractive, fame spread far and wide, wealth enormous and stable like Mount Meru; but of what consequence are all these, if the mind is not riveted in devotion to the lotus feet of the Guru? Really of what use is all this, what use, what use?

KALATRAM DHANAM PUTRA POUTRAADI SARVAM

GRUHAM BHAANDAVAA SARVA METTADHI JAATAM

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM

Wife, wealth, son, grandson, and the like, house, relations, even if all these are there fate is certain, of what consequence is one’s life if his mind is not devoted to the feet of Guru? Ascertain, what use is any possession, person or object? Of what use, of what use, of what use indeed?

SHADANGAADHI VEDO MUKHE SHASTRA VIDHYAA

KAVITVA AADHI GADHYAM, SUPADHYAM KAROTI

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM

All the Vedas are mastered and ever present on the lips; likewise, knowledge of all the sciences is well gained. The ability to write prose or verse is also present. Even then, of what ultimate benefit is all this, if one’s mind does not devoutly rest on the feet of Guru? By whose grace along can one’s soul be liberated? Of what use, of what use, of what use indeed?

VIDHESESHU MAANYAHA, SWADHESESHU DHANYAHA

SADHAACHAARA VRUTTESHU MATTO NA CHA ANYAHA

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM

I am honoured well even in far off places, held in high esteem in my own locality; in good conduct and noble deeds there is no one to excel me. If one has occasion to think like this, of what avail is it if the mind is not steeped in devotion and humility towards the feet of the Guru from whom alone can flow wisdom and immortality?

KSHAMAA MANDALE BHUPA BHUPAALA BRINDIHI

SADA SEVITAM YASYA PAADAARAVINDAM

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM

Your feet may be worshipped constantly even by the great kings and emperors of the world for reason of your greatness and scholarship; but of what real consequence is that if the mind is not graced by the blessing of unflinching devotion to the Guru, by whose loving touch alone can redemption and peace be realised?

YASHO ME GATTAM DHIKSHU DHAANA PRATAAPAATH

JAGADVASTU SARVAM KARE YATPRASAADAATH

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM

Of what avail if one has enough merits to think my fame has already spread in several places due to my unique generosity and a result, all things of the world stand within my easy reach? For, the virtue and quality that count ultimately is only one’s unflinching loyalty and devotion towards the Guru whose blessings are the ultimate factor for realisation of Truth by a devoted seeker.

NA BHOGE, NA YOGHE, NA VAA VAAJIRAAJAA,

NA KAANTAA MUKHE NAIVA VITTESHU CHITTAM

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM

The mind may have turned away from external delights through dispassion and from attainments like Yogic concentration, possessions like horses and the like, the enchanting face of the beloved, in short, the entire wealth of the earth; yet it will be of no real merit if the mind is not absorbed in piety and devotion to the feet of Guru. Bereft of this devotion, of what benefit is anything, of what benefit, of what benefit?

ARANYE NA VAA SVASYA GEHE NA KAARYE

NA DEHE MANO VARTATE ME TVANARGYE

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM

The mind may have lost its charm to live in forests, and likewise in the house; may have lost all desire to achieve whatever; even the concern for the body’s welfare may have been outlived; the most invaluable treasure of the world may not hold any allurement. Even then, of what avail are all these if the supreme devotion to the Guru is not held by the aspirant? Determine, of what use? of what use?

Phalasruti (Result of reading):

GURORASHTAKAM YAH PATETU PUNYADEHEE

YATIR BHUPATIR BHRAHMACHAARI CHA GEHI

LABHED VAANCITAARTHAM PADAM BRAHMA SANJNAM

MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME

Whoever reads, studies and recites this Ashtaka on Guru and remains devoted and attentive to the sayings of the Guru, he, no matter if he is a holy person, ascetic, king, neophyte, or householder, attains his coveted object, namely the supreme abode of Brahman, the unassailable seat of immortality.

Sorry...!

For some time now, we have been working together with a software company on a new program to simplify the online registration for guest rooms and events. 

After the contractor had completed everything and we switched the program online it became visible, that many inconsistencies have been contained in it. Because of that some mistakes in registration came about during the past few weeks.

During the past days the company has revised the program an now it functions impeccably. Further optimisations are on the way. 

Our registration team apologizes for all the phone calls and the possible inconveniences you have had.

Much love and many thanks

Ratnamanjari, Vanamali and Ambika 

(Registration team)

Satsang in Israel with Sri Swami Vishwananda on July 3rd, 2013

During our pilgrimage to Israel we visited the place of Eliyahu and Leehee Holly in Jerusalem (www.jerusalemhug.org)

They invited Sri Swami Vishwananda to hold a Satsang there. Late afternoon, on Tuesday the 3^rd of July, our group boarded the bus and off we went to the outskirts of Jerusalem and after half an hour we reached their place, a very nice spacious house with a lovely garden. We were warmly greeted and soon set up the place for our beloved Guruji to hold the Satsang.

The most amazing fact is that Eliyahu is bound to a wheelchair, he cannot move at all by himself. His peace-movement is well known in Israel and he is a very wonderful person with glowing eyes and a very bright mood. He was so happy to have us and that Gurudev came and was very, very open for whatever happened in spite of the fact that he did not have much of an idea who our Master really is. His house is decorated with pictures of various Saints and Masters, also a picture of Babaji could be seen.We at once felt comfortable there. After a while a lot of people whom he had invited came.

So we were about 40 people of our group and about 30 Guests. Some of them spoke Russian, so they could communicate well with the Russian members of our group.

Some people wrote down questions and when Eliyahu’s wheelchair was put in a spot where he had a good view of Swami, the Satsang started. 

Gurudev started of course by singing Bhajans and everyone enjoyed it very much and our host was most touched. Gurudev made some women guests sing and so we all chanted some Israeli songs.

When Gurudev started to speak, of course he stated, while answering the questions, that love is the most important goal and the aim of our soul.

Some asked what Atma Kriya is about and Swami Sharada and Anantaananda gave a short summary of it.

Very interesting was that Gurudev said, “Everyone knows the King – does the King know you? The King resides in the forbidden zone.

He resides there only with his dear ones. So we should strive to make ourselves known to the King. This is where devotion arises. And we can approach the Queen – she is always very important as the King cannot refuse the Queen :) and everybody smiled and nodded.

Other questions were: What is the purpose of life? Answer: To love, nothing else.

What is the next step to enlightenment? When unconditional love arises. Your Sadhana, your Kriya brings you closer. For a Bhakta enlightenment is not the most important, to attain HIM is the most precious!

After a few more questions, Gurudev led us into a short meditation, where we spread our love to our neighbours, city and country and to the whole world. It was very, very lovely. Gurudev received some people who were very happy to be able to talk to him.

Our host Eliyahu, his wife and children also got a blessing and were able to talk in private with him. They are a really amazing couple.

Eliyahu is overall positive and all the guests really appreciated his invitation. Leehee is supportive and at the end of our stay we helped her quickly to clean up the place after Gurudev asked us: Shall we leave the place like that? 

Imagine 80 hands helped – it was very fast.

One thing to be mentioned and very important: Many of our group had brought a little present for the family – some small things from their country, maybe sweets or incense or little figures (e.g. from Latvia).

And we collected some donations to be given to Eliayahu for his peace work. He gladly accepted the gifts and imagine! - gave the donations back to Gurudev to help him to let Springen and our organization grow.

This was also something very special.

The love that Eliyahu is radiating goes deep and he was so happy and touched about Swami’s visit, the Satsang and his Interview. For sure he got a glimpse of who he really is! We hope to come back to this place and surely will stay in touch with this amazing man and his wife. Thank you Eliyahu and Leehee for hosting us!

We all went back, once more grateful to our Guru for giving us another wonderful opportunity in experiencing love. And this in the once and again war-stricken land of Israel – for sure a sign of good hope!

Anuprabha

11.07.2013