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Swamiji in Brisbane - August 2008
Swamiji, Ma-Devi and the Shiva Ashram received a very warm welcome back to Brisbane. Our host Rishi, along with Russell, Jagadish, Michael, Lyn and the other Brisbane devotees welcomed us back with wide open arms and big warm hearts.
Saturday puja
The weekend began with the Saturday morning Puja workshop.
Devi-Ma led a puja dedicated to abundance and prosperity. Mantras were recited, as incense filled the room and lights were waved as offerings to the deities. We asked [that] [for] the obstacles to our abundance be eliminated and the flow of the shakti of abundance and happiness be released within us and that cosmic balance be restored. The initial atmosphere of excitement and nervous tension was quickly replaced with a feeling of love and peace as the energy increased with the repeating of mantras over the morning. Swamiji then continued with a mantra workshop using the mantra of our lineage, Om Namah Shivaya. We were all led even deeper into a beautiful, peaceful stillness.
Satsang
The evening began with a chant before we all had the opportunity to meet Swamiji and Devi-Ma in person. Swamiji spoke about one of his favorite topics, Self-Inquiry
and helped us turn our attention within and re-connect with the peace, love and wisdom of the Inner Self.
Sunday Intensive
The Intensive was opened in the traditional manner by chanting the Jyota.
Ma-Devi introduced the Intensive and a wealth of wisdom followed.
We had long meditations, Swamiji gave Shaktipat and offered us
many contemplations:
Are we willing to undergo the discipline that peace requires?
Detach yourself from all that makes your mind restless
If you want peace then deserve it
Those only deserve peace who do not disturb it
Seek a clear mind and clean heart
Swamiji suggested that we remain alert and watch everything that happens. He asked us to always notice if we are moving ourselves toward or away from peace. Devi- Ma’s Self-Inquiry session continued the theme of the thought and feeling connection. She spoke of how we can use our feeling to blend our personal will with the divine, by removing emotional blocks.
And more contemplations were offered:
Am I willing to open to new understanding?
Am I willing to accept myself even though I experience limitation and block?
Am I willing to let go of whatever I need to let go of in order to free the inner energy?
Am I willing to move closer to the inner Self – which is more important than worry, disappointment and frustration?
The day ended with another chance for us all to meet with Swamiji and Ma-Devi and to bask in the atmosphere that had built over the day which contained enough wisdom to contemplate for a lifetime.
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