Rise and Shine! The art of KRI-YA living. October 2010
My beautiful and loving souls,
Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya
Om namo bhagavate hariharanandaya
Hari om from Curitiba, Brazil!
I pray that you are ever actively calm and calmly active, and enjoying the fullness of life.
I have concluded my tour of Spanish-speaking South America (Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina), and am now in the Portuguese-speaking land of Brazil. The teachings of Baba Hariharananda and the Kriya masters have met an extraordinary reception everywhere I went, more than in any previous years. It is particularly gratifying to see more and more youngsters turning to the deep and sincere practice of meditation and a healthy lifestyle while in their late teens or early twenties… What a wonderful start in life! One group of youngsters did not hesitate to travel by bus 8 days and 8 nights continuously, with hardly any money, from Ecuador to Buenos Aires, to attend the Kriya program… even though they were already initiated! May we all be blessed with this divine fire.
Next year we have plans to start a new center in Santiago, Chile.
Here are the latest news and study materials that I am pleased to share with you…
Baba’s Metaphorical Interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita
This it is a wonderful gift for all seekers, a jewel of spiritual literature explained in the light of Kriya Yoga, which explains clearly how each person is engaged in an inner war between the forces of light (knowledge) and darkness (ignorance), and how to win this metaphorical war.
At the initiative of our loving couple Manuel Baba and Daniela Ma, we will be publishing one verse translated from the Sanskrit and the English into your respective language, once a month, so that you may reflect on and assimilate these profound teachings, just as Baba Hariharanandaji taught them to his monks and close disciples, and requested me to edit in 1998 his teachings in seminal book The Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kriya Yoga. This book is published by Kriya Yoga International (another Kriya Yoga organization in the lineage of Baba Hariharananda) and available for purchase at http://kriya.org/store__list.php?cat=2
In this issue you will find Baba’s introduction as well as the first verse of the first chapter. HERE
Mamos and Yogis for Peace
Our work with Arukin and the Mamos of the Arhuaco tribe in Colombia is continuing nicely. The Javeriana Universidad of Bogota hosted on October 21 another encounter between the “Elder Brothers” (the Arhuacos, represented by Mamo Seyawiku, Mamo Dwia, and Arukin) and the “Younger Brothers” (the rest of us, non-indigenous people) on the theme of how to share the message of peace, love, compassion and unity for the world.
In keeping with our mission of fostering outer peace through inner peace, I invite you to learn more about the courageous non-violent resistance movement of the Arhuaco tribe which we visited last September, in this beautiful report by our dear Dr. Norma Ma, who organized our encounter in Colombia. You can read her article at:
http://mamosandyogisforpeace.wordpress.com/the-path-of-peace/ (in English), or
http://mamosyyogisporlapaz.wordpress.com/el-camino-de-la-paz/ (in Spanish)
Peace solutions that work
I also would recommend watching the extraordinary new documentary called “Budrus” with the very appropriate subtitle, “It Takes a Village to Unite the Most Divided People on Earth.” It tells the true story of a town in the West Bank in which the Palestinians inhabitants, led by a 15-year old girl, and many of their Israeli neighbors on the other side of the Separation Wall being constructed by the Israeli government, come up with a way to save their community from division and destruction: they pledge to defeat the occupiers by never firing a bullet, never throwing a stone, never causing any harm to their Jewish brothers and sisters. This little-known growing movement provides a shining example of how people can choose nonviolence to confront a threat. For more information see their website at http://www.justvision.org/budrus
The Spiritual Youth Leadership blog is launched!
As I mentioned it in the previous Rise and Shine! issue, we are forming a group of Spiritual Youth Leaders in four pilot cities: Bogota and Popayan in Colombia, Lima in Peru, and Buenos Aires in Argentina. The temporary name of this spiritual youth movement is “Tejedores de la Nueva Conciencia” (“Weavers of the New Consciousness”), and it now has a blog: http://espiritujoven.wordpress.com/
The blog is only an empty shell at present, but you are already welcome to visit, leave a comment, and subscribe if you are interested in the concept.
To start the conversation, I will contribute two articles in this coming month (November):
- “Skills For Life That we Are Not Getting in Church or in School”
- “How to Eat Well with Little Money or Time”
See you there!
We now have a MySpace page
We now have a MySpace page under the name “ArtOfPeaceMusic” at http://www.myspace.com/artofpeacemusic
On this site you will find a selection of the most popular chants from our CDs “Bhakti and Shakti”, “The Art of Divine Love”, “Peace I Leave With You”, “Chants for Innocent Hearts”, as well as two SURPRISES: two chants which have never been released previously: “Chadta Amar” recorded in New Delhi with Swami Chetan in January 2010, and “Christ Has No Body Now But Yours” recorded in Miami in 2001 with Josh Miller.
You will also find there a selection of over twenty music video clips from our various Peace Concerts around South America.
Major updates on our YouTube channels
I am pleased to let you know that we have uploaded a lot of new video clips to our YouTube channels:
- 15 new music videos from two past “Peace Concerts”– one from Curitiba, Brazil in 2008, and one from Bogota, Colombia in 2010,
- 2 new music videos from past Ark of Love programs – one in Sao Paolo in 2006, and one in Curitiba in 2007, in Brazil.
- 2 new videos from a Kriya wedding performed this month (October 24, 2010) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
You can see them at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MissaoHariharananda (Portuguese channel)
http://www.youtube.com/user/MisionHariharananda (Spanish channel)
http://www.youtube.com/user/HariharanandaMission (English channel)
Portal page and newsletter in Portuguese
Thanks to the diligent efforts of Ceu’s translation team in Brazil – Ceu Baba, Cale Baba, Francisco Baba, and Jose Roberto Baba, our new portal at www.art-of-peace.org is now available in Portuguese, thus completing our linguistic offerings (English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese).
The same team has also completed the translation of all the back issues of our “Rise and Shine!” newsletter, which you can find at HERE
Our tiny Portuguese translation team is still looking for more volunteers to translate from English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Spanish to Portuguese, and Portuguese to Spanish. If you have some talent and some time in this field, kindly contact Br. Devanandaji at informes@arcadelamor.org
The Ark of Love Presentation
Our wonderful pioneers of the Ark of Love in Sao Paolo, Brazil have created a beautiful little presentation of the Ark of Love methodology – Please see it here
Kriya Wedding
On October 24 I celebrated in Buenos Aires the Kriya wedding of Manuel and Daniela, a young and beautiful spiritual couple in the presence of their young daughter Lila Maia. A Kriya wedding, as Baba Hariharananda taught his monks and yogacharyas, is a celebration of “the union between two loving souls, brought together not just physically, but in heart and soul. This union is the essence of yoga and spirituality too.”
Baba further explains, “Marriage in Sanskrit is vivaha. It means to carry a load or a new responsibility. Marriage is not just the beginning of a life of enjoyment, but of a life with more healthy responsibility. A wife is known as dharmapatni, which means ‘one who guides the husband in the path of dharma.’ A husband is known in Sanskrit as pati, which means ‘one who protects from downfall.’ They accept each other as life partners and support each other.”
Here are some tender memories of this day of Spiritual Joy:
Preparing the garlands
Drawing mandalas
Laying out the sacred space
Waiting for the bridegroom
Binding ceremony -- with rice, turmeric, and coins
Exchange of garlands
Join in the dance!
Our Two Brains – Continued
Many people wrote to say how much they appreciated my article “Our Two Brains” – thank you! Incidentally, the TED organization just produced a new video called “The Brain in Your Gut” – you can see it here:
[http://www.ted.com/talks/heribert_watzke_the_brain_in_your_gut.html
Value of the Month: Constancy
Baba’s Quote:
“Meditate, meditate,meditate and remain up in fontanel, in the abode of God.”
“Meditate, meditate, and meditate. One day you will behold the divine goal.”
“Always watch Him, touch Him, seek Him, remain one with Him. Every moment He is changing you.”
“To attain liberation, you are to watch the light, sound, and vibration all the time.”
“Constantly remember God before, after, and while performing any action.”
“The real worship of God is to watch Him constantly.”
Wisdom tale: This Too Shall Pass
A young student at a Zen monastery comes to his master and throws himself at his feet, sobbing. The teacher lifts him up gently, and asks him, “What is troubling you, my son?” “O master,” the student falters, “I am so discouraged. My meditation is a nightmare—my mind is always running after worldly thoughts, my legs ache, I’m constantly falling asleep… I cannot concentrate on anything for even a breath. I think that I am just not cut out for meditation.” The master pats his head and comforts him “Do not worry, my child. This is only a stage. It will pass, it will pass.” The student heaves a big sigh, bows to his master, and goes back to the meditation hall.
A few days later, he comes running to his master, grinning from ear to ear. “O master, by your grace, my meditation is completely transformed now! I’m getting so much joy, so much peace, so much depth…” The master responds calmly, “Do not worry, my son. It will pass.”
Commentary
Do not be attached or repulsed by transient phenomena, including in your meditation. Be constant and abide in inner calmness, beyond pleasure or pain.
Thank you very much to you all. God bless you always.
Humble,
Sarveshwarananda
My Beloved souls,
Hari om from the snowy Alps! I pray that you are all well and spending the Holy Days season in the spirit it was intended — the sharing of love, peace and goodwill. This is not always easy to achieve in our over-committed social life and commercialized holidays. Please be mindful of the usual stress triggers: over-eating, shopping beyond our means, foregoing exercise, and trying to please too many different people all at once. This is the time to give to yourself the gift of seclusion and silence in the depth of your soul… Practice your formal sitting meditation and/or yoga or contemplative walk for just a few minutes a day if that is all you can manage, and watch your breath the rest of the day, whenever you remember to do it. This simple exercise will make a huge difference in the quality of your Holy Days season.
For your inspiration, I am attaching Baba Hariharanananda’s “Christmas Story” — the transcription of an inspired talk Baba gave on Christmas Eve 1990. What always thrills me is the way Baba relates these well-known events as if he were a permanent, omnipresent direct eye-witness. I hope you enjoy it.
achristmasstory
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PAST MESSAGES
If you have recently been added to our mailing list, please note that ALL past “Monthly Messages” and documents are available for free download at www.hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/monthly_lessons/monthly_lessons-index.html
Thank you very much. May God and all masters bless you all.
Humble,
Yogi Sarveshwar Ananda Giri
My beloved souls!
Hari om from California. Blessed times are here!
We are entering the Holy Season common to so many religions:
- All Souls’/All Saints’ Day in Christianity (November 1 and 2)
- Hajj in Islam (November 25-28)
- Thanksgiving in the USA (November 26)
- Bodhi Day in Buddhism (December 
- Hanukkah in Judaism (December 12-19)
- Hijra (New Year) in Islam (December 18)
- Solstice–corresponding to Yule in Christianity (December 21)
- Christmas in Christianity (December 25)
- Kwanza in African-American spiritual traditions (December 26 - January 1)
- Ashura in Islam (December 27)
This is a time to pause, to offer thanks, to share our time, love and resources with our less fortunate brothers and sisters.
This is the time to turn down the volume on the inevitable commercial fever inspired by the holidays.
This is the time to turn more inward and to contemplate in the secret cave of our being the unfathomable, inexhaustible treasure of our life — our breath, our God.
Happy breath day! Happy holy day!
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As promised, I am attaching the second and final part of our class on the subsconscious and the ego. This material comes in two forms today: the continuation of last month’s class notes, and a worksheet to help you design your new positive affirmations and track your subconscious’ reactions.
generic-daily-affirmations-to-practice-template
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YOUTUBE CHANNEL UPDATES
Our divine Luna Ma has uploaded several new videos clips on our YouTube channel.
The new materials only appears in the Spanish YouTube channel at present (www.youtube.com/user/MisionHariharananda), but very soon new material will be added to the English channel (www.youtube.com/user/HariharanandaMission) and Portuguese channel (www.youtube.com/user/MissaoHariharananda) as well. Stay tuned!
Our dear friend Yogacharya Don Abrams from New York has uploaded several beautiful videos of Baba Hariahrananda on his own YouTube channel in English. Please visit it at www.youtube.com/kriyadonbaba
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Our 2010 India programs (Kriya Yoga seminar in Orissa and Kumbha Mela Yoga camp in Haridwar) are taking shape. At the request of many of you, I have prepared a guide for travelling to India, which I have also attached. Even if you are not planning to travel to India next year, it might inspire you to make a life-changing journey one day…
information-for-visitors-to-india-2010
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PAST MESSAGES
If you have recently been added to our mailing list, please note that ALL past “Monthly Messages” and documents are available for free download at
www.hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/monthly_lessons/monthly_lessons-index.html
Thank you very much. May God and all masters bless you all.
Humble,
Yogi Sarveshwar Ananda Giri
My Beloved souls!
Hari om from Brasilia. I pray that you are experiencing the highest joy and light consistently in your life.
I am currently completing my 2009 South American tour — the busiest and most succesful ever! — and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have helped organize and participated in our numerous activities all over Latin America!
Here is an update on what to look forward to in the future…
I. INDIAN PROGRAMS
Here are all the details of the two Indian programs for 2010:
1. International Kriya Yoga seminar with Rajarshi Raghabananda, Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giri, and several long-time acharyas of Paramahamsa Hariharananda
Date: Tuesday January 26 - Sunday January 31, 2010
Cost: $150 (including all courses, food and lodging. Costs of local transportation and extra-curricular activities are not included.)
Organizing institutions: Hariharananda Kriya Yoga Mission and Hariharananda Mission West
Address: At-Banabira, P.O. Tabada, Via Sohela, Dist. Bargarh, Orissa 768033, India
Local contacts:
1. Yogananda Sahu. Cell phone: +91 (97) 7829-3191
2. Chitrasen Debta. Cell phone: +91 (99) 3722-3217
3. Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giri. Cell phone: +91 (99) 9745-9486
PLEASE NOTE:
- This seminar is open to ALL Kriyavans initiated in the lineage of Paramahamsa Hariharananda.
- Accomodations are rustic in this poor part of India, and we are doing the very best we can to ensure a comfortable and hygienic experience for all, but one should not expect Western standards of living over there. To go with a spirit of adventure and flexibility is part of of our sadhana (spiritual practice)!
2. Khumba Mela Yoga Camp with Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giri, Swami Sharad Puri, Swami Amlananda Giri, and Swami Chetan
Date: Any week between Monday February 8 and Sunday February 28, 2010
Cost: $175 per week (including all courses, guides, Kumbha Mela events, food and lodging. Costs of local transportation and extra-curricular activities are not included.)
Organizing institutions: Sri Hariharananda Trust, Tripura Yogashram, and Swami Vivekananda Foundation
Address: Matri Chhaya Gurukulam, Laksar Road, Jagjeetpur, Haridwar, Uttarkhand 249408, India
Local contacts:
1. Reception: +91 (99) 9798-6539
2. Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giri. Cell phone: +91 (99) 9745-9486 and
3. Swami Sharad Puri. Cell phone: +91 (93) 1902-2436
4. Swami Amlanand Giri. Cell phone: +91 (93) 1903-9989
5. Swami Chetan. Cell phone: +91 (94) 1207-7723
PLEASE NOTE:
- This yoga camp is open to ALL seekers, irrespective of their spiritual practice or lineage.
- Participants are required to register and pay for a minimum of a one-week period upon arrival. This period of time can be renewed for up to three weeks in total, but not shortened.
- People will be housed either in our brand new Matri Chhaya Gurukulam orphanage or in nearby comfortable ashrams.
GENERAL POINTS ABOUT THE INDIAN PROGRAMS
- There will be an opportunity to receive initiation on the first day of either program for people desiring to learn the authentic Kriya Yoga technique of Paramahamsa Hariharananda (the initiation donation is separate from the seminar fee).
- These events are not for tourists or casual visitors, but for dedicated seekers desirous to embrace the disciplined atmosphere of the ashram life and deepen their spiritual practice.
- Participants are required to attend all classes of the program(s) they have registered for, except for special cases approved by prior arrangement.
- People are entirely responsible for all of their transportation arrangements (international and domestic), from their country of origin to the ashram, and their return journey. Due to an increase in the number of people visiting us each year, we are no longer able to provide assistance in this area, but will be happy to refer you to reliable resources for all of your domestic transportation needs and extra-curricular activities and accomodations.
- Various Kriya Yoga centers are contemplating organizing themselves to go to these Indian programs as a group. It is a wonderful idea that can save its members a lot of time and money, and make it a fun activity!
- For more information about these two programs, please go towww.hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/pilgrimages/pilgrimage_index.html
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II. HELPING HAND
We rely on your generous financial contributions to be able to continue our charitable activities with poor children and widows. One of the terrible effect of the worldwide economic recession has been to see a dramatic increase in the number of street children worldwide. See for instance this recent article (in English) from the New York Times at www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/us/26runaway.html
However it is not all bad news. In fact, there is a LOT of great, uplifting stories about individuals making a difference in the face of misery and injustice. You do not hear about it much in the media, but if you know where to look… Try here for instance: www.csmonitor.com/makingadifference/
If the Spirit moves you to want to contribute, here are a three novel ways you can do so:
1. Facebook
We have started a “Facebook Cause” page and would like to invite you all to join it and help us raise funds by donating and recruiting new members.
You can visit it at at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/334240
… and kindly consider making a donation. If everybody donated just $10, we could immediately raise over $20,000!!!
2. GoodSearch and GoodShop
You can raise money for Hariharananda Mission West just by searching the web (”Goodsearch”) and shopping online (”Goodshop”). It is a simple as clicking on the “GoodSearch” button at the bottom of our websitewww.hariharanandakriyayoga.org.
Or much simpler, you can download the Goodsearch/GoodShop toolbar at www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/ and install it in your web browser!
If you are interested, you can see the money that has already been raised through this simple method by visiting the page www.goodsearch.com/nonprofit/hariharananda-mission-west.aspx
3. Frequent Flyer Miles
Another way you can help is by donating your unused frequent flyer miles to a charity such as the Hariharananda Mission West. Please see the excellent article athttp://www.johnnyjet.com/folder/charity.html to learn about it.
More information about how to contribute can be found athttp://hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/join_us/contribute_index.html
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III. STUDY MATERIAL
This month I am attaching Part 1 of some notes taken from my latest “Lifting the veil of Maya” retreat in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Thank you very much to Manuel Baba for his excellent note-taking and formatting skills!
In this first document you will learn about the relationship between the subconscious and the ego, and some typical ego manipulations. Next month, you will learn about how to identify and rewrite toxic beliefs. Happy studying!
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IV. PAST MESSAGES
If you have recently been added to our mailing list, please note that ALL past “Monthly Messages” and documents are available for free download atwww.hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/monthly_lessons/monthly_lessons-index.html
Thank you very much. May God and all masters bless you all.
Humble,
Yogi Sarveshwar Ananda Giri
My divine and darling souls,
Hari om from Santa Cruz, Bolivia!
I pray that you are all well and treasuring your True Wealth — your breath.
DIVINE LOVE RETREAT
I have just finished conducting our second annual “Divine Love” week-long retreat/pilgrimage in the mystical Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. 18 participants from Colombia, Mexico, Bolivia, Argentina, France and the USA came together to share a week of teachings, meditations, chanting, metaphorical storytelling, dynamic activities and exploration of the Island of the Sun and the Island of the moon, the twin “Fontanel of the World” as described in the ancient Andean culture. We concluded our program with an educational and charitable program for the poor children of the island.
Our dear Cesar from Bogota will create an illustrated report which will be sent with the next monthly message.
During this retreat, we learned from our French participant Annah Ma a marvellous style of walking effortlessly and consciously in the mountains; it turns long hikes in rugged terrain into a joyful, effortless moving meditation. I have attached a document which summarizes its principles so that you may enjoy this wonderful practice immediately.
e_thepracticeofeffortlesswalking
FRIENDS OF HUMANITY TRAINING LEVEL 1 IN BOGOTA
Our dear Juan Sebastian not only gave all his enthusiastic participation to the free “Friends of Humanity” training in Bogota last July, he also wrote a very nice little report about it which I have attached. May it inspire you to attend the next one in 2010
e_reportonthefriendsofhumanitytraininglevel1_bogota2009
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Our next two international events will both take place in India in 2010:
1) A week-long Kriya Yoga seminar conducted by Rajarshi Raghabananda (Baba Hariharananda’s most advanced disciple) and myself, with the participation of many old-time Yogacharyas of Baba Hariharananda. This first annual international Kriya Yoga seminar will be attended by many old-time disciples of Paramahamsa Hariharananda from India and other countries. It will take place from January 26 to 31, 2010 at the newly-finished Hariharananda Kriya Yoga Mission ashram in Banabira, Orissa, in India.
And if the name “Banabira” sounds familiar… yes, it is the famous “Kriya Yoga village of love” which I mentioned in an earlier report last year. You can read about it at this link:
www.hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/pdf/force-download.php?file=A_VISIT_TO_HEAVEN_ON_EARTH.pdf
The Hariharananda Mission West is financially supporting the development of the Banabira ashram, as well as the future plans to construct a little school, an ayurvedic clinic, and a guest house for visiting disciples in this extremely poor and lovely part of central India. If you feel moved to sponsor financially some of our educational and charitable activities, or to become involved as a volunteer, kindly contact us at informes@arcadelamor.org
2) The Kumbha Mela Camp!
An opportunity to have a taste of the famous Khumba Mela (the world’s largest religious gathering which returns only every twelve years in Haridwar): our first three-week long Yoga camp at our Matri Chhaya Gurukulam campus in the holy city of Haridwar. The dates are February 8 to 28, 2010, which will allow us to enjoy the Shivaratri and Holi festivals as well! Please see www.hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/pilgrimages/mahakumbh_2010.html for some preliminary information.
More details about the cost and how to register for both Indian programs will be posted on the www.hariharanandakriyayoga.org website soon.
NEW: YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
I am pleased to report that some of our graduates at the “Friends of Humanity Club” have just created a YouTube channel! You can visit it by going to www.youtube.com/user/HariharanandaMission
At present there is only one video — but a spectacular one: a rare excerpt of Baba Hariharananda’s 93 birthday celebration at the Miami ashram in 2000.
Please note that we actually have three YouTube channels:
- an English one at www.youtube.com/user/HariharanandaMission
- A Spanish one at www.youtube.com/user/MisionHariharananda
- A Portuguese one at www.youtube.com/user/MissaoHariharananda
We have TONS of video clips which will be gradually added to these channels in their respective language, so be sure to come and visit them frequently!
SEVA OPPORTUNITY
We are gradually assembling a fund-raiser team to help us obtain funds from corporations, private fundations, and government agencies.
We are also looking for professional-standard editors in English and Portuguese for the 70+ books by Rajarshi Raghabananda and myself that we are planning on bringing out gradually over the years.
If you have some experience in these fields and would like to contribute, your participation will be warmly welcome! Kindly contact us at informes@arcadelamor.org
PAST MESSAGES
If you have recently been added to our mailing list, please note that ALL past “Monthly Messages” and documents are available for free download at www.hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/monthly_lessons/monthly_lessons-index.html
Thank you very much. May God and all masters bless you all.
Humble,
Yogi Sarveshwar Ananda Giri
My beloved and divine ones!
Hari om from Lima.
I pray that you are well and growing confidently in God’s brilliant light.
I have not been able to write in a while due to our many expanding programs in Latin America… which is all good news!
I have now finished two 8-day free trainings of the “Friends of Humanity” — one was in Bogota, Colombia (Level 1), and the other was here in Lima, Peru (Level 2). We now have a beautiful new team of loving hearts and healing hands ready to serve and give to this world. This was one of my most blissful experience — to see people awakening to their potential and recognizing that, as Mahatma Gandhi said so wisely, “we must be the change we want to see in this world.”
I am also pleased to report that our past and and present graduates have started a “Friends of Humanity Club” to further their studies and put them in practice. We are developping a website for this club which will be opened to all. More about this in our next message next month…
In the meantime the kriyavans of Peru just surprised me by creating a BEAUTIFUL website for my programs in Peru. You can see it at http://kriyayoga.grameco.com/ . The tabs at the top of the page have the description of every aspects of the different activities. We will use this format from now to promoite our kriya and charitable programs in all cities in the world.
Our work with the Ark of Love in Latin America is progressing nicely - I am now working on completing a “Manual for Ark of Love Volunteers” which is currently being edited and has already been sent to all our Ark of love centers. In this respect we are happy to welcome the kriyavans of Cali, Colombia, who have just started a new Ark of Love in their city this year! Congratulations and many blessings to you all…
Our orphanage in Haridwar (called Matri Chhaya, meaning “The Grace of the Mother”) just received seven new little angels. We have a couple of volunteers from Brazil who are staying there for one year to help take care of the orphans, teaching them English, hygiene, creative activities, storytelling, playing, and loving them immensely.
And I just received news that the second wing of the building is nearing completion, and that soon we will be able to receive 50 more orphans!
Remember to check our ever expanding website www.reddelamor.org for more materials and information on our charitable activities in the world.
We are also in the process of developing a little cottage industry for our poor girls and widows in India, whereby they manufacture lovely little malas and spiritual toys, and the proceeds from the sales will go towards their education, health care, and helping them set up their own business. I brought in my luggage nearly a thousand malas that they had already made while I was in India, and selling them through our various Kriya programs. They are very well-received!
I wrote a little document to explain the use and purpose of these malas, which I have attached for your information. One volunteer is also helping me build a website to sell these malas online. Finally, I will need to find some way to have these malas and toys distributed in stores in various countries. Any suggestions or leads, feel free to pass them on, my dear souls.
We are setting up a new website to sell these malas. In my next message I will tell you more about it.
I have also attached a document I recently wrote to share some yogic insight on the treatment and management of anxiety and depression, as these psychological disorders are becoming increasingly widespread in modern societies. Feel free to share this information with your contacts, loved ones and anyone you think might benefit from it.
The next event on the horizon is our third annual Isla del Sol retreat in Lake Titicaca September 21-27. This combination pilgrimage and retreat will be on theme of divine Love this year. There are a couple of places left, so if you are interested please contact Br. Devananda at devananda@arcadelamor.org…
Finally, some opportunities for you to become involved and help spread the message of joyful and compassionate living of Baba Hariharananda and the Kriya masters:
1. We need donations to continue supporting our charitable activities with street children, adolescents at social risk, widows and abandoned children and old-age people in Latin America and India. Kindly consider making a regular donation to help. For details about how to contribute, please visit our page at http://hariharanandakriyayoga.org/english/join_us/contribute_index.html
2. We need people who have experience in fund-raising so that we can start applying for government grants and corporate donations. Anyone willing to help? Please contact Br. Devananda at devananda@arcadelamor.org
Thank you very much. May God and all masters bless you all.
Humble,
Yogi Sarveshwar Ananda Giri
purpose-and-use-of-malas
why-the-morning-blues
My beloved souls,
Hari om from Santo Domingo, where I have just reached.
The last few months have been enormously busy in India and in Europe, that is why I was unable to keep up with the bi-monthly podcasts and Monthly Messages, but I am now on tour again (starting with the Caribbean Islands, then on to Miami and then South America) until the end of the year, and I will now be able to communicate more frequently with you all again and give you an update on the wonderful activities happening in India and other places.
But the main reason I am writing you, my beloved souls, is to let you know of an important life change for me.
Yesterday June 9 in San Juan, surrounded by a close group of devotees from Puerto Rico, I renounced my monastic vows and entered the householder life again.
I have been enormously blessed to have been initiated by Gurudev Baba Hariharananda into the noble monastic tradition of ancient India and live this life for 16 years (4 years as a brahmachari first, then 12 years as a swami), and the time has now come for me to re-enter the householder path, as the desire for family life has never left me in all these 16 years of inner struggle.
I am now engaged to my old sweetheart from 20 years ago, Allison Ma, whom I have just met again a few months ago after 20 years. She is a practitioner of Vipassana meditation, but has also taken initiation in Kriya Yoga. Our plan is to wait one year before getting married in 2010 (and yes, we will announce the date ahead of time to all of you, our Global Family!)
I have talked to all my brother monks in India about it, and all have offered their unconditional support and approval.
They all told me that they will have even more respect for me, because I choose to accept my nature and my feelings, and avoid corruption. They also assured me that it is absolutely no problem to change status, and to leave the monastic order. Thousands of monks have done it and have been happily married.
They also said that by residing in our ashram and orphanages in India as a married couple, my wife and I would be a wonderful example for the children—-a spiritual householder couple from America.
About the transformation ceremony, they told me, “When you are ready to renounce the monastic life, you simply go to Mother Ganga or to the ocean, and offer your ochre-colored robes to her with a prayer saying, ‘O God, I am unable to maintain the celibate life, and I wish to enter the grihastha [householder] state again. Kindly accept my obeisance and lead my wife and I to fulfill our divine duties as householders with purity, honesty, and integrity.’”
This is what I did yesterday morning in the ocean in San Juan. Please pray for me my beloved ones on this new auspicious start in my life.
My life, service, and work will remain exactly the same as before: initiating, doing rituals, concerts, events, training, etc.
I feel particularly fortunate to belong to the Kriya Yoga lineage, which has always been primarily transmitted through householder yogacharyas, starting with the very first disciple, Lahiri Mahashaya.
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I have prepared a short list of responses to answer the common questions I have heard about this life change.
1. What will be your new official name?
Instead of Swami Sarveshwarananda Giri, I will be Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giri (or with an alternate spelling, Yogi Sarveshwar Ananda Giri)
The scriptures specify that both “Ananda” and “Giri” have always been householder names, so I can keep being “Divine Joy in Everything” (which is the meaning of this blessed name Baba gave me, and which changed my life forever). Thank God!
2. What will we call you?
In India most people will still call me “Swamiji” — not because I am a former monk, but because that is how spiritual teachers are often called there. Otherwise people can call me “Yogiji” if they want to use a title, or simply “Swamito” or Sarvesh to be informal. All appellations are welcome!
3. What will you wear?
According to the scriptures, only monks can wear ochre-colored robes. Which means that I can wear any other color. My brother monks advised me to wear white or yellow or peach, which is what spiritual teachers usually wear in India. Initiatlly I will wear mostly white. Then I will see.
4. What will you continue to do, and what will you not do anymore?
I am still a Yogacharya and continue to serve Baba Hariharananda with all my heart and soul by initiating people in Kriya Yoga, giving lectures, conducting retreats, providing counselling, organizing spiritual events, offering free “Friends of Humanity” trainings, leading pilgrimages, etc.
I am still a priest, celebrating weddings, conducting funerals, doing house blessings, celebrating ecumenical masses, performing rituals, etc.
I am still working full-time for the family of Hariharananda Missions which I created around the world
I am still working closely with Rajarshi Raghabanandaji (Baba’s most advanced disciple alive today) and his Kriya community in India
I continue my service full time to the widows, orphans and abandoned old people in Latin America and India through the Network of Love
grassroot movement Baba has blessed since its inception in 2001.
I will still live in ashrams and our schools and orphanages in India, where my brother monks have assured me that my wife and I will always be welcome.
The only thing that will be different is that I will no longer initiate brahmacharis nor do monastic trainings. I will continue to guide spiritually the current brahmachari that I initiated — Brahmachari Devananda. His monastic guidance will be performed from now by my brother monks in India — Swami Sharad Puri, Swami Amlanand Giri, Swami Chetan, Swami Sharadananda, and Swami Shuddhir Giri, who have generously and enthusiastically accepted to take over that function from me.
All the rest is exactly the same.
5. Will Allison Ma accompany you in your travels?
She will not be able to travel with me this year, but she will do it from next year (2010) onward.
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I wanted you to know everything in detail, my dearest souls, because we are all the children of our beloved Baba Hariharananda and I will always honor that sacred relationship first and foremost.
Beloved Souls,
Hari om from Uttarkashi in the high Himalayas! I am traveling this week with a group of disciples to visit the Swami Vivekananda Foundation school for poor children which Swami Chetan and I built on the banks of the Ganga river.
Today we present our fourth and last installment of our series on Tales of Compassionate Masters. Come and join us to learn how God and Masters will do anything to save their devotees… Three tales this week: Who needs a massage?, The teachings of the servant, and The ultimate chess game.
Next fornight we will start a new series of wisdom tales on Gratefulness.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Beloved Souls,
Hari om from our “Matri Chhaya Gurukulam” orphanage again!
Today we present the third installment of our series on Tales of Compassionate Masters. Come and join us to learn how God and Masters will do anything to save their devotees… This week a beautiful Sufi tale: The Three Conditions.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Beloved Souls,
Hari om from our “Matri Chhaya Gurukulam” orphanage in the holy city of Haridwar. Here we are all well, nestled in the lap of Mother Ganga under the protective shade of Father Himalaya, watching the wild elephants and peacocks go by…
Today we present the second installment of our series on Tales of Compassionate Masters. Come and join us to learn how God and Masters will do anything to save their devotees… This week: Passing the Light of Knowledge; The Teachings of Satan; The Zen master’s duty; Mullah Nasruddin’s deal.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
This year, let us try something different. Instead of just making a list of personal resolutions that will make us feel brave and righteous—and that we will forget as soon as the feeling passes—let us make a strong determination (called a sankalpa in Sanskrit) to be an agent of change not just for our own personal life, but for the world at large as well.
2008 has been an eye-opener for most of the world, and not a pretty sight. After indulging in decades of unrestricted greed, violence, denial, and arrogance, and faced with the prospect that things will become a lot worse before they get better again, the time has come to return to balance and common sense, and seek a harmonious relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the Invisible.
Welcome to the new era of responsible living and micro-solutions—replacing globalization with local solutions, cut-throat competition with cooperation, monolithic institutions with networks of small and ethical groups, irresponsible spending/investing with sane money.
I call this having the Hands of a Craftsman, the Heart of a Poet, the Head of a Businessman, and the Spirit of a Sage.
Beloved Souls,
Hari om from London! I am flying in an hour back to Mother India where I will spend the next four months, happily engaged in writing, research, and serving our delightful poor children in Haridwar, Uttarkashi and Champawat.
Today we present the first installment of a series on Tales of Compassionate Masters. Come and join us to learn how God and Masters will do anything to save their devotees…
This week: Compassionate deafness; The Master Thief’s Teachings; Baba Hariharananda’s Ceaseless Compassion.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Beloved Souls,
A very HAPPY and HOLY NEW YEAR from the snowy Alps mountains!
I pray that you have successfully said goodbye to the old year and the old you, and that you are today working on your New You–to be an agent of change not just for our own personal life, but for the world at large as well!
Today we present the ninth and last installment of our Yoga Sutras series. This week: All vrittis are based on desire. What is the last vritti which will extinguish all others. Realized masters are free from vrittis; they are only pure conduits for Divine Will. Why does yoga say, “Try to get the anger of your guru”?
In our next series of podcast we will return to some good old-fashioned wisdom tale storytelling…
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Beloved Souls,
Hari om from Sao Paolo, Brazil.
I am flying in a few hours to Aspen, Colorado after having spent an absolutely enchanting day with our dear children of the Ark of Love. Our little angels had put together, with the help of our dedicated volunteers, a marvellous exhibition showcasing their contemplative self-portraits, photographs, sculptures, modelling, videos, and journalling. If you are in Sao Paolo now, it is really worth visiting the Orsa Foundation in the Glicerio District of Sao Paolo which is displaying this unique one-week exhibition.
I will put up a gallery of the children’s works in our upcoming NEW Network of Love website which should go live in a few days. Stay tuned!
Today we present the eighth installment of our Yoga Sutras series. This week: The multiplying effect of the vrittis (mental modifications)—the “All for a Loincloth!” story. The difference between transpersonal (or depth) psychology and yoga. Can moksha (liberation) be attained through psychoanalysis? The foundation of liberation: abhyasa (constant practice) and vairagya (detachment).
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Beloved Souls,
Hari om again from Curitiba, Brazil.
Today I am finishing my program in this inspiring and inspired city. 60 new people took initiation, and under the guidance of our Ark of Love volunteers, over 200 children performed a marvellous show. The love and energy of these poor and abused children was so overwhleming, that the idea was quickly formed and enthusiastically adopted to create a new show for next year and make a new movie out of it… almost exactly ten years after my first movie Little Stars. Stay tuned!
Today we present the seventh installment of our Yoga Sutras series. This week: Yoga Sutra 3, Chapter 1. The goal of yoga is to see our own true nature.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Great news for our Spanish-speaking friends. We are starting this week a new blog in Spanish to report on our Kriya Yoga programs and retreats, Ark of Love charitable activities, and storytelling and concerts around the world. Our Brahmacharini Priyananda is taking care of this new baby (congratulations for learning the art of blogging so quickly!). She has already posted a few sample entries, and will be adding new ones regularly, as well as gradually adding selected translations of this English blog. Please come and visit “La Red del Amor” here.
Beloved Souls,
Hari om from Curitiba, Brazil… where I just reached a few minutes ago!
We had a wonderful program in Buenos Aires with extremely well-attended lectures, retreats, Kriya Yoga inititaitons, and stress-management workshops. Congratulations to all divine organizers!
Today we present the sixth installment of our Yoga Sutras series. This week: The breath metaphor found in the episode of Jesus in the boat during the storm on Lake Tiberias.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Beloved Souls,
Hari om from Cochabamba, Bolivia!
With our little group of 20 people we just returned from a marvellous retreat/pilgrimage in the Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca on the theme “Lifting the Veil of Maya”. A full report accompanied by some stunning photos will be posted soon.
With all these events far from any internet or telephone connections, our bi-monthly podcast is about 10 days late this time, but at last here it is!
Today we present the fifth installment of our Yoga Sutras series. This week: Yoga Sutra 2, Chapter 1 (continued). How to uncloud the four inner instruments—mind, intellect, ego and chitta—through mastery of the breath, as pointed out by the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Dear Self,
Hari om from Lima, Peru!
Today we present the fourth installment of our Yoga Sutras series. This week: Yoga Sutra 2, Chapter 1. The definition of yoga. The four levels of consciousness. How to translate the untranslatable Sanskrit word “chitta” The metaphor of the blind mind, intellect, and ego as portrayed in the characters of the Mahabharata epic.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Yesterday at 1 pm Malena Huguet received the formal initiation as a brahmacharini (noviate) into the monastic order of the Kriya Yoga lineage at the beautiful Eco Truly Ashram in Chankay near Lima, Peru.
Swamiji surrounded by the new Brahmacharini Priyanananda and Brahmachari Devananda (who received the brahmacharya initiation earlier this year in Haridwar, India)
The ceremony took place at the end of the 8-day “Friends of Humanity” training, and was attended by all Friends, as well as her family, many local kriyavans and the residents of the Eco Truly ashram.
Swamiji garlanding the new Brahmacharini after giving her new clothes and new name.
Born in Peru, Br. Priyananda has long cherished the dream of entering a monastic order while serving children and women in need - a dream now fulfilled by the grace of God and gurus, as she will continue to serve in our growing Ark of Love projects in Lima.
Swamiji surrounded by Br. Priyanandaji and Br. Devanandaji (who received his brahmacharya initiation earlier this year in Haridwar, India)
Please join me in praying to God to bless His new child and help her fulfill her triple vow of poverty, obedience, and purity, for the service of all of His creation.
Thank you very much. Jai Gurudev!
Humble,
Swamito
Dear Self,
Hari om from Lima, Peru!
Six extremely busy weeks have flown by in Colombia, sharing lectures, initiations in Kriya Yoga, silent retreats, satsangs and meditations, Ayurvedic cooking classes, stress management workshops, peace concerts and storytelling events with the most incredibly loving and sincere souls in Bogota, Cali, Popayan, and Medellin.
I am now starting my month-long tour of Peru which will include all of the above activities, plus our second annual “Friends of Humanity Training” in the lovely Eco-Truly ashram just outside of Lima, on the beach.
There are still a couple of places left. If you want to participate in this free training, please go our web page for details and send an email to informes@arcadelamor.org
Today we present the third installment of our Yoga Sutras series. This week: Yoga Sutra 1, Chapter 1. The six different meanings of the word “atha” corresponding to the six desirable spiritual qualities.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Beloved Self,
Hari om from Lima, Peru.
Some good news: ALL past messages and study materials that were sent to all kriyavans and friends since December 2007 are now online (in English, Spanish and Portuguese) in a new section called “Monthly Lessons”. You can freely browse and download all of these materials here.
Happy reading!
Humble,
Swamito.
Dear Self,
Hari om from Medellin in Colombia.
The programs in Cali and Popayan were absolutely amazing - packed with Ayurvedic cooking workshops, lectures, initiations, concerts, storytelling events, satsangs and guided meditations. God bless this beautiful people, so earnest and devoted to their spiritual practice!
Today we present the second installment of our Yoga Sutras series. This week: The metaphorical meaning of Sage Patañjali’s miraculous birth; The structure of the Yoga Sutras.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Hari om from Bogota… en route to Cali, in Colombia.
I just concluded a three-week program in Bogota, and I am heading to Cali and Popayan in a few minutes. Part of the Bogota program was the Level 2 training for the “Friends of Humanity”, with 20 highly dedicated and creative students who graduated from the Level 1 training in Lima last year.
As part of the intensive 8-day training we studied Sage Patañjali’s Yoga Sutras. The enthusiasm and interest was so deep amongst the students that I have decided to put a new series of podcasts on this subject.
Today is the first podcast of our new Yoga Sutras series. This week: A general historical perspective on the Yoga Sutras; the “sutra” genre; Who was Sage Patañjali.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito
Hari om from cool Bogota, in Colombia.
After a week of major disruption due to moving servers AND getting a new domain name (”www.hariharanandakriyayoga.org”) the blog is finally back up! We lost three months’ worth of posts in the process, but I am very optimistic we will be able to rescue them from the ether and post them again soon.
Today is the last podcast of Indian and Buddhist Tales series. This week: How the Guru Helped the Opium Addict Overcame His Habit; The Monk and the Prostitute Who Died on the Same Day.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito