Paramahamsas and Simon Eugene

In November 2007, song writer and  filmmaker Simon Eugene went off to India in search of Paramahamsa Swami Satyananda. He wanted to  interview Paramahamsaji for a documentary on the subject of love.  Simon was assured by most people that his task was an impossible one. But by the grace of the Guru, he met and filmed Paramahamsaji and was then invited  to stay longer and film the ancient Tantrik festival that was about to take place in the ashram -the Sat Chandi Mahayajna. The result is a new film: “Love and the Art of Giving.”

This trailer was made specially for all of the devotees who have gathered here to express their prayers, talk of their experiences and pay homage to Guru. Please visit www.satchandi2007.com to view a longer trailer, read about the making of the film and order a copy. Thanks Simon!!

Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati has posted a sweet essay on the Bhakta practice of singing the names of God. He reveals that he wakes up each morning to forty minutes of recorded kirtan to which he sings along. He calls this his “awakening clock.” We should all have an “awakening clock.” In fact, as Parmahamsaji notes, we should go to sleep and wake up thinking of God.

In the direct realization traditions, practitioners fall asleep in a state of Guru yoga and wake up and immediately connect to Guru. These are practices of the sandhi–of times during each day when we are a little more open and able to receive transmission. Yoga means union, and Guru yoga means discovering your union with Guru.

How can you do this? (more…)

She is my only refuge
not thoughts and plans
not friends or lineage
not deciding this or that
not purification
not even understanding (more…)

A Jaya Kula student from the U.S. asked:

How can devotion to a teacher help bring about Self-realization?

Devotion and humble service are like kneading a lump of heavy, cold dough until it becomes soft, pliable and warm. Inquiry, asking questions and freely using your mind and your senses to explore and discover your real condition, is like the yeast allowing the softened dough to rise above dogma and fixation. Guru is the heat that cooks the bread. (more…)