Manifesting thoughts into reality

I do not know what the name of this siddhi is, but the manifestation of this is something that happens to me atleast a half a dozen times in a day by HIS grace - and this has been the case ever since Swamiji happened in my life 10 years ago. 

Basically, if a thought happens inside, then it beautifully expresses as an action or event outside. Swamiji once explained this as an alignment of "iccha-shakti" (the energy of desire) and "kriya-shakti" (the energy of action), wherein the gap between the thought ripple inside (to do something or want something) and the actual doing or happening is removed. 

Well, it is as though the entire cosmos conspires to manifest your subtlest thoughts or prayers into reality. And everytime this happens, it keeps putting me into awe and gratitude towards existence, God and Guru. Awe because what you think is a secret prayer or just a silly thought is so loud in the ears of the cosmos, and gratitude because you feel you are on the lap of your mother, constantly being listened to.

Here is just a small example from something that happened just now. Background: I need to be attending a week long workshop next week at Univ. of Californa, Davis. Last night, I was discussing with Sri Arpana about whether I should be commuting daily by taxi (from Sunnyvale to Davis - which is about 2 hours of drive), or whether I should stay in a hotel at Davis for the week. We decided that I should drive daily and I had communicated this arrangement to my post-doctoral advisor, who decided to cover me for the daily commute.

But this morning, Sri Arpana was saying that it would be good to also get a hotel room so I will have the option of staying back in Davis on some days, depending on when we get done each day. 

And just when I was wondering whether it is appropriate for me to ask for a hotel room when I am already getting covered for the daily commute, I get an email from our project collaborator in Sweden saying she has an extra hotel room and asked if she should reserve it for me incase I needed it. And before even I knew it, she had reserved that room for me.

The point is not about the hotel room - it's about the constant assurance that the Cosmic Mother is listening and responding sooo beautifully. Only we don't see it with our colored eyes - colored with all the layers of conditionings, biases and opinions. That's why you need a third eye, and a Master who can awaken it. Thank You beloved Swamiji.

(There have been many, many, many more solid examples of this in my life and I will document those in future blog posts).

- Ma Nithya Arpanananda

The gift of silence - Simhasth Kumbh (Part 1)

Greetings after many long years! I have been around, but slacked in blog-writing. Hope to be back more actively. I will start with the most recent and most intense journey I've had to one of the most sacred energy hubs that cosmos has to offer - Ujjain in North India. But more importantly, it has been a journey inside into the deep, mystical and fascinating woods of the mind - deep down, where silence beckons.  

Here's a little background: I was blessed with the opportunity of attending a 21 day program called Shuddadvaitam at Ujjain at one of the world's largest gatherings - the Simhastha Kumbh Mela with Swamiji. It was the very piece of land where Shiva Himself revealed the sacred Agamas to the Sapta Rishis. The experiences that I had are hidden in so many layers that I am at a loss of words to start describing it.

If I have to summarize in a few words, I can say - so much happening outside, but a shattering silence inside. I felt like I was the eye of the storm, a silent spectator of all the chaos unfolding around me. I have heard Swamiji utter the words - there is chaos in order and order in chaos. I think I got to taste that experientially.

Here is a glimpse: One of the early days of Shuddhadvaitam, we were hit by a massive cylone, with water mercilessly hitting on the pandal as if to uproot it, and gushing water seeping through the carpet floors into the hall. As we held our breaths and watched the whole hall getting flooded with water, a thought flashed into me like lightning - "Oh Gosh, we are in the midst of an empty camp ground with all temporary tents, in a city tucked away from my familiar home and all the comforts. The tent is temporary after all. What happens if it collapses!"

But, the very next moment, this thought had evaporated into thin air and was replaced with a deep feeling of love, compassion and trust - Trust towards Swamiji and the divine energies, that whatever happens in that auspicious energy field is auspicious indeed, so any fear or insecurity is baseless. And a causeless compassion towards all fellow participants started to ooze. I felt as if my whole life and the life around me was one big drama and I am watching the show. I saw some panic about what was going to happen next, some loose the temper about their clothes getting wet, some upset about their bags being moved by volunteers to dryer areas. I went into the dormitory and found out that my whole big bag with many white clothes was now soaked with muddy water. Not only that, my bed was at the entrance, so lot of the slush had got deposited in and around my bed and mattress was soaked too.

But guess what - My inner space refused to feel perturbed about any of this. I felt as if God had pressed the mute button inside me, and all the useless thoughts of fear, insecurity, worry, anger, irritation seemed to all be on "mute" - so I could hear none of them! 

It was only then that I realized what a beautiful gift I had received by the Master - the gift of silence, the gift of peace. If not for all the chaos, I would not have realized the silence, the order. All I was left with were tears of gratitude.......

(To be Continued...)

Selfie time with Mahadeva