Satsang with premananda
Hello from premananda
The Rolling Stones have made it to India! The young people of Bangalore clad in blue jeans with the occasional sari, enthusiastically welcomed the Stones and their evening of rocking magic, however an unseasonable downpour seemed to indicate the Gods where not so happy!
I am in Bangalore to interview D. B. Gangolli, a Vedanta teacher, for my book “Blueprints for Awakening”. I am travelling for six weeks in a leisurely fashion enjoying, one after another, the best of India’s Spiritual teachers. It is a rare and wonderful time. Last year Newsletter 3 came during a long period of being in Retreat and being in the ground of the Self,alone,consciously, day by day. Now eight months later in meeting these teachers, sharing with them in the Self is a marvelous time. Watching how quickly there is a merging and true meeting. The format of the book is a standard set of questions designed to unfold the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. There are extracts from these interviews on my new website. (See website –Writing Blueprints).
Arriving in India in Nov. last year, fresh from the three months of Satsang in Australia, the pace of holding Satsang meetings continued. We had Satsang in Tiruvannamalai in the shadow of Arunachala before moving up to Pune, close to the Osho ashram, to hold Satsang each afternoon for twenty days. The meetings happened down by the river in a still and silent place, brimming with bird life.
Then back to Tiruvannamalai and some more meetings around Christmas before the One month Satsang Retreat and Arunachala Pilgrimage began on the 28th Dec, just before the New Year. As last year the retreat took place in the Nannagaru ashram, with its fine views of the Holy hill, Arunachala. We began with an afternoon going around the hill by bullock cart and walking up to Skanda ashram and the Virupaksha cave, both places Sri Ramana Maharshi had lived before construction of the present Ashram. We had daily morning sharing Satsangs and as we became quieter a morning and evening silent Satsang. Being together with a close knit group for a whole month was simply a divine gift. Thanks to Sally for being such a sweet and efficient organizer.
Here is an extract from one talk during the retreat. “Self, Mind and Love.” The whole talk is attached to this newsletter.(or sent in a separate email)
So if you are really clear that ‘I am the Self, I am not my mind,’ you don’t need or want to go anywhere. You can go; the body may go, but not to get something. The body moves for some kind of play but not in order to get something. If you move to get something from a teacher, a lover, from a tree, from a bar of chocolate – this is not the Self. This is I. If you stay in the story of I you can never be free and you can never stop the suffering or the pain. The pain and the suffering are there because of the identification with this I.
When you really know the Self, then you live knowing, ‘That I am the Self,’ and a tremendous playfulness comes and you are happy alone. Because you are not alone you are the Self, the Self is everything, and the Self is nothing. The Self is complete. You can paint a picture, listen to music, go for a walk in the early morning, watch the sunset, simply sit or go for a swim and feel the water on your skin. You can lie in the sun and feel the heat on your skin. There is just divine playfulness (Leela), a whole life transformed, because you are no longer looking for something or for someone to give you something. You know you have everything and all desire simply falls away and there is a tremendous contentment and peace and a great relaxation.
During these last months I have been actively working with my editors Chris in India and Julie and Sally in Australia to make the final editing of my homage to Poonjaji, ”Amazing Grace.” This is twelve tales of seekers who came to Poonjaji and had an Awakening in his presence. The proof of this book is finally in my bag and now the next task to find a publisher. ( see website for excepts- Writing Grace)
For those with a yearning to come to India there are two program’s later in the year. Satsang India Tour 2003,offered in the period Oct 18th–Nov 15th, the third time I have offered a one month’s travel from Delhi in the North to Arunachala in the South with our own Satsang as we travel. (see website-Satsang India) At the years end from Dec 28 to Jan24th, 2004 there will be the third Pilgrimage to Arunachala, A Months Satsang Retreat 2004 (see website –Sangha Retreats). The Satsang India Tour is limited to six people and the New Year Retreat to twenty. Bookings or pre-booking for these two events can be made now by emailing Sally.
Finally in this newsletter I can say how exciting it is to be going to Europe in one month’s time. The European Satsang Schedule for the period May to August is coming together right now. The next visit to Australia will be in September. ( see website –Satsang Schedule). Do please stay in touch, I am always pleased to get your emails.
Love and Peace, premananda.
email to: office@premanandasatsang.org or opensky@chilli.net.au
See the new website www.premananda.de