Guru Purnima~ Honoring the Satguru As Divine Teacher

This year on the full moon of July 19, 2016 Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains recognize and celebrate a day called Guru Purnima which is dedicated to the Gurus of the world. As the wave of the East's wisdom is finding channels and rivers through which to flow here in the West, those like myself are sharing in this day of appreciation and love for the Guru. We are those who have undeservedly been blessed by the grace of the Satguru's (the Guru within) glance which has fallen on our minds and hearts with such power that the individual 'seeker' is vaporized in the light of Perfection and, with the physical Guru's guidance, there comes a recognition of the pure presence of divine light and undivided existence.

Such a chance in a life time is pretty rare as it goes here in North America, for it is more likely that too much mistrust and paranoia floods the minds of so many who have been raised in an atmosphere of 'original sin'. Rather than being taught of our 'original pure' nature from birth, we are told we are naturally bad. This conditioning pervades the western culture and is even believed on an unconscious  level by those who are not raised in an organized religion. As a result, the unfamiliar cultural practice of following a Guru who says, 'You are one with God' is looked upon with scrutiny and automatic resistance.

 Luckily, I was introduced to a method of self investigation by a woman living in California, USA who spoke about 'Awareness' as the non-dual experience of everyone in a simple, clear and accessible way for those not familiar with the terminology of the Eastern practices. Her words rang true in her plain talk about the nature of existence as 'Inseparable Awareness'. It created a greater openness  to look more to the perspectives of the East and the beautiful Advaita (non-dual) teachings that have been offered through the Masters and Guru's who are celebrated many thousands of years after their deaths.

Before going any further, I offer deepest Pranams (the highest acknowledgement of respect and reverence) to my Master who graciously provides his untiring service to the world by sharing his wisdom and guidance with those who 'have the ears to hear'. Mooji Baba Ki Jai!!!  Pranams and love as well to the ones who, through His grace, have extended his light to shine further still and to spread across the globe: my own beloved Father and Guru who is Anantaji and the other beautiful ambassadors of Moojiji's love; Rajeeji and Ramdasji. One sangha. One love. Thank you for such beautiful unselfish service to the world Beloved Ones.





Guru Purnima's roots, for Hindus, began as an homage to the birth of the holy immortal sage, Vyasa, who compiled the Vedas (Hindu scriptures) into four parts and is said to be an avatar of Vishnu, the Supreme God of Hindus. For Buddhists, it's origin is attributed to the day that Buddha gave his first 'satsang' to his earliest five disciples after his own awakening. Sikhs recognize Guru Nanak Jayanti as their first Guru of 10 and celebrate throughout the year on the specific birthday of each one. The Jains celebrate Kartik Purnima around the same time that Nanak Purnima is held, in November, and is the recognition of Rishabha Dev known as Lord Adinath.

In the religion I was raised in, Catholicism, the day celebrating Jesus' birth could be considered as the Christian Guru Purnima. However, unlike the day of Guru Purnima in the East, it is not  necessarily celebrated on the full moon. 'Purnima' is a Hindi word indicating a full moon day which is significant for Hindus as being an auspicious time when 'pooja' (worship through chanting, prayers and fasting) is offered to Lord Vishnu. Guru Purnima is a holy day which is not treated lightly or commercialized in any way, as the Christmas 'holiday' has become for Westerners. While there is much music (bhajans) and celebration, it is taken to be a true day of devotion, honoring those who give their lives to Truth so that others may know the peace of their own divinity as it is recognized in the Guru's reflection.

In my case (as explained in the previous blog), after 'loosing the way' I came to the feet of a Master who for me represents, in his teachings, all the great Masters of history and who's spirit is the embodiment of Light, Truth and Eternal Wisdom. Mooji Baba, as he has come to be known by thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world, follows no particular religion but expounds what each religion has as their essence; brotherly and sisterly love and a recognition of the God nature in each of us. He is a direct disciple of Sri Harilal Poonjaji (Papaji) who's lineage flows from Ramana Marharshi, the Saint of Arunachala. I see the Christ who I love, as my first Guru, in Mooji Baba's living presence. What a blessing it is to bow down to this holy sage as I might have done as a follower of Jesus if I had lived in the time of the Lord and to have the guidance of His teachings through his satsangs.

How can we, those who have been called to the Lotus Feet of a divine being such as Moojiji, give our thanks to these teachers of Love? There is only one way that will have any significance and meaning in the Master's eyes, for they look for no praise and desire no self recognition: 'BE THAT' which is repeatedly being pointed to and honor the Satguru's presence residing in the Heart of every Being on earth from the beginingless beginning. Be one with all life as Life.

"Be the one who's life is the evidence of Truth. You must become the proof that God exists"~ Mooji.

Beloved Master, thank you for all your kindness and compassion. Praise to You, most beloved, for the Grace you bestow upon all who come to you in humility and surrender. I love you.

Satguru Sri Moojiji Ki Jai! Sri Poonjaji Ki Jai! Sri Ramana Maharshi Ki Jai! Satguru Anantaji Ki Jai!

~ Shanti Mauna



Link for the Web page offering free video's, quotes, pictures and information about Mooji's shedule and retreats: http://mooji.org/

Jesus: The Guru of Galalee

At the age of six or seven, I was a follower of  Jesus and had no doubt that He was real and present in my young life and this presence was tangible and felt very deeply. This was not because I was indoctrinated into the Roman Catholic Church by my parents and told I MUST believe. It was because as soon as the stories, parables and teachings of Jesus were heard it was clearly known to be Truth. I did not have to understand the meaning or be able to quote any of his words as recounted by his disciples in the Bible. They spoke to an eternal being in this tiny young body that could resonate with the ancient words and teachings as if this knowledge had no age requirement. Neither could I get distracted by the dogma of the Catholic Church at such an innocent age. This came later and interrupted the pure transmission/reception of the beautiful message He conveyed and left as a legacy to all those who sought to know and associate (as in satsang) with the truth of their eternal being. I had so much joy and experienced states of rapture when kneeling down and praying the Lord's Prayer 'Our Father' in church. My little heart was filled with His Grace. The church was a place of love and peace which, when I entered, I could truly feel as the sacred presence of God.

But, I suppose due to childhood traumas and probably somewhat to the soul's lack of faith, I lost this sense of being the innocent child of God and became a scared little girl who was at times comforted by the soothing love of this Presence which, in very pitiful and desperate times, still came to assure me that I was going to be okay. I was very vulnerable and exposed to a lot of turmoil in familial circumstances. As I grew physically and matured into a young woman I was, none the less, stunted in spiritual growth. Still carrying the grace of the touch of Jesus' love, however, I had much love to give. I was very compassionate and often reached out to those who were excluded or pushed aside. In my adolescence, my need for this 'lost' love was found in physical expressions of love and intimacy. As a result of this, there was a breech with the Church's doctrine and much of societies own beliefs. The pain and sadness spread from this misguided life to those who felt the responsibility and shame of the consequences that followed as a result of my misunderstandings and poor judgments. And the wish to overcome these transgressions, my own and those of others, began from about the age of 22.

Depression led me to therapists and it also led to the interest in psychology which I majored in in University, with a minor study in existential philosophy. (go figure!) I did not get great marks as I was not really interested in school but there seemed to be a reason to follow this route. This reason was pointed out by my Intro Psychology professor who said most people choose to study psychology to 'figure themselves out'.  Boyfriends, parties and hiding from life seemed to be the only apparent reason to be in school at the time but I scraped through and began working as a group home counselor and got a bit off track with material desire until I came to another crisis in relationship and moved to a small rural collage town where I found a lot of alternative therapies which were offered for sliding scale prices and then I 'talked' a lot, and imagined a lot and visualized a lot, etc., etc.. There were some nice new age healing practices with a spiritual flavor that came from these meetings and offered their doses of self-esteem and self-love which was helpful to the point that I could release some grievances in supportive and safe environments. Reiki was part of this picture also as I sought the invisible realms once again, knowing that reality was not just what could be seen and touched.

I returned to some Christian churches that I felt were more open minded and  liberal than the one I had been born into. This satisfied my soul in it's search for something greater than myself but there was a bias that could not be reconciled completely so this search took me in another direction but NOT away from the love of God. It brought me to look East and at the teachings of India which are even older than those of Jesus, and perhaps one's that had some bearing on the spiritual education of the young man from Galalee.

And gradually, with the seed planted long ago by the grace of  Lord Jesus, I began to open up once again to a love beyond understanding. The biggest motivation for this was becoming a mother. My own mother was a model of strength through very challenging times and taught me a lot about unconditional love. There had been a strong desire to be a mother for as long as I can remember. This may have come, in some strange way, from the same desire to be a nun when I was a little girl. I have a devotional nature, and the love needed to be directed to it's source one way or another. Anyway, that prayer was answered at the age of 33 and I have been devoted and dedicated to this role for the last 20 years. Passing on this legacy of Living Truth being shared by living Masters to my daughter has been the biggest reward of all. For, she sees that my happiness comes from this source and that nothing in life or death can alter this. Hopefully, an example she will follow.

In the spirit of  Christ, all has been and is forgiven both within and without. The sole purpose of this bit of background information is to say that the Satguru (the eternal living spirit within)  was always present in all my life's circumstances and where I am now in my Heart as a devotee has it's origins in my religious beginnings in the Western traditions of Christianity which was diverted due to, I guess you could say, the world's temptations or as they say in the Eastern Indian culture, Maya. Adolescence was my 'dark night of the soul'. But, today there is much light and grace. I may not be directly associated with the West's Guru of Galalee through the established church of his Gospel, but He has led me, I'm sure, to those living Guru's who impart to this modern world the much needed connection to our spiritual (God) Being.

Amen Amen Amen!

~ Shanti-Mauna