Summer Camp 2014 - Update

Sadhana Sangama: Summer Camp 2014

This time around 40 people have come for the Summer Camp 2014 on Sadhana Panchaka. The Sadhana Parivara arrived in the Ashram around 6.45 pm on the 18^th. The pleasant weather welcomed the Sadhana Parivara with cool breeze which was rejuvenating. The mood was set to receive the Grace from the Parampara. Gurudev sent out a message to all to assemble at the Dining Hall at 7.30 pm for the inaugural session. Promptly, with all excitement, the Sadhana Parivara assembled at the appointed time in the Dining Hall.

Sadhana Sangama: Summer Camp 2014

Gurudev originally planned to address the Sadhana Parivara briefly and then give them the day’s schedule from 19^th onwards. But what flowed through him was something that had taken even Gurudev by surprise. Rishis, out of great compassion, decided to bless the humanity with an easy yet practical and result-driven approach through this lecture and thus flowed the concept ‘LANGUAGE’. This spark was ignited in Gurudev by the Rishis and Gurudev continued for more than an hour with enthusiasm and joy. It was really heartening to see Gurudev with such dynamism and brightness, after he underwent a bad batch in his physical health till very recently.

Sadhana Sangama: Summer Camp 2014

Gurudev directly hit the point right from the start emphasizing the impending need to start observing our ‘LANGUAGE’.  Guruji was very clear that when he says ‘LANGUAGE’ it was not the mother tongue or the common language that we speak to communicate with each other. By ‘LANGUAGE’ Gurudev was referring to that which guides and controls our speech and behaviour. That is the ‘LANGUAGE’ of which we have to become aware of and make course correction, Gurudev opined.

After explaining what is that ‘LANGUAGE’, Gurudev went on to share the need to observe and then to correct our ‘LANGUAGE’. He gave many examples to make the Sadhana Parivara understand this point so that all can start practicing. Gurudev was unambiguous when he said that meditation, mantra, etc., all will become redundant and will wither away eventually when we connect with the ‘LANGUAGE’ within. He gave a beautiful example to explain this point.

Sadhana Sangama: Summer Camp 2014

He said, “Suppose, you want to reach one of your friend’s house to meet him. You are going to his house for the first time and you don’t know the way. You set out to reach his home. You start asking people the way. Every one guides you in their own way. You listen to all of them with attention and just follow the way that they suggest with diligence. At this point, if you meet your friend himself on the way, you forget about all those people who were guiding you and run straight towards your friend. Your search ends; you have found your friend. Everything else drops. You are with your friend.”

Gurudev said, in the same way, when you touch THAT LANGUAGE within you, all your search and effort ends. In the absence of effort what works is SANKALPA. At this point GURUDEV gave a wonderful meaning to SANKALPA. Gurudev said, “SANKALPA is nothing but the convergence of all energies at one point.” Gurudev was stitching together the message of Rishis beautifully in that Gurudev conceived and presented that LANGUAGE has to culminate in SANKALPA.

With an illustration, he explained this point beautifully. He said:

“We eat food three times, four times, five times, etc., since we are born till we die. We have made it a business to eat, without questioning or altering, yet we relish this routine because we introduce something new, some variety. In the same way, can we develop and sustain the business of the LANGUAGE and routinely observing and correcting the LANGUAGE yet start seeing something new every time in the same old business? If you can understand this, achieve this, take it from me you will attain Brahma Jnana.”

With this message, the Sadhana Parivara dispersed for Yogasana Session after which hot and tasty Pongal was served in breakfast. The previous night dinner satiated the taste buds in which we had hot and tasty rasam with rice, with ladyfinger curry and buttermilk.

The Inaugural Session also became an occasion in which Kum. Shruti celebrated her birthday with the entire Sadhana Parivara and took blessings from Gurudev. She travelled all the way from Mumabi with her parents only to take blessings from Gurudev on her birthday and to be with the Sadhana Parivara. She turned 13 on 18^th May, 2014.

Sadhana Sangama: Summer Camp 2014

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