One whole year I was waiting for this week. As I was approaching Kamalshile I was happy to recognize the known landmarks of the place. Something inside was getting more happy as I was going close to the Brhmi DurgaParmeshwari Temple. Many known familar faces and many new were welcoming me when I reached the temple. It was like a family reunion.
I look back in the past events and wonder if it really happened to me. Its been 1.5 years from the day my life started transforming. And now everyday is so fresh, it brings something new everyday. This year I was blessed again to attend the Guru Purnima with Chayanna at Kamalshile. The Art Of Silence course in his presence was a very different experience than the previous year. The meditations were just happening. My daily practice of Yogasanas and pranayam helped me to sit longer in Purna Padmasana and helped me attain a higher bliss during the course.
Chayanna’s knowledge sessions were amazing as always. Yet something takes a strong pinch. He was explaing what would be the best thing to ask your God, it would be Dispassion. Pleasure always comes with its side effect of sadness. The pleasure that comes from senses is momentary. It wont last long. But the bliss is eternal. To enjoy this bliss, one should experience the beauty of dispassion.
This time I was always witnessing the relaxing music of river. That background music was very pleasing during meditations and when I was in my bed. During the nature walk when Raghu Anna took our group on the waterfall, the scene was beautiful. The fall was in its full power. Nobody dared this time to get inside except two heros. I was sitting long time on the bank watching the water current. I remember the divine words from Guruji who look at the flowing river as life. The river is same for thousands of years yet the water is always fresh. I was finding my life like that waterfall, it was flowing, so many events, good and bad I have seen and so many to come and go. I will go through all. There is no point holding on to those events.
This Gurupurnima, after the Yagya was done we took our seats for lunch. As a custom the Brahmins (Pujari) who does the Yagya rituals are offered the lunch first and we (the sadhaks) follow them. We were watching Chayanna going to all of them and serving food. We were extreme lucky that our beloved Swami Suryapada himself came to us and served us the sweets. My throat chocked with gratitude and happiness. To excel it, he again came to each of us during the evening satsang and showered flowers on us with his blessings.
After completing the course we went to visit Sri Krishna Temple at Udipi. The Krishna Matha was founded by the Vaishnavite saint Shri Madhwacharya in the 13th century. He was the founder of the Dvaita school of Vedanta. It is believed that Madhwacharya found the idol of SriKrishna in a large ball of gopichandana.
Once Kanakadasa, a pious worshiper and devotee of Lord Krishna, was not allowed entry into the temple. It didn’t upset him; instead it made him pray with intense devotion.Lord Krishna was so pleased that the statue turned back to where Kanakadasa was praying, and the wall before Kanakadasa broke up to allow the disciple to gaze upon his heavenly form at the back of the mutt (monastery). Because it was the mutt & Sri Madhwacharya told in his TANTRASARA SANGRAHA that Idol can be placed Pashimabhimukha. What About the idols in other Ashta mutts where all are facing Western side.Till today, devotees still worship Lord Krishna by praying through the same window where kanakadasa was seeing the offerings/Pooja from outside.It is known as Kanakanakhindi.
That week was different, so many things were happening, yet nothing. Mind was settled yet some emotions used to pop up. However nothing was bothering. I was always with the contend feeling. I am feeling more complete when I am back. As if, something was pending and it is done now. Started my journey back in the world hoping to implement the new lessons I learnt, waved off Udipi to see again next year GuruPurnima.