By The SRM Family extends beyond borders, with seekers across the globe awaiting Sri Guru’s presence all year long. On 11th June 2024, Sri Guru arrived at the San Francisco International Airport for this year’s US Dharma Yatra (spiritual drive), and was greeted by eyes brimming with tears and hearts overflowing with joy. The intensity of the US seekers’ connection was just a precursor of what was to follow.
Sessions to Master the Mind…
This year’s Dharma Yatra, named ‘The Light Tour,’ was held primarily at Four Points by Sheraton in Pleasanton, California. The program began with the inaugural session on ‘The Divine Leela’, in which Sri Guru shared the mystical principles of Creation, offering essential tools for living in harmony with the Cosmic Intelligence. The session revealed the nature of the “Game of Life” that we have been playing for years, without really understanding its rules. The sessions that followed addressed different aspects of this Game. How to develop a spiritual mindset? How can we control our emotions, and not be controlled by them? What are the essential beliefs for living a joyful life? How can we experience Love without the baggage of hurt and expectations? By providing practical solutions to these and many other questions, Sri Guru ensured that seekers were better equipped to handle the core challenges of life.
In a special session, ‘Fireside Chat with Sri Guru’, Parth Mehta Prabhu and Rakhi Talsania Prabhu acted as the seekers’ representatives to put forward some of their most pressing questions. This candid exchange addressed struggles at work, issues in relationships, and youth-specific challenges. But the most loved segment was where seekers received a masterclass on living, as Sri Guru shared wisdom from her own experiences of life.
…And Meditations to Master the Energies
While the evening sessions resolved the mind’s questions, the morning sessions quenched the soul’s thirst. Such was the intensity and depth of the seekers’ experiences during the guided meditations by Sri Guru. On 16th June, celebrated worldwide as Father’s Day, many first-time seekers also got a taste of Sri Guru’s meditative presence. SRM hosted ‘Master the Energies’, a live talk and meditation session with Sri Guru, at the San Ramon Community Center. Displaying the spirit of a father’s loving guidance, Sri Guru shared the four core ideas of spirituality, and explained how SRM’s practices and philosophy connect them. An intense silence followed the talk, as participants embarked on a deep 40-minute meditation. This immersive experience solidified their understanding of the spiritual journey and offered a glimpse of the destination – their inner reservoir of joy and peace.
Soul Sparking Activities
Talks and meditations were not the only way that Sri Guru sparked everyone’s soul, as there were different activities planned throughout the retreat to let seekers dive within. Introspective worksheets on SRM’s weekly blog ‘Soul Spark’ encouraged deep reflection. Creative games like “Who am I?” riddles and word ladder puzzles added a playful twist to spiritual learning, boosting the seekers’ “SQ” (spiritual quotient).
On the first Saturday of the retreat, seekers headed to Lake Chabot for ‘A Day Out With Sri Guru’. But this wasn’t your average picnic. Infused with spiritual principles, it included many engaging outdoor and indoor games focused on awareness, acceptance, and giving – whether it was the playful relay race, the classic game of pictionary, or identifying the correct Bhakti from the English translated lyrics. It was a beautiful way for seekers to experience the Nirdosh Sukh (pure joy) that is the essence of SRM’s path..!
A Historic Finale
The final day of the program at Four Points in Pleasanton culminated in the Samuhik Sthapna celebrations, marking the first group consecration in SRM’s history. The ceremony of Sthapana instils surrender to the Guru and the path, signifying a disciple’s readiness to embark on the journey towards Oneness. Bathed in the Divine Mother’s Grace, Sri Guru blessed eight seekers and their families with energised deities, each representing one of the four pillars of SRM (Prem, Seva, Sanyam, Sadhana). There was a deluge of devotional and exuberant energies, making it a truly unforgettable evening, one that marked a momentous step in the blessed seekers’ spiritual journeys.
The Light Shines On
After the epic conclusion of the program in Pleasanton, a core group of seekers accompanied Sri Guru to Yosemite National Park. Nestled in Mother Nature’s lap, the seekers were blessed to spend 3 days of spiritual solitude drenched in the purest vibes of Mother Guru. This included a 2 hour Bhakti session at a serene spot overlooking Yosemite’s famous Half Dome. On the way back to San Francisco, the group visited the Jain Center of Sacramento, which had cordially invited Sri Guru to inaugurate their new Bhaktamar Temple. After the Temple Sthapana ceremony, Sri Guru gave a Satsang which explained the spiritual interpretation of the opening verse of Shri Bhaktamar Stotra, and underscored how the spiritual journey can become seamless under the guidance of a Guru.
Compared to recent years, this might have been a shorter US Dharma Yatra, but the constant stream of Love emanating from the Master meant that it was her most intense rendezvous with the US and Canada seekers yet. It seemed as if the tour was over in the blink of an eye, and Sri Guru returned to the East. But the prateeti (feeling) of her Love and presence continues to light the path and warm the hearts in the West.
Koti-koti Pranam Sri Guru. I can’t express my emotions in words, but I feel good and try my best efforts to live on the path shown by You. Pranam.