Present Status of 

             "Satyam Sharanam"

(To know more about founding of SATYAM SHARAM, kindly go to Oct. 2008 posts under "Older Posts" link or just click 2008(2) on right panel of this post)   

  I did not post anything about the project of Satyam Sharanam for several months. Time was passing but with blessings of Paramhansji, the project has now taken some shape. We tried a lot to associate several organisations to take over this building and run some charity work, but could not succeed. 

      Ultimately Dr.(Mrs.) Indu Singh a well known Gyneocologist of Varanasi came forward. She has a long reputation of running Surya Meditech, G.V. Meditech and also she is Director of Apollo Hospital at Varanasi. She was kind enough to start a small hospital in our building. Due to space restrictions, till now only OPD is started with two qualified physicians and allied staff available daily. The medical consultation for which local people had to travel 35 km to reach Varanasi and pay a fee of Rs. 200/- to 400/- is available at a nominal fee of Rs.50/only that too at their door step. 

      Due to sudden cancellation of NRHM(National Rural Health Mission) cards of BPL population in this area, the targetted work of this hospital is not in full swing, but likely to start in near future with issuence of new cards ro really deserving poor masses.

 Dr. Indu Singh is associated with several Indian and foreign based NGOs who are doing a lot of charity work worldwide and we hope in a couple of years, Satyam Sharanam shall provide a lot of reliefe  to local poor population. 

CAN YOU CONQUER DEATH ?

  Yes. Even though  death is the only thing in this world which is a real truth, which  cannot be stopped from arriving in spite of closed gates and changed address, which you cannot evade, which you cannot refuse to take delivery of, yet most of us are afraid of and are not prepared to welcome death. We think that we have drunk a bucketful of Amrita (the nectar), we will not die so early and finish this and that item of household responsibility within our life time. These are the things cooking inside of almost all of us. (These lines are addressed to my age-group i.e. senior citizens.)

    We have a long wish list for not only our spouse and children but their spouses and children and so on. We are worried for the  assets and wealth which we are physically unable to enjoy with, unaware of the five letter word which has started its journey and may arrive any day any moment without ringing the door bell, we welcome it or not.

As per our ancient Indian tradition, human life was divided in four spans (Ashrams) of 25 years each. We are passing through one of the last two spans i.e. Vanprastha and Sanyasa. My guru Swami Satyananda, (Munger/Rikhia) has very clearly defined these Ashrams in the present context. Vanprastha & Sanyasa Ashrams do not mean settlement in an isolated forest or total renunciation. Instead, keeping with present times, at this juncture of life we should start gradual detachment from our worldly responsibilities and start doing some Nishkam Seva (selfless service).

      If you are lucky to get guidance of some Sadguru (not only guru), he can guide you how to perform some Karma yoga, in the service of your vicinity and society. You might have realised by now that as you gain age and lose income, emotional bond of other family members with you, being practical, starts loosening. We know very well that there is gap of at least one generation between our time and this time, and we cannot change the things altogether to suit our views about the life, but still we try to impose our wishes and values on our juniors in family. We wish the same attitude and lifestyle of entire family as of our own. This is the root cause of conflict. This conflict aggravates not due to living together but due to our own dictatorial attitude.

   Under these circumstances the best way to pass the rest of the life peacefully is to develop “Sakshi Bhav” i.e. to see the happenings around us just like a witness, without physical or mental involvement. This is not as easy as to read or to listen but with a very simple practice of meditation or awareness on breathing this can be achieved.

          Sit comfortably in any sitting posture with eyes closed for say, fifteen minutes. Let yourself breathe in a very natural way without any extra effort. Just start counting inhalation and exhalation as one unit. Try to see the passing in and passing out of your breathe through your nostrils. Continue this practice as long as comfortable every morning and evening. This practice, done regularly at a fixed time  shall help developing Sakshi Bhav gradually.

      This is also an indirect way of realising and worshiping the Almighty, the Brahman. Breathing is confirmative test of existence of life i.e. Jeevatma, which is integral part of Brahman.  So if you meditate on breath, you meditate on Brahman, the God. The Sakshi Bhav shall make you watch the unpleasant happenings around you just like another episode of a TV serial which does not affect your mind and soul so much.

   In the Bhagwat Gita, Lord Krisna has said a lot about continuity of soul through one body to the another. If we have faith in Him, we should welcome death as an entry door to next birth and as an opportunity to lead a much better life in future. However, to minimise the negative impact of the vacuum likely to be created after your death, following points may be considered by all of us.

(1)Write down your ‘will’ as early as possible, preferably with consensus in the family and get it registered. If there are chances of dispute, do it secretly as you deem fit and hand it over to some trusted person. If some of your wards are not responsible by nature, you can form a Trust of your assets to ensure welfare of their children. Try to transfer maximum assets during your life time.

(2) Fill up the forms for donation of your eyes and other organs to govt. agency and make sure that after your demise your family honours it.

(3)Recheck the nomination status of your bank accounts, lockers, D-mat accounts etc. and if any ambiguity found, get it corrected.

(4)During journeys, always keep list of your relatives in the area you are passing through, with their contact details handy with your baggage and in the wallet.

(5)Always pray and thank God for giving such a nice human body for such a long time and assure Him about your resolve to help His other creatures and conservation of his creations in your next birth. 

These actions may lead to reduce the pain of death considerably for you and the family. This is in reality, conquering death! ------

B. L. Gupta

blguptaa@gmail.com

WANT TO SERVE RURAL POOR? YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Right since Mahasamadhi of Paramhansji, Rikhiapeeth is posting very timely satsangs everyday on www.rikhiapeeth.net. Today on Jan.4, 2010, there is a posting of satsang which has an appeal also, it is quite touching.
Blessed by Swami Satyananda Paramhans, “SATYAM SHARANAM” has done something in this village of district Mirzapur near Varanasi (INDIA). A letter was handed over to Swami Satsangiji on 15/10/09 at Rikhiapeeth, which is reproduced below. On 18/10/09, during introduction with Prana Vidya participants, Paramhansji told me that he was aware of the development of this institution. After this date, all of sudden, some medical professionals of Varanasi, under the banner of some U.S. based N.G.O. have approached and some foreigners have inspected this building and approved it for their desired purpose. Something positive is going to happen within a month or two. They have a plan to establish a small hospital for BPL families of nearby villages.
Before interaction withParamhansji, we had lost all hopes of survival of “Satyam Sharanam”. But blessings of Paramhansji and Satsangiji revitalized us and the aims and objectives of “Satyam Sharanam” are going to be fulfilled shortly. This is nothing but a miracle of blessings of Paramhansji. Namonarayana!

SWAMI

SATYANANDA PARAMHANS

A UNIQUE SAINT

Swami Styananda Paramhans was an unique saint of this age in many respects.
(1)About his humility and humbleness, I may give an instance of 1982. A day before Guru Purnima at Polo Ground Munger, a Pravachan on Ramcharit Manas (Ramayana) by an eminent Vyas was scheduled after evening satsang of Swamiji. Just after his satsang and before the start of the Ramayana session, Swamiji suddenly left the dais and came down and sat amongst the common audience on the ground over ordinary tarpaulin laid for them. Any persuasion to stay on the dais could not work.
(2)About his “Guru Hrina” (debt of the guru), throughout his spiritual life and till his last satsang and writings, he never missed to mention the name of Swami Sivananda, his guru. Every fifth minute of his satsang and every fifth line of his books, there is name of Swami Sivananda. One can see photographs of Swami Sivananda at all prominent places in Munger and Rikhia Ashrams. Who is the saint or mahatma in India or abroad who highlights the name and fame of his guru so much, even after so many years of his departure? In India we do not even know the names gurus of many top spiritual personalities of the present times.
(3) About the succession, he had handed over all his spiritual and administrative powers to his successors well within his life span, with the result that there is no vacuum or dispute about superiority and authority. He had even stopped giving diksha since many years. His physical appearance in public had become rare to rarer.
(4) About publicity and politics, he was always indifferent. He never desired hovering of politicians around him nor he encouraged the media for publicity of Ashrams or himself.
(5) About the management: any top management school of world can learn a lesson or two, from the Sivananda Math regarding the services rendered to the poor of Rikhia Panchayat.
He will remain a lighthouse for spiritual seekers and their mentors as well, for centuries to come.
(The above photograph was taken during his Darshan for "Prana Vidya" Course participants on 18th October, 2009)

-- B. L. Gupta,
Secretary,
“SATYAM SHARANAM”

Mob#09838918323

PRANA VIDYA SESSION AT RIKHIA PEETH
I am just back from Rikhiapeeth after doing Prana Vidya course (Oct.12 to 18). The experience was unique in many respect. The session was conducted by Swami Muktidharmananda, who is a modern day yogi and have lived with Paramhansa Satyanandaji, at Munger for 16 years. Swami Muktidharmananda now lives at Anahata Yoga Retreat in New Zealand, devoted to spreading message of ‘Satyananda Yoga’ in the western world. Swami Karma Karuna, also from N.Z. was throuout assisting the session as coordinator and as an able yoga teacher. Morning class was taken by her.
The seven day session was attended by more than 50 aspirants from all parts of world and faith. The women outnumbered men.

The day started with Asanas and Pranayams specific to Prana Vidya, which was followed by theory and practice in the next sessions..
We were taught, how through Prana Vidya practice, one can transfer his Prana from Mooladhar to Ajna, and the vice versa. It was emphatically told that this session was an introductory course only, and perfection shall need dedicated and continuous practice for a long period, may be the entire life time. The opportunity of Seva (Karma yoga), Keertan and participation in different Ashram activities like Rudrabhisheka , Geetapaath, Deepawali festival, were added advantage of this session. All Ashram activities were conducted by Kanyas and Batuks of Rikhia.
The joy of participants was at peak when they were informed that they will have darshan of Paramhansa Satyanandaji on Oct.18 morning and they were free to put any question before him spontaneously. They had the darshan of Paramhansaji, asked many questions, all satisfied, and ultimately no question to be asked.
I may or may not practice Prana Vidya back home, but this session left a changed attitude of my mind towards the life, which is now positive and only positive. And that was the only purpose of going there.
I have sent application and full fees for Kriya Yoga and Tatwashuddhi session being held in December next, have you too?
B. L. Gupta,
Secretary,
“Satyam Sharanam”
Village and post- ADALHAT.
Distt. Mirzapur (U.P.)- India
Pin- 231 302
E-mail; satyamashram@gmail.com

(To know more about ''SATYAM SHARANAM'' kindly go through previous blogs.)

'SATYAM SHARANAM' MAIN BUILDING

REGISTRATION WITH ALMIGHTY THROUGH RIKHIAPEETH/MUNGER

It was October-1981. I was posted as Assistant Engineer at Rajghat Dam Project at Lalitpur (U.P.). Sri O. P. Pradhan, a friend insisted me to go to BSY Munger to get rid of severe Diabetic condition of Sushila, my wife. By that time, I had no idea of yoga or spiritual life or guru-shishya relationship. We stayed in old Ashram for one full month. Sushila doing her Health management Course and I Joined 'Yoga Teachers Training Course (English)'.just to pass time. My class teacher was Swami Hridayanandaji of Ausrallian origin.Paramhansji blessed us daily through his satsang in the afternoon.
One day someone asked Paramhansji- "What is best form of Guru-Dakshina for you?- I was expecting that reply would be some huge donation or construction of a few rooms in the BSY.But Paramhansji quickly replied- “ Each of you, motivate six person to come to BSY, that will be the best form of Gurudakshina for me!” This reply was nailed in my mind somewhere.
Several chances of Mantradiksha had already passed but my previous 'sanskars' resisted us from receiving diksha. I had no idea of guru- shishya relationship. Every sanyasi at BSY appeared to me as just as another clean shaven sadhu, assembled there for a livelihood, waiting for the kitchen bell to ring. My state of mind at that time can be visualized by what I am going to write in the next paragraph.

-- We had a photo session and after group photography of TTC trainees, the willing singles and couples were to be clicked with Paramhansji. That time I was so ajnani (f00l) and ahankari (proudy) that myself and wife pulled folding chairs and sat on the either sides of Paramhansji, without realizing that our place was at his feet on the ground.( Now whenever I look at this photo, my head bows down in shameful regret.)-

.But may be, it was a form of ‘shaktipaat’ or something else, after sitting for a photograph, close to Paramhansji, immense desire for receiving diksha rose in our mind and the date was fixed on our repeated request. After a small conversation and mantradiksha by Paramhansji, our life had changed.
During rest of our stay at Ashram, I and my wife had several unique experiences which can not be given words. After return from Munger we were entirely changed persons in the eyes of all others. Dibetese of Sushila had vanished. Asanas and pranayam had taken permanent place in our routine besides daily guruvandna with family. Drink, non-veg. food and smoking vanished in a single stroke (though Paramhansji never insisted anybody to do so) My children also attended Children Yoga Course at Ganga Darshan during summer vacation of 1983 and 1984.
Since 1981 we have visited Munger and Rikhiapeeth several times. As per order during satsang, We have motivate and sent a large number of persons to Munger and Rikhiapeeth for several purposes. A no. of yoga camps were organized and conducted by wandering sanyasis of Munger origin
After retirement from govt. service, and living in the rural home place, I am able to understand the real gross root problems of my neighbors. In the previous blog the purpose of establishing ‘Satyam Sharanam’ is mentioned in brief. With the help of some disciples and bhaktas of Munger and Rikhiapeeth, we are trying to help the downtrodden class of society.
It is a bare fact that none of the political systems can solve the problems of poorest class. Only educated, awakened and people well-off can do something.
Under the guidance of Paramhansji, Swami Niranjanandji, and swami Satsangiji. A large number of such followers and bhaktas are rendering selfless service to needy people without craze for publicity or political gain.
Is it not a real chamatkar (miracle)? which may not attract namaskar (salute) of common man but is being registered by Almighty sitting at the top of universe, though present everywhere, 7 x 24.
Namonarayana!!