During their recent visit to India, sanyasinis from Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) gave a special Satsanga at YSS Noida Ashram on Sunday, January 28, 2018 in which about 1000 devotees attended.
SANYASINIS RECEIVE WARM WELCOME AT NOIDA AHSRAM
The sanyasinis from SRF – Preeti Mai, Draupadi Mai, Seva Mai and Brahmacharini Darshana ji – arrived at YSS Noida Ashram in the morning of January 28 and were given a traditional welcome with garlanding, blowing of conch shells and floral tributes.
Moving ahead they were greeted with rose petals by YSS/SRF monastics Swami Vishwananda ji, Swami Lalitananda ji, Swami Sadananda ji, Brahmachari Sheelananda ji, Brahmachari Vinayananda ji and Brahmachari Bhaskarananda ji. Nearly two hundred devotees who had queued up on either side of the passage leading up to the Ashram main building showered the sanyasinis with rose petals offering their pranams and greetings. Many of these devotees had arrived ahead of this programme to stay in the Ashram in order to witness the blessed presence of SRF sanyasinis.
Lady devotees led the sanyasinis to the Dhyan Mandir in the basement to offer pranams at the Altar, ahead of the programme in the Pandal.
The highlight of the sanyasinis’ visit to YSS Noida Ashram was a special satsanga where Preeti Mai and Draupadi Mai shared their experiences and inspirations with the devotees of their beloved Gurudeva, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda. They were presented with bouquets by Ashram sewaks.
A beautifully-decorated auditorium awaited the devotees and guests where Swami Lalitananda ji introduced Preeti Mai ahead of the satsanga in these words:
“Preeti Mai has been a sanyasini of SRF for several decades. She presently resides at the SRF International Headquarters, Mother Center. She served for many years as a personal assistant to the late SRF/YSS President, Sri Sri Daya Mata, and later as a personal assistant to the late SRF/YSS President Sri Sri Mrinalini Mata. Preeti Mai serves as a member of the SRF Board of Directors, and also serves as one of the YSS Board of Directors. She had a long and deep desire to visit Gurudeva's spiritual India which has got fulfilled now.”
SATSANGA BY PREETI MAI
Preeti Mai began her satsanga by saying that coming to India was a desire she had had for a long time which got fulfilled in this visit. Further, she shared that she had always wanted to attend a prabhat feri here – which she was also blessed to do in YSS Dakshineswar Ashram where all the four SRF sanyasinis carried the palanquin with Guruji’s picture on Janmotsav.
Disclosing to the audience of devotees that Daya Mataji was the single greatest influence on her life, Preeti Mai recalled the connection that our former SRF/YSS President and Sanghamata felt with India – “From the age of 10 years, when Daya Ma read about India, she told her mother that when she grows up, she will not marry, but will go to India.” Daya Ma – who had made six visits to India – also used to share with Preeti Mai stories about Gurudeva’s motherland.
Describing Daya Ma as the embodiment of unconditional love, understanding and generosity, and “the personification of Divine Mother,” Preeti Mai said she relied on this quote from Ma whenever she was faced with difficulties: “Why are the saints, saints? Because they are cheerful when it is difficult to be cheerful, patient when it is difficult to be patient, and because they push on when they want to stand still, and keep silent when they want to talk, and be agreeable when they want to be disagreeable.”
Daya Ma used to say that even at the age of 95, she was “still learning something every day.”
Whenever she assigned a difficult task to Preeti Mai, Daya Ma would add, “I have full faith in you,” a statement that reflected her motherly love towards others. Daya Ma would say, “in the ultimate sense, only love changes others,” reiterating the importance of being in tune with God all the time.
Recalling the time she had attended a satsanga by Daya Mataji in the 1970s during a Convocation at Hotel Biltmore (USA), Preeti Mai said she had felt an urge that if only she could touch the helm of Ma’s dress, she would be changed. Her position in the hall was in the rear middle. She made an effort and by making her way through all the people, managed to reach near Daya Ma and touched the helm of her cloth. And true to her conviction, this incident changed the life of Preeti Mai, she said.
Disclosing more about our beloved Daya Mataji, Preeti Mai shared an anecdote from her days with Ma who had a love for nature: “She used to watch butterflies. They once brought a caterpillar to watch its transformation into a butterfly. When the butterfly was formed and held on to Ma’s finger, Ma let it fly away from the window saying ‘Fly away little butterfly, have a nice life’. ”
Preeti Mai said Daya Mataji expressed humility in her life, and sycophancy would not touch her: “She would say, ‘the greatest gift you can give to me is to do your best for the Divine Mother’. ”
Inspiring devotees with the memories of her years spent working with Daya Mataji, Preeti Mai said: “Ma would commune with Guruji and often say to him, ‘not what I want, this is your show; tell me what you want to do’. ”
During her satsanga, the vibrations of love, peace and humility were palpable. The audience was immersed in the discourse and her message touched the hearts of all present.
SATSANGA BY DRAUPADI MAI
Following her satsanga, Swami Lalitananda ji thanked Preeti Mai, and introduced Draupadi Mai in the following words:
“Draupadi Mai has been a sanyasini for several decades. She also presently resides at the SRF international headquarters. She had decades’ long association with YSS assisting Sri Sri Mrinalini Mata in the area of YSS books and publications. Her pilgrimage to India fulfills a long desire to visit the places associated with our line of Gurus.”
Speaking of Mrinalini Mataji, Draupadi Mai said that she was told by Ma that meditation is the foundation stone of one’s spiritual life: “This should manifest as kindness to others and as service to others.” Patanjali’s yoga sutras help in the transformation of ego to the divine self.
What we experience in meditation should be subsequently translated into activity, said Draupadi Mai, quoting from the Bible: ‘Thy Kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth as in Heaven’.
“Sri Sri Mrinalini Mata taught us to ask ourselves: ‘are we doing our part in bringing the Kingdom of God?’ She also referred to the Bhagavad Gita and fighting the righteous battle. When we improve, we automatically help others change. Lord Krishna was asked as to how his armies always won. Lord Krishna said ‘my soldiers are all like me. Like my devotees, all become like me’. Guruji said, where there is Krishna, there is victory.”
Draupadi Mai also referred to the 26 sattvic qualities mentioned in Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita: faith, fearlessness, truthfulness, freedom from anger and pride, forgiveness, consideration towards all, modesty etc. She referred to a story where Lahiri Mahasaya ji gave Kriya Diksha to a struggling devotee who was not known to be a good person – to the surprise of many others. Lahiri Mahsaya ji was helping this person to come out of his bad habits. Hence, it is important not to judge others. Speaking of devotees working together in ashrams, she said “our friendship is so deep that we will go to the end of the world to help each other,” adding that “the ego is the main hurdle and it should be spiritualized till it becomes Spirit.”
In conclusion, she said that we should live our life in such a way that if anything bad is said about us, nobody would believe it.
In the end, Swami Vishwanandaji briefly addressed the devotees and did the healing technique in which all the devotees participated. Thereafter, Swamiji ended the session with a closing prayer.
The satsangas lasted a little over an hour during which both Preeti Mai and Draupadi Mai found a keen audience in the attendees. Many of the devotees shared later that they were spiritually uplifted and inspired by the sanyasinis’ discourses.
BHAJANS, PRASAD AND GURU LANGAR
At the close of the programme, soulful bhajans were rendered by Brahmachari Bhaskarananda ji. Devotees received prasad from the sanyasis and sanyasinis while the bhajans were going on, and proceeded to partake of the Guru Langar in the dining area designated for the programme. Sanyasis and sanyasinis also visited this dining area to get an experience of this auspicious gathering.
TOUR OF ASHRAM PREMISES
Visiting sanyasinis were shown around all the areas of the Ashram by Sw Lalitanandaji accompanied by Sw Vishwanandaji and the coordinators of the various departments of the Ashram. sanyasinis showed keen interest in the different areas like Books Godown, Book Room, Kitchen, Ladies and Gents Retreat Blocks, Garden, Landscaping and the future expansion plans of the Ashram.
The sanyasinis returned back after spending about 8 hours in Noida Ashram. All the residents of Noida Ashram are deeply thankful to them for finding so much time to spend here. The sanyasinis also expressed their deep appreciation of the arrangements, ambience of the ashram and the attitude of service and devotion of all.
