The arrival of Nutan Swamiji on 7th March saw the CIRD Delhi garden in full Spring bloom and the Delhi atmosphere unusually clean and bright. The Sādhanā śibiram commenced with 2-days of vibrant Satsang on 10th & 11th. In addition to Q&A, participants had the opportunity to offer flowers at Poojya Swamiji’s photograph and also hear about the Dakshinkhanda Pilgrimage and other Ashram news.
Enlightened Living Residential Retreat (March 15th - 25th)
For the 2nd EL Retreat held in CIRD Delhi, participants came from USA, Singapore, Andhra Pradesh, Kolkata, Kerala and Delhi - an eclectic group from different walks of life. Some were taking their initial steps in the spiritual path and had come with a fresh and open mind, while others were already exposed and wished to deepen and intensify their Sādhanā.
The day began with morning prayer and hearing Poojya Swamiji’s ‘Prabhāta Raśmiḥ – morning rays’ message (recorded) on key aspects of sādhanā. This early morning message echoed in our minds during breakfast, preparing us for the first morning session – Nutan Swamiji’s profound and elevating discourses on Kaṭhopanishad. The Upanishad classes, which were open to all, found regulars from Vasundhara and Delhi joining the Retreat participants every day. In and through each verse of the text, Swamiji stressed the importance of purification of one’s being to live a peaceful enriching life as well as to progress in spiritual path. Even the most profound philosophical concepts became comprehensible and applicable.
Then the retreat participants regrouped for an introspection session wherein they wrote replies to specific introspection questions given by Nutan Swamiji. This introspection was a great sādhanā revealing to the participants how much they had actually grasped from the Kaṭhopanishad talk. It helped them to connect everything they had heard to their own sādhanā and personality. The focus of the afternoon sessions was on ‘Sādhanā-chatuṣṭayam’ - the four-fold pursuit: Viveka, Vairāgya, śamadamādi-ṣhaṭka-sampattiḥ and mumukṣā. After hearing Poojya Swamiji’s brief message (recorded) on each of the qualities to be pursued and developed, the group then discussed the points with examples from their own life and sādhanā. Brni. Namrata Swaroopa shared many examples from life and pursuit in Guru-sannidhi.
In the after dinner sessions for the retreat participants, Nutan Swamiji clarified various concepts and subtle aspects of sādhanā. We felt extremely fortunate that on some of the days, he discussed the rarer and more subtle aspects of Sādhanā- chatuṣṭayam in great detail, removing once and for all, our doubts and confusion. To help us retain this valuable knowledge, Swamiji distributed Jñāna-prasāda – a detailed note on ‘Sādhanā-chatuṣṭayam’ which would help us cultivate these essential qualities through daily interactions.
Having embarked on this journey of discovering oneself, the participants became a close knit group sharing their thoughts naturally and without any inhibition. Some shared, “It was a turning point in life for me”; others felt, “I have understood why my sādhanā is not progressing as it should”… “I have picked up those points that will make my sādhanā stronger”’ ... “I did have some major insights into my past. I could understand where I went wrong and how I could correct myself.” In fact, all the sessions together made the two weeks an intense search within.
Program for other devotees during the retreat period
Parallel to the retreat sessions, videos of Hindi discourses by Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Mā were screened in the Satsang Hall for visiting and residential devotees at 10.30 AM, 4.30 PM and 8.45 PM.
With Nutan Swamiji’s arrival in CIRD, neighbourhood devotees started assembling daily for Satsang, after the evening prayers. During the retreat, this practice continued albeit as a shorter but very vibrant session, in which Swamiji answered questions and clarified long standing doubts. After explaining that placidity of the mind is the real Prasāda, Nutan Swamiji would also distribute sweet prasāda to devotees.
Vedanta Workshop
Vedanta workshop titled ‘Be Master of Yourself’ was conducted by Nutan Swamiji on 30th and 31st March. Around 40 participants spanning different ages attended, with a few coming from Mumbai and Rajasthan to avail this opportunity.
On the first day Nutan Swamiji explained how we become slaves to external situations: We become affected by worldly events and lose our self-seatedness. The pursuit, Swamiji explained, was to understand the root cause of delusion and win over the slavery through knowledge. On the second day, enumerating on ‘Bhagavad Gita Yoga’, Swamiji showed how the expectation of becoming happy by gaining something from the external world deludes us throughout our life. Swamiji showed the direct, practical ways to attain mastery over the mind.
Participants felt: “I gained deeper insights into my own psychology and the way the mind works”... “got clarity on spirituality and its application in day-to-day life”… “understood that it is a continuous journey of search, discovery, and discipline.”
Nutan Swamiji’s thought-provoking talks were followed by ‘individual reflection’ session guided by questions given by Swamiji. After a short break, the participants got an opportunity to clarify their doubts directly with Swamiji. Many participants felt benefitted by this guided introspection: “The introspection exercise helped me to focus on the very subtle clinging and cravings of the mind. Often one tends to overlook these subtle thoughts, which are important if one has to make an effort to have an inner transformation ...” I need to dwell on my mind to identify the constrictions and work on removing them.”
Nutan Swamiji had emphasized the essential role of chanting with bhāva (emotional connectivity) in the life of a seeker. After lunch there was a śloka chanting and learning session, which the participants found very useful.
During the last session of the day, Nutan Swamiji addressed the questions raised by participants during introspection and other sessions. The participants shared: “discovered my strength to use viveka and walk on the path of righteousness” … “got inspired to live a complete life being a part of the world, yet minimally affected by it.”
At the conclusion of the workshop, each participant received comprehensive hand-out on S¡dhan¡ as Jñāna-prasāda. Some feelingfully shared that they “...felt this workshop was very short – didn’t come to know how two days had passed”, and suggested that we “could make it a bit longer.”
Nutan Swamiji’s health was a cause of some concern for the devotees of Delhi. Not wanting to disappoint devotees, Swamiji unfailingly had daily Satsang despite multiple sessions on Retreat and Workshop days.
Other Programmes
Anna-vastra Dāna Satram (March 25). Planning for the Dāna Satram and rice packing started much in advance by the joyful volunteers. On the day of the Satram devotees from Delhi, Vasundhara as well as our CHC children assembled for preparations. The whole program was conducted in a sublime and peaceful manner, to the satisfaction and enrichment of all. Around 1,050 under-privileged families from the neighbouring slums received each three kilograms of rice, a bedsheet and sweet prasāda.
Interaction with CHC students
The students of the Cultural Heritage class are always eager to spend time with Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Mā. This time too, they had made various preparations in anticipation of meeting Nutan Swamiji. They made many greeting cards, carefully placed them in a bright pink box, and with faces beaming with pride and love, showed them to Nutan Swamiji.
Apart from their usual group performance, a little boy chanted some ślokas and two girls presented a Krishna-Radha dance. After offering their praṇāms all children received fruit and chocolate prasāda and partook of special Bhakti Bhojan. The children also participated very actively in conducting the Anna-vastra Dāna Satram, joyfully packing halwa-pras¡da, helping reach rice packets and bed-sheets to the distribution table.
Singing is one way to directly communicate with the Lord in us. The presence of Nutan Swamiji inspired many singing sessions. These sittings were a source of great joy and cheer. When devotees came to know that Rahul, a workshop participant from Mumbai, was a trained singer, they immediately planned a Bhajan-sandhyā. Rahul sang beautiful devotional bhajans holding everyone spellbound.
This was followed by group singing with everyone singing devotional bhajans together. It was simply a flow of joy. A regular feature in CIRD-Delhi is ‘bhajan-kīrtan’ session on the second Friday of every month where women devotees from Vasundhara joyfully participate in bhajan singing. A few of them have grown affinity for CIRD. They offered their sevā to serve in the Anna-kshetra.
Return to Narayanashrama Tapovanam
Having inspired and motivated the Delhi devotees to intensify their sādhanā, Nutan Swamiji left for the Ashram on 1st April. By means of discourses, satsangs, open sharing of various examples and anecdotes from his own life, Swamiji has clearly shown all of us how to proceed on in this glorious path. Now it is left to each of us to introspect and follow.
Jai Guru!
