Candle Light in the Grotto
Om Sairam blessed Bhaktas of the Lord of the Universe
Swami, Swami, Swami I am holding Your name a precious gem
in the secret purse of my heart.
Brilliant Love, light blazes wherever You go.
I am madly, deliriously, wildly on fire.
There is a peaceful, sweet little church not far from the art gallery where I exhibit my paintings.
Today, I decided to stop by and light a candle for my grandsons, niece and those who need healing.
As walked through the sacred doors, the loving vibrations of Our Lady of Lourdes church wafted through the atmosphere. I lit a blue candle and allowed my prayers to float heavenward to Mother Mary's holy ears. I bowed and knelt in Her grotto. As my knees touched the oak wood red cushioned kneeler, I wondered how many people had knelt before the blessed virgin, felt like thousands. I gazed up at the benevolent porcelain face of Mother Mary. Her eyes seemed to burn through my Soul, a luminous candle in the grotto. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the powerful energy pulling me through a mystical portal. Visions of the holy Mother flooded my field of consciousness. I clearly saw her moving about administering loving attention to the devotees. Then, She turned towards me and poured an elixir into a chalice and gave it to me. Afterwards, I saw Swami's divine feet walking towards me. How utterly heavenly.
I was in such a high state of bliss I felt as if my feet were literally not touching the earth,
as I left this special place in Melbourne, Florida. Later on I had lunch at an Asian Buffet, I was tickled to receive this fortune cookie quote:
"Its always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness"
The beautiful leelas continued through the evening. I picked up my daughter Kendra and we sped off to bhajans at the Sai Center in Palm Bay. Although there was a small group of about 11 devotees, we sang our hearts out. Towards the end of the bhajans I perceived fabulous visions of our Lord Sai Baba. At one point He held His hand up in a funny way, only His index finger and pinky finger pointing outward, similar to a mudra that Rama Krishna sometimes portrayed. I saw Him examining a book and flipping through its pages. He then also poured some sort of elixir into a chalice and offered it. As I came out of this mystical state I asked Bhaskar what this mudra symbolized and he said, "control of the mind." Well I said to myself that makes sense. My mind does need to be reined in.
When I arrived home I decided check a little further on this mudra. I found out it is also called
the deer mudra or Mrigi mudra. And it is used with pranayama breathing techniques.
This is very exciting because I have been practicing a pranayam breathing technique which Swami recommends in His book, Sadhana the Inward Path:
"Like metals purified over fire in The Crucible, the slag of Karma is removed by Pranayama and the mind is freed from contamination. This and Kayasuddhi are both rendered pure. There are two types of Pranayama the one with mantra and the other without it. Without mantra, it can as best transform the body only, but with mantra it transforms the mind also.
How are we to practice it?
2 seconds long, Purakam(inhalation)
4 seconds long Rechakam (exhalation), 8 seconds long Kumbhakam (absence of breathing). In this series Pranayama has to be practiced carefully for 3 months later the duration can be doubled. When 6 months is spent in this steady practice, the activities of the senses are laid low. If practiced with faith and feeling, Pranayama will tame the agitations of the Mind, otherwise, it becomes mere physical exercise, improving just physical health. Pure food, brahmacharya,
Living in solitude, moderate speech, these conditions to have to be strictly observed." -Sadhana the Inward Path, P. 96
I use Oms for the breaths. Inhale 2 Oms, exhale 4 Oms, pause, no breath, 8 Oms. I do 9 rounds, my mind is so calm, I am able to sit easily for Jyoti light meditation.
I think beloved Swami wants me to include this mudra with the pranayama practice I am currently doing.
Swami , Swami, Swami, I've searched high and low, there is no place where You are not!
Link to deer mudra:
www.yogaasan.com/mrigi-mudra-deer-seal/
Swami, Swami, Swami I am holding Your name a precious gem
in the secret purse of my heart.
Brilliant Love, light blazes wherever You go.
I am madly, deliriously, wildly on fire.
There is a peaceful, sweet little church not far from the art gallery where I exhibit my paintings.
Today, I decided to stop by and light a candle for my grandsons, niece and those who need healing.
As walked through the sacred doors, the loving vibrations of Our Lady of Lourdes church wafted through the atmosphere. I lit a blue candle and allowed my prayers to float heavenward to Mother Mary's holy ears. I bowed and knelt in Her grotto. As my knees touched the oak wood red cushioned kneeler, I wondered how many people had knelt before the blessed virgin, felt like thousands. I gazed up at the benevolent porcelain face of Mother Mary. Her eyes seemed to burn through my Soul, a luminous candle in the grotto. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the powerful energy pulling me through a mystical portal. Visions of the holy Mother flooded my field of consciousness. I clearly saw her moving about administering loving attention to the devotees. Then, She turned towards me and poured an elixir into a chalice and gave it to me. Afterwards, I saw Swami's divine feet walking towards me. How utterly heavenly.
I was in such a high state of bliss I felt as if my feet were literally not touching the earth,
as I left this special place in Melbourne, Florida. Later on I had lunch at an Asian Buffet, I was tickled to receive this fortune cookie quote:
"Its always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness"
The beautiful leelas continued through the evening. I picked up my daughter Kendra and we sped off to bhajans at the Sai Center in Palm Bay. Although there was a small group of about 11 devotees, we sang our hearts out. Towards the end of the bhajans I perceived fabulous visions of our Lord Sai Baba. At one point He held His hand up in a funny way, only His index finger and pinky finger pointing outward, similar to a mudra that Rama Krishna sometimes portrayed. I saw Him examining a book and flipping through its pages. He then also poured some sort of elixir into a chalice and offered it. As I came out of this mystical state I asked Bhaskar what this mudra symbolized and he said, "control of the mind." Well I said to myself that makes sense. My mind does need to be reined in.
When I arrived home I decided check a little further on this mudra. I found out it is also called
the deer mudra or Mrigi mudra. And it is used with pranayama breathing techniques.
This is very exciting because I have been practicing a pranayam breathing technique which Swami recommends in His book, Sadhana the Inward Path:
"Like metals purified over fire in The Crucible, the slag of Karma is removed by Pranayama and the mind is freed from contamination. This and Kayasuddhi are both rendered pure. There are two types of Pranayama the one with mantra and the other without it. Without mantra, it can as best transform the body only, but with mantra it transforms the mind also.
How are we to practice it?
2 seconds long, Purakam(inhalation)
4 seconds long Rechakam (exhalation), 8 seconds long Kumbhakam (absence of breathing). In this series Pranayama has to be practiced carefully for 3 months later the duration can be doubled. When 6 months is spent in this steady practice, the activities of the senses are laid low. If practiced with faith and feeling, Pranayama will tame the agitations of the Mind, otherwise, it becomes mere physical exercise, improving just physical health. Pure food, brahmacharya,
Living in solitude, moderate speech, these conditions to have to be strictly observed." -Sadhana the Inward Path, P. 96
I use Oms for the breaths. Inhale 2 Oms, exhale 4 Oms, pause, no breath, 8 Oms. I do 9 rounds, my mind is so calm, I am able to sit easily for Jyoti light meditation.
I think beloved Swami wants me to include this mudra with the pranayama practice I am currently doing.
Swami , Swami, Swami, I've searched high and low, there is no place where You are not!
Link to deer mudra:
www.yogaasan.com/mrigi-mudra-deer-seal/
