Sunday, August 5, 2007 ~ Golden Bridge Yoga, Los Angeles, Ca
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji
Notes from Lecture on The Path of Love

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There is something about Swami that calls to my soul.  Being in his presence speaks to my Spirit with feelings beyond words.  Seeing him again this evening was magical.  He carries with him a presence of pure Divine Grace and compassion.  He is said to be a Saint.  When in his presence I feel calmness, peace, excitement, my heart expands and deepens with a feeling of love, compassion, and a sensation of Lightness lifts my soul.  He is the first Saint from India I have ever received darshan (divine blessings) from and this was my second opportunity to be in the Divine presence of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji.  The following are my notes - as he spoke – from his soul - without filters – and with great humor.  I share them with you in service and support of finding the path of love.

Love is the answer…
In-Joy, Lisa Sahakian

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Beginning of Lecture Notes:
Finding the path of love…..through meditation…the greatest healer…love is the greatest healer and most affective tool.  When everything fails, love works.  People try to achieve everything but when love is not there all will not make you happy.  Married couples ask me to bless them – that their love is forever. “What do we need from each other?”  “I don’t need jewels, fancy clothing – I need you – everything is there but you and that is not enough.”  Another way is to practice connection to the Divine.  You will have everything but true happiness when He is not there.

#1) love yourself,

#2) love your family,

#3) love the world. 

How to achieve these three things?  Only when you love God and see the same Divinity in all – all life will have meaning.  Especially in the west – I meet people everyday.  When people love themselves they become focused on the body.  It’s not just love of the body…it’s “I had a great manicure, pedicure, face lift, flat stomach.”  This is not the only way to love your self.   Don’t condemn or criticize your self.  Accept yourself as God has made you.  Every one of you is unique. 

How can you be the gift of God & His creation?  How can you become the gift when you only love yourself for your sake – which you only live for yourself?  Animals do this also.  They also eat, drink, we also eat, drink.  They have fear – we have fear.  Nobody wants to die – 100 years – nobody wants to die.  They sleep – we sleep – have sense of pleasures.  What’s the difference between them and us?  You can love for the sake of others – animals cannot.  You can walk the path in such a beautiful way not just for “me” but also for sake of others.  When you cannot see the Divinity in others you cannot serve.  Even the family – you need love from them – you love them.  Duty to your family.  Give to them the values.

Gurmukh was explaining to me 20 years ago. Gurmukh was pregnant and started this kind of yoga center.  A great thing.  But more important – let them grow with more than a sense of the “I-ness”  and “My-ness” so they can love others - when this union happens between you and the Divine – it happens in you – it happens in all creation.
 
Sometimes we assess and condemn others.  Even when we walk on the path we hate ourselves.  Sometimes we walk the path of wrong not right – even then – God has given you the power to look up, wake up, wake up, get up, look up, and never give up!  Because you are the part of the puzzle Divine.  Because of that connection you are not a sinner.  “We are born sinners”, when we believe we are sinners we keep feeling bad about ourselves.  We have to go beyond this idea.  You are Divine you are not born as sinners.  You are born as Divine.  When you are Divine sin happens through you – never give up on you – stand up to it – have faith – give them to God – move forward.  Whenever you do something wrong give it to God.  God will never raiser the fire again.  Give it to God.  In God’s computer once erased there is no trace.  Have this faith once it is erased.  There is a new me and walk a new path.
 
First love myself then others.  Love me then others.  Accept me then others.  Embrace me then others.  This is your sadana.  When we look and judge others for the same things we have also done.  When you are dealing with others – deal with the heart be loving, compassionate, caring.  When dealing with yourself be hard on yourself.  Check yourself.  After checking if there is something wrong – don’t give up – immediately close your eyes and offer to the Divine Mother what happened.   You will feel the strength that it is done and start anew from there.  Before it takes the ego form in you – the ego seed – before that – offer to God.  You will be free from both bad and good.  This is the way you can walk this path of love.
 
Mediation with the Divine - the science of healing.  Meditation heals us form the physical and mental ailments.  Takes you closer and closer to the Divine – also it helps you with silence. “So and so” was in silence for 20 years.  He went to India for years and was in silence.  The power of silence.  The mind becomes powerful.  I once went in the jungle 10am-10pm and was silent.  If you have every day, 1 hour, 20 min, 10 min, He will begin talking to you.  People ask, “Don’t you get bored?”  Your boredom will be over.  You will love to be calm, love to be silent.  With this silence you can walk calmly and beautifully the path of love.
 
The other thing…self study.  Studying scripture is good too.  Every day before you sleep - everyday – vacations included – if you ask me your whole vacation will be beautiful.  You will learn the art to talk to each other.  You are not learning anything when you speak.  Communicate by learning with your silence.  That will be your success.  A beautiful path – every day.  Watch yourself. No one else is watching you – honestly – “where am I going, what am I achieving?”  Watch yourself in the evening…you will see the whole day will flash back at you.  Watch that movie of introspection and you will see the real you.

Passion/compassion. Lust/love.  Passion can never take a person to peace.  “That was great!  That was heaven!!!”  It’s part of lust – when lust is over - relationship is over.  We keep looking for someone else – then someone else – it’s not there.  My request to you – watch your own digital movie.  Which path are you walking?  Only you and the “Divine Insurance Company” will know.  Before anyone else comes to know – know yourself.  Lust divides you.  Love dissolves you.  You can become one soul – that can happen.  “I love my flat stomach – 120 lbs over the past 20 years.”  Getting here to LA, I go to the airports and see how many big people there are.  Too much lust and no self-control.  Watch your movie and find where you are.  Wake up and get up, look up and start your day.  Don’t do anything that you have to look down.  Do no karma for yourself where you have to look down.  Before it goes to the Supreme Court – don’t – you be the Supreme Court – take your time. 

You don’t have to take the wrong turn.  Listen to your own GPS system – not the lady in the box! “You have taken the wrong turn.”  Take the Right turn!   You don’t have to go to the church, synagogue, or temple.  These centers help you.  Follow your GPS system and you will never go wrong.  This GPS system will find the short cuts – it’s the best GPS system – it never fails.  The moment you do something wrong – listen – there is always a Right turn.  Listen to the voice daily.  Mediation is the way you can have the connection/darshan every day.  You can use that connection.  Close your eyes every day.  That Divinity should always stay there.
 
God bless you.  God bless these two bodies (Gurmukh & Gurushabd) and one Divine soul.  Golden Bridge is only golden through the connection to the Divine.  May God bless you.  I give you the invite to make a plan know – come to Rishikesh – Himalayas – one ticket you are set. ~ End of Lecture Notes
 
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I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed listening and transcribing it.  Blessings to you on your path of love.
Love is the answer…Lisa Sahakian
 
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Lisa Sahakian is an entrepreneur-philanthropist, yoga practitioner, health educator and forever student of life.  She is dedicated to empowering women and creating a self-actualized sisterhood of support while facilitating access to greater authenticity and absolute bliss from within for all.  Lisa began teaching health and fitness when she was 16.  While Lisa focuses on women's health she is also celebrates and supports the balance and necessity of the masculine.  For more information on classes, workshops and collaboration, please contact Lisa at lisasahakian@earthlink.net or 310-508-3303.