I never expected to take a Guru. In fact, before I met Acharya Kedar, I did not know who or what a Guru was, and why I would ever want to follow one. I did know that I was not experiencing God and I longed to know and experience God. When I finally admitted to myself that I needed a spiritual guide, I asked God to send me this teacher. Shortly after, Acharya Kedar manifested in my life.
During my first intensive weekend retreat with Acharyaji, all the prayers I had ever said were answered. My experience began to unfold when Acharyaji gave me Shaktipat. He pressed a point in my back, and in that same moment, he dissolved every bit of anxiety, worry and fear that I had ever experienced, and continued to carry around in my body. I felt this as a wave of energy that washed over me and left me in complete peace and serenity. As I melted into this space, I sailed off into my first true, mindless meditation.
When the cymbals were struck to come out of meditation, I went outside for some air. I stood in the parking lot and looked around. I experienced the cars in the parking lot, the asphalt I was standing on, the birds and the trees as my very Self. I could not make any distinction, whatsoever, between these objects and my Self. I felt formless. I felt content. I did not have any wants. I knew of no notions. I was absorbed in peace, joy and absolute bliss. My understanding, feeling and experience was that everything is exactly perfect. After having these experiences, I knew I had met my Teacher, my Guide and God Himself.
Since then, I have clung to the Acharya like flames to a fire, following the instruction and teachings he has laid out for me. As a result, experiences like the ones I’ve described here are common to me. Due to experiences like these, a variety of realizations have unfolded within me. I have come to feel God, to know God, to experience God and to experience myself as God. I have come to recognize that the experience of God is not limited to Meditation though, without Meditation, I would not know God in this way. God is in the world. God is the world. God can be experienced in the world. God can be experienced as the world. And, I too, am That.
Is there any wonder why Acharya Kedar’s teachings have become my way of life? Not to me. Had I not touched the hem of Acharyaji’s garment and seen the face of the Godhead, I would never know a life so beautiful. Why? Simply because I wouldn’t have been able to even imagine it. At His lotus feet I remain forever indebted and devoted.
A natural extension of my Seva (selfless service) as Acharyaji's assistant is the close contact I have with students and disciples. In my experience, generally speaking, students come to the ashram somewhat skeptical and guarded, utilizing a "wait and see" approach to the Acharya and the path. This is fine and also advisable. During my initial interactions with students, I find that they tend to talk circles around themselves, revealing the nature of their untamed, restless minds. Because of my own weaknesses in this regard, it is easy to listen and to observe them, as they reveal a great deal about their ego personality and offer insight into their karmic struggles. Many have great resistance to being told anything and often feel justified to do the telling. Some are people who are new to spiritual practice and some have been doing Sadhana since before I was born. The common thread is the longing students express to get away from the delusion of notions they are entangled in and to embrace a Teacher who will help them evolve on the spiritual path.
Some of the people I meet at Satsang, after some initial resistance, take to Acharyaji quickly and decide to enroll in a weekend Supreme Meditation Intensive to have a deeper experience. Of these, the ones who give themselves to the practices, experience an immediate shift that is distinctly apparent to anyone passively observing. I watch as the focus of these students turns from daily mundane existence toward the Self. Having had a glimpse of the Absolute through their Supreme Meditation Intensive experience, students have a sparkle in their eyes and yearn to discover more of the Truth that lies within their own being. They quickly become content in the stillness of Meditation and they begin to really listen. This is when students begin to ask different questions -- questions that lead them to significant realizations and a deepening of their daily spiritual practice. Their resistance melts as they have these breakthroughs. Soon, they shed many skins as they toss aside notions and unravel thought patterns, behavioral patterns, karmas and egotistical expressions. These students are slowly transformed into beings who reflect Divine Light. They become peaceful, happy, humble, unassuming and joyful, as they reflect a higher vibration and become a vessel that is progressively more empty, allowing themselves to be flooded with Divine Grace and Love.
Acharyaji was just like this, just like me, and just like you, as he embarked on his spiritual journey. Over time, he became steadfast in his practice and got really good at abiding in the instruction of his Guru, thereby perfecting his Sadhana. What becomes evident from closely observing him is that, with practice, Acharya Kedar attracted so much of God's Grace and so much of his Guru’s Grace to himself, that God came looking for him and he granted his state of Total Freedom. This gives me hope and this gives you hope. The Acharya's experiences and his journey to Liberation confirm that anyone who is sincere about knowing God, over time and with the right Teacher, will merge with God. Acharyaji knows the seeker’s journey intimately. It is my experience that this is why he is able to lead by perfect example. Under the guidance of such a competent Master and exceptional Teacher, merging with God is guaranteed.
Lakshmi Satya Devi
New Milford, CT
Lakshmi owns and distributes her own organic skin care line.
Acharya teaches that when a yogi accepts her own Divinity, one of the innate blessings is no more fear – of anything. I agonized over hearing this concept, because I have so many fears and didn’t believe that it was possible to rid myself of even one. I received Shaktipat from Acharya Kedar in a Supreme Meditation Intensive. My experience of this was like being touched by the hand of God! It was only after receiving Shaktipat from Acharyaji that the transformation began to take form. I started small with my fear of the dark. I followed the Acharya’s instruction to recite the mantra as soon I felt the fear beginning to well up inside of me. Then, before it became established, the fear disappeared.
When I was having difficulties at work, Acharya instructed me to begin a search for a new job. I procrastinated for quite some time, because I was afraid that there would be nothing out there for me. Acharya gave me a recording of chants to the goddess Durga, one of whose attributes is fearlessness. He directed me to chant at least once a week. Each Sunday morning, I chanted (and still chant) with the recording. I discovered that Durga’s blessing coupled with my Guru’s grace helped to abate my fear. I began actively to look for work and to send my resume to prospective employers. The interviews I have gone on have been very positive. The people I interviewed with had high praise for my qualifications and were willing to meet my salary requirements. I have no doubt, or fear, that I will find exactly the right job for me.
Have I overcome all my fears? No, but by the Acharya’s grace and with his guidance, I now know that I can become a fearless person. This realization has changed my life.
Linda Robinson
New Milford, CT
Linda works as a Project Administrator in the Construction Field.
In early 2005, I visited the Supreme Meditation Ashram (Shiva-Shakti Mandir) for three days. I had taken an interest in Acharya Kedar’s book The Sutras On the 5-Fold Act of Divine Consciousness. I read it several times and I consider it to be a serious and dedicated effort to illustrate the basic doctrine of The Spanda School of Trika Shaivism. The book helps the seeker grasp the essence of the Teachings.
While in the Meditation Hall of the Ashram, I felt the very strong presence of the Gurus and received intense Shaktipat while chanting with Acharya Kedar and his assistant. The great gift of the voice of Acharya Kedar reminded me of Baba Muktananda's chanting in Ganeshpuri. As I chanted with Acharya Kedar, I completely transcended all duality. The worship, the worshiped and the worshipers were one and the same, totally merged in Cosmic Consciousness. It was a supreme and fulfilling experience that I had not enjoyed since the old times.
I continue my daily practice of Meditation and Chanting at home and I am very grateful to Acharya Kedar for keeping alive and strong for all of us, the tradition of the Siddha Gurus.
Kalyani Francini
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Kalyani is a retired Health Practitioner.
I came to Acharya Kedar from being on another path to God, a path with very real results, but a path that did not provide me with the depth and breadth of understanding of God that I desired. I remember consciously turning away from that path and feeling very conflicted inside. However, I also felt that God alone would understand my intention. I wanted a deeper experience of God.
I read the Supreme Meditation Web site. The teachings of Acharya Kedar posted there seemed to immediately mesh with what I wanted to know and understand. An extremely clear thought I had was that the Acharya concisely and directly stated the goal of the path and his teachings; that the goal is not simply liberation from this place, going to heaven, avoiding hell, or living a good life; that the goal is merging with the Absolute to become totally free.
When I was asked to share my most important experience since receiving Shaktipat from Acharyaji, I realized no single experience impacted me more than another. They are all important and each surely happened for a reason. Perhaps, that is why this question was asked of me - to force me to delve deeper and to truly ask myself what I have received from Acharya Kedar. If I ask myself that question the answer is immediate. I know there is a God and that God is inside of me. Every day, I have a direct experience of God. Sometimes sudden insights pop into my head from questions, prayers, or contemplations that I had several days before. There is no doubt that God answers each and every one of my prayers and questions.
I hear the Anahata (unstruck sound within the Sahasrar) when I sit still, lay down, and sometimes upon waking in the morning. Also, I see a black circle surrounded with a white light fairly regularly when I close my eyes and when I meditate. I think of this as my Mecca stone, my very own personal Kaaba or Shiva Lingam, to worship inside. Sometimes I have seen other colors inside like a silvery white or gold, filling my vision in a constantly moving web, like a kaleidoscope with all the colors the same. A few days ago I was contemplating the meaning of Sat Chit Ananda Guru Ki Jay. Until then, I had never actually thought what those words might mean. I suppose they mean that to permanently have the bliss of God, a true Teacher is needed to dispel the darkness and unveil the light.
Since receiving Shaktipat, my most profound experience is that, if I make the effort to engage in daily spiritual practice as instructed by the Acharya, I have an experience of God every day.
Ben Tucker
Sunrise, FL
Ben works as a computer consultant and project manager.
I am blessed to have had the opportunity to receive Shaktipat from Acharya Kedar three times in the past one year. With each Initiation, the inpouring of Grace that has flowed into my life has expanded manifold, completely transforming my experience of my own existence. My very first Shaktipat Initiation tenderly pierced through the detached state of half-living that I had been floating through for the past ten years. After receiving this initial Initiation, the longstanding fog in my mind began to disperse, my vision began to clear, and I was able to recognize my Self as the Divine Being I had forgotten I am. With each consequential acceptance of Initiation, more of my true identity has been revealed to me. The avenue of Sadhana after Shaktipat is truly the means to coming home to my Self.
Acharya Kedarji’s New Year’s Message to us was this: Resolve to Welcome Yourself with Supreme Love and Great Respect. This one statement, encompassing so many profoundly wonderful ideals, was just the prescription I needed to bring joy back into my daily life. This New Year’s Resolution directly invites me to awaken each morning and firmly choose to engage in practices which would bring me back to my Self, to benevolently embrace myself as nothing less than God, adoring and accepting myself in the highest esteem just as I am, right now in this very moment, knowing that God exists within me as me! Remembering to Resolve to Welcome Myself with Supreme Love and Great Respect allows me to instantly shift my identity from the human being with limitations that I alone have placed upon myself towards my true, free, limitless nature. It allows me to untangle myself from imaginary fear and anxiety by remembering that Na Shivam Vidyate Qua Chit – Nothing Exists That is Not Shiva; and so I must also be Shiva. This ever-deepening realization continues to bring new freedom, acceptance, enjoyment, and wonder to my every day life.
The principle that underlies the whole for me is that a student’s first Seva, or Selfless Service, is one’s daily spiritual practice, one’s Sadhana, the foundational building block of spiritual life. The practices instructed by Acharyaji, I have found, are a direct window into the state of my mind at any given moment. By observing the condition of my breath as I practice, I become a witness to exactly what is transpiring in my mind, and in my life. I can witness and be aware; Am I anxious in this moment? Fearful? Overrun with thoughts? Trying to rush through what I am doing to get to "the next thing"? Taking on too much? Too little? Having unrealistic expectations of my current situation? Am I calm? Focused? Relaxed? Content with where I am and what I am doing in the present moment?
Creating the space to check in with myself on a regular basis is a selfless service to my Self, for, the more frequently I perform my Sadhana, the more I am able to observe where my mind is taking me, and gently bring it back to Shiva, to my own Natural, Free State of Being. To know oneself as this Infinite Being-Awareness-Bliss is the greatest gift that I could ever imagine. With Supreme Love, Devotion, Gratitude, and Surrender, I open my heart and humbly prostrate at the Lotus Feet of Acharya Kedarji and the entire Siddha lineage, for illuminating to me the path to my own awareness.
Anugraha Bakshi
Anugraha works as a Hatha Yoga Instructor, Massage Therapist, and Reiki Practitioner.
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