7-11 July – America Yatra 2024
Gurupurnima Celebrations at Albuquerque, Santa Fe
Amma’s America Yatra 2024 continued with a spiritually enriching retreat in Santa Fe, coinciding with the auspicious celebration of Gurupurnima. Devotees gathered in Albuquerque for a five-day retreat, culminating in the sacred rituals and heartfelt celebrations of Gurupurnima.
The celebration began with Amma leading the bhajans and meditation, creating an atmosphere of deep devotion and tranquility. Following these sessions, the padapuja (ceremonial worship of the Guru’s feet) was conducted, led by Swamiji. The ceremonial rituals were performed with great reverence, as all the Swamis and Swaminis garlanded Amma and received her blessings.
Addressing the gathering, Amma shared profound insights on the significance of Gurupurnima. She said, “All celebrations and festivals are occasions that fill our hearts with good cheer and enthusiasm. In the hearts of disciples and devotees, the auspicious day of Guru Purnima creates a tidal wave of devotion to the guru. In preparing for the sacred guru-pada puja with complete awareness, the disciple forgets everything else, focusing solely on cleansing their mind and body. True Guru Purnima is realized when the disciple consistently maintains this attitude daily throughout their life. Guru Purnima is the day when the disciple is once again reminded of the guru’s glorious state of completeness. It also conveys the message that the disciples should attain that state as well. Therefore, Guru Purnima is not merely a ritual to be observed once a year. This goal requires continuous contemplation, introspection, and mental preparation through consistent practice and dispassion.”
Amma emphasized that “a person does not become a disciple by merely being in the presence of a guru. It is when one can welcome the guru’s teaching with an open heart and accept it without a trace of doubt that one becomes a real disciple. That is when disciplehood is awakened.”
“Our relationship with the guru is our unity with our higher nature. This is why the spiritual path is a journey towards our own True Self. It is the royal path to permanent freedom. Instead of wasting time trying to understand every aspect of it, let us strive to bring this human life to its complete fulfillment. May divine grace bless my children to achieve this,” Amma concluded.
The Gurupurnima celebrations at the Albuquerque retreat were a testament to the profound bond between Amma and her disciples, highlighting the essence of devotion, continuous practice, and the journey towards self-realization.
As the retreat concluded, the devotees left with hearts full of inspiration and determination to uphold the teachings of Amma in their daily lives.
