February 2009. In the weekend of 20 – 22 February an international ... Shri
Shiva's open heart in a flower. International Shivaratri Puja seminar in De Panne
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Sahaja Yoga Nederland Nieuws Nieuwsbrief
International Shivaratri Puja seminar in De Panne
25 N2 2 - 2 5 February 2009 In the weekend of 20 – 22 February an international seminar was hosted by our Belgian brothers and sisters in De Panne, on the Belgian coast.
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Mother, thank You very much;
In the invitation it was said: “… Let us together jump into the ocean of thoughtlessness and joy at the feet of our Mother and enjoy its beautiful pearls of eternal experiences…” Well, that is what happened.
The location was beautiful, and the weather was excellent. Although rainy weather had been forecasted, it was like the whole weekend the divine forces made sure that all the elements were represented. Here are some impressions of those who visited the seminar
... for the Realisation, ... for making us understand how great we are, ... for bringing all the blessings of the Divine, ... for raising us higher, much higher than from where we were, ... for sustaining us And for helping us to improve ourselves and correct ourselves, Thank You very much, ultimately, that Mother, You have come on this earth, taken Your birth and are working so hard for all of us." Meditation by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Shudy Camps, 18 June 1988 Shri Shiva’s open heart in a flower De Sahaja Yoga Nederland Nieuwsbrief informeert over nieuws en ontwikkelingen in Sahaja Yoga in Nederland en daarbuiten. Een relatief groot deel van de nieuwsbrief is in het Engels. Contributions: Suggestions, tips and support are very much appreciated. Collective announcements, personal experiences, treatments, newspaper articles, quotes, poems, artwork, and photos are welcome and can be sent to:
[email protected]. The Newsletter team: Henno, Marco, Pavan (and you and you and you?).
When we arrived, it was heartwarming, loving, peaceful and joyful! New faces, old friends, big hugs and nice talks. After checking in, finding my room and making my bed, eating and working with Ingrid to clear out our system, we had a nice meditation. Getting up I saw two young women with Netherlands under their names. I had never seen them before, not long after I found out that they were my roommates. What a nice way to get to know new people. The next day was filled with strong vibrations. Morning meditation was a nice start to a beautiful day. The food was nice. We actually had a warm meal two times. The weather was wonderful for outside activities and perfect for the havan. It seemed as if the clouds moved away
from above us and made kind of a circle and then moved away further. There were several workshops in the afternoon. I took the Vashi-workshop which helped me clear a lot and then a lot of us sang a gospel song: I love the Lord! It moved me deeply. We were allowed to perform it during the evening program, which was filled with inspiring and exciting items. Sander and Wannes playing music for us, Priya, Anjani and Pryamvada dancing and several other dances. So much joy and love! In the end several of us danced some too! The puja on Sunday was so lovely! It filled my heart with tears of joy. I am looking forward to the next seminar. Tara
What I liked . . . What I liked the most about the seminar, was the peace between all the people who were there. They were all so nice and I really felt very strong vibrations. We all did nice things together, for example the Olympic games and the baseball. I also liked the singing workshop from the guy, but I actually forgot his name (Johan). I think he did it great, he was such a good teacher. He was very patient and he taught with his heart. You could see everyone enjoyed it and there were só many people, but for him that didn’t matter. He just got the whole group doing what he liked to see them doing. Of course, I think, the puja was such a beautiful puja and It felt so cool. Actually, I liked so many things that I can keep writing about the weekend, it was wonderful!
Anouk
Vibrations after havan
About the workshops
More about workshops and children’s activities
There were several workshops during the seminar, like gospel singing, “how to wear a sari”, and a few others. Also the organizers had hired professional children’s activities, which were appreciated very well. Ludo gave his “My first Puja” workshop again.
about the Deities and the mantra’s. You may start to understand that She is a very special person, but by reading or hearing this meditation (see frontpage of this newsletter) you know that She is more than just that person in a Human form …
….. “It was a honor to give the workshop My First Puja again. There where 2 sessions, the first on Saturday afternoon where there were 14 new people for among them also some from Holland and the second on Sunday morning.
The vibrations are always so strong and the dept of the silence is just wonderful … By showing your gratitude in the puja by only saying “Thank You Mother”, Her chakra’s start moving and pouring out much even more Love by which it can fill you up completely.
The main goal of the workshop is to let the newcomers feel why we do a puja. It is also about when and how we do the puja but when you know why you do the puja the when and how follows easily. It all has to do that we recognize who Shri Mataji is and that we can thank Her for all the blessings that we have received so far.
By the How we do puja part, we talked about Prasad, and that in India you first clean the whole kitchen and never taste that what you make (cake or sweeties). I asked who brought prasad and Sara said that - without knowing this - see baked an apple-pie and felt deeply insight that she should not taste it before.
And this is quite a big step from the moment you get your Self-realization. You heard about the qualities in the chakra’s and that you can ask for them by saying affirmations and later on that you learn
Actually you can not take Prasad to a puja. You bring the cake or sweeties and when it is offered to Shri Mataji then by Her blessings it becomes Prasad….”
The seminar this year in De Panne was really wonderful! Before going there I was really curious as to how it was going to be. It turned out to be absolutely great. One of the many things that were very good was the effort that was put into making the seminar interesting for the children. The surroundings were perfect with the dunes and big playground. At all times the children could safely have a good time. On Saturday there were lots of activities and sports that the children could do. While taking pictures and participating now and then, it was clear that all the children really enjoyed it. They were different ages together, but everybody participated with lots of enthusiasm and I had a great laugh. For the very small kids there were also activities and it was so sweet how they were all so excited to win in races and find treasures. Later in the afternoon there was some Bollywood dancing for the girls and mehndi. These girly things are always a
success for the older girls. Outside in the dunes there was also a great baseball match, which was great fun. The two teams had children from different places so we all got to know each other a bit better and the teamwork was great. After everyone was exhausted from dancing and playing sports, there was a break. Right after the break I went to the gospel singing workshop with Joanne from France. I must say this workshop was one of the most amazing things I did this seminar. The meditation room was full with people who wanted to join in. After some warming up the actual singing started. It was so beautiful to see how he managed to make so many people sing such a beautiful song together. Most of the people had never heard the song before and slowly slowly it just turned out to become something so beautiful. Towards the end we sang the whole song from beginning to end and it brought tears to my eyes, and to the eyes of many others I noticed. The vibrations that come from singing a devotional song with so many people in such a beautiful way are just amazing. You could really feel that everybody sang from their heart and while singing we were all one.
Ludo
Experiences like these are so beautiful and are impossible to forget, and this is all thanks to our Holy Mother Shri Mataji. Jai Shri Mataji,
Children’s Olympics . . . .
Anjani
Sakshi and some of our sisters let us see the difference between a right sided dance, a left sided dance and the way of dancing when you are in the middle. This was a very comic performance.
The Saturday evening program The Saturday evening program was full of very nice performances, talked together by our Belgian brother Benoit. There were nice songs, beautiful dances, piano pieces and a very inspiring story about spreading Sahaja Yoga in Africa. An African yogi, called Jules, did even come to De Panne to tell us about it and to show us a beautiful homemade chart of chakras, and a painting of Shri Mataji they use for the programs over there.
But there was still another dance: Priya, Priyamvada, Anjani, Trupta and I have lessons in Bharata Natyam, the classical Indian dance. It’s very nice to do. Some months ago we decided to perform the Alarippu, the first dance you learn, at the seminar. But, when the seminar came nearer, I began to hesitate. I’m not sure about myself in front of big groups, I’m afraid to
The Belgian children sang and danced a nice song about Shiva. Our ‘own’ Petra sang two beautiful songs about enlightenment, while she accompanied herself on the piano.
get a black out and, to make a long story short, at last I said I didn’t want to do it… But, we practiced one last time and…. it went well…. And so finally, about 15 minutes before, we decided to dance! It was a wonderful experience. The thing I wondered most was that I wasn’t that nervous I use to be. It was very nice to dance for yogis. It’s easier and more comfortable than dancing in front of a group of other people. And last but not least it went well and I liked it very much! Gemma
Two Belgian brothers, Wannes and Sander played several nice pieces of Bach and other great composers on the piano. Another Belgian yogi had composed (I forgot which bhajan it was) in a classical way and played it on the piano. It sounds very, very well and gave very strong vibrations. There were also several dances. A Belgian yogini, (Laura from Gent) who visited the seminar for the first time, did three magnificent Bollywood dances of Rajasthan. Priya, Priyamvada and Anjani performed a beautiful Bollywood dance that they made by themselves. It’s unbelievable they do this in such an easy way! It looked like they were real Indian girls.
The joy of singing . . . . Gospel singing . . . .
The Shiva Puja
Mijn eerste seminar
After the Havan, the walk in the Dunes, children activities, stroll in the beach and culturally rich evening on Saturday, we were already sinking into the mood to offer the Puja to Shri Sada Shiva. By 11.15 AM. on Sunday we were all ready dressed in Kurtas and Saris. Everybody looked so beautiful and dignified!
The vibration indeed showered upon us, making our hearts feel the comfort of our Holy Mother's never ending Compassion and Love.
The Belgian yogis took care of many small things to make all of us feel welcome and also to take away good memories to come back again and again. For example, during the puja, we could read the lyrics with their translation on the Projected screen, so that everybody could sing along the Bhajans or just absorb the meaning. We could offer the leaves of "Bilwa", the favourite leaves of Shri Shiva. In their notes of thanks they thanked Shri Varuna, the God of the Sea and Shri Surya for being present and bless the event. We were so many that we felt the space was not enough for all of us, but as Henno said, it gives us a chance to be more Devotion . . closer to each other ;-)
As we settled down in our respective seats, we could notice the beautiful backdrop of the Kailasha, the very abode of Lord Shiva. Along with so many white flowers decorated around the alter of Shri Mataji in the form of Sada Shiva, we all were in complete unison with the nature, bhakti (devotion), the spirit and the vibrations. With hands, hearts and senses completely opens towards Shri Mataji we started our Puja starting with the welcome song "Swagat Agat Swagatam". Children below 12 offered the Ganesha Puja, followed by the Shiva Puja and the yogis played music and sang Bhajans with all their heart praising and seeking their Divine presence and to bless the humble Puja offered at his lotus feet. We offered Panchamrut and then we had Devi Puja.
Mijn eerste seminar in De Panne was voor mij een hele bijzondere ervaring. Zoveel yogi’s bij elkaar op een prachtige locatie in de natuur vlak bij zee in België. Ik waande me weer een beetje in India. Niet alleen door alle mooie sari’s, de winkeltjes en de chai thee, maar ook het begrip ‘op tijd komen’ werd volledig op Indiase wijze geïnterpreteerd. Ik werd ontzettend warm ontvangen en mocht zoveel vragen stellen als ik maar wilde. De Havan onder het genot van een stralende zon, een ontzettend leerzame My first Puja workshop en de prachtige Puja waren ervaringen die ik voor geen goud had willen missen. Daarnaast was er ook nog veel gelegenheid voor cultuur, dansen en plezier. Al met al was het een veelzijdig weekend waar ik met een warm en liefdevol hart aan terug denk. Ik wil jullie heel erg bedanken voor dit onvergetelijke eerste seminar! Groetjes Jennifer Kolman (Amsterdam)
The seminar gave all of us the joy of singing Gospel, opportunity to meet an African brother from Mali and hear how the "divine plan" works out in its own ways to reach out to the seekers of Africa and how miraculously things worked out! I just hope the memories of De Panne Seminar remain in our heart to reaffirm how much the divine loves us and wants us to grow and enjoy our journey towards our evolution, THE SAKSHATKAR!
Flowers from the puja
Dear brothers and sisters, The seminar was of course wonderful, everything came smoothly, even the weather was wonderful: sunny and quite warm. I had a lot of joy to meet our brothers and sisters from Belgium or France, because we don’t have so many occasions to meet. The program of Saturday night was very rich, we could have enjoyed the variety of the talents who were there, and we had also some spontaneous, funny parts. Most of the Dutch yogis stayed until very late in the night, dancing like crazy on some bollywood song, quawali or banjans. (By respect for them, I will not say any name☺ ☺, but they were in majority) So no doubt, the joy of the spirit was there. The Puja was very strong, very powerful, the songs very beautiful. Before the seminar I felt myself like an empty bottle, and after the seminar the bottle is full: full of love, joy, and vibrations. Jay Shri Mataji!! Gauri