RealizeAmerica.com

Thanks to Realize America Day on July 29, we now have weekly meetings in Spanish in beautiful Weston, Florida.

We have been getting many seekers coming from Weston to attend our weekly meetings in Davie, for a few years now. Even though Davie is not far from Weston, when we heard about Realize America, we thought we should definitely start something in Weston. Another reason we chose Weston was that we have a few yogis living there, and they have been longing to conduct programs in their area for quite sometime; they just didn’t know how to begin. But, once we agreed to start, things took off in no time.

We went ahead by looking for a place to hold follow-up programs in Spanish, as we thought that would be harder to find than a venue for Realize America. However, we were happily mistaken, as it happened without much effort. Ultimately, we agreed to have our follow-up programs at a dance studio in a busy shopping plaza.

After finding a place for our follow-ups, we started to look for a venue for Realize America. We wanted a place close to the dance studio, and that is just want we got. After looking at various community centers, libraries, colleges and hotels, we discovered that the Courtyard by Marriott was best suited for our needs.

We conducted an all day event, with hourly programs alternating between Spanish and English. As soon as the seekers walked in, we started them off with a video of Shri Mataji’s life and how She founded Sahaja Yoga; they were all very receptive to what She had to say. A few ladies were so engrossed in the video that they asked to see it again as soon as it was finished!

Many seekers felt the cool breeze coming out of their fontanel bone… While others felt the joy in their hearts as they asked, “Mother is this the all-pervading power of God’s Love?” We were positive that we would get more English speakers, as we did more postering and advertising in English. For the Latin community, we advertised more by word of mouth.

However, when we looked back on that day, we realized that we had only one English seeker, while the rest of the 11 were Latin Americans! How interesting! Maybe it was Shri Mataji’s way of saying that we should put more attention on giving Realization to the Latin community now!

The Latin Americans in Weston are certainly putting attention on Sahaja Yoga. Since July 29, we have had one follow-up in the dance studio with more seekers then on Realize America Day! Our Davie programs have also doubled since then!

Realize America was not just a one day event, but rather it was a day that has taken us to weeks of enjoyment and success in Weston and beyond, and we’re sure it will take us to many, many more.

Instead of seven thirty (our regular wake-up time), we were allowed to sleep into nine o’clock. It was wonderful sleeping in except for the fact that the sun was shining through our tent and it was rather hot. By the time everyone finally got up and down to the amphitheater the meditation crew had moved the morning meditation away from the scorching sun and back to the camp into the shade. The meditation was followed by a small workshop which in turn was followed by a Yuva meeting was directed at refocusing our attention on giving realization.

In the confusion of getting ready to leave, we realized that we didn’t have lunch! The cooking team decided to remain behind and prepare a lunch of pasta and salad for everyone else. Meanwhile in Santa Monica (the place where we had planned to give realization), the Yuvas and aunties were unsure about how to set up due to the extensive regulations. We eventually settled down and a steady stream of curious people stopped to get their realization. After about an hour and a half, the cooking squad arrived with tomato salad and baked chicken. Following lunch, we moved up the street to a different location and even more people came. It was extremely successful, and even though we were only allowed two chairs, many people received their realization standing up. One car load of Yuvas left to clear out in the ocean with a foot soak and to get ready to serve dinner at mother’s house.

Meanwhile at the camp, the LA ashram had brought food, drinks, and ice cream for all of us yuvas for dinner. Uncle Brian also decided to come to have a talk with us. So after everyone had eaten and cleaned up from giving realization, we went to the amphitheater. We had a meditation led by Uncle Brian and later had a talking seminar. The seminar was so awesome because we all talked about how we felt on this tour and how being with other sahaja yogis is so important. It was interesting because everyone commented how the connection was so much stronger with each other than anyone we know back home. This tour has shown us how we can live happily with each other despite any challenges we meet and to bring about the new era of collectivity and oneness.

Waking up after the intense havan last night, it felt like a new beginning at the subtle. After the usual morning routine of meditation, planning and breakfast we decided to prepare for the three expectantly cold nights ahead by having the yuvvies to acquire some more warm clothes. The day’s plan was to be hosted for BBQ for lunch at Brent Fiddler’s place in Marina Del Rey. ‘Del Ray’ means ‘of the Kings’ and that’s exactly how we felt after the generous spread of hot-dogs and corn.

Spontaneously we decided to watch the Sahaj movie ‘A Warrior Awakens’ starring LA yogis and one of the yuvas, Sopan, a few months old. It was funny watching our favorite uncles and aunties acting out their parts in this fascinating movie which centers around the Bhopal gas tragedy and the reincarnation of Arjuna & his evil cousins in modern times. It’s a must watch!

We then proceeded to the del Rey beach for realization where the flow was slow and steady. Some yuvas were preparing Ajay’s birthday on the beach. When there was a window of lull in realizations, we celebrated our dear brother’s birthday on the beach with a huge cake, gifts and lotsa love.

We were taking turns to bathe in the waters or footsoak in it, depending on the inclinations to wet ourselves. The day ended with people going in different directions to get their kind of dinner fare. The aunties were in for a battle with LA traffic before returning to camp Malibu Creek, minutes from Shri Mataji’s house. There were a few extra tents to setup. Late evening meditation followed by a restful day accounted for an amazing day of realization.

For the second day, we woke up at the Fremont campground which is situated a few miles inland from the beautiful California coast. After much delay and numerous attempts to wake everyone, we finally assembled for morning meditation. A few Yuvas left to prepare breakfast and treatments while the majority remained to be worked on to continue meditating. Breakfast was eaten quickly because only fruit salad and cereal with milk were available.

Then – deja’vu – we had to pack the vans again. After cleaning the cars out and jamming all the luggage in, we departed. One van went to a supermarket to purchase a few needed items and some extra snacks (Starbucks mochas, cheesy Doritos and barbeque ribs), while the other vans went strait to Ventura beach. Surprisingly, all the vans arrived at the same time. It was the most amazing beach some of us had ever seen: soft, fine and white sand, warm and salty water even though some found it way too cold.

The waves were a bit dangerous so we decided not to go too far out. We were happy to see showers to clean up after 2 days at a camp without any facilities. After reassembling on the grass area for lunch we finished all the leftovers including cake, sandwiches, and lentil soup with a bit too extra pepper.

We drove to the LA Ashram and boy were we happy to arrive there! Even though we were still sleeping in tents there, we felt so happy to be in the vibrations of the ashram. There was a table full of pizza boxes ready for us and cheesecake for our dessert. Thank you to Tarini’s parents for buying them for us. Some of the yuvas afterwards practiced bhajans with the LA collective. Meanwhile some of other yuvas prepared a havan on the corral.

When the havan begun the vibrations started flowing strong and some of the LA yogi’s commented on how much stronger it was compared to the ones they usually have. It felt really dynamic in the way we were offering negativities as we said them one by one. Uncle Brian gave us a few words wisdom about the yuva shakti being the beginning of a new era. He also suggested we go to sleep early, but only few decided to take his advice.

We woke up to a crisp morning bathed in sunshine and a clear blue sky for an umbrella in the Los Padres National Forest in the Santa Ynez Mountains close to Santa Barbara. We were secretly happy that there were no showers and we get on the road faster and bathe in the ocean later.

Our gracious Santa Barbara hosts prepared a marvelous breakfast spread set up the courtyard where the Santa Barbara SY center is located. We sipped tea by a beautiful fountain surrounded by flowers and ate apple pie for breakfast. We contemplated the newly found fruit ‘Pluot’ (a cross between a Plum and an Apricot), its existence and place in the world. But seriously, we satiated ourselves well before morning meditation at the beautiful Santa Barbara SY center. The Santa Barbara yogis have used their collective artistic talents to transform and ordinary room into a exquisite temple.

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After our one night stay at the LA ashram we all woke up in our tents a bit later then we had planned. We were all still blissed out from Mother’s arrival and happy to be out of the campgrounds that we forgot to get up. When we walked down to the ashram we saw a table full of muffins and danishs although we had to restrain ourselves until meditation.

Afterwards we found out that we would have the opportunity to help out to Mother’s house for the duration of the tour. We all picked a day to go and help out starting with Sanjeev and Dennis. Then we went through the normal routine of having to pack the vans which we almost have to system, but yet it still takes us a few hours to get ourselves together and out.

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One thing that always comes to mind when you try to explain what Sahaja Yoga is about to a seeker is: how do you put into words the experience that transcends them? How do you describe to a person the experience of meditation, the awareness of complete clarity and thoughtlessness, tranquility and joy at the same time?

For those of you, who are reading about Sahaja Yoga and Realize America events out of curiosity or search to discover your true self, the video below will give a glimpse of what is in store for you… For those who already discovered its amazing benefits and are enjoying them in their daily life, this is a good chance to spot some familiar faces of friends from the Albion shores.

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Today was a very interesting day, and an even more exciting evening! In the morning a small group of us girls got up half an hour earlier to go foot soak in the ocean. The water was sooooo wonderful that we decided to wake up earlier than everyone else to have a quiet meditation. It was perfect! About 7:40 we were called to meditation at the boys’ tent. After a very peaceful meditation we raced to the showers to take 25 cent showers. As a matter of fact there were three of us for four minutes of showers!

After that ordeal was finished it was time to help load up the vans and get going. We brought over some sleeping bags but left the bigger things to the guys. We had to prepare ourselves for the SEVEN HOUR JOURNEY. Luckily our destination was the airport to greet Mother so we were all very excited.

We left a little later than expected but there wasn’t any morning traffic so it was pleasant. The van that I was in was the one with the DVD player so we watched Khabi Khushi Khabi Gham-with subtitles since we found the remote a couple of days ago.

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In the morning, most of us were “rudely” awakened at 6 a.m. we had morning mediation and then, we went directly to practice for the program for a children elementary school close to the ashram. We sang, we practiced the skit, and the Finnish folk dance. Everyone was focused and we really got it working.

We left for the elementary school at 11:30. There, we had a few rehearsals and a meditation. There were about forty kids and they were all very sweet. They were between the ages of five and twelve and even some staff members watched.

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Today was sight-seeing day in San Francisco. After circling the city for an hour we went to China Town (right after eating breakfast, because the boys decided they had to eat again right away). Some of the girls walked around China Town, ate gelatos, stopped in little stores and it brought back good memories of India, except it was all Chinese stuff. Then we all collectively visited a fortune cookie factory, hoping to get a free cookie with an amazing fortune in it, but they didn’t give us any… It was nothing like Charlie’s Chocolate Factory which we had fondly imagined it might be. The girls decided to have an adventure in San Francisco and visited an amazing, palacial jewellery store. We visited the most crooked street in the world – Lombard Street. Then we drove through little Italy which was beautiful and we stopped at a dock and saw Alcatraz… we drove to a café which had an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Then we all went home and spent the evening preparing the elementary school programme which we were going to present the following day.

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