WELL COME TO MELBOURNE
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Meanwhile, the old mansion was being transformed into a beautiful Ashram and starting to attract large numbers of people.
Even without Baba’s physical presence, it was full of ‘Shakti', meditation was easy to slide into a beautiful state of stillness, while the chanting sessions filled me with energy.
For good reason, the Ashram came together very quickly: Baba was coming to open it.
Before long, Baba was sitting in front of us, joining in the meditations
and chanting, telling humorous stories and discourses, reminding us of the divinity within us, of the love, creativity, and intuitive wisdom that waited for us in our hearts as we 'uncovered' and realized that Divinity
My Seva' was with the video team, I took my position in the video room, and had rare non-verbal moments with Baba. One time I was even 'burnt' when he stopped in front of me and 'angrily' asked why I was just standing looking when I could be working. I felt like I had so much stuff 'burnt' off me, then with a slight smile he continued on his way.
Seeing Baba walking through our neighborhood accompanied by Rob Roy, a beautiful Collie Dog that had been adopted by, and equally had adopted the Ashram, left a memory bank of sweet memories whenever I went for a walk in the area.
Baba had brought 'Om Namah Shivaya' scarves as gifts for those who had helped in creating the Ashram. Despite thousands of miles travelling and adventuring, mine has never been far from me.
It was also the 'Melbourne premier' of “A Very Rare Occasion", we had taken our title from a statement made early in the film about how unique it was that Baba was letting the photographers into his space.
Intensive 'weekends were spent in retreat with chanting, meditating, and discourses with Baba.
At different points in the meditation periods Baba would walk between the meditators giving Shaktipat, varying mostly between 'swatting' us with the peacock wand or firmly pressing his thumb at the location of the 'third eye' which had the effect of deepening my meditation.
NOT JUST KNOWING THE SELF, SEEING THE SELF
Sitting in meditation in an intensive which was to be my last in Baba's presence, I became aware of the rustling of his 'lungi' and the scent of the Khus oil he wore when a warm, soft thumb pressed firmly against my 'third eye'.The desire not just to know myself, but to actually "see" my Self welled up.'To see the See-er"
It was like a starter motor had been pressed in my consciousness, I seemed to enter a tunnel or a vortex, black beyond all blacks, as my awareness sped towards a tiny light, getting closer, I saw it was transparent, a small ‘dot’ of shimmering blue energy.
I didn't stop at observing it, but literally my awareness entered and merged with it. I believe this was the Self, the True self , the
'I' that witnesses all. This was even more sublime than my previous experiences, and a bliss beyond anything I had thought was bliss before. I came out of meditation seeing this shimmering blue energy literally in and dancing behind everything, I was a drop in the ocean, although I was conscious it was a pure sense of awareness
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PERFECT
I believe this experience was Baba's final gift to me, it seemed to deepen all experiences I had previously.
This was the last time I was in Baba's company, for several years he had not been in good health and quite suddenly passed away.
In many ways it was a surprise that was not a surprise.
I decided that it was time for me to be 'independent' and to go more into the world, taking what I had learnt and experienced from Baba's teachings, and the times spent in his very powerful, insightful and loving company. I felt immense gratitude for what he had 'given' me.
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"PHILOZOPHY"
To me, at the heart of what Baba taught and transmitted,
was the true experience of, and understanding
of 'my True Self ', the Divine Self, and being aligned with 'That.'
My focus was not on physical yoga practice,
but on powerful meditation
I felt surfing was a great form of yoga in itself,
for focus, health and agility.
I was more than happy to use the simple but
powerful meditation Baba had 'transmitted'.
Combined with simple breathing.
To me, meditation is the Crown Jewel of Yoga
and a jewel that cannot be stolen from you,
as Christ taught
"Cast your treasures in heaven".I