March 10, 2023

After almost three years of the worldwide pandemic, 2023 brought new rays of hope, joy, and blessings to the entire YSS/SRF family across India and around the world. Yes, we are talking about the visit to India of Swami Chidananda Giri, spiritual head and president of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India/Self Realization Fellowship, from January 22 to February 28, 2023. Swamiji touched the hearts of devotees with his boundless love, compassion, and words of wisdom that charged their spiritual life and kindled divine aspirations in everyone who crossed his path. During his month-long tour, Swami Chidanandaji visited YSS ashrams at Noida, Ranchi, and Dakshineswar, where he conducted Sunday Satsangas and presided over a number of special events. However, the highlight of Swamiji’s tour was the five-day YSS Sangam near Hyderabad. More than 3,200 thirsty souls from across India and all over the world participated. The Sangam was organized at the Kanha Shanti Vanam complex, with its emerald green lawns, vibrant blossoms, and lines of shady trees radiating peace and joy.

The Sangam participants attended daily morning and evening group meditations, spiritual discourses, kirtan, and YSS meditation technique review classes. The highlight of the Sangam was a special three-hour meditation with Swami Chidanandaji.

During the inaugural session, Swami Chidanandaji gave an inspirational talk on navigating life’s challenges and attaining our highest potential. Swamiji urged devotees to “take utmost refuge and eternal shelter in the divine realization bestowed by Kriya Yoga meditation practised with the blessings of our divine and revered Sadguru Paramahansa Yoganandaji.” In his closing Satsanga, Swamiji encouraged participants to carry back with them the blessings of the Sangam through daily practice of meditation and by cultivating an intimate relationship with the Divine. He lauded the role India’s ancient civilization and divine wisdom are playing on the world stage. Swami Chidanandaji explained how each one of us can become “a living link between the Golden Age of India’s spirituality and the emerging global civilization.” He urged all to go into the inner sanctuary where God is eagerly waiting to embrace each soul with great affection.

Several other senior YSS and SRF monastics also gave inspirational talks in English and Hindi based on the how-to-live teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. The topics covered in these classes were “The Healing Power of Forgiveness,” “Being a Prince of Peace in Inner and Outer Lives,” “God Is as Close to You as Your Thought Allows Him to Be,” and “Tapping into the Inner Source of Strength and Wisdom through Meditation.”

One of the highlights of the Sangam was the sacred Kriya Yoga Diksha ceremony conducted in English and Hindi simultaneously at four different venues. At all these locations, revered Swami Chidanandaji showered rose petals permeated with the blessings of the Gurus.

During the Sangam, Swamiji also released a number of YSS publications. The inspirational talks by Swami Chidanandaji and other monastics, as well as the daily meditations, were live-streamed for viewing by thousands of devotees across India and around the globe. These events are still available for viewing on the YSS YouTube channel.

Exemplifying the ancient Indian tradition of Guruseva, hundreds of YSS volunteers worked tirelessly with the monastics for months to organize this grand event. During the Sangam, many facilities were made available for the devotees, including: in-house dining; accommodation for thousands of devotees; transportation to and from the airport, railway stations, bus terminals, and daily commute to and from nearby hotels and guest houses; helpdesk and medical facilities; personal spiritual counselling by senior monastics; Voluntary League of Disciples (VLD) and Kriya Yoga Diksha registration booths; book stalls displaying a wide range of YSS publications; and resting pandals for devotees.

The YSS Sangam at Hyderabad was an enriching experience that recharged devotees with spiritual fervour and rekindled the flame of divine love in their hearts.

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