Eternally Inspiring Recollections of Our Divine Mother
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Eternally Inspiring Recollections of our Divine Mother Sahaja Yogis’ stories of Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Volume 1 Early Days to 1980 This book is humbly dedicated to our Divine Mother, Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi that Your name may be ever more glorified, praised and worshipped Thank You, Shri Mataji, for the warmth and simplicity and all the many ways in which You showered Your love upon us. And thank You for the great play of Shri Mahamaya that helped seekers to love and trust You, often without yet understanding the Truth that You were and are. The heart of this book is to remind us of the magic of Sahaja Yoga. The spirit of this book is to help our brothers and sisters all over the world, and also in the future, to know a small part of the beauty and glory of You, Shri Mataji, as a loving, caring Mother whose wonderful power of divine love dispelled and continues to dispel all our uncertainties. Sift now through the words that we found when we tried to remember. What follows is our collective memory, our story together. We ask Your forgiveness if our memories are less than perfect, but our desire is to share with others the love that You gave us, as best we can. Acknowledgements The editor would like to humbly thank all the people who have made this book possible. First and foremost we bow to Her Holiness Shri Mataji, who is the source and fulfillment of all, and who graciously encouraged the collection of these stories. Contents Chapter 1 1960’s and before - It Began in India Chapter 2 1970 and 1971 - Opening the Sahasrara Chapter 3 1972 - Mumbai, Dhulia, Some Indian Villages and America Chapter 4 1973 - The Second Batch Chapter 5 1974 - India and the Move to London Chapter 6 1975 - More Seekers, Eastern and Western Chapter 7 1976 - Malaysia and England Chapter 8 1977 - The First India Tour Chapter 9 1977 - Pujas, Ashrams and Caxton Hall Chapter 10 1977 - 1978 Shri Mataji in India Chapter 11 1978 - England: London and the South West Chapter 12 1978 - England: Large Seminars, and the Midlands Chapter 13 1979 - India, January to March Chapter 14 1979 - Dollis Hill Ashram and Indian Interlude Chapter 15 1979 - Lost Seekers Salvaged Chapter 16 1979 - The Goddess Declares Herself Chapter 17 1980 - Delhi, London and Brighton, UK Chapter 18 1980 - France and Switzerland Chapter 19 1980 - A Seminar, Meetings and Expansion Chapter 20 1980 - Finding Chelsham Road Ashram Chapter 21 1980 - A Trip to Portugal Chapter 22 1980 - European Programmes Chapter 23 1980 - December - India Chapter 1 1960’s and before - It Began in India The middle path Shri Mataji told us that seekers and more evolved people tend to be born in the middle level of society – not too rich and not too poor. She said She took Her birth in a family in this middle range, but as She was Shri Mahalakshmi, Her family could not help rising up and becoming blessed and successful in every way. Anonymous Stories from Shri Mataji’s childhood Shri Mataji told us that when She was a little girl She would get Her friends to play at acting out stories from the Ramayana, for example, and She would take the part of Sita. She also told us a story of how when Her parents were in jail for their part in the freedom struggle, She would sometimes be sent to Gandhi’s ashram. She told us that a number of young people were sent there and one was a young Maharaja. He had never shared a room with anyone and at the ashram the boys all slept together in a big hall. Mahatma Gandhi apologized when he asked for his own room, explaining there were none available, but said he could sleep outside in the yard. The other children knew what would happen but did not let on. In the night some snakes came to drink and the young Maharaja heard them coming. He was only too happy to share a room after that. Linda Williams Birthday presents This story was told to us by Mother’s sister (we called her Moushi Aunty). Moushi was just over one year younger than Shri Mataji and so Mother’s birthday was celebrated a short while before Moushi’s. One year, when they were still very little girls, Shri Mataji’s birthday came around and She was lovingly given many presents. Moushi was jealous and started crying and complaining. No one could pacify her, she wanted presents too and she didn’t want to wait those few weeks until her birthday. She herself confessed that she was stubborn and wouldn't stop her tantrum. Eventually the little child Shri Mataji gathered up all Her presents and brought them over to Moushi. ‘Here, you can have them, they’re yours,’ She said. Marilyn Leate What Shri Mataji wrote When Shri Mataji was around eleven years old Mahatma Gandhi asked Her, ‘Why don’t You write a poem?’ And this is the poem that She wrote: Early in the morning I pray to the essence of My Spirit, Which is, ‘The Truth, the Attention and the Joy; So that I should go to the highest state of My ascent.’ Juan Vega Bhide Girls High School, Nagpur, Maharashtra, where Shri Mataji was a pupil Shri Mataji was actively involved in the freedom struggle When Her Holiness was a teenager and Her family were involved in the struggle for India to be freed from the colonialists, Shri Mataji was very actively involved Herself and used to sneak out at night to attend meetings for planning freedom tactics etc. She was also caught by the British and tortured. She was highly active in Mahatma Gandhi’s movement and he used to call Her ‘Nepali’ and seek Her advice on spiritual protocols. Also the Holy Mother supported many humanitarian causes that no one is aware of, and gave of Her own money freely to help alleviate suffering. Toni Panayioutou A gift of bangles When Shri Mataji was a medical student the head of the university where She was studying was sympathising with the British and the students wanted to do something to show him up. There was a big gathering of staff, students and families, and Shri Mataji went up on the stage in front of everyone and presented him with a small gift, some bangles. To give a man bangles in India implies he is not a man. She was expelled, but said She only studied medicine in order to find out how far humans had got with their knowledge of the human body and after two years did not need to go on with it. Linda Williams The life blood of my country Shri Mataji was once with Mahatma Gandhi when it was time for a meal. The servant came in and Gandhi gave him the key of a cupboard, and Gandhi looked to see how many people were staying for lunch, and then measured out one scoop of rice for each person. Someone asked why he was doing this, because he was not short of food. ‘This is the life blood of my country, I cannot waste it,’ he said. Linda Williams Travels abroad Shri Mataji told us that when Sir CP was the Director of the Shipping Corporation of India, Shri Mataji encouraged various changes on the ships, such as cabins for officers which were large enough for their wives to accompany them. She Herself travelled on the ships and visited many places such as Cape Town and Dar es Salaam. Linda Williams The Divine censor Shri Mataji told us She was on the board of Film Censors in India before coming to the UK. This is why the old Hindi movies of the sixties are always ok from the point of view of dharma. Linda Williams My first holy darshan of Shri Mataji It was in about February or March in 1963 that a complaint came to my superior, from the Shipping Corporation of India office, about a maintenance problem in their flat at Jeevan Jyot. As it was my job, the next day I went to Jeevan Jyot around 9.00 am and rang the bell of the flat. Shri Mataji Herself opened the door and I was so impressed by Her personality and holy shining face that I automatically folded my hands together. ‘Namaskar,’ I said, and She reciprocated the same. ‘I have come about the complaint lodged in our office,’ I explained. Shri Mataji asked if I had brought a replacement to solve the problem. ‘I have come to explain about our inability to do so,’ I replied. She said that Shri Srivastava Saheb had already gone to the office and whatever explanation I had to give, to give it to him, as he was the master of the house, and She was ‘just a Gruha Lakshmi’. ‘I will come tomorrow again early,’ I said. She offered me a cup of tea, to which I said I would come the next day and have it. I said namaskar and departed. I had learnt from the staff under me that She would never allow a person to go from Her house without a cup of tea, however small he may be. At 8.00 am the next day I went to the flat again. The servant opened the door and I was asked to sit in the drawing room. Shri Mataji came in with Her two daughters, gave instructions to them about their going out and asked them what time they would be back.