Held in Grace
(Moments from Sree Guru Purnima at SISS)
Rittwik and Urvi
Assam
The Sree Guru Paduka Puja offering was the heart of the celebration. With a quiet sincerity, the ever-devoted Chaitanya ji offered it with love. It didn’t feel like a ritual; it felt like a true offering. Sometimes, a gathering doesn’t feel like an event - it feels like a quiet shift within. This Guru Purnima at SISS was just that!
The Padukas were not just symbols, they held the presence and kindness of Sree Guru. The Rajopachara by devotees with its joyful Dandiya brought tradition and gratitude together in color and grace. A special moment during this offering was the release of the USB recording of the ‘Sreemad Bhaagwat Saptaah Mahayagnya’, a sacred remembrance of that powerful week of satsang, now made available as a blessing for all.
At the beginning of the talk, H.H. Guru Maa gently reminded us that, Jaati (birth), Aayu (lifespan), and Bhog (life’s experiences) arise from prarabdh - the past karmas now unfolding. Our family, our birthplace - these are fixed. Even Sree Guru can’t change them. Lifespan is mostly set too, but the Guru’s grace transforms how we live - bringing clarity, peace, and meaning. In rare cases, grace may even extend our years. But the greatest shift comes in Bhog - in how we experience life’s ups and downs. With Sree Guru’s guidance, pain becomes more bearable, joy becomes deeper. The external events may stay the same, but our inner response softens through mindful action, steady devotion, and quiet reflection. When all of this is offered at the feet of Sree Guru, life begins to feel lighter and freer. Sometimes, this inner turning begins with Śaktipata - an awakening through grace. It might come suddenly (Tatkalin Mukti), unfold gradually, or emerge as a deep longing. And when the time is right, Yathakale Mukti - freedom at the right moment embraces.
Many walk the path with discipline, prayer and reflection. But without Shraddha (faith), Bhakti (love) and Samarpan (surrender), even the most sincere efforts can feel stuck. Sree Guru doesn’t just give teachings - Guru gently transforms how we see and relate to life. Without that grace, discipline can harden, meditation can grow dull, and even renunciation may become an escape. True transformation begins with Sree Guru’s presence — this is the quiet message behind every verse of the Sree Guru Stotram. Sree Guru is not only a guide, but the bridge to real freedom!
Sree Guru Stotram may sound like a devotional chant. But when H.H. Guru Maa shared its meaning, it felt like something deeper — a journey inward. Each verse opened a small window of clarity. They didn’t ask us to reach for something far away, They guided us to notice what is already here. Sree Guru doesn’t add anything, but helps us see what we’ve always missed!
One verse described how wisdom removes ignorance like a special ointment applied to the eyes. It didn’t feel abstract, it felt personal. Many of us had experienced how a single glance or word from Guru Maa had dissolved years of confusion.
The verses describing the Guru as Stillness, the Illuminer and the Revealer brought a clear truth to the journey undertaken. It isn’t about becoming someone new, but about clearly seeing who we already are. As this seeing within grows, the outer labels of rituals, roles, identities - all begin to fall away. What remains is the Self - steady, silent, always present; now seen through Sree Guru’s grace!
We weren’t told to run away from Karm. We were taught to understand it, so that it no longer binds us from within.
By the end of our Spiritual retreat, the verses of Sree Guru Stotram no longer sounded like praise for someone else. They felt like a mirror - softly showing us our own unfolding.
That gentle reflection echoed through the entire day at SISS. A natural stillness filled the air, a grace that seemed to hold everything together. And as evening came, the full moon rose softly in the eastern sky. Even on cloudy nights, it somehow finds its way through — a quite familiar blessing!!
The next day, Sree Guru Paad puja took place soon after Naam Deekṣha — the sacred moment, when Sree Guru bestows the disciple with a new name. To then bow down to the very Feet that had blessed, felt deeply moving. It didn’t feel like two separate events; it felt like one continuous act of love and letting go, placed quietly at Sree Guru’s Feet.
A memorable moment followed with the celebration of our Chaitanya ji’s janmadinam, observed with grandeur and light-hearted joy. We all were one cheering happily and wishing whole heartedly for Lord’s choicest blessings to be bestowed on our beloved Chaitanya ji. In the midst of laugh & play, we felt like children again. The beautiful janmadinam song composed by Her Holiness is such a wholesome prayer encompassing all.
The outer celebration may have looked modern, but the spirit behind it was a timeless joy shared freely and openly. And with H.H. Guru Maa’s gentle presence and thoughtful comments, even those light-hearted moments felt like part of the path. It reminded us: when the Guru is at the centre, even the simplest joys become meaningful.
Later, Chaitanya ji shared the sacred Teerth photos, and H.H. Guru Maa brought out their deeper meaning. It didn’t feel like a presentation — it felt as though a new dimension opened within. It was as if we were quietly walking through those holy places, not in the outer world, but within. For a moment, time felt still. The sacred felt nearby.
Every day in the morning after Arati, as we sat below the seat of the Guru, listening in stillness, a gentle clarity began to unfold, through the verses of Sree Guru Aṣhṭakam.
The Eight Mirrors of Sree Guru Aṣhṭakam, That Awaken
Sree Guru did not give instructions but offered mirrors. Each mirror reflected a part of our daily life — our efforts, our attachments, our self-image, and asked the same unshakable question:
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
So what if life appears full on the outside, but the truth of the Self remains unseen?
So what if the world sees value, but inner freedom is still missing?
The eight mirrors below offered us not criticism, but a way to see without distortion.
Mirror 1: Appearance
A healthy body, good looks, a pleasant personality — these are appreciated by many.
But when the mind remains agitated or hollow without submitting at the Holy Feet, what is the real benefit of all that outer shine?
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
Mirror 2: Relationships
Family, friends, and social bonds bring joy and comfort.
Identity clings only to these roles, what happens when roles shift or disappear?
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
Mirror 3: Knowledge
Reading scriptures, quoting teachings, discussing ideas — these are often praised.
But when knowledge builds ego instead of dissolving it, what has truly been understood?
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
Mirror 4: Reputation
Being known as sincere, moral, helpful — this brings respect.
But if peace depends on others’ opinions, can it really last?
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
Mirror 5: Influence
Having a voice, gaining followers, holding authority — this may feel important.
But if the ego grows with each recognition, has the heart truly bowed?
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
Mirror 6: Generosity
Giving time, money, or service can uplift many.
But when the act becomes about the giver more than the giving — what remains?
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
Mirror 7: Practice
Chanting, meditation, prayer — daily practice shapes discipline.
But if the “i” grows through practice rather than dissolves, is that real progress?
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
Mirror 8: Withdrawal
Stepping away from noise and attachments may seem Spiritual.
But if the mind still holds on within, has anything truly changed?
Tataḥ Kim? — So what?
As these mirrors were held up before us, the need to prove or achieve quietly melted away.
In the gentle presence of Sree Guru, what began as a celebration quietly became a journey — where devotion turned to insight, joy to offering, and every moment into a step toward the Self. To sit in that presence, gently drawn into the circle of Sree Guru Maṇḍalam was a mark of deep grace.
With deep gratitude at the Lotus Feet of Sree Guru Parampara.
Humble pranaam,
Hari Aum!