Summer Celebration
July 26, 2019
Guru Purnima & Hanuman Olympics 2019
In our community we have a tradition of observing Guru Purnima with a day of song, prayer, ceremony, and play! There's been a long-standing pairing of devotion and play on this day wherein a yajna is held in morning followed by a bhoj (feast) and Hanuman Olympics in the afternoon. Community members of all ages join together for games such as volleyball, arm wrestling, and an obstacle course.
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“Work honestly, meditate every day, meet people without fear, and play.” -Baba Hari Dass
What is Guru Purnima?
Thousands of years ago the tradition of Guru Purnima began. The Guru is the one who dispels the darkness, or the one who brings to light that which is hidden from awareness. In simple language Guru is frequently translated as teacher. Purnima means ‘full’. It is the Full moon time to celebrate and honor the Guru, the Spiritual Preceptor.
For millions of spiritual aspirants throughout the world, there is no other more auspicious person than the Guru, no other more auspicious relationship than that with the Guru, and no other more auspicious day than the day of Guru Purnima. The Guru is the one who has crossed to the other shore and stands on the threshold of immortality to act as our link to the infinite. A prayer attributed to Sri Sankaracharya expresses the profound nature of the Guru.
The guru is no other than Brahma, the creator.
The guru is no other than Vishnu, the preserver.
The guru is no other than Shiva, the destroyer.
The Guru is verily Brahman (God) Him/Herself.
To the divine Guru I bow.
Babaji taught repeatedly that the Guru is not limited by any one form, all forms of the Guru are manifestations of one splendorous light which is the light of the Self within.
"Guru is your own Self which is projected onto a person who is more knowledgeable and capable of teaching. In the beginning an aspirant seeks support from outside, which is given by the teacher. But when the aspirant begins meditating honestly, his or her own Self is revealed as the Guru. Then the aspirant starts turning inward and finds the path which is shown by the voice of the heart."
The teacher Ramana Maharshi said this about the Guru:
"Silence is the most potent form of work. However vast and emphatic the scriptures may be, they fail in their effect. The Guru is quiet and peace prevails in all. His silence is vaster and more emphatic than all the scriptures put together. These questions (of life and liberation) arise because of the feeling that, in spite of having been here so long, heard so much, striven so hard, you have not gained anything. The process that goes on inside you is not apparent to you. In fact, the Guru is always within you."
Om