By Gurudevi Nirmalananda
Today is the Ashram’s 16th birthday. Happy birthday to us…
Sixteen. I remember waiting for my 16th birthday, the magic age where I would get my driver’s license and gain freedom. That’s what I wanted – not the drivers’ license but freedom. That’s what I’ve always wanted – freedom. That’s why I became a yogi.
I have studied with a Siddha, a master of Consciousness. I continue to be a disciple of my Guru, through his teachings and practices, and most importantly, through his Grace. My life is Grace infused, for which I am always and ever grateful.
Yet I have changed the name of the practice from Siddha Yoga to Svaroopa® Yoga. And I have given this name to the Ashram — Svaroopa Vidya Ashram. Why?
Because, when I call it Siddha Yoga, you think it’s all about the Siddha, all about the Guru. Then you want to know, “What’s her latest hairstyle like? Did she get a new shawl? What kind of car does she drive? Does she drive?”
But it’s not about me. It’s all about you. Not merely the you that you think you are, it’s all about your Divine Essence, svaroopa — your own Self.
You are Shiva. When you are in the knowing of your own Self, and you open your eyes, you know your own Shiva-ness. You are Shiva, being you.
But when you are the usual, ordinary, everyday you, especially when you are feeling contracted, needy or scared, you look for a way to feel better.
In that moment, if you are capable of being intelligent, you look inside. When you look inward, you are looking for your own svaroopa – your own essence and Beingness.
In other words, your svaroopa is your own Divine Essence, your own Beingness. And Shiva is your own Divine Essence, your own Beingness. But you call your own Beingness by different names depending on where you are placed, where you are looking from.
When you are on the outside, looking inward, you are looking for your own svaroopa.
When you are on the inside, looking outward, you are being Shiva, and even seeing Shiva being each and all.
So where do you spend the most of your time? on the inside, looking out, or on the outside, looking in? …