India Blog 2/24/08

The Mumbai event with Master Charles and the Mahamandaleshwars, Swamis and other highly regarded teachers was held at Birla Matushri, a large auditorium adjacent to Bombay Hospital.  The evening event attracted many hundreds of people and featured the sub-theme: “From Negativity to Positivity”.  This theme, of course, is one that Master Charles has spoken upon in depth for many years and is a major thread within the Synchronicity Paradigm. 

The stage was elaborately arrayed with a huge orange banner of the sponsoring organization “Prempuri Ashram” headed by Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishveshwarananda Maharaj, a highly respected Indian Guru.  The presenters were seated in throne-like chairs adorned with lion’s heads from which they spoke for about twenty minutes, each offering their unique perspective on the theme.  It was remarkable to observe the differences in style of each of the speakers.  Some spoke with great seriousness, bringing emphasis to their points by gesturing with their arms.  In most cases, the dialogues were in Hindi, but even without understanding the language, now and then an English word or phrase gave a sense of what was being conveyed.  One particular speaker, whose presentation was most humorous and light-hearted, explained at the start of his talk that in order to avoid confusion, he had decided to give his talk in English, a language that hardly anyone could understand!  Much of what he had to say was punctuated by cleverly playing on words that brought much laughter from the audience. 

Master Charles spoke boldly and brilliantly on the need for a New God… an update in Consciousness essential at this time in order to create a more balanced and unified humanity rather than the extreme fragmentation and conflict that increase day by day.  His talk was very well received and at the conclusion, as the audience began to disperse, many approached Master Charles to acknowledge his contribution and express gratitude for his enlightening presence. 

Following the presentation, we returned to our flat in suburban Mumbai to begin packing in preparation to leave India for London, the last leg of our tour where Master Charles will once again present a series of Synchronicity Programs to the public.  Stay tuned for more details…

“Horn OK Please” – a unique Indian phrase that appears on the back of every truck as referenced in the Inner Network several weeks ago.		A small private gathering at the home of Gautam Sachdev, our Mumbai distributor and event sponsor for India.
Guests at an Indian wedding near the oceanfront in Mumbai – an elaborate and ornate event.		Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishveshwaranada Maharaj welcomes the guests and audience.
Master Charles receives a traditional garland.		Master Charles delivering his talk.
A view of the stage from approx. one third of the way back in the hall. .		Another view from two thirds of the way back showing Master Charles on the large screen television.
Here, a play on words brings smiles and laughter.		To the left of Master Charles is the humorous Swami.
Sunrise on the oceanfront at Mumbai.

The Bangalore program series was held at a Catholic women’s college located near our residence in Koramangala, a large section of the city.  The auditorium was newly built and featured excellent facilities in a comfortable and dignified setting.  As in Mumbai, the response was very enthusiastic with attendees reporting numerous experiences of subtle dimensional actualization and holistic awareness.  In one case, a retired surgeon traveled to the program all the way from Kerala, several hundred miles away in a neighboring state.  He was overjoyed that Master Charles accepted him as a disciple, saying that this was the best day of his life. He is keenly interested in becoming a Synchronicity Certified Teacher and setting up programs in the large cities near his home.

Having now returned to Mumbai from Bangalore, we are in the last several days of our time here in India.  We had an opportunity to meet with one of the most respected and internationally known Indian classical singers named Rattan Mohan Sharma.  It was he who chanted the invocational mantras just prior to Master Charles’ Mumbai program.  Master Charles was so taken with Rattan’s exquisite singing that he wanted to propose a collaborative project that includes the re-recording and updating of the Thousand Names of the Divine Mother, a Synchronicity soundtrack originally made many years ago.  Rattan was most honoring and gracious and previewed for us a number of his own recordings.  Of course, he wholeheartedly agreed to collaborate with Master Charles not only on this, but a number of other projects as well.  

The last major event before we leave India is a public presentation with Master Charles and a host of Mahamandaleshwars, Swamis and other highly respected teachers at a large auditorium in downtown Mumbai.  The theme is “The Challenge of Modern Life” (a theme well known within the Synchronicity world as “Living with Balance in an Imbalanced World”).  More details to follow…

Attendees gather to receive Master Charles' blessing following the Bangalore program.		Synchronicity program banner near the entrance to the Bangalore venue.
The entrance to the venue auditorium with its Catholic statuary.		Master Charles makes a point during the second Bangalore program.
A concluding gesture of acknowledgement.		Traditional honoring of the Guru.
The surgeon from Kerala mentioned in the article.		Astrologers and palmists are everywhere in India.
Vedic priests performing a Homa (fire ritual) to Ganesh – the elephant headed deity loved by all as the “Remover of Obstacles”.		A Krishna temple near the Bangalore venue.
A colorful pavilion in a Mumbai park hosts a spiritual gathering.		Huge billboards adorn office buildings and show the western influence in Indian culture.

Arriving in Bangalore, we enter a new realm in our India experience.  This South Indian city, the third largest in this country of nearly one billion people, is the center of this nation’s technology boom and is known as the “Silicon City” of India.  We are staying in a very nice upper class neighborhood in an apartment complex within a ten minute drive of our venue for the next series of Synchronicity programs. 

The first order of business however, is a journey of four hours to the village of Puttaparthi  in Andhra Pradesh state, the ashram of Sathya Sai Baba, one of the most famous of Indian saints who has millions of devotees.  Master Charles spent time at Sai Baba’s ashram many years ago when he was enroute to meet his teacher, Muktananda for the first time.  It was his wish to see him again as his age is advanced and he has been in poor health recently. 

Darshan with Sai Baba is a large group experience as there are thousands of devotees at his ashram at any given time.  There are two darshans each day, one between 8:00 and 10:00am and the second, between 3:00 and 6:00pm.  Attendees are seated on the marble floors of a huge and very ornate pavilion to await Sai Baba’s arrival.  As he is unable to walk, he is brought to the hall by car and he then greets the assembled from his wheelchair.  For the most part, he is silent and his darshan is his enlightening presence alone.  Preceding and following his entrance, there is traditional Indian chanting.  The experience is quite elevating and the energetic presence is most palpable. 

After spending one night in Puttaparthi and attending two darshans with Sai Baba, we returned to Bangalore.  Just prior to departing Puttaparthi, we learned of the passing of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the originator of the Transcendental Meditation Technique and one of the first Indian Spiritual Masters to come to the west to teach.  Maharishi was the first teacher of many current Synchronicity Associates including the author of this blog.

Next, we arranged a short trip to a nearby temple to the Divine Feminine expression known as “Rajarajeshwari”, the deity represented in the sacred geometric form of the Shri Yantra, a well-known mystical symbol of the Vedic / Tantric tradition.  The temple visit was a very impactful one as the authentic empowerment available was immediately evident to us.  Very ancient ritual and mantras are used by specially trained priests on a consistent basis in duration to create the subtle dimensional power in and around the vicinity of the temple.  To spend time in such places is extremely uplifting and entrains one into spontaneous states of meditative awareness.  Master Charles directed us to purchase a very large and beautiful garland of lotus flowers as an offering to the diety.  This is an investment in positive force (such as gifting the Master), that every Indian is well aware of, but is just becoming understood in the west. 

Dear Santosh,
I wanted to thank everyone, specially you, at Yogi Impressions for making it possible and therefore enabling us to be in the Light with Master Charles.

I would like to share with you some experiences I had during the event.
Having bought the music at the end of the first day, I began to listen to it when I reached home. In a very short period of time I began to relax deeply, but with a great amount of pressure on my temples. It was asthough an invisible hand was pressing that area. Although the sensation was very strong, it wasn't unpleasant. Somewhere along that, I must have drifted off to a space unknown and when I surfaced, I realized that I had lost complete body consciousness. Felt a deep stillness within.
The sounds of Synchronicity had done for me what ordinarily would have taken much longer.
On the second day, at the tea break , the exercise of the awareness of THAT, of Divine Consciousness in all, enabled me to feel free of my personal past, conditioning and mental heaviness. I could actually be in the moment without self consciousness, fully alert and present and connected. There was no separation. Self consciousness had been replaced by Divine Consciousness.
Later, listening to Master Charles voice instructing us during meditation, I felt stirring in the heart, forehead and crown areas. I saw these areas in dazzling Light, and sensed a purity never before felt.
So simply and quickly Master Charles put me where I belong...to The CORE...the SOURCE!
As I continue to listen to Synchronicity, I have many experiences and feel that there is a magical quality to EVERYTHING! Feel a deep inner joy.

Santosh, I request you to organize a small meeting with Master Charles before his departure from India so that I may express many thanks and much gratitude...and also tell him that despite my initial reservations...I now know that "It Meditates You"!!

With love and light,
Shabnam.

Now, we turn our attention to final preparations for the Bangalore program… details to follow…

Master Charles speaking with Satya Dave, the Bangalore coordinator.		Ashramites at Puttaparthi, the home of Sathya Sai Baba. .
Auto rickshaws are common throughout India and those at Puttaparthi feature a photo of Sai Baba.		Our apartment complex in Koramangala, Bangalore.
An upper class home in our neighborhood.		A huge spreading banyan tree on our street.
Cows appear on the streets anytime and anyplace.		A familiar street corner scene: tender green coconut milk is served in the shell with a straw.
Entering the Rajarajeshwari Temple.		Approaching the inner sanctum of the shrine.
The outer shrine room.		Ornate temple architecture.
Inside the inner shrine room.		The Meru Shri Chakra shrine.
Ashram building.		Master Charles and Steve Ross meditating in the inner chamber of the Rajarajeshwari Shrine.

On the heels of a tremendously successful response to the introductory evening, we expected the numbers to be somewhat lower for the half-day seminar on the following afternoon.  This was in consideration of two factors: first, we felt that the more advanced level of discourse could be a limiting factor and second, the ticket price for the seminar was triple the cost of the introductory evening. But, against all such “logic”, the Saturday seminar was a resounding success with an almost equal number of attendees.  The audience was enthusiastic, thoroughly engaged and obviously hungry for the wisdom and guidance of a modern mystic.

Master Charles was brilliant as always in his clarity of presentation as well as his sharing of experience.  Included in this event was a longer discourse and meditation as well as a Q&A session at the end in which participants were able to directly address their concerns and personal experiences.  Master Charles was able to respond to each in such a way as to allow for both intellectual understanding and most importantly, a sense of appropriateness that made everyone feel acknowledged and included. 

Of particular interest was the large proportion of the audience who reported many advanced experiences of classical kundalini awakening.  It was especially gratifying to hear Master Charles assist each one in a more holistic perspective that brought focus to the rare and profound nature of their evolving consciousness.  He also explained that as a result of their spiritual myth-based enculturation, the people of India naturally embrace a holistic lifestyle and their spiritual experiences manifest quite naturally in that context.  Nevertheless, the attendees were hungry for a Sourceful perspective that allowed them to recognize the profound nature of what they were experiencing and Master Charles provided that in a contemporary understanding that simultaneously included the empirical perspective. 

Again, as with the introductory evening, there were a large number gathered for the farewell greeting and many were asking when the next tour of India was planned for. 

Ratan Mohan chants traditional Vedic chants.		Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal introducing Master Charles.
The diversity of unity.		Master Charles begins his dialogue.
Many await the opportunity to greet Master Charles.		Master Charles concluding his talk.
Blessing two attendees. .		Master Charles answers a participants question.

Having returned to Mumbai from Shanti Mandir ashram in Gujarat, we have spent several days finalizing preparations for the series of programs scheduled for the 31st of January and 1st of February.  As has been mentioned before, the traffic in Mumbai is such that it is quite common for a ten mile commute across the city to take over two hours.  As our program venue is in South Mumbai and our apartment is in a northern suburb, we decided to move to a hotel that is located in the area very near the programs.  So, we are ensconced in the Sea Palace, a very comfortable hotel facing the ocean. 

As we arrived a few days ago, there has been time to meet the staff of Yogi Impressions, Ltd., the publishing firm headed by Gautam Sachdev that we have partnered with and through whom the events were planned, staffed and advertised to the public.  In addition, we have visited some of the shops that Master Charles was familiar with years ago when he was in India with his teacher, Paramahansa Muktananda.  He is particularly keen on obtaining the kinds of cottons and silks that will be needed for his appearances with the Mahamandaleshwars on this and future trips to India.  Time spent in these shops is an amazing experience as some of them have remained essentially unchanged in all these years.

Finally, it is Friday, the day of the first in the two-part series of programs.  We arrived at the venue earlier in the day to direct the stage set up and set the audio levels for the Synchronicity soundtracks to be played during the program.  The venue itself is a lovely theatre style hall with a full stage.  Having completed the necessary preparations, we returned briefly to our hotel to dress for the event.  We then returned to the venue and even an hour prior to the scheduled start of the presentation, there were a number of interested people gathered outside to purchase tickets or peruse the Synchronicity soundtracks and books available.  By the time the event was to begin, there were hundreds of people seated and Master Charles was introduced by a well-known Indian actress and celebrity, Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, who was introduced to us by the owner of our partnering organization.  Following the introduction, there was a traditional invocation by Ratan Mohan, a pundit well known for his beautiful heartfelt chanting.  Following the chanting, Master Charles took his seat and began his dialogue. 

He spoke very simply and eloquently – his theme being “Living with Balance in an Imbalanced World”, in which he shared the Synchronicity Holistic Model of Reality, the diversity of unity and his contemporization of the traditional context of meditation and holistic lifestyle as directed by his illustrious teacher, Paramahansa Muktananda.  The audience was absolutely focused and took in every word.  Master Charles then led a short but very powerful group session of Synchronicity Contemporary High-Tech Meditation followed by his conclusion. 

Finally, there was a greeting in which many participants came to the front of the stage to ask questions, receive personal guidance or express their gratitude.  It was obvious that everyone was deeply moved by Master Charles’ enlightening presence as well as his presentation of the Synchronicity Experience.  We sold out of several titles of Synchronicity CD’s and all agreed that the event was an unqualified success. 

Audience awaits the beginning of program.		People crowding around table to purchase Synchronicity soundtracks.
Banner on display at the entrance to the program venue.		Master Charles and Steve Ross examine shawls in a Mumbai shop.
Mumbai woman saying prayers while facing the ocean.		The Gateway of India – Mumbai’s renowned landmark.
The famous Taj Hotel in South Mumbai.		Master Charles with Gautam Sachdev of Yogi Impressions.

We have returned to our Mumbai apartment from Shanti Mandir Ashram - a week’s respite from the chaos of city life in this, one of the most congested urban areas in the world.  Yet, the pulse of life and openness of the Indian people continues to inspire us.  India is a fascinating mix of traditional and modern culture and particularly in the cities, these two expressions mingle together in ways that are always surprising and quite entertaining. 

Yesterday, we went to a musical instrument store called Haribhau Vishwanath Musicals that Master Charles last visited over thirty years ago.  On this occasion, Master Charles wanted to obtain two traditional Indian instruments: a sitar and a tamboura.  In addition, there are now digital and software-based versions of these instruments that produce a variety of sounds and rhythms in the studio.  It is his intention to re-record and update some of the older Synchronicity soundtracks as well as creating new music with a mixture of eastern and western accompaniment.  After looking at a number of sitars and tambouras, one of each was chosen along with some peripheral materials to be shipped back to the Virginia Sanctuary. 

Next, we visited a shop across town that specializes in Rudraksha beads, the seeds of a tree native to this part of the world from which malas (necklaces), and bracelets are created and worn to enhance balance and positive energy.  Also, this shop has a wide variety of related spiritual products, many of which are unique and very rare outside of India.  The Peace of Mind Shop carries a number of pendants made from Rudraksha beads. 

Traffic in Mumbai at all hours of the day and night is extremely congested and after leaving the Rudraksha shop, the drive back to our apartment – a distance of no more than twelve miles, took two full hours!  Today, we are preparing for the first series of Synchronicity programs in Mumbai after which we travel south to Bangalore. 

A traditionally decorated rickshaw passes us on the street.		Modern western businesses can be found throughout Mumbai.
Master Charles sitting at the mixing board during a tour of a Mumbai recording studio.		The view from a rooftop terrace shows the old and new buildings of the city.
A corner snack shop is always busy with hungry customers.		A outdoor bazaar near our apartment features everything from bathmats to traditional arts and crafts.
Master Charles checks out a digital tamboura at Haribhau Vishwanath musical instrument shop in downtown Mumbai.		Shop owner showing a real tamboura to Master Charles.
In this and the next image, Master Charles checks out the tone on the tamboura.