PREMA'S JOURNAL
Traveling from Paris to Hermancia next to Geneva, sharing the beautiful gifts of Bhakti with “strangers” that soon become dear friends. As we share a desire to heal, discover new aspects of ourselves and align body mind and spirit, we meet in common ground, the center, the garden of prayer.
I’ve been sharing chants during yin yoga and doing kirtans in the evenings. It’s fascinating to see people’s experiences, their opening and the desire to feel connection to the Divine.
We all want connection, the soul in this material world is in foreign land, therefore we always have a sensation of not belonging. My masters always said we must first understand our nature (the nature of the soul) and then we can find out how to support that nature. As a witness I can see in my travels that no matter how different the cultures, transcendental sound vibration of kirtan brings everyone home.
Namaste
It’s been 5 months since my spiritual master has left this world.
I feel like a whirlwind of experiences and emotions have brought me to this shore, this moment.
His words his lessons have become so alive so present in my journey.
I give thanks for every moment he shared with me in such a personal way, leaving his foot prints in my heart.
I’ve been traveling now in Europe for a month, sharing the mysterious way of these ancient mantras. And I witness each time how they dance from heart to heart, opening, purifying, transforming…
I want to live for this miracle. We are here to discover the greatest gift…love.
Our material senses can only reach the surface of such grace.
Let your soul dive deep and discover this endless ocean.
Dear friends and family,
I’m now in Puri Orissa. Famous for its ancient temple of Lord Jagannath, and the chariot festival. I feel grateful to be here in this sacred land, for about 10 days now.
D’vorah departed for Laos about 2 weeks ago. So it’s a good opportunity to have a solo time, preparing myself for the next pilgrimage in mid-March in Navadwip, West Bengal, where I will be surrounded by thousands.
So here I am. I got a little room by the beach and greet the sunrise every morning. Not alone of course, as hundreds and hundreds are there, offering prayers to the sun and the ocean and Lord Jagannath, bathing, celebrating, praying, playing, and laughing like little children.
The sight is truly an art piece of bright colors as the sun makes its appearance. What a way to began your day. You don’t want to miss it. I walk and walk and the crowds continue, camel rides, horse rides, coconut vendors…..
Then you smell burning flesh, and you know you’re near Swargadwar, the crematorium right there by the beach, in the open, for all to witness…. next to Gopalji’s sweet shop, in case you have a craving, and next to Trimurti hotel, if you need a place to stay with a great view of the “reality of life and death”. Welcome to India, it’s all in the open. The beauty, the sacred, the poverty, disease.
But I will share with you a precious moment. A few days ago, when walking on the beach I saw a bunch of young man, about 50 of them, screaming and laughing, gathered around something by the water. My curiosity pulled me to go and see …. to my horror, it was a wounded giant turtle. They were sitting on her, and taking photos and playing.
I never become involve with crowds here in India, especially being a woman alone. But this time something came over me, and I screamed at everyone, pushing them out of the way, telling them to leave her alone. I must have looked like Kali when I saw their faces. They moved out of the way as I pushed her into the
water, some would say it was dead, but I felt her alive. The waves pushed her in, but she kept drifting to shore because she was not swimming.
I walked along her side for a while, keeping people away. We came upon a solitary area, and a big wave pushed her onto shore. I placed my hands on her wounded neck, chanting prayers, envisioning her in peace in the hands of the Divine. One man came by and, feeling the sacredness of the moment, touched her to his forehead, folded his hands, and walked on.
I waited for the next big wave and pushed her in, floating around for a few minutes. All of a sudden she lifted her head, looked right at me, and swam as if thanking me. Another wave covered her. Again she just floated as dead. I don’t know if she survived, but that exchange of sacredness and love we had was timless. I will always remember her.
Life is full of miracles, but we must stop and be present, connect, have faith. We are on an eternal journey. Gifts are placed all along the way. Even when it seems we are alone in the desert, God is with us.
Much love to you all
Namaste,
Prema
Dear friends,
Another day in India. It’s been threee months now, and it seems like a whole lifetime. Amazing how time dances through our lives making each moment a distant memory. Nothing is ordinary here in India. The simplest shopping experience can turn into an adventure.
D’vorah joined me about a month ago in Vrndavan. I became her tour guide showing her the Yamuna, friends and my favorite temples, as I wasn’t able to show her all 5000 of them. Then we went to Jaipur. spent about a week there. played tourist as well as visited two famous temples, until the cold sent us on a two day train ride to Gokarna, a sacred village on the Karnataka state on the west coast.
We spent about a week there, visiting temples and trying hard to enjoy the warm beaches surrounded by coconut trees…. sorry, I know you guys are cold right now. I’m sending you my prayers.
Then we went to Udupi, a town famous for it’s Krsna temple. There they worship Krshna in great opulance. The priest dresses in colorful silks, and there are many elaborate rituals throughout the day, with great music. The evening attracts even tourists as the priests take the deity out on a procession with fireworks, dances, music, and an elephant fanning the deity the whole time.
After a couple of days there, we came to Varkala, more South, in Kerala. Way more touristy, but a place to relax at the beach and do some healing.
Wherever we go I feel so welcome and respected, as the locals recognize I follow a spiritual path from their tradition, and they happily shout “Radhe Radhe”!!!.
May you all be well, going deep into your heart, finding the warmth and light of the Divine.
Much love and blessings,
Prema and D’vorah
Dear friends,
I hope you had a beautiful solstice.
May you have a blessed holiday with your family and friends.
May this new coming year be another stepping stone, bringing you closer to the Divine.
May you enter in sacrednes and humility.
May you have the courage to walk truth, and the strength to face the challenges that come as a gift for our growth and purification.
May you feel embraced by love at every step.
namaste
Also it is my grandaughter Satyas’s first birthday on Dec 25th.
She was born in prayer, and we wish to support her journey with blessings and prayers.
I have arranged here at the Radha Raman temple for a ceremony conducted by the priest, and a feast will be
held bringing auspiciousness into her life, feeding many hungry people.
Jay Sri Radha,
Much love,
Prema
Dear friends,
So I have arrived to the sacred mother land.
I have the great good fortune to live at the temple of Radha Raman.
I hear the prayers go on throughout the day.
Every evening I sit by the Yamuna river as the sun sets, drinking in the beauty of the colors, hearing the sacred sounds, and smelling the sweet aromas from the offerings of incense and the flame of fire. An expression of devotion, love, faith. A celebration of life, a natural way of life.
I think of my life in Ashland – what we share – and I bring you here with me to experience a moment in your journey. There are no limits to the soul.
In gratitude and love,
your servant,
Prema mayi
Dear friends,
here I am in the midst of pilgrimage.
I’m taking a little break to write you all and let you know that your presence is very much felt in my heart.
I pray to carry back a drop of this sacred Experience or, if grace touches my head, an ocean.
You are in my prayers.
with much love,
Prema