Guest guest Posted December 13, 2003 Report Share Posted December 13, 2003 Divine Yoga Family The third year of the new millennia is drawing to a close. Even here, tucked away in a corner of South India, the air has a cool nip. Sometimes, in the coffee shops, one even hears strains of the songs “Rudolf, the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” Some of the “star” hotels have put up Christmas trees, and one of them each year, erects a very large, beautiful nativity scene. Once several years ago, walking down the main street of Pondicherry at dusk, about this time of year, I was electrified to hear the old American Christmas song “Jingle Bells” blaring over microphones, as a fat old Santa Claus, flanked by six very accurately costumed elves and one fairly forlorn two-legged reindeer paraded down the main street of our South Indian city. Behind them followed a bus-load of Christian nuns, singing their hearts out: “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. O’re the fields we go, laughing all the way”…I don’t think I will be blessed enough to witness a similar spectacle this year for our city has changed much in the intervening years – for one thing, cars have become bumper-to-bumper at this time and the streets are clogged with people – shopping till they drop! In India, we are so cosmopolitan that we celebrate every single religious holiday with gusto – spending, wining and dining – for Ramzan, Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Pongal, - “any excuse is good enough to spend” in our newly arrived consumerist culture. We now have over forty official holidays “per year. That is not counting Sundays, bandhs, closures due to flood, storms, excessive heat, and deaths of important people! Christmas! The day of Christ’s birth! (Though we don’t really know for certain if he was actually born on this date or not!) Jesus – the King of the Jews – Isha – The Lord of Creation – Krishna – the Charming Cosmic Consciousness. The Birth of Awareness – The Dawn of Realisation – The sudden Insight that we are indeed Divine – Our birthright is Sat (Reality) Chit (Consciousness) Ananda (bliss)! These are the “Noble thoughts and aspirations” born in our consciousness not just on this holy day, but in every day that is “wholely” (holistically) lived! December 25th is just another day in a calendar of 365 days, marking the passage of our small green planet around the fiery sun. It has the significance we wish to give it – neither more nor less. Then-Yes-Why not celebrate the Birth of Spirit? The Birth of Joy? Of Innocence? Of Purity? Of Hope? Of Love? Any occasion is reason enough for such a celebration, even the birth of a small baby born in a manjar in a cold, far away place called Bethlehem. Little Dhivya Priya, my grand daughter, has reminded me again of the glory of the newly-born! Such light glows in her eyes! Such purity in her tiny body! Such mirth in her wonderful laugher! Such wonder in her gaze! Yes! Such a birth is a cause for celebration – and such a birth we all must have – not just on December 25th, but every day, of every year of our lives! Christ Consciousness! Krishna consciousness! Let it be born anew, afresh in every heart! May we embrace that Exhalted Spirit in our own selves, and let the Star of our Aspiration shine as a beacon to all mankind. Merry Christmas, to you, one and all, and happy, happy, happy New Year! May God bless us all, each and every one! Affectionately in Yoga, AMMADr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani25,2nd cross,Iyyanar NagarPondicherry-605 013tel;0413 622902/241561abb,yognat2001Website: www.icyer.com New Photos - easier uploading and sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2003 Report Share Posted December 14, 2003 Happy Christmas to you all. have a wonderful joyous new year. lots of love from The Balzer Family New Zealand - Dr.Ananda Bhavanani Saturday, December 13, 2003 10:38 PM Happy Christmas from Amma Divine Yoga Family The third year of the new millennia is drawing to a close. Even here, tucked away in a corner of South India, the air has a cool nip. Sometimes, in the coffee shops, one even hears strains of the songs “Rudolf, the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” Some of the “star” hotels have put up Christmas trees, and one of them each year, erects a very large, beautiful nativity scene. Once several years ago, walking down the main street of Pondicherry at dusk, about this time of year, I was electrified to hear the old American Christmas song “Jingle Bells” blaring over microphones, as a fat old Santa Claus, flanked by six very accurately costumed elves and one fairly forlorn two-legged reindeer paraded down the main street of our South Indian city. Behind them followed a bus-load of Christian nuns, singing their hearts out: “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. O’re the fields we go, laughing all the way”…I don’t think I will be blessed enough to witness a similar spectacle this year for our city has changed much in the intervening years – for one thing, cars have become bumper-to-bumper at this time and the streets are clogged with people – shopping till they drop! In India, we are so cosmopolitan that we celebrate every single religious holiday with gusto – spending, wining and dining – for Ramzan, Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Pongal, - “any excuse is good enough to spend” in our newly arrived consumerist culture. We now have over forty official holidays “per year. That is not counting Sundays, bandhs, closures due to flood, storms, excessive heat, and deaths of important people! Christmas! The day of Christ’s birth! (Though we don’t really know for certain if he was actually born on this date or not!) Jesus – the King of the Jews – Isha – The Lord of Creation – Krishna – the Charming Cosmic Consciousness. The Birth of Awareness – The Dawn of Realisation – The sudden Insight that we are indeed Divine – Our birthright is Sat (Reality) Chit (Consciousness) Ananda (bliss)! These are the “Noble thoughts and aspirations” born in our consciousness not just on this holy day, but in every day that is “wholely” (holistically) lived! December 25th is just another day in a calendar of 365 days, marking the passage of our small green planet around the fiery sun. It has the significance we wish to give it – neither more nor less. Then-Yes-Why not celebrate the Birth of Spirit? The Birth of Joy? Of Innocence? Of Purity? Of Hope? Of Love? Any occasion is reason enough for such a celebration, even the birth of a small baby born in a manjar in a cold, far away place called Bethlehem. Little Dhivya Priya, my grand daughter, has reminded me again of the glory of the newly-born! Such light glows in her eyes! Such purity in her tiny body! Such mirth in her wonderful laugher! Such wonder in her gaze! Yes! Such a birth is a cause for celebration – and such a birth we all must have – not just on December 25th, but every day, of every year of our lives! Christ Consciousness! Krishna consciousness! Let it be born anew, afresh in every heart! May we embrace that Exhalted Spirit in our own selves, and let the Star of our Aspiration shine as a beacon to all mankind. Merry Christmas, to you, one and all, and happy, happy, happy New Year! May God bless us all, each and every one! Affectionately in Yoga, AMMADr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani25,2nd cross,Iyyanar NagarPondicherry-605 013tel;0413 622902/241561abb,yognat2001Website: www.icyer.com New Photos - easier uploading and sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2003 Report Share Posted December 20, 2003 Dear Dr Ananda, Thank you for the beautiful message from Amma on the christmas eve. I wish I could make it for the pooja celebrations on 23rd but for my health condition. hope i can make it next time. yours sincerely, Narasimhan 20th dec --- Christine_Balzer-Gibbs <freedomain wrote: > Happy Christmas to you all. have a wonderful joyous > new year. > lots of love from The Balzer Family New Zealand > - > Dr.Ananda Bhavanani > > Saturday, December 13, 2003 10:38 PM > Happy Christmas from Amma > > > Divine Yoga Family > > The third year of the new millennia is drawing to > a close. Even here, tucked away in a corner of South > India, the air has a cool nip. Sometimes, in the > coffee shops, one even hears strains of the songs > " Rudolf, the Red Nosed Reindeer " and " I'm Dreaming > of a White Christmas. " Some of the " star " hotels > have put up Christmas trees, and one of them each > year, erects a very large, beautiful nativity scene. > Once several years ago, walking down the main street > of Pondicherry at dusk, about this time of year, I > was electrified to hear the old American Christmas > song " Jingle Bells " blaring over microphones, as a > fat old Santa Claus, flanked by six very accurately > costumed elves and one fairly forlorn two-legged > reindeer paraded down the main street of our South > Indian city. Behind them followed a bus-load of > Christian nuns, singing their hearts out: " Jingle > bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. O what fun > it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. O're the > fields we go, laughing all the way " .I don't think I > will be blessed enough to witness a similar > spectacle this year for our city has changed much in > the intervening years - for one thing, cars have > become bumper-to-bumper at this time and the streets > are clogged with people - shopping till they drop! > In India, we are so cosmopolitan that we celebrate > every single religious holiday with gusto - > spending, wining and dining - for Ramzan, Christmas, > Easter, Diwali, Pongal, - " any excuse is good enough > to spend " in our newly arrived consumerist culture. > We now have over forty official holidays " per year. > That is not counting Sundays, bandhs, closures due > to flood, storms, excessive heat, and deaths of > important people! > > > > Christmas! The day of Christ's birth! (Though we > don't really know for certain if he was actually > born on this date or not!) Jesus - the King of the > Jews - Isha - The Lord of Creation - Krishna - the > Charming Cosmic Consciousness. The Birth of > Awareness - The Dawn of Realisation - The sudden > Insight that we are indeed Divine - Our birthright > is Sat (Reality) Chit (Consciousness) Ananda > (bliss)! These are the " Noble thoughts and > aspirations " born in our consciousness not just on > this holy day, but in every day that is " wholely " > (holistically) lived! December 25th is just another > day in a calendar of 365 days, marking the passage > of our small green planet around the fiery sun. It > has the significance we wish to give it - neither > more nor less. Then-Yes-Why not celebrate the Birth > of Spirit? The Birth of Joy? Of Innocence? Of > Purity? Of Hope? Of Love? Any occasion is reason > enough for such a celebration, even the birth of a > small baby born in a manjar in a cold, far away > place called Bethlehem. Little Dhivya Priya, my > grand daughter, has reminded me again of the glory > of the newly-born! Such light glows in her eyes! > Such purity in her tiny body! Such mirth in her > wonderful laugher! Such wonder in her gaze! Yes! > Such a birth is a cause for celebration - and such a > birth we all must have - not just on December 25th, > but every day, of every year of our lives! Christ > Consciousness! Krishna consciousness! Let it be born > anew, afresh in every heart! May we embrace that > Exhalted Spirit in our own selves, and let the Star > of our Aspiration shine as a beacon to all mankind. > Merry Christmas, to you, one and all, and happy, > happy, happy New Year! May God bless us all, each > and every one! > > Affectionately in Yoga, > > AMMA > > > > Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani > 25,2nd cross,Iyyanar Nagar > Pondicherry-605 013 > tel;0413 622902/241561 > abb,yognat2001 > Website: www.icyer.com > > > > > New Photos - easier uploading and sharing > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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