अगस्त - Gratitude

Once everyone had a chance to settle down in silence, I began with dedicating the meeting to my younger sister Shilpa who was with us at the last meeting in May. Her physical body passed away in early June. Although I miss her terribly, I know she watches and supports me from other planes and realms.

This meeting was attended by 9 people and began with a meditation to the soothing chants of Manish Vyas, a disciple of Osho. Mini-processes related to forgiveness and letting go of negativities were interspered with inspiring music. Kirtana was first with "Only this love" which was followed by "Tu hi sagar hai, tu hi kinara, dhondhata hai to kiska sahara". You are the ocean and the shore, whose support are you looking for? A short meditation followed inviting us to look for the completeness within ourselves and in the silence asking, "Who am I? Where am I going? What do I want to be happy?" The meditation concluded with the beautiful song, "There is so much magnificence near the ocean."

A very inspiring discussion followed about how we can simplify the sources of happiness and make it so easy for us to be happy as opposed to the usual and sometimes impossible conditions we impose on our own happiness. Sarbari shared how she makes herself happy by waking up early, watching the dawn, hearing the birds chirping and on moonlit nights leaving her curtains ajar to allow the moonshine in.

Asha shared her gratitude ritual where she wakes up every morning and thanks the earth below and the roof above, for being there. Rohit suggested keeping a gratitude journal (a beautiful notebook) where we write down 5 things we are grateful for, each day. These maybe as trivial as the maid arriving on time or things we take for granted, like being alive! :-)

We concluded with yummy sandwiches prepared by Deepika and some Dhokla and chaina murgi. Looking forward to the next one already.