The event we (in India) were all waiting for took place eventually on the home turf. Yes, the 3rd World Pranic Healing Convention and the International Arhatic Retreat happened end-November. And what better location than the serene settings of the cosmopolitan Chennai coupled with a real retreat in the peaceful pure suburbs of Chennai at Mahabalipuram. Right on the shores of the ever blue, ever fresh and ever lively Indian Ocean. The whole week was worth waiting for a lifetime at least. Where else, how else could one have the fortune of breathing in the shadows of our beloved Master. Blessed with his Grace, fired with an iota of his imparted wisdom, rejoicing in his ever-lasting oneness, bathed in his ever-reaching gentle love and kindness we are back with his message of salutation and Divinity, his message of love for all, his message of the great Namaste and his blessings for all.

What is being put forth here is but a humble attempt to share the Master's vast greatness and wisdom with all the dear, regardless, surely, you will agree that reproducing all that in words can at best be a feeble attempt.

The week can be broadly divided into the convention and the Retreat or the Great Souls'clarion call for rising above pettiness and submerging oneself into the vast Ocean of Selfless Love. The message sank well and truly. One cannot reach the everlasting bliss without shedding the cocoon of pettiness.

Onward 'Namaste' Soldiers ...

During the Convention and the Arhatic Retreat Master Choa Kok Sui reminded us of the true meaning of the ancient way of greeting. When you greet someone with Namaste, look into the person's eyes and let your soul salute the divinity within his physical body. This greeting is an ancient form of meditation: Look into the eyes of the person next to you for 1 minute, trying to see the Soul of the person. Say, "I salute the Divinity within you. Namaste". After this you will never be able to relate to this person as to a stranger. You can get rid of your old animosities: imagine that person in front of you and say Namaste to him for 1 min. After some time you will notice that the bitterness is gone. If not, do Namaste again. If these teachings of Master Choa are spread throughout India, throughout all troubled spots in the world, there will be no more communal tension.

When we say Namaste to our Guru it is our Soul that salutes to the Divine being in the physical body of our Guru. Master Choa often emphasises that a Spiritual Teacher is not a physical body. A Spiritual Teacher occupies his physical body and if you want to contact your Guru you have to look into his eyes, for it is known that the eyes are the mirror of the soul.

You should relate to the Soul, to the Divinity dwelling within the physical body of your Guru.

Divine Blessings

Your Guru is a window through which your can see God, he is a conductor for the Higher Teachings and Divine Light. When disciples bless and express their love for the guru, a true Guru offers their blessings and love to the Supreme God and the Higher Beings and asks God and Higher Beings in turn to bless the disciples. However, the extent to which the disciple receives the blessings depends on his receptivity.

Disciples sometimes ask their Guru for blessings again and again, on that Master Choa said: "You keep going with your cup to the sea for water, but how big is your cup ? How much water can you take ?" One must also remember that Guru's blessings are a fertiliser for the seeds. His blessings will manifest events and material objects in your life only if you yourself has sown their seeds.

Divine Healing

Disciples often ask Guru for healing. But isn't being in the aura of an enlightened Teacher is a healing experience by itself ? The healing presence is here and all that is needed is a recipient of it in order to "complete the circuit". So, instead of asking your Guru for healing or for blessings, make yourself super-receptive and superconductive.

How to become super-receptive and superconductive ? By emptying you cup of preconceived ideas. By having an intense desire to learn. By cultivating humbleness and respect towards your Guru, Spiritual Elders and towards all humankind. By sincere devotion to the Supreme Being. And, finally, by learning to just let go. In short, complete surrender to your Guru will make you superconductive.

Criticising your Guru or other evolved persons, discriminating between them or passing judgements on them blocks the channel through which the Divine Grace is flowing. If you are not convinced, try experimenting and see what happens to your spiritual cord. While moving on the path, one should not get involved in petty matters or come running to your Guru for solving your problems. The way you treat your Guru, you will receive accordingly - "it is as simple as that."

At the Feet of the Master

It has been known from the ancient times that emanations coming from the feet of a Guru are very beneficial to a Disciple. In the East it is considered a taboo to stand above the level of your Spiritual Teacher or to point your feet towards him. Sitting at the feet of the Guru in the receptive position with palms turned upwards makes a disciple extremely receptive, whereas crossing your hands or legs stops the flow of energy and knowledge from your Guru to you. Yawning in front of your Spiritual Teacher is a gross sign of disrespect, Master Choa often emphasises that a Guru teaches on many levels, physical and beyond. For his purpose Master does not encourage taking notes during his talk as it reduced receptivity of a disciple. Notes can be written later after the meeting is over.

During the last meditation - Guru Mediation - at the Arhatic retreat we were fortunate enough to sit literally at the feet of our beloved Guru - on the sand just below the small tall stage erected specially for Master Choa. As we opened our hearts and blessed from our souls the Divine Being, our Guru, and the Spiritual Elders we felt waves of love, kindness and Divine sweetness flowing towards the auditorium, enveloping us and giving birth to inexpressible joy and bliss, feeling of Divine Oneness and gratitude for this experience. This experience will be remembered for a lifetime.

The "Great Natyam of Bharat"

This was the reward of supper with the beloved Master. A grand performance preceding the dinner by a wonderful troupe of artists headed by Anita Ratnam that were gentle, loving, graceful in their moves and extremely exquisite in their performance. Our Master was pleased with the art and so we all were.

How well he interpreted the entire performance linking the opening of chakras, showering of love and ascent of Shakti with the descent of Shiva. A priceless dinner ingratiated with priceless teachings culminating in the victory of good over evil.

In time to come there is more great work to be done. Let us join together and thank the beloved Master for all that he has already given us and for all that he is constantly working out to give us, for the journey has begun and the true solders would certainly be victorious. Blessings to all.