Pranaam!! Yesterday, I had a very beautiful and fruitful evening. I visited Sri Badrika Ashram in the month of November this year. We accidentally met few devotees on the tea shop located outside the Ashram. We exchanged numbers. Last week, I thought to invite these devotees on dinner so that I can get some opportunity to discuss about Swami ji and various other spiritual talk. They obliged my invitation and visited my residence yesterday evening. I was very happy to receive them. We discussed various issues ranging from our native place, present profession, international and domestic politics but 95 % of our time spent on discussing about the Ashram and Swami ji. This is one of its kind get together. We all were so happy to describe our own deep connect with Swami ji. Generally, in such social gatherings, chit-chat surrounding with unnecessary topics usually happens but yesterday it was all about Swami ji and how to grow spiritually. Is not it beautiful?

                 In such a materialistic time horizon, four of us were sitting and discussing about spiritual growth and wellbeing of everyone. During discussion, a thought came into my mind and immediately I shared it with the guests. I thought to share with all of you as well through this post. During spiritual journey, sometimes We feel very high, and everything seems going well and suddenly without any exact reason, we start feeling low and might lose interest in doing any spiritual practices for time being. This is the right time when we should go for Ashram visit or attend Swami ji’s discourse on whatever media possible. It can be termed as ‘Chhota Recharge”. Chhota Recharge is required to reinforce the wisdom and rejuvenate the desire for spiritual growth. It is a very normal phenomena most of us might be facing. So, nothing to worry about. Just go for Chhota Recharge.  If somebody who is living in the extreme materialistic world situation and want to achieve real spiritual growth, he/she need to frequently recharge himself/ herself by visiting Ashram, or reading books by Swami ji or watching HIS videos. It is essential because, one may not have so much of internal strength to face the realities of world without hampering his/her Sadhana. To strengthen it, one needs to go to Ashram in between and get himself/herself blessed with Sri Hari and Swami ji’s darshan. This must be the reason behind the message of Sri Tulsidas ji when he wrote the following beautiful lines:

                                                  एक घड़ी आधी घड़ी ,आधी की पुनि आध , तुलसी संगत साधु की ,काटे कोटि अपराध।
  # भावार्थ -तुलसीदास जी ने सुसंगति के महत्त्व का बखान करते हुए कहा है कि साधू अर्थात् भले एवं सच्चे लोगों की अतिअल्प संगति भी हमारे जीवन से कई प्रकार के कल्मष एवम् पापों को हर लेती है।

It is always important to have good circle of friends or relative around as they influence one’s internal psych..By visiting Ashram or reading about Swami ji and HIS books, the thought of being mindful, being kind and grateful reinforces again and again. We can be more mindful if we constantly remind ourselves to be so else the path of Sadhana is very slippery. We need to continuously monitor our thoughts and actions.

      The guests shared their journey of spiritual growth and learning and so I. I felt so blessed to have them at my residence yesterday. We parted at 11PM in the right with lot of happiness and best wishes to each other in our heart. I was thinking that how Swami ji is connecting strangers of similar interests. How Lotus app is bringing miraculous changes among masses. So many good things are happening around, so much of kindness is being spreaded on daily basis. The trigger point is Swami ji only. I wish all the devotees a very happy New year. I pray to Sri Hari that in the coming year, May I get the strength to self-purify myself and achieve greater heights in Sadhana. I wish all the devotees a blessed and peaceful year ahead. I wish a good luck to every fortunate soul who is already on the journey of Chhota Recharge in the Ashram this week.

Photograph: open source internet