My Nonprofit Reviews

2016 Bhrigu Ashram 10th Annual Meditation Testimonial

There are many activities that preoccupy the typical day: duties and responsibilities to family, work, as well as other endeavors that are important for maintaining family life. With all these activities getting attention and time, what happens to the activities that are important for spiritual growth? As Guruji Shree Sanjay Ji says, dedicating time for spiritual growth and for seeking God is the highest and most supreme dharma for any individual. One of the things that i most cherish during the annual retreats is the dedicated time to focus on Guru, God, and spiritual growth.

Just like all the past retreats, the retreat this year provided a wonderful opportunity to dedicate time to focus on Guru, God, and spiritual growth. Every morning during the retreat there were Kriya meditation sessions with Guruji and morning prayers. These meditation sessions and morning prayers recharged the spiritual battery and provided inner peace. There were wonderful pravachans (spiritual discourses) given by Guruji in the morning and evening. These pravachans strengthened the desire for God, provided practical guidance on how to be spiritual and live in the family, and boosted the resolve to pursue God. In addition, there were question and answer sessions held with Guruji during the day and evening. New to the retreat this year were the daily evening Havanas. The experience during these Havanas was extraordinary and is difficult to describe in words.

Another great part of this retreat is the activities that we all enjoyed as one family. Gurumata Shreemati Dolma Ji's tasty food, evening singing, evening dance party, games (games for both kids and adults), trivia quizzes, and artistic performances by children were wonderful. Both children and adults enjoyed these activities.

The retreat this year, like the past retreat events, emphasized spiritual activities, provided a forum for spiritual growth, and boosted spiritual strength. In addition, there were many fun activities and great food. The retreat this year, like the past retreats, was a wonderful and peaceful experience.

Thank You so much Guruji and Gurumata for taking care of all of us (children and adults) so lovingly during the retreat and for all Your hard work in organizing and coordinating the retreat activities.

Humbly bowing down at the Holy Lotus Feet of Guruji and Gurumata.

Namaste,

When my wife showed me pictures of Maharishi Bhrigu and Guruji in 2011, a divine experience – that cannot be put into words – came from the inside. My wife, being a devotee of Guruji and Guruma for many years, had kept these pictures in a bag that she used when moving to the East Coast, where I was located at the time. It was the first time I saw any picture of Them in this lifetime. That divine experience drew me to Them.

After speaking to Guruji on the phone in the summer of 2011 and seeing Him in the fall of 2011, I met Guruma for the first time in the winter of 2011. For these initial meetings, I did not know what to expect or what would happen. While I was physically in Guruji’s and Guruma’s presence at that time, I did not understand the purpose of being in Their presence. Even though I did not understand, the memory of the divine experience with the pictures kept telling me to stay connected to Them, to stay close to Them. Because of God’s blessings, Guruji initiated me into the meditative practice in 2011. I also was blessed to listen to wonderful, profound spiritual discourses given by Guruji in the same year.

In 2011, Guruma suggested to my wife and me the idea of moving to Southern California. We both liked the idea of coming to Southern California. In spring of 2012, Guruji said to my wife that we would be moving to Southern California in three months. Three months later, we moved to Southern California, with jobs and everything lined up, just as Guruji said. The timing that He said was exactly accurate! This was due to God’s grace and blessings.

The move to California is just one example of many positive, wonderful experiences with Guruji, Guruma, and the Shree Maharishi Bhrigu Ashram. Because of Their guidance and example, my family relationships have improved, my financial matters have improved, my health has improved, and my marriage has improved. Everything in my life has improved because of Them. Saying “Thank You” a million times to Them is not enough.

Since the move to California, I have been blessed to listen to countless spiritual discourses while being in the presence of Guruji and Guruma. They have guided me by words and example on how to combine spirituality with everyday family life. Through Their guidance and example, I slowly have begun to realize that an individual does not have to separate spiritual activities from everyday life (this everyday life also includes parties and celebrations). As They have told me, spirituality and everyday life go hand in hand.

The most profound and amazing experiences with Guruji and Guruma have been the inner transformations. Before moving to California, I was lost, with arrogance, anger, jealously, fear, and other negative thoughts and emotions running on the inside. The negativity hurt my life, making life stagnant and toxic. Before meeting Guruji and Guruma, I wanted to cleanse myself from this negativity. I thought that I could cleanse myself by myself. I thought that reading self-help books, books about Hinduism, books about philosophy, and e-mails about Hinduism would lead to inner cleansing. But every time I tried to implement some of what I read, I ran directly into an inner brick wall – a wall that seemed impenetrable with no end. I kept searching - through bookstores, public library, and the internet – for ways to break the inner brick wall. Coming from an educational background in mathematics, statistics, biology, and chemistry (4 years in college plus 5.5 years of graduate school), I thought that I could find the answer in writing and be free.

I was completely wrong. As Guruji has said, in order to cross or break down the inner brick wall, an individual needs someone who has already crossed or broken down the wall. I needed someone to help me. God sent to me the greatest and most precious treasure in my life - Guruji and Guruma - to break down the inner brick wall. Since the time I have met Them, They have been pulling and breaking down the inner wall, brick by brick. Through their guidance, example, and actions, They have been pulling away all those negative emotions and behaviors from me, constantly inspiring me to move forward on the spiritual path. Even when I have felt that the negativity was too much to bear, when I thought of giving up, Their strength, love, compassion, mercy, and example have provided – and still provide – the impetus to move forward.

Guruji and Guruma have always been thinking and performing actions for my highest good. They always have been focused on helping me, not taking from me. Nothing is forced upon me.

It has taken time, but I have come to realize the profound and paramount importance of having Guruji, Guruma, and the Shree Maharishi Bhrigu Ashram in my life. The gifts They have given to me – both the tangible and intangible - are priceless. To me, Guruji and Guruma are walking, talking, breathing manifestations of God. From my experience being connected to Them, Their guidance and actions are beyond the knowledge and understanding that can be found in books or schools. They are my support and strength. Life has more meaning, joy, and peace because of Them. They mean everything to me. Without Them, I am nothing. Their constant love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and generosity have profoundly touched me and so many other individuals. To me, They are my Divine Father (Guruji) and Divine Mother (Guruma). I am so grateful and blessed to be a part of the Shree Maharishi Bhrigu Ashram and to be close to Guruji and Guruma.

Praying for more love, faith, and surrender to Guruji and Guruma

OM TAT SAT OM