Sangha Members Share From the Heart

The many World Sangha members who had gathered in Badegaun for the extraordinary two-month Maitri Divas celebration were overjoyed by the surprise appearance of a hundred some Maatma Marga Gurus. The Maatma Marga Path comes from the wisdom Guru had gained during His long austerities in the Jungle. These gurus with families serve Nepal in towns and villages, performing rituals and teaching Maitri Dharma. Watching them, foreign Sangha members began to explore more deeply their own intentions and motivations for the Dharma path. Reflecting on the significance of faith and assessing their own ability to stay strong on the path, especially now during the Sangha’s dynamic transformation, they share with love some thoughts and feelings below:

Gyemyinde (Joan Stanley-Baker)

During the eleven years of Guru's physical manifestation as Maha Sambodhi Dharma Sangha, devotees have been leaving and joining the Sangha as increasing clarity is gained of our spiritual direction, the goals we hope to reach, and our capacity for Dharma. Some had first come like schoolchildren toting backpacks and notebooks hoping to learn Maitreyan, the Bodhi-Dharshan Maitri Dharma and, after exercises and reviews, pass tests and be declared Maitri Disciples worthy of celestial rewards.

It has become clear, however, that both in content and in essence, Guru’s Bodhi gyan (omniscient wisdom) and the Maitri Dharma are not ‘transmitted’ in ways to which people are accustomed. Instead, it is more like implanting a seedling that from deep within may grow and permeate the whole system. And Guru’s seemingly singular preoccupation with Dharma is finally beginning to ‘make sense’, even to the rank beginner writing here. There is an inalienable causal relationship between the quality of energy being unleashed (by humans and other living beings), and prevailing conditions of the Planet. For instance, when we admire someone even a stranger, and even without words but just sending positive energy, s/he will feel happy without knowing why, and eventually show a new benevolence towards us. Conversely, if we think ill about someone, stranger or friend and sending negative energy, s/he will inevitably feel bad without knowing why. Similarly, energies of galloping human greed, wanton and callous exploitation of the Planet, result in landslides, earthquakes, and floods.

Guru says, “Dharma is the world. Dharma is the very element that holds the world together.” This structural bond is an as yet little-understood principle of Creation itself. But it is clear that, for the survival of humanity and the Planet, true Dharma must be reinstalled. Dharma is huge. Dharma is free. Dharma has remained a stranger to mankind for far too long. In prehistoric, primordial times when the Planet flourished and all living beings knew only Peace and Happiness, Dharma had prevailed. But since Dharma became diverted, re-written and misunderstood, it has slipped away. It is now time to reflect and to recollect. We must search for, identify and relive the true Dharma Guru is bringing back, to liberate all beings and rejuvenate our Planet.

Japanese physicist Emoto Masaru had devoted many books to show with what sensitivity water molecules respond to human emotions: they freeze into beautiful crystalline patterns when thanked or praised, and produce ugly patterns when treated with negativity. Water is the characteristic element of our blue planet, and permeates most organic and inorganic things on it. We know that human responses likewise vary according to energies received. We feel joy when appreciated, and sadness, even anger when ignored or rejected. But every volley fired in anger will ricochet back against ourselves, and create ever tougher calluses that make our love shrink and die, leaving only gaping desire or fury. Note the parallels between deterioration of the soul resulting from hatred or greed, and the planet’s deterioration under continual exploitation engendered by greed and disrespect.

In the years since Guru’s advent, the purpose and faith of would-be disciples have gone through many serious tests. And there has been a parting of the ways like chaff from the wheat as some members veer off the Path, giving up the search. Some were drawn to negative voices, malicious gossip against the Guru by jealous or frightened souls wishing to trigger confusion and doubt among truth-seekers to keep the world away from Maitri Dharma. Some have even hijacked the official American website dharma-sangha.com to turn it into a platform for self-destructive and tiresome anti-dharma propaganda.

Ivan Stankovic (Djovani Cuteaux) and his patrons-behind-the-scenes provide a vivid demonstration of the flapping death throes of darkness when blinded by the advancing light of Truth. Loudly they repeat hearsay accusations like a broken record, while heading (perhaps unknowingly) straight toward self-annihilation.

Why is it that instead of promoting the Teachers they love or admire, people spend such long hours of their precious lives brewing negativity, fabricating lies and otherwise labouring their impoverished heart, just to belittle the Guru they failed to fathom? Could it be because there is no one they admire? Because they have not known true love or genuine devotion? Because they fear a rise of Maitri Dharma in the world? Do they worry that people gathering around Guru may retrieve Paradise on Earth? But why fear love and beauty?

Most Sangha members however grow increasingly rooted in the Guru. Steadfast in their faith, they know Guru to be the Answer, not only for their own future, but for the world. But Dharma is not so simple to grasp. Bodhi is not so easy to gain. None of us can cite Maitri dicta in chapter and verse, yet we all feel in our hearts all around us from the weather, plants and animals, to the very dust of earth itself, as well as everyone moving in this mountain community, that everything reflects independently and collectively what we now recognise as Maitri-bhav, that vibrant way of being, of relating lovingly with the world, of not causing the least harm. We now understand that the only solution to self and global-destruction is Dharma.

Humans lost the true Dharma of unconditional love that had once uplifted this world. Dharma is incapable of causing the least harm to any living being as it loves and enfolds all beings equally without any bias. Only such positive, creative energy when released from human hearts can shift the inner structural balances of our ailing planet. Since each human being is capable of infinite love, knowing the joy of loving and of being loved, there is indeed unbounded hope for our desperate condition. It requires only attentive fine-tuning from the bottom of our heart. Soon Guru will be revealing even more, much more about Bodhi Marga, and all of us equally will learn undreamt-of truths from this perspective. Guru is guiding our personal futures. And as many know, He is already bringing salvation to the World.

Jyampa Dorje (Michael Leon)

	Jyampa Lhaden
Guru’s teachings are beyond words. Many people ask me about written teachings but in my experience, apart from the profound spoken messages, Guru connects heart-to-heart on a personal level with so much loving-kindness. It is up to us whether or not we want to open ourselves and walk the path as shown to us in the 11 Maitri Shila.

Gerry & Marty (Jyampa Pakme)

We both feel so incredibly blessed, honoured and grateful to have found this truly magical Guru and this all-encompassing Maitri Dharma. Having been a part of the Sangha now for a number of years, we have had the great pleasure of meeting many lovely people from all over the world as we have come together to share in this Maitri feeling of loving kindness, compassion and unity.

Whether this loving feeling is felt internally through our devotion, faith & surrender to the Guru, or whether this Maitri feeling is expressed outwardly through actions based in loving kindness, for us, we feel that one of the most blessed things about this beautiful Maitri Dharma journey is the very simple concept that life is best lived through the heart.

As we open up to a deeper understanding of ourselves and to our own Maitri essence, we have also come across many kinds of internal challenges, purification and obstacles so far on this journey. Whether this be internal feelings such as sporadic tiredness, challenging emotions, negative mental states, physical ailments, or whether this manifests as seemingly unrelated external circumstances in our life, all of these seem to be guiding us towards higher and more harmonious states of being.

We both feel so unbelievably grateful to this most blessed Guru for everything He is doing for this world (both known and unknown) and for introducing us to this new feeling of ‘Maitri Bhav’. It is our deepest wish that the world will now come together in this beautiful feeling of loving kindness as we all start to radiate these energies outward very naturally for all to benefit from. May our beloved planet soon be enveloped in this new feeling of loving kindness, compassion & unity and may we all help one another to move towards a deeper and more profound understanding of our truly infinite & divine selves!

Over time we are learning more and more that our own Maitri Marga is one which is steeped in loving kindness, unity and a humble service to the collective consciousness. We are very happy to share our own experiences with you here with our hearts open and filled with love as we look forward to meeting and connecting with many beautiful souls on our collective journey towards more love, light and unity.

Maitri Mangalam and much love to all _()_

Semyon Shekhovtsov

Jyampa Kalshang Jinpa (Tomas Henryk Tarnawsky),
Guru Marga Guru

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