El curso de meditación tuvo lugar en “Hotel Vértice Aljarafe”.
El sitio era muy tranquilo y estaba situado en un bello entorno natural, reuniendo las mejores condiciones para la meditación y la reflexión. Ubicado en una zona residencial, pero cerca de la ciudad. Todas las habitaciones tenían aseo con ducha y eran muy modernas y limpias . El lugar estaba situado en las afueras de Sevilla, a una media hora del centro.
Continue Reading June 18th, 2009
Hello – my name is Gerald. I’m a meditating, taxi driving, donut eating, FISU
Member!
My introduction to FISU was through my girlfriend, now wife, Anusha. I can remember when Anusha and I were out one evening having a drink and chatting about things we would like to do in the future, and one of the things was that she’d always been interested in learning to meditate. One year later I remember taking her to the first session of the FISU meditation course. That evening Anusha was telling me about her experience and that her teacher’s name was Muktesh. I asked Anusha “what sort of name is that?” Anusha explained that it was his spiritual name. I said “one day, you’ll have a spiritual name – Bogbrush!” I never take anything seriously at first, apart from when Arsenal loses, and then I take things very seriously.
After a few months I started seeing changes in Anusha. For example, she was a lot more patient with me, and I saw a much more positive attitude to life in her. I have always believed in a positive mind. Actually when I was 17, I sent off for a book titled ‘The Silent Breath’ which was a book on meditation, but I realised that I could not learn from a book, I needed a teacher.
FISU Meditator's London Black Cab or Taxi
A couple of years later Anusha took me to an open Satsang where I met Rajesh & Jasmini. At the time I was suffering from Crohns disease, which is an incurable disease of the bowels. A few of the symptoms are fatigue, stomach-aches, weight loss, and an irritable bowel. Specialists usually treat the illness with medication but in extreme cases an operation is required. Also, research has not concluded what causes the disease. Bad eating habits, stress and anxiety can trigger an attack of the disease. That evening Rajesh explained to me that meditation would help with the symptoms of the illness, as it had helped others who have had the same problem. Therefore, a couple of months later I booked up for my introductory talk on ‘why meditate and what meditation is all about’ with Jaidev, who can talk the ear holes off an elephant, but is a great teacher and has now become a good friend.
FISU’s techniques deal with the route cause of what’s causing a problem or disease. Once you start to tackle the cause you find that the symptoms start to alleviate and disappear. My nervousness lead to many attacks, and usually my nervousness would be triggered by a fear of failing. Meditation raised my confidence, therefore calmed my nerves, which has resulted in less and less symptoms of Crohns. Also, eating irregular hours and the wrong foods brought on symptoms, but meditation raised my awareness to what my body required. I now intuitively know what foods will aggravate my stomach. Another problem area which didn’t help my disease was where I would leave things to the last minute and then rush to complete them. I realised that I was putting pressure on myself and all I needed to do was organise my time more efficiently.
Meditation taught me to observe myself and I’ve realised that the Crohns disease was a ‘thorn in my side’. I was embarrassed that I had it and felt it was a weakness. Now I’ve learned to accept it and feel confident that FISU’s techniques coupled with my conscious effort will keep the disease stabilised. My consultant is extremely pleased with my progress and response to my medication and I only have to have a check up once a year.
Miracously, at my last check-up the specialist said that my Chrohns disease has cleared up by around 30% which is quite amazing and I attribute this to meditation.
FISU has a saying that ‘medication and meditation go hand in hand’ and it is so true!
Work life: Being a London Taxi Driver can be stressful as it is long hours and very tiring due to concentrating on the roads. My typical day would be, awake at 6am to meditate, drive into London, start work at 8am, a break for an hour (to banter with my other cab mates), finish around 7pm. Believe it or not, being a ‘knight of the road’ you have to tackle all sorts of obstacles. This is when FISU’s techniques are well used. Fore-instance, in the morning people who arrive late for work count on Cabbies to ‘save their skin’ and get them to the office on time and they start to rush you! Before meditating I would at times be manipulated and start speeding for them, but now I’m non-affected by their demands. It’s the personally prescribed techniques which have helped me to become non-affected and non-attached by people and situations – powerful stuff!
Usually, in the afternoons, I start to feel tired (more so before I started meditating). I now do my techniques and sometimes meditate in the afternoon rather than evening and feel really refreshed, as though I’ve had an afternoon nap.
During the evenings, every idiot seems to appear on the road, people cutting you up, swearing at you and my biggest gripe was rudeness! This use to bother me, but now I find it just doesn’t affect me – it goes straight over my head.
Interests: I have a hobby – I learn different fighting arts, Jeet Kune Do, Brazilian
Jiu-juitsu, and boxing. These are very demanding (training wise) but because I meditate I find I have extra unlimited energy to continue.
Life at home: Until recently, I was a ‘throw-back’, believing the woman should do the washing, ironing, cooking, basically the whole lot. Now things have changed and I’ve become a ‘millennium man’. I’ve realised that I was very selfish. Now Anusha and I split the chores and we have a much more balanced relationship. PS – I told her off the other day for changing my vacuum bag!
Sex Life: Mind your own business!
With the help of FISU my illness is now under control andi improving and I can plan ahead for a better future, instead of worrying which day Crohns is going to strike next. My thinking is now positive and relaxed, rather than feeling aggressive and trapped. I’m much more open and caring towards others, rather than arrogant. Overall, I am now willing to change, because to change is to grow.
Gerald Ashby – London Taxi driver!
April 15th, 2009
The Easter Togathering in Norwich was amazing. Despite the numbers, everyone said how intimate the atmosphere felt and had a definite deep tranquillity. There were some amazing Satsangs covering subjects from the Mind to the examination of certain religious truth and prophets. Karma was also a topic with the introduction of the concept of “providence”, a similar concept to eastern Karma but which originated in the Hebrew Bible. Many other philosophical subjects were embraced, the majority of which centred on spiritual unfoldment, meditation and the raising of our personal spiritual consciousness.
Continue Reading April 10th, 2009
Greetings from the UK Togathering (Residential Deepening Course) in Norwich. One of our young meditators, Zoe, a 21 year old student of Marketing at the Middlesex University in her 2nd year, has reported an increase in her grades from being below average with passes of around 45-50% to a soaring 75-95% pass rate. She is one course for a 1st (Distinction) when she finishes her degree next year in 2010.
Continue Reading April 4th, 2009
Our final evening party started with Adam’s magic show. Adam, one of our teachers, is the island of Cyprus’ leading magician and his meditator wife Aliona gave us a fantastic show. In one of the acts he actually eats 10 razor blades, one by one, followed by a line of cotton and then regurgitates them in a line – amazing (but stomach turning too!). He’s a real showman and I am so proud of him.
A glow but not from alcohol!
My beloved’s faces have smoothened through their unfoldment during the week. Even evident wrinkles were less prominent (:- (It’s true that you wear your life on your face, so when you relax the wrinkles minimise – much better and more permanent that Botox!)
On the dance floor (for those that know me know that I love to dance) as we gyrated together I could see in their eyes the positive effects of these few days, not only being in the presence of their guru, who is always and quite naturally emanating a force to assist their unfoldment, but their love for me and Jasmini.
The mergence between minds and hearts has been so powerful that my own personal thoughts are thought in the sound of their voices and vice versa – such is mergence between Guru and Chela.
For many, the journey this week had been to put the past to bed and prepare for the future. Tranquillity and peace had been found within and a readiness for the next stage on the journey of the path of unfoldment.
Rajesh x
March 15th, 2009
The Togathering continues with many wonderful questions and experiences from the meditators. We have covered subjects like “what is the universal mind and is our mind connected to it?” to “what are the stages of unfoldment”. (These Satsangs or Lecture will be available soon via the FISU Shop).
In this powerful atmosphere we can have a deeper appreciation of Divinity and gain the recognition that we are actually one and that it is only the clouds of the mind that veils our direct experience. These veils are simply the various patternings of the mind that we have gained, not only in this lifetime but previous ones too. Our current personality and physical appearance are the sum total of the culmination of this journey.
Spiritual Unfoldment is simply an unveiling process so that the light of the Divine can shine through without impediment. However, it is vitally important to have the right tools or techniques so that we can travel the path with ease and FISU definitely gives you that.
There have been many tears shed in these few days as my beloveds move from living a fragmented life to an integrated state of being. It’s my joy to see this transition and know that their lives will be better for the experience when they leave tomorrow.
Here’s a picture taken before lunch today…
Rajesh x
FISU Cyprus Togatherers - March 2009
March 14th, 2009
I meant to post earlier, but I always forget the necessity to be with everyone and complete their personal progress forms and give the Satsangs and this takes up most of the time! However, I thought it a good idea to post an update and it’s morning now.
Continue Reading March 14th, 2009
Most mornings I take a 10km run in what our local meditators call “Rajesh Ananda Mountain”. It’s actually the Rizoleia National Forest Park and is at the northern side of the small city of Larnaca. It only climbs some 300 feet at its highest point, but at this time of the year, and especially after the rain which has been very scarce, it is beautifully green and has a myriad of wild spring flowers of every conceivable colour. Normally, outside of winter it is quite barren due to the lack of rain on the island.
For the last 9 years that I have been coming to Cyprus I try and run there early each morning, before the day’s commitments being. I have my iPod on for some of the time (this morning I had Lady Gaga and Kanye West to accompany me), for other periods I allow the twittering of the birds to help me on my upward journey to the summit – often in rhythm with my heart beat (It’s great to feel the pulse of humanity in my pumping heart).
From the summit I survey the whole of Larnaca, with church towers and turrets in view toward the Bay of Larnaca – a massive expanse of water (that in warmer weather I thoroughly enjoy).
In this quietness with beautiful vistas, I often plan the next FISU developments and gain further inspiration from those thoughts that constantly well up from within when you are in united with Divinity - a constant creative outpouring!
So, I send you my love from my Mountain. If you come here one day, I will give you a personal tour of one of my favourite places on Cyprus.
I will bring you some picture from the mountain tomorrow or Monday…….. Rajesh
March 8th, 2009
Last night we had our public talk in Limasoll. It was well attended with around 50 people as you will see from these pictures. There was a wonderful “enquiring” atmosphere between the people and plenty of profound questions. I was delighted to see so many seekers of the truth.
Often people have tried many things on their journey to discover themselves, and we are delighted to be catalyst to take them on the next stage.
FISU Cyprus is an amazing branch of our international family. There are 13 centres on this small island. The Cypriots are noted for their warm hospitality, so this combined with the openness of heart through spiritual unfoldment makes a visit here to attend one of our events a very special experience. One the FISU circle of residential deepening courses, Cyprus is probably the most popular destination.
In a few days we will rise higher as we transfer to the southern flank of the Troodos Mountains, to the beautiful and picturesque village of Agros. There are mountain views from every angle and on a clear day it is possible to see the see some 45kms away in the distance. More to come……Rajesh
FISU Meditation Limassol Public Talk
March 8th, 2009
Der har aldrig været en bedre tid til at deltage i en Togathering. Med mediernes bølgebrus af negativitet og frygten for vores sikkerhed masende sig på fra alle sider – er det den perfekte lejlighed til at sætte sit liv i perspektiv. Som vi altid siger, det er den bedste investering man kan foretage i sig selv.
Continue Reading March 2nd, 2009
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