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

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!

There were some amazing Satsangs covering subjects from the Mind to the examination of certain religious truths 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.

The experience of a Togathering is always a powerful one, where we are able to rise above our own personal circumstances to be objective. This assists our personal unfoldment and brings it to new heights.

The word Togathering is derived from the words “to gather” – so a Togathering is a residential meditation course to gather ourselves and prepare us for the next stage on our path of unfoldment or evolution.

The next UK Togathering is at the end of October. We hope to see you there!

Zoe attributes the amazing upturn in her abilities to FISU meditation. She said today ‘I am quite amazed by the upturn in my grades. Meditation has greatly improved my learning and retention abilities, and now I am seeing amazing marks and my mother is in shock! I am delighted with these results and attribute them to meditation. My fellow students are really curious as to this turn around, so I have told them about my practices and I am sure they are going to want to start soon too’.

Meditation increases intelligence in people of all ages, but is particularly evident in young people. Though intelligence is associated with the left hand analytical side of the brain, once the right hand side is engaged, which happens when we meditate, the combination of the two allows us to have greater creativity, as this is associated with the right, more intuitive side of the brain. The traits of the left hand side of the brains are: methodical, temporal, sequential, linear, factual, systematic and formal, verbal and learning through systematic plans and completed by the traits of the right hand side of: intuitive, non-temporal, casual and informal, concrete, holistic, non verbal, visual-spatial and learning through exploration.

So, as you see when we fully engage both hemisphere of the brain through meditation our ability can change from just ordinary to dynamic - and here’s living proof that that can be achieved by all of us.
Rajesh x

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

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

The first evening and first day was a little subdued but now everyone is perky and inspired by their profound experiences. The growth process was evident for all and there are nearly 20 new people on this Togathering of just under 60 - a marvel with the credit crunch et al and no foreign attendees this time. Togatherings are always a very special experience.

The group chants and gong meditation are thoroughly enjoyed by everyone – it consolidates harmony amongst the group and at the same time it allows us to dive deeper into the depths of our soul and transcend grosser areas and reach greater subtly. It is also very physically relaxing. The process of exhalation more than inhalation detoxifies the physical body making this a unique practice to help us on all levels. On a mental level is allows us to become more non-attached with our thoughts and this has a great calming influence.

When you hear a large group of people chanting, it sounds so wonderful as voices merge in a unified melody.
After chanting the meditations are so profoundly deep and powerful – there is complete an utter silence in the room – souls are soaring in the height of their own deep and profound spirituality and deeper consciousness is awakening.

The faces of my beloveds are aglow. There has been some deep unstressing for some with tears as they face difficulties from the past and confront these again in the present, but in this atmosphere there is support and understanding and the knowledge and confidence to be able to overcome and more forward.

I always say that attending a Togathering is like having a spiritual bath, it cleanses and puts everything into perspective for the next part of your journey on the path of spiritual unfoldment – To – Gather – Ing. Here’s a picture looking out of my window – heaven!

Rajesh x

FISU Togathering Cyprus Mountain

FISU Togathering from the Cyprus Mountains

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

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

FISU Cetnre

Our teacher Kumar is doing a great job and is pictured here:

FISU Teacher Kumar at the Centre in Chennai

You’ll see here a picture of our centre in a quiet side street just 2 minutes from the Old Mamallamapuram Road that has a and small office staff and a resident cook.

Our leader, Rajesh Ananda was just in Chennai and gave a serious of public talks, the main one being at the University of Madras. Rajesh, who has a deep personal interest in biodiversity and ecology was delighted to be invited by this important University as this is the main Indian research centre (Botany Department) for a new form of bio-diesel from algae (Algae has the potential to produce 30% more biodiesel per acre than other systems like Soybeans, Rapeseed and Jatropha).

After Rajesh had expounded the virtues of FISU’s unique form of meditation, he finished the evening with a traditional Satsang, allowing attendees to ask any question (“self realisation – can I get there?” and “is there life after death?” were a sample of the questions asked).

Despite Rajesh being an “English and white skinned Guru”, he had no trouble being accepted by the locals. Once met, you immediately know that he has spiritual authority and profoundly deep love.

After a short and hectic trip to the city Rajesh wished to thank British Airways for upgrading him on the return flight to Club World. On the outbound journey he had a four hour delay due to the snow, and in all, was at Terminal 5 Heathrow for 7.5 hours. He said, “After such a hectic few days, I felt very honoured to be upgraded to Club World. The seat folds down to a flat bed, which enabled me to sleep for 7 hours on this 11 hour flight. My attendant was so wonderful and even ensured that my blanket was perfectly placed whilst I was asleep - it was just perfect service the whole way”.

Both Rajesh and Jasmini will be returning to Chennai a little later in the year to continue FISU’s developments in India and other opportunities in other parts of the country.

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From the economic imbalances in our society of which the credit crunch is a consequence, it was evident that at some time the bubble would bust and everything would come tumbling down. The discrepancies of modern day life are again in question, from the multi-billion bonuses of greedy bankers to minimum wage workers who deserve so much more – the contradictions are many and reflect an out of balance society.

The world’s media has bred so much fear, that the normality of everyday life is on hold. Yes, for sure – it’s a time to be cautious as no job is secure, but do we want to allow this cloud of negativity to hang over us – no, of course we don’t.

GREED & MATERIAL FULFILMENT
Despite those who have unfolded to know better, the greed of the world’s people and striving for material fulfilment has finally caught up with us and consequently, the international economy is in melt down. This greed stems from attachment, through which we continually feel we must accumulate to have stability and happiness – when in reality, this is a contradiction that only leads to instability and unhappiness. It’s a modern day problem, where people – unable to communicate with divinity or raise their own personal consciousness seek to concretise that missing relationship in material things. It demonstrates how out of touch people have become with their true divine nature.

As meditators, despite all the negativity around us, we must remember that there is always hope and through our practices we can help so many people from what we have learnt through our unfoldment, and more so in these current times.

RAISING PERSONAL CONSCIOUSNESS
The current situation reflects how important FISU’s work is in the world today, where we are raising personal consciousness and spirituality through our unique system of personally prescribed meditation.
Spiritual and material can coexist happily, but only when we have removed the hankerings of attachment and accumulation, which happens naturally over time with regular meditation and spiritual practice coupled with conscious effort.

CONCERNS OVER MONEY
The concerns we all have for our financial stability are natural, but we must not allow this to affect us, or throw us off course – so this is where we need to be totally regular in our practices and draw on those forces of Gurushakti to connect the conscious level of the mind to the superconscious level in an instant. As you know, Pranayama is a great practice if you have obsessional thoughts i.e. worries that won’t seem to go away. Once you redirect your energies from negative to positive thoughts, you will of course attract positive situations to you. It’s a natural law that you can engage with so easily.

So, it’s not all negative – the world is restructuring – rebooting – not only its economies but the thoughts, desires and motivations of each of its citizens to understand the value of material possessions and attachment towards them. Money and finance are purely another form of energy – so it’s how we use them that are of utmost importance.

RESTORE BALANCE
What the world has to learn is that there is no harm in having material possessions, as long as we are non-attached to them. The hankerings then stop and we learn to appreciate what we have with so much more depth, and stability and balance are restored.

…………….. Rajesh Ananda

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