Today we begin our pre ’40-Day’ Talk and Meditation.

I want to say how happy I am that you have chosen to be here today physically, although I am sure that many people across the world will also be with us today, not just in this physical space but also in an energy space, where their minds and hearts will be connected to us.

Making This Day Special

I want to say a few words to you, to make this day a special day. I do believe that the physical plane is just one plane. There are other dimensions and there are Beings or forces in other dimensions that assist us on the earth plane. We may call that an aspect of Grace.

Cosmic Forces of Consciousness in the Universe

These Forces are forces that are working on the evolution of Consciousness in the Universe. I am saying this to you because I do believe that this 40 Day period that took place in 1978, was an act of Grace. I did not know it would be 40 Days, and even during the 40 Days I did not know when it would end. During that time I pushed for whatever was happening to me, whatever the process was, to happen as soon as possible as quickly as possible. But it couldn’t happen before 40 days. So the 40 Days, in my opinion, was predetermined.

 I see it as 40 days of Grace. Over the years of conducting these 40 Day Meditation Retreats, I have seen so much transformation in so many people, that I know it’s an ideal period of spiritual discipline. My greatest wish is that what happened to me during that period, the flowering of my own spiritual consciousness, could happen to every human being. So it’s with great joy that we observe this period every year, this time is filled with Grace. And I would say that those 40 Days were a Cosmic event. I see it as a Cosmic event because not just the forces of the physical world were involved, but forces existing in other planes were also supporting it.  I felt during that period a tremendous amount of guidance, there was a tremendous amount of support around me, and during the coming days I’ll share that with you.

It was a Cosmic event because what happened to me during that period is now impacting the world, not just this tiny island of Trinidad and Tobago,  It was an event  that was meant to impact the world and it was an event that was filled with Grace from other dimensions as well.

I see it as a cosmic event. And so when I honour this period as we go into it tonight, I feel that I am involved in a cosmic event that is based on human transformation. And so I look forward eagerly to these 40 Days. .

Preparation for 40 Days

Today is a preparation for the 40 Days and I want to say a few words to you that will make it more meaningful to you.

During that period in 1978, we were preparing for an evening of chanting, when a series of very strong experiences took place within me. The entire day in that period would have been devoted to cleaning up the space and getting it ready for people in the evening. It would have been a small gathering but we would have been so excited about an evening of being together.

Baba Nityananda’s Energy

A particular mantra or chant that I was chanting that evening was devoted to a great teacher of India who inspired me, not in physical presence but in tremendous spiritual presence. And for those of you who might be interested in knowing the name of that teacher, he is called Baba Nityananda.

So the evening was an evening of remembering him and his power. I truly felt blessed when I was in India in 1975, in the sense that I had his guidance. I felt I had his guidance throughout my entire journey in India in 1975. And I do believe that his energy supports Blue Star and in particular these 40 days.

I do not know how to explain that to you, but I know that many people across the world have had profound experiences of the presence of this Being, during these days.

So this evening is going to be an evening devoted to co-creating his spiritual presence and experiencing how Grace can enter into our space when we remember and invite in great Beings who have been on the earth. They represent that spiritual beauty that is within us, that is hidden, the unmanifested.

Spiritual Energies of Great Souls

Of course when we read his story, it’s an exciting story, about the simple life he lived and the very powerful influence he had on people. I do believe that great spiritual souls, who have left us physically, continue to inspire us from another dimension. During that period I felt as well, very strong spiritual energies of Paramahansa Yogananda, Swami Vivekanada, and Rama Krishna and other great Souls. I could actually feel during that period their energies were with me, because their lives and words inspired me so greatly. Knowing also, that it took place around Easter time, so the Christ Consciousness would also have been involved. I cannot describe the greatness of this period and I do believe in co-creating these 40 Days, that we are going to attract a lot of Grace and we can take great leaps in Consciousness and expansion if we observe these 40 Days of discipline.

The Cosmic Teacher of the Universe

I’m excited about the topic I’m going to use, because I’m going to speak about "The Supreme Guide in the Universe, the Cosmic Teacher in the Universe", manifesting inside of us, manifesting outside of us, manifesting in everything that guides us in the Universe. I want to be able to broaden the concept of Guru and show that the whole world is filled with this particular quality that we call Guru Tattwa, or Guru Principle. If we can see that in a broad sense, then we can appreciate guidance on every level of the Universe, and not be limited in our thinking, that only particular teachers hold the power of guidance. So that’s going to be the subject of this retreat. I’m going to speak on the inner Guide, the outer Guide, the Universe as a guide, and the oneness of all these forces. And then how we can avail ourselves of the Grace that comes with guidance, the Grace that brings this Supreme Guiding power in the universe.

Prepare Yourself Mentally and Emotionally

With these few words, I’m going to urge you to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the day. And for those of you who are in the physical space, can we make this physical space as beautiful, clean, organized and energized as possible, I’m sure that’s going to make the evening even better. And for those of our friends who are in different countries, preparing for this day, we advise that you also do the same, that you make your physical space ready for the Cosmic event of this evening.  I’m looking forward to joining with all the Centers who are remembering, and who are joining in the 40 Days.  I do believe this evening is going to be filled with a lot of Grace. I’m going to co-create this sacred presence, I’m going to do it. I’m going to initiate it and inspire it, and let’s see how we can tap into it, in this period.

The Beautiful Poui Tree

Around the physical Centre (Blue Star Centre) there is a beautiful Poui tree in flower, it’s on the cover of our last year 40 Day Retreat. And this morning the tree is in bloom, and it’s a beautiful reminder that the 40 Day period is here. The beautiful Poui flowers really adorn our Ashram for this period. I’m going to invite you now to a short period of meditation, where we can enter a beautiful place of Grace.