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Abhyasi Name: Sri.
Vittal Puvvada
Abhyasi ID : 2043
Introduction
I participated in the Mansarovar program conducted
by Imperience wing of ISRC. The program was
conducted at Sri. Rajsekhar Reddy’s mango farm in
the village of Narsingapuram near Tirupathi. It
started at 4am Friday September 29, 2006 and
concluded at 4am Monday October 2, 2006. Including
myself there were eight participants. Sri. Madhava
Rao and Dr. Madhava also participated throughout the
program.
My Expectations
When the program was announced I wanted to
participate in it. I wanted to find out whether I
really can bear prolonged silence and aspire for it.
I also wanted to live in nature for a few days and
find out its effect on sadhana. I thought through
the program I can develop a taste for silence.
Overall Experience/Summary
My foremost experience is the effect of the
immediate natural environment on the mental state.
Right from the first day I experienced an almost
serene and smooth mind with very less thought
invasion. That is markedly different from my normal
routine thoughts I get everyday back home. I
cherished living in Silence every bit and never felt
to get away from it. I experienced for 3 days what
it is to live in Silence in natural environs and
observe its effect. My understanding of Commandment
4 I feel is enriched further. I developed some
feelings of reverence towards nature. I understood
that I also do have sensitivity, however occasional
it is, and I found that to improve it I must include
silence as a part of my regular sadhana. I had fears
of the unknown when I was meditating in pre-dawn and
post-dusk hours but I was able to overcome it quite
quickly. Meditations seemed to be a bit long drawn
compared to what I am used to in my puja room. It
took a while to get adjusted to do meditations out
in the open environment. The quality and depth of my
meditations did not seem to be significantly
different from my general morning meditations. I
prominently noticed some kind of light/fire
localized in my heart during prayer sessions. This
feeling persisted all the 3 days.
Day 0 (Thursday September 28) Report:
I arrived into Tirupati at 9:00pm. I reached Sri.
Rajasekhar Reddy’s residence and had a tasteful
dinner along with other abhyasis. The ambience is
full of love and concern. We reached the venue at
11pm. Did the trataka method along with the other
abhyasis for 10 min. Brother Dr. Madhava briefed the
participants on the goals of the program (mainly
being: Development of Sensitivity; Appreciation and
Implementation of Commandment 4). We slept outside
in the open air after a long time. I did not attend
to the evening cleaning. I attended the bed time
prayer.
Day 1 (Friday September 29) Report:
I attended to morning meditation at 5:30am. Fear of
the unknown for almost half the time. Not used to
the sounds of the nature and ants on hands/legs. The
meditation was not completely oriented but at the
same time I do not feel disturbed. Lot of thoughts
of recent past crossed mind during the meditation
but cannot remember the specific thoughts after the
meditation.
Toured the mango farm where this program is
conducted. Thoughts of stoicness and patience while
looking at distant hills. Thought that when nature
was being itself we call it beautiful crossed my
mind. Saw two big bugs with bright yellow spots, may
be mating but no related sensuous thoughts crossed
mind. One line of a mantra heard a long time ago and
an old movie song repeatedly coming into memory.
During the 8am prayer observed yellow color
surrounded with orange hue. I felt the prayer long
drawn.
During the silence thought that trees seemed to be
living in state of vairagya and altruism came. No
rush of thoughts throughout the day contrary to my
expectation that all sorts of buried thoughts would
spring up.
Noon time meditation is not as deep and as oriented
as I notice the same at home.
In the evening had a thought that irrespective of
the location/situation trees grow the same and does
not distinguish between good person’s ground and bad
person’s ground. I felt it one way of expressing
plainness and simplicity.
Day 2 (Saturday September 30) Report:
Morning meditation was centered but not completely
oriented. Several small thoughts were present
related to recent past. The meditation did not
appear to be deep. After the puja I felt calm and
relaxed.
During and after the 8am prayer the condition was
very light.
During the 12noon prayer also the condition was
light. Most of the thoughts during the meditation
appeared non-repetitive and related to recent past.
During the post lunch silence had thoughts on goal
of life.
Evening cleaning session was very assiduous and felt
lot of heat towards the end.
Day 3 (Sunday October 1) Report:
During morning meditation thoughts (some
intentional) were dwelling on Master and God and
confusion between the same. Very clear mind with not
much thought invasion.
During the 8am prayer condition was very
significantly light. Very few thoughts observed all
through the prayer. After the prayer felt a sort of
deep inner calmness which I could clearly make note
of. I decided to take only a glass of milk without
filling my stomach with any solid food. I did not
feel like upsetting the condition with the food. I
tried to remain in it for 1-2 hours.
During the silence one thought that came is that
perhaps continuous proximity/exposure to those
physical elements of nature such as earth, wind,
akasa must have their influence the some knots in
the pind desh in addition to the Sadhana and
Pranahuti.
During the 12 noon prayer one or two gross thoughts
came. Felt very much centered.
During the afternoon silence got a thought that the
same trees/nature which I once considered “jada”
helped me maintain a clear and light mind all
through the 3 days. In that aspect I thought the
trees kept the environment purer than me. Felt
reverential towards nature. Got thoughts on “rest”
and did some thinking on its meanings vis-à-vis Oct
1st message. Thought about rest and
inactivity/sloth/sleep; restful life vis-à-vis
Commandment 3.
Cleaning was assiduously done but for few minutes
lost in the thoughts about the report writing on the
program. Towards the end of the cleaning I felt very
light and also a kind of heat/glow in the heart.
Acknowledgements
I offer my sincere thanks to ISRC and Brother
Rajasekhar Reddy. The arrangements during the
program were made with so much care and love.
Brother Rajasekhar Reddy has visited us on all the
three days and enquired our well being.
Suggestions/Feedback
I think you can continue to have the program for 3
days only so that there is wider participation among
all the abhyasis. The program may continue to limit
participation to 7-8 abhyasis. Having raised
pedestal/platforms for meditations was I think a
very good idea and may be continued. That I should
neglect each and every thought and maintain only
silent orientation to Master in the heart did not
clearly register in my mind and therefore I
entertained contemplation. A small note posted in
the notice board, in addition to the oral
instructions that are normally given once at the
beginning, would be very helpful in that respect.
I have definitely benefited from the program and
plan to make silence a part of my daily routine.
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