Let’s Learn about the Qualification of a Guru and What is Guru Purnima Festival About
In the image above there is the first framed photo of Ioana’s Guru – Shri Mataji – received 35 years ago in Romania
Your will Find out About Guru Purnima Festival being Celebrated in Burlington this Year
Guru Purnima is celebrated on Thursday July 10, 2025, and it honors the teachings and contributions of spiritual leaders and educators.
Our Halton Sahaja Yoga Meditation Network of volunteers celebrates it every year with Free events so more people learn, join and enjoy the importance of this auspicious festival that is traditionally celebrated by the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain communities; why not realize that besides honoring our teachers, everyone can observe a day when the spiritual teachers (our gurus), who guide us with wisdom and truth through life’s challenges deserve to be known, loved and respected.
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi is the Guru for Sahaja Yogis from around the World. She founded Sahaja Yoga Meditation on May 5th, 1970.
Let’s Listen to Her Advice about the Past and Future Thoughts. about the Thoughtless Awareness and Becoming Connected to the All Pervading Power
“Once you are connected with this All pervading power, it starts flowing through you, and it is the most vital power that gives you complete recovery. Also mentally it improves you.
For example, all the time we are thinking about the future and the past.
Our thoughts come from the future or the past.
It’s like one thought rises and falls off. Another thought rises and falls off.
And we are jumping all the time on the cusps of these thoughts. On the cusps of the thoughts we are jumping, neither in the past, nor in the future I should say, but in between lies the present.
This Present! If I tell you to be in the present you cannot be! And in the Present is the Reality, because the past is finished and the future does not exist.
So, to be in the present, what should we do? Nothing!
When the Kundalini [subtle energy force] rises she elongates these thoughts, and the space in between is where we are in the Present. So, what happens?
You become absolutely thoughtlessly aware. You are thoughtless, but you are absolutely aware. “
“Jung (Karl Gustav Jung – the father of psychanalysis) has written about it, not so clearly, but he has indicated that the next evolution will be on the level of Thoughtless Awareness.
You become absolutely silent inside. That’s the thing which creates peace, when you are absolutely peaceful with yourself and with others.
Not only that, but you become a person, who is the witness of the whole drama, watch the whole thing as a drama, and you do not get disturbed.”
“You just connect, you just get connected to the mains. Just like this instrument once connected has it’s own identity, has it’s own purpose.
The purpose of your life is to be connected to this all Pervading power.
That’s all! It’s very simple! It’s there! You don’t have to assert yourself. You don’t have to do anything. You cannot pay. You are not under any obligation.
For example, we put the seed in the Mother Earth. What do we pay to the Mother Earth, that she gives us such beautiful flowers? Now, because it is built-in in the seed that it sprouts, and because it is built-in in the Mother Earth to sprout, it germinates. As simple as that!
It is a living process of our evolution, and for that we have not to pay at all.”
Quote from Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi – Public Program in Vancouver, Canada on Oct 11, 1995
The sky photos above were captured by Halyna and Ioana right after the Public Program for Inner Peace with guided meditation and live flute music offered in Burlington by the 100 Seeds of Joy team precisely on Guru Purnima Day.
In attendance we had teachers, some joined even from as far as the USA; as well parents and students of various ages.
We all enjoyed the event immensely!
Such a special day filled with positive energy flowing and dancing within! (watch the video-clip)
Let’s Connect and Stay Connected!
This year our team of volunteers ended up offering six free events in Burlington community during five days of the week that included the Guru Purnima Day. It just happened this way for our dynamic team to go to various areas of Burlington city to cultivate joy and stay connected!
We wanted to stay connected with each other, as well with our community that we love, making sure sure that we provide meaningful connections between people that are seekers of truth and peace.
All the photos with people that you see in this article are from some of these events offered during the Guru Purnima’s week. Besides the regular sahaja yoga meditation classes in Burlington we organized public and private seminars that week, keeping the attention on Guru Purnima to foster a sense of community and respect for knowledge, encouraging individuals to seek wisdom and guidance from respected teachers, introspect and share their inner-growth experiences with an open heart.
It was also a time for those that decide to grow deeper as Sahaja Yogis to reflect on what they learned so far and to experience new techniques (mantras included) that will enhance their attention on their own self realization.
Of course, most of the events included Potlucks for those that want to participate in by the end of the program. In fact even the culinary experiences were of such high quality that recipes were exchanged! The Ukrainian cake was a-mazing, the others have complicated names and descriptions but they were all so yummy!
We shared sahaja yoga knowledge about the qualities of specific energy centers specifically we discussed The Void and Guru-Disciple found within our subtle chakra energy system.
. It seems that all our events were blessed with special connections. For the Sahaj Guru Seminar we were welcomed to a very hospitable home that “happened” to be all decorated based on the “Water & Balance” theme. We know that the Guru Principle is very much connected to the Water element and the Void is associated with the Green color.
That’s what we were surrounded with; it felt that we were living in the Void for a couple of hours, seeking Truth and experiencing peaceful harmony with each other.
Let’s Say Good Bye to the Guru Purnima Day with a Short yet Essential Sahaja Yoga Knowledge Collection on this “Guru – Centre of Mastery” Theme
Quote 1: Let’s Find out Who Built up for us Our own Centre of Mastery that is placed in The Void area of the Subtle Energy System
“Now all the Prophets of the past and the Saints and Seers have built up for us a Centre of Mastery,
but to open the centre we have to have all the confidence,
so please raise your hand and put it in the upper portion of your abdomen, on the left hand side
and say here with full confidence, to nourish this centre, ten times:
Mother, I am my own Master, please say this ten times ..”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi – Public Program ‘FIRST KNOW THY SELF” , Porchester Hall, London, UK on August 1, 1989.
Quote 2: Questions and Answers with Shri Mataji about the Guru Principle, specifically about
“What qualifies someone to be a Guru?”
Question: ” I want to know what qualifies someone to be a Guru? And, what makes you do the work you do?“
Shri Mataji: Oh, because I love it. [AUDIENCE GIGGLES] It’s so beautiful to see people getting their Self-Realization. You will also do the same once you get it, it’s so beautiful.
The most beautiful thing is to give Realization to someone and so joyous because if you are selfish, if you are low type of a person then you feel funny about yourself, but if you are benevolent you feel so happy about the whole thing, you enjoy your benevolence, you enjoy your virtues.
Just start enjoying and that’s only possible after Realization, then you just do it, I know why am I doing it, what should I do otherwise?
I mean what I’m saying that supposing somebody else can do this I would like to retire myself but it’s difficult to get someone like that. I’m sorry to say. Can you do it madam for my sake? You can’t, that’s the point.
I’ve been trying for, now I’m sixty-seven years of age. I wish somebody could take my place but doesn’t work that way.
But in any case when you get your Realization at least try to give Realization to some people and you can do it, not difficult. But not at my level, that’s the point is, once you come to my level, I’ll be very happy to retire. [AUDIENCE LAUGHS]
Question: “What is the qualification of a Guru? What should a Guru be?”
Shri Mataji: See, it was asked to Guru Nanaka and he said, ‘Sahib mili hain so hi sat guru.’
Meaning: ‘The one who makes you meet the Divine is the only one who is the Sat Guru. Who is the [real] Guru.’
Otherwise all the rest are useless. Then he has categorized them as agurus, kugurus, he has categorized them, but the One who is a SatGuru, the one who is the real Guru is the one who makes you meet God. Makes you meet this Divine power.“
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi in the Public Program offered in Miami, USA on June 3rd, 1990.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article sharing knowledge as well images from our 2025 Guru Purnima events. See last year’s events offered in our Halton Community
We invite you to explore Deeper Knowledge in the Two Articles and Three Videos shared below:
Great Guru Song Dedication – “Tasmaye Guru Dev Namaha” with Yogis at Burlington City Hall
Watch this snapshot from a Chakra Workshop & Flute Music for Guru Purnima Day in Halton
Must Watch the following 3 min video with Essential Advices about What a Guru needs as Powers
We recommend you to explore the following two articles until their very end:
(1) What`s Guru needed for? How to cross the Ocean of Illusions or The Void ?!
as simple as that 🙂
great and easy way to nourish this centre and strengthen ones confidence as well
Very interesting article about Guru’s importance in our lives.Being our Guru mother always try to make us our own master,the enlightened one who can have power to enlighten others.Mothers explanation about the nirvichar or thoughtless awareness is amazing.As mother mentioned Shri GuruNanakas saying, Sahib mili hain so hi sat guru.’meaning The one who makes you meet the Divine is the only one who is the Sat Guru. Who is the [real] Guru. Thanks for this article dear Ioana
All the pictures are beautiful.
Beautiful. The pictures are incredible!
Amazing memories of gatherings and celebrating Guru week. May we all reach the depth of Guru principles within us.
I recently had the privilege of attending a truly amazing Sahaja Yoga seminar. It has been one of the most profound and enriching experiences of my life. From the moment I walked in, I felt a deep sense of connection — not only with the beautiful space but with every person present. The energy was amazing : warm, open, and vibrantly alive.
The seminar was deeply moving, filled with insight, clarity, and moments of true spiritual connection. Whether through meditation, discussion, or energy work, every part of the seminar felt aligned and purposeful.
Robin, our host, created such a warm, welcoming, and sacred space for all of us to come together. Everything was so thoughtfully organized — you could feel the intention and care behind every detail. It set the perfect tone for the deep work and transformation that unfolded.
Ioana, our incredible teacher, guided us with so much wisdom, grace, and compassion. Her presence was both grounding and elevating — she has a rare gift of connecting you deeply to your inner self while also expanding your awareness. Alongside her, Shivangna brought such a beautiful energy, insight, and spiritual clarity. The unity between them was pure magic. Both are true teachers in every sense – walking their path with humility and radiant love.
What made this seminar even more special was the amazing group of like-minded souls who came together with open hearts and a shared desire to grow. The energy exchange, the stories shared, the tears and laughter — it was all incredibly moving. It felt like a soul family reunion.
This experience reminded me how powerful it is to step away from daily life, reconnect with yourself, and be held in a space of authenticity, healing, and spiritual awakening. I left the seminar feeling renewed, empowered, and full of gratitude.
To Robin, Ioana, Shivangna and every beautiful soul I met — thank you.
I’m truly grateful for this experience. It was a gift — a reminder of the power we hold when we come together in consciousness and love.
This journey was unforgettable!