Celebration of 3 significant Jubilees in Vienna
During the international weekend program of 1-2 October 2016, there were three special occasions to commemorate and celebrate in Vienna, Austria:
- 40th anniversary of the inauguration of Vishwaguruji's first ashram and illuminating of the Divine Light in Mahaprabhuji Ashram in Vienna (Schikanedergasse 1976)
- 12th anniversary of the first lighting of the Eternal Light in Guruji Ashram in Vienna (Trubelgasse 2004)
- 10th observance of the International Day of Non-Violence on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhiji's birthday on 2nd October (declared by the United Nations in June 2007)
On these special and auspicious occasions, Yoga in Daily Life bhaktas in Vienna invited all international yoga brothers and sisters to a weekend program in Mahaprabhuji and Guruji Ashrams in Vienna.
More than 100 friends from around Austria and neighboring countries came to celebrate together with their guru brothers and sisters in Vienna. It was a truly joyful event! On Saturday there was meditation and satsang in Mahaprabhuji Ashram where memories of Vishwaguruji's start in Vienna were recalled, and the founding of this very first ashram from which the Divine Light of Mahaprabhuji and the system Yoga in Daily Life spread throughout the whole world, celebrated.
In a satsang, Vishwaguruji once told of the significance of the Divine Light in Mahaprabhuji Ashram Vienna:
"Because Mahaprabhuji's name is Deep, Light, I first lit a candle with the idea of the presence of our Divine Master, Light of the Universe, light of consciousness, divine light - and this light, this flame burns to this day. Since that day, prayer has been sung every day before this light! It is said that when the eternal light has been burning for 12 years, it gets a Siddhi (miraculous power) that fulfills every wish, the one expresses mentally before this light. But consider well. Do not say any selfish wish, not for your taste or sensual pleasure, but for a successful human life. Successful does not mean that you have a lot of houses and cars and have a lot of money. Successful living means realizing divine consciousness in oneself. May God unite the small light in our hearts with Him. Our goal is to unite with God, to melt into Him. Repeat your mantra, this will end your journey of rebirth and death, coming and going, and you can live for eternity in the beauty of divine consciousness. This is our real goal. You shall also convey it to your children. Positive thoughts, love for all creatures, for the environment and for God."
In the evening satsang in Guruji Ashram the founding of this ashram and greatest yoga center in Austria, 12 years ago, was commemorated. Vishwaguruji, who was in Wellington, New Zealand, on his annual World Peace Tour, greeted and blessed the satsangis via a live video call.
On Sunday, the International Day of Non-Violence there was a public celebration with prayer, mantra and peace songs at the World Peace Tree in Vienna's City Park, planted by Vishwaguruji in 2009, together with the Indian Dept. Chief of Mission, the City Councillor for the Environment, the Principal of the 1st District and the Director of Vienna City Gardens.
This joyful and divine weekend ended with a great bhandara (festive feast) in Guruji Ashram, provided by the joint work of a team of ashram members, young and old.
