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Dharmachakra - Sadhana Samgha Satsaunga

In Dharmachakra we gather for collective meditation in a format given by our Guru, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti.
Dharma Chakra, also called Sadhana, Samga, Satsaunga, is a group meditation format where spiritual seekers come together to follow Dharma, the spiritual way of life.  The essential nature of human beings is to follow Bhagavad Dharma, to realize God within. And so we gather together in Dharma Chakra to realize our deepest Dharma.

Dharmachakra (Sadhana Samgha Satsaunga) Includes the following:
  • Devotional Songs
  • Kiirtan, Spiritual Dance with Chanting
  • Chanting of Guru Giita
  • Sam'gacchadhvam', Chant before Meditation
  • Silent Meditation with the group
  • Nityam Shudham Chant to end Meditation
  • Guru Puja Chant, Offering
  • Dharma Talk and Discussion

DHARMACHAKRA: SADHANA SAMGHA SATSAUNGA
Dharmachakra is a format for group meditation that supports the deepening of spiritual experience and
fosters a sense of spiritual community. Those regularly participating in dharmachakra typically experience
an open flow of divine love, affirmation of spiritual insights, and generation of spiritual vitality.

The practice of dharmachakra is ancient. Dharma is our innate human urge to become fully aware of the
Self, to know the Divine. Chakra literally means wheel and implies center or focal point. So dharmachakra
can be thought of as an epicenter through which dharma becomes vitalized and divine energies can readily flow into and sustain human life.

Dharmachakra combines features having deep roots in spiritual tradition along with more contemporary practices. It often begins with singing spiritual songs, or bhajans. These may be whatever songs people like
and find uplifting. What is important is the upliftment of spirit through song and music.

KIIRTAN The bhajans are followed by padkirtan, a movement meditation involving chanting mantra with rythmic movement. Kirtan comes from the word kirti, which means to glorify. This practice was first started in the 14th century by the saint Chaitanya Prabhu. In Bhakti Yoga it focuses the mind for sitting meditation in much the same way that pranayama is used in Hatha yoga practices.

We use the Sanskrit mantra Baba Nama Kevalama. This is a mantric incantation that affirms the pervasiveness of divine love. It literally means "Only the Name of the Beloved", or Love is all there is.

Kiirtan is combined with a simple dance step called lalita marmika, a dance created thousands of years ago by Lord Shiva. Lalita marmika is done with a gesture, or mudra, holding the arms up, expresses the openness of the heart. And rythmic placement of toe behind the heel, which acts to stimulate the pineal gland and draw the mind into inner concentration and love.

OPENING CHANT After kiirtan, the Samgacchadvam hymn is sung three times collectively.  Samgacchadvam comes from the Rig Veda, perhaps the most ancient and venerable spiritual scripture known. This hymn
affirms with poetic beauty the spirit of human unity – unity based on love and concern for the welfare of all.

MEDITATION There is then a period of silent meditation, usually lasting for a half hour.  During this time, people may use their individual meditation technique.  

ENDING CHANT Meditation is ended by the soft singing of the short chant, Nityam Shudam, which is taken  from the Guru Giita, a devotional scripture given by the great yogi, Shiva. The Nityam Shudham hymn is a remembrance of the divine qualities, expressing respect to that sacred essence at the core of our being.

GURU PUJA Meditation is often followed by Guru Puja, an offering of the burdens of the mind to the Eternal Self. During the Guru Puja we offer in the palms of our hands a visualized lotus flower. The multicolored
petals represent the colorful thoughts, both positive and negative, that occupy our minds as well as the burdens we carry.

We offer these by placing the flower before the Divine Guru three times. During the last two lines of the chant we surrender back all that we have to the One Eternal Guru. Through this practice one can lighten their mental and emotional burdens and free themselves from that which the ego tries to identify with, allowing the expression of a deeper sense of self. The source of the mantric chant used in Guru Puja is the Guru Giita.

DHARMA TALK AND DISCUSSION After Guru Puja may come a talk or discussion on a spiritual subject. This discussion may be led or initiated by a member of the gathered spiritual community, or may be a more open and participatory discussion. It may go into a topic of spiritual philosophy, or it may deal with practical issues    of spiritual life of which all present have experience and insight to share.

Should people wish, they may then move into a more social flow, sharing announcements of relevance to  
those gathered and having a meal together.  Dharmacakra is a powerful spiritual practice in which a group of people create a focus of spiritual feeling from which divine love and peace flow forth, vitalizing the spirit of dharma in human life.

Group Meditation Chants

SAM'GACCHADHVAM'
(Chant from the Rg Veda to Begin Meditation)

SAM'GACCHADHVAM'
Let us move together,

SAM'VADADHVAM'
Let us sing together,

SAM'VOMANA'M'SI JA'NATA'M
Let us come to know our minds together,

DEVA'BHA'GAM' YATHA' PU'RVE
Let us share, like sages of the past,

SAM'JANA'NA' UPA'SATE
That all people together may enjoy the universe,

SAMA'NII VA A'KUTI
Unite our intention,

SAMA'NA' HRIDAYA' NIVAH
Let our hearts be inseparable,

SAMA'NAMASTU VO MANO
Our mind is as one mind,

YATHA' VAH SUSAHA'SATI
As we to truly know one another become One.



NITYAM SHUDHAM
(Chant from the Guru Gita to End Meditation)

NITYAM SHUDHAM NIRA'BHA'SAM
NIRA'KA'RAM' NIRAINJANAM
NITYABODHAM CIDA'NANDAM
GURUBRAHMA NAMA'MYAHAM.

Eternal, pure, indescribable Entity,
Formless, without blemish,
Omniscient, blissful Consciousness,
To that Guru Brahma I pay my salutations.

NITYA'NANDAM' PARAMASUKHADAM'
KEVALA'NANDAMU'RTIM
VISHVA'TIITAM' GAGANASADRSHAM'
TAT TVAM ASYA'DI LAKS'AM.
Thou part Eternal Bliss, the Giver of
Infinite Happiness,
The only Bliss Incarnate;
Thou art beyond the universe, resembling the sky;
Thou maketh me to realize "Thou art That".

EKAM' NITYAM' VIMALA ACALAM'
SARVADHII SA'KS'I BHU'TAM
BHA'VA'TIITAM' TRIGUN'A RAHITAM'
SADGURU TVAM NAMA'MYAHAM.

Thou art One, Eternal, the Purest of the Pure,
unmoving Thou art,
The witnessing counterpart of all Being,
Thou beyond the realm of existence,
devoid of the three gunas (creative principles),
To Thee, Sadguru, I pay my salutations.



GURU PUJA
(From the Guru Gita)

During the Guru Puja (after meditation) we offer in the palms of our hands a
visualized lotus flower. The multi-colored petals represent the colorful thoughts that
occupy our minds and burdens we carry. Whether positive or negative, we offer these
by placing the flower before the Divine Guru three times. During the last two lines of
the chant all that we have we surrender back, in the form of a beautiful lotus, to the
One Eternal Guru.

AKHANDA MANDALA KARAM
VYAPTAM YENA CARA CARAM
TAT PADAM DARSHITAM YENA
TASMAE SHRII GURAVE NAMAH.

To the One by whom the endless mandala of creation is formed,
Who permeates both the moving and the unmoving,
To that esteemed Guru I pay my salutations

AJINANA TIMIR ANDHASYA
JINANAINJANA SHALA KAYAS
CAKSURUN MILITAM YENA
TASMAE SHRII GURUVE NAMAH.

To that Divine Being, who, by the application of the ointment of knowledge,
opens the eyes of the one blinded by the darkness of ignorance.
To that respected Guru I pay my salutations

GURUR BRAHMA GURUR VISHNU
GURU DEVO MAHESHVARAH
GURUREVA PARAMA BRAHMAH
TASMAE SHRII GURUVE NAMAH.

The Guru is Brahma, the Creator
The Guru is Vishnu, the preserver
The Guru is Shiva, the Destroyer of Ignorance.
The Supreme Brahma itself is the Guru
To that Divine Guru I pay my salutations

TAVA DRAVYAM JAGAT GURO
TUBHAMEVA SAMARPAYE.

All is of you and from you,
Your wealth oh Guru of the Universe
Unto you only I surrender

Namaskar
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