When I read this invitation for the first time, the depth of the first paragraph really caught my attention. I thought I could stay for hours reflecting on it. Today, I read it again, and deep gratitude came over me. I felt thankful just for existing, for having a human life in this manifest world. Then I thought that I am not only blessed to exist, but also blessed to be able to meet my Guru in this life and to feel her in my heart.

As I write these words, my heart overflows with joy and gratitude. I am so fortunate for this, and I feel that Gurupurnima is a wonderful occasion to express this gratitude and reflect upon it.

Madrid, Spain

As I studied the words of this beautiful invitation, what stood out most strongly was Lilavati’s assertion that gratitude “longs to be expressed.”

Reflecting on this, I recognized how the qualities of my own heart—whether gratitude to the Guru, or love, or joy, or generosity—long to find expression.

From this, I understand more clearly how my deep impulse to express from my heart can be transformed into reality through the sweet and powerful practice of offering dakshina.

Havant, United Kingdom

For many years, my husband and I have offered dakshina. The amount changed after our retirement, but our offering never stopped. As I contemplate the practice of offering dakshina during the month of Gurupurnima, I realize that each month when our offering is automatically transferred, I rarely stop to embrace or acknowledge this practice.

We receive beautiful heart stickers from the SYDA Foundation to place on our calendar to mark this day. Now, I intend to more fully embrace the practice of dakshina as part of my sadhana by placing a heart sticker on the day of each monthly offering as a reminder of the Guru’s grace.

Texas, United States

I recently had a dream in which I witnessed myself embracing the moon with my arms wide open. I experienced that I was merging with the light, which was luminous love.

Reading Lilavati’s lovely invitation, I thought again about the luminosity of the moon and how I was becoming one with the Guru’s light. I offer Gurupurnima dakshina with enthusiasm and gratitude, acknowledging the transformation that the Guru’s grace has bestowed on me and my life.

New York, United States

How incredible to see the image of the perfect lotus seemingly lit from within. For me, the lotus represents an expansive shelter that emanates active peace. It appears to always be open and to offer a soft barrier between me and the challenges of the world around me. This image and the beautiful words of the invitation drop me into a timeless sense of peace and stillness. They remind me that, even as life throws me challenges, my Siddha Yoga practices remain at my core, and now is not the time to abandon them.

I offer my immense gratitude, along with my dakshina offering, knowing that this practice ties me to a community of love and peace, something I believe that the entire world could benefit from right now.

Waikato, New Zealand

As I read this invitation to offer dakshina, I recalled an amazing experience I had in my backyard one full-moon night in July. After reading Gurumayi’s words in her book Remembrance about the fascination of watching the moon on Gurupurnima, I went out into the garden to find the moon. I stood gazing at it in rapture.

When I looked up at the sky, I looked toward the portion displaying only stars against the blue sky. Then, one by one, the stars disappeared from the sky, and seemed to descend into my backyard like blue globules with a very bright inner light, which vanished before I could touch them.

This deeply moving experience left me with a feeling of knowing all the secrets I needed to know to navigate my life. Reason told me it was an optical illusion, yet that “illusion” had connected me to the infinity of the universe, to something of the Truth, and to the Guru’s grace. At that time, I had already begun the practice of dakshina, and I immediately associated that fascinating experience with the beneficial effect of offering dakshina—a connection I decided to deepen and never abandon.

Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, Argentina

What a beautiful invitation—both in its words and its artwork. I have found myself drawn to reflect on it again and again. I love the way Lilavati opens by speaking about “how infinite time is.” As I read these words and the rest of the invitation, I became aware of a heightened feeling that my Guru and I have been connected throughout eons of time. I also felt that, while this Guru/disciple connection can be expressed through forms—in other words, as a relationship between two people—it truly takes place in the space of chidakasha where, to me, it is a communion of one holy, formless essence.

Reflecting on this invitation fills my heart with love, spaciousness, and light.

Langwarrin, Australia

I have always looked upon the yearly invitation to offer dakshina during the month of Gurupurnima as a way to discover new clues to the profound meaning of this subtle practice. It is my practice to observe the colors, shades, and forms of the invitation and relate them to the Guru’s teachings. This year, for the first time, I noticed that the light that illumines some petals of the lotus appears to come from inside the lotus, and not from above as I had previously thought!

This simple understanding created a widening circle of resonance within my inner being, and many observations came quite naturally as a consequence. The main understanding was that the more I open my heart in every aspect of life, the more the light inside me will shine and illumine the world outside as well. Filled with gratitude for this understanding, I was inspired to offer dakshina in a spontaneous and natural way. 

Rome, Italy