A 100-hour continuous meditation session spread over five days was conducted at Yogoda Satsanga Math, Ranchi. The meditation, held in the Dhyana Mandir, began at 7:00 a.m. on December 28, 2017, and concluded at 11:30 a.m. on January 1, 2017. It included periods of chanting and singing of bhajans, interspersed with 40-45 minutes of meditation. Devotees could join for the meditation as long as they were able to.
The special meditation ushered in the year-long YSS Centenary Celebrations. Enthusiastic devotees from Ranchi and several cities throughout India participated in this commemorative meditation. It was the first time ever that an uninterrupted hundred hours were devoted solely to meditation.
Swami Smaranananda led the first hour of meditation. At the outset, Swamiji pointed out to those present the uniqueness of the event, and the opportunity it provided for so many devotees to think of God and Gurus single-mindedly for the next five days. He mentioned that during such special meditations the Great Ones are tangibly present and shower their blessings. Swamiji urged devotees to make the most of this blessed opportunity and encouraged them to focus on and practise each meditation technique for a longer duration and to deeply enjoy the ensuing stillness. He also advised devotees not to overlook the body’s need for food and rest. Fruits, biscuits, and hot drinks were made available near the Shiva Mandir round-the-clock. The meal timings at the Central Kitchen were also extended.
Twice daily, devotees joined in the Worldwide Prayer Circle, sending prayers and healing vibrations to all those who had asked for prayers, by practising Gurudeva’s healing technique. The healing service was followed by a break of thirty minutes for devotees to practise the Energization Exercises. Many rooms were made available for local devotees to take rest during the day or stay overnight. In addition to the local devotees, around 90 devotees from different cities participated in this event. Braving the winter chill of Ranchi, many were seen meditating late into the night and the wee hours of the morning.
As the days went by, the vibrations in the Dhyana Mandir and surrounding areas grew stronger and stronger. One of the devotees commented that after the first few days he could feel the vibrations of stillness all the way to the dining hall! Another devotee remarked that such events are what makes YSS unique since meditation is the cornerstone of Guruji’s teachings and the Yogoda path.
The devotees were grateful for having been able to participate in this blessed opportunity and wished that this event would become an annual affair in Ranchi.
YSS Noida Ashram and a few Dhyana Kendras—Agra, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Tanuku, Pithapuram, Rajahmundry, and Chennai—also held twenty-four-hour meditations and Coimbatore Dhyana Kendra held 100-hour meditation to commence YSS Centenary Celebrations.
