One woman's journey from a career track in the pharmaceutical industry to a spiritual calling. Home At Last, takes the reader on a profound journey on the road toward enlightenment based on Sarada Chiruvolu's direct experience. It explains and gives sign posts and landmarks that we can encounter on the path.
... In common language, Sarada Chiruvolu explicates what is inexplicable-the 'not this, not that' of what we label reality. She even alludes to what contemporary quantum physics is revealing about what the ancients long ago subscripted."
SARADA CHIRUVOLU left a pharmaceutical career to pursue a spiritual calling. She set out on a unique journey that has driven her or taken her toward attaining realization of Self or Enlightenment through many years of deep meditation. Over the years since, she continues to lead a normal family life dedicating her time toward various philanthropic pursuits where ever she can make a difference. Her focus always is to address most of the rudimentary needs of people, because if these essentials are not taken care of then a detrimental cycle ensues. She lives in Princeton, NJ. She travels extensively to other countries and annually to India to work toward this mission.
It was a cold and foggy winter day in December. While strong winds were blowing from the Garudaachala Mountains outside, every- body in our meditation hall was calmly mediating in dead silence. In that sublime atmosphere, I saw some kind of energy being radiated in the hall, and I wanted to discover where that wonderful light was coming from. I was amazed at the bright rays that were radiating from a lady meditating deeply close to me. That was the first time I saw Sarada deeply meditating. I started watching her through my inner vision, my third eye, as the radiance of this kind of energy, cannot be seen by the naked eye. What I saw was the bright light of an aura, which is divine in nature, like a beau- tiful, pure white Milky Way surrounding Sarada in deep meditation. She was encircled by that self-effulgent divine consciousness. While our inner Prana Shakti, or kundalini, can go as far as our mind can think, I could see that this bright light emanating from her could go into the universe, far beyond anybody's imagination. I could see that the Kundalini Shakti, which had been in deep slumber inside Sarada all the time, had now awakened and reached its destination.
I could see that the supreme spiritual energy, the kundalini Shakti of Sarada had blossomed and that was the reason for that grand bright light radiating around her. I could see that Sarada had attained supreme consciousness, so that now she remains in her pure self, her primal state, while fulfilling all her worldly duties. She is always aware of her own nature, the Sat (Ever-existent) Chit (Consciousness) and Ananda (Bliss) that is quite distinct from the body and senses but is the pure all-pervading Self, or Atman.
Sarada has transformed her life as a divine pure being through her divine thoughts, silent meditation, and service to society. Her attainment of supreme consciousness has manifested in being of service by distributing food to the poor, and giving clothing to students, supporting old age homes, and providing help in establishing water purification systems to those suffering from lack of clean water. I can see the most natural and complete inner awareness in her, whether she involves herself in social services or spiritual activities. I hope that this divine book that she has written will light the lamps in many hearts and inspire many spiritual aspirants. I wish her all the success in every endeavor.
All these names for a state of higher consciousness have the same meaning and indicate an experience that any one of us can undergo. Don't let the spiritual terminology flabbergast you. It is not something unthinkable or unreachable or experienced only by those who leave their homes to reside in ashrams, monasteries, or caves. It is very much within everyone's reach. The speed and ease with which this transformation happens varies with each of us because it all depends on where we are in our evolutionary growth.
Home At Last explains all the intricate details and various stages I passed through over the years of this experience. But I would also like to explain that the process of realization has many layers. As the Buddhist writer Fred H. Myer, MD, writes, "Realization and Enlightenment refer to the same level of insight, but the two terms are not synonymous.... [R]ealization does not become enlightenment until the mind never strays from what it has realized." For this to take place one must go beyond realization of the Self. The individualized divinity within each of us must merge with the Absolute to experience the final destination and remain there.
The purpose of the book is to delineate the Truth pertaining to the spiritual dimension of life as I have experienced it. Although it has been said by many that the realization of higher consciousness-so-called mystical experience-is much the same no matter one's religious or cultural background, each experience differs in its details. Many people have the idea that this mystical experience or discovery of our true nature is unfailingly uplifting, full of blissful moments and extraordinary visions. What I have tried to recreate in this book are the precise details of the experience, from extraordinary states of consciousness that left me feeling dazzled, to routine, everyday activities. Many books about Self-realization inspire people, but I am not aware of any that actually clarify what one goes through on the path, step by step, or give a simple description of the path to realization in the life of an otherwise ordinary individual. Most people who are curious about the mystical life need valid information along with some proof; reliable information can come only from those who have realized the information, feel it within the heart, and perceive it thoroughly through direct experience. And so that is the kind of information I have set out to provide, because I believe it can be of use to some advanced seekers while stimulating the curiosity of the general public. I feel the need is continually growing for books that can describe the path to spiritual fulfillment.
Home At Last also explains how it is possible to integrate realization into everyday life, and addresses the complex issues created by the influx of inner energy that occurs when one undergoes an active awakening. Though this inner energy can sometimes be released spontaneously, it most often requires a lengthy process of conscious practice, focusing mainly on intensive meditation. My purpose is primarily to let readers know what they can expect when confronting this mysterious, awakened inner force and how to cope with the often-harrowing physical and psychological effects of changes in consciousness they may face along the way. Our outlook and goals change radically when we are directed by the awakened inner energy rather than by our normal ego self. Ultimately this book describes how the enlightened consciousness navigates one's given life and integrates that life with higher consciousness after attaining realization.
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