You Tube – Celebrating Existence

Celebrating Hanuman Jayanti 2019!

Posted on April 19, 2019April 22, 2019 by rachaelathomasj

Jaya Guru Datta!

Sita Ram! Happy Hanuman Jayanti 2019! Om Namo Hanumate Namaha!

sri bala swamiji — Photo Credit: Shivani Ramoutar

Today Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago join with Hindus around the world to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti! Trinidad is Hanuman Land as Lord Hanuman stands tall at Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre in Carapichaima at 85 feet tall- the tallest Hanuman murti outside of India.

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This Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti (so named because of His presence at Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre) stands tall and majestic, greeting His Guru Lord Surya as each day starts, welcomes devotees who come from around the world to see Him, He listens to them and their prayers and offers comfort, courage and solutions.

Lord Hanuman

IMG_20190419_192746 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_194404 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_192825 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_194026 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_193951 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_193659 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

Like other Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, for Hanuman Jayanti 2019 devotees join in the signature colour red to make offerings of roat, dried coconut, paan leaves, flowers and host of other fruits and sweets that are offered to the revered God-dutiful servant of Lord Rama- the epitome of humility, discipline, strength and courage whose greatness we learn of in the pages of the Holy Ramayana. More so we learn of His patience, His selfless service, His commitment to duty and to helping others.

Throughout the island today Hanuman puja is being conducted today in homes, temples and various Ashramas, Hanuman Chalisa is being chanted and the name of Lord Hanuman is being glorified. At the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre today Hanuman Jayanti is being marked with all day chanting of Hanuman Chalisa by various Pundits and groups together with all day offerings by devotees visiting the Ashrama and will culminate with Hanuman Puja and Lord Satyanarayan Vrat Katha.

While Hindus are celebrating Hanuman Jayanti, Christians are celebrating Good Friday and today being Friday, Muslims had Jumaah today. It is what we in Trinidad and Tobago can describe as a true reflection of our diversity as a people.

Many can recall that Ram Navami was celebrated last Saturday. On this said Saturday-April 13- devotees of His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Pontiff of Avadhoota Datta Peetham and founder of the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre held the Hanuman Day of Prayer. This was held with the blessings of His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji and in the Divine Presence of Junior Pontiff at Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Pujya Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji, our Beloved Sri Bala Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji’s visit many can agree was one where 4 days were well spent with priceless opportunities and beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. The 4 days were filled with a lot of activity all of which were fully meaningful and spiritually uplifting- daily Sri Chakra Puja, other daily Pujas, Homa, Abhishekam, bhajans, kirtan and discourse from Sundar Kand.

Sri Swamiji’s visit set the tone for Hanuman Jayanti and revealed several parallels between Him and Lord Hanuman- humility, devotion, purity of heart, thought and action and selfless service.

In closing keep chanting, keep praying, keep celebrating the good around you! More so as His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji always asks, “Be Good, Do Good”.

If you haven’t downloaded the app yet either visit the Google Play Store or the Apple Store and download your SGSPosts today! Let that be your gift to yourself and make it a gift you give to someone else by way of introducing them to it.

Job Announcement, Job Opportunity, Life

Job Opening: Exquisite Fragrances Boutique

Posted on March 4, 2019February 6, 2020 by rachaelathomasj

Are you interested in the opportunity of a lifetime? Are you interested in one with nothing to lose and everything to gain?

announcement

Job Ad final

This is exactly what this opportunity is for you! Please have a look at this:

Whether it is an entrepreneurial job opportunity you are looking for or a part-time job or full-time job or even a work from home job this is ideal for you! Everything that is stated in the job advertised above by Exquisite Fragrances Boutique is real and legitimate.

Exquisite Fragrances Boutique is a Business Partner Franchise with FM World. FM World aims to deliver high quality products at attractive prices directly to households rather than through traditional retail networks.

What makes it even more attractive is that you can sign up for this job from anywhere in the world as Exquisite Fragrances Boutique will be happy to welcome you to the team and provide all the necessary guidance to get you started. This is because FM World has business partners globally.

Why should you apply to Exquisite Fragrances Boutique? This is because Exquisite Fragrances Boutique is searching for serious distributors, sales agents or representatives so that it can extend FM WORLD in new countries.

What do you stand to gain from joining the team at Exquisite Fragrances Boutique?

A range of High Quality, Exclusive Fragrances at Affordable Prices
An opportunity to fulfil your dreams as an entrepreneur
An exclusive product range- fragrances, health products, personal care products and so much more
Glossy Catalogues that are in full colour
Having your Own Flexible Business
An opportunity to build your own team (if you so desire)
Freedom to Work from Home
A chance to be a part of an organization where there is friendly Support When You Need It
Instant Retail Commissions
A chance to qualify for housing/ rental allowance
Generous Bonuses
A Chance to Share in Worldwide Turnover
An opportunity to Qualify for Car Program
Providing products people want (getting experience in FMCG- fast moving consumer goods)
Having unlimited income potential (how much you make has a lot to do with you)
Having fun while you learn and while you earn
Having paid trips for educational conferences

Allow me to go back to my previous post https://rachaelathomasj.com/2019/02/21/celebrating-awesome-earning-opportunities. This is all yours for the taking! It’s no joke and it’s no game. Knowing quite a number of persons benefitting from these incentives is a bonus for me. I urge you to grab this opportunity and get started today. To apply for this job please send an email to exquisitefragrancesboutique@gmail.com Remember you have nothing to lose and everything to gain because it is all yours for the taking!

Exquisite Fragrances Boutique can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ExquisiteFragrancesBoutique/ Be sure to visit the page, like it and share it with others. For those with any questions or queries or even those interested in this business opportunity please send an email to me at signaturewritingstyles@gmail.com and know that I will be happy to help as always.

Being Prayerful, Blessings from Appaji

Blessings from Appaji-Divali 2018!

Posted on November 6, 2018November 7, 2018 by rachaelathomasj

Jaya Guru Datta!

On this blessed occasion of Divali 2018 it is indeed an opportunity to remember how blessed and fortunate we are.

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We are alive, we are given the opportunity to be good and do good, we are given the opportunity to burn up bad karma, we are given the opportunity to do seva, we are blessed to have a human body and walk the earth while Divine Beings have taken physical form to guide and protect us.

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Beautiful Diwali Cards and Greetings !23

In this past week we were blessed with good news coming from the His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji:
• SgsPosts has been downloaded over 100k times (Jaya Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta! Sadguru Maharaj Ki Jai!)
• Appaji has inaugurated the Avadhoota Datta Peetham SriSailam Ashrama in Andhra Pradesh
• Another Bhagavad Gita class was opened to allow interested persons to learn Bhagavad Gita by memory or by fluency in pronunciation and recitation.

45303260_10155982069293450_3678342573639860224_n — Photo Credit: Avadhoota Datta Peetham

45510986_10155983007543450_7264679242628071424_n — Photo Credit: Avadhoota Datta Peetham

Just a little over a week ago (October 28) we were blessed with news that the Yoga Sangeeta App for Android users was released thereby making it easier for us to submit our Mantra count (Shivaaya Rudraaya Namaha). What some may not know is that when His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji instructed devotees to chant the Mantra it was not just for peace and prosperity in Trinidad and Tobago but it was for worldwide peace and prosperity. More people are heeding the call to chant “Shivaaya Rudraaya Namaha” and the sincere hope is that many more will continue to do so!

Then here in Trinidad we were faced with numerous challenges but we united as a people in several ways in spite of the fact that some were highly unfair and inhumane.

How?

Here is how:

1. Many people rendered assistance to those affected by last month’s flooding (preparing meals and distributing them, rescuing people who were trapped, providing clothes, mattresses and cleaning agents, spreading messages on social media on how to help people affected by flood waters, giving cash and housing accommodation to those displaced by the floods)

https://www.meppublishers.com/trinidad-tobago-floods-2018-how-to-help/#axzz5W8dgRYDC

https://sewausa.org/Trinidad-and-Tobago-Floods-2018

http://www.looptt.com/content/list-donation-drop-points-tt-mobilises-help-flood-victims

2. Many people showed that we do not live according to lines of religion, ethnicity or politics.

3. Many people heeded a call to render humanitarian service to others and they did it selflessly.

4. People began sending out messages to alert others on how to find those who were in distress (giving them directions).

5. Those who could not do anything substantial (by way of monetary aide or purchasing things needed for homes) offered prayers for those in need of help and also offered words of comfort and encouragement via social media.

How then should we move forward?

1. Continue helping each other

2. Continue being thankful for all blessings

3. Do not give up

4. Focus on positivity rather than negativity

5. Never run from a challenge but stand tall in the face of adversity

6. Always aim to be the best that you can be!

7. Follow the teachings of our Divine Master (who is the absolute and is purity and humility personified) and pay careful attention to the inspirational posts in SGSPosts.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.sgsragasagara.sgs_posts

https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/sgs-posts/id1097382754?mt=8

Life, Love and Blessings, Uncategorized

Celebrating Love, Life & Blessings!

Posted on August 31, 2018September 24, 2018 by rachaelathomasj

Special Friday Greetings for you — Special Friday Greetings!
Life and experiences change us!
Always let them change you for the better and not the worse! Live and love life!
Keep being you, keep smiling & always be true to yourself!

Today I take this opportunity to celebrate life, love and blessings! Some may think that a post ‘Celebrating Independence Day 2018’ may be ideal but considering the recent turn of events in our country there is a clear contrast in the way I felt last year and the way I feel this year. I am sure many can understand this and many can also relate to it.

Interestingly enough many have been checking my post from last year in this past week, particularly yesterday and today. For those of you who are interested in what that post is about please visit https://rachaelathomasj.com/2017/08/31/celebrating-independence-day-2017

I am happy many opted to visit the page. Maybe it was due to a feeling of patriotism, maybe it serves as a reminder of how drastically things have changed, or maybe just maybe, it is a combination of both.

In all honesty (take note that I always write in all honesty)my heart goes out to the many who had to tell their families they lost their jobs and they don’t know where their next income will come from. Bear in mind it is not just workers of PETROTRIN but hundreds who work for contractors that work for PETROTRIN and the hundreds and thousands who are being sent home in other sectors of the economy.

As if things weren’t already tough we continue to see how they are getting tougher and suffering increases. What it does mean though is that the struggle is real and now more than ever we have to be thankful for life and blessings! We have to continue praying not just for ourselves and our families but we have to pray for each other and for our country. We have to pray for peace and for courage to face the current reality and what lies ahead.

As if the earthquake on August 21 was not enough of a ‘shake-up’ (yes, it is an act of nature we could not prevent) but as a country we have been surviving increases in the amount traffic fines are now costing, people continue to lose jobs, cost of living continues to rise and this past week has been filled with heart wrenching news of the realities of the energy sector.

Now more than anything we have to remember that to be humane we have to live like humans. Now more than ever we have to look out for each other, we have to be steadfast in our prayer and we have to be steadfast in our devotion. Further to that we have to be thankful that our experiences make us wiser and they make us stronger. More so we have to be confident that they will guide us forward and help us to make more informed choices and more practical ones at best.

Let us look at what we can be thankful for:

· We got up this morning (some did not).

· We made it through the day in spite of pain, in spite of hurt and in spite of the challenges we have been facing or the challenges we faced today.

· We are loved and we are blessed by the Divine who has given us life.

· I got an opportunity to share this post with you and you got an opportunity to read it.

· I got to tell you that you are not alone and in case you felt you were hopefully now you know you are not.

As Mother Teresa said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

I ask that you be mindful of the fact that survival is a key part of moving forward! Prayer is a key part of surviving and having faith is a key part of why we pray and how we choose to live. Never believe that you are alone because you are not!

In closing please remember this: His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji always reminds devotees, “If you are a Hindu, be a good Hindu. If you are a Christian, be a good Christian and if you are a Muslim, be a good Muslim.”

To those of you who have been chanting “Shivaaya Rudraaya Namaha” as directed by His Holiness I urge you to continue doing so! To those who are praying please continue to pray and please share the message of peace. Please share the need to pray, to look out for each other and to not give up. Let this be an added source of motivation to you:

Guru Purnima 2018, Uncategorized

Celebrating Guru Purnima 2018 in the Divine Presence of Sri Swamiji (our Appaji, our Sadguru) & sharing His Message!

Posted on July 27, 2018July 28, 2018 by rachaelathomasj

Jaya Guru Datta!

Om Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Sadguru Bhyo Namaha!

Today July 27, 2018 marks the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima! It is indeed a blessed occasion for all Datta Devotees in Trinidad as we have been quite fortunate to be blessed with the Divine Presence of His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre in Carapichaima.
37855343_1988643881165922_970841021837475840_n More so we have been blessed with the presence of Datta devotees from around the world (Australia, USA, India, Canada to name a few) who have come to Trinidad to celebrate Guru Purnima and Trinidadians living abroad who have returned home especially for this event and to be in Sadguru’s presence!

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During these past ten (10) days Appaji has done so much and we can all agree that no other can do it like His Holiness does. Allow me to share some of the many blessings we have received:

· Appaji blessed us with the Datta Ganga Raga Sagara Music for Meditation and Healing Concert at SAPA on July 20^th

· Appaji inaugurated the Hanuman Shrine at the Sri Sachchidananda Yoga Ashram and He inaugurated Annapoorna Mandiram on Tuesday 24^th July. He also performed Sri Chakra Puja.

· Appaji also blessed the devotees at the Datta Shiva Ram Mandir in Princes Town

· On Tuesday 24^th July Appaji visited the Lakshminarayana Pranava Temple in Beaucarro Village Carapichaima and inaugurated the canteen facilities of the schools run by the Temple Appaji

· Appaji performed Guru Mantra Upadesha for hundreds of devotees on the morning of 26^th July

· Appaji announced plans for Maha Rudra Yagna and for the sacred Guru Purnima Festival His Holiness gave the Mantra ‘Shivaaya Rudraaya Namaha’ to be chanted as many times as possible in the spiritual build up for this event to be held in 2020

· Appaji blessed us all immensely in an abundance of ways

· Appaji urged us to embrace all that we have and to understand who we are- to understand ourselves

· Appaji recognised the contribution of two (2) pundits who have contributed immensely to Sanatan Dharma in Trinidad and Tobago

Appaji shared a full page message for Guru Purnima in today’s Express Newspaper

With Appaji there is continuous growth, there is deeper meaning and there is greater fulfilment. Like the well which channels water and channels energy to sustain life, so does Sadguru! He gives us the opportunity to experience the elixir of life as received and gives us the opportunity to know oneself.

In closing this evening’s programme there was a cake cutting ceremony for Appaji which featured a well that provides water like the Ganges and cakes in the form of Appaji’s Padukas.

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Like the well which flows to provide water to many we are reminded of Sadguru, our Appaji who provides an immense outpouring of love, extends His reach at all times to all humanity and does so with purity, without fear, without favour and without discrimination. All is within His reach and none can do what He does or profess to do so! He protects humanity and looks after all devotees. From His life and His actions we can attest to His omnipotence and His omniscience. Like water, He is the giver of Life! He is the Sustainer of Life and the Preserver of Life! He is Sadguru and He is the Avadhoota!

We can all attest to the fact that time and time again many ask how we can thank Appaji?

Here are some ways in which you can do so:

· Practise Sadhana

· Understand who you are

· Accept that we are one family

· Keep your focus and serve

· Embrace Appaji’s Daily Messages

· Download Free Apps from SGS Posts, Path, Nadi Shuddi Yoga, Hanuman Chalisa for Parayana, Bhakti Mala English and Livestream and invest in Apps for Purchase like Bhajan Mala, SGS Bhagavad Gita, Divine Darshan, Kavacha Manjari and Vishnu Sahasranamam from Google Playstore for Android Devices and Apple Store for iOS devices

· Develop Your Spirituality

· Ensure that you utilize the services of the bookstores in the Ashrams by purchasing Appaji’s books and cds. This was mentioned in this evening’s discourse. Read Appaji’s books, absorb the information in them and put them to daily use. As Appaji says, “Be good, Do Good”. Listen to the music on the cds, learn the bhajans, sing them and glorify the name of God

· Download the free Kindle App for iOS devices, Android devices and Mac or PC, purchase Appaji’s books that are available in Kindle Edition or get samples of them and add them to a Wishlist so that you can purchase them when you can afford them (Re: https://rachaelathomasj.com/2018/07/17/celebrating-the-availability-of-appajis-books-for-all-datta-devotees-via-kindle-apps)

· Give food and clothing to the less fortunate

· Practise Sattvic living

· Support Shuka Vana

· Meditate

· Use food, music and positive lifestyle changes to uplift yourself

· Learn Bhagavad Gita and Guru Gita

Appaji, we are happy that You are our Sadguru! We are eternally thankful for all that You have done for us and for all that You continue to do for us! Humble Pranams to Your Lotus Feet!

Happy Guru Purnima Appaji!

Thank you for Blessing us always!

Thank you for Blessing Trinidad devotees and for blessing devotees the world over! We love you Appaji! On behalf of all devotees in Trinidad I can surely say that we look forward to having You with us again soon!

In closing I leave this invitation to provide further information with you for the download of apps and to get more information on what was shared in this post. Please leave a comment here or email me at signaturewritingstyles@gmail.com . Do not let the negatives of life pull you down! Always strive to be the best you can be!

Reading, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji

Celebrating the availability of Appaji’s books to all Datta devotees via Kindle Apps

Posted on July 17, 2018February 18, 2019 by rachaelathomasj

Jaya Guru Datta!

Today like every other day is a blessed day! We can all agree that we are infinitely blessed! All that His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, our Sadguru, our Appaji does for us and for all humanity is immeasurable and He is Avadhoota! He is Nada Brahma and is always there for us! He is Sachchidananda (the manifestation of Truth, Knowledge and Bliss). Today holds greater significance as it is the day when Appaji arrives in Trinidad and it is a day many of us have been looking forward to!

The focus of this post is somewhat different as it shows us another blessing Appaji has given to us! On this occasion I am very happy to be able to share the gift of reading with all Datta devotees the world over as you will be quite pleased to know some of Appaji’s books are available in Kindle Editions so you can purchase Appaji’s books and download them via Kindle Apps. Together, let us celebrate the gift of reading for all Datta devotees via Kindle Apps!

Finding Appaji’s books on Amazon in Kindle Edition is a priceless discovery and certainly a treasure and a blessing! I could not wait to share this with you! I was absolutely excited and delighted when I found four (4) of Appaji’s books on Amazon Kindle. I found them yesterday and wanted to ensure that I could share them with you today.

41Y-YNY65PL The good news is each of these books can be downloaded to a kindle device or kindle app and you can purchase them. Here are the links you can use to embrace Appaji’s books:

· https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Absolute-Ganapathy-Sachchidananda-Swamiji-ebook/dp/B075WW53PL/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1531830 (long link) or https://www.amazon.com/ /dp/B075WW53PL/ (short link)

· https://www.amazon.com/Elixir-Received-Collection-Discourses-Sachchidananda-ebook/dp/B079VV6SFW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1531830693&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=swami+ganapathy+the+elixir+of+life (long link) or https://www.amazon.com/ dp/B079VV6SFW/ (short link)

· https://www.amazon.com/100-Stories-Indian-Heritage-Sachchidananda-ebook/dp/B01LYWQ4FU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1531830792&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=swami+ganapathy+100+stories (long link) or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYWQ4FU/ (short link) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWD0PXW/?coliid=I24MW57SCSZQYT&colid=1R9L3ZZRMPSIZ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it (long link) or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWD0PXW/ (short link)

The following pieces of information are very important to take note of as they will certainly help.

1. Each book can be given as a gift so that you can spread Appaji’s teachings and messages with others.

2. You can download a sample of each book if you do not have funds at this time to purchase them.

3. You can add each book to a Wish List so that you can find them easily when you can purchase them.

As mentioned in my previous post you do not need a Kindle to read a book that is available in Kindle Edition. Of course having one may be a source of comfort to you but there are several free ways in which you can download Free Apps to read your Kindle Books.

Allow me to clarify one thing: Many people misunderstand what a Kindle is!

What is a Kindle?

A Kindle is a small hand held electronic device for reading books which has been developed by online retailer Amazon. (Source: https://www.digitalunite.com>guides)

As mentioned having a Kindle is not the only way to download a book in Kindle edition. What you can do is download the free Kindle App

1. From Android from Google Playstore at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.kindle

2. From Amazon for PC or Mac, Android or IOS at https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp

3. From the Apple Store at https://itunes.apple.com/tt/app/kindle/id302584613?mt=8

Further to this you can download the App to more than one device (for example, a mobile phone and a laptop or a laptop and a desktop)

What’s more is that if you live in Trinidad and Tobago when you purchase a Kindle book you don’t incur any charges for online shopping.

I am happy that I could share this good news with you and I invite you to share it with others! In closing I leave you with Appaji’s itinerary for His visit to Trinidad!

We are indeed blessed to have Appaji here for Guru Purnima and can all agree that we all have a lot to look forward to!

Sri Guru Datta!

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