“Guru Purnima Observance” In-Person and Via Zoom
Thursday: July 10, 2025
Guru Purnima Program on July 10, 2025
5:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. CT
Global Full Moon Meditation
9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CT
Guru Purnima 2025 Celebration Schedule
Thursday July 10, 2025 is Guru Purnima, Guru’s Full Moon. Please join us at The Meditation Center on this auspicious day for a full evening of observance and celebration.
There is an open invitation for all initiates, members, and students to come meditate at The Meditation Center on Guru Purnima.
Evening’s Program:
5:30-6:45 p.m.: Hatha class will not be meeting.
5:45-6:45 p.m.: (time subject to change) Guru Purnima Havan. Weather permitting, we’ll do a fire havan in the back yard. You’re invited to bring a small bundle of sticks, pencil size and dry, to offer into the fire for the Guru. If not appropriate weather for a fire havan, we’ll do a flower havan inside and save the bundles of sticks for a subsequent full moon fire havan. In Person Only
Quoting his master, Swami Rama wrote in “Living with the Himalayan Masters”… He said: “I will burn these dry sticks so that your past karmas do not affect your future. Now I am giving you a new life. Do not live in the past. Live here and now and start treading the path of light.”
6:45-8:15 p.m.: Socializing and full buffet meal offered. Bring an appetizer or sweet as an offering to the main meal if you would like to contribute. In Person Only.
8:00/8:15-9:00 p.m.: Via Zoom and In Person, showing of a short video of Swami Veda and other swamis speaking at the Guru Purnima gathering in 2012.
9:00-10:00 p.m.: Global Full Moon Meditation via Zoom. Swami Ritavan will guide the first ½ hour
Some etiquette: The havan kunda, fire pit, is the shrine for the fire deity Agni and needs to be approached as such; having freshly cleansed, with an open heart and mind, and wearing clean clothes; no shoes close to the havan kunda. All offerings are made with the right hand and with a loving attitude of letting go and from the heart. Once seated for the ceremony, it’s important to remain there until the conclusion. (Same etiquette also applies to the water/flower puja)
It is customary to gather some dry twigs in advance, about pencil thickness and length to bring to the ceremony, usually 3 or more dry twigs bound together with a cotton string or thread (if you can’t be there in person, the twigs may be sent by mail to The Meditation Center). As you walk around to gather these dry twigs, mindfully think of the most prominent, burdensome obstacles in your life or practice. These obstacles will be represented by the gathered twigs. Before the start of the ceremony, kindly hand them to the swami who is present. who will them pass them to the person(s) officiating the ceremony.
