“Enlightenment, Self-Realization, Truth, Oneness, Nondual State, Cosmic Consciousness… All these names for a state of higher consciousness have the same meaning.” These are the first words in Sarada Chiruvolu’s spiritual memoir, ‘Home At Last’. But wait, in the same breath, she says that those words indicate an experience that any one of us can undergo. That is a bold statement, and the Princeton, NJ housewife goes on to kindle more hope for you and me. “It is not something that is unthinkable or unreachable or experienced only by those who leave their home to reside in ashrams, monasteries, or caves. It is very much within everyone’s reach.”
From Pharmaceuticals to Meditation
In fact, her own story of spiritual evolution serves as proof of her point. She has written in some detail about her experiences in her book, ‘Home At Last’, subtitled ‘A Journey Toward Higher Consciousness’. She had a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry when she received a divine calling. She quit her job to devote more time to her meditation, but continued to look after her family, including her husband and two daughters.
She wrote the book to detail the intricate details and various stages she had passed through over the years, ascending states of consciousness, and ultimately experiencing the highest levels of spiritual fulfillment. Referring to the Buddhist writer Fred H. Myer, MD, she points to a slight, subtle difference between self-realization and enlightenment. While both refer to the same level of insight, realization does not become enlightenment until the mind remains steadfast in what it has realized. “For this to take place,” she writes, “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 with it.”
I became aware of her remarkable experiences around the time her book was published in 2016. I reviewed it in the newsweekly I was editing at the time. Afterward, I followed her chosen trajectory. Interestingly, she did not turn into a guru, nor did she start an organization to build herself up. She just started giving talks at forums such as UU (Unitarian Universalists) chapters and at yoga centers in various American cities. Now in her early 70s, Sarada has slowed even those activities. Her book is now out of print, but she has no interest in finding another publisher.
It is as if she has accomplished what she was meant to do in this lifetime. She is very clear about her assigned role. I asked her, “Why haven’t you been taking disciples, guiding people directly?” She said there are other spritiual teachers and organizations for that. She points to Amma Karunamayi, with whom she has enjoyed a connection. Amma has written a Foreword for her book, the proceeds from which go to Amma’s humanitarian work.
A Simple Life Anchored in Profound Wisdom
When I met Sarada recently in Princeton, I was struck by how she had no airs of a person with remarkable spiritual attainment. Of course, no matted hair, no saffron robes. Short, wearing an unflashy T-shirt and trousers, she looked like any other Indian American suburban housewife. That is what flashed in my head. If Sarada Chiruvolu can do it, so can you and I.
When asked, she readily agreed to do an intimate event for a small group of Lotus readers in New Jersey. A friend in Edison offered to host the event, which is scheduled for September 20. Before that, we planned a webinar on September 13 to enable people anywhere to join, listen to her, and ask her questions to clarify their doubts about meditation and spirituality.
Although Sarada says ‘Home at Last’ is not a how-to book, she does offer advice when asked and has included some tips at the beginning of the book. There are many other systems and sadhana paths, which she does not discredit, but recommends meditation as the most direct path to enlightenment. During a brief meditation she conducted with my Lotus team, she directed us to focus on the middle of the eyebrows, the seat of the Ajna Chakra. When thoughts distract, return to focusing on the same point. Practice it for 10-15 minutes to begin with.
As a journalist, even when I worked in general interest publications, I always advocated for self-help articles. As the editor of a spiritual magazine, ALotusInTheMud.com, I strive particularly to provide content that people can utilize to achieve better health, happiness, and peace of mind. So here are Sarada’s tips from her book:
10 Simple Tips for Your Spiritual Progress
By Sarada Chiruvolu
- Keep your body clean and healthy by nourishing it with proper food and exercise. For most people, this means eating less meat and more fruits and vegetables, and consuming more liquids, especially water. This way, you will expend less energy in digestion, which will help you to conserve your inner energy for the goal you have set out to accomplish.
Get restful sleep that will allow your body to heal itself of any ailments and leave you refreshed with plenty of energy for the spiritual work ahead of you. Sufficient sleep is just as important as proper nutrition and exercise, as it helps your system become rejuvenated.- Try to spend more time with outdoor activities so that you are exposed to the sun daily. This is the best way to keep your body supplied with essential Vitamin D, as well as the cosmic energy that the sun provides.
- Decrease unessential activities and overall busyness. You may need to carry out the household chores associated with raising a family, as well as the work associated with your job, but you can cut down on unnecessary time spent watching TV, surfing the Web, sending e-mails, and other electronic activities. Some of these may be essential for your work, but it’s surprising how many hours we spend with inessential entertainment.
- Involve yourself with some kind of spiritual activity daily, such as reading spiritual books or scriptures, doing yoga, praying, listening to spiritual discourses, and even attending retreats and spiritual workshops. This will open the door toward the higher dimension of your consciousness.
- Complete all your daily tasks prior to meditation. Do not give your mind a chance to be distracted by the tasks that still need to be done.
- Create a location to sit quietly each day, even if only for a few minutes. It is preferable to meditate at the same time and in the same place, allowing you to increase the amount of time you can spend meditating each day. Some people meditate for a few minutes when they first wake up and just before they go to sleep at night.
- Increase your vital energy, also called prana, by doing deep breathing at least 5 minutes before starting to meditate. This calms the mind and prepares the way for meditation.
- Find a Guru or a teacher who resonates with you, and stick to that one without constantly shopping around. Use the tools your teacher provides you with on a regular basis.
- Never let yourself get disappointed or frustrated with your efforts to the extent that you want to give up. Be patient and understand that the process will take time and can’t be achieved overnight.
In following these tips, focus above all on your desire to know the Truth. The intensity of your longing for Divine union is the propelling force that moves you forward. I cannot emphasize enough how determined I was to continue my daily meditations despite the difficulties. This determination will help you move forward more rapidly on your path.
Sarada Chiruvolu’s book, ‘Home at Last’, is available as a Kindle version on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Last-Journey-Toward-Consciousness/dp/1935952765
The register for the webinar with Sarada on September 13, https://tinyurl.com/4f668e8n. To access the recording of the webinar, go to ALotusInTheMud.com.
To read an extract from Sarada’s book, go to: https://alotusinthemud.com/sarada-chiruvolo-enlightenment/
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