One of the students of law asked Anandmurti Gurumaa that she is 21 years old and has viewed different videos of Gurumaa. She has also practiced Tratak meditation (candle gazing meditation) and Pranayama, which she found to be very effective.

She says that she has come to know about photo-reading while doing some research from the net. It is said that Swami Vivekananda had photographic memory. But photographic memory and photo reading are not apparently the same!

She requests Gurumaa to tell more about photographic memory. Can anyone activate his/her photographic memory? If yes, then how can it be done?

Gurumaa says that photographic memory or photographic reading, definitely are two different things. Most of the western classical musicians have developed their photographic reading ability. While they are reading the first one line audibly, in a glance they have already read the next 4 or 5 lines.

At that one moment, their eyes have taken a photo picture, a picture of the whole page which is written in front of them. They have read the notes, but consciously they will be focusing on that one line which they are supposedly to play at that time.

But photographic memory is all together a different thing. To develop it, one needs to work upon their mind. And until and unless, one does not work upon the body and breath, one cannot work upon the mind!

Therefore, one needs to first master some of the asanas (yoga) to correct the body postures. Click here to know more about Yoga asanas or yogic exercises and their benefits.

One can then work upon the breathing by doing pranayama. Gurumaa has suggested many techniques of pranayama too. Click here to know more about them.

When one starts working upon the mind, then the activation of photographic memory comes as a bonus. As such, one does not need to follow and work upon any strategic plan to activate one’s photographic memory, it’s the result of a highly balanced and meditative state of mind!

The very air you breathe here is permeated by the love of the master. The trees, the birds, even the pet dogs; what to say of the inmates – they all vibrate with positive energy.

In the Gurumaa Ashram, you can learn how to reverberate with joy in the presence of the divine master. The youth activities are designed to make you feel at ease, to unburden and to learn things because you want to, not because you are forced to.

The music makes even those who have never danced before break out into a jig. The painting classes are designed to bring out the artist in you. The wholesome food and exercise ensure that you stay in perfect health.

You come to know that meditation is not a serious affair, but rather it is an aid to concentration and opening up the hitherto sleeping areas of your brain!

Is it not wonderful that somebody cares to help you improve your performance – both in studies, career and in improving relationships? And that too, through fun, group activities, the bonhomie of friends and the loving guidance of the master.

Youth retreats are the foundation stones, lovingly guiding you to a better life full of love and laughter, confidence to beat stress levels – a total art of how to live and celebrate this joy called life.

So what are you waiting for?

Watch this video which shows how boys and girls are enjoying as well as evolving at the painting, singing and dancing workshops at the Youth Retreat. What did you say; you’ve already registered for the next one?

For the youngsters, the youth shivir is an opportunity to rediscover themselves. Youth meditation retreat is an annual event organized by Gurumaa Ashram. It is conducted every year in the month of June under the guidance of the contemporary, mystic master Anandmurti Gurumaa.

The youth meditation workshop is open to all children between the age group of 12 to 22 years. Those who have attended it once long to get back every year. It gives them a chance to be their natural self.

Today’s children carry a lot of baggage of negative thoughts. They are under stress due to high level of competition, peer pressure and expectations of parents.

It is here that they can unwind and begin to understand themselves and learn how to achieve success without stress.

In this video they share their experience which they will cherish for ever and tell how it has helped them evolve as a person.

Under the guidance of an enlightened master, they begin to see life in a new perspective. They learn meditation and Yoga to help enhance their power of concentration and memorisation. It helps them deal with the complexities of their own mind.

They feel free to ask questions and seek answers to their most complex of thoughts and behavior during interactive sessions with Gurumaa.

During the camp children learn not only yoga and meditation but they also get a chance to explore their creative side through dance and painting. They get to learn a lot of new things too.

The serene atmosphere and the landscaped gardens have a calming effect on the mind. Away from their family and friends they get shed their inhibitions and experiment with new ideas without the fear of being ridiculed.

All their apprehensions and misconceptions are cleared, leaving them free to spread their wings with renewed vigor and soar high to scale new heights of being.

Gurumaa ashram, Gannaur, Sonipath, is indeed a paradise on earth. Situated away from the city, the gate on GT road leads to the Ashram which is about a kilometer and a half away.

As one drives on that narrow stretch which is lined by lush green fields on both sides, it works to cut you away from the hustle bustle of the city, away from the maddening crowd.

The greenery starts to work on the mind having a soothing effect and the wind blowing with it the clutter of thoughts in one’s mind. Leaving you feeling light and pure, it’s ready to recharge your soul.

As one enters the vibrations of being in the magnetic Buddha field of an enlightened master, the atmosphere draws you into the deep silence which is all encompassing.

The children who come for the first time to attend the youth Meditation retreat are awestruck just being close to nature in its most beautiful form.

The ambiance of the place, the vastness, the solitude and solidarity all set to lure the mind to laud and be thankful for that moment of bliss.

It is not only about practicing Yoga and meditation, but they are also given an opportunity to understand their own thoughts and reflect upon their beliefs and thoughts.

They get to spend their boundless energy doing Sewa (selfless service). Lending a helping hand with the daily chores of running the ashram and releasing their creative emotions during the dance, drama and painting workshop.

This video shows how much they enjoy themselves in the magnificent surroundings of the Ashram.

In this video you can hear their feed back in their own words as they share their experience.

A few of them come on the insistence of their parents, who are followers of Anandmurti Gurumaa. They come with a lot of apprehension, but their whole perspective towards spirituality changes after attending the camp.

Spirituality is not something to do or achieve at a particular age, rather it’s a way of life. It’s like a lesson that if learnt early, helps in the journey of life.

Meditation helps in everyday life to make one strong from within. It prepares the youngsters to face the world better. They learn a lot of things that can not be learnt at home.

The Gurumaa Ashram looks more like a college campus at the time of the youth meditation retreat. Gurumaa personally plans the menu, keeping in mind the kind of food the youngsters like to eat.

The ambiance and the spectacular landscapes lend a hand in providing tranquility to the mind. The serene atmosphere has a soothing effect on the nerves.

Most of those who attend the camp once always want to come back because of the immense strength that they get by being in the presence of an enlightened Master.

Lessons that they learn here help them in all walks of life at all times, making them a more confident person.

Important lessons on how to manage time, keeping a check on your thoughts and facing the challenges of life were learnt by the youngsters.

Each day’s schedule is planned keeping in mind the boundless energy that these children have. They learn to follow instructions under strict discipline, yet they have a lot of fun too.

The youngsters get more than what they had bargained for – an experience that they cherish for a life time. It helps them grow as mature human beings who are an asset to the society.

The mind of children in this age group is like fresh clay and easy to mould. Anandmurti Gurumaa’s approach is contemporary and she is more like a friend to them who gently guides them to choose the right path to tread upon.

She patiently listens to them and answers their queries. She also believes that the future of our society lies in the hands of these children so their impressionable minds should be treated with great caution.

Initially the kids are hesitant about attending the camp, as they too are lured by the glamor of the outside world and feel they would be missing out on a lot of fun.

Only after attending the camp, do they realize how useful it is for them and that it is not only about meditation and yoga but they get much more than what they had expected and enjoy it too.

Children were given an opportunity to learn music, dance and painting from trained instructors. They also learnt about personality development from “Hero Mind”.

Most of the answers they were seeking became clear by themselves after listening to Gurumaa. It gave them much clarity of thought.

A young seeker felt that she learnt the most important lesson of living and adjusting among strangers. They made new friends who were like-minded and could relate to one another.

They always looked forward to Gurumaa’s sittings, they could connect to her and were not awed by her charisma, rather drew inspiration from her endless source of energy. It kept their spirits high being in her Buddha field.

A young fellow shares how tips given to them on personality development will also help them prepare for an interview. Small things on how to dress, maintain their nails and a correct posture which are so important, yet they had overlooked earlier.

Most of them feel it has been very useful for them and that they are ready to face the world with renewed zest and vigor.

In this highly illuminating video, Gurumaa elucidates this fact that intelligence and creativity are two totally different faculties of our mind. They are totally different. Intelligence refers to our thinking, cognitive ability and our capability of retaining knowledge.

We come across many intelligent people in all spheres of life – like the ones who make satellites, run computer programs, run huge businesses and so forth. They have exceptional intelligence and expertise in their respective fields. But, if this is the true definition of intelligence, then “Buddha” is definitely not an intelligent person!

Buddha did not have knowledge of any high tech equipments that were prevailing during that age, so would he not be considered intelligent? Similarly, what about the poet who creates outstanding and unparalled poetry, would he not be considered as intelligent? So, what would be the right definition of intelligence?

Find out in this video, what is the state where a person achieves the pinnacle of intelligence and creativity, and how this perfect state of balance is achieved? This is the ultimate flowering of man! Click here to watch the complete video.

Gurumaa talks about the fact that great inventions and extraordinary masterpieces of art have been created in this world by people who had great concentration and creativity. These are the two indispensable prerequisites to achieve a state of perfection in whatever work we undertake.

The same degree of concentration and creativity are required in spirituality too. Why? As spirituality is the process of the discovery of our true self! Being involved in total depth while carving pottery is spirituality for a potter. The same spirituality is for a painter in his painting, and for a scientist it is while he works in his laboratory.

Gurumaa elucidates how one can achieve this peak of concentration and creativity – the 2 essentials for success in any field of life. You can watch the complete video here.