Marina Chand Author

Many people wear the rudraksha beads to increase concentration and focus. It's also reported to reduce blood pressure and help invoke calm. These beads are from a tree in our front garden, gifted to us many years ago by Indian saint when she was touring Australia. The tree was planted by Guruji Sai Saileshwara 's Guru, who I've written about in my book. We are so blessed to have sacred trees in close proximity. What trees or plants are dear to you?

Great practical information!

How's your new year's resolution going? The science behind being successful in changing habits says: 1. Make it specific such as 'I will meditate 5 minutes each day, rather than I will meditate more this year. 2. Make it measurable such as 5 minutes daily. 3. Think positively about yourself and your resolution. Say a positive affirmation daily such as "I feel great meditating daily as it's benefiting me so much and I am totally committed". Positive thinking releases dopamine and serotonin, our feel good neurotransmitters and therefore give us an internal reward and more motivation.
Learn more about lifestyle and habits at our stress management workshop next week! Booking fast and closing soon: https://shorturl.at/kpsBV

Small consistent changes can make a big impact. With a background in health education and natural medicine, I will be providing some easy-to-do food swaps at the upcoming Stress Management workshop, that nourish the nervous system and help cope with stress. Nutrients such as B vitamins, Omega 3 fatty acids and Magnesium are especially important during times of stress. We will be using a body-mind-spirit framework and nutrition is particularly important for the body-mind vehicle we all operate. Book your spot now as tickets have started selling fast! https://shorturl.at/kpsBV

Happy new year everyone! I truly hope that this year you find the peace and happiness you are looking for. After all the holidays, parties and greetings are done, the happy and peaceful 2024 begins inside. The only place I truly live is inside my body-mind vehicle and that is the apparatus I need to love, cleanse and honour. At the end of the day, at the end of the year and at the end of life, it's the relationship with my-Self, the Universal Self, that truly matters. Peace is our natural state and that's why we don't feel good when we are in conflict and experiencing disharmony. Peace is our birthright. Let's meditate to tap into that peace and bring it out into all our relationships and our community. The shanti inside is beyond explanation. Love, light and peace to you and yours.

Very excited to bring you a workshop Brisbane friends! I'll be cofacilitating alongside Guruji Sai Saileshwara who will personally be sharing his techniques for staying in the moment, focused on peace, and realising your full potential. Managing your stressors will be the underlying theme. Book early as we are keeping numbers small for a more intimate and personal experience.
https://shorturl.at/kpsBV

STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP - SIMPLE TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE STRESS Learn from a master who transcended a life-threatening illness, disability, and health challenges to find your inner peace

Love this so sharing it! If you read my book your nose will technically be in my business 🙂
https://saisaileshwara.com.au/the-book/
Guruji Sai Saileshwara

Today so many messages of peace and joy will be flowing. I pray for those who live in war zones, on the streets and in unsafe situations. Most people cannot live in peace as they are being harmed by others. And sadly, many who live in safety do not live in peace within themselves. Peace is the elusive state we all crave for. Peace is all we want. Peace begins with me. Love and light to you all.

This is one of my favourite quotes from Guruji Sai Saileshwara. This 'you' he talks about is the Atma (soul). Learning to drop the body through meditation is a fundamental skill and practice that most people give up on too early. We have some exciting news coming up to support your practice, so stay tuned. A great opportunity coming up in early January 2024!

So chuffed to see my book on Michael Bernard Beckwith lap! Happened to see his story today. Thank you for reading! newbook

This is my book! Available on Amazon or directly from me www.saisaileshwara.com.au
A great Christmas holiday read to inspire those new years resolutions. # newauthor

🌟 25 years of wisdom, survival to thriving. Read about my journey from a life-threatening diagnosis to a thriving existence.

🧘‍♂️ My book is available on Amazon. Grab your copy now!
https://bitly.ws/33FQq

Here in Brisbane Australia we have had Diwali festivals galore this year. The hosted a reception at City Hall for all the community leaders who have organised Diwali programs. So nice to catch up with leaders of our diverse communities in Brisbane.

Never been to a Goddess festival before but willing to give it a try? Here is your chance: this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday starting at 4pm. Even if you just want to come and have a look, have something to eat and perhaps join in on the dancing. You can come and go at any time - just enjoy yourself! Get your Goddess energy on and come on down!
https://fb.me/e/1x1DxiAEF more info on the link

Day 6 of Navratri is very powerful! The warrior energy we can all tap into is Katyayani who slayed the negativity (Mahishasura). This is also the Primieval Energy or Adi Shakti. If you focus on the Ajna chakra during meditation you will tap into her abundance, joy and all knowing. Today's colour is green. Sharing a few more pics of our personal celebrations. This weekend is our big public festival. Link in comments.

It's day 3 of the Goddess festival, Navratri. Today is all about feminine POWER. Chandragantha is that power in us all that destroys our inner demons. She is particularly important for those with anxiety and fears (that's most of us). Her third eye is open and she confronts strong thoughts and emotions with a single sound - in the epic battles she killed thousands of demons with a single sound of her bell (Gantha). Today's colour is red which speaks power, strength, passion, courage and love. Today sweets made from milk are offered in temples around the world, including ours in Brisbane! Sharing some of our celebration pictures here too.

Today is the first day of the Goddess Festival known as Navratri. Today the spiritual journey begins at the mooladhara chakra (base chakra) and the associated deity is known as Shaila Putri which means daughter of the mountain. She is mother nature herself. This represents the primordial power of the universe which powers everything, including us. At the base chakra our spiritual evolution begins, as its from here that Shakti wishes to rise to be reunited with Shiva, the Soul or Consciousness. The first day of Navratri is always important for meditation as it takes place after the new moon - the moon's illumination is 1% and starts the waxing cycle from the start of Navratri. Group meditation is always best - just being around others who are meditating will impact positively on your consciousness and evolution. If you fast today, your meditation will be stronger as food impacts on the mind. Mantra: Om Devi Shaila Putryai Namah.

Tomorrow marks the start of Navratri festival. Navratri means nine nights. It is the Hindu festival that honours the feminine divine that takes place over nine nights. In 2023 it starts on 15 October and ends on 24 October. The feminine divine is a much-neglected focus of spirituality. Fortunately, in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, Shakti (Divine energy) has been revered for many thousands of years. In these traditions, to relate to the Goddess, you have to understand yourself. If we take Navratri as a subjective process (personal experience) rather than an objective process (worshipping and focusing on something outside us) it can be a time of great self revelation. Read my latest blog on Navratri to make it more meaningful and a process for greater mindfulness, self awareness and peace. https://saisaileshwara.com.au/navratri-dates-meaning-and-inner-journey/

Throw back to 2006! This picture appeared on my photo memories today. Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati from Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh India visited us in Brisbane and stayed with us, sharing their love and energy with our friends and community. There is an undeniable connection to Swamiji via our son Eashan. I was pregnant with Eashan when I first met Swamiji in 2002 and he made predictions about Eashan and their future meetings which I've detailed in the book (the predictions came true). Audio book is now available too!
https://www.amazon.com.au/Audible-Sai-Saileshwara-Making-Master/dp/B0C547KCR7

We are so fortunate to have the regular company of great masters. These Swamis travel the world, never staying more than a few days in any one place. The masters of Advaita Vedanta are next level!! Three of my faves 😀

Happy birthday to my Guruji Sai Saileshwara! It is always a wild journey with you and you challenge everyone you meet to stretch themselves and be better human beings in unexpected ways. The journey is not easy for a Guru as the path meets much resistance. It's a thankless task and one that is also lonely. You understand things most of us do not and you have a unique style of teaching that is so accessible to all. I hope your story becomes widely known as it's truly incredible! Your smile and compassion are as big and wide as your heart. Happy birthday - a day where we get to celebrate you!

We recently celebrated Guru Poornima here in Brisbane, Australia. Here are some of my favourite pictures of family members 💕. Guru Poornima 1998 was a momentous day for Guruji Sai Saileshwara as described in the book, and it has remained very special since then.

My phone gallery is full of beautiful sunrises and beaches. Walking and meditating at the ocean is one of life's simple pleasures that is actually my saving grace. At sunrise when all the creation wakes up it's so peaceful at the waterfront. Even the most novice meditation practitioner would find deep peace within at these places and at this time. What's your saving grace? Would love to know 💙🩵

I am excited to inform you that after a long break, our Soul Sounds group is back! If you are in Brisbane please come along, we would love to see you. A typical Soul Sounds session is led by Guruji Sai Saileshwara who takes us on a journey of meditation, chants, kirtan and all accompanied by live music. Bring your friends. More info here
https://facebook.com/events/s/soul-sounds/1691582477936808/?mibextid=Gg3lNB

Today is Guru Poornima - it is the day we honour our teachers, particularly our spiritual teachers. It is also the day we connect internally to the eternal Guru - the teacher inside of us who is none other than our consciousness. I am so blessed to have met so many masters in this life - some became life-long associates and we connect and visit each other over the years. And of course Guruji Sai Saileshwara is my husband and life partner, a spiritual guide and advisor to so many and in many countries. From the book: "The issue of being a guru or master is quite contentious in countries like Australia. The strength of Australian culture is that most would agree that all people are equal. Australian culture embraces equality and upholds the notion of equal opportunity. People who excel at anything (except for sport) are often disparaged and discredited— this is called the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ in Australia, as it is such a common cultural phenomenon. Equality and fitting
in are highly prized. People worry about what others think of them, and therefore it is best to fit in as much as you can. A guru or master is treated with suspicion—what makes him or her extra special? What is not seen or appreciated is that a master is the
one who truly practices equality and inclusion, not just when it suits them, as they see every creature as one. A master has an illuminating presence of higher awareness, and their spiritual guidance radiates into everything they say and do. It is not a role that is played; it is an inner authority, that is grounded in experiential wisdom—not books... The master works to awaken us to our own divine potential, not to be submissive to the master, but to liberate from the master him/herself. When the master’s work is done, you will be a master yourself, with the full knowledge that you and your master are one."

Happy international yoga day and winter solstice! Spent this day in the beauty of New Zealand's natural wonderland of beach, volcano and mountains. So rejuvinating 🌿

This lil cutie made my day! Her mum had purchased my book, and when she came back in the room, her baby was checking out the book! Being from a Tibetan background and having lived in India, surely there's a spiritual connection! My youngest reader yet!

It was about 7 years ago when Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji - Muniji and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati kindly gave me a lift from their divine Himalayan ashram Parmarth Niketan to the airport, when I spoke about my wish to Swamiji, to hold a Ganga Aarti festival in Brisbane. It has taken this long to manifest, but it's happening this weekend in Brisbane! For those who aren't familiar - Ganga is the sacred river who brings life to millions along her banks and she is worshipped by those millions. After all, water is life. She is the granter of spiritual liberation and it is perceived that all of the cosmic feminine powers are present in her waters. Scientifically her waters are different - containing more oxygen than other river waters and some centuries ago her water was much sought after by the trading ships who struggled with water spoilage on the long journeys, but never Ganges waters. So it is something special for sure. I have trekked to her high altitude Himalayan glacial source three times and each time it is more special and unfathomable. If you are here in Brisbane this Saturday, please join us at Orleigh Park in West End. It's right on the river and we will honour her, the Brisbane River who also carries life in her waters. Jai Gange! https://fb.me/e/5IPyc3wmo