“Play the role beautifully, do not become the role.”
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-Poojya Swamiji Iswarananda Giri
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Meeting Sharada Ma
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Born in 1953, Sharada Ma was raised in India with an intimate connection to the sacred mountain of Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai. She first came into contact with Poojya Swamiji Iswarananda Giri, a great Siddha of the Advaita Vedanta tradition at the tender age of 9. By the time she turned 16, Sharada Ma received her initiation into spiritual sadhana (practice) which she remained steadfast in throughout her life.
In her sincere sadhana, Ma managed to raise a family and she continues to beautifully balance her role of wife, mother and grandmother. Her nurturing, motherly & unconditionally loving Svabhava (intrinsic nature,) carries over in her humble commitment to shining the torch light for others to Realize the Self.
Ma's Teachings
Often reminding others, "play the role beautifully, do not become the role", Sharada Ma encourages her students to follow a path of inner renunciation of their worldly identities, conditions, and attachments, if they wish to come to the vastness of "The Self".
“To seek enlightenment means one must stay humble, have a deep yearning to know who you really are, and be willing to accept all that unfolds in the moment, with complete Sharanagati (surrender). Only then can you recognize YOU ARE Chit Ananda Rupam Shivo Hum Shivo Hum” - Sharada Ma.
Sharada Ma continues to conduct Satsang in San Diego, California twice a month, and organizes annual intensives at her Ashram in Tiruvannamalai, India, to make herself available to seekers.
Sharada Ma attributes her Self-Realization to the guidance of Poojya Swami Iswarananda Giriji Maharaj, who was a Sanyasi in the Adi Shankaracharya order, and Ma's Guru since she was 9 years old. In addition, Ma says the Presence and Grace of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi played an equal role, in her coming to full Realization of the Self.
