India Journal 2005, part 2
by
Yogacharya David Hickenbottom

I then pay my respects to Sri Ramanan. Each time I see him my heart opens in total love and joy. No words can I give, but a wordless love must suffice. Greg, Jenrri and Jonni are traveling by train today to Anandashram. Carla and I are traveling by taxi to Bangalore. Ruth was to have met us in Pondicherry, but her 90 plus year old mother had serious health problems and she has returned to Canada to give loving service to her mother.

Rama, who regards me as her guru, lives in Bangalore. She was unable to come to Anandashram due to her work. She wrote that perhaps a miracle would bring us together. Since Ruth has gone, an opening in our itinerary allows us to travel to Bangalore; God arranges everything so perfectly!

Bangalore was once known as the Garden City. The gardens and stately avenues are largely gone. It is now known as the Silicone Valley of India. With a population of eight million souls, it is awash in traffic and newfound prosperity.

We eventually find the home of Swami Vishwananda. I say eventually because finding addresses in India is always a challenge. I have never seen a city map in India. Addresses often include a landmark: near the Telephone Exchange Building. We at last spotted Swami Vishwananda standing by the road, flagging our driver.

This sage of India has been blessed by some of the greatest saints of the 20^th century. When 19 years old he stayed near Ramana Maharshi for one month. Later that year he came to know of Swami Ramdas. He left Bangalore for Anandashram. On the way he lost his wallet. With no money he thought to go home, but then he thought, “What would Papa do? Papa would continue without money.” So he made the whole trip to Anandashram without a rupee to his name. When he arrived Papa asked if he had taken his meal. Papa said, “Take your meal, a bath, then come.” When Swami Vishwananda told Papa about coming with no money, Papa said that he shouldn’t have done that, it was dangerous!

Swami Vishwananda eventually took Anandamoyee Ma as his Guru. He also knows Maharishi Mehesh Yogi very well, as well as Satya Sai Baba. Swami says that his association with saints is his only wealth.

We had a wonderful visit, Swami telling stories, including recounting my experience in the Nandi Hills on the way to Puttaparthi (see My Spiritual India).

January 12
Today we had lunch with Swami Vishwananda, his elderly niece, Rama Mani (not to be confused with Rama Mani whom I will meet this evening) prepared the most delicious lunch; rivaling as the best food we have ever eaten. Rama Mani made some rotis stuffed with some vegetables and paneer. There were several vegetable dishes and a dish similar to vegetable briyani  (although Swami said it was not briyani).

Rama has a vina (an Indian guitar) in the corner and sings beautiful bhajans. She would sing and play for Papa and Mataji. I think she must been chanting as she made lunch, because every bite resonated with prem, love. Rama Mani was so filled with love and said several times how happy she was today. She called us her son and daughter with so much love.

Also Adersh, who has come to our satsangs (meditation service) in Vancouver and his father and mother, came to meet us at Swami Vishwananda’s. When Adersh had come to his first satsang in Vancouver at Honor’s he felt such a powerful spiritual vibration; like he had not felt anywhere in Canada. He has come to several of our functions.

I had met Adersh’s father, Abhay Mangesh Golikeri, in Bangalore five years ago. He told the story of Hanuman coming into the courtroom (see My Spiritual India). I had not put the father and son together before, even though Adersh said I had met his father in Bangalore. What a lovely family; they radiated such a spiritual glow.

This evening we went to see Rama Mani, a disciple whom I met at first at Anandashram. Rama is now working for a U.S. company doing web design. Her mother, Dr. Rita and her sister, Anita, and her family are also living in Bangalore. Dr. Rita, remembering that Mataji had told her that a single daughter should always have her mother with her, left her doctors practice at Anandashram and is living with Rama. We had a beautiful satsang, filled with love and devotion.

We also talked about bringing the spiritual life into work life. In particular Rama had a difficult supervisor with whom, she said, “I learned a lot from.” The supervisor caused a lot of problems and was fired just previous to my coming. This supervisor had told Rama to adopt her philosophy; which was, “Never accept blame, always point the finger of blame at someone else before they can do it to you!” I told her, “You can adopt the first part in one way, and reject the second part, pointing the finger of blame at others.”

“The first part, don’t accept blame. When anyone says to you, you are this _____, or you are that ______. First analyze what they are saying. Listen to see if there is any truth in what they say. You must be honest with yourself. It can be that 90% of what is said is not true, but 10% is true. Accept the 10% and let the 90% go. It can be that 80% is true, then accept that and let the rest go. First, analyze what is said; use discrimination, then let go of that which is not true. Truth is your measuring stick. In this way, you will remain free, even in a difficult situation. This takes practice, but once you get the knack of it, you find such freedom.”

Dharma, good ethics, is so much needed everywhere. Dharma is the birthright of Indians, of all people, everywhere. When wrong, selfish philosophies are enacted, not only does the individual with the wrong philosophy suffer, but also the whole society suffers. Dharma may be summed up in the Golden Rule: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. In other words, treat all others, as you, yourself, would want to be treated by them. When the world acts in this way, it manifest all that is good.

A deep spiritual life is the root of the Golden Rule. Only through a calm mind, filled with the universal vision, can the Golden Rule be fully realized. But each one can start today to treat everyone as their very self. In work, at home, driving in traffic, standing in a queue--everywhere, at all times. What a harmonious world this is when the Dharma of right-behavior is king!

Our hearts are very full this day. How dry life is when it is absent spiritual fellowship. How fulfilling the day is when meeting with lovers of God!

Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram. We bade Rama goodbye. It was her love for God in this form that drew me, like a magnet, to Bangalore.

January 13
Today we said goodbye to Swami Vishwananda and drove ten hours to Anandashram. The drive is beautiful--coffee plantations, coconut trees, and one long steep winding grade 50 kilometers long, rice fields, all very beautiful.

Finally we arrive at the “Abode of Bliss.” Anantraman bounds down the steps to greet us with so much love, quickly followed by Mansi and Lakshmi. We wash and change clothes. Even though it is 9:30 in the evening, Swamiji has been waiting for our coming.

We enter his room; he is sitting in a wheel chair, head tilted to the side, but most of all is the radiant smile we see in his face and eyes. Seven-months previously Swamiji’s body suffered a stroke, paralyzing the right side of his body. He has had some recovery, but much of the paralysis remains. This condition is all very familiar to me, as Mother went through much of the same condition: heart problems, strokes; Mother also had a severe case of shingles on her right side of her face and head.

We looked at each other for a long time; love was thick in the air. Swamiji’s speech, always soft, is even more so now, with few words spoken. No words were necessary as his eyes spoke all, complimented by frequent smiles.

We were told that Swamiji had been expecting us all day with great anticipation. Many here at the Ashram had hoped we would come, as they felt that Swamiji’s health would improve.

The Mothers: Mansi and Lakshmi brought a light dinner to our room after our visit to Swamiji. With what love they brought it, staying to catch up the last three years. Mansi said they had new names. The first time Swamiji had seen them after his stroke he called Mansi, Miathri and Lakshmi, Gargi. They now go by these names.

Seeing these friends who call me their brother, (since Swamiji is their Amma (Mother) and spiritual guide, they wanted to give me some name of closeness {but not Amma} so they chose to call me to be their God-brother and Carla their God-sister) and the other friends, both old and new friends made the home-coming to Anandashram very sweet. Of course it was seeing Swamiji that lifted my heart to such great heights. Wordless pronams must suffice for words cannot touch that blessing. Carla said that by arriving on January 13 (without conscious planning on our part), it was the best birthday gift she had ever received.

January 14
Swamiji had asked that we come at 9:00 am. Greg, Jenrri and Jonni accompanied Carla and me (Corliss had a standing Ayruvedic appointment in town).

We presented Swamiji with Mother’s birth centenary calendar, Ricola (sugarless) cough drops (his favorite), and a gift from Larry and Cate, “Conversations with Yogananda.” He looked it all over very carefully.

Jenrri also presented Swamiji a drawing he made for him with “Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram” written in Hindi script at the bottom. He studied this picture for some time. I asked how Jenrri’s script was, he said at last, “perfect.”

I spoke to Swamiji about Mother’s condition when she had a stroke and how she would say to God, “you must make this body operate the way it used to!” He said, “It has been seven months.” “Swamiji, it took Mother years to regain what she lost, but it did happen; miracles do happen!” He raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Again we spent long moments looking into one another’s eyes. Mentally the words formed in my mind, “All that I have, I give to you Swamiji; all my strength, all my life and all my soul. Take it, do with it as you will.”

I said, Swamiji, whatever you need, you have only to ask.” He said in his slow, deep voice, “Do more sadhana.” How typical; his thoughts turned to our welfare, not his own.

There is a deeper meaning as well. Swamiji has taken on a burden for all spiritual aspirants, for the world as a whole. By making spiritual progress we join him in his work, in our own small way, to help purify this world. So, the greatest thing we can do for him is to do our own spiritual work.

We took our leave of Swamiji; it was, in Carla’s words, a love-fest. Who can measure the depth or breadth of a divine love? When the heart-center is open there are no limits to its extent. Boundless, measureless – these may seem only words -- but they are the only words that are fit to describe such love. Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.

Carla and I went in search of “Carla the cow”; the cow Swamiji named for Carla; being born on her birthday two years ago. Carla the cow had been sent to a home outside the ashram but she had been mistreated and she was returned to the ashram after a six-month stay.

We found Carla with Kannan’s help. At first Carla (the cow) was skittish with Carla, but a few sweets, fresh bananas and the two were fast-friends. Upon emerging from the Goshala (cow barn) we met Swami Satchidananda and retinue coming to the barn. He was out for a “stroll” in his wheelchair. He visited the cows munching on fresh greens grown on the ashram grounds.

We followed along with the group – happy to be in such company. As we continued the walk Swamiji went clear to the welcoming arch at the main road of the Ashram, further than anyone remembered him going in recent times. At Last, under the banyan and peepul tree, Swamiji turned around and mats mysteriously appeared for the ladies. We all sat. Swamiji saw me and started laughing and smiling. I was asked to come forward and feed Swamiji a Belgian sugar-free chocolate. It was bliss itself; love filled the air.

Prasad was distributed to all and we all basked in an atmosphere surcharged with love. Surely Krishna, Lord of love, did not excel in awakening such love so spontaneously when he sported in Brindaban.

Victory to the Light – Victory to Love!

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