May 1, 2005
My dear friends,
Last Sunday we made the last leg of our journey back from India. The connection
from San Francisco to Seattle made it so we would not land until 10:30 p.m., too
late to see friends who were meeting at Larry & Cates at 7:00 for Papas Jayanthi
Day. When we arrived in San Francisco from our 17 plus hour flight from
Singapore we found that the earlier flight from San Francisco to Seattle had
been delayed by two and a half hours, allowing us to catch that flight and make
it to Seattle by 5:30 for the service. Papa takes such beautiful care of us!
Upon arriving it felt as if we have never left, such is the timelessness of the
Infinite. Even as Patanjali says the accomplished Yogi may become as small as an
atom and as large as the universe, so may he find eternity in a moment or the
timeless now over eons of time. Time and space are then known to be malleable to
consciousness; nothing is fixed or rigid about them.
We traveled from Seattle to Sunnyside and enjoyed seeing friends and family
there. Indeed, it seems as if all humanity has become family. When thinking of
love and the feeling of intimacy, a new acquaintance or someone known since
birth can evoke the same divine Love. Where then can it be said there are any
special relations. Are not all relations special, filled with Divine Life?
So has gone the week, feeling as at home as ever, yet if tomorrow should call me
somewhere else, I think I should feel just as at home there. There are some
amenities that are welcomed, showers with hot water and good water pressure and
being able to brush my teeth with tap water and not having to use bottled water.
It is also nice to have smooth roads and quiet cars. These are small things but
very nice to have.
My last day in India I began a biggest list about our pilgrimage to
India, Carla added two items and it became a top ten list:
1: Biggest Blessing: Swami Satchidananda. To be in the presence of
Swamiji brings untold blessings, and a flood of love comes at the mere thought
of him. Who can gauge the grace that comes from such a one? Surely it is the
greatest blessing!
2: Biggest Surprise: The spiritual power of Ganga Ma (the river Ganges).
I was told that I was about to meet a great spiritual Being when I was coming
down from the Himalayas, but I was taken by surprise that the great spiritual
Being was the purifying power of the Ganges itself. We felt purified when
residing by its side or when bathing in it. Although I had been in and around
the Ganges before, I had not experienced so much of its power and it helped us a
great deal to completely vanquish the darkness we encountered previously.
3: Biggest Challenge: The dark forces met at Dwarahat. This experience
taxed both Carla and me to a great degree. It was the purpose for which I had
been brought to that place. Thanks to the blessings of God and the Masters, all
came out well.
4: Biggest Delight: As always, the pure-hearted Indian people.
5: Biggest Pain: Indian roads, traffic, touts (street marketeers who get
a kickback from directing tourists to stores and ticket agents) and noise!
6: Biggest Site/Sight: The Himalayas.
7: Biggest Tender Event: The marriage of Rama Mani, a devotee from India,
to Dr. Ken, a devotee of Swami Satchidananda from Kentucky.
8: Biggest News: General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan made an official
state visit to India, meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The talks were
positive and it was reported that they liked each other. Three years ago, while
we were in India, these two countries were exploding atomic bombs in
demonstration of their power. This meeting of heads of state occurred while we
were circumambulating sacred sites in northern India.
9: Biggest Statue: The Shiva statue at Haridwar. Not only was it big,
but it was exquisitely done as well.
10: Biggest Fun: An elephant ride through the jungles in Corbett Park.
Some fun signs:
Road signs:
Dead
Slow
Roadwork
Ahead
&
Soft On Curves
Menu Items:
Butter-Toast-Preservatives
Sign on a truck:
God Is The Owner
I want to give my deepest gratitude to those who have given ongoing support
to this work and devotion to their spiritual practice. Truly, without you this
work could not continue. We give value to our ideals by the time that we devote,
the money we spend and the things that we create; for those that give themselves
to this work in these areas I feel a tremendous sense of humility by what is
given.
May you know the peace and joy of the Infinite ever shining within you.
In God, Christ and Gurus,
David
The contents of this web
site, including the Cross and the Lotus logo, are Copyright.
© The Cross and The Lotus Publishing/Reverend Yogacharya David R.
Hickenbottom, January 2005.
All Rights Reserved.