25th February
2007
Dear friends,
This shall be the last letter written to all friends from this
pilgrimage to Anandashram. Time, like the downward flow of the
river to the sea, is always on the move, carrying us to our future
destiny. Soon the river of Time will carry us back to America and
many of us can once again rejoice in each other’s company. Before
that occurs our time here is far from over and our life here has
been potent with experiences.
Before Jill left last Sunday I asked Kannan for her to view Papa’s
bones left from the cremation. This viewing may sound strange to
you, but having had the privilege of being in the presence of
those remains twice on this pilgrimage I can say with certainty
that a great spiritual power emanates from those relics. They are
truly worth preserving and viewing in this way.
This week we have been seeing Swamiji most every night for darshan.
His health has much improved and the previous two days he has been
free of pain!
One night Ramdas, Swamiji’s attendant asked, “Swamiji, take rest
now?”
Swamiji: “Why should I take rest when I am free from pain?” Then
came the “Hare Om” a little while later that signaled time for
darshan was over. I pronamed deeply at his feet and slowly left
the room. As I exited the Centenary Hall word came to me, “Swamiji
is calling for you.” I retraced my step and was once again on my
knees in the presence of this great God-man.
Swamiji said, “When you pronamed I did not look at your eye, that
was a mistake.” Oh blessed moment of moments to once again gaze
upon those eyes of immeasurable depths!
David, “Sweet dreams, Swamiji.”
He laughed gently and replied, “Sweet dreams.”
Shenoy, Swamiji’s night time attendant said, “Swamiji, they all
think you are giving David something secret; they have all come
back.” Indeed, I looked up to see everyone in our expanded group
had re-entered Swamiji’s room, all anxious to get a parting
glimpse of this dear Master.
We have had several wonderful satsangs (meetings) with Swami
Muktananda this week, including an interview we filmed on the
theme he has been very keen on in the past six months, “The Inward
Journey.”
During one satsang he took a phone call; upon hanging up he told
this story. “There is a judge we know. It seems he brought his
work home with him. At home he also acted like a judge. One day
his wife suddenly died. It was then he realized his mistake.
Because he was like a judge at home he was difficult to approach:
he was not close to his wife or children it seems. There is
relative reality and absolute Reality. Being a judge at work, a
husband and a father at home are relative realities. The problem
comes when we confuse relative reality with Absolute Reality. When
he was a judge, not only at work but at home as well, he made a
relative reality an Absolute Reality. Identify with the true
Absolute Reality and let relative realities have their place, but
do not confuse the wonderful point.
Ranjani Ullal, a small, elderly mother-devotee shyly asked when we
were alone, “Would you give me some cloth of yours? I will sleep
with it under my head.” She, among many others, have made me grow
accustomed to stopping on my way anywhere in the ashram when they
approach me, slip off their shoes and pronam, touching my feet.
There is nothing to do but to feel the love of God flow in
response. I gave her, in response to her request, a copy of
“Memories of Mother.” When I also gave her a cloth she dropped to
my feet and bathed them in her streaming tears. The tears poured
on and on, she humbly murmured her gratitude.
This mother had moved intimately since childhood with Papa and
Mataji. In fact she told me of an amazing incident. The last day
of Papa’s physical incarnation Ranjani’s one and a half year old
daughter was brought to Papa at 5:30 a.m. Papa said to the
toddler, “Oh you are late; I have been waiting for you. No
chocolate today (as was the daily custom). Sit there (pointing to
a small stool, he patted her on the head). Now, I am going to give
you initiation.” Papa proceeded to teach her Ram Nam. The young
child repeated it back to Papa, “in her own language.”
Papa then went to the toilet and on his way back he collapsed and
left his body. When Ranjani arrived everyone said “Oh, you are so
blessed. Papa gave initiation to Nandani.”
As we parted I felt sanctified by the tears of devotion of Ranjani,
this dear mother.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I was powerfully lifted up into a purely
impersonal state of Consciousness for 26 hours. During that time I
was not able to go out and see Swamiji. That night at darshan
Swamiji asked me to tell him about my experiences. I described to
him the opening of my heart center so many years back and then I
told him about the previous two days’ experiences.
I told Swamiji that I never spoke about my experiences in God
until Mother asked me to talk from my own experiences when she
asked me to speak. Swamiji said, “I’ve never asked anyone about
this.”
David, “Somehow God prompted you to ask me now.” Swamiji nodded
his head yes.
Oh, friends and sadhakas, so many rich and vitalizing things of
the Spirit to tell, but I cannot relate them all, nor can I do
many of them the justice they deserve. I seek through these
writings that you may imbibe the Spirit that pervades us here.
The winter has continued to be a little more mild than past ones
we have experienced. It lightly rained twice this past week. We
are all well now; Carla’s giddiness is past.
The four of us, Christine, Chad, Carla and I are making our plans
for packing and travel. Christine has been taking silence for some
days this week.
We all have such gratitude for these inmates of Anandashram who
serve with such love and devotion. Truly – this Ashram stands out
as a singular example of universal love and service.
Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram,
Yogacharya David
