Picture: Mother Hamilton 1974 Kriya Initiation
Kriya Yoga Initiation is a blessed and remarkable occurrence. Every religion across the globe has initiation rites, each one designed to impart spiritual power and transformation. In yoga tradition the teacher, or guru, is held in high esteem and unlike some religious movements you are not simply joining an organization or movement but forming a sacred bond with a living master.
This past week’s Kriya Initiation brought to mind my Initiation from Mother Hamilton. I met Mother in March of 1974, soon after my twentieth birthday. After an intense search for a living teacher I found Mother in ways, that on the outside could seem accidental, through a friend of a friend, but now I understand the pull of the guru differently. Mother was not what I was expecting; I was thinking more along the lines of a wizened Indian man, grey beard and long hair if I had to put an image to it. In fact I had met such venerable looking gurus, but I did not feel the connection I was looking for. Although Mother was not the image I had in mind, she was more of a towering spiritual figure than I ever thought possible.
Mother gave Kriya Initiation that following June and I felt privileged and honored to be among the new initiates. Unknown to me at the time Mother had not given Kriya Initiation for the previous seven years. What eager anticipation I had as I arrived early; I had planned to meditate across the street from the chapel where we were to meet on the beautiful University of Washington campus. It was a very warm and perfect June day.
As I pulled up to the Chapel another car pulled in behind mine. It was none other than Mother and a devotee, much to my surprise. I offered to help; I brought items into the Chapel and helped set things up. I was allowed to help to a certain point, and then Mother asked me to leave. Afterward I sat under the blooming trees on the campus and I felt the beauty of the day.
I joined some devotees sitting in the waiting room meditating, and then the number of devotee-bees quickly grew. I wondered as to what was going to happen during initiation. I knew nothing about initiations, other than I very much wanted to be there. Toward the end of this most amazing ceremony Mother blessed me with a powerful touch at the ajna, at the point between the eyebrows. Later she asked me what I thought about Kriya, and since all the instructions were oral only and I had been anxious that I would be able to remember them all, I said in relief that it was simpler than I had feared. She instantly rejoined, “Just wait.” Of course she was perfectly right!
The next morning I vividly remember spreading my woolen blanket on the ground, facing east as the sun slowly revealed itself over the horizon announcing a new day. Indeed it was a new day! I felt such peace and contentment in practicing this remarkable method for Self-realization, from such an ancient tradition and handed down to us through this most amazing guru-lineage. The breath flowed along with the life-current; I was so happy at last to be absorbed in this sacred technique.
It is a mystery how Mother called me to her. It is a mystery how someone such as I with an ordinary Western background should respond to Eastern teachings that also embody Christianity and the essence of all religious practice. All of it is a great and wonderful mystery. I look back on that moment of Kriya Initiation over forty years ago with incredible gratitude for the gift Mother gave to me. I more fully realize now that my Initiation came at a great price to Mother, in a way that I did not know at the time. My gratitude, my understanding, and my love have only grown with time; forever they shine brightly like the sun growing and growing in the new morning’s light.