Thursday, July 5, 2012

Swami Vishwananda Tells a Story

Swami Vishwananda Tells a Story:  
There was once a boy who went to see God and on the way he met a great Sadhu standing on one leg with the hand up. So when he went to meet God, the Sadhu said to him, “As you are going to meet God, I have one question: Ask God when will I attain liberation?”

So the boy met God and asked all the questions. On the way back he met the Sadhu, who asked “So…have you met God?” He said “Yes, I met him.” The Sadhu said “What did God say?” The boy answered, “Well, the He told me that the Sadhu still has some karmic things to do. You still have to take birth three times before
attaining Him.” Well, at that moment, the Sadhu was very enraged and said, “All my tapasya, all my sadhana that I have been doing and still I have to take birth three times!”

The boy was very calm and joyful. So the Sadhu said “Oh, I am sure you are your last time here.” The boy said “Oh, my dear Sadhuji, it’s not like that. Do you see this tamarind tree? A leaf of the tamarind is very, very, very small, so there are many hundreds of leaves. I have to take as much births and then only I will attain Him." Then the Sadhu looked at him, “Are you stupid? Why are you so happy?” Then he said “Well, it doesn’t matter. I know that at the end I will attain Him.” At that moment he heard a Divine voice saying “Throughout all these tapasya the Sadhu had been doing, all the lives of this boy with the pure heart are erased and he attains ‘
mukthi.” 

This shows that it’s not about how much one has done, but how one is doing it. Love has to be there. If you do things out of love, the Divine will run to you. You just need to do one step. This one step is to do it with love. Then He will do everything. She will do everything. But as long as there is not this one step from your side, it will be difficult. The Divine Mother will help you to become like that, so that this one step can be done with a pure heart. 

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Gurupurnima with Swami Vishwananda 2012

Gurupurnima with Sri Swami Vishwananda was the most special of all the ones to which I have been. Several people also said that to me today. Swami was slim and looked like he did 7 years ago when I met him. The spiritual energy was very high and everyone seemed happy.

In the early morning we did morning prayers. This was followed by 108 bhajans sang throughout the day by different groups from different countries, which has become a tradition of Guru Purnima in recent years. In the evening Swami gave the blessing and the devotees offered their gifts to Swami, the Krishna Arpan. Swami spoke about surrender and how we do not have to come back and have other lifetimes if we choose to surrender now in this lifetime.

During the day Swami told us that he wanted all the Swamis to give a talk. The pictures you see of me speaking were taken while Swami was receiving the rose petals from devotes. All were beautifully blessed.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Gurupurnima with Sri Swami Vishwananda

Dear Readers, today I leave for Shree Peetha Nilaya and I will be there until September 18. I have not seen Swami in the physical since last September, 9 months ago. I am so happy and I am greatly looking forward to this visit with my Satguru, my Swami, my Lord. All of you who read this blog will be in my thoughts and heart during Gurupurnima with our dearly Beloved, Sri Swami Vishwananda.

Vishwananda, My Master, My Lord

When the rain pours
I think of Him whom I love the most,
When a baby smiles and my heart fairly bursts
With the purest love,
I think of Him.

When two turtle doves purr in song and unison,   
I think of Him.
When the presence of God stills my heart and mind,
I think of Him.

When the Sacred Ganges River of India’s
Snowy peaks comes into my remembrance,
And I am walking with Mahavatar Babaji there,
I think of Him

When horses in the pasture rub their noses together
In friendship and caring,
I think of him.

When I am on the top of a snowy mountain
In Colorado, USA’s great Rocky Mountains,
And I am reminded of the Himalayas,
I think of Him.

When I do daily chores,
Pet a dog,
Kiss the sweet cheek of an innocent child
I think of Him.

If truth be told, He is in my Heart
My every breath, and
In every cell from head to toes.
He is my Everything.

And now to Gurupurnima 2012,
That year the Satguru says:
“Something is always happening,
But in 2012 the World will not end,
Take heart, I am here with you.”

 So today I go,
To lay flower petals at the SatGuru’s feet
That Holy One sent from the Divine,
To leave the Dakshina of thankfulness
At His Holy feet.

Like Mirabai to Krishna,
Not minding what others say,
I can only think and feel
With my heart:
Thank you for everything, dear SatGuruDeva,
Sri Swami Vishwananada,
My Forever Love – I love you!

Swamini 
Vishwalakshmianandama

Gurudeva, My Beloved, Vishwananda, My Master, My Lord