“He that is not loyal to his own orgnization, the work that God has sent, is not loyal to God.”
- Paramahansa Yogananda

Dear Friends,

Jai Guru!

This is a letter sent to me by a senior devotee. I am sharing this with you all because I agree with its contents. If you like it, then please do share this with your fellow devotees.

Thank you!

You will be doing your Guruseva by remaining loyal to the cause and organization that our Guru Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji created.

I will also be sharing with you, among other things (perhaps previously unknown to you), some of the material written by our Guru and his closest direct disciples on Loyalty and guru-disciple, which I feel is very necessary for us devotees to progress on the spiritual path. Our Guru has said..“Loyalty is the highest law.”

The Letter–

Dear Friends,

I would like to make a request of all of you from my heart and hope you will be able to oblige.

I have come to know that a devotee in India is creating a lot of trouble for YSS and the monks there. It appears that he is under delusion and deserves our prayers and compassion.

Yet, I feel all those who are receiving emails from him, Mr. Motilal Gupta or Guru Seva Mandali, should now refrain from receiving emails from him. It is time to show our loyalty to Guruji and YSS/SRF and give our full unconditional support to them.

All of you who know me personally would know that I do not get into any kind of “campaigning” or such like situations. But woe to the one who dares make trouble for Guruji or his organization or his monastics or devotees.

Then my rage is no less than that of Ma Kaali, sorry to say.

I do not know this man personally but I have had “email” experience with him as in he was sending me unsolicited emails and began disclosing my and other people’s emails for the purpose of political activism. And he was downright rude when I requested him to refrain from doing so.

Please ask other devotees that you know to also stop receiving his emails and just pray that he comes to his senses.

I do not have any details of what nonsense he is upto — all I know is that he needs to stop harassing YSS.
Jai Guru, Jai Ma,

-A devotee.

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Guruji writes in Autobiography of a Yogi:

“It was only after we had made this spiritual pact that I began to understand fully the significance of a guru to a disciple. I never found complete satisfaction, comfort, and God-contact until I attuned myself with unconditional loyalty and devotion to the divine consciousness of my guru.”

Br. Anandmoy says in his talk on loyalty:

“Master also said this: Just like a school teacher when he finds a student in tune with him, he can teach that student better than one who resists him.

And you must not only be in tune with Guru, but with all his ideals and activities and associates, and do not forget to be loyal to Self-Realization Fellowship. You must be proud of the work and loyal to it that the blessings of God may flow through you.

He that is not loyal to his own organization, the work that God has sent, is not loyal to God.”

My humble prostrations at the Holy feet of our Gurudev Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, Param Guru Swami Sri Yukteshwar Giri, Parama Parama Guru Sri Lahiri Mahasaya and all the Gurus of YSS-SRF Order AND my special Pranams to Swami Nirvananand ji & Brahmachari Sadanand ji.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE YATRA - FROM RANIKHET TO BABA JI’S CAVE, 25 & 26 NOVEMBER 2011

THE YATRA CONCEIVED BY OUR SWAMI NIRVANANADA Ji WITH DETAIL TO EVERY single aspect be it the route or the provision of breakfast/ lunch - was meticulously planned and executed in military-like precision.

If I have to sum up the whole Yatra in ONE single word it would be - “BEAUTIFUL”. The Inner journey as well as the Outer journey. The inner journey involved the Body, Mind and Soul. The body says,’NO’, the mind says, ‘YES’, and the soul says, ‘ you are already there ‘;

‘what are you struggling for? Don’t you remember BABAJI’s words- that there is no need for his devotees to come to the cave , they can perceive him or reach him from wherever they are,from the ‘Temples’ of their own homes and hearts!’

The dilemma is not solved by mere intellectual debate-the only salvation is surrender-total surrender.

Another aspect I would like to share with my fellow Yatrees and devotees is that at one point my legs were feeling heavy and I just saw Swami Nirvananad Ji carrying his back pack. It just occurred to me that I should take his back pack as a small seva to Guru; but Swami ji was not ready to part with it. Only on requesting 3-4 times did Swamiji hand it over to me. On receiving the back pack I found that it was very light - like a feather.

To my surprise AND WONDER i experienced an upward pull like that of a parachute! The heaviness in the limbs was also gone.

That was the inner journey. The outer journey was also equally beautiful. Amidst the picturesque mountains-the pine trees, the gurgling waters of the Holy river Gagash, the sun showering warmth (not too hot, but soothing) reminded of our Gurudev’s unconditional love and warmth; the soothing breeze whispering the Divine Chants as we climbed the Himalayas. The outer journey with its ups and downs reflected, actual life - joys and sorrows, success and failure. And when we returned to Dwarahat Ashram it was like home coming after a Divine Journey dedicated to our Gurus and Mahavatar Babaji.

Inspired by God and Gurus,

By Dr. R Govindarajan, [Kriyaban]

To approach truth one must attempt to find its essence and to free it from man-made limitations. Interpreted by Christians, the eternal verities are called Christianity; by Hindus, Hinduism; and so on. But a dogmatic Christian and Hindu thinks of Christianity and Hinduism as church and temple worship, thus mistaking the form for the spirit.

Churches in the Occident have done untold good by reminding people of spiritual relationships and God’s laws. But many churches have become form-bound, lacking the spirit of meditation and true God-communion that Jesus and his disciples so plainly manifested in their own lives. Today the congregations at church are there in body, but in mind most of the people are somewhere else. Often at the time of prayer they think of the chicken dinner awaiting them or of the business deal. Such mental waywardness cannot be blamed on the churchgoer, for he has never been taught the art of withdrawing the mind from the realm of sense-distraction. Indeed, the average man does not know that it is possible for him to commune with God through a definite and scientific technique of meditation.

Nothing can ever satisfy the heart of man except living proof. Just as it is necessary for the astronomer to look through the telescope in order to see distant stars, so is it necessary for the questioner of God’s existence to look for Him through the instrument of his own mind, his own realization.

Spirit is the infinite reservoir of wisdom. Each human life is a channel through which God’s wisdom may flow. There are wide and narrow channels. The wider the channel, the greater the flow of God-power.

Each man is endowed with freedom of will and the power of choice. Some choke the channel of their lives with the mud of accumulated ignorance, while others keep on digging, ever widening and deepening the channel by self-discipline and self- knowledge, thus inviting increasing volumes of God-wisdom to flow through therm. Jesus the Christ was one of the greatest channels for the free flow of cosmic wisdom.

True Christianity is the living of a perfect life; it is neither Occidental nor Oriental, nor does it belong to Jesus and his saints alone. It is for every truth-seeking soul. Jesus the son of man lifted himself to the state of being a Son of God. From human consciousness, he grew into divine or Christ consciousness. When St. John said that all those who received Christ would become the Sons of God he meant that all those who could receive (i.e., increase their capacity to hold) the infinite ocean of truth could be the Sons of God. Would there be any use in following the life of Jesus if he were the only Son of Go and if we could never be like him? He was not sent to us to symbolize an unattainable goal, but to be a living example of that perfect state which all men may seek and ultimately achieve.

Noida Sadhanalaya,
Friday, 22-10-2010
5:00 p.m.

A storm was brewing. The devotees, gathered for the Energization Exercises, headed for the Main Pandal, as the overcast sky heralded a dust storm. Soon, thunder and heavy rain took over, and the sturdy Pandal structure was threatened by Nature’s fury! The evening Exercises and Meditation programme were disrupted. No matter!

Devotees gathered in the corridors of the Sadhanalaya buildings, wondering what came next. First a couple of voices started chanting “Jai Guru, Jai Guru, Jai Guru, Jai”. Within seconds, there was a spontaneous outpouring of faith in Gurudeva, and love and fellowship with each other, as so many chanted for our beloved Guruji.

Gradually, devotees started heading towards the Basement Dhyana Mandir, and the Matri Mandir, silently settling down to meditate. What order, what peace!

Soon, Swami Krishnanandaji arrived and conducted the session – chanting followed by meditation and an affirmation. The Mandir seemed to be an oasis of peace, untouched by the storm. Many continued to meditate even after he left.

7:50 p.m.
I bowed in reverence at the altar, and came up from the basement.

What a sight! The Kitchen Pandal had disappeared. Clear skies! A beautiful shining moon and bathed in moonlight, devotees were enjoying an open-air dinner.

Quietly, calmly, we queued up in an orderly fashion, to partake in a deliciously piping hot meal under the starry skies, as we watched huge cauldrons of food being cooked nearly.

The storm and the disruption of the scheduled Programme could not dampen the spirit and enthusiasm of Guruji’s devotees and volunteers that night.

We marvelled! In joy, peace and love!

Guruji’s ashram is like a haven of peace, a heaven!
It has beauty, both natural and man-made!
It has souls, who serve selflessly.
It has souls, who have faith, and initiative and enthusiasm to match!
It has the presence of Guruji, a tangible presence!

That night, Guruji was with each devotee, each volunteer, who worked selflessly and tirelessly, to restore normalcy for the hundreds of devotees gathered at the Noida Ashram for the Sadhana Sangam. By morning, all the pandals were in place, and the sun was shining, as if the storm had never been!

Standing on the verandah of the Satsanga Hall at Dkshineswar ashram and looking out at the mighty Hooghly, one does not see a river with powerful currents - one only sees a transformed sheet of still water.

Such also is the state of the devotee on participating in a Retreat – which many of us were blessed to do from the evening of Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th September.

“Let Go, Let God”
And in the glorious deep silence, how true were all the perceptions that the Guide for Retreatants promised.
Made possible by the loving care, the mothering, given by the Sanyasis of our beloved Gurudeva Paramhansa Yoganandaji’s Yogoda Satsanga Society of India ashram, and our Guru Bhais who serve there.

Blessed indeed we were to receive the inspiring guidance from Sw. Shantanandaji,  Sw. Amaranandaji,  Br. Nigamanandaji,  Br. Gokulanandaji .
The reviews of the 4 pillars of our sadhana –Energization Exercises, Hong Sau, Om and Kriya brought out points hitherto not comprehended – a deeper understanding.

Thrill to hear Guruji ‘s voice recite “God.God.God”
To hear Sri Daya Mataji share her experiences

Opportunities for individual and group meditations in the holy premises.
Opportunities for reading selections from Autobiography of a Yogi and Guruji’s writings amidst the holy vibrations.
Oh! such opportunities to Practice the Presence.

May many other brothers and sisters be so blessed.

(An interview with Swami Ramanandaji at Encinitas)

Tucked neatly off of Hwy. 101 somewhat hidden behind towering palm trees and eye catching domed spires lies a garden paradise clinging to the cliffs over Swamis Beach. The meditation garden is a place where anyone can retreat into nature and find peace. It is a part of the Self-Realization Fellowship Ashram Center in Encinitas, which was established by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1937. It is here that he wrote “The Autobiography of a Yogi,” his classic work that first brought the word “yoga” to the West and was selected one of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Century. The Self-Realization Fellowship temple is also on the grounds, where you can learn more about the spiritual organization.

The garden is generally open on Sundays, 2-5 p.m., except in inclement weather. The meditation gardens, which include a small waterfall and koi pond, are open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Sundays.