Swamiji called!

                                               Swami Jnanananda Giri in Musoorie

      Swamiji called yesterday, I was sitting mid-day in the park!
There couldn't be a greater joy! He is blissfully well, as usual, and in
high spirits, as usual !!  Presently he asked if I was going to America
soon, I said I was going in Dec. for a month. That they called and
asked again, even arranged the ticket!! He laughed and asked , 'Why
doesn't America come to you?' I said,' They did come in Febuary,
and we all went to Banaras together. There I climbed the steps up
to the 'Yogiraj Tailang Swami Math'.
  Then Swamiji told me that Tailang Swami had said, "He who is a
real 'Yogi' is always aware of his 'breath', and the 'breath' of others!"
That includes everyone, no matter how far away they may be, even
if they are animals, trees, plants or stones! The Yogi is able to cure
all ailments. He can know all thoughts. Connected, he becomes
Limitless and Full!
     Swamiji said, "Awareness of the breath, constant awareness, is
very difficult.  No, actually, it is very easy. But nobody wants to do it! 
All are deluded by what they see and feel about this world, but, He is
free who can see through it, to its Source, the Way of Divine Light."



                                                   *ღ☆¸.•°* Hari AUM! *ღ☆¸.•°*

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PREM-AHLADINI SRI RADHA Personification of Mahabhav

                                                                    « ҉ »  श्री   « ҉ » 

INTRODUCTION
      The ancient knowledge of the Vedas is distilled in the wisdom of the
Upanishads. In these philosophical treaties, the nature of the universe,
the human soul, and the relation to each other has been probed. In the
search for answers to questions about the nature of the universe they
developed the idea of Brahman, whose existence was realized through
enquiry, austerity, and samadhi.

      Brahman, the universal spirit, cannot be precisely defined, and neither
can Atman, the individual spirit. The Upanishads describe the spirit only
in general terms as the Divine Essence "hidden in all beings, all-pervading,
eternal..." It exist, but it cannot be captured ; life proceeds from it, yet it 

has no tangible reality. These themes conceived by sages in the Upanshads
were, however, in time expanded. The essential principals laid in these 

works were developed by seers of extraordinary insight into six schools 

of philosophy: Sankhya, Vaisheshik, Nyay, Yog, Poorva-Meemansa, and

Uttar-Meemansa. Religious thought became a multifarous and elusive 

complex.

      From this vast tradition, it took one of no lesser stature then Maharishi
Veda Vyas, who had masterly comprehended the Vedas, the six systems of
philosophy, the Smriti, and all the other existing philosophical scriptures
known to the memory of mankind, to make his knowledge comprehensible
to all. And since nothing then ever needed to be written down, all teachings
were taught by the graceful speech of the Rishis alone. Vyas conceived the
Mahabharat as a vehicle for expounding such lofty themes as Sri Krishna,
an Avatar of Vishnu; dharma; varnashram; valour; love and grief. Despite
its majestic conception, Veda Vyas remained unsatisfied with his efforts,
and only at the intervention of Devrishi Narad was the cause of his
unfulfilment disclosed that the Supreme Lord was not yet satisfied that his
glory had been sufficiently revealed. By Sri Narad's inspiration, Vyas then
turned his efforts from feeding crows the carrion of learning, to extracting
nectar, in the form of stories relating to the Divine Pastimes of Sri Krishna,
for the swans of the Mansarovar Lake to sip.

      Taking Sri Ganapati, the remover of obstacles, as his scribe,Veda Vyas
unfolded the mystery of the manifestation of Brahman through the
incarnations of Vishnu.  In Srimad Bhagavat is found the description of
these incarnations of the Lord : Sanatkumar, Sanandan, Sanatan and
Sanak ; Varah, the Divine Boar ; Devrishi Narad ; Nara-Narayan ; Swami
Kapil ; Dattatrey ; Yagya ; Rsabhdev ; King Prithu ; Matsya, the Divine
Fish ; Kachhap, the Divine Tortoise ; Dhanvantri, the Celestial Physician ;
Mohini, the Enchantress of the demons ; Narsinha, the Man-Lion ; Vamana,
the Divine Dwarf ; Parashurama ; Rama, Bharata, Lakshman, and
Shatrughna ; Vyas ; Krishna and Balaram ; Buddha ; and Kalki, whom is
yet to come.

       While each Avatar was worshiped as the Lord, still, in his fullness, he
was yet in process, finally reaching the descent of Bhagwan Rama, whom is
the Supreme Person in complete form. His descent was to establish
righteousness, (dharma) and to dispel unrighteousness (adharma) ; to
protect the good (sat) and to destroy the evil (asat). Rama is known as
Maryada-Purushottam, whom has lived according to all correct rules and
decorum. But even this incarnation, where the prevailing spirit behind the
universe has embodied Himself to assist man in his course through life,
cannot fulfill declaration of the Upanishads that the Absolute Brahman is
'Raso Vai Sah'. God, remaining one with creation is not impassive ; he
is a personal God who loves man and desires love in return. To demonstrate
this aspect of the nature of the Supreme Being, Sri Krishna manifested
himself, and as Lila-Purushottam performs his pastimes before the eyes of
the world. It is this subject which has been so gracefully expounded by Vyas
in the tenth Skandh of the Srimad Bhagavat, which forms the heart of the
work.

      However, philosophic speculation cannot end here, for the question
arises about the nature of the spiritual bliss the realized soul experiences in
merging the trinity in the monad Brahman, whom is said to contain Truth,
Consciousness and Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda). Brahman has become
personified as Krishna who is defined thus in the Bhagvat : 'Krishnastu
Bhagvan Swayam', (the Absolute of the Absolute), and the static 'anand'
enfolded in the nature of Brahman has become personified as Krishna's
Ahladini Shakti, his blissful potency, who is the source of all joy to the
Supreme Lord. Who can dare to define that delightful beauty who charms
Shyam Sundar and brings him to his knees begging even a glance from her
fascinating eyes? She is the Divine Aspect of his divinity, the Beloved of his
Love, the possessor of that joy which fulfills his desire for joy - Sri Radha.


SIGNIFICANCE OF RADHA BHAV

      The most secret, the most auspicious, and the most divine spiritual
awareness of Radha is projected in the physical manifestation of her village
of Barsana. Here, upon the majestic hill in which Brahma has embodied
himself, stands the abode of Sri Radha, who is the ecstasy and inner
blessedness of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna.

       Contained in this mystical image lies the revelation of Radha Bhav.
Within the all-pervading, all-powerful source of Brahma arises the three-
sided manifestation of the cosmos, with Brahma personifying its creative
principal; Vishnu, its maintaining principal; and Shiva, its distructive
principal. By the movement of the creative principal in thought and its
culmination in action, the universal cycle of creation, preservation, and
destruction veils the Supreme from man and holds him within the bondage
of this movement of the world. When he comes to the discovery of that
which has to be dispelled in thought or in action, man lays the foundation
of 'sadhana' which terminates the thought-creation underlying action
carried over from previous actions of the life into the present. Thus, at
last, the full cycle of cause and effect is destroyed and he crosses the
threshold of the effortless 'sadhana' of love (prem). In order to attain this
state based on the establishment of grace, he has to disconnect himself
from the creation of Brahma, diverting all efforts with whatever means
are available and with fervent love to the path of 'sadhana'. Those who
have already traveled this path of the Divine, enlighten the way; until all
the accumulation of past thoughts and actions are effaced, the heart
becomes like a transparent , heavenly-clear crystal, unimaginable in its
purity. From this point, the 'sadhana' of complete unconditional surrender
to the feet of the Lord Supreme begins. Thus, the hill of Barsana contains
the significance of the illumination of Love to the Love-personification
of  Sri Radha, the Joy- potency of the Supreme, and the creation of love
leading to the destruction of all desires.

      When this love is created in the heart, or in the thoughts, the source
of all inspiration, which was hidden through countless lives in the journey
towards the wondrous Supreme, is disclosed to the person who is
completely dedicated by heart, thought and action, who has given himself
up to the feet of the Supreme from within and without. The most sublime
sentiments of 'bhakti' spontaneously arise in him who walks on this path,
manifesting in him the highest aspects of devotion. The holy scriptures 
have described these sentiments which climax the potency of mood and
are the very source of inspiration when they occur by their own Grace.

      These sentiments, Bhav, may appear in such ways: by chanting the
sweet names of the Lord in 'sankirtan' the presence of the Divine Glory
is experienced in such a way that the flow of love, which springs from
the heart, comes as an out pour of tears; the devotee cannot speak a
word about worldly relations and the throat is choked; the whole body
is thrilled in ecstatic joy; the body-consciousness may vanish completely;
the enchanting glory of the Lila of Radha-Krishna is fully revealed in the
heart; all the Divinity of their transcendental sport is revealed as ever-new;
every moment is completely recognised in Their Grace; and finally the
epitome of all these various sentiments is when the knowledge of what
They wish to play in Lila sport is spontaneously realized in the heart.

                                                                 « ҉ »  श्री   « ҉ »
                                                                         

                                                                         

                                                              Baba Sripadji

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✿ « ҉ »•*✿*.• ○°★ The Letter Home!

                                                           
                                                             Simla, H.P., India
                                                                May 3,1970                                                                    

   'O Mother! Know this to be true of the world now,

that there is a man of God here, his age is infinite,

though they say 90! Ah! But so sharp witted!!

He answers my thought waves, in Truth.

There is a spiritual feeling as if floating in joy

to be in his presence' . . .'the spirit of joy was so high

everyone felt it. Great white Santji gave me a big hug,

slapped my cheek, and said surely I was an angel!'...

   'Don't worry or even think about the visa now,                         

the saints are helping me.

                                                Yours with Love.

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ღ Bhava of Govinda das ۩۞۩ڰۣღ

 Oh, Madhava! How shall I tell you of my terror?

I could not describe my coming here

      if I had a million tongues!

When I left my room and saw the darkness, I trembled:
   
 I could not see the path,

     there were snakes that writhed around my ankles!

I was alone a woman; the night was so dark,
     
    the forest so dense and gloomy,

       and I had so far to go!

The rain was pouring down ~

     which path should I take?

My feet were muddy and burning

     where thorns had scratched them.

But, I had the hope of seeing you,

     none of it mattered!

     ...and now my terror seems far away.

When the sound of your flute reaches my ears,

   it compels me to leave my home, my friends.

It draws me into the dark towards you.

I no longer count the pain of coming here!

                                                          ๑۩۞۩๑இڿڰۣ-ڰۣღ

                              ... says Govinda das.


                                                                  ๑۩۞۩๑இڿڰۣ-ڰۣღ

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Bhava of Vidyapati ๑۩۞۩๑இڰۣღ

My friend, I cannot answer when you ask me

   to explain what has befallen me.

Love is transformed, renewed, each moment.

He has dwelt in my eyes all the days of my life,

  yet I am not sated with seeing.

My ears have heard his sweet voice in eternity,

  and yet it is always new to them.

How many honeyed nights have I passed with him

  in love's bliss, yet my body wonders at his.

Through all the ages he has yet clasped to my breast,

  yet my desire never abates.

I have seen subtle people sunk in passion,

  but none came so close to the heart of the fire.

Who shall be found to cool your heart? says Vidyapati!


                                                         ๑۩۞۩๑இڿڰۣ-ڰۣღ

  

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Sri Krishna from Swamiji

The Supreme .¸¸.•*`*•.✽

Innermost Lord

who is full of kindness,

calls you lovingly to awaken

   and to come to Him!

.¸¸.•*`*•.✽

Look deep within

      into your heart

         where you will see

something very beautiful

dancing blissfully,

                        and there do listen to the

            Eternal Song of Divine Love!


                 ¸.•*`*•.✽KRISHNA 


           With all my Love

                    and best wishes to you.


                      .¸¸.•*`*•.✽Jnanananda 


            
              Mussoorie                   10-9-71

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Pujya Sri Jagjivan Bapuji ~Yogi~Guru~

      The amazing Yogi Guru Jagjivan Bapuji was met in 1971 at Umbergaon,
Gujrat just a walk away through the open fields from the sandy beach by the
blue Arabian Sea.There we would sometimes walk with Swami Jnanananda
Giri carrying Balyogi Mukunda on his shoulders. On many a day after bathing
we would sit on the sand and meditate on the wonder of the colorful sunset
as it seemed to Mukunda to disappear into the Sea!
    Many times we would walk through those fields with Bapuji, Swamiji, and
Chandrika with bags in hand to gather the wild herbs for Bapuji's amazing
medicines, about which he said the most poison made the best remedies!
    Daily visitors came to this out of the way place on the bus from the train
station to have his Darshan and Satsang, and some came to meet Bapuji and
be cured! Some thought he was just a doctor! And many came to him only
after foreign doctors could give them no hope of a cure! I had no idea of
this when I came! Swamiji had told me only about Bapuji's spiritual state,
his long hours of Samadhi and of the wonderful bhajans (songs) he would
write and sing afterwards. And we would all copy down the new songs and
learn to sing them in the wonderful morning sessions of intensely beautiful
kirtana.: "Hey Prabhu,Tara Prema ma Rakh!","Hey Prabhu, Tara Ananta
Rup!" and "Dekhe che Jiva Vinashi Bhava!" were the opening songs, and
then we would sing, "Hridaya Mandirama Vas Prabhuno" and "Roam Roam
Prabhuji Sukha kari!" And as the beat and excitement intensified we would
sing with Bapuji more of his Bhajins and in evenings many times the dancing
would began!
     The one great event we would always stay on up to Febuary to attend was
Maha Shiva Ratri, The Great Night of Shiva! At this time groups of devotees
from far off places and Mahatmas would start arriving a day in advance.
Bapuji would be in this unbelievable mood and the joyful singing would start
with many musicians playing drums, Shiva's 'Damaru', cymbals, harmonium,
and wonderful singers would inspire the dancing of the famous 'Ras Garbha'.
And though the celebration went on all through the night no one tired, least of
all Bapuji, who sang and danced into a state of exhilarating samadhi to the
delight of the devotees and the fervor heightened to a peak! The rising of the
Sun brought the climax of the festival of the Great Night of Shiva!

                      "Om Namah Shivaya! Shivaya Namah Om!"

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