The energy in Swami Kriyananda’s Moksha Mandir, where his physical body now resides, was vibrant with the tangible presence of his love and joy. It was April 21, 2016, the third anniversary of Swamiji’s passing, and residents of Ananda Village were honoring him with our annual observance of a six-hour meditation.
Swami Kriyananda’s Moksha Mandir at Ananda Village
A few days before this, I’d had a beautiful dream about Swamiji. In the dream, I was unaware that he had left his body, and was sad because I hadn’t seen him for a long time. Feeling a strong desire to be in his presence, I went to his home and found him sitting quietly on the grass.
From his demeanor, I realized he didn’t want to engage in conversation, though he did glance up to acknowledge my presence. Speaking quietly to himself, but loud enough for me to hear, Swamiji was reflecting on the long-term effects of many of the things he’d initiated during his lifetime. As he spoke, I began to understand that he wasn’t present in the same time/space dimension that I was, but was looking at things from a vantage point in the future.
Swamiji was saying thoughtfully, “Ananda Yoga really changed the direction that hatha yoga was taking in the West from being merely physical exercises to becoming a true spiritual practice. The books that I wrote, too, finally found a wide, appreciative audience and deepened people’s understanding of Master and his teachings. And spiritual communities spread on a global scale, creating a new way of life in which people found great happiness.”
The dream ended there, but filled me with hope and joy. Why? Because over the years we’d witnessed the tremendous effort that Swamiji put out to launch these revolutionary undertakings, and knew that the immediate results were often less than had been hoped for. Now it was thrilling to hear that over time his efforts really did bear great fruit.
But I believe this dream has another message for all of us. As devotees, it’s often easy to become discouraged when we don’t get the spiritual results we want. It sometimes seems that no matter how hard we try to meditate, to feel God’s presence, or to receive His guidance, our experience never quite matches our expectations.
But remember that through our spiritual practices, we are reshaping our karma and setting into motion new energy patterns that may take a long time to show results. God would not have sent great teachers to guide us, if their teachings were without value. We are sowing seeds for the future, so let us forge ahead with hope.
In Paramhansa Yogananda’s beautiful poem, “If You Want His Answer,” he has written:
Whether He answers or not,
You must keep entreating Him.
Even if He makes no reply
In the way you expect,
Ever know He will respond
In some subtle way.
In the darkness of your deepest prayers,
Know He is playing hide-and-seek
With you.
And in the midst of the dance of life, disease, and death,
If you keep calling Him,
Undepressed by His seeming silence,
You will receive His answer.
With divine friendship,
Nayaswami Devi
Audio recording of Maitri’s song “Keep Calling Him,” based on the poem by Paramhansa Yogananda:
31 Comments
So beautiful. Thank you.
Pat
Dear Nayaswami Devi Ji,
Thank you :)
It is very inspiring and motivating for us to forge ahead with hope.
I sincerely thank Swamiji & Ananda for showing me the path to Master and his teachings.
Thank you for sharing the song ” Keep Calling” , beautiful it is :)
In Divine Love
Prem
Thank you Deviji , for sharing your dream about Swamiji.
With HIS love and Light
Ssangeeta
Dear Devi ji,
Thanks for sharing your dream and its meaning. It touches me so much that i felt tears in my eyes.
And what a beautiful poem swami ji has written. I am deeply touched.
Again thanks a lot.
With lots and lots of love and regards,
Promila Varshney
Thank you for this beautiful poem, Just what I needed toda
Nice
Dear Devi,
Thank you for sharing your beautiful dream and for all that you do so selflessly. Love you very much and sending many blessings and much love to you and to Jyotish. Luba.
Dynamite, once again. :-) Thank you!
Beautiful, Deviji! This is extremely inspiring .
Thank You for Sharing it.
Boundless blessings on You ,
Nandini
Just what I needed to hear today—Thank you from my heart!
Blessings, Prem-Shanti
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your dream and also lovely words. It is such a joy to share the yoga teachings of Ananda, from Swamiji and Yogananda.
God Bless!
Annapurna
OH SO VERY VERY BEAUTIFUL!
Such a way to start this morning – THANK YOU.
Thank you for your very timely comments!
Thank you so much, Devi. The timing could not be better as Swamiji is
telling us the timing is, has been and will be perfect.
Playing hide and seek, He is.
Much Love and Gratitude,
ramani
Thank you for sharing such a precious dream.
Thank you, Devi. Such a beautiful & timely message. :-)
Thank you for this and all your so profoundly inspiring and helpful messages.
Though I am not a member of Ananda, I always appreciate and benefit deeply from the stories and messages you share with us.
Thank you with all my heart!
Ardella
Thank you Devi, how lovely.
Just last night I dreamed of Swamiji. At one point he looked a little distracted and dejected, with his head dropped – not the way we normally see him. I stepped up and brightly said to him “Swamiji, have a wonderful day!” and raised my arms toward him in blessing. With that he raised his head, gave me a big smile, and was back to himself, appearing joyful. We stepped together and hugged. I told him I loved him and kissed his cheek.
The energy of the dream was clearly based in my love of this, our great friend and guide. I am thinking too that part of the lesson is that it is always my job to share love and support – no matter the recipient.
What a friend we have in Swamiji!
I feel I must comment on this email, not only because it was a “profound answer”, but a!so to honor Master. I have been distressed over a situation in my personal life. I was very emotionally upset the other night, and began asking, beseeching, demanding, etc., for Heavenly Father, Divine Mother, Blessed Jesus, Angels, or Master to let me know I am not alone ” in the wilderness ” regarding this issue. I asked to be given direct guidance, a direct message to sustain me. I was feeling quite desperate. Today I received your email which for me is a “direct response”, and I am so grateful (and relieved!). Thank you for posting; and thank you Master.
So beautiful in many dimensions your words dear Devi ~ beautiful because I got to visit with Swamiji ~ then because I feel my heart is being heard and loved and tended by God and Master and Swami; and they accept my imperfect love as if it were perfect. Then lastly, I too felt I had the same dream, by being so close in heart to you ~ thank you for your such big love of heart that you give to all of us, that transforms our hearts into BIG hearts too. AUM ~ love, Bhajana
Dear Devi,
Thank you so much!
Keep calling, God must Answer!
The timeline is Infinite; impatience and discouragement can be used, if we choose it, to remind us of right behavior in order to support the “reshaping” of world karma and personal karma. As we “set into motion new energy patterns” for the future!
It is very inspiring to be apart of this time, and Thank You for sharing this very important dream/communication from Swamji.
Everything is energy and every thought, action, and prayer has an effect!!!
JAI GURU!!!
Dear Deviji,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful dream and also thank you for sharing Guru ji’s poem.
lots of love,
Neela
Thank you Devi, what you say is so true. It is hard to see our progress spiritually day to day, but in hind site one can see the subtle changes add up. I am much more centered (in my spine) and not so attached to the fruits of my labors. I realize there is a flow to life that God and Guru breathes into my spirit, and it is my job to open up to this divine creativity without concern for the outcome. Then life is beautiful and I can feel that beauty in every situation and in every person. In Master’s Ray…
Thank you for sharing this Devi~beautiful, inspiring, and encouraging. Thank you Swamiji. Many blessings…love, hannah
Oh, yes. In my experience He answered my prayers in subtle way. Many times I understood the answer only later. But once He answered me directly. That was when I had to take an important decision in my life and career. Many people supported me and guided me But, I told Him that I would take the next step only and only if He answered me. He tested my resolve and in the end He answered in a direct way and in a rarest way. He answers. If you are steadfast in seeking. Deviji ! when Master and Swami has shown the way, what else is there to explore but practice.
“Thank you” seems insufficient. Gratitude, dear friend, sharing your loving heart and hard earned experience of your unrelenting quest to recognize Divine Mother’s Love and Guidance is a gift you share freely. It is beyond price. In Divine Friendship, steve (navi). Namaste
Dear Devi ji, a very reassuring and beautiful words of truth from you. Thank you. Amazingly ” Keep calling Him” is one of the songs i have been listening everyday now to learn and meditate upon, and as an encouragement to keep praying, and now i see Him answer in a beautiful way. Eternal Gratitude to Swamiji for all his wonderful works that deepen our faith .
Thank you for sharing this beautiful dream……..it has really touched me deeply……Much love and appreciation..
Joan Ghilotti
Thanks, Devi, for sharing this dream! So sweet and powerful to imagine Swamiji reflecting on our mission.
Che gioia :D
Thank you, I really needed to hear that. AUM AUM AUM
Very nice!