“Swami Kriyananda’s influence will expand greatly now that he is no longer confined to a body. I have seen this happen with many other great souls.” We were speaking with Sri D. R. Kaarthikeyan, one of the dignitaries who attended the dedication of the Moksha Mandir at Ananda Village this weekend. He speaks from experience, being an advisor to many spiritual works in India and throughout the world, as well as a dear friend of Swami Kriyananda. It seems that his prediction is already coming true.
Sri D. R. Kaarthikeyan (top left) with Swami Kriyananda. Moksha Mandir Dedication (below).
It is Swami Kriyananda’s birthday as I write this, and we just finished a three-hour meditation in the Moksha Mandir. This beautiful building (which somehow seems to be an amplifier for Swami’s energy), the hundreds who attended, and Ananda itself are all testaments to Swamiji’s love and expansion.
His love was most often expressed as divine friendship, and it touched the hearts of countless thousands around the world. This wave of kindness, in accordance with karmic law, came back to him in the form of friends everywhere wanting to show their gratitude. Day after day people arrived: more than six hundred from India and Italy, from Russia and Mexico and Argentina, and from other lands too numerous to list. Though languages varied, there were no strangers: We were united by our love for Swamiji, and by his for us. People smiled and laughed, chatted with each other, smiled and laughed, ate together, smiled and laughed . . . well, you get the idea.
This joy, too, was a gift from Swami Kriyananda, who was incapable of seeing anyone as a stranger, much less an enemy. He had a beautiful dream a few years before he passed, in which he saw myriads of people, good and bad, from all walks of life. When he awoke, in tears, he wrote down his experience on a little scrap of paper near his bed. This we have still, beneath an image of Master, on our altar. On it he wrote, “The more bliss I feel in myself, the more I find everyone around me utterly lovable. How vastly varied are the ways of approaching that same bliss!”
His ability to see everyone in their highest potential awakened something in the hearts and souls of all who knew him. And this weekend his divine friends gathered to honor him, to thank him, to dedicate his final resting place, and to bathe in his love. It was an extraordinary experience!
In divine friendship,
Nayaswami Jyotish
8 Comments
Dear Jis
Thank you for sharing Swamijis Love, when I Visited Swamijis House at Poona and Meditated there, the Experience was Deep and Blissful.
Pranam
R Sundararajan
Swami Kriyananda “was incapable of seeing anyone as a stranger”. You know being a “stranger” coming from Quebec (Canada), I knew no one… I came because Babaji guided me to Ananda Village and I guess Yoganandaji also. I followed my heart. I needed to see, feel and live what Ananda Village is, even if it was just a few days. I came as a Witness and I met my spiritual family. I saw much, I felt a lot and lived “something” that will stay with me always. During my stay, I asked a few people how was Swamiji “in person”. Each told me beautiful words about this great man. When they finished, my thought was always “I wish I could have met him”. You know what, I did… in each and every smile that greeted me and made me feel so welcomed! You are his legacy and you honoured him well. Thank you so much for everything. By the grace of Babaji and Yoganandaji, I will go back to Ananda Village… if it is Thy will. Blessings of love to all!
While he was still in body, even though we never met, Swamiji helped me through a difficult time by spiritually visiting me during my prayers. Afterwards I felt such bliss every time I remembered the message he brought me. Is it allowed to pray to him as we pray to our other Masters?
Thank you so very much for a lovely weekend of celebrating Swamiji’s life! I feel blessed to have been in his presence, to have introduced him to my family and to be in service to Ananda as we spread Yogananda’s teachings. My husband and I greatly appreciated the opportunity to meditate in the Mokshir Mandir, Swami’s apartment, meditation room, Crystal Hermitage, Lahiri Temple and other places throughout the Ananda Community during Swamiji’s Life Celebration and Dedication acknowledging his Liberation. Swamiji is present in our hearts and minds and Ananda’s dedication to Yoganandaji is a most powerful path for our liberation. Thank you.
In loving kindness,
Astara and Don Gustin
Dear Nayaswami Jyotish Ji,
Thank you for the article. We could see the love and friendship amongst us . As Swamiji puts it we are connected by Divine . Sincere Pranams to Swamiji for taking us back to this path and Masters teaching that we left behind in our past incarnation.
I would like to Say ” In Ananda we are connected “.
” His ability to see everyone in their highest potential ” . We strive to be like Swamiji .
Jai Guru
Aum, Prem
I am ever so grateful to Swamiji, our very own dear Saint, who started Ananda Chennai. The timing was perfect, just when we were seeking a true Spiritual Path and Family to support us we found Ananda and Swamiji led us to our Guru.
Dear Jyotishji,
How true and beautifully written. Thank You.
Swamiji ‘s ability to see the highest in every person
he met, is testimony to his attunement to God and Guru.
His example of discipleship is astounding!
For the “reality” is that we are all ONE so how can we not
see the highest in all. We are all God. All Light. All Joy…
Bless You.
~~~Peace, Josette
Thanks for your Good work and i want you to help me to make it or get rich in life